US 12,112,911 B2
Electrical connector assemblies
Cristina Rosas Salazar, Andover, MA (US); Brent W. De Geus, Andover, MA (US); Rodney Powell, Andover, MA (US); Salaheddine Faik, Andover, MA (US); and Gary A. Volesky, Andover, MA (US)
Assigned to Schneider Electric USA, Inc., Boston, MA (US)
Filed by Schneider Electric USA, Inc., Boston, MA (US)
Filed on Nov. 30, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/538,955.
Prior Publication US 2023/0170161 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
Int. Cl. H01R 4/38 (2006.01); H01H 9/02 (2006.01); H01R 4/42 (2006.01)
CPC H01H 9/02 (2013.01) [H01R 4/38 (2013.01); H01R 4/42 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A circuit breaker, comprising:
a housing, comprising:
a connection opening configured to receive a conductor; and
a lug channel in communication with the connection opening;
a terminal extending into the lug channel;
a lug disposed within the lug channel and configured to be actuated between an open position relative to the terminal and the connection opening and a closed position relative to the terminal and the connection opening, wherein the lug defines a lug opening that extends into to the lug, wherein the terminal is positioned within the lug opening;
an actuator connected to the lug and configured to actuate the lug between the open position wherein the conductor is insertable through the connection opening into the lug opening to be between the lug and the terminal, and the closed position wherein the conductor is clamped between the terminal and the lug within the lug opening, wherein the actuator is a threaded screw held axially captive between the housing and configured to rotate relative to the housing, wherein the lug is meshed with the threaded screw to slide axially within the lug channel as a function of rotation of the threaded screw; and
one or more lug motion resistance features extending from at least one of the housing and the lug, wherein the one or more lug motion resistance features are configured to resist motion of the lug toward the closed position to retain the lug in the open position, wherein the one or more lug motion resistance features is/are positioned to engage the lug channel and the lug to one another at a top portion of the lug in the open position, wherein the top portion of the lug is defined where the actuator engages the lug.