PROTECTIVE EARTHING CONTACT AND CONDUCTOR CONNECTION TERMINAL

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a protective earthing contact for the electrically conductive connection of a protective earth conductor with an electrically conductive carrier element, wherein the protective earthing contact has a base section, wherein two side elements project from the base section and each side element has an upper area, wherein the upper areas form a locking area for clamping the protective earthing contact to the carrier element and wherein at least one side element has a protective earth contact element for electrically conductive contacting of the carrier element.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention relates to a conductor terminal with a housing having a busbar, with a spring-loaded clamping connection, wherein the busbar and the spring-loaded clamping connection form a clamping point for an electrical conductor to be clamped, and with a protective earthing contact mentioned above for the electrically conductive connection of a protective earth conductor to the busbar, wherein the protective earthing contact has a base section, wherein two side elements project from the base section and each side element has an upper section, wherein the upper sections form a locking area for clamping the protective earthing contact to the busbar and wherein at least one side element has a protective earth contact element for electrically conductive contacting of the carrier element.

[0003] For mains connection terminals, a protective earthing contact is mandatory. Such protective earthing contacts must be securely mounted and functional. One disadvantage resulting from this is the increased overall height of the mains connection terminal, which, particularly in the lighting industry, is limited by other components of the luminaire. A further disadvantage can arise if the same protective earthing contact is repeatedly installed, potentially damaging the tinned contact surfaces, thus compromising the reliable function of the protective earthing contact after repeated installations.

[0004] DE 20 2008 017 145 U1 discloses a grounding contact for an earthing rail. EP 0 327 703 A2 discloses a connection terminal for electrical devices with a protective earthing contact. DE 20 2018 101 445 U1 discloses a connection terminal for the electrical connection of an electrical load to the installation wiring of a building.

[0005] Based on this, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved protective earthing contact. Furthermore, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved conductor connection terminal.

[0006] The problem is solved by a protective earthing contact having the features of claim 1 and by a conductor connection terminal having the features of claim 10. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0007] In the case of the generic protective earthing contact, it is proposed that each of the upper areas has a contacting area, with the locking area and the protective earth contact element being arranged at essentially the same height in relation to the base section.

[0008] Separating the locking area from the protective earth contact element reduces the risk of damage to the protective earth contact element. When the protective earth contact is installed, the upper sections in the locking area expand to allow the carrier element to move between the contact areas. Because the protective earth contact element is positioned at the same height as the locking area relative to the base section, it also expands by the same amount as the upper sections, allowing it to pass a contact area of ​​the carrier element without making contact. Once the carrier element is fully inserted between the contact areas, the upper sections spring back to their initial position and clamp the protective earth contact to the carrier element. Simultaneously, the protective earth contact element also springs back to its initial position and makes contact with the contact area of ​​the carrier element.

[0009] The locking zone is the area in which the carrier element is guided between the contact areas of the protective earthing contact. The carrier element is held in position between the contact areas after being guided. The contact areas are therefore directly adjacent to the locking zone.

[0010] The term "expansion" refers specifically to an elastic deformation of the side elements, particularly their upper regions. Elastic deformation occurs when a force is applied to the side elements; upon removal of the force, the side elements return to their original shape without any residual deformation.

[0011] The upper section is the area of ​​a side element that is located at the end of the side element opposite the base section. The upper section and the base section are therefore located at opposite ends of the respective side element.

[0012] Essentially at the same height means, in particular, that the protective earth contact element and the locking area do not have to be exactly the same height with respect to the base section. Use according to the invention is also possible with a deviation of ±15% with respect to the height of the protective earth contact element and the height of the locking area.

[0013] The height is the length that exists in the longitudinal direction of the side elements both between the base section and the resting area and between the base section and the protective earth contact element.

[0014] At least one of the upper sections may have a chamfer in the area of ​​the resting area, wherein the end of the chamfer facing the contacting areas and the protective earth contact element are arranged at substantially the same height with respect to the base section.

[0015] The chamfer makes it easier to guide the carrier element between the contact areas. Furthermore, the side elements widen continuously in the upper areas, without requiring significant force to guide the carrier element between the contact areas.

[0016] The protective earth contact element can be designed for a force-fit connection with the support element.

[0017] The positive connection securely contacts the protective earth contact element on the carrier element and thus on a corresponding protective earth conductor. A positive connection can be achieved, for example, by requiring the protective earth contact element to first pass the contact area of ​​the carrier element during installation. Contacting the protective earth contact without expanding the protective earth contact element by guiding the carrier element between the contact areas is therefore not possible. The protective earth contact element thus does not return to its original starting position but instead makes positive contact with the contact area of ​​the carrier element.

[0018] The protective earthing contact can have a retaining element for a positive-locking connection of the protective earthing contact to the support element in the assembled state. It is further advantageous if the retaining element is arranged on the upper part of the side element. The height between the locking area and the retaining element can be less than the height between the locking area and the base section.

[0019] This means, for example, that the installation height between the locking area and the retaining element is a maximum of 90%, but at least a maximum of 50%, smaller than the height between the locking area and the base section. This has the advantage that the protective earth contact can be installed in conductor connection terminals without requiring them to be made larger.

[0020] The retaining element secures the protective earth contact against tilting when installed. The retaining element can, for example, engage in a recess on the support element to create a positive connection between the protective earth contact and the support element. After installation, the protective earth contact is secured against tilting. Alternatively, the retaining element can, for example, engage in a fork of the support element to additionally contact the support element in the area of ​​the retaining element. It is also conceivable that the retaining element interacts with components other than the support element to secure the protective earth contact against tilting.

[0021] It is also conceivable that the retaining elements have additional protective earth contact elements to improve an electrically conductive connection between the protective earth conductor and the electrically conductive support element.

[0022] It has been shown that efficient securing is achieved primarily with two retaining elements, one attached to each side element. The retaining elements can project in opposite directions from their respective side elements to prevent the protective earthing contact from tilting.

[0023] It is conceivable that the retaining element can constitute an independent subject matter of the invention, wherein the retaining element engages in a recess of the support element for a positive locking connection, so that a protective earthing contact can also be provided which has such a retaining element, but wherein the locking area and the protective earth contact element are not arranged at essentially the same height with respect to the base section.This would result in a protective earthing contact with the following features: The invention relates to a protective earthing contact for the electrically conductive connection of a protective earth conductor with an electrically conductive carrier element, wherein the protective earthing contact has a base section, wherein two side elements project from the base section and each side element has an upper section, wherein the upper sections form a locking area for clamping the protective earthing contact to the carrier element, and wherein at least one side element has a protective earth contact element for electrically conductive contacting the carrier element, wherein the protective earthing contact has a retaining element for a positive locking connection of the protective earthing contact with the carrier element in the assembled state.

[0024] At least one of the side elements can have a guide contour for guiding an electrical conductor. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the upper section is designed as a guide contour or if the guide contour is at least arranged on the upper section.

[0025] In this way, the installed protective earthing contact can, for example, simultaneously fulfill the additional function of conductor guidance in a conductor terminal. This can be achieved, for example, by means of arc-shaped upper sections, whereby an electrical conductor comes into contact with an arc-shaped upper section and can thereby be guided into the correct position in the conductor terminal.

[0026] Each of the upper sections can be equipped with a contact stop to stabilize the protective earthing contact in the assembled state. It is further advantageous if the contact stops project obliquely from the upper sections. Oblique means, in particular, that the locking elements do not project from the upper sections at an angle of 0° or 180°, but rather at an angle between -90° and 90°, especially at an angle of -45° / 45° (in a 360° system). It is also possible for the contact stops to project from the respective upper section at opposite angles, i.e., -45° and 45°.

[0027] The contact stops stabilize the protective earthing contact in its installed state. Stabilization means that movement of the protective earthing contact in certain spatial directions is limited and / or reduced when installed. The protective earthing contact is thus held in its intended position on the mounting element.

[0028] By angling the contact stops, additional protection against tilting of the protective earthing contact can be achieved by ensuring a more favorable distribution of the contact stop surface area relative to the support element. The contact stops can project from the respective upper section in such a way that they are essentially parallel to each other. Parallel, in particular, means that the contact stops can be aligned on a common imaginary line.

[0029] A conductor terminal of the type mentioned above can be equipped with a protective earthing contact as described above.

[0030] In the generic conductor terminal block, it is proposed that the locking area and the protective earth contact element are arranged at essentially the same height with respect to the base section. At least one of the upper sections may have a chamfer in the area of ​​the locking area, wherein the end of the chamfer facing the contact areas and the protective earth contact element are arranged at the same height with respect to the base section.

[0031] At least one of the side elements can have a guide contour for guiding the electrical conductor into the housing. This guide contour can be located on the upper part of the side element. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the guide contour interacts with the housing and / or with a conductor stop for the electrical conductor in such a way as to stabilize the protective earthing contact.

[0032] For example, it is conceivable that the guide contours on the housing or the conductor stops are positioned in such a way that the protective earthing contact is stabilized. The protective earthing contact cannot thus slip towards the contact surface between the guide contours and the housing and / or between the guide contours and the conductor stops, as these limit the range of motion of the protective earthing contact.

[0033] The protective earthing contact can have a retaining element, which can be located inside the conductor terminal block in the area of ​​the electrical conductors to be connected. Furthermore, the busbar can have a recess, in which the retaining element engages to create a positive connection between the protective earthing contact and the busbar.

[0034] In the area of ​​the electrical conductors to be clamped, this means in particular that the retaining element is positioned above the busbar, so that the busbar is not located between the retaining element and the electrical conductors to be clamped. In this way, the available space within the conductor terminal can be used to accommodate the protective earth contact within the terminal without requiring the terminal to be made taller. The retaining element is thus positioned within the clamping area for the electrical conductor.

[0035] The retaining element can be arranged at the end of the side element facing away from the base section, namely at the upper part of the side element, whereby the height between the locking area and the retaining element is less than the height between the locking area and the base section.

[0036] Smaller means, in particular, that the installation height between the locking area and the retaining element is a maximum of 90%, but at least 50%, smaller than the height between the locking area and the base section. This has the advantage that the protective earth contact can be installed in the conductor terminal without requiring the conductor terminal to be made larger.

[0037] It is conceivable that such a conductor terminal could constitute an independent subject matter of the invention, wherein the conductor terminal engages in a recess of the busbar for a positive connection, so that a conductor terminal can also be provided which has such a retaining element, but in which the locking area and the protective earth contact element are not arranged at essentially the same height with respect to the base section. This would result in a conductor terminal with the following features: A conductor terminal with a housing, with a busbar, with a spring-loaded clamping connection, wherein the busbar and the spring-loaded clamping connection form a clamping point for an electrical conductor to be connected, and with a protective earthing contact as described above for the electrically conductive connection of a protective earth conductor to the busbar, wherein the protective earthing contact has a base section.wherein two side elements project from the base section and each side element has an upper area, wherein the upper areas form a locking area for clamping the protective earth contact to the busbar and wherein at least one side element has a protective earth contact element for electrically conductive contacting the support element, wherein the protective earth contact has a retaining element, wherein the retaining element is arranged in the interior of the conductor terminal in the area of ​​the electrical conductor to be clamped.

[0038] The conductor terminal block can be designed, for example, to accommodate three or four electrical conductors. Experience has shown that, particularly in the lighting industry, three or four conductor connections are primarily required for mains connection terminal blocks. With such conductor terminal blocks, the available installation space can be used to mount the protective earth contact inside the housing.

[0039] The indefinite term "a" is to be understood as such and not as a numeral. Thus, it is also conceivable that the protective earthing contact according to the invention has a plurality of protective earth contact elements. For example, it is conceivable that a protective earth contact element and a retaining element are arranged on each side element in an upper region.

[0040] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment with the accompanying drawings. These show: Figure 1 – a first embodiment of a protective earthing contact; Figure 2 – a conductor terminal with a protective earthing contact according to Figure 1 in a sectional view; Figure 3 - a conductor terminal block according to Figure 2 in a sectional view; Figure 4 - a second embodiment of a protective earthing contact; Figure 5 - a protective earthing contact according to Figure 4in a rotated view. Figure 6 - a conductor terminal block with a protective earthing contact according to the Figures 5 and 6 Figure 7 - a conductor connection terminal according to Figure 6 in a rotated view; Figure 8 - a section of a conductor terminal block according to the Figure 6 and 7 in a top view.

[0041] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a protective earthing contact 1 with a base section 2, wherein two side elements 3a, 3b project from the base section in the same direction, essentially orthogonal to the base section 2, and the side elements 3a, 3b are connected to each other via the base section 2. The side elements 3a, 3b are oriented essentially parallel to each other. The side elements 3a, 3b each have an upper section 4a, 4b, wherein the upper sections 4a, 4b are oriented such that they point towards each other. It can be seen that the upper sections 4a, 4b form a locking area 5, wherein an electrically conductive support element can be inserted into the locking area 5. The electrically conductive support element can, for example, be designed as a busbar of a conductor connection terminal.A protective earth contact element 6 is arranged on the upper area 4a of the side element 3a for electrically conductive contacting of the protective earth conductor with the support element.

[0042] The carrier element can be held in position in the detent area 5 between contact areas 5a, 5b. For additional securing, contact stops 5c, 5d project from the upper areas 4a, 4b of the side elements 3a, 3b immediately adjacent to contact areas 5a, 5b.

[0043] It is evident that the locking area 5 and the protective earth contact element 6 are arranged at essentially the same height H with respect to the base section 2 and are also spatially separated from each other. When the support element is guided into the locking area 5, the side elements 3a, 3b widen in the area of ​​the upper sections 4a, 4b so that the support element can be held between the contacting areas 5a, 5b. Due to the arrangement of the locking area 5 at the same height as the protective earth contact element 6, the protective earth contact element 6 also widens by the same amount. This widening can be achieved, for example, by making the side elements 3a, 3b resilient.When the carrier element reaches its final position between the contact areas 5a and 5b, the side elements 3a and 3b in the area of ​​the upper areas 4a and 4b, and thus also the protective earth contact element 6, spring back to their initial position, thereby holding the carrier element between the contact areas 5a and 5b. This allows, for example, a tinned protective earth contact element 6 to be guided past the contact surface on the carrier element without touching it, thus reducing wear on the tinned protective earth contact element 6. The contact surface of the carrier element is the surface with which the protective earth contact element 6 is intended to come into contact.

[0044] It can be seen that a chamfer 7a, 7b is arranged in the area of ​​the locking zone 5 on each of the upper sections 4a, 4b. The end of the chamfers 7a, 7b facing the contact areas 5a, 5b is arranged at the same height as the protective earth contact element 6 with respect to the base section 2. The chamfers 7a, 7b facilitate the insertion of the carrier element into the locking zone 5. Furthermore, the side elements 3a, 3b of the upper sections 4a, 4b widen continuously without requiring a correspondingly large force to guide the carrier element between the contact areas 5a, 5b.

[0045] In the first embodiment, the protective earth contact element 6 is intended to be located exactly at the same height as the locking area 5 and the ends of the chamfers 7a, 7b. However, a deviation from this is possible without impairing the function of the protective earth contact according to the invention. Deviations of up to 15% with respect to the height H of the locking area 5 and the height H of the protective earth contact element 6 relative to the base section 2 are conceivable.

[0046] At the upper end of the side element 3a, a retaining element 8a is arranged on the upper section 4a. In the assembled state, the retaining element 8a is configured to provide a positive connection between the protective earthing contact 1 and the support element. This positive connection can be achieved, for example, by corresponding recesses in the support element. Recesses in a housing are also conceivable. The positive connection secures the protective earthing contact 1 against tilting in the assembled state. To provide an additional electrically conductive connection, the retaining element 8a can be designed as a protective earth contact element 6.

[0047] It becomes clear that the upper sections 4a, 4b, the protective earth contact element 6 and the retaining element 8 are formed in one piece from the respective side element 3a, 3b.

[0048] It is also clear that the installation height BH between the locking area 5 and the retaining element 8a is less than the height H between the locking area and the base section. This has the advantage that the protective earthing contact can be installed in conductor connection terminals without requiring them to be made larger.

[0049] It can be seen that the protective earthing contact 1 has a contact tongue 16, wherein the contact tongue 16 is designed to connect the protective earthing contact 1 directly or indirectly to a protective earth conductor in an electrically conductive manner.

[0050] Figure 2 Figure 9 shows a conductor connection terminal, specifically a mains connection terminal for the lighting industry. The conductor connection terminal 9 has a busbar 11 and three spring-loaded clamping terminals 12 for connecting three electrical conductors. The protective earthing contact 1 is shown according to Figure 1 mounted in the conductor connection terminal 9.

[0051] It is evident that the contact area of ​​the protective earth contact element 6 is arranged separately from the locking area 5 on the busbar 11, so that the protective earth contact element 6 can be guided through a recess in the busbar 11 without contact. In the assembled state, a force-fit connection is provided between the protective earth contact element 6 and the busbar 11. This can be achieved, for example, by designing the dimensions of the recess in the busbar 11 such that the protective earth contact element 6 can be guided past the busbar 11 without contact when the side elements 3a, 3b are expanded.

[0052] It is also evident that the retaining element 8a is located inside the conductor terminal 9 in the area of ​​the electrical conductors to be connected, with the busbar 11 not positioned between the spring-loaded terminal 12 and the retaining element 8a. Consequently, the electrical conductors can be inserted into the same space within the conductor terminal 9 by positioning the retaining element 8a in the installed state. This utilizes the available space within the conductor terminal 1 without requiring a larger terminal. The retaining element 8a engages in a recess in the busbar 11 and stabilizes the protective earthing contact 1 against tilting by means of a positive-locking connection with the busbar 11 in the installed state. This ensures safe operation.

[0053] The Figure 2Furthermore, an actuating arrangement 17 can be seen, with which, on the one hand, the upper spring-clamp connection 12 of the arrangement consisting of the two spring-clamp connections 12 (left area) and, on the other hand, the single spring-clamp connection 12 (right area) can each be manually actuated independently of one another in order to deflect the associated clamping leg and thereby open the clamping point. It can be seen that the actuating arrangement 6 has an actuating section 18a for one spring-clamp connection 12 and an actuating section 18b for the other, opposite spring-clamp connection 12.

[0054] The actuating sections 18a and 18b are connected to each other via a connecting section 19 located approximately midway between them. A T-shaped projecting material section 20 is present on the connecting section 19 between the actuating sections 18a and 18b, either centrally or slightly off-center. The T-shaped projecting material section 20 is slidably mounted on the busbar 11. The geometric design of the actuating arrangement 6 allows the spring-clamp terminals 12 to be actuated independently of each other.

[0055] Figure 3 The conductor connection terminal 9 points to Figure 2In another sectional view, it becomes clear that the busbar 11 has recesses 13 through which the protective earth contact element 6 can be passed for mounting, with the protective earth contact element 6 being frictionally connected and the retaining element 8a being positively connected to the busbar 11. However, it is also conceivable that the retaining element 8a can be frictionally connected and the protective earth contact element 6 positively connected to the busbar 11.

[0056] Figures 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of a protective earthing contact 1, wherein the protective earthing contact is in Figure 4 in a front view and in Figure 5 The diagram is shown in a rotated view. The protective earthing contact 1 has a base section 2, from which two side elements 3a, 3b project in the same direction. The side elements 3a, 3b each have an upper section 4a, 4b.

[0057] The protective earth contact has two protective earth contact elements 6, which are arranged at the same height H with respect to the base section 2 with the locking area 5, so that the protective earth contact elements 6 are widened when the protective earth contact 1 is installed and can thus be inserted without contact into a corresponding conductor terminal.

[0058] It can be seen that the ends of the side elements 3a, 3b are designed as guide contours 14a, 14b. Such guide contours 14a, 14b have the advantage that, in the installed state, they can guide an electrical conductor to the corresponding terminal without the electrical conductor touching the protective earthing contact elements 6.

[0059] It can be seen that the protective earthing contact 1 has a contact tongue 16, wherein the contact tongue 16 is designed to connect the protective earthing contact 1 directly or indirectly to a protective earth conductor in an electrically conductive manner.

[0060] Figure 6 Figure 1 shows a conductor connection terminal 9, in particular a mains connection terminal for the lighting industry, in a sectional view. The conductor connection terminal 9 has a busbar 11 and four spring-loaded clamping terminals 12 for connecting four electrical conductors. The protective earthing contact 1 is shown according to the Figures 4 and 5 mounted in the conductor connection terminal 9.

[0061] Figure 7 The conductor connection terminal 9 points to Figure 6 In a rotated view, it becomes clear that the conductor terminal 9 has conductor stops 15 for connecting electrical conductors. It is also clear that the protective earthing contact 1 utilizes the existing contours and available space of the busbar 11 of the conductor terminal 9, so that the conductor terminal does not need to be made larger internally to accommodate the protective earthing contact 1.

[0062] The guide contours 14a, 14b rest against the conductor stops 15 in such a way that the entire protective earthing contact 1 is stabilized, thus preventing it from tilting. The movement of the protective earthing contact 1 is therefore limited in the direction of the conductor stops 15.

[0063] Figure 8 shows a section of the conductor connection terminal 9 according to the Figure 6 and 7 in a top view. The side elements 3a, 3b with the guide contours 14a, 14b of the protective earth contact 1 are visible. It is clear that the guide contours 14a, 14b can guide electrical conductors to the conductor stops 15 without the electrical conductors touching the protective earth contact elements 6, since the protective earth contact elements 6 are arranged on a side facing away from the conductor stops 15.

[0064] The protective earthing contact 1 can therefore be designed such that the electrical conductors do not come into contact with the protective earthing contact elements 6 when connected. Such a design is also conceivable without guide contours 14a, 14b, for example, by having one or more protective earth contact elements 6 project at a right angle from the side element 3a and / or from the side element 3b. An exact right angle of 90° is not required. A deviation of 25° in either the positive or negative direction is acceptable.

[0065] Furthermore, it becomes clear that the guide contours 14a, 14b interact with the contour of a housing 10, thus additionally stabilizing the protective earthing contact 1. The protective earthing contact 1 is thereby stabilized by the conductor stops 15 and the housing 10 and protected against tilting by limiting its degrees of freedom through the housing 10 and the conductor stops 15. Reference symbol list

[0066] 1 Protective earth contact 2 Base section 3a, 3b Side elements 4a, 4b Upper area 5 Latching area 5a, 5b Contacting areas 5c, 5d Contact stop 6 Protective earth contact element 7a, 7b Chamfer 8a Retaining element 9 Conductor connection terminal 10 Housing 11 Busbar 12 Spring-loaded clamping connection 13 Recess 14a, 14b Guide contour 15 Conductor stop 16 Contact tongue 17 Actuating arrangement 18a, 18b Actuating section 19 Connection section 20 T-shaped material section BH Overall height HH Height

Claims

1. Protective earthing contact (1) for the electrically conductive connection of a protective earth line to an electrically conductive carrier element, the protective earthing contact having a base section (2), wherein two side elements (3a, 3b) project from the base section (2) and each side element (3a, 3b) has an upper region (4a, 4b), wherein the upper regions (4a, 4b) form a latching region (5) for clamping the protective earthing contact (1) to the carrier element and wherein at least one side element (3a, 3b) has a protective earthing contact element (6) for electrically conductive contacting of the carrier element (11), wherein in each case one of the upper regions (4a, 4b) has a contacting region (5a, 5b), wherein the latching region (5) and the protective earthing contact element (6) being arranged substantially at the same height (H) with respect to the base portion (2), characterized in that the latching region (5) and the protective earthing contact element (6) are separate, wherein the protective earthing contact (1) being set up so that, when the protective earthing contact (1) is mounted on the carrier element, the upper regions (4a, 4b) in the latching region (5) widen so that the carrier element can pass between the contacting regions (5a, 5b).

2. Protective earthing contact (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the upper regions (4a, 4b) has a chamfer (7a, 7b) in the region of the latching region (5), the end of the chamfer (7a, 7b) facing the contacting regions (5a, 5b) and the protective earthing contact element (6) being arranged essentially at the same height (H) with respect to the base portion (2).

3. Protective earthing contact (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the protective earthing contact element (6) is designed for non-positive connection to the carrier element.

4. Protective earthing contact (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the protective earthing contact (1) has a retaining element (8a) for positive connection of the protective earthing contact (1) in the mounted state to the carrier element.

5. Protective earthing contact (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the retaining element (8a, 8b) is arranged on the upper region (4a, 4b) of the side element (3a, 3b).

6. Protective earthing contact (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the overall height (BH) between the latching region (5) and the retaining element (8a) is smaller than the height (H) between the latching region (5) and the base section (2).

7. Protective earthing contact (1) according to claim 4 to 6, characterized in that a retaining element (8a) is arranged on one of the side elements (3a, 3b) in each case.

8. Protective earthing contact (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a contact stop (5c, 5d) for stabilizing the protective earthing contact (1) in the mounted state is arranged on each of the upper regions (4a, 4b).

9. Protective earthing contact (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the contact stops (5c, 5d) project from the respective upper region (4a, 4b) in such a way that the contact stops (5c, 5d) are aligned essentially parallel to one another.

10. Conductor connection terminal (9) with a housing (10), with a busbar (11), with a spring-loaded clamping connection (12), wherein the busbar (11) and the spring-loaded clamping connection (12) form a clamping point for an electrical conductor to be clamped, and with a protective earthing contact (1) according to one of the preceding claims for the electrically conductive connection of a protective earthing conductor to the busbar (11), wherein at least one of the side elements (3a, 3b) has a guide contour (14a, 14b) for guiding the electrical conductor into the housing (10).

11. Conductor connection terminal (9) according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one of the upper regions (4a, 4b) has a chamfer (7a, 7b) in the region of the latching region (5), the end of the chamfer (7a, 7b) facing the contacting regions (5a, 5b) and the protective earthing contact element (6) being arranged at the same height (H) in relation to the base section (2).

12. Conductor connection terminal (9) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the guide contour (14a, 14b) is arranged on the upper region (4a, 4b) of the side element (3a, 3b).

13. Conductor connection terminal (9) according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the guide contour (14a, 14b) interacts with the housing (10) and / or with a conductor stop (15) for the electrical conductor in such a way that the protective earthing contact (1) is stabilized.

14. Conductor connection terminal (9) according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the protective earthing contact (1) has a retaining element (8a), the retaining element (8a) being arranged in the interior of the conductor connection terminal (9) in the region of the electrical conductor to be connected.

15. Conductor connection terminal (9) according to claim 14, characterized in that the busbar (11) has a recess (13), the retaining element (8a) engaging in the recess (13) for positive connection of the protective earthing contact (1) to the busbar (11).