US 12,394,920 B2
Screwless connection terminals with wire manager
Richard Benjamin Fabozzi, Shelton, CT (US); Brian John Gagner, Shelton, CT (US); Thomas L Scanzillo, Monroe, CT (US); and Edward Bazayev, Kew Gardens, NY (US)
Assigned to Hubbell Incorporated, Shelton, CT (US)
Filed by Hubbell Incorporated, Shelton, CT (US)
Filed on Sep. 26, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/953,067.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/248,609, filed on Sep. 27, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0094763 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. H01R 9/26 (2006.01); H01R 4/48 (2006.01)
CPC H01R 9/26 (2013.01) [H01R 4/4833 (2023.08); H01R 4/489 (2013.01); H01R 4/4816 (2023.08)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrical wiring device comprising:
a housing having a plurality of wire receiving apertures and a plurality of plunger openings; and
a plurality of contact assemblies positioned within the housing so that each of the plurality of contact assemblies is accessible from one of the plurality of wire receiving apertures and one of the plurality of plunger openings;
wherein each of the plurality of the contact assemblies includes:
a wire terminal including a clamp brace secured to a clamp spring and a wire manager, the clamp spring being movable relative to the clamp brace between a closed position where a wire can be clamped between the clamp spring and the clamp brace and an open position where a wire can be inserted through one of the plurality of wire receiving apertures and between the clamp spring and the clamp brace, the wire manager being positioned on the clamp brace or the clamp spring and configured to urge the wire between the clamp spring and the clamp brace toward a center of the clamp brace or the clamp spring such that the wire is concentrated in the center of the clamp brace or the clamp spring as the wire is clamped; and
a plunger positioned within the housing and extending at least partially through one of the plurality of plunger openings, the plunger being interactive with the clamp spring such that movement of the plunger in a first direction causes the plunger to apply a mechanical load to the clamp spring to cause the clamp spring to move from the closed position to the open position and movement of the plunger in a second direction that is opposite the first direction removes the mechanical load from the clamp spring so that to the clamp spring moves from the open position to the closed position.