Technical Field

The present invention relates to a terminal for linking electrical cables. Background Art

Various terminals for linking electrical cables are known which are generally used inside the electrical components, such as e.g. electrical connectors, terminal blocks and the like, to electrically connect one or more electrical cables to each other.

In particular, the terminals of known type comprise an elastically deformable body, of the type of a spring, made of an electrically conductive material and provided with a movable portion adapted to contact the electrical cable.

The movable portion housed inside the electrical component defines with the latter a clamping point of the electrical cable, fixing the position thereof inside the same electrical component and electrically connecting it to at least one connecting body, e.g. an additional cable, a metal track or the like.

Furthermore, the elastically deformable body comprises at least one operating portion intended to be engaged by a movement element of the movable portion to open and close the clamping point.

The elastically deformable body also comprises at least one coupling portion, adapted to stably couple it to the electrical component, and at least one connecting portion to a conductive body, which is generally housed inside the electrical component and positioned, in use, between the elastically deformable body and the connecting body.

The structural complexity of this type of terminals, however, makes them susceptible to improvement.

In fact, the elastically deformable body comprises a plurality of portions separate from each other and suitably shaped to interact with different elements of the terminal itself, of the electrical cable, of the electrical conductor and/or of the electrical component.

In particular, designing an elastically deformable component that can be stably housed inside the electrical component is particularly complex, so that it can easily allow the opening and closing of the clamping point and of the relevant clamping of the electrical cable, and that keeps the electrical contact with the conductive body stable and firm.

Similarly, the conductive body and the electrical component also have similar design complexities and structural limitations.

Therefore, the structural characteristics of the terminals of this type limit their flexibility of use.

In addition, these drawbacks make the implementation of the terminals of known type relatively complex and expensive.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to devise a linking terminal that allows one or more electrical cables to be electrically linked to each other easily and quickly.

A further object of the present invention is to devise a terminal for linking electrical cables having reduced structural complexity with respect to the terminals of known type.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a terminal for linking electrical cables that can be used with greater flexibility of use than the terminals of known type.

An additional object of the present invention is to devise a terminal for linking electrical cables that can be housed inside the electrical components having different structural characteristics from each other.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a terminal for linking electrical cables which allows overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art within a simple, rational, easy, effective to use and affordable solution. The above mentioned objects are achieved by the present terminal for linking electrical cables having the characteristics of claim 1.

The above mentioned objects are achieved by the present connector having the characteristics of claim 13.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a terminal for linking electrical cables, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example, in the accompanying tables of drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an axonometric view of the terminal according to the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the terminal shown in Figure 1 according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the terminal according to the invention in the first operating configuration;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the terminal according to the invention in the second operating configuration;

Figure 5 is a partial exploded axonometric view of an embodiment of the terminal according to the invention;

Figure 6 is a partial exploded axonometric view of a further embodiment of the terminal according to the invention;

Figure 7 is a partial exploded axonometric view of an additional embodiment of the terminal according to the invention.

Fmbodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a terminal for linking electrical cables.

The terminal 1 for linking electrical cables 3 can be housed inside an electrical connector 2 and comprises: linking means 33, 34 provided with at least one clamping assembly 33, made of an electrically conductive material, defining at least one clamping point of at least one electrical cable 3 and provided with at least one elastically deformable element 4, provided with at least one movable portion 5 between at least one first operating configuration, wherein it closes the clamping point, by clamping and electrically connecting the electrical cable 3 to the clamping assembly itself, and at least a second operating configuration, wherein it opens the clamping point; at least one connecting assembly 13, 23, 24, made of an electrically conductive material, connected to the clamping assembly 33 and configured to electrically connect the electrical cable 3 to at least another electrical cable 3.

In particular, the deformable body 4 is provided with at least a first coupling portion 6 and the clamping assembly 33 comprises at least one housing body 8 of the deformable body 4, provided with at least a second coupling portion 7, coupled to the first coupling portion 6 to fix the position of the deformable body 4 to the housing body 8.

Advantageously, the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion 6, 7 are coupled integrally to each other, i.e., they are rigidly connected to each other.

Further embodiments of the terminal 1 cannot however be ruled out wherein the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion 6, 7 are coupled to each other in different ways, such as e.g. in a prismatic manner.

Preferably, the elastically deformable body 4 is of the type of a spring of substantially slab-shaped conformation which has been elongated and suitably shaped to make the movable portion 5 and the first coupling portion 6. Advantageously, the housing body 8 comprises at least one clamping portion 9 defining the clamping point with the movable portion 5.

Furthermore, at least one of either the clamping portion 9 or the movable portion 5 is approached to/moved away from the other of either the clamping portion 9 or the movable portion 5 by closing/opening the clamping point in the first and in the second operating configurations, respectively.

Preferably, the movable portion 5 is approached to/moved away from the clamping portion 9, which, on the contrary, is fixed.

Advantageously, the linking means 33, 34 comprise at least one movement assembly 34 of the clamping assembly 33 between the first and the second operating configurations.

Preferably, the movement assembly 34 comprises a movable element 10 that engages the deformable body 4 to move the movable portion 5 away from or close to the clamping portion 9 to open or close the clamping point.

The elastically deformable body 4 counteracts the moving away or approaching action exerted by means of the movable element 10 to keep the clamping point closed or open.

According to the embodiment of the terminal 1, in the first operating configuration, the movable portion 5 is arranged to abut against the clamping portion 9 to keep the clamping point closed.

In the second operating configuration, the movement assembly 34 operates on the elastically deformable body 4 and moves the movable portion 5 away from the clamping portion 9 to keep the clamping point open.

In this configuration, the elastically deformable body 4 is loaded and, therefore, at the end of the operation of the movement assembly 34, it is unloaded and the movable portion 5 is automatically approached to the clamping portion 9, again closing the clamping point.

In particular, the movable element 10 is of the type of a lever that can be manually rotated around an axis of rotation A, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Conveniently, the movable element 10 is made of an electrically insulating material.

Advantageously, the elastically deformable body 4 is interposed between the second coupling portion 7 and the clamping portion 9.

The second coupling portion 7 and the clamping portion 9 are arranged substantially opposite and facing each other.

In addition, the second coupling portion 7 and the clamping portion 9 are spaced apart from each other to define a containment compartment 11 of the elastically deformable body 4.

In particular, the second coupling portion 7 and the clamping portion 9 are of substantially flat slab- shaped conformation and extend substantially opposite and parallel to each other.

In addition, the movable portion 5 and the first coupling portion 6 are arranged opposite and facing each other.

This way, the deformable body 4 is securely coupled to the housing body 8, thus greatly reducing the overall dimensions of the clamping assembly 33 and its structural complexity. In particular, the deformable body 4 comprises at least one joining section 12, which is interposed between the movable portion 5 and the first coupling portion 6.

More in detail, the joining section 12 has a substantially curved conformation, so as to arrange the movable portion 5 and the first coupling portion 6 substantially opposite and facing each other, as shown in Figure 1. Advantageously, the clamping assembly 33 comprises at least one linking element 18, 19, made on one of either the first or the second coupling portions 6, 7, and at least one fastening element 15, 16, made on the other of either the first or the second coupling portions 6, 7 and defining a clamping seat 14 inside which the linking element 18, 19 is fastened.

Preferably, the linking element 18, 19 is made on the first coupling portion 6 and the fastening element 15, 16 is made on the second coupling portion 7. Furthermore, the fastening element 15, 16 comprises at least one basic section 15, which extends along a direction of extension B and at least one pair of fastening sections 16, associated opposite each other with the basic section 15 and folded on the same along a direction of development C substantially transverse to the direction of extension B, to define the clamping seat 14. Preferably, the direction of extension B and the direction of development C are substantially orthogonal to each other, as shown in Figure 1.

Advantageously, the fastening element 15, 16 is made in a single body piece with the housing body 8.

In fact, the clamping seat 14 is defined by means of the folding of the fastening sections 16.

An assembly configuration of the terminal 1 is shown in Figure 2, wherein the fastening sections 16 are extended to allow the coupling between the elastically deformable body 4 and the housing body 8, as shown in Figure 1 wherein the fastening sections 16 are folded over the first coupling portion 6 securing the latter inside the clamping seat 14.

Advantageously, the fastening sections 16 define a pair of openings 17 arranged opposite each other to delimit the extension of the clamping seat 14 along the direction of extension B.

The linking element 18, 19, on the other hand, comprises at least one central section 18, inserted inside the clamping seat 14, and at least one pair of widened sections 19, arranged opposite each other outside the clamping seat 14 to delimit the extension of the central section 18 along said direction of extension B and adapted to abut against the fastening sections 16 at a corresponding opening 17. Preferably, the distance between the openings 17 coincides with the distance between the widened sections 19.

This way, the fastening sections 16 are fitted to size between the widened sections 19, abut against the same at the openings 17 and secure the position of the central section 18 inside the clamping seat 14.

This solution prevents the first and the second coupling portions 6, 7 from mutually moving along the direction of extension B.

Advantageously, the central section 18 and the basic section 15 are arranged facing in contact with each other.

In particular, the central section 18 and the basic section 15 have a flat elongated shape and rest on each other, as shown in Figures 1-4.

The central section 18 is fitted to size inside the clamping seat 14, in such a way that the first and the second coupling portions 6, 7 are integrally coupled to each other.

Conveniently, the terminal 1 comprises a pair of linking means 33, 34. Furthermore, the connecting assembly 13, 23, 24 is interposed between the pair of linking means 33, 34 to electrically connect a pair of electrical cables 3. According to the particular embodiment of the terminal 1 shown in Figure 5, the connecting assembly 13, 23, 24 comprises a linking body 13, which is provided with a pair of terminal portions 20 opposite each other.

In this way, each of the housing bodies 8 is arranged at a respective terminal portion 20 and is made in a single body piece with the linking body 13. Preferably, the linking body 13 is of elongated conformation and extends longitudinally along the direction of extension B.

In addition, the linking body 13 is of the type of a hollow body. According to a further embodiment of the terminal 1, shown in Figure 6, the connecting assembly 13, 23, 24 comprises a linking body 13 provided with a pair of terminal portions 20 opposite each other.

In addition, the terminal 1 comprises removable association means 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b, interposed between the linking body 13 and the housing bodies 8 and adapted to couple/uncouple the latter in a removable manner.

Preferably, the linking body 13 is of substantially elongated conformation and extends along the direction of extension B.

Advantageously, the linking body 13 comprises a pair of terminal portions 20, arranged opposite each other, and the removable association means 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b comprise a first association assembly 21a, 22b interposed between one terminal portion 20 and a housing body 8, and a second association assembly 21b, 22b, interposed between the other terminal portion 20 and the other housing body 8. In particular, the first association assembly 21a, 22a comprises a groove 21a, made on one of either a housing body 8 or a terminal portion 20, and a pin 22a, which is insertable by interlocking inside the groove 21a and made on the other of either the housing body 8 or the terminal portion 20.

Similarly, the second association assembly 21b, 22b comprises a groove 21b, made on one of either the other housing body 8 or the other terminal portion 20, and a pin 22b, which is insertable by interlocking inside the groove 21b and made on the other of either the other housing body 8 or the other terminal portion 20.

Preferably, each pin 22a, 22b is made at a corresponding terminal portion 20. In addition, each groove 21a, 21b is made at a corresponding housing body 8.

In particular, the pins 22a, 22b and the grooves 21a, 21b extend, in use, longitudinally along the direction of extension B. In this way, the terminal 1 extends longitudinally along the direction of extension B, as shown in Figure 6. According to a further embodiment of the terminal 1, shown in Figure 7, the connecting assembly 13, 23, 24 comprises at least a first connecting body 23 and at least a second connecting body 24, which can be coupled to each other in a removable manner to make an electrical connection.

Advantageously, the terminal 1 comprises a first removable linking assembly 25a, 26a, interposed between one of the housing bodies 8 and the first connecting body 23, and a second removable linking assembly 25b, 26b, interposed between the other of the housing bodies 8 and the second connecting body 24.

Preferably, the first and the second connecting bodies 23, 24 are of the type of male and female linking elements respectively, as shown in Figure 7.

In particular, the first removable linking assembly 25a, 26a comprises a recess 26a, made on one of either a housing body 8 or the first connecting body 23, and a protrusion 25a, which is insertable by interlocking inside the recess 26a and made on the other of either the housing body 8 or the first connecting body 23.

Similarly, the second removable linking assembly 25b, 26b comprises a recess 26b, made on one of either the other housing body 8 or the second connecting body 24, and a protrusion 25b, insertable by interlocking inside the recess 26b and made on the other of either the other housing body 8 or the second connecting body 24.

Preferably, one protrusion 25a is made at the first connecting body 23, while the other protrusion 25b is made at the second connecting body 24.

In addition, each recess 26a, 26b is made at a corresponding housing body 8.

In particular, the recesses 26a, 26b and the protrusions 25a, 25b extend longitudinally along the direction of extension B. In this way, the terminal 1 extends longitudinally along the direction of extension B, as shown in Figure 7. Preferably, the first and the second removable linking assemblies 25a, 26a, 25b, 26b are of a similar type to the first and second association assemblies 21a, 22a, 21b, 22b, described with reference to the embodiment of the terminal 1 described above.

That is, the pins 22a, 22b are of substantially identical conformation to the protrusions 25a, 25b and the grooves 21a, 21b are of substantially identical conformation to the recesses 26a, 26b. In this way, the pins 22a, 22b are insertable by interlocking inside the recesses 26a, 26b and the protrusions 25a, 25b are insertable by interlocking inside the grooves 21a, 21b.

Alternative embodiments of the terminal 1 cannot be ruled out that have a combination of one or more of the characteristics of the previously described embodiments.

For example, the embodiments of the terminal 1 cannot be ruled out wherein the housing bodies 8 are coupleable in a removable and interchangeable manner to the linking body 13, to the first connecting body 23 and to the second connecting body 24.

The present invention also relates to an electrical connector 2 of electrical cables 3, comprising: at least one hollow body 31 , made of an electrically insulating material and defining at least one housing channel 32; at least one terminal 1 housed inside the housing channel 32.

Preferably, the hollow body 31 has an elongated cylindrical conformation, but alternative embodiments of the hollow body 31 cannot be ruled out, wherein the same has, e.g., a prismatic conformation.

Advantageously, the electrical connector 2 comprises a plurality of terminals 1. Furthermore, the hollow body 31 comprises a plurality of housing channels 32, each housing a corresponding terminal 1.

Conveniently, the housing channels 32 extend longitudinally parallel to each other along the direction of extension B, to make a multi-pole connector.

An alternative embodiment of the electrical connector 2 is shown in Figure 7, wherein the hollow body 31 comprises a plug element 27 and a socket element 28.

Furthermore, the housing channel 32 comprises a first section 29, made on the plug element 27 and hosting the first connecting body 23, and at least a second section 30, made on the socket element 28 and hosting the second connecting body 24.

Advantageously, the plug element 27 and the socket element 28 can be coupled to each other in a removable manner to electrically couple/uncouple the first and the second connecting bodies 23, 24.

It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects. In particular, the fact is emphasized that the housing body provides the elastically deformable body with a stable, structurally simple, easy-to-make and space- saving support, thus defining a clamping point that can be opened and closed conveniently, easily and quickly, to ensure the electrical link with the electrical cable. In addition, the two coupling portions make the coupling between the elastically deformable body and the structurally stable housing body simple and easy to implement.

Advantageously, the above-described embodiments of the terminal and the connector described above greatly increase the flexibility of their use. In particular, the association means and the first and second linking assemblies allow coupling different components of the terminal in a removable manner, thus adapting their characteristics to the electrical component used.