US 11,749,914 B2
Wedge cable connector
Jeremy Jushchyshyn, Willow Grove, PA (US); Nicholas Polidori, Medford, NJ (US); and Michael Bucciero, Pennsauken, NJ (US)
Assigned to Burndy, LLC, Manchester, NH (US)
Filed by Burndy, LLC, Manchester, NH (US)
Filed on Jan. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/156,225.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/964,506, filed on Jan. 22, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0226352 A1, Jul. 22, 2021
Int. Cl. H01R 4/50 (2006.01); H01R 4/38 (2006.01)
CPC H01R 4/5091 (2013.01) [H01R 4/38 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A wedge type electrical connector assembly comprising:
a frame having a first conductor guide wall, a second conductor guide wall, a rear wall between the first conductor guide wall and the second conductor guide wall, and a front wall extending from the second conductor guide wall in a direction toward the first conductor guide wall, the guide walls, rear wall and front wall forming a wedge receiving channel having a first end with a first length and a second end with a second length where the first length is less than the second length, the frame has a recess extending from the first end of the wedge receiving channel to a stop member positioned in the recess adjacent the second end of the wedge receiving channel, the recess forming a longitudinal track that is accessible from the wedge receiving channel, and the rear wall having a mounting member extending therefrom; and
a wedge assembly having a wedge and a fastener, the wedge including:
a wedged-shaped body adapted to fit within the wedge receiving channel of the frame, the body having a top wall with a primary contact surface and a bottom wall with a secondary contact surface, a first side wall between the top wall and the bottom wall and a second side wall between the top wall and the bottom wall;
a fastener holder extending from the first side wall of the body and aligned with the mounting member of the frame when the body is positioned within the wedge receiving channel, wherein the fastener is movably attached to the fastener holder and when the body is positioned within the wedge receiving channel the fastener is operatively engaged with the mounting member so that the fastener can move the body between a conductor receiving position and a conductor clamping position; and
a guide rail extending away from the body in a direction toward the track, the guide rail being adapted to interact with the track to guide the body within the wedge receiving channel when the body is moved between the conductor receiving position and the conductor clamping position, the guide rail being configured to contact the stop member to stop movement of the wedge out of the wedge receiving channel so as to retain the wedge at least partially within the frame.