Terminal strip

Claim 2

A terminal strip adapted for use in an interconnection wiring system comprising, a pair of parallel spaced-apart carrier strips, said strips being connected to each other by spaced-apart transversely extending rungs, a plurality of pairs of contact terminals, the two terminals of each pair being integral with said carrier strips on opposite sides of rungs, said strips being foldable between said rungs to shorten the pitch of said strip and said carrier strips being bendable relative to said rungs to position the two terminals of each pair in side-by-side parallel relationship, said strip being formed from laminated metal stock, said strip having a first layer of highly conductive metal extending over said carrier strips, over said rungs, and partially over said contact terminals and having a second layer of high strength metal against said first layer and extending laterally beyond said first layer on each side of said strip, said contact terminals comprising, at their extremities, said second layer.

Claim 3

A terminal strip as set forth in claim 1 wherein said contact terminals comprise contact sockets.

Claim 4

A terminal strip as set forth in claim 1 wherein said contact terminals comprise contact sockets, said second layer comprising the free end portions of said sockets, said first layer forming a liner in said contact sockets and providing a low resistance conducting path in said strip.

Claim 5

A strip as set forth in claim 3 wherein said end portions of said sockets have integral contact spring means therein formed from said second layer, said contact springs means being effective to maintain an inserted contact pin in engagement with the surface of said liner.

Claim 6

A strip as set forth in claim 3 wherein said end portions of said sockets have integral retainer springs therein formed from said second layer, said retainer springs being effective to retain inserted pins in said sockets.

Claim 7

A terminal strip adapted for use in an interconnection wiring system comprising, a pair of parallel spaced-apart carrier strips, said strips being connected to each other by spaced-apart transversely extending rungs, a plurality of pairs of contact terminals, the two terminals of each pair being integral with said carrier strips on opposite sides of said rungs, the portions of said strips between said rungs being folded thereby to reduce the pitch of said strip.

Claim 8

A terminal strip adapted for use in an interconnection wiring system comprising, a pair of parallel spaced-apart carrier strips, said strips being connected to each other by spaced-apart transversely extending rungs, a plurality of pairs of contact terminals, the two terminals of each pair being integral with said carrier strips on opposite sides of said rungs, the portions of said strips between said rungs being folded thereby to reduce the pitch of said strip.

Claim 9

A terminal strip as set forth in claim 6 wherein said carrier strips are bent relative to said rungs and lie in parallel planes extending normally of the plane defined by said rungs, the two contact terminals of each pair being in side-by-side parallel relationship with their axes extending normally of said plane defined by said rungs.

Claim 10

A terminal strip comprising a continuous carrier strip having a plurality of contact terminals integral with and extending laterally therefrom, said contact terminals having contact surface portions disposed adjacent to said carrier strip, said strip being formed from laminated stock metal comprising a high strength layer and a highly conductive layer, said highly conductive layer extending along said carrier strip and partially onto said contact terminals, said highly conductive layer constituting said contact surface portions of said terminals, said highly conductive layer extending laterally beyond said highly conductive layer and constituting the end portions of said contact terminals.

Claim 11

A terminal strip comprising a continuous carrier strip having a plurality of contact terminals integral with and extending laterally therefrom, said contact terminals having contact surface portions disposed adjacent to said carrier strip, said strip being formed from laminated stock metal comprising a high strength layer and a highly conductive layer, said highly conductive layer extending along said carrier strip and partially onto said contact terminals, said highly conductive layer constituting said contact surface portions of said terminals, said highly conductive layer extending laterally beyond said highly conductive layer and constituting the end portions of said contact terminals.

Claim 12

A strip of contact terminals for use in an interconnection system, said strip comprising a central carrier strip, a plurality of pairs of contact terminals integral with said carrier Strip, the two contacts of each pair extending laterally of said strip in opposite directions and being in axial alignment with each other, said contact terminals being integral with said carrier strip by means of connecting slugs having a length sufficient to permit said contacts to be bent relative to said strip until the axes of said contacts extend parallel to each other and normally of said strip, each of said terminals comprising a contact socket adapted to receive a contact pin, said strip being of laminated metal comprising a first lamina having a high electrical conductivity and a second lamina of high strength springy material, said first lamina extending over said carrier strip and partially into said sockets and said second lamina extending laterally beyond said first lamina, the portions of said sockets which are remote from said carrier strip being formed of said second lamina.

Claim 13

A strip of contact terminals for use in an interconnection system, said strip comprising a central carrier strip, a plurality of pairs of contact terminals integral with said carrier Strip, the two contacts of each pair extending laterally of said strip in opposite directions and being in axial alignment with each other, said contact terminals being integral with said carrier strip by means of connecting slugs having a length sufficient to permit said contacts to be bent relative to said strip until the axes of said contacts extend parallel to each other and normally of said strip, each of said terminals comprising a contact socket adapted to receive a contact pin, said strip being of laminated metal comprising a first lamina having a high electrical conductivity and a second lamina of high strength springy material, said first lamina extending over said carrier strip and partially into said sockets and said second lamina extending laterally beyond said first lamina, the portions of said sockets which are remote from said carrier strip being formed of said second lamina.

Claim 14

A strip as set forth in claim 9 wherein each of said sockets has a contact spring and a retainer spring struck from its wall, said contact and retainer springs being of said second lamina and extending towards said carrier strip.

Claim 15

A strip of contact terminals for use in an interconnection system, said strip comprising central carrier strip means having a plurality of pairs of contact terminals integral therewith, the terminals of each pair being disposed on opposite sides of said strip means said strip means being in a shortened condition as a result of folding parallel to its length at periodic intervals whereby said terminals on each side of said strip means are spaced apart by a distance which is less than the developed width of said terminals as measured along the length of said carrier strip means, said terminals being bent, relative to said strip and extending normally of the plane of said strip.

Claim 16

A strip of contact terminals for use in an interconnection system, said strip comprising central carrier strip means having a plurality of pairs of contact terminals integral therewith, the terminals of each pair being disposed on opposite sides of said strip means said strip means being in a shortened condition as a result of folding parallel to its length at periodic intervals whereby said terminals on each side of said strip means are spaced apart by a distance which is less than the developed width of said terminals as measured along the length of said carrier strip means, said terminals being bent, relative to said strip and extending normally of the plane of said strip.