(19)
(11) EP 1 107 393 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
28.05.2003 Bulletin 2003/22

(43) Date of publication A2:
13.06.2001 Bulletin 2001/24

(21) Application number: 00307956.3

(22) Date of filing: 13.09.2000
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: H01R 25/16, H01R 13/187
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 12.10.1999 GB 9923989

(71) Applicant: Smiths Industries Public Limited Company
London, NW11 8DS (GB)

(72) Inventors:
  • Dent, Peter
    Enfield, Middlesex EN1 2RE (GB)
  • Parry, Ian Charles
    London NW2 7BS (GB)

(74) Representative: Flint, Jonathan McNeill et al
765 Finchley Road
London NW11 8DS
London NW11 8DS (GB)

   


(54) Electrical connector assemblies


(57) An electrical busbar terminal assembly has several hyperboloid spring sockets 21 to 32 mounted on a metal bar 20 spaced along its length. The sockets 21 to 32 extend along respective bores 13 of an insulating lower body 10 and the bar 20 extends along the bottom of the body being covered by a cover plate 12. The two end sockets 21 and 32 are larger than the others 22 to 31 and receive input power contacts 72 and 83 so that power is distributed from these sockets via the bar 20 to contacts 73 to 82 inserted in the other sockets. Catches 4 with inturned teeth 41 retain the contacts 72 to 83 after insertion. The catches 4 are located in bores in an upper closure 11 bonded to the lower body 10 and are trapped between the lower body and a step 44 in the upper closure. The catches 4 are electrically isolated from the sockets 21 to 32 until after insertion of a contact 72 to 83.






Search report