FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT 1970
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See section 10 and rule 13)

1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
"Modular Terminal Holder"
2. APPLICANT:
(a) NAME: Larsen & Toubro Limited
(b) NATIONALITY: Indian Company registered under the
provisions of the Companies Act-1956.
(c) ADDRESS: LARSEN & TOUBRO LIMITED,
L&T House, Ballard Estate, P. O. Box: 278, Mumbai 400 001, India
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION:
COMPLETE
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

Modular Terminal Holder
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to the field of switching devices, and more particularly, to a modular terminal holder for a switching device.
Background of the invention
The circuit switching devices and circuit interrupters such as circuit breakers, motor starters, motor controllers and other load controllers are used to protect electrical circuitry and equipments damage due to abnormal conditions, such as an overload condition or a relatively high level short circuit or fault condition.
Typically, the circuit breakers are connected to the electrical circuit by various means. The way in which the conductors are connected is called as "termination type." The termination type of the switching devices is made as per the environment chosen for it, for example the termination type may be standard type, box type or plug-in type. The conductors can be cables or solid conductors and the type of conductor also influences the termination type in use.
Hitherto, the manufactures have been unable to give the flexibility to switch over from one terminal type to another for the same switching device. They produce the terminals monolithically with the switching devices, without separately providing only terminals. Accordingly, when the type of terminal is required to be changed according to an installation environment of the switching devices, a user has to purchase the whole switching device having the same type of termination that he wants to get.

Also it is a primary requirement of the switching devices that there shall be sufficient enough clearance between live conducting part to another metal part or ground in order to minimize the chances of flashover.
In light of the same there exists a need for a circuit breakers that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.
Objects of the invention
The objective of disclosure is to provide a reliable, cost effective, easy to manufacture, and simple modular terminal holder for switching devices.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular terminal holder that gives the flexibility to change the terminal type very easily by operating a snap fit without the need of purchasing the whole switching device in order to replace only the type of terminal.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular terminal holder that provides sufficient clearance between the live terminal (and live metal part) to another live parts or ground.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular terminal holder
that provides proper fitment of the terminal holder and ensures the safe
i termination.
Further objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

Summary of the invention
Accordingly, the present invention provides a terminal connector for a circuit breaker, the terminal connector comprising a molded housing, a snap fitting arm extending from the molded housing, the snap fitting arm enables locking of the molded housing to the circuit breaker, a nut resting surface formed on the molded housing, the nut resting surface capable of receiving a nut for engaging a first kind of connector with the molded housing, a planer top portion capable of engaging a second kind of connector to the molded housing, a flange portion extending from an end portion of the planer top portion to provide electrical clearance, and a removable portion provided on the molded housing at a surface opposite to the planer top portion, the removable portion adapted to be removed for enabling engagement of a third kind of connector to the molded housing.
Brief description of drawings
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a terminal connector, according to an embodiment of this invention;
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of terminal connector along with a nut, according to an embodiment of this invention;
Figure 3 shows a bottom perspective view of the terminal connector, according to an embodiment of this invention;
Figure 4 shows a view of the terminal connector having a link connected thereto, according to an embodiment of this invention;

Figure 5 shows a view of the terminal connector having a spreader link connected thereto, according to an embodiment of this invention; Figure 6 shows a view of the terminal connector having a box clamp connected thereto, according to an embodiment of this invention;
Figure 7 shows a view of the terminal connector having a tunnel, according to an embodiment of this invention; •
Figure 8 shows a view of the terminal connector having a rear stud connected thereto, according to an embodiment of this invention; and
Figure 9 shows a view of the terminal connector having a Plug in type termination connected thereto, according to an embodiment of this invention.
Detailed description of the present invention
The foregoing objects of the invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiment.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a terminal connector (also referred to as "Nut retainer") for a switching device. The terminal connector enables a uses to change termination type i.e. standard termination, rear termination, box type and tunnel or plug in type easily by operating a snap fit, and without the need of changing the entire switching device. Further, the terminal connector for the switching device of the present invention also keeps sufficient clearance between a live terminal (and live metal part) to another live parts or ground.

Referring now to figure 1 through 9, there is shown a terminal connector (10), in accordance to various embodiments of the present invention. The terminal connector (10) is adapted to b used with a switching device (12), such as a low voltage circuit breaker (12),
The terminal connector (10) includes a molded housing (14), best illustrated in FIG. 1. The terminal connector (10) further includes a snap fitting arm (16) extending from the molded housing (14). The snap fitting arm (16) enables locking of the molded housing (14) to the circuit breaker (12). As best illustrated in FIG. 1, 2 and 3, the snap fitting arm (16) further includes a groove (17) for operating the snap fitting arm (16). Further, the snap fitting arm (16) further includes at least one groove (19) for mating with the enclosure of the circuit breaker (12).
Further, a nut resting surface (18) is formed on the molded housing (14). The nut resting surface (18) is designed to receive a nut (20) for engaging a first kind of connector with the molded housing (14). As shown in FIG 4, the first kind of connector (22) may be a link. Alternatively, the first kind of connector (22) may be a spreader link, shown in FIG. 5. The nut (20) may be a standard nut which is shown in figure 2, is required for fastening, nut shape can be hex or square. It may herein be noted that for the sake of the simplicity only single pole of the breaker has been shown in all figures. While terminating with bar, one has to put the nut (20) in the nut retainer (10) and tightening with the screw as shown in the figure.
The terminal connector (10) of the present invention further includes a planer top portion (24) defined on the top on molded housing (14). The planer top portion (24) is capable of engaging a second kind of connector (26) to the molded housing (14). The second kind of connector (26) may be a box clamp. A flange portion (28) extending from an end portion of the planer top portion (24) provides clearance. The flange portion (28), also referred to as "protection

flange," covers the bottom of box clamp and prevents it from coming out. This also increases the ground clearance for the same termination. The Fig 6 gives a clear idea on how nut retainer (terminal connector (10)) is being assembled with box type termination. In this kind of termination, nut retainer (terminal connector (10)) doesn't require standard nut and box clamp sits of the sitting surface, which provides support to box clamp. Figure 7 shows the termination with tunnel. This kind of termination is almost similar as with box clamp. Here also flange covers the sides of tunnel around fixed contact so as it fixes the location of tunnel and also prevents it from coming out.
The terminal connector (10) of the present invention furthermore includes a removable portion (30), best shown in FIG. 3, at bottom of the molded housing (14). Particularly, the removable portion (30) provided on the molded housing is at a surface opposite to the planer top portion (24).
The removable portion (30) also referred to as "a knock out portion," on the molded housing has one of a square, circular, rectangle, hex, and octagonal configuration. The removable portion (30) is adapted to be removed for enabling engagement of a third kind of connector (32) to the molded housing (14). The third kind of connector (32), as best shown in FIG. 8 and 9, may be a rear stud or a plug in stud. Further, a removal facilitating groove (34), shown in FIG. 3, is also provided on the terminal connector (10) at a front portion of molded housing.
Specifically, Figure 8 gives an idea about the modularity of nut retainer (10) with rear termination. In this termination knock out (removable portion (30)) has to be broken, which is easily breakable. Also here nut retainer doesn't require standard nut. Rear stud is being inserted in the slot provided for it (after breakage of knock out) and being fixed there. Threading turns need to provided in rear stud and screw tightens at terminal as shown in figure. The nut retainer

(10) also prevents the rotational moment of the rear stud by means of square slot for stud.
Further, figure 9 shows plug in type termination. In this termination also, knock out has to be broken. Also here nut retainer doesn't require standard nut. Plug in stud is being inserted in the slot provided for it (after breakage of knock out) and being fixed there. Threading turns need to provided in stud and screw tightens at terminal as shown in figure.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omission and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but such are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

We Claim:
1. A terminal connector for a circuit breaker, the terminal connector comprising;
a molded housing,
a snap fitting arm extending from the molded housing, the snap fitting arm enables locking of the molded housing to the circuit breaker,
a nut resting surface formed on the molded housing, the nut resting surface capable of receiving a nut for engaging a first kind of connector with the molded housing,
a planer top portion capable of engaging a second kind of connector to the molded housing,
a flange portion extending from an end portion of the planer top portion to provide electrical clearance, and
a removable portion provided on the molded housing at a surface opposite to the planer top portion, the removable portion adapted to be removed for enabling engagement of a third kind of connector to the molded housing.
2. The terminal connector for a circuit breaker as clamed in claim 1 wherein the snap fitting arm further includes a groove for operating the snap fitting arm.
3. The terminal connector for a circuit breaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein the snap fitting arm further includes at least one groove for mating with the enclosure of the circuit breaker.
4. The terminal connector for a circuit breaker as claimed in claim 1 wherein the removable portion on the molded housing has one of a square, circular, rectangle, hex, and octagonal configuration.

5. The terminal connector for a circuit breaker as claimed in claim 1
further comprising a removal facilitating groove on a front portion of molded housing.