US3846741A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit board post type terminal
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1973-09-25
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Granted: 1974-11-05
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Expires: 1993-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A printed circuit board post type terminal formed of a single strip of rectangularly cross-sectioned conductive metal and having an inherent resiliency. The strip of metal is folded back on itself from each end over a center portion and with at least one end flared away from the center portion to form a spring-like element which is inserted into a printed circuit board hole and grips the walls of said hole to provide good mechanical support and good electrical contact. An insert position stop shoulder side projection formed on at least one side of each terminal post provides for accurate and uniform insertion of the post terminals through a printed circuit board.
Inventors
- 👤 J Kunkle
- 👤 R Barnes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:23
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/55; H01R12/58; H01R12/585
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A terminal post inserted in a hole in a circuit board and comprising an electrically conductive metal strip having first and second ends and folded over onto itself at first and secOnd fold points about the center portion of said metal strip so that the said first and second ends are facing and adjacent to each other but separated by a distance less than the thickness of said circuit board, and stop means affixed to said terminal post and constructed to seat upon the insertion side surface of said circuit board when said terminal post is fully inserted in said hole to position a given end of said metal strip within said hole, one of said ends of said metal strip being positioned and shaped to penetrate into the wall of said hole when said terminal post is fully inserted therein to provide good electrical and mechanical contact with said wall and to inhibit withdrawal of said terminal post from said hole.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A terminal post inserted in a hole in a circuit board and comprising an electrically conductive metal strip having first and second ends and folded over onto itself at first and secOnd fold points about the center portion of said metal strip so that the said first and second ends are facing and adjacent to each other but separated by a distance less than the thickness of said circuit board, and stop means affixed to said terminal post and constructed to seat upon the insertion side surface of said circuit board when said terminal post is fully inserted in said hole to position a given end of said metal strip within said hole, one of said ends of said metal strip being positioned and shaped to penetrate into the wall of said hole when said terminal post is fully inserted therein to provide good electrical and mechanical contact with said wall and to inhibit withdrawal of said terminal post from said hole.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
139 words
The combination of a circuit board having a plated-through hole formed therein, and a terminal post formed from an electrically conductive single metal strip and mounted in said plated-through hole of said circuit board, said terminal post comprising: a terminal post elongated back portion with a side projection presenting a stop shoulder for register positioning on one of said circuit board surfaces; and said metal strip folded over on itself at the extremities of said elongated back portion, said fold over portions extending towards each other and forming a front portion; said front fold-over portion and said back portion being in side-by-side contiguous engagement to form a desired overall terminal post of rectangular cross-section; and one of said fold over portions forming spring means on that portion of said terminal post which is inserted in said circuit board hole.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
139 words
The combination of a circuit board having a plated-through hole formed therein, and a terminal post formed from an electrically conductive single metal strip and mounted in said plated-through hole of said circuit board, said terminal post comprising: a terminal post elongated back portion with a side projection presenting a stop shoulder for register positioning on one of said circuit board surfaces; and said metal strip folded over on itself at the extremities of said elongated back portion, said fold over portions extending towards each other and forming a front portion; said front fold-over portion and said back portion being in side-by-side contiguous engagement to form a desired overall terminal post of rectangular cross-section; and one of said fold over portions forming spring means on that portion of said terminal post which is inserted in said circuit board hole.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
The combination of claim 2, with said front fold-over portion being a first fold-over portion which combines with said back portion to form upper terminal post extension; a second fold-over portion which is also a front fold over portion and which combines with said back portion to form a lower terminal post extension; said upper and lower terminal post extensions extending, respectively, up from said one of said circuit board surfaces and down from the other of said circuit board surfaces when the terminal post is fully inserted in a plated-through hole.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination of claim 3, wherein said spring means is an integrally formed resilient spring end portion of said second fold-over portion of the terminal post.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 4, wherein said spring means is a flat spring end portion extending out and away from said back portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein said first fold-over portion extends below the stop shoulder of said side projection and into a hole in said circuit board when said terminal post is fully inserted in place in the circuit board hole.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination of claim 5, wherein the rectangular cross-section of the combined terminal post back and folded over portions is substantially square; and with the terminal post sized to cut corner-conforming identations in the plating of said circuit board plated-through hole to receive and retain said terminal post.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
75 words
The combination of claim 7, wherein the end termination of said flat spring end portion is angled to facilitate removal of the terminal post from a plated-through hole; and wherein said spring means resiliently engages the wall of a plated-through hole to provide for repeated insertion of a terminal post in a previously used hole to provide both proper support and good electrical contact between the terminal post and the plating of the plated-through hole.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination of claim 2, with oppositely positioned bowed-out spring extensions from said terminal post back portion and said front fold-over portion extending from said side-by-side contiguous engagement between said terminal post front and back portions adjacent the level of said stop shoulder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
The combination of claim 9, wherein said oppositely positioned bowed-out spring extensions are formed to turn in toward each other at the bottom ends; and witH the bottom ends of said spring extensions being spaced close together to facilitate easy entry into a circular plated-through hole and then to come together while in the hole to provide an increased spring force of the bowed portions of said spring means upon the sides of said plated-through hole.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
159 words
In combination, a circuit board having apertures therein, and a terminal post inserted in an aperture in said circuit board with said terminal post comprising: an electrically conductive metal strip having first and second ends and folded over onto itself at first and second fold points about the center portion of said metal strip so that the said first and second ends are facing and adjacent to each other but separated by a distance less than the thickness of said circuit board; a given one of said ends being flared away from said center portion of said metal strip to provide a gripping action against the wall of said aperture in said circuit board when inserted therein; and stop means affixed to said terminal post and constructed to seat upon the insertion side surface of said circuit board when said terminal post is fully inserted in said hole to position said given end of said strip within said hole.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
159 words
In combination, a circuit board having apertures therein, and a terminal post inserted in an aperture in said circuit board with said terminal post comprising: an electrically conductive metal strip having first and second ends and folded over onto itself at first and second fold points about the center portion of said metal strip so that the said first and second ends are facing and adjacent to each other but separated by a distance less than the thickness of said circuit board; a given one of said ends being flared away from said center portion of said metal strip to provide a gripping action against the wall of said aperture in said circuit board when inserted therein; and stop means affixed to said terminal post and constructed to seat upon the insertion side surface of said circuit board when said terminal post is fully inserted in said hole to position said given end of said strip within said hole.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
A combination in accordance with claim 11 in which the other end of said metal strip is flared away from said center portion of said metal strip and which abuts against the intersection of said aperture and the other surface of said circuit board when said terminal post is fully inserted in said aperture to prevent withdrawal of said terminal post from said aperture.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
A combination in accordance with claim 11 in which the other end of said metal strip is flared away from said center portion of said metal strip and which is positioned and shaped to penetrate into the wall of said aperture when said terminal post is fully inserted therein to provide good electrical and mechanical contact with said wall and to inhibit withdrawal of said terminal post from said aperture.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |