IP Library Granted Patent US 12683304
Granted Patent B2
US 12683304 · App. 18/279,369 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Contact spring assembly for the self-locking contacting of a wire of an electrical conductor

Inventors: Norbert Kropiewnicki (Bielefeld, DE); Daniel Wesseler (Melle, DE); Sergej Zier (Löhne, DE); Nicole Spilker (Lübbecke, DE); Arno Westpfahl (Espelkamp, DE); Timm Meyrose (Espelkamp, DE)
Assignee: HARTING Electric Stiftung & Co. KG
H01R4/484H01R4/4821
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12683304
App. No.
18/279,369
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A contact spring assembly for the self-locking contacting of a wire ( 28 ) of an electrical conductor includes a support wall ( 24 ) made of a conductive material and a contact spring ( 10 ). The contact spring ( 10 ) has a base leg ( 20 ) held stationary with respect to the support wall and a clamping leg ( 18 ) which, together with the support wall ( 24 ), forms an insertion receptacle ( 26 ) for the wire ( 28 ) of the conductor. The insertion receptacle is tapered in the insertion direction. The base leg ( 20 ) of the contact spring transitions into a holding leg ( 22′ 22 ′), which is inserted into a receiving shaft ( 30 ) stationary with respect to the support wall ( 24 ) and has two detent projections ( 38 ), which protrude perpendicularly to the base leg in opposite directions and are locked to mating contours ( 34 ) on the walls of the receiving shaft.

Claims (29)

1 . A contact spring assembly for self-locking contacting of a wire ( 28 ), comprising:

a supporting wall ( 24 ) formed from a conductive material; and

a contact spring ( 10 ; 10 ′), the contact spring ( 10 ; 10 ′) having

a base leg ( 20 ; 20 ′) held stationary in relation to the supporting wall and a clamping leg ( 18 ),

wherein the clamping leg ( 18 ), together with the supporting wall ( 24 ), forms a plug-in receptacle ( 26 ) for the wire ( 28 ),

wherein the plug-in receptacle ( 26 ) tapers in an insertion direction,

wherein the base leg ( 20 ; 20 ′) of the contact spring merges into a holding leg ( 22 ; 22 ′),

wherein the holding leg ( 22 ; 22 ′) is inserted into a receiving shaft ( 30 ; 30 ′) stationary in relation to the supporting wall ( 24 ),

wherein the holding leg ( 22 ; 22 ′) has two latching projections ( 38 ; 38 ′),

wherein the two latching projections ( 38 ; 38 ′) project in opposite directions transversely to the base leg and are latched with mating contours ( 34 ; 34 ′) on walls of the receiving shaft ( 30 ; 30 ′),

wherein the receiving shaft ( 30 ; 30 ′) is formed by two parallel grooves,

wherein the two parallel grooves are open at least at one end,

wherein the holding leg ( 22 ; 22 ′) of the contact spring is of fork-shaped design,

wherein the mating contours for the latching projections ( 38 ; 38 ′) are formed on a web ( 34 ; 34 ′),

wherein the web ( 34 ; 34 ′) extends through a slot ( 36 ; 36 ′) formed between fork arms of the holding leg ( 22 ; 22 ′),

wherein the web ( 34 ; 34 ′) connects a bracket ( 32 ) to the supporting wall ( 24 ), and

wherein the bracket ( 32 ) forms an outer boundary of the two parallel grooves.

2 . The contact spring assembly as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the receiving shaft ( 30 ; 30 ′) is formed in an electrically conductive supporting structure ( 12 ; 12 ′), and

wherein the supporting structure ( 12 ; 12 ′) forms the supporting wall ( 24 ).

3 . The contact spring assembly as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the receiving shaft ( 30 ) extends parallel to the insertion direction of the plug-in receptacle ( 26 ).

4 . The contact spring assembly as claimed in claim 3 ,

wherein the latching projections ( 38 ) are designed as barbs.

5 . The contact spring assembly as claimed in claim 3 ,

wherein the slot ( 36 ′) of the holding leg ( 22 ′) is widened over a partial length of the slot ( 36 ′) by two mutually opposite indentations ( 40 ), and

wherein the latching projections ( 38 ′) are formed at one end of each of the two mutually opposite indentations.

6 . The contact spring assembly as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein the receiving shaft ( 30 ′) extends at right angles to the insertion direction of the plug-in receptacle ( 26 ).