Abstract An electrical connector of resilient conductive material such as copper for attachment to a longitudinally extending terminal post. The connector may constitute one of a plurality of identical modular connectors formed integrally in a strip for electrically connecting together a number of such posts in spaced parallel relation such as wire wrap posts projecting from a plate or panel having an array of posts arranged in columns and rows. The connector includes a generally flat central web provided with a pair of integrally formed wings projecting oppositely from the web and being resiliently bendable forwardly from the plane of the web, each wing having a post-receiving aperture formed therein. In use, with a terminal post projecting through the apertures of a pair of wings, the resiliency of the material causes the wings to contact the post along the aperture distal edges and thus to retain the web in close abutment and good electrical contact with the terminal post. The entire joint is visible for inspection, and may be soldered if desired. Bypassing of a selected terminal post may be accomplished by cutting off the wings corresponding to that post, and insulating the web from contact with the bypassed post, as by a sleeve of dielectric material surrounding the web. A backing strip of conductive material may be attached to the web as by spot welding, in order to increase the strength and current-carrying capacity of the strip.
An electrical connector for attachment to longitudinally extending parallel terminal posts each having a thickness between front and rear walls of a given value comprising: a longitudinally extending strip of resilient conductive material comprising a series of flat web portions each having a front surface bounded by spaced parallel upper and lower borderlines; means formed integrally with the strip for retaining each web front surface in abutting contact with a post rear wall, including successive pairs of wings equally spaced along the strip and projecting oppositely from each web, each wing having formed therein a post-receiving aperture defined distally by a distal edge, each wing being swingable forwardly from the plane of the front surface of the web about one of said borderlines to a transitional position wherein said distal edge is more distant from said plane than said value, and being resiliently biased toward a rest position wherein said distal edge is rearward of its transitional position; and a sleeve of insulating material surrounding the web between successive pairs of wings.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
An electrical connector for attachment to longitudinally extending parallel terminal posts each having a thickness between front and rear walls of a given value comprising: a longitudinally extending strip of resilient conductive material comprising a series of flat web portions each having a front surface bounded by spaced parallel upper and lower borderlines; means formed integrally with the strip for retaining each web front surface in abutting contact with a post rear wall, including successive pairs of wings equally spaced along the strip and projecting oppositely from each web, each wing having formed therein a post-receiving aperture defined distally by a distal edge, each wing being swingable forwardly from the plane of the front surface of the web about one of said borderlines to a transitional position wherein said distal edge is more distant from said plane than said value, and being resiliently biased toward a rest position wherein said distal edge is rearward of its transitional position; and a sleeve of insulating material surrounding the web between successive pairs of wings.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein successive wings are separated from one another by slots.