Terminal Block Covering Means

Abstract

Cooperating first and second case members provide a compartment enclosing the terminals of a terminal block and the electrical leads connected thereto, one of the case members having a shelf for carrying the terminal block.

Description

This invention relates to a cover means; more particularly it relates to a cover means enclosing the terminals of a terminal block and the electrical leads connected to the terminals.

As is known in the art of printed circuits, electrical circuit paths are applied to or carried by a printed circuit board, with the various circuit paths terminated in a confined area at one end of the board. A terminal block containing electrical terminals is then connected to the board through jacks which electrically connect the terminals to the circuit paths, the jacks being part of the terminal block. Electrical leads are then connected to the terminals and then some sort of covering means is applied to the terminals and the electrical leads in the area of the terminals to protect the connections from damage. Prior to the present invention, the means and methods of providing a cover for the terminals involved some sort of hand wrapping procedure which was costly and time consuming.

The present invention is concerned with a cover means and has as one of its objects the provision of a cover means for enclosing the terminals carried by a terminal block, and the electrical leads connected to the terminals.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cover means for a terminal block which is simple and easy to produce.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a cover means for a terminal block which includes cooperating case members providing a compartment for the electrical leads, one of the case members including a shelf carrying the terminal block.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a cover means for a terminal block which includes cooperating case members forming a compartment, one of the case members having a shelf with an aperture therein for carrying the terminal block.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cover means for a terminal block which includes cooperating first and second case members each of said case members including four-sided walls, each of the walls having ears cooperating with each other, one of the case members having a shelf carrying the terminal block.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cover means of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the cover means showing its relationship with a terminal block;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 1.

Generally speaking, the objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a cover means for a terminal block including cooperating first and second case members providing a compartment enclosing the terminals of the terminal block and the electrical leads connected to the terminals, one of the case members including a shelf carrying the terminal block and exit means allowing the electrical leads to extend out of the compartment.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a cover means 10 which includes case members 12 and 14 cooperating with each other to provide a compartment 16. At least one of the members 14 includes a shelf means 18 which includes a base member 20 extending substantially normal to a wall 22, the base member including an elongated aperture 24 receiving a terminal block 26. Terminal block 26, which is constructed of an electrically insulative material, carries electrical terminals 28 and jacks 27 disposed within the block, the jacks electrically coupling the electrical terminals to electrical conducting means such as the electrically conductive paths of a printed circuit board. Electrical leads 30 are connected with electrical terminals 28 within the compartment 16, the leads extending through an exit means 32 from the compartment. The electrical leads may be kept in a neat group and in alignment with exit means 32 through retaining means 29. Retaining means 29 includes a metal strap 31 having apertures 35 and 35', and an insulative sleeve 37 disposed about the strap. After the leads are positioned, the strap is placed over them and secured to wall 22 by some suitable means such as screws and nuts (not shown), the screws extending through apertures 35, 35' and 39, 39'. As an alternative to the strap 31, a plastic cable tie or belt could be used, the tie being disposed about the leads, passed through the apertures and then tied together on either side of the wall 22. Exit means 32 includes an aperture 33 provided in one of the case members, which for illustrative purposes is shown as being an aperture or slot in member 12.

Case member 14 further includes ears 34 and 36 extending substantially normal to wall 22 from opposed sides thereof in the same direction as base 20 extends from the wall. As shown the ears may be formed by "bending over" a portion of the wall. Case member 12 includes a wall 38 having ears 40, 42, and 44 extending from three sides thereof substantially normal to the wall. As shown, aperture or slot 33 forming the exit means for the electrical leads is formed in ear 40. Also included as part of case member 12 are tabs 46 and 48 extending from opposed sides of the wall 38 in a plane substantially parallel to the shelf means 18 of member 14. Each of the tabs includes apertures 46' and 48'.

The cover means with the terminal block is assembled as follows: Electrical leads 30 are applied to the terminals 28 of the terminal block. The terminal block with the electrical leads are then inserted into aperture 24 of the shelf means 18 of case member 14. Retaining means 22 is applied to wall 22 to hold the electrical leads in place. Case member 12 is then brought together with case member 14 with the ears 34 and 36 overlapping ears 42 and 40. The case members are then secured together through screws 50 and 52 engaging threaded apertures 34', 36', 42', and 44'. Screws 54 and 56 are then fed through apertures 46', 26', and 48', 26" respectively, the screws then engaging and passing through threaded apertures 20' and 20", respectively. The screws can then be used to secure the whole assembly to a suitable frame (not shown).

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an elongated terminal block including means to electrically connect electrically conductive paths of printed circuit boards to electrical leads and a cover means substantially enclosing electrical terminals protruding from said electrical terminal block, said cover means including:

cooperating first and second case members providing a compartment enclosing said electrical terminals and said electrical leads,

said first case member including a wall having four sides, and a shelf including a base member having an elongated aperture receiving at least a portion of said elongated terminal block and extending substantially normal from one side thereof and ears extending substantially normal to said wall from two other opposed sides thereof in the same direction as said base,

said second case member including a wall having four sides and ears extending substantially normal from said wall from three sides thereof, two of said ears cooperating with said ears of said first case member to mate said case members together to provide said compartment, and

exit means allowing said electrical leads to extend out said compartment.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said cover means further includes means securing said electrical leads to one of said case members.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said exit means includes an aperture in the third ear of said second case member.

4. The combination according to claim 1 further including a strap connected to one of said wall, said strap receiving said electrical leads against said wall.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said cover means further includes means securing said base member to said terminal block.