阅读说明：本技术 弹力夹紧连接装置和具有弹力夹紧连接装置的端子 (Spring clamping connection device and terminal with spring clamping connection device ) 是由 彼得·莫塞尔 于 2021-06-18 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及弹力夹紧连接装置和具有弹力夹紧连接装置的端子,弹力夹紧连接装置(2)包括汇流排(3)和夹紧弹簧(4),夹紧弹簧具有接触腿(40)、与接触腿(40)相接的弹簧弓(41)和与弹簧弓相接的夹紧腿(42),夹紧腿在背对弹簧弓的自由端(420)具有一个夹紧部(421)以用于在夹紧部和汇流排之间形成导体夹持部位(K)以将导体(L)电连接至弹力夹紧连接装置。至少一个致动腿(43)在弹簧弓(41)和自由端(420)之间从夹紧腿起在远离接触腿的方向上延伸,致动腿具有致动部以便与用于打开导体夹持部位的释放元件配合。端子具有绝缘材料壳体以及根据本发明的至少一个至少部分被绝缘材料壳体容纳的弹力夹紧连接装置。(The invention relates to a spring-loaded clamp connection and a terminal having a spring-loaded clamp connection, the spring-loaded clamp connection (2) comprising a busbar (3) and a clamping spring (4) having a contact leg (40), a spring bow (41) adjoining the contact leg (40) and a clamping leg (42) adjoining the spring bow, the clamping leg having a clamping section (421) at a free end (420) facing away from the spring bow for forming a conductor clamping point (K) between the clamping section and the busbar for electrically connecting a conductor (L) to the spring-loaded clamp connection. At least one actuating leg (43) extends between the spring bow (41) and the free end (420) from the clamping leg in a direction away from the contact leg, the actuating leg having an actuating portion for cooperating with a release element for opening the conductor clamping site. The terminal has an insulating material housing and at least one spring-loaded clamping connection according to the invention which is at least partially accommodated by the insulating material housing.)

1. A spring-loaded connection device (2) for electrically connecting terminals (1), in particular connecting terminals or connecting terminals, of at least one conductor, the spring-loaded connection device (2) comprising:

a busbar (3), and

a clamping spring (4), the clamping spring (4) having a contact leg (40), a spring bow (41) adjoining the contact leg (40) and a clamping leg (42) adjoining the spring bow (41), wherein the clamping leg (42) has a clamping section (421) at a free end (420) facing away from the spring bow (41) for forming a conductor clamping point (K) between the clamping section (421) and the busbar (3) for electrically connecting a conductor (L) to the spring-force clamping connection (2),

wherein at least one actuating leg (43) extends between the spring bow (41) and the free end (420) from the clamping leg (42) in a direction away from the contact leg (40), wherein the actuating leg (43) has an actuating portion (430) for cooperating with a release element (5) for opening the conductor clamping point (K).

2. The spring-force clamp connection (2) according to claim 1, wherein at least the spring bow (41) or the clamping spring (4) is of substantially U-shaped design.

3. The resilient clamp connection (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the actuation leg (43) extends away from the clamping leg (42) beside the clamping leg (42), preferably two actuation legs (43) extend away from the clamping leg (42) on both sides of the clamping leg (42).

4. The resilient clamp connection (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the actuation portion (430) is provided on a free end (431) of the actuation leg (43) facing away from the clamping leg (42).

5. The spring-clip connection (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuating leg (43) has an arcuate section (432) on a free end (431) facing away from the clamping leg (42), preferably on the actuating section (430), which arcuate section is preferably curved in the direction of the clamping section (421) or the conductor clamping point (K).

6. The resilient clamp connection (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the busbar (3) has a conductor through opening (31).

7. The spring-force clamp connection (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the clamping spring (4) is mounted with its contact leg (40) in the busbar (3), preferably suspended in the busbar (3) and particularly preferably on a support side (32) of the conductor through opening (31), such that the clamping leg (42) bears against the busbar (3) on a side (33) facing away from the support side (32) to form the conductor clamping point (K) and optionally at least partially opens the conductor through opening (31) in a conductor insertion direction (E) when the conductor clamping point (K) is open.

8. The spring-grip connection (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the gripping section (421) is designed as a gripping edge.

9. Terminal (1), in particular a connection terminal or a connection terminal, for electrically connecting at least one conductor, having an insulating material housing (6) and at least one spring-loaded clamping connection (2) according to one of the preceding claims, which is at least partially accommodated by the insulating material housing (6).

10. Terminal (1) according to claim 9, wherein the clamping leg (42) and each actuation leg (43), at least the actuation portion (430) of the respective actuation leg (43), can be separated from each other by an intermediate wall (63) formed by the insulating material housing (6), preferably in each actuation position of the clamping spring (4).

11. A terminal (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the insulating material housing (6) has at least one conductor insertion channel (60) per conductor clamping location (K) which extends in a conductor insertion direction (E) up to the conductor clamping location (K), wherein the intermediate wall (63) preferably delimits the conductor insertion channel (60) at least partially laterally.

12. A terminal (1) according to any of claims 9-11, further comprising a release element (5), such as a release lever or a release slider, movable between a rest position in which the clamping leg (42) enters a closed position of the conductor clamping location (K) and an actuated position in which the release element (5) cooperates with the actuating leg (43) to open the conductor clamping location (K).

13. A terminal (1) according to claim 12, wherein the release element (5) is arranged on the opposite side of the clamping leg (42) to the contact leg (40).

14. A terminal (1) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the release element (5) is designed flat, preferably extending substantially in one plane, wherein the release element (5) in the rest position preferably extends along one side of the insulating-material housing (6) or substantially alongside the spring-grip connection device (2) or alongside the conductor insertion channel (60) or parallel to a conductor insertion direction (E).

15. A terminal (1) according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the release element (5) has a clamping spring actuation portion (50) and a lever actuation portion (51), by means of which clamping spring actuation portion (50) the release element (5) cooperates with the actuation leg (43), preferably with an actuation portion (430) of the actuation leg (43), at least in the actuation position, for opening the conductor clamping position (K), the lever actuation portion (51) being used for moving the release element (5) between the rest position and the actuation position, wherein the clamping spring actuation portion (50) and the lever actuation portion (51) are preferably provided on opposite ends of the release element (5).

16. A terminal (1) according to any of claims 12 to 15, wherein the release element (5) is rotatably and/or translatably mounted in the insulating material housing (6) for movement between the rest position and the actuated position.

17. A terminal (1) according to claim 16, wherein in the rotationally mounted condition the rotational axis (D) of the release element (5) extends preferably transversely or perpendicularly to the spring-grip connection means (2) and preferably transversely or perpendicularly to a conductor insertion direction (E) or a conductor insertion channel (60), particularly preferably the rotational axis (D) extends laterally outside the conductor insertion channel (60).

18. A terminal (1) according to any of claims 12 to 17, wherein the release element (5) has a bearing (52) for being rotatably and/or translatably mounted in the insulating material housing (6), wherein the bearing (52) is preferably arranged between the clamping spring actuation portion (50) and the lever actuation portion (51).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a resilient force clamping connection and a terminal (terminal block) equipped with the same.

Background

Spring-loaded clamping connection devices and terminals equipped with them are known from the prior art. Here, the spring-loaded clamping connection is usually accommodated in an insulating material housing of the terminal. The spring-loaded clamp connection generally has a busbar (busbar) and a clamping spring held in the busbar. The clamping spring has pivotable clamping legs, the free ends of which together with the busbar form a clamping point which can be selectively opened for inserting or removing an electrical conductor. For opening, a separate tool can be pressed onto the clamping spring, which can be inserted into the housing, for example, through an opening projecting toward the clamping spring. It is also known to incorporate a release element, such as a lever or push rod, in the terminal itself, which, by a defined movement, causes the clamping spring to rotate outwards to open the clamping point. Since the clamping spring is integrated into the insulating material housing, in particular for safety reasons, but the release lever must be accessible to the operator from the outside, the corresponding release element is generally designed to be rather large and/or to protrude far from the insulating material housing, thus limiting the possible miniaturisation of such a terminal.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a spring-loaded clamping connection and a terminal equipped therewith, which overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art and in particular allow a construction which is as compact as possible.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a spring-loaded clamping connection for a terminal, in particular a connecting terminal or connecting terminal, for electrically connecting at least one conductor. The spring-loaded clamp connection has a busbar and at least one clamping spring. Two or more clamping springs can also be provided for each busbar, which can particularly preferably be arranged side by side in series or opposite one another. The clamping spring has a contact leg, a spring bow connected to the contact leg, and a clamping leg connected to the spring bow. The clamping leg has a clamping portion at a free end facing away from the spring clip for forming a conductor clamping point (also referred to below as clamping point) between the clamping portion and the busbar for electrically connecting the conductor to the spring-loaded clamping connection. At least one actuating leg extends between the spring bow and the free end from the clamping leg in a direction away from the contact leg (i.e., generally upwardly or laterally from the clamping spring or the region defined by the contact leg, the spring bow and the clamping leg or, if present, the U-shape of the clamping spring). The actuating leg has an actuating portion for cooperating with a release element for opening the conductor clamping site. The actuating portion should therefore preferably be designed such that it can rotate the clamping leg when it interacts with the release element, so that the clamping point can be opened for insertion/removal of the electrical conductor.

The approach travel of the release element can be shortened because of the actuating leg or portion which projects laterally upwards from the clamping spring. Thus, the release element does not have to be advanced all the way to the "real clamping spring" (i.e. in particular to the clamping leg), since the clamping spring can already be actuated at the upright tab (i.e. the actuating leg). The individual release element can therefore be designed to be small, without it entering too deeply into the terminal in order to open the clamping site. In particular when using such a spring-loaded clamping connection in a terminal with an insulating material housing and an integrated release element, the latter can be designed to be smaller and preferably also flatter, so that the overall size can be reduced compared to known solutions.

At least the spring bow or the entire clamping spring can preferably be designed substantially in the shape of a U. In this way, a particularly compact clamping spring can be provided. In the context of the present invention, "substantially U-shaped" is intended to mean that the basic shape has two opposing legs (here contact legs, clamping legs) which are aligned substantially at least partially obliquely and/or parallel to one another and are connected to one another by a further leg (here a spring bow). The three elements "contact leg", "spring bow" and "clamping leg" can therefore preferably substantially form or define the U-shape of the clamping spring.

Regardless of whether the clamping spring is U-shaped, the legs (contact legs, spring bows, clamping legs, actuating legs) themselves may have any number of angled and/or curved sections.

The bus bar and the clamping spring are preferably made of metal, preferably sheet metal. These components are particularly preferably produced by stamping and bending.

Both the bus bar and the clamping spring are preferably designed as stamped and bent parts. In this case, it is particularly preferred if the actuating leg is punched out of the clamping spring and is correspondingly bent upward (for example toward the release element).

The clamping portion is preferably designed to clamp the edge so as to preferably provide a large or concentrated clamping force.

The at least one actuating leg can preferably extend laterally of the clamping leg, respectively away from the clamping leg. It is particularly preferred to provide two actuating legs, which then extend away from the clamping leg on both sides of the clamping leg. The lateral arrangement of the actuating leg with respect to the clamping leg on the one hand results in easy access to the actuating wall and on the other hand does not functionally interfere with the active region of the clamping spring (in particular the conductor insertion channel). Thus, the clamping legs and the actuating legs are functionally arranged laterally side by side. The arrangement of the actuating legs on both sides with respect to the clamping legs also has the advantage that the force is distributed as evenly as possible when opening the clamping point.

The actuating portion may preferably be arranged at the free end of the actuating leg facing away from the clamping leg. The actuating portion is therefore preferably provided exposed to the maximum extent and can be safely reached and actuated for any type of release element.

The actuating leg preferably has an arcuate portion at the free end facing away from the clamping leg, preferably on the actuating portion. A reliable interaction (e.g. no jamming) of the actuating portion and the release element can thus be achieved. The actuating part is preferably bent in the direction of the clamping part or the clamping edge or the conductor clamping point, so that the action of the actuating part on the side facing away from the clamping part can be reliably performed, which in particular allows a force action and a preferred kinematics which are as low as possible.

The busbar can preferably have a conductor through opening. The clamping point is preferably located next to and in front of the conductor through opening, in particular as viewed in the direction of insertion of the conductor. The inserted electrical conductor can thus be reliably received and electrically contacted.

The clamping spring can preferably be mounted with its contact leg in the busbar and is preferably suspended in the busbar. In this case, the clamping spring can be mounted/suspended on the support side of the conductor through-opening, particularly preferably in such a way that the clamping leg bears against the busbar on the side facing away from the support side to form a conductor clamping point and preferably opens the conductor through-opening at least partially in the conductor insertion direction when the conductor clamping point is open. The clamp spring can be firmly held.

Furthermore, the clamping leg can preferably extend obliquely with respect to the conductor insertion direction, in order to thereby form a lead-in chamfer as far as the clamping point for the electrical conductor to be inserted.

According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a terminal, in particular a connecting terminal or connecting terminal, for electrically connecting at least one electrical conductor, having an insulating material housing and at least one spring-loaded clamping connection according to the invention, which is accommodated at least partially by the insulating material housing.

A terminal with a spring-loaded clamping connection according to the invention is therefore provided, which brings about all the advantages mentioned above on the one hand. On the other hand, the spring-loaded clamping connection can be reliably provided in the insulating material housing and is preferably securely accommodated or mounted in the insulating material housing.

The insulating material housing is preferably made of plastic. The insulating material housing is preferably injection molded. The insulating material housing may be of one-piece or multi-piece design.

The clamping leg and each actuating leg, at least the actuating section of the respective actuating leg, can preferably be separated from one another by an intermediate wall formed by a housing of insulating material, which is particularly preferably achieved in each actuating position of the clamping spring. For this purpose, the intermediate wall can have corresponding recesses as required to allow a corresponding separation over the entire range of movement of the clamping legs and thus of the actuating legs. In this way, the actuating section on the one hand and the clamping legs or gripping sections on the other hand can be spatially separated from one another in the lateral direction, so that there is no interference between the release element, if any, and the electrical conductor inserted into the conductor insertion space or the terminal space. This enhances the safety of the terminal and its stable operation.

The insulating material housing can preferably have at least one conductor insertion channel for each clamping point or clamping spring, which extends in the conductor insertion direction to the conductor clamping point. The insulating housing connection pipe can therefore guide the conductor to the clamping point as intended. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the intermediate wall at least partially laterally delimits the conductor insertion channel, so that the intermediate wall can also have a conductor guiding function.

The terminal can also have a release element (e.g. a release lever or a release slider) which can be moved between a rest position in which the clamping leg is moved into the closed position of the conductor clamping location and an actuating position in which the release element cooperates with the actuating leg to open the conductor clamping location. By integrating the release element into the terminal, its functionality can be improved and a separate release element can be omitted.

The release element is preferably made of plastic. The release element is preferably manufactured in an injection molding process.

The release element may preferably be arranged on the opposite side of the clamping leg to the contact leg. In this way, the release element can easily access the actuating leg or the actuating portion thereof. Furthermore, this relative arrangement facilitates a particularly compact construction of the terminal with the release element.

The release element can preferably be designed to be flat and preferably also to extend substantially in one plane. This is easy to achieve and contributes to the terminal having an overall particularly flat configuration, since the actuating leg extends towards the release element. In this case, in the rest position, the release element can preferably extend along one side of the insulating material housing or substantially alongside the spring terminal arrangement or alongside the conductor insertion channel or parallel to the conductor insertion direction, which in turn indicates a particularly preferred positioning and orientation for a compact arrangement.

The release element can preferably have a clamping spring actuation part which thereby cooperates with the actuation leg, and preferably the actuation part thereof, at least in the actuation position, in order to open the conductor clamping point. Furthermore, the release element may have a lever actuation portion for moving the release element between the rest position and the actuated position. In this case, the clamping spring actuation and the lever actuation are particularly preferably arranged at opposite ends of the release element. In this way, the lever force can be advantageously distributed, so that on the one hand the operator can easily open the clamping point and on the other hand the force acting on the insulating material housing is kept as small as possible.

The release element is preferably rotatably and/or translatably mounted in the housing for movement between a rest position and an actuated position. Here, a release lever is also conceivable, which can be pivoted about an axis of rotation, for example mounted in a housing. A release slider is also conceivable, which on the one hand can be moved in translation along a corresponding guide structure in the release slider, on the other hand in the insulating material housing. Other embodiments of the release element are also contemplated and are likewise encompassed by the present invention.

In the case of a swivel mounting, the axis of rotation of the release element can preferably extend transversely or perpendicularly to the spring-loaded clamp connection and preferably transversely or perpendicularly to the conductor insertion direction or the conductor insertion channel. Particularly preferably, the axis of rotation extends laterally outside the conductor insertion channel. In this way, a kinematically preferred mounting of the release element can be achieved. In addition, on the one hand a compact construction can be achieved (in particular because the actuating leg according to the invention and therewith the release element can be constructed compactly), while on the other hand a collision between the axis of rotation and the conductor to be inserted is also avoided.

The release element may preferably have a bearing for a rotational and/or translational mounting in the insulating material housing. The insulating material housing then preferably has corresponding bearing portions. A reliable and defined mounting is thus possible. The bearing is particularly preferably arranged between the clamping spring actuation and the lever actuation, so that the release element can be designed in a kinematically optimized manner, while at the same time being as compact as possible. In this way, an advantageous distribution of forces can also be achieved due to the given lever arm.

Drawings

Other designs, features and advantages of the present invention are described below in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of a terminal of the invention with a resilient clamping connection according to an embodiment of the invention,

fig. 2A shows a side sectional view of the terminal according to fig. 1, when the release element (release lever) and thus the clamping site of the spring-loaded clamping connection are closed,

fig. 2B shows a side sectional view of the clamp according to fig. 1, with the release element (release lever) open and thus the clamping site of the spring-loaded clamping connection opened,

fig. 3A shows a front sectional view of the terminal according to fig. 1, when the release element (release lever) and thus the clamping site of the spring-loaded clamping connection are closed,

fig. 3B shows a front sectional view of the terminal according to fig. 1, when the release element (release lever) is open and thus the clamping site of the spring-loaded clamping connection is open,

fig. 4A shows a side view of the spring force clamping connection according to the invention and of the release element (release lever) of the terminal according to fig. 1, with the release element (release lever) closed and thus the clamping site of the spring force clamping connection closed,

fig. 4B shows a side view of the spring force clamping connection according to the invention and the release element (release lever) of the terminal according to fig. 1, when the release element (release lever) is slightly open and the clamping site of the spring force clamping connection is still closed,

fig. 4C shows a side view of the spring force clamping connection according to the invention and of the release element (release lever) of the terminal according to fig. 1, with the release element (release lever) closed and thus the clamping site of the spring force clamping connection closed,

figure 5A shows a front view of the resilient clamp connection according to the present invention according to an embodiment,

FIG. 5B shows a side view of the spring-force clamping connection according to FIG. 5A, an

Fig. 5C shows a perspective view of the spring force clamping connection according to fig. 5A.

Detailed Description

The figures show different views of a terminal 1 according to the invention and of a spring-loaded clamp connection 2 according to the invention for such a terminal 1. The terminal 1 is preferably a connection terminal or a connecting terminal. The terminal 1 and the spring-loaded clamping connection 2 serve for the electrical connection of at least one electrical conductor.

First, the elastic force clamping connection device 2 is described with reference to fig. 2A to 5C (i.e., fig. 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 4C, 5A, 5B, and 5C).

The spring-loaded clamp connection 2 has a busbar 3 and at least one clamping spring 4. The clamping spring 4 can preferably be designed substantially in a U-shape, as shown in the figures. In the exemplary embodiment shown, three clamping springs 4 are provided for each busbar 3, which are provided or arranged in series next to one another, as can be seen in particular from fig. 5A and 5C. However, it is also conceivable for fewer or more clamping springs 4 to be provided per busbar 3 and for the clamping springs to also be arranged in a different manner relative to one another (for example opposite one another). Here, the present invention is not limited to the number and arrangement of the clamping springs 4 per bus bar 3.

The clamping spring 4 in turn has a contact leg 40, a spring bow 41 adjoining the contact leg 40 and a clamping leg 42 adjoining the spring bow 41. Here, according to the embodiment shown, these three elements 40-42 substantially form the U-shape of the clamping spring 4, as can be seen, for example, in fig. 2A, 3A, 4A and 5B. Preferably, at least the spring bracket 41 is designed in a U-shape.

At the free end 420 facing away from the spring bracket 41, the clamping leg 42 has a clamping portion 421 for forming a conductor clamping point K between the clamping portion 421 and the busbar 3 in order to electrically connect the conductor to the spring-loaded clamp connection 2. The busbar 3 preferably has a clamping edge 30, against which the clamping part 421 bears firmly and against which the clamping leg 42 or its clamping part 421 is pressed by the spring force of the clamping spring 4. The clamping portion 421 is preferably designed as a clamping edge in order to provide as concentrated a clamping force as possible for a reliable connection of the electrical conductor in the conductor clamping location K.

As can be seen, for example, from fig. 2A, 2B and 5C, the busbar 3 can have a conductor through opening 31. It is preferably arranged behind the clamping point K, viewed in the conductor insertion direction E. Thus, the conductors that interface with the spring-loaded clamp connection 2 are securely received in the busbar 3, thereby ensuring a secure electrical contact.

The clamping spring 4 is preferably mounted with its contact leg 40 in the busbar 3. Preferably, as shown for example in fig. 5B and 5C, the contact leg 40 is suspended for this purpose in the busbar 3, which is preferably suspended with a support 400 at its free end 401 opposite the spring bow 41. For this purpose, the contact leg 40 can be particularly preferably mounted or suspended on the conductor through opening 31 or the support side 32 of the busbar 3 in such a way that the clamping leg 42 abuts against the busbar 3 on the side 33 facing away from the support side 32 to form a conductor clamping point K and optionally opens the conductor through opening 31 at least partially in the conductor insertion direction E when the conductor clamping point K is open, as can be seen, for example, from the overview of fig. 5A, 4A and 4C.

According to the invention, at least one actuating leg 43 extends from the clamping leg 42 between the spring bow 41 and the free end 420 in a direction away from the contact leg 40; and thus extend upwardly away in the illustrated view.

As can be seen in particular from fig. 5A and 5C, the actuating leg 43 extends away from the clamping leg 42, preferably laterally to the clamping leg 42. In the preferred embodiment shown here, the clamping spring 4 has two actuating legs 43. They then preferably extend away from the clamping leg 42 on both sides of the clamping leg 42, respectively.

The actuating leg 43 has an actuating portion 430 to cooperate with the release element 5 for opening the conductor clamping site K.

As can be gathered, for example, from fig. 4A to 5C, the actuating portion 430 can be arranged on a free end 431 of the actuating leg 43 facing away from the clamping leg 42.

As is shown, for example, in fig. 4A to 5C, the actuating leg 43 can have an arcuate portion 432 at a free end 431 facing away from the clamping leg 42, preferably at the actuating portion 430, which arcuate portion is preferably curved in the direction of the clamping portion or clamping edge 421 or conductor clamping point K. The release element 5 can thus act particularly easily on the actuating leg 43, as can be seen, for example, from fig. 2A to 2B and 4A to 4C.

In principle, the individual legs of the clamping spring 4 (i.e. leg 40, spring bow 41, clamping leg 42, actuating leg 43) can have any number of sections that are angled and/or curved relative to one another. The clamping spring 4 or its spring bow 41 is also not limited to a U-shape.

Now, the terminal 1 of the present invention described above will be described below with reference to fig. 1 to 3B in particular.

The terminal 1 has an insulating material housing 6 and at least one spring-loaded clamping connection 2 according to the invention, which is accommodated at least partially, here completely, by the insulating material housing 6, as has been illustrated above with reference to fig. 2A to 5C.

The insulating material housing 6 can have at least one conductor insertion channel 60 for each clamping point K or clamping spring 4, which extends in the conductor insertion direction E up to the conductor clamping point K. Viewed in the conductor insertion direction E, the channel 60 is preferably delimited all around by an insulating material housing, which thus forms a channel wall 61 that is preferably closed on the circumferential side and thus forms the conductor insertion channel 60 shown here. The conductor insertion channel 60 is preferably tapered towards the clamping location K to thus form a conductor insertion funnel in order to reliably guide the conductor to the clamping location K in a simple manner.

Preferably, the elastic clamping connection 2 is provided in the insulating material housing 6 in such a way that the clamping spring 4 is aligned with the spring bow 41 forward of the insertion opening 62 of the conductor insertion channel 60, as can be seen in particular in fig. 2A and 2B. The clamping spring 4 is therefore arranged such that the contact leg 40 and the clamping leg 42 extend in the conductor insertion direction E away from the spring bracket 41 toward the clamping point K. In this case, the clamping leg 42 is preferably arranged such that it extends transversely through the conductor insertion channel 60 in the closed rest position of the clamping spring 4 or of the clamping point K and thus serves as a lead-in ramp for a conductor to be inserted into the spring-loaded clamp connection 2 or into the conductor insertion channel 60.

The clamping legs 42 and each actuating leg 43, at least the actuating portion 430 of the respective actuating leg 43, may be separated from each other by an intermediate wall 63 formed by the insulating material housing 6, the intermediate wall 63 being formed by the insulating material housing 6, preferably in each actuating position of the clamping spring 4. This is illustrated in fig. 2A and 2B by the dashed lines of the actuating leg 43 and can be seen in fig. 3A and 3B. As can also be seen in said figures, according to the embodiment shown, the intermediate wall 63 preferably delimits the conductor insertion channel 60 at least partially in a lateral direction. Thus, a spatial separation can be provided between the conductor insertion channel 60 or the terminal space 65 on the one hand and the actuating space 64 accommodating the actuating leg 43 or the actuating portion 430 on the other hand. Intermediate wall 63 preferably has a recess 630 for achieving a corresponding separation over the entire movement path of clamping spring 4 (i.e. of clamping leg 42 and thus of actuating leg 43) over the entire movement travel of clamping spring 4 (i.e. of clamping leg 42 and thus of actuating leg 43) when clamping leg 42 and actuating leg 43 or actuating portion 430 are spatially separated.

The upwardly projecting actuating leg 43 here offers the possibility of shortening the approach travel of the release element to the actuating section. Thus, the release element does not have to be advanced all the way to the "real clamping spring 4" (i.e. in particular up to the clamping leg 42), since the clamping spring 4 can already be actuated at the upright tab (i.e. the actuating leg 43). As a release element, it is conceivable, for example, to use a separate component, such as a screwdriver, by means of which the actuating leg 43 or its actuating section 430 is acted on and thus the clamping leg 42 can be moved downward in this case to open the clamping point K. For this purpose, the insulating material housing can have a corresponding continuous channel between the actuating portion 430 and the outer side of the terminal 1 (here, for example, upwardly away from the actuating portion 430). It is also contemplated to provide a push rod in such a channel.

However, according to a particularly preferred embodiment, it is also conceivable for the terminal 1 itself to also have a release element 5, such as the release lever or also the release slider shown here. The release element 5 is then movable between a rest position (see, for example, fig. 1, 2A, 3A, 4A), in which the clamping legs 42 enter the closed position of the conductor clamping location K, and an actuated position (see, for example, fig. 2B, 3B, 4C), in which the release element 5 cooperates with the actuating legs 43 (or the actuating portions 430 thereof) such that the conductor clamping location K is opened. By providing the actuation portion 430 in the form of an arcuate portion 432, a reliable and easy actuation can be achieved during the entire actuation stroke of the release element 5.

The release element 5 can preferably be arranged on the opposite side of the clamping leg 42 from the contact leg 40 (i.e. here above the clamping leg 42), whereby the release element 5 can be positioned particularly advantageously and close to the actuating portion 430.

The release element 5 is preferably of flat design and, as can be seen in particular from fig. 2A to 4C, extends in particular preferably substantially in one plane.

As can be seen, for example, in fig. 1, 2A and 4A, the release element 5 can preferably extend in the rest position along one side (here the top side) of the insulating-material housing 6 or essentially alongside (here the top side/above) the spring-loaded clamp connection 2 or alongside (here the top side/above) the conductor insertion channel 60 or parallel to the conductor insertion direction E in order to form a particularly flat terminal 1.

The release element 5 can have a clamping spring actuation 50, by means of which the release element cooperates at least in the actuation position (see for example fig. 2B, 3B, 4C) with the actuation leg 43, preferably the actuation part 430 thereof, to open the conductor clamping site K. Furthermore, the release element 5 may have a lever actuation portion 51 for moving the release element 5 by a user between the rest position and the actuation position. The clamping spring actuation part 50 and the lever actuation part 51 may preferably be arranged on opposite ends of the release element 5, as is apparent from fig. 2A to 4C.

The release element 5 can be moved between the rest position and the actuated position in different ways, preferably in a defined movement. Thus, as shown in the embodiment, the release element 5 can, for example, be rotatably mounted in the housing for movement between a rest position and an actuating position. A translatory mounting (e.g. by means of a release slider) or a rotational and translatory mounting in the housing is also conceivable.

In the case of the rotary mounting shown here, the axis of rotation D of the release element 5 can preferably extend transversely or perpendicularly to the spring-loaded clamp connection 2 and preferably transversely or perpendicularly to the conductor insertion direction E or the conductor insertion channel 60. As can be seen in particular from fig. 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B, the axis of rotation D can in this case particularly preferably extend laterally outside (in this case above) the conductor insertion channel 60.

The release element 5 may preferably have a bearing 52 for rotational and/or translational mounting in the insulating material housing 6. Here, it can be a shaft portion 52, which is shown by way of example here and is formed here with a center on the axis of rotation D in order to allow the release element 5 to be rotatable about the axis of rotation. The bearing part 52 is preferably mounted in a corresponding bearing part 64 of the insulating material housing 6. In the case of a translatory mounting, it is conceivable for the release lever 5 on the one hand and the insulating material housing 6 on the other hand to have corresponding bearing points in the form of rail-like guide means. The bearing 52 is preferably arranged between the clamping spring actuation 50 and the lever actuation 51, as can be seen in particular from fig. 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B.

Furthermore, the release element 5 can have a latching structure 53, by means of which the release element can preferably be releasably secured in this case at least in the rest position. The latching structures 53 preferably engage in a locking manner with corresponding latching structures 66 of the insulating material housing 6, as can be seen, for example, from fig. 2A.

The clamping spring actuation portion 50 may preferably have an actuation bearing 54 projecting in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation D. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the release element has two such actuating bearings 54, which preferably project toward one another here, as can be seen in particular from fig. 3B. Between the actuating bearing 54 and the bearing 52, a guide arch 67 can preferably be provided in the insulating material housing 6, along which guide arch the actuating bearing 54 is moved in a rotational movement about the axis of rotation and on which the release element 5 bears. The release element 5 is therefore firmly mounted in the insulating-material housing 6 even in the open actuating position. The release element 5 then has, on its side facing away from the guide bow 67, a release actuator 55 of the clamping spring actuator 50, which cooperates with the actuator 430 to open the clamping spring 4. Here, the release actuator 55 preferably has a curved shape so as to reliably cooperate with the actuator 430. Since in the actuating position of the release element 5 the clamping spring actuating part 50 or its release actuating part 55 is arranged between the clamping spring 4 (or the actuating leg 43 or its actuating part 430) on the one hand and the insulating material housing 6 or its guide bow 67 on the other hand, the lever force for opening the clamping point K or the load acting on the insulating material housing 6 can be minimized.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as long as it is covered by the subject matter of the appended claims.