US 12,218,470 B2
Insulation piercing wedge connector
Christopher Gilpin Chadbourne, Merrimack, NH (US)
Assigned to Hubbell Incorporated, Shelton, CT (US)
Filed by Hubbell Incorporated, Shelton, CT (US)
Filed on Nov. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/524,685.
Application 18/524,685 is a continuation of application No. 17/684,934, filed on Mar. 2, 2022, granted, now 11,843,211.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/155,431, filed on Mar. 2, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0106136 A1, Mar. 28, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H01R 4/24 (2018.01); H01R 4/2412 (2018.01); H01R 4/2495 (2018.01)
CPC H01R 4/2412 (2013.01) [H01R 4/2495 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrical connector comprising:
a clamp body having a substantially C-shaped configuration defining an interior cavity;
a wedge configured to be inserted into the clamp body, the wedge having a wedge body defining a conductor channel that extends along a channel axis and a plurality of fins extending from the wedge body into the conductor channel,
wherein each fin of the plurality of fins is unitarily formed with the wedge body;
wherein the plurality of fins includes a front fin, a first rear fin, and a second rear fin, wherein the rear fins are offset from the front fins in an offset direction perpendicular to an insertion direction of the wedge and to the channel axis;
wherein the plurality of fins is oriented to pierce an insulation layer of a conductor when the wedge is inserted into a clamp body;
wherein each of the fins includes a leading edge, an upper edge, and a trailing edge, and wherein the leading edge is curved; and
wherein the upper edge extends between the leading edge and the trailing edge along the channel axis of the conductor channel.