U.S. patent number 3,720,907 [Application Number 05/161,809] was granted by the patent office on 1973-03-13 for panel connector employing flag-type terminals and terminal extracting tool for the same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to AMP Incorporated. Invention is credited to John Carl Asick.
United States Patent |
3,720,907 |
Asick |
March 13, 1973 |
PANEL CONNECTOR EMPLOYING FLAG-TYPE TERMINALS AND TERMINAL
EXTRACTING TOOL FOR THE SAME
Abstract
A dielectric block carrying a longitudinally extending trough on
one side and a plurality of spaced slots from the same side and
intersecting the trough, have the root portions of the slots
longitudinally enlarged at one side to define first and second
shoulders. A FLAG-type terminal inserted into the trough in the
same direction as the subsequently received printed circuit board
has a tang within the web portion which contacts the second
shoulder to resist removal forces in the plane of card insertion.
The flag-type terminal is bent to longitudinally offset the web
portion from the wire crimping portion to form an abutment which
contacts the first shoulder and resists forces extending along the
axis of the wire crimped thereto. A multi-armed extracting tool is
inserted within the slot adjacent to the terminal arm for releasing
the tang from the second shoulder for extraction of the terminal in
the plane of the printed circuit board and in the direction of
board extraction.
Inventors: |
Asick; John Carl (Harrisburg,
PA) |
Assignee: |
AMP Incorporated (Harrisburg,
PA)
|
Family
ID: |
26812546 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/161,809 |
Filed: |
July 12, 1971 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
114793 |
Feb 17, 1971 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/636; 439/747;
439/855 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
13/428 (20130101); H01R 43/00 (20130101); H01R
12/721 (20130101); H01R 43/22 (20130101); H05K
13/0447 (20130101); H01R 13/432 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
43/22 (20060101); H01R 13/428 (20060101); H01R
43/00 (20060101); H01R 43/20 (20060101); H05K
13/04 (20060101); H01R 13/432 (20060101); H05k
001/07 (); H01r 013/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/17L,17LC,17LM,75MP,176MP,184M,186M,217S,258R,258F,258P,276F |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
H H. Buggie Catalog, Printed Circuit Connectors, Jan. 1954, page
2..
|
Primary Examiner: Champion; Marvin A.
Assistant Examiner: Staab; Lawrence J.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation in part of U. S. application
Ser. No. 114,793 filed Feb. 17, 1971, entitled "Improved Panel
Connector Employing Flag-type Terminals", now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A disengageable connector assembly for connecting a plurality of
lead wires with a panel-like member having conductors thereon,
comprising:
a dielectric block having a trough extending along one side thereof
for reception of said panel-like member,
a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots in said block extending
transversely of and intersecting said trough from the side carrying
said trough and an adjacent side thereof, portions of said slots
being longitudinally enlarged to define first and second shoulder
means at right angles to each other,
flag-type terminals carried by said slots, and extending into said
trough, each of said flag-type terminals including:
a web portion and a wire connection portion offset by a right angle
abutment joining the web portion to the wire connection portion,
and
a tang carried by said web portion extending outwardly therefrom
and having a contact edge lying at right angles to the plane of
said abutment for contacting said second shoulder means, whereby:
said flag-type terminal is inserted within said slot in the same
direction as said panel-like member with said abutment facing said
first shoulder means and said tang facing said second shoulder
means to thereby resist forces acting on the wire coupled thereto
or the panel-like member tending to remove the panel from the
terminal.
2. The disengageable connector assembly as claimed in claim 1,
wherein: the edge of said terminal web portion remote from said
abutment is bent at right angles thereto, parallel to said abutment
and in the same direction, and said flag-type terminal further
includes a pair of panel-receiving arms which comprise flexible
extensions of said abutment and said edge respectively and wherein
said slots are longitudinally enlarged on each side of said trough
to receive said arms, whereby maximum surface contact exists
between the panel-like member and respective arms receiving the
same.
3. The disengageable connector assembly as claimed in claim 2,
wherein said slots include enlarged root portions extending
outwardly, beyond said adjacent side, and said flag-type terminals
include an enlarged crimp portion disposed therein.
4. An electrical terminal for use with an edge connector panel-like
member comprising:
a substantially flat web portion,
opposed sides of said web portion being bent inwardly in the same
direction to define a portion U-shaped in section,
arms extending from each of said bent sides beyond said web portion
in a common direction,
a crimp portion extending from the free end of one of said bent
sides of said web portion, in a direction away from the web portion
to define abutment means between the web portion and the crimp
portion,
and a tang partially struck out from said web portion extending
obliquely therefrom in the direction of said arms.
5. The electrical terminal as claimed in claim 4, wherein said arms
initially curve towards each other with the ends flared outwardly
to define a V-shaped opening for reception of said panel-like
member.
6. A disengageable connector assembly as claimed in claim 1,
wherein: each terminal has opposed arms extending away from said
web portion and at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said
wire connection portion to resiliently grasp the panel-like member
which is inserted therebetween, and said tang comprises an integral
extension of said web portion, lying between said arms and
extending toward the free end of said arms to contact said second
shoulder means.
7. A disengageable connector assembly as claimed in claim 2,
wherein said tang comprises an integral extension of said web
portion, lying between said arms and extending toward the free ends
of the arms to contact said second shoulder means.
8. A disengageable connector assembly as claimed in claim 3,
wherein said tang comprises an integral extension of said web
portion, lying between said arms and extending toward the free ends
of the arms to contact said second shoulder means.
9. The disengageable connector assembly as claimed in claim 6,
wherein said tang extends obliquely from the edge of said web
portion remote from said arms, and wherein said tang terminates
beyond a plane defined by the side edges of said arms.
10. The disengageable connector assembly as claimed in claim 7,
wherein said tang extends obliquely from the edge of said web
portion remote from said arms, and wherein said tang lies
intermediate said abutment and said bent edge and terminates beyond
a plane defined by the side edges of said arms.
11. The disengageable connector assembly as claimed in claim 8,
wherein said tang extends obliquely from the edge of said web
portion remote from said arms, and wherein said tang lies
intermediate said abutment and said bent edge and terminates beyond
a plane defined by the side edges of said arms.
12. An electrical terminal for use with an edge connector
panel-like member comprising:
a substantially flat web portion,
opposed sides of said web portion being bent inwardly in the same
direction to define a portion U-shaped in section,
integral arms extending from each of said bent sides beyond the web
portion in a common direction,
a crimp portion extending from the free edge of one of said bent
sides of said web portion, in a direction away from the web portion
to define abutment means and to offset the web portion from the
crimp portion,
and a tang integral with said web portion, lying between said
opposed sides and extending towards the free end of said arms.
13. The electrical terminal as claimed in claim 12, wherein said
tang extends obliquely away from the edge of said web portion
remote from said arms, and wherein said tang lies intermediate said
bent sides and terminates beyond a plane defined by the side edges
of said arms.
14. The electrical terminal as claimed in claim 13, wherein said
arms initially curve towards each other with the ends thereof
flared outwardly to define a V-shaped opening for reception of said
panel-like member.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electrical connectors for forming
disengageable electric connections between a plurality of
conductors on a rigid panel-like member such as a printed circuit
board and a corresponding number of wires external of the panel.
The invention is described with respect to a connector for specific
use with a printed circuit board, however, it is readily apparent
that the invention may be broadly applied to the formation of
disengageable electrical connections with panel-like members of a
more general nature.
Description of the Prior Art
The general use of printed circuit techniques and especially thin,
rigid printed circuit boards formed of dielectric material and
carrying printed circuit conductors on the surface thereof or
embedded within the same, has resulted in the evolvement of
different connecting devices capable of disengageably connecting
external conductors to the circuit paths on the printed circuit
board. One type of connector which is most suitably adapted to the
connection of a printed circuit board to a plurality of individual
conductors or wires, is set forth in U. S. Pat. No. 3,075,167,
patented Jan. 22, 1963, and assigned to the common assignee. The
connector therein involves a dielectric block having a
longitudinally extending trough extending inwardly from one side
and partially toward the opposite side for reception of an edge
portion of the printed circuit board. The trough is provided with a
plurality of spaced, flag-type connectors partially carried within
the trough and extending within slots and through a side wall
defined by the trough at right angles to the plane of insertion of
the printed circuit board. This arrangement eliminates any tendency
on the part of a technician, in removing the block from the board
and vice versa, to grasp the external wires and pull on them to
effect said dis-engagement. The flag-type connectors are
characterized by resilient arms which frictionally grasp the
individual conductors on the printed circuit board, with a barrel
crimp portion extending outwardly from an interconnecting web
portion at right angles to the arms, from one side of the web
portion, partially within and beyond the slots formed in the side
wall of the block. Since the slots which intersect the trough
define an L-shaped cavity to receive both the printed circuit board
portion grasped between the resilient arms of the flag-type
connector, and the wire connecting portion of the terminal which
extends at right angles thereto, necessarily, the unitary
dielectric block constituting plastic or the like, must be molded
in a complex mold. This complexity involves the movement of mold
parts in directions at right angles to each other because of the
configuration of the cavity. The number of segments forming the
mold and the core pins required to define the cavities within the
block for subsequent reception of the terminals and the printed
circuit board are also high.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, in a preferred embodiment, constitutes a
connector for a printed circuit board or the like involving a
dielectric block having an elongated, longitudinally extending
trough along one side of the block and extending partially
therethrough toward the opposite side with the trough receiving an
edge portion of the printed circuit board. A plurality of
longitudinally spaced slots extend inwardly of the said one side of
said block and inwardly of an adjacent side to intersect said
trough and define on opposite side walls thereof, laterally
extending recesses. The root portions of the slots are
longitudinally enlarged to one side thereof to define first and
second shoulder means at right angles to each other. Each slot and
its intersecting trough portion receive a flag-type terminal having
a pair of laterally spaced arms carried by the trough portion which
arms extend outwardly from a terminal web portion to receive the
inserted edge portion of the printed circuit board. A wire barrel
crimp portion extends outwardly of the web portions at right angles
to the arms and beyond the slot.
The web portion and the crimp portion of each terminal are
longitudinally offset to define abutment means for contact with the
first shoulder means, while a tang carried by the web portion and
struck outwardly therefrom is directed at right angles to the
abutment means to contact the second shoulder means, thereby
resisting forces acting through either the wires or the printed
circuit boards tending to remove the same from the terminal. Both
the terminal and the printed circuit board are inserted in the same
direction, thus insuring seating of the terminal in proper position
while restrained against removal by the abutment means and the tang
intersecting respective shoulders. The printed circuit board
receiving arms are extensions of sides of the web portion which are
bent at right angles from the web portion and are in arm facing
position and occupy the root portions of the slot to thereby effect
good surface contact between the arms and the respective printed
circuit board conductor.
In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the tang is an
integral extension of the web portion from the edge opposite that
carrying the arms, lies between the opposed sides of the arms and
is directed obliquely toward the free ends of the same, terminating
beyond a plane defined by the side edges of the arms. A special
extracting tool includes first and second arms insertable into the
trough and the slot carrying the flag-type terminal, with the first
arm movable to a position between the tang and the web and the
second arm extending parallel thereto and movable into abutment
with the end of the tang to flex the tang toward the first arm and
to maintain the same in flexed position. Abutment means are formed
by the first arm and contact the underside of a lip extending
inwardly from the free edge of the tang toward the web portion of
the terminal such that the first arm contacts the underside of the
lip during extraction of the tool, causing the terminal to follow
the tool during extraction. The tool may be formed in unitary
fashion from spring sheet metal stock including a loop defining
handle joining the arms which are longitudinally movable with
respect to each other, the first arm having its tip end reversely
bent to define an edge abutment for the lip with the tip end facing
the second arm.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector in accordance with
the present invention in assembled relationship to an edge portion
of a printed circuit board.
FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view, partially in section, of a
portion of the connector illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the dielectric block of
the present invention with several portions of the block rotated at
right angles to each other, and the paired core pins employed in
the molding of the same are illustrated in proper orientation with
the block as used in conjunction with a two-section mold (not
shown).
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the
connector of the present invention in position to receive an edge
portion of a printed circuit board.
FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view, partially in section, of a
portion of the connector illustrated in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a metal stock strip after punching to form
the terminal of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one form of an improved extracting
tool employable in conjunction with the second embodiment of the
present invention.
FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C are partial, sectional views of the connector
of FIG. 4 during extraction of a flag-type terminal by means of the
tool of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a portion of the terminal, taken
about line 9--9 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 10 is a partial, sectional view of a portion of the connector
illustrated in FIG. 4 and employing yet another extraction tool
inserted from the same side of the dielectric block slot receiving
the terminal.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a connector 2 in
accordance with the present invention is adapted to be assembled to
and engaged with an edge portion of a printed circuit board 4
having conductors 6 thereon which extend to the edge of the board.
The connector comprises two principal components, principally a
dielectric block 3 of nylon or other suitable, moldable,
electrically insulative material, and a plurality of flag-type
terminals 5 for reception therein. The dielectric block 3 is
provided with a trough 10 which extends inwardly from one side 8.
The trough 10 is adapted to receive the edge portion of the printed
circuit board 4. If desired, an arrangement may be incorporated to
polarize the connector block 3 with respect to the printed circuit
board 4, so that the parts can be assembled only in a proper and
intended manner.
A plurality of longitudinally spaced slots 20 are further provided
in the block and extend inwardly from the same side 8 as does
trough 10 and further from an adjacent side 22. The slots have a
depth as measured from side 8 which is greater than the depth of
the trough 10 in order to accommodate the particular terminal 5
illustrated in FIG. 2 in a manner to be described hereinafter. The
slots 20 intersect the trough 10 and, from the bottom surface 16 of
trough 10 upwardly, FIG. 2, the slots are enlarged, both in width
and length, as at 18, separated by narrow walls 19. More
importantly, the root portions 26 of slots 20 are enlarged
longitudinally, that is, to the left side, FIG. 2, and define a
first shoulder 28 which faces opposite to the adjacent side 22 of
the block and a second shoulder 29 which faces away from the
direction of insertion of both the terminal 5 and the printed
circuit board 4. The root portions of the slots 20 outside of the
trough 10 are further enlarged at 30 to receive the barrel crimp
portions of the flag-type terminal 5.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, it is noted that the flag-type terminal 5
of stamped metal or the like comprises a web portion 40 having a
wire barrel crimp portion 36 and an insulation crimp portion 38,
extending in order from one edge of the web portion outwardly, the
wire barrel crimp portion being in crimped engagement with the
conducting strands of wire 34 and the insulation crimp portion 38
being in crimped engagement with the insulation of the wire 34
external of the conductors. A latch or tang 42 is partially struck
out from web 40 and points in a direction at right angles to the
crimp portions of the terminal. Further, it is noted that the
terminal web portion and the barrel crimp portions are offset with
respect to each other, separated by flat surface abutment portion
41 as one of two bent sides of terminal web portion 40, with this
offset being extended to form one of a pair of contact arms 46. The
arms 46 are integrally formed with the terminal web portion,
extending from opposite sides. The arms have reversely bent ends 48
defining a V-shaped opening for the reception of printed circuit
board 4, whose width is slightly greater than that of the opening
between arms 46, so that the metallic resilient arms 46 flex
slightly to receive the inserted end of the same. It is noted that
rather than having narrow edges of the arms in contact with the
printed circuit board, in the present embodiment, the full width of
the arms contacts the board to provide increased surface contact
area between the arms and the respective board conductor.
In the present embodiment, as well as in the reference above, the
lower portion of side 8 of the block is recessed with respect to
the upper portion so that the block has a generally L-shaped cross
section. The block itself may be provided with a circular mounting
hole 49 at each end, facilitating mounting of the block to a base
or other support 53 by screws 51.
In use, the conductors effecting external connections for the
printed circuit board will be provided with the flag-type terminals
of the type illustrated in FIG. 2, which are then inserted into the
block from the side 8, that is, in the same direction and on the
same side as that receiving the printed circuit board. Obviously,
during insertion, the tang 42 for each terminal flexes inwardly as
it passes through the narrow portion of slot 20, but upon entering
the enlarged root area 26 of the slot, relaxes and moves into
position just beneath the second shoulder 29, thus preventing
removal of the terminal in an opposite direction, that is, away
from side 8 of the block. Further, the flat surface portion 41 of
the terminal between the crimp portions 36 and 38 and the web
portion 40 defines an abutment which readily seats against the
first shoulder 28 at right angles to the seating of the tang 42
against the shoulder 29 to resist forces acting on wires 34 in a
direction away from side 22 of the block.
After the terminals have all been inserted, with the V-shaped ends
48 of the arms facing the open end of the trough 10 and positioned
between the narrow walls 19 and within the enlarged slot areas 18
above the bottom 16 of the trough 10, the ends 48 of the arms 46
are not quite touching the sides of recesses 18, the insertion of a
printed circuit board 4 allows the contact arms 46 to be spread
apart by the board and by the conductors 6 thereon, allowing
frictional grasping of the printed circuit board by the individual
terminals at the conductor areas. Thus, the particular type of
terminal shown is capable of making contact with conducting paths
on both sides of the printed circuit board. One way in which an
individual terminal can be removed from the block is by merely
inserting a blade into the enlarged root area 26 of the slot 20 to
depress tang 42 so that it clears shoulder 29 and is within the web
portion when moving upwardly and outwardly through the narrow
portion of the slot 20.
The block for receiving the flag-type terminals, may be most
advantageously molded at low cost, since the block or housing is
made to the use of a simple two-piece, two-directional mold, with
the manner of manufacturing of the same being readily seen by
reference to FIG. 3. The block 3 as prepared by the mold, is broken
away with portion 3' rotated 90.degree. to the block proper to
illustrate the various portions of trough 10 and the intersecting
slots 20. Further, the exploded view further illustrates use of two
core pin assemblies 60 and 62 of particular configuration, which
are associated with a two-piece mold (not shown) which move in
conjunction with assemblies 60 and 62 in opposite directions as
indicated by arrows 64 and 66. This allows molding in a single or
straight action mold wherein the two parts of the mold move along a
rectilinear path towards and away from each other and all of the
shoulders and other cavity portions are formed by the suitably
designed core pin assemblies in the form of single units associated
with each mold half. With respect to FIG. 3, the core pin assembly
62 is shown in proper orientation with respect to the block proper,
while, of course, the block portion 3' has been rotated 90.degree.
clockwise from the main portion 3 of the block. The purpose of FIG.
3 is merely to illustrate the low cost manufacturing technique
employable in the molding of the block 3 and the use of core pins
to define the cavity portions of the block is readily apparent. In
this regard, portions 68 of the upper core pin assembly 60 readily
form the elongated trough 10 within the side 8 of the block, the
outwardly and downwardly extended portion 70 of the same creates
the shoulders 28 which are in contact with abutment 41 of each
terminal 5. The narrow lateral extension portion 72 acts in
conjunction with portions 68 and 70 to define slot 20, while large
block portion 74 creates, at the root, recess 30 which receives the
conductor and insulation crimp portions of the terminal.
Turning to the lower core pin assembly 62, this simplified assembly
employs two rectangular abutting portions 76 and 78 at each
location, which defines the enlarged root portion 26 of each slot
20 and forms the shoulder 29 against which abuts, tang 42 during
attempted removal of the terminal 5.
Referring in particular to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, an
alternate embodiment of the connector of the present invention is
illustrated at 2' and is adapted to be assembled to and engaged
with an edge portion of a printed circuit board (not shown)
identical in construction and configuration to that of the previous
embodiment and insertable within a trough 10' which extends
inwardly from one side 8' of the dielectric block 3' of nylon or
other suitable, moldable, electrically insulated material and
forming one of the principal components of the connector. The other
components comprise a plurality of flag-type terminals 5' which are
received within the dielectric block 3'. In like manner to the
previous embodiment, a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots 20'
are provided in the block and extend inwardly from the same side 8'
as does trough 10' and further from an adjacent side 22'. The slots
have a depth as measured from side 8' which is greater than the
depth of the trough 10' in order to accommodate terminals 5'. The
slots 20' intersect the trough 10' with the slots being enlarged
both in width and length as at 18' from the bottom surface 16' of
the trough 10' upwardly, the enlarged area indicated at 18' is
separated by narrow walls 19'. The root portions 26' of the slots
20' are enlarged longitudinally, that is, to the left side, FIG. 4,
to define a first shoulder 28' which faces opposite to the adjacent
side 22' of the block and a second shoulder 29' which faces away
from the direction of insertion of both the terminal 5 and the
printed circuit board (not shown) which enters from side 8' of the
block. The root portions of the slots 20' outside of the trough 10'
are further enlarged at 30' to receive the barrel crimp portions of
the flag-type terminals 5'.
As best seen in FIG. 5, the flag-type terminal 5' is formed of
stamped metal or the like and prior to being bent into final form,
has a configuration indicated best in FIG. 6. A strip 60 of metal
stock material has perforations 62 to permit feeding of the strip
along a manufacturing path providing a multitude of operations, one
of which stamps out, from the strip or blank 60, the individual
terminal blanks 64 which are coupled to the perforated feed edge
portion 66 by a thin connecting portion 68. The purpose of
illustrating the manner of blanking the individual terminals in
FIG. 6 is to show that the tang or lance 42' is achieved without
substantially increasing the amount of stock metal required to
produce the individual terminals from the strip during blanking.
Thus, the lance or tang 42' of one terminal blank is formed from
the material lying between the contact arms 46' of the next
adjacent blank.
In like manner to the previous embodiment, the flag-type terminal
5' of stamped metal comprises a web portion 40' having a barrel
crimp portion 36' and an insulation crimp portion 38', extending in
that order from one edge of the web portion outwardly. Thus, the
wire barrel crimp portion is in engagement with the conducting
strands of wire and the insulation crimp portion 38' is crimped to
the insulation 34' surrounding the same.
Unlike the previous embodiment, the tang 42' is integral with the
web portion 40', extending outwardly from edge 70 and reversely
bent about a line 72 parallel with and in line with edge 70. Tang
42' extends upwardly between arms 46' and is inclined obliquely
from the web portion 40'. The terminal web portion 40' and barrel
crimp portion are laterally offset with respect to each other and
separated by flat surface portion 41' with the offset being formed
by one of the pair of contact arms 46' integral with the terminal
web portion and extending from opposite sides thereof. In like
manner to the previous embodiment, the arms 46' have reversely bent
ends 48' defining a V-shaped opening for the reception of the
printed circuit board 73, FIG. 9. Preferably embossed contact
buttons 71 present raised contact surfaces which facilitate
electrical circuit completion with the inserted printed circuit
board 73, FIG. 9. The tang 42' is substantially longer and
therefore stronger and more durable than the tang 42 of the first
embodiment, tang 42' terminating in an enlarged head 74 which is
wider at its terminal end and defining a pair of shoulder contact
edges 76 on each side of inwardly turned, right angle lip 78, the
lip being coplanar with contact edges 76.
Turning to the insulation block housing the terminals, the block in
similar manner to the previous embodiment is generally L-shaped in
cross section, is provided with circular mounting holes 49', at
each end of the same to allow mounting of the block to a base or
other support. The block itself is modified somewhat from the prior
embodiment, in that a rectangular notch or slot 80 is formed
extending from the bottom 16' of the trough 10' to the second
shoulder 29' for the specific purpose of allowing an arm of an
extraction tool to pass beyond the lip 78 of tang 42' after being
inserted in the same direction as the printed circuit card to
facilitate removal of the flag-type terminal from its respective
slot 20' from the same side as terminal and card insertion.
In use, in similar fashion to the prior embodiment, the flag-type
terminals 5' are inserted into the slot from side 8', that is, in
the same direction and on the same side as that receiving the
printed circuit board. Because of the presence of the enlarged head
74, the tang 42' for each terminal 5' flexes inwardly, that is,
toward the web portion 40' as it passes through the narrow portion
of slot 20' but upon entering the enlarged root area 26' of the
slot, relaxes and moves into a position such that the contact edges
76 lie immediately beneath the shoulder 29', thus preventing
removal of the terminal in an opposite direction except by use of
an extraction tool. Further, the flat surface portion 41' of the
terminal, in the identical manner of the first embodiment, forms an
abutment which readily seats against the shoulder 28' at right
angles to the seating of tang 42' against shoulder 29' to resist
forces acting on wires 34' in a direction away from side 22' of the
block.
The embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 also involves an insulation block
which may be molded in similar fashion to the first embodiment at
low cost by the use of a simple two-piece, two-directional mold as
is readily seen in the perspective view of FIG. 5.
The present invention is further directed to a specially formed and
configured extraction tool, FIG. 7, which enables the flag-type
terminal to be extracted from the slots in block 3' receiving the
same, the tool being inserted from the circuit board side of the
slot to facilitate removal of the terminal 5'. One embodiment of a
tool allowing access of the tool from the same side as that
receiving the printed circuit board, is illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8A,
8B and 8C. Specifically, extracting tool 82 is unitary, is formed
of sheet metal spring stock in the form of a metal strip which is
bent to form a handle 84 and which has integrally extending from
the same, a first arm 86 and a second arm 88. In that respect, arm
86 is bent through most of its length into L-shaped cross section
including a right angle guide portion 90 and terminates in a
reversely bent tip portion 92 whose edge 94 defines an abutment
surface. Further, an L-shaped stop 96 extends outward of the guide
portion 90 and is received within a notch 98 on edge 100 of arm 88.
In this respect, arm 88 is twisted at 102 so that it lies parallel
to and adjacent the guide portion 90 of the first arm. The end 104
of second arm 88 terminates in an obliquely tapered camming edge
106. The U-shaped handle 84 provides a biasing force such that the
arm 88 in relaxed position has its tip end 104 lying inwardly of
the reversed or bent tip end 92 of the first arm 86. By grasping
handle 84 and squeezing on the same, the second arm 88 is moved
longitudinally with respect to the first arm 86, a distance defined
by the slot 98 and the fixed stop 96 carried thereby. The extent of
reciprocation and its effect in assisting in unlocking tang 42'
from the second shoulder 29' may be best seen by reference to the
sequence of steps in the use of the tool, as illustrated in FIGS.
8A - 8C.
The flag-type terminal is shown in FIG. 8A in relaxed position
within the root portion 26' of slot 20', such that the right angle
lip 78 abuts shoulder 29', tang 42' being inclined in this instance
upwardly and outwardly, that is, away from the web portion 40' of
the flag-type terminal 5'. The reversely bent tip end 92 of arm 86
moves into the slot 20' and passes between the web portion 40' and
the lance or tang 42' until well beyond the right angle lip 78.
With the tool in relaxed condition, the tip end 106 of the second
relatively movable arm 88, is well inboard of the tip end 92 of the
other arm 86. However, when the arm 86 bottoms out between the tang
42' and the web portion 40', further depression of the tool causes
compression of the handle and continued movement of the second arm
88 with respect to the first arm 86, such that the camming surface
106 contacts tang 42' and flexes the tang 42' towards the web
portion 40' of the terminal 5', causing the lip 78 to move out from
under the shoulder 29', thus freeing the terminal 5'. Further, the
edge of the second arm facing the first arm maintains the tang 42'
in a flexed parallel position with respect to the web portion 40'
and upon removal of the tool, in a direction as indicated by the
arrow in FIG. 8C, the abutment edge 94 of the reversely turned tip
end 92 of the first arm 86 contacts the bottom surface of the lip
78 of tang 42', forcing the extraction of the terminal 5' along
with the extracting tool 82. Thus, as an important advantage of the
second embodiment, the individual terminal may be removed from the
circuit board slot of the block by means of the tool illustrated in
FIG. 7 or an equivalent tool.
Using tool 182, it is necessary to enter from the rearward side of
the housing to remove the terminal by pushing rather than pulling.
FIG. 10 shows the method of using a simple single arm tool to
extract a flag-type terminal when access to side of the block
opposite to that receiving the printed circuit board may be readily
had. In this case, the tool 182 which is not completely
illustrated, includes a blade forming a single arm 188 having a
recessed portion 190 terminating in an inclined camming edge 206 at
tip end 204 which contacts the flag-type terminal in the area of
the bend line 72 to force lip 78 from beneath the second shoulder
29'. Continuous movement in the direction of the arrow forces the
terminal 5', in this case, upwardly and outwardly of slot 20'.
The housing or block and its method of manufacture are readily
contrasted with the referred to patent, in that the housing
illustrated in the patent requires a more complex mold requiring
one core pin for each cavity, which move normally to the path of
movement of the mold part, requiring separate moving means for the
core pins and the mold segment, an obvious disadvantage which
results in increased cost of manufacture of the same. In addition,
from the above description, since the terminal enters the housing
or block in the same direction as that of the subsequently inserted
printed circuit board, if any one of the terminals is not properly
locked in position within the housing, this subsequent insertion of
the printed circuit board contacts protrusion 74 of web portion 40'
to automatically move the terminal into the proper position and
insure a proper lock between the terminal and the housing receiving
the same. The locking latch or tang is positioned so as to allow
ready detachment of any one of the terminals from the housing slot
to facilitate removal of the same and/or replacement. The
employment of a terminal in which the arms face each other from
opposite edges of the web portion creates in effect an additional
abutment surface area for ready contact with one shoulder to
provide greater resistance against forces tending to detach the
wires from the terminal.
As mentioned previously, the invention is adaptable to uses in
environments other than that shown in the drawing and may readily
provide disengageable electrical connections with both tape, cable
or panels having flat conductors thereon which are similar to
conventional printed circuit panels. Changes in construction will
occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently different
modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from
the scope of the invention. The matters set forth in the foregoing
description and accompanying drawings are offered by way of
illustration only.
* * * * *