(57) A retaining member (10) for retaining cylindrical members, such as rods and wires,
has a base (13) and a pair of cantilevered dual action beams (11, 12) extending from
the base, the beams having parallel opposed spaced apart inner edges (14), each beam
having an upper and a lower portion (11a, 12a, 11b, 12b), the lower portion (11a,
12a) having an upwardly and inwardly inclined outer edge (16a, 16b) and the upper
part (11b, 12b) having an upwardly and outwardly inclined outer edge (17a, 17b), the
conjunction of the two portions forming a neck (18), and an entrance portion defined
by a downwardly and inwardly inclined upper edge (19) on each beam (11, 12), the upper
edges merging with the inner edges by a radius (20). Insertion of a cylindrical member
(26) deforms the upper portions (11b, 12b) to a large extent the portions bending
about the necks (18). The lower portions (11a, 12a) are deformed to a lesser extent
and have substantially uniform stress distribution. The members (10) are particularly
useful as contacts for insulation conductors, the insulation (27) being crushed and
during passage between the upper portions (11b, 12b) of the beams (11, 12) and removed
on passage past the necks (18). The conductor (26) is deformed while being pushed
down between the upper portions (11b, 12b) and past the necks (18), to give a highly
effective connection.
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