Electrical terminal for printed circuit board and methods of making and using same

Claim 1

A contact terminal for insertion into a socket means of a printed circuit board, the socket means having an internal surface of selected diameter, said terminal comprising: a member having at least one contact section means at an end thereof, and further having: a generally tubular compliant mounting section intermediate the ends of said member and having tubular portions at each end of said mounting section having a common outer diameter less than the selected diameter of the inside surface of the socket means, said tubular portions being integrally joined by axially extending portions of said mounting section, said mounting section further having a plurality of substantially axial spring vanes disposed between said tubular portions and spaced circumferentially around said mounting section each extending generally tangentially outwardly from a respective said axially extending portion to a free end having an outermost edge, said outermost edges together defining an effective diameter greater than said selected diameter of said internal surface of said socket means, said spring vanes adapted to be deflected radially inwardly upon insertion into said socket means, said spring vanes including leading ends each beginning at a point on the surface of said generally tubular compliant mounting section and gradually extending outwardly proceeding axially along said compliant mounting section from said point, forming lead-ins assisting deflection of said spring vanes during insertion into said socket means.

Claim 13

A method of making a contact terminal suitable for insertion into a socket means of a printed circuit board and mechanically self-retaining therein in electrical engagement therewith, comprising the steps of: selecting a sheet of metal of uniform thickness; stamping a terminal blank therein having opposed end portions defining a longitudinal direction therebetween; piercing a selected portion of said blank intermediate said blank end portions at a plurality of locations to form slits therealong substantially parallel to said longitudinal direction, said slits being formed between respective pairs of slit end points spaced from ends of said selected blank portion, each slit having at least ends thereof at respective selected angles from said longitudinal direction such that the remainder of said slit between said ends is laterally offset from said slit end points; forming at least said selected portion into a tubular shape having an axis parallel to said longitudinal direction such that said tubular shape includes axially extending portions between adjacent ones of said slit end points, and a part of each said axially extending portion between the angled ends of each slit extends generally tangentially outwardly from a respective side edge of the remainder of said axially extending portion to a free end comprising a spring member deflectable radially inwardly by a socket means of a printed circuit board upon insertion of said terminal thereinto said remainder of each said axially extending portion being of arcuate cross-section; forming at least one said blank end portion into a contact section.

Claim 14

A method of making a contact terminal suitable for insertion into a socket means of a printed circuit board and mechanically self-retaining therein in electrical engagement therewith, comprising the steps of: selecting a sheet of metal of uniform thickness; stamping a terminal blank therein having opposed end portions defining a longitudinal direction therebetween; piercing a selected portion of said blank intermediate said blank end portions at a plurality of locations to form slits therealong substantially parallel to said longitudinal direction, said slits being formed between respective pairs of slit end points spaced from ends of said selected blank portion, each slit having at least ends thereof at respective selected angles from said longitudinal direction such that the remainder of said slit between said ends is laterally offset from said slit end points; forming at least said selected portion into a tubular shape having an axis parallel to said longitudinal direction such that said tubular shape includes axially extending portions between adjacent ones of said slit end points, and a part of each said axially extending portion between the angled ends of each slit extends generally tangentially outwardly from a respective side edge of the remainder of said axially extending portion to a free end comprising a spring member deflectable radially inwardly by a socket means of a printed circuit board upon insertion of said terminal thereinto said remainder of each said axially extending portion being of arcuate cross-section; forming at least one said blank end portion into a contact section.

Claim 19

A method of making an electrical connection between a plated through-hole of a printed circuit board and a terminal post mounted therein, comprising the steps of: forming a tubular mounting portion of a terminal, said tubular mounting portion having parallel, axially extending spring vanes extending tangentially outwardly in a common angular direction from the circumference of said tubular mounting portion to free ends deflectable radially inwardly, said free ends including outermost edges defining an effective diameter; forming a terminal post section at at least one end of said terminal; inserting said mounting portion into a plated through-hole having an inside diameter less than said effective diameter such that said spring vanes are deflected radially inwardly thereby securely gripping said internal surface and said outermost edges penetrate the plating material of said through-hole in electrical connection therewith, and such that said terminal post section extends outwardly from said printed circuit board; and wrapping wire around said terminal post section in said angular direction, whereby said free ends of said spring vanes resist rotational movement in said angular direction urged by said wire wrapping.

Claim 20

A method of making an electrical connection between a plated through-hole of a printed circuit board and a terminal post mounted therein, comprising the steps of: forming a tubular mounting portion of a terminal, said tubular mounting portion having parallel, axially extending spring vanes extending tangentially outwardly in a common angular direction from the circumference of said tubular mounting portion to free ends deflectable radially inwardly, said free ends including outermost edges defining an effective diameter; forming a terminal post section at at least one end of said terminal; inserting said mounting portion into a plated through-hole having an inside diameter less than said effective diameter such that said spring vanes are deflected radially inwardly thereby securely gripping said internal surface and said outermost edges penetrate the plating material of said through-hole in electrical connection therewith, and such that said terminal post section extends outwardly from said printed circuit board; and wrapping wire around said terminal post section in said angular direction, whereby said free ends of said spring vanes resist rotational movement in said angular direction urged by said wire wrapping.