[0001] The invention relates to a cover for a tubular terminal having an axially extending
wire receiving slot.
[0002] An object of the invention is to provide a cover which provides a reliable wire stuffing
function.
[0003] According to the invention a cover for a tubular terminal having an axially extending
wire receiving slot, comprises a tube moulded in one piece from plastics material
with a closed end and an open, terminal receiving end, a wire receiving slot extending
axially along the plastics tube from the open end and terminating remote from the
closed end in a transversely extending slot, a centrally located, axially extending
stuffer projecting internally from the closed end for engagement with a wire received
in the slot when the cover is applied to the terminal, a pair of tool receiving intersecting
recesses extending transversely of the axis being formed on the exterior of the closed
end.
[0004] A specific example of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cover according to the invention aligned with
a single wire for application to a terminal;
Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal and cover after application of
the cover to the terminal;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal and cover after insertion of two
wires into the terminal; and
Figure 4 is a side view of a series of covers during application to a series of terminals.
[0005] The cover-11 comprises a tube moulded in one piece from plastics material and closed
at one end 12. A wire receiving slot 13 extends axially of the tube from an open terminal
receiving end and terminates remote from the closed end 12 in a transversely extending
slot 14. A centrally located, axially extending, stuffer 16 projects internally from
the closed end to a location adjacent the slot 14. A pair of tool receiving intersecting
recesses 16 extending transversely of the tube axis are formed on the exterior of
the closed end and an axially extending arcuate lu
g 17 having the same profile as the tube is integrally formed with the closed end.
[0006] A terminal 19 for use with the cover is a stamped and formed metal tube adapted at
one end to be mounted in a printed circuit board 23 and having a wire receiving slot
21 extending axially between the ends and intersected by a transverse slot 22 which
divides the terminal into two wire receiving sections, one on each side of the slot
22, which have substantially independent wire clamping characteristics as described
in our Great Britain Patent No. 1,463,830 (8299).
[0007] In use of the cover, an insulated wire 24 is aligned with the slot 21 (Figure 1)
and the cover is pushed onto the terminal by a tool, such as a screwdriver having
a cruciform head inserted in slots 16, so that the wire is received in slot 13, engaged
by the
ftuffer, and forced into the section of slot 21 remote from the printed circuit board.
During insertion into the slot 21, the slot walls penetrate the insulation and establish
electrical connection with the wire core. The wire is retained above the transverse
slot 22 by abutment with the corners defined between slots 21 and 22, the section
of slot 21 adjacent the printed circuit board being in unexpanded condition. Insertion
of a second wire 25 into slot 21 pushes the first wire 24 past the slot 22 into the
section of slot 21 adjacent the printed circuit board. The walls of the slot 13 provide
strain relief for the connection.
[0008] The engagement of the tool in the cruciform slots ensures correctly directed force
is applied to the cover, particularly during initial application to the terminal reducing
risk of damage to the terminal by faulty application. The cover may readily be removed
from the terminal by gripping the lug 17 with a suitable tool such as a pair of pliers.
[0009] As shown in Figure 4, a series of covers 11 may conveniently be integrally moulded
with a flexible carrier strip 27 and applied to terminals 19 unequally spaced apart
on a printed circuit board reducing.handling difficulties.
1. A cover for a tubular terminal having an axially extending wire receiving slot,
which cover comprises a tube moulded in one piece from plastics material with a closed
end and a open, terminal receiving end, a wire receiving slot extending axially along
the plastics tube from the open end and terminating remote from the closed end in
a transversely extending slot, a centrally located, axially extending stuffer projecting
internally from the closed end for engagement with a wire received in the slot when
the cover is applied to the terminal, characterised in that a pair of tool receiving
intersecting recesses (16) extending transversely of the axis are formed on the exterior
of the closed end (12).
.2. A cover according to Claim 1, characterised in that a lug (17) is integrally joined
to the closed end.
