Protective earth contact and terminal blocks

Abstract

A protective earth contact (1) for electrically conductively connecting a protective earth line to an electrically conductive carrier element is described, wherein the protective earth contact comprises a base section (2), wherein two side elements (3a, 3b) protrude from the base section (2), and wherein each side element (3a, 3b) comprises an upper region (4a, 4b), wherein the upper regions (4a, 4b) form a locking region (5) for clamping the protective earth contact (1) to the carrier element, and wherein at least one side element (3a, 3b) comprises a protective earth contact element (6) for electrically conductively contacting the carrier element (11). Each upper region of the upper regions (4a, 4b) comprises a contact region (5a, 5b), wherein the locking region (5) and the protective earth contact element (6) are arranged at substantially the same height (H) relative to the base section (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a protective earth contact for electrically conductively connecting a protective earth line to an electrically conductive carrier element, wherein the protective earth contact has a base section, wherein two side elements protrude from the base section, and each side element has an upper region, wherein the upper region forms a locking region for clamping the protective earth contact to the carrier element, and wherein at least one side element has a protective earth contact element for electrically conductively contacting the carrier element.

[0002] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a connecting terminal comprising a housing; a busbar; a spring-force clamping terminal, wherein the busbar and the spring-force clamping terminal form a clamping location for an electrical conductor to be clamped; and the protective grounding contact mentioned above for electrically conductively connecting a grounding line to the busbar, wherein the conductor grounding contact has a base section, wherein two side elements protrude from the base section and each side element has an upper area, wherein the upper area forms a locking area for clamping the protective grounding contact to the busbar, and wherein at least one side element has a protective grounding contact element for electrically conductively contacting a carrier element. Background Art

[0003] A protective earth contact is a mandatory feature of mains terminal clamps. Such a protective earth contact must be reliably installed and function properly. This results in a disadvantage: the relatively high overall height of the mains terminal clamp, which is limited, particularly in the lighting industry, by other mounting elements of the lighting device. Another disadvantage can arise when the same protective earth contact is repeatedly installed, which can damage the galvanized contact surface in certain situations, making it impossible to ensure reliable function of the protective earth contact during repeated installation. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Starting from this, the object of the present invention is to realize an improved protective ground contact. In addition, the object of the present invention is to realize an improved connecting terminal.

[0005] This object is achieved by means of a protective earth contact having the features of claim 1 and by means of a connecting terminal having the features of claim 12. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0006] In this protective ground contact, provision is made for each of the upper regions to have a contact region, wherein the latching region and the protective ground contact element are arranged substantially at the same height relative to the base section.

[0007] By separating the locking region and the protective ground contact element, the risk of damage to the protective ground contact element is reduced. When the protective ground contact is installed, the upper region widens in the locking region, allowing the support element to reach between the contact regions. By arranging the protective ground contact element at the same height as the locking region relative to the base section, the protective ground contact element also widens to the same extent as the upper region, allowing the protective ground contact element to be guided past the contact regions of the support element without contact. Once the support element has been fully guided between the contact regions, the upper region springs back into its initial position and clamps the protective ground contact onto the support element. Simultaneously, the protective ground contact element also springs back into its initial position and contacts the contact regions of the support element.

[0008] The locking region is the region in which the support element is guided between the contact regions of the protective earth contact. After being guided into this position, the support element remains between the contact regions. The contact regions are thus directly connected to the locking region.

[0009] The term widening is understood to mean in particular an elastic deformation of the lateral elements, in particular of the upper region of the lateral elements. The elastic deformation occurs under the action of a force on the lateral elements, wherein when the acting force is removed, the lateral elements return to their original shape without retaining the deformation.

[0010] The upper region is the region of the lateral region that is arranged at the end of the lateral element facing away from the base section. The upper region and the base section are therefore arranged at opposite ends of the respective lateral element.

[0011] Essentially at the same height means in particular that the protective earth contact element and the locking region do not have to have exactly the same height relative to the base portion. The use according to the invention also results in deviations of +-15% relative to the height of the protective earth contact element and the height of the locking region.

[0012] The height is the length which exists in the longitudinal extension direction of the lateral element between the base section and the locking region and between the base section and the protective earth contact element.

[0013] At least one of the upper regions can have a chamfer in the region of the locking region, wherein the end of the chamfer facing the contact region and the protective ground contact element are arranged substantially at the same height relative to the base section.

[0014] By chamfering, the supporting element can be simply guided between the contact areas. In addition, the lateral elements are continuously widened in the region of the upper region, and it is not necessary to spend a large amount of force to guide the supporting element between the contact areas.

[0015] The protective earth contact element can be designed for a force-fitting connection to the carrier element.

[0016] A force-locking connection reliably contacts the protective ground contact element at the carrier element and, therefore, at the corresponding protective ground line. This force-locking connection can be achieved, for example, by first guiding the protective ground contact element past the contact region of the carrier element during installation. Consequently, contacting the protective ground contact is not possible without widening the protective ground contact element by guiding the carrier element between the contact regions. The protective ground contact element thus no longer returns to its original starting position but contacts the contact region of the carrier element with a force-locking fit.

[0017] The protective ground contact can include a retaining element for positively connecting the protective ground contact to the carrier element in the installed state. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the retaining element is arranged at the upper region of the side element. In this case, the overall height between the locking region and the retaining element can be smaller than the height between the locking region and the base section.

[0018] This includes, for example, that the overall height between the locking region and the retaining element is at most 90%, at least but at most 50%, smaller than the height between the locking region and the base section. This has the advantage that the protective earth contact can be installed in the connecting terminal without having to be designed to be larger.

[0019] The retaining element secures the protective ground contact against tilting in the installed state. The retaining element can, for example, engage in a recess on the carrier element to connect the protective ground contact to the carrier element in a form-fitting manner. After installation, the protective ground contact is secured against tilting. However, the retaining element can also, for example, engage in a fork-shaped portion of the carrier element to additionally contact the carrier element in the region of the retaining element. However, it is also conceivable for the retaining element to interact with other components outside the carrier element to secure the protective ground contact against tilting.

[0020] It is also conceivable for the holding element to have an additional protective earth contact element in order to improve the electrically conductive connection of the protective earth line to the electrically conductive carrier element.

[0021] It has been shown that a reliable fixation is achieved in particular by means of two retaining elements, wherein each retaining element is arranged on a side element. The retaining elements can extend in opposite directions from the respective side element in order to achieve fixation against tilting of the protective ground contact.

[0022] It is conceivable that the retaining element can be an independent invention, wherein the retaining element engages in a recess of the carrier element for a positive connection, so that a protective ground contact can also be provided, which has such a retaining element, wherein, however, the locking area and the protective ground contact element are not arranged at essentially the same height relative to the base section. This results in a protective ground contact having the following features:

[0023] The present invention relates to a protective earth contact for electrically conductively connecting a protective earth line to an electrically conductive carrier element, wherein the protective earth contact has a base section, wherein two side elements protrude from the base section and each side element has an upper region, wherein the upper region forms a locking region for clamping the protective earth contact to the carrier element, and wherein at least one side element has a protective earth contact element for electrically conductively contacting the carrier element, wherein the protective earth contact has a retaining element for positively connecting the protective earth contact to the carrier element in an installed state.

[0024] At least one of the side elements can have a guide contour for guiding an electrical line. It is also advantageous if the upper region is designed as a guide contour or if the guide contour is provided at least at the upper region.

[0025] In this way, for example, a protective earth contact installed in a terminal block can simultaneously fulfill the additional function of guiding a conductor. This can be achieved, for example, by a curved upper region, with which the electrical conductor contacts and is thus guided into the correct position in the terminal block.

[0026] A contact stop can be provided in each upper region to stabilize and secure the ground contact in the installed state. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the contact stop projects obliquely from the upper region. In particular, oblique means that the locking element projects from the upper region not at an angle of 0° or 180°, but rather at an angle between -90° and 90°, in particular at -45° / 45° (in a 360° system). It is also possible for the contact stop to be oriented at opposite angles, i.e., -45° and 45°, from the respective upper region.

[0027] The contact stop stabilizes the protective earth contact in the installed state. Stabilization means that the movement of the protective earth contact in a specific spatial direction in the installed state is limited and / or reduced. The protective earth contact is thus held on the carrier element in its position depending on the application.

[0028] The tilted position of the contact stops allows for additional securing against tilting of the protective ground contact by enabling a more favorable distribution of the surface of the contact stops relative to the support element. The contact stops can extend from the respective upper regions so that they are oriented substantially parallel to one another. Parallel also means, in particular, that the contact stops can be arranged in a row on a common, imaginary line.

[0029] A connecting terminal of the type mentioned at the outset can be equipped with the protective earth contact described above.

[0030] In this connecting terminal, it is provided that the locking region and the protective ground contact element are arranged substantially at the same height relative to the base section. In this case, at least one surface region can have a chamfer in the region of the locking region, wherein the end of the chamfer facing the contact region and the protective ground contact element are arranged at the same height relative to the base section.

[0031] At least one side element can have a guide contour for guiding the electrical conductor into the housing. The guide contour can be provided at the upper region 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, thereby stabilizing the protective ground contact.

[0032] Thus, for example, it is conceivable that the guide contour rests against the housing or the conductor stop, thereby stabilizing the protective earth contact. The protective earth contact is therefore unable to slide between the guide contour and the housing and / or between the guide contour and the conductor stop in the direction of the contact surface, since this limits the movement clearance of the protective earth contact.

[0033] The protective earth contact can have a retaining element, wherein the retaining element can be arranged in the interior space of the terminal in the area of the electrical conductor to be clamped. Furthermore, the busbar can have a recess, wherein the retaining element engages in the recess to connect the protective earth contact to the busbar in a form-fitting manner.

[0034] In the area of the electrical conductor to be clamped, this means, in particular, that the retaining element is arranged above the busbar, so that the busbar is not located between the retaining element and the electrical conductor to be clamped. This makes it possible to utilize the existing installation space of the connecting terminal to accommodate the protective ground contact in the connecting terminal without having to design the connecting terminal higher. The retaining element is thus arranged in the area of the clamping point for the electrical conductor.

[0035] The retaining element can be arranged at the end of the side element facing away from the base section, ie at the upper region of the side element, wherein the overall height between the locking region and the retaining element is smaller than the height between the locking region and the base section.

[0036] Smaller means, in particular, that the overall height between the locking region and the retaining element is at most 90% and at least 50% smaller than the height between the locking region and the base section. This has the advantage that the protective earth contact can be installed in the connecting terminal without having to design the connecting terminal larger.

[0037] It is conceivable that such a terminal can be an independent invention, wherein the terminal engages into a recess of the busbar for a positive connection, so that a terminal can also be provided which has such a retaining element, wherein, however, the locking region and the protective earth contact element are not arranged at substantially the same height relative to the base section. This would result in a terminal having the following features:

[0038] A connecting terminal, the connecting terminal comprising: a housing; a busbar; a spring-force clamping terminal, wherein the busbar and the spring-force clamping terminal form a clamping location for an electrical conductor to be clamped; and the above-mentioned protective grounding contact for conductively connecting the protective grounding line to the busbar, wherein the protective grounding contact has a base section, wherein two lateral elements extend from the base section and each lateral element has an upper area, wherein the upper area forms a locking area for clamping the protective grounding contact to the busbar, and wherein at least one lateral element has a protective grounding contact element for conductively contacting a supporting element, wherein the protective grounding contact has a retaining element, wherein the retaining element is arranged in the interior space of the connecting terminal in the area of the electrical conductor to be clamped.

[0039] The connecting terminal can be designed, for example, to accommodate three or four electrical conductors. It has been shown that, in particular in the lighting industry, three or four conductor terminals are particularly desirable in a mains terminal clamp. In such a connecting terminal, the available installation space can be used to accommodate the protective earth contact in the interior of the housing.

[0040] The indefinite article "a" is to be understood as such and not as a numeral. It is therefore also conceivable that the protective ground contact according to the invention has a plurality of protective ground contact elements. Thus, for example, it is conceivable that a protective ground contact element and a retaining element are provided in the upper region of each side element. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The present invention is explained in more detail below based on exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show:

[0042] Figure 1 A first embodiment of a protective earth contact is shown;

[0043] Figure 2 Show that there is a basis Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the terminal block for the protective earthing contact;

[0044] Figure 3 Show the basis Figure 2 Side view of the terminal block;

[0045] Figure 4 A second embodiment of a protective earth contact is shown;

[0046] Figure 5 Show the basis Figure 4 Rotating view of the protective earth contact;

[0047] Figure 6 Show that there is a basis Figure 5 and 6 The wiring terminal of the protective earth contact;

[0048] Figure 7 Show the basis Figure 6 Rotated view of the terminal block;

[0049] Figure 8 Show the basis Figure 6 and 7 A partial top view of the terminal block. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Figure 1 A first embodiment of a protective earth contact 1 is shown. It has a base section 2, with two side elements 3a, 3b extending from the base section in the same direction, essentially orthogonal to the base section 2. 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 region 4a, 4b, oriented so that they point toward each other. It can be seen that the upper regions 4a, 4b form a locking region 5 with each other, into which an electrically conductive support element can be inserted. The electrically conductive support element can be designed, for example, as a busbar for a terminal block. A protective earth contact element 6 is provided in the upper region 4a of the side element 3a to electrically conductively contact the protective earth line with the support element.

[0051] The carrier element can be held in position between the contact areas 5a, 5b in the locking area 5. For additional fixing, a contact stop 5c, 5d respectively projects from the upper area 4a, 4b of the side elements 3a, 3b directly adjacent to the contact areas 5a, 5b.

[0052] It is clear that the locking region 5 and the protective ground contact element 6 are arranged at essentially the same height H relative to the base section 2 and are furthermore spatially separated from one another. When the support element is introduced into the locking region 5, the side elements 3a, 3b widen in the region of the upper regions 4a, 4b, thereby allowing the support element to be held between the contact regions 5a, 5b. Since the locking region 5 is arranged at the same height as the protective ground contact element 6, the protective ground contact element 6 widens by the same amount. This widening can be achieved, for example, by having the side elements 3a, 3b be resiliently configured. When the support element reaches its final position between the contact regions 5a, 5b, the side elements 3a, 3b, and therefore the protective ground contact element 6, spring back to their initial position in the region of the upper regions 4a, 4b, thereby allowing the support element to be held between the contact regions 5a, 5b. This allows, for example, a galvanized protective ground contact element 6 to be guided past the contact surface of the support element without contact, thereby reducing wear on the galvanized protective ground contact element 6. The contact surface of the carrier element here is the surface with which the protective earth contact element 6 is to come into contact.

[0053] It can be seen that a chamfer 7a, 7b is provided in each of the upper regions 4a, 4b in the region of the locking region 5. The ends of the chamfers 7a, 7b facing the contact regions 5a, 5b are arranged at the same height as the protective earth contact element 6 relative to the base section 2. The chamfers 7a, 7b make it easier to guide the support element into the locking region 5. In addition, the side elements 3a, 3b, i.e., the region of the upper regions 4a, 4b, widen continuously without having to exert correspondingly high forces in order to guide the support element between the contact regions 5a, 5b.

[0054] In the first embodiment, the protective ground contact element 6 is to be located exactly at the height of the end with the locking region 5 and the chamfers 7a, 7b. However, deviations from this are possible without restricting the functionality of the protective ground contact according to the invention. A deviation of 15% relative to the base segment 2 with respect to the height H of the locking region 5 and the height H of the protective ground contact element 6 is conceivable.

[0055] At the upper end of the lateral element 3a, a retaining element 8a is provided in the upper region 4a. In the installed state, the retaining element 8a is designed to provide a positive connection between the protective ground contact 1 and the carrier element. This positive connection can be achieved, for example, by a corresponding recess in the carrier element. However, recesses in the housing are also conceivable. This positive connection secures the protective ground contact 1 against tilting in the installed state. To provide an additional electrically conductive connection, the retaining element 8a can be designed as a protective ground contact element 6.

[0056] It is clear that the upper regions 4 a , 4 b , the protective ground contact element 6 and the holding element 8 are formed integrally from the respective side elements 3 a , 3 b .

[0057] It is also clear that the overall height BH between the locking region 5 and the retaining element 8a is smaller than the height H between the locking region and the base section. This has the advantage that the protective earth contact can be installed in the connecting terminal without it having to be designed to be larger.

[0058] It can be seen that the protective earth contact 1 has a contact tongue 16 , wherein the contact tongue 16 is designed to connect the protective earth contact 1 directly or indirectly to a protective earth line in an electrically conductive manner.

[0059] Figure 2 The figure shows a connection terminal 9, in particular a mains terminal clamp for the lighting industry. The connection terminal 9 has a busbar 11 and three spring-loaded clamping terminals 12 for clamping three electrical conductors. Figure 1 The protective earth contact 1 is installed in the terminal 9.

[0060] It is clear that the contact region of the protective ground contact element 6 is provided separately from the locking region 5 on the busbar 11, whereby the protective ground contact element 6 can be guided contactlessly through the recess in the busbar 11. In the installed state, a force-fitting connection is provided between the protective ground contact element 6 and the busbar 11. This can be achieved, for example, by dimensioning the recess in the busbar 11 such that the protective ground contact element 6 can be guided contactlessly past the busbar 11 in the widened state of the side elements 3a, 3b.

[0061] It can also be seen that the retaining element 8a is arranged within the interior space of the connecting terminal 9 in the area of the electrical conductor to be clamped, with the busbar 11 not positioned between the spring-loaded clamping terminal 12 and the retaining element 8a. Therefore, the electrical conductor can be inserted into the same space within the connecting terminal 9 as when the retaining element 8a is arranged in the installed state. This utilizes the existing space within the connecting terminal 1 without requiring it to be larger. The retaining element 8a engages in the recess of the busbar 11 and, through its form-fitting connection with the busbar 11, stabilizes the ground contact 1 against tilting in the installed state, thereby ensuring safe operation.

[0062] from Figure 2Furthermore, an actuating device 17 can be seen, by means of which, on the one hand, the upper spring-force clamping terminal 12 (left region) and, on the other hand, the individual spring-force clamping terminals 12 (right region) of the arrangement consisting of two spring-force clamping terminals 12 can be manually actuated independently of one another in order to pivot the associated clamping legs and thus open the clamping point. It can be seen that the actuating device 6 has an actuating section 18a for one spring-force clamping terminal 12 and an actuating section 18b for the other, opposite spring-force clamping terminal 12.

[0063] The actuating sections 18a, 18b are connected to one another via a connecting section 19, which is arranged approximately centrally between the actuating sections 18a, 18b. A T-shaped, projecting material section 20 is located at the connecting section 19, for example, centrally or slightly off-center, between the actuating sections 18a, 18b. The T-shaped, projecting material section 20 is movably mounted on the busbar 11. The geometric design of the actuating device 6 makes it possible to actuate the spring-force clamping terminals 12 independently of one another.

[0064] Figure 3 Show the basis Figure 2 Another cross-sectional view of the connecting terminal 9. It is clear here that the busbar 11 has a recess 13 through which the protective ground contact element 6 can be guided for installation, wherein the protective ground contact element 6 is connected to the busbar 11 with a force-fitting connection and the retaining element 8a with a form-fitting connection. However, it is also conceivable that the retaining element 8a is connected to the busbar 11 with a force-fitting connection and the protective ground contact element 6 can be connected to the busbar 11 with a form-fitting connection.

[0065] Figure 4 and 5 A second embodiment of a protective earth contact 1 is shown, wherein the protective earth contact is Figure 4 is shown in a front view and in Figure 5 The protective ground contact 1 has a base section 2, from which two side elements 3a, 3b extend in the same direction. The side elements 3a, 3b each have an upper region 4a, 4b.

[0066] The protective ground contact has two protective ground contact elements 6 which are arranged at the same height H as the latching region 5 relative to the base section 2 so that the protective ground contact elements 6 widen when the protective ground contact 1 is installed and can be guided contactlessly into the corresponding connecting terminals.

[0067] 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 the electrical conductors toward the corresponding clamping points without the electrical conductors contacting the protective earth contact element 6.

[0068] It can be seen that the protective earth contact 1 has a contact tongue 16 , wherein the contact tongue 16 is designed to connect the protective earth contact 1 directly or indirectly to a protective earth line in an electrically conductive manner.

[0069] Figure 6 The figure shows a cross-section of a terminal block 9, in particular a mains terminal clamp for the lighting industry. The terminal block 9 has a busbar 11 and four spring-loaded clamping terminals 12 for clamping four electrical conductors. Figure 4 and 5 The protective earth contact 1 is installed in the terminal 9.

[0070] Figure 7 Show the basis Figure 6 9. It is clear that the terminal 9 has a conductor stop 15 for the electrical conductor to be clamped. It is also clear that the protective earth contact 1 uses the existing contour and available space of the busbar 11 of the terminal 9, so that the interior of the terminal does not need to be larger in order to accommodate the protective earth contact 1.

[0071] The guide contours 14 a, 14 b abut against the conductor stop 15 , stabilizing the entire protective earth contact 1 so that it is prevented from tilting. The movement possibilities of the protective earth contact 1 are thus limited in the direction of the conductor stop 15 .

[0072] Figure 8 Show the basis Figure 6 and 7 9. The side elements 3a, 3b with the guide contours 14a, 14b of the protective earth contact 1 can be seen. It is clear that the guide contours 14a, 14b can guide the electrical conductor to the conductor stop 15 without the electrical conductor contacting the protective earth contact element 6, since the protective earth contact element 6 is arranged on the side facing away from the conductor stop 15.

[0073] The protective ground contact 1 can thus be designed so that the electrical conductor does not collide with the protective ground contact element 6 during connection. However, this design is also conceivable without the guide contours 14a, 14b, for example by allowing one or more protective ground contact elements 6 to extend at right angles from the side element 3a and / or from the side element 3b. A precise right angle of 90° is not necessary. Deviations of 25° in the positive or negative direction are conceivable.

[0074] It is also clear that the guide contours 14a, 14b interact with the contour of the housing 10 to additionally stabilize the protective contact piece 1. The protective contact piece 1 is thus stabilized and prevented from tilting by the wire stop 15 and the housing 10, in that its degrees of freedom are limited by the housing 10 and the wire stop 15.

[0075] List of reference numerals:

[0076] 1 Protective earth contact

[0077] 2 base sections

[0078] 3a, 3b lateral elements

[0079] 4a, 4b upper area

[0080] 5 Locked Area

[0081] 5a, 5b contact area

[0082] 5c, 5d contact stop

[0083] 6 Protective earth contact element

[0084] 7a, 7b chamfered edges

[0085] 8a Retaining element

[0086] 9 Terminal Blocks

[0087] 10 Housing

[0088] 11 Bus

[0089] 12 Spring force clamp terminals

[0090] 13 recess

[0091] 14a, 14b Guide profile

[0092] 15 Wire stopper

[0093] 16 tongue contact

[0094] 17 Controls

[0095] 18a, 18b Control section

[0096] 19 Connecting section

[0097] 20 T-shaped material section

[0098] BH Structure height

[0099] H Height

Claims

1. A protective earth contact (1) for electrically conductively connecting a protective earth line to an electrically conductive carrier element, wherein the protective earth contact comprises a base section (2), wherein two side elements (3a, 3b) protrude from the base section (2) and the two side elements (3a, 3b) each comprise an upper region (4a, 4b), wherein the upper region (4a, 4b) forms a locking region (5) for clamping the protective earth contact (1) to the carrier element, and wherein at least one side element (3a, 3b) comprises a protective earth contact element (6) for electrically conductively contacting the carrier element, wherein the two upper regions (4a, 4b) each have a contact region (5a, 5b) facing one another, and the locking region (5) and the protective earth contact element (6) are arranged substantially at the same height (H) relative to the base section (2), It is characterized by: The locking area (5) and the protective earth contact element (6) are separate, wherein the protective earth contact (1) is configured so that when the protective earth contact (1) is mounted on a carrier element, the upper area (4a, 4b) widens in the locking area (5), whereby the carrier element can reach between the contact areas (5a, 5b).

2. The protective earth contact (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized by: At least one of the upper regions (4a, 4b) has a chamfer (7a, 7b) in the region of the locking region (5), wherein the ends of the chamfer (7a, 7b) facing the contact region (5a, 5b) and the protective earth contact element (6) are arranged at substantially the same height (H) relative to the base section (2).

3. The protective earth contact (1) according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized by: The protective ground contact element (6) is designed for a force-fit connection to the support element.

4. The protective earth contact (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized by: The protective ground contact (1) has a retaining element (8a) for connecting the protective ground contact (1) to a carrier element in a positively locking manner in the installed state.

5. The protective earth contact (1) according to claim 4, It is characterized by: The retaining element (8a) is arranged at the upper region (4a, 4b) of the side elements (3a, 3b).

6. The protective earth contact (1) according to claim 5, It is characterized by: The structural height (BH) between the locking area (5) and the retaining element (8a) is smaller than the height (H) between the locking area (5) and the base section (2).

7. The protective earth contact (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, It is characterized by: A respective retaining element (8a) is arranged on one of the side elements (3a, 3b).

8. The protective earth contact (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized by: At least one of the side elements (3a, 3b) has a guide contour (14a, 14b) for guiding an electrical conductor.

9. The protective earth contact (1) according to claim 8, It is characterized by: The guide contours (14a, 14b) are provided at the upper regions (4a, 4b) of the lateral elements (3a, 3b).

10. The protective earth contact (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized by: Contact stops (5c, 5d) are respectively provided on the upper regions (4a, 4b) for stabilizing the protective earth contact (1) in the installed state.

11. The protective earth contact (1) according to claim 10, It is characterized by: The contact stops (5c, 5d) extend from the respective upper regions (4a, 4b) such that the contact stops (5c, 5d) are oriented substantially parallel to one another.

12. A connecting terminal (9) comprising: a housing (10); a busbar (11); a spring-force clamping terminal (12), wherein the busbar (11) and the spring-force clamping terminal (12) form a clamping location for an electrical conductor to be clamped; and a protective earth contact (1) according to any one of the preceding claims for electrically conductively connecting a protective earth line to the busbar (11), wherein the protective earth contact (1) has a base section (2), wherein two side elements (3a, 3b) protrude from the base section (2), and the two side elements (3a, 3b) each have an upper region (4a, 4b), wherein the upper region (4a, 4b) forms a locking region (5) for clamping the protective earth contact (1) to the busbar (11), and wherein at least one side element (3a, 3b) has a protective earth contact element (6) for electrically conductively contacting the busbar (11). wherein the two upper regions (4a, 4b) each have a contact region (5a, 5b) facing one another, wherein the locking region (5) and the protective earth contact element (6) are arranged substantially at the same height (H) relative to the base section (2), It is characterized by: The locking area (5) and the protective earth contact element (6) are separate, wherein the protective earth contact (1) is configured so that when the protective earth contact (1) is mounted on a carrier element, the upper area (4a, 4b) widens in the locking area (5), whereby the carrier element can reach between the contact areas (5a, 5b).

13. The connecting terminal (9) according to claim 12, It is characterized by: At least one of the upper regions (4a, 4b) has a chamfer (7a, 7b) in the region of the locking region (5), wherein the ends of the chamfer (7a, 7b) facing the contact region (5a, 5b) and the protective earth contact element (6) are arranged at substantially the same height (H) relative to the base section (2).

14. The connecting terminal (9) according to claim 12 or 13, It is characterized by: At least one of the side elements (3a, 3b) has a guide contour (14a, 14b) for guiding an electrical line into the housing (10).

15. The connecting terminal (9) according to claim 14, It is characterized by: The guide contours (14a, 14b) are provided at the upper regions (4a, 4b) of the lateral elements (3a, 3b).

16. The connecting terminal (9) according to claim 14 or 15, It is characterized by: The guide contours (14a, 14b) interact with the housing (10) and / or with a wire stop (15) for an electrical wire in such a way that the protective earth contact (1) is stabilized.

17. The connecting terminal (9) according to any one of claims 12 to 16, It is characterized by: The protective ground contact (1) has a retaining element (8a), wherein the retaining element (8a) is arranged in the interior of the connecting terminal (9) in the region of the electrical conductor to be clamped.

18. The connecting terminal (9) according to claim 17, It is characterized by: The busbar (11) has a recess (13), wherein the retaining element (8a) engages in the recess (13) in order to connect the protective ground contact (1) to the busbar (11) in a form-fitting manner.

19. A protective earth contact (1) for electrically conductively connecting a protective earth line to an electrically conductive carrier element, wherein the protective earth contact comprises a base section (2), wherein two side elements (3a, 3b) protrude from the base section (2) and the two side elements (3a, 3b) each comprise an upper region (4a, 4b), wherein the upper region (4a, 4b) forms a locking region (5) for clamping the protective earth contact (1) to the carrier element, and wherein at least one side element (3a, 3b) comprises a protective earth contact element (6) for electrically conductively contacting the carrier element, It is characterized by: The two upper regions (4a, 4b) each have a contact region (5a, 5b) facing each other, wherein a carrier element can be held between the contact regions (5a, 5b) facing each other, and the locking region (5) and the protective grounding contact element (6) separated from the locking region (5) are arranged substantially at the same height (H) relative to the base section (2), wherein contact stops (5c, 5d) are respectively provided at the upper regions (4a, 4b) for stabilizing the protective grounding contact (1) in the installed state.

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