Terminal Construction

Abstract

A terminal for insertion into an integrated circuit panel board including an upper barrel portion in which a bore is formed, the outermost end of the upper barrel portion being countersunk to define a tapered entry for the bore; an inner member defining an interior contact member being located within the bore adjacent to the tapered entry of the outer member, wherein the tapered entry forms an enlarged opening for leading a male element into the inner contact member for electrical engagement therein.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The presnet invention relates to a terminal that is used in an integrated cirucit panel board and that is employed with a plurality of similar terminals simultaneously for electrically interconnecting a plurality of circuits.

It has been the custom heretofore to insert terminals into appropriate openings in an integrated circuit panel board, the terminals being of the socket type and having a bore formed therein for receiving a male contact in engagement therewith. Since the male contacts are normally inserted into the socket terminal by automatic equipment or the like, some difficulties have been experienced heretofore when the male contact elements were slightly out of alignment with the openings or bores as formed in the socket terminals. Such misalignment sometimes resulted in defective electrical contacts or broken contacts, which necessitated replacement of the socket terminals or the male elements that were to be inserted therein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The terminal for use in the present invention includes an outer member having an upper barrel portion in which a bore is formed that defines a socket. A lower elongated shank portion is joined to the upper barrel portion and defines an exterior contact element that is located below the integrated circuit panel board in which the terminal is secured. In order to form a lead-in for an exterior male contact element, the outermost end of the upper barrel portion of the terminal embodied herein is countersunk to define a tapered entry. Secured within the bore of the outer member is an inner member that defines an interior contact member, the inner contact member having a hollow configuration defined by a plurality of spring fingers that are arranged for receiving the inserted male contact element in electrical engagement therebetween. The interior contact member may be formed with a flared upper end that cooperates with the countersunk portion of the outer member to define the tapered entry, or the inner contact member may be located adjacent to and below the countersunk portion of the outer member and formed with a similarly angled countersunk portion that cooperates with the outer member countersunk portion to form the tapered entry for receiving the end of a male contact element therein.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a terminal for use in an integrated circuit panel board having an outer member and an inner contact member mounted in the outer member, the outer member having a countersunk portion that defines a tapered entry for facilitating insertion of a male contact element therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide an integrated circuit panel board terminal having an outer member in which an inner contact member is located in the bore thereof, both the inner and outer members having a flared or tapered upper end that defines a wide entry for facilitating insertion of a male contact element therein.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a vertical elevational view of the terminal embodied in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the terminal as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the inner contact member of the terminal;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the inner contact member of the terminal; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawing and particularly to FIG. 1, the terminal as embodied in the present invention is illustrated and is generally indicated at 10. The terminal 10 is designed for use as a connector in an integrated circuit panel board (not shown) and generally will be mounted in the integrated circuit panel board together with a plurality of similar terminals. As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal 10 is of the socket type, wherein a male contact element is receivable therein for electrical communication therewith. As will be described, the terminal includes a lower shank portion that also defines a contact element and is adaptable for wire wrapping in the conventional manner.

The terminal 10 includes an outer member generally indicated at 12, having an upper barrel portion 14 on which a grooved section 16 is formed. The grooved section 16, which frictionally locks the terminal 10 within an opening in the panel board, is more completely described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,292,132.

Integrally joined to the grooved section 16 and stepped inwardly with respect thereto is a neck section 18 to which an upper head portion 20 is joined. Extending below the barrel portion 14 is a reduced section 22 to the lowermost end of which a shank or pin 24 is joined. The pin 24 which terminates in a tapered point 25 is of the conventional construction and defines a contact portion for receiving a wire in wrapped-around relation thereon after the terminal has been inserted through an opening in the panel board.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the head portion 20 of the outer member 12 is shown having a countersunk upper end indicated at 26 that communicates with an interior bore 28 formed in the outer member 12. The interior bore 28 extends substantially the length of the barrel portion 14, terminating just upwardly of the pin 24 and in the reduced section 22 of the barrel portion 14. As will be described, the countersunk upper portion 26 as formed in the head portion 20 defines an enlarged opening or tapered entry for facilitating the insertion of a male contact element into the terminal 10 as will be described.

Inserted into the bore 28 of the outer member 12 and fixed therein is an inner contact member generally indicated at 30. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the inner contact member 30 is formed with an upper head portion 32 to which a plurality of spring fingers 34 are joined at the lower end thereof. The spring fingers 34 are spreadable upon insertion of a male contact element therebetween, the head portion 32 having an opening 36 formed therein for receiving such a male contact element.

As seen in FIG. 2, the uppermost end of the head portion 32 of the inner contact member 30 is positioned adjacent to and just below the countersunk portion 26 of the outer member 12. The upper edge of the head portion 32 is also formed with a countersunk portion 38, the angle of which is substantially similar to that of the countersunk portion 26. Thus, the countersunk portion 38 is aligned with the countersunk portion 26 and cooperates therewith to define a tapered entry for a male contact element inserted into the terminal 10.

Although it is contemplated to form the outer member 12 and the inner contact member 30 of any convenient materials, for purposes of obtaining consistent results, the outer member is preferably formed of hard brass and plated with gold, while the inner contact member is preferably formed of beryllium copper and plated with gold.

In the use of the terminal as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the inner member 30 is inserted into the outer member 12 as illustrated in FIG. 2, and the terminal 10 is then placed in an appropriate opening in an integrated circuit panel board. The grooved portion 16 of the outer member 12 provides for frictionally locking the terminal in place in the panel board, and further prevents twisting of the terminal during wrapping of wires around the pin 24. In most instances, a plurality of the terminals 10 are located in a panel board and usually are disposed in in-line relation. When it is required to insert a unit containing a plurality of male contact elements into electrical engagement with the panel board, the male contact elements are moved into engagement with the terminals, the countersunk portions 26 and 36 of each terminal providing a tapered lead-in entry for a male contact element, which is thereafter received within the inner contact member 30 for engagement with the spring fingers 34 thereof. The spring fingers 34 insure positive electrical contact with the inserted male contact element.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a modified form of the invention is illustrated and is generally indicated at 40. The terminal 40 includes an outer member generally indicated at 42 defined by a barrel portion 44 to which a grooved portion 46 is joined. The head 48 is interconnected to the grooved portion 46 through a reduced neck section 50. Stepped downwardly from the barrel portion 46 is a lower body portion 52 to which a shank or pin 54 is joined. Formed within the outer member 42 is a bore 56, the uppermost end of which is flared or countersunk as indicated at 58.

Locked within the outer member 42 is an inner contact member generally indicated at 60 that is defined by a head portion 62 to which a flared upper section 64 is joined and that defines the uppermost end of the inner contact member. A plurality of spring fingers 66 extend downwardly from the head portion 62 and define the gripping elements for receiving an inserted contact element in electrical engagement therewith. The flared upper section 64 of the inner contact member 60 has a taper corresponding to that of the countersunk portion 58 of the head 48. Thus, the flared upper section 64, which in effect is also countersunk, cooperates with the countersunk portion 58 to define a tapered entry for receiving a male contact element that is inserted into the inner contact member 60.

In use, a male contact element is inserted through the tapered entry at the upper end of the inner and outer members and into electrical engagement with the spring fingers 66. A positive electrical contact is thereby obtained, and by utilizing the tapered lead-in as defined by the countersunk portions 58 and 64 in a plurality of in-line terminals, a plurality of male contact elements may be easily inserted into the corresponding number of terminals with relatively little difficulty.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A terminal for use in an integrated circuit panel board and for insertion into a bore formed in said panel board, an outer member constructed of electrically conductive material having an upper barrel portion in which a core is formed and a lower elongated shank portion that defines an exterior contact element, said outer member extending into the bore in said panel board wherein a portion of the upper barrel portion is located above the panel board, the uppermost end of said upper barrel portion that is located above the panel board being countersunk to define a tapered entry for the bore formed therein, and an inner member defining an inner contact member secured within the bore in the outer member, said inner contact member having a substantially hollow configuration and including a head portion that is located adjacent to the tapered entry of the upper barrel portion of said outer member and a plurality of spring fingers that project inwardly of the upper barrel portion, said head portion of the inner contact member being of constant outer diameter and being positioned in surface-to-surface contact with the adjacent inner wall of the bore of said outer member and having a countersunk portion formed on the uppermost edge thereof, the countersunk portion of said inner contact member having substantially the same taper as the countersunk outer end of said upper barrel portion and being aligned therewith to form substantially a continuation thereof and cooperating therewith to form an unobstructed tapered entry for a male contact, the spring fingers of said inner contact member being spaced inwardly from the wall of the bore in said barrel portion and receiving the male contact therebetween upon insertion of the male contact through the tapered entry defined by the aligned countersunk portions on the end of said upper barrel portion and said head portion of the innercontact member, wherein said spring fingers are flexed outwardly by said inserted male contact for establishing positive electrical communication therewith.