U.S. patent number 3,850,500 [Application Number 05/288,852] was granted by the patent office on 1974-11-26 for stamped and formed post and miniature spring receptacle.
This patent grant is currently assigned to AMP Incorporated. Invention is credited to Robert Franklin Cobaugh, Jay Merlin Heisey.
United States Patent |
3,850,500 |
Cobaugh , et al. |
November 26, 1974 |
STAMPED AND FORMED POST AND MINIATURE SPRING RECEPTACLE
Abstract
A unitary post and receptacle having at least one depending post
and spaced longitudinal spring legs. The end portions of the legs
are laterally flared and one of the legs is provided with spaced
sidewall portions which are parallel or laterally flared. Together,
the flared spring legs and sidewall portions define a tapered
receptacle extending between the legs. A tab on one of the sidewall
portions partially overlies one of the legs.
Inventors: |
Cobaugh; Robert Franklin
(Elizabethtown, PA), Heisey; Jay Merlin (Elizabethtown,
PA) |
Assignee: |
AMP Incorporated (Harrisburg,
PA)
|
Family
ID: |
26787263 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/288,852 |
Filed: |
September 11, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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93204 |
Nov 27, 1970 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
439/858; 439/873;
439/857 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
13/113 (20130101); H05K 7/1038 (20130101); H01R
4/028 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/115 (20060101); H05K 7/10 (20060101); H01R
4/02 (20060101); H01r 013/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/17,176,192,221,258,259 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gilliam; Paul R.
Assistant Examiner: Staab; Lawrence J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kita; Gerald K.
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation application of application Ser.
No. 93,204, filed Nov. 27, 1970, and now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A unitary post and receptacle comprising: at least one
longitudinal post, spaced spring legs connected to said post, each
of said legs having a laterally flared end portion, laterally
flared spaced sidewall portions connected to one of said legs, the
other of said legs being connected to said post for cantilever
spring action, said flared sidewall portions and said flared end
portions define a tapered receptacle extending generally between
said spring legs, one of said legs being substantially in line
longitudinally with said post and being provided with flared corner
tabs and a kerf disposed between each of said tabs, and a
corresponding one of said flared sidewall portions.
2. A unitary post and receptacle comprising: at least one
longitudinal post, spaced spring legs connected to said post, each
of said legs having a laterally flared end portion, laterally
flared spaced sidewall portions connected to one of said legs, the
other of said legs being connected to said post for cantilever
spring action, said flared sidewall portions and said flared end
portions defining a tapered receptacle extending generally between
said spring legs, a second post adjacent to said longitudinal post,
and a bight portion connecting said posts, said bight portion
carrying said spring legs in spaced opposition to each other.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a point-to-point post and
receptacle which may be secured to a mounting panel or board.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention relates to a single piece or unitary post and
receptacle provided with longitudinal depending post for connection
to a mounting panel or board. The post is provided with an integral
stamped and formed receptacle including a laterally projecting
U-shaped bight and spaced longitudinal spring legs on the bight. A
tapered receptacle is formed between the spring legs by laterally
flared end portions of the legs cooperating with flared or parallel
sidewall portions projecting from one of the spring legs. At least
one sidewall portion has a tab which partially overlies the other
of said legs which is cantilever mounted on the bight. The tab
prevents overstressing of the cantilever mounted spring leg upon
receiving an electrical contact within the receptacle.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
stamped and formed single piece post and receptacle for connection
to a mounting panel or board.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a stamped and
formed post with an integral receptacle formed between a pair of
spring legs.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a unitary
post and receptacle having spring legs with flared end portions and
a pair of sidewall portions forming a receptacle.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a post
with a unitary receptacle, defined between a pair of spring legs,
and a pair of sidewall portions, wherein at least one sidewall
portion include a tab partially overlying one of said spring legs
to prevent excessive deformation thereof.
Other objects and many attendant advantages of the present
invention will become apparent upon perusal of the following
detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric of a unitary post and receptacle according
to a preferred embodiment;
FIG. 2 is an isometric of a plurality of unitary posts and
receptacles arranged in columns and rows and attached to a mounting
panel and further illustrated with a typical electronic apparatus
having depending electrical contacts to be received within the
receptacles;
FIGS. 3a, 3b, and 3c are fragmentary composite plan views, when
considered in serial relationship, illustrate a metal strip and an
exemplary stamping and forming progression resulting in a modified
embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3b;
FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 3b;
FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line 6--6 of FIG. 3c;
FIG. 7 is a section taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 3c;
FIG. 8 is a section taken along the line 8--8 of FIG. 3c;
FIG. 9 is a section taken along the line 9--9 of FIG. 3c;
FIG. 10 is a section taken along the line 10--10 of FIG. 3c;
FIG. 11 is an enlarged detail section taken along the line 11--11
of FIG. 3c illustrating a modified stamped and formed post and
miniature spring receptacle according to the present invention;
and
FIG. 12 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With more particular reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is
illustrated generally at 1, a unitary post and receptacle including
a longitudinally depending post 2 of generally rectangular
configuration and provided with a beveled pointed end 4. The post
includes outwardly flaring lateral sidewall portions 6 immediately
adjacent to an enlarged rectangular portion 8. The portion 8
includes an integral, laterally extending U-shaped bight 10 having
an upstanding, generally longitudinally extending spring leg 12,
substantially in line with the post 2. The spring leg 12 includes a
laterally outwardly curved or bowed portion 14 immediately adjacent
to the bight 10. The spring leg 12 additionally includes an
inwardly reversely curved or bowed portion 16 immediately adjacent
to an outwardly flared end portion 18.
The bight 10 is further provided with a second longitudinal spring
leg 20 in opposed spaced relationship with respect to the leg 12.
The leg 20 includes an inwardly curved or bowed portion 22 adjacent
to, and opposed in relationship with, the bowed portion 16. The leg
20 terminates in a laterally outwardly flared end portion 24.
The flared end portion 18 and the inwardly bowed portion 16 is
provided integrally thereon with sidewall portions 26 and 28. As
shown, the sidewall portions are formed and bent into positions
generally extending between the spring legs 12 and 20 and in
opposed spaced relationship with respect to each other. The
sidewall portions 26 and 28 are additionally laterally outwardly
flared, however, they may be planar parallel and not flared.
Diagonally extending corner tabs 30 and 32 are provided between the
flared end portions 18 and the sidewalls 26 and 28. A kerf 34 is
defined between the tab 30 and the sidewall 36 and a corresponding
kerf 36 is defined between the tab 32 and the sidewall portion 28.
If the sidewall portions 26 and 28 are planar parallel, the kerfs
are omitted. Upon forming the sidewalls 26 and 28 to the positions
as shown and described, the kerfs 34 and 36 become widened to form
stress-relieving notches which allow the sidewalls 26 and 28 to be
formed into their laterally outwardly tapering configurations. The
sidewall portions 26 and 28 are provided with tabs 38 and 40
respectively which are formed and bent to extend toward each other
and partially overlie the inwardly bowed portion 22 of the spring
leg 20. As shown in the figure, the flared end portions 18 and 24
and the flared sidewalls 26 and 28 together define a tapered
contact receiving receptacle extending generally between the spaced
opposed spring legs 12 and 20. The spring leg 12 is generally in
longitudinal alignment with the post 2 and is purposely designed to
be substantially rigid, whereas, the spring leg 20 is cantilever
mounted to the bight 10 and is capable of being resiliently
deflected toward and away from the leg 12. For example, upon
receiving a male electrical contact within the described receptacle
the outwardly flared spring legs configurations guide and readily
accommodate insertion of such contact. Additionally, the spring leg
20 will be resiliently deformed or deflected in a direction away
from the spring leg 12 upon insertion of the contact. The tabs 38
and 40 provide positive stops to limit the deformation or
deflection of the spring leg 20. Accordingly, the tabs provide an
overstressing means to prevent excessive deformation or deflection
and resultant overstressing of the spring leg 20.
With reference to FIG. 2, there is particularly shown a plurality
of unitary post and receptacles, as particularly shown in FIG. 1,
secured in a mounting board or panel 42 of dielectric material and
positioned in spaced rows corresponding to the locations of spaced
male contacts or leads 44 of a micro-electronic circuit component
46. Each receptacle flared configuration, formed by its
corresponding sidewalls 26 and 28 and the spring end portions 18
and 24, serve to guide a corresponding lead 44 during insertion
thereof. The spring leg 20 of each receptacle will be resiliently
deformed or deflected away from the opposed leg 12 to accommodate
the corresponding lead 44 therebetween. The resilient spring action
of the leg 20 will insure clamped contact of the corresponding lead
44 between the legs 12 and 20. During insertion of the lead the
tabs 38 and 40 of a respective receptacle will limit excessive
bending and deformation of the spring leg 20 to prevent
overstressing thereof. As shown, the preferred embodiment can be
modified by eliminating one of the tabs, leaving only one tab, such
as the tab 40 which is sufficient to prevent overstressing as
described.
As more particularly shown in FIG. 1, the bight portion 10 and the
post portion 2 are of thicker cross section than the spring legs 12
and 20. A tapered interconnecting sidewall portion 40 provides a
transition in metal thickness between the spring leg 12 and the
bight portion 10. In similar fashion, a tapered sidewall 42 forms a
transition portion of metal stock thickness between the spring leg
20 and the bight portion 10. Also the relatively thicker bight
portion 10 provides a base supporting the relatively readily
deflectable spring portions 12 and 20 on a board or panel 42 as
shown in FIG. 2.
With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawings, a modification
of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail.
Generally shown at 48, is a modification including a pair of
adjacent longitudinal projecting posts 50 and 52 having respective
terminal end portions 54 and 56 inwardly bent toward one another.
The post 52 is relatively shorter in length and is inclined toward
the post 50. The posts integrally project from a generally lateral
cylindrical bight 58. More specifically, the posts 50 and 52 are
located on opposed sides of one circular end of the bight 58 and
include reverse curved end portions 60 and 62 directed toward each
other and locating the posts 50 and 52 in adjacent relationship
inwardly of the bight circumference. As shown in FIG. 12, the posts
50 and 52 are also in aligned coplanar relationship. As shown in
FIG. 11, the bight 58 is fabricated from a single piece of metal
having marginal edge portions 64 and 66 abutted together in
formation of the bight circumference. The bight also includes
integral oppositely directed spring legs 68 and 70, originating on
opposite sides of a circular end of the bight, gradually curved
along their longitudinal dimensions toward each other until they
contact at reverse curved portions 72 and 74 and terminate in
outwardly flared terminal end portions 76 and 78. The terminal end
portion 76 is provided with integral sidewall portions 80 and 82
projecting in spaced parallel relationship. The portion 82 has a
projecting tapered lateral portion 84 terminating in a generally
L-shaped tab 86. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the terminal end
portion 78 of the spring leg 70 is received generally between the
spaced sidewall portions 80 and 82, and the tab 86 is partially
folded to project from the plane of the sidewall portion 80 and
overlie the outwardly flared terminal end portion 78. The tapered
portion 84 of the sidewall portion 80 is provided to position the
tab 86 generally in spaced relationship overlying the central
portion of the flared terminal end portion 78. The end portion 76
is integral with a stem 88 which is part of a continuous carrier
strip, a portion of which is shown at 90. A groove 93 extends
entirely across one surface of the stem 88 to facilitate separation
of the device 48 from the stem.
In use the device 48 may be inserted into a card or board such as
the board 42 in substitution for the preferred embodiment 1. As
shown the device 48 is shown inverted with respect to the preferred
embodiment 1. The pair of posts 50 and 52 when inserted into the
board 42 are resiliently biased toward each other to provide
resilient spring action against the board to prevent inadvertent
removal therefrom. To permanently secure the device 48 in the board
42, the posts 50 and 52 may be solder dipped, in the well known
manner, the space between the posts providing a wicking action
which accepts and retains fluidized solder until it solidifies. A
receptacle is formed by the spring legs, the terminal end portions
76 and 78 cooperating with the flanged portions 80 and 82. Upon
receiving the leads 44 of the exemplary microelectronic component
46, the spring legs 68 and 70 will be resiliently biased apart, the
tab 86 preventing overstressing of the spring leg 70 in a manner
similar to the tab 38 or 40 of the preferred embodiment shown in
FIG. 1. It is to be understood that the receptacle portion of the
device shown in FIG. 1 may be similar in configuration to the
receptacle portion of the device shown in FIG. 11 by eliminating
the kerfs 34 and 36 and by making the flared sidewalls 26 and 28 in
parallel spaced apart relationship similar in configuration to the
sidewall portions 80 and 82.
With reference to FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c, an exemplary stamped and
formed die progression for the device shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 will
be described in detail. Thus, with reference to FIG. 3a, a
fragmentary portion of the continuous metal strip 90 is shown in
detail with a plurality of spaced apertures 92 being punched along
one margin of the strip thus providing a perforated carrier strip
for progressively advancing the carrier strip serially through
punching and forming work stations. At one work station, the
marginal edge opposite the perforations 92 is punched to form the
end portions 52 and 56 of the posts 54 and 56. As the carrier strip
is supplied serially to another work station, notches 94 are
provided to separate and finally form the posts 54 and 56. Medial
portions 96 and 98 of the carrier strip are removed by a punching
operation at yet other serially located work stations. With
reference to FIG. 3b, additional medial portions of the carrier
strip are removed at 100 and 102 at still additional serially
located work stations. A parting line 104 is added at still another
serially located work station. At still another serially located
work station, generally indicated at 106, the posts 50 and 52 are
bent to their final bowed or curved configurations shown in FIG.
11, and, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the configuration of the
carrier strip 90 together with the configurations of the posts 50
and 52 are shown in greater detail.
With reference again to FIG. 3b, a further medial portion of the
carrier strip is removed, as shown at work station 108, to form the
terminal end 78 of the spring leg 70 immediately adjacent to the
sidewall portion 80. Simultaneously, a piece 79 is removed from the
spring leg end 78. At still another serially located work station,
generally indicated at 110, the projecting tab 86 on the sidewall
portion 80 is bent and formed to its configuration shown in FIGS.
11 and 12.
With reference to FIG. 3c, at still another serially located work
station, a medial portion of the strip 90 is severed at 112
providing a metal strip 58 which is later formed into the lateral
bight portion shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Also at the work station,
the flange portions 80 and 82 are bent and formed to their parallel
spaced relationship, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, projecting from
the spring leg 76. With more particular reference to FIGS. 6 and 7,
FIG. 6 shows the spring leg portion 68 formed to its curved
configuration. FIG. 7 shows the spring leg 70 formed to its desired
curved configuration simultaneously with the spring leg portion 68
and at the same work station.
With further reference to FIG. 3c, there is shown a selected work
station, generally shown at 114, which results in the structure
shown in FIG. 8. The spring leg 68 is shown still attached to the
carrier strip 90 and the receptacle enclosure is partially
completed with the sidewall portions 80 and 82 and the tab 86
having been bent and formed to their final desired configurations
shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. As shown in FIG. 3c, beginning at a
serially located work station, generally indicated at 116, the
strip 58 is bent by successive bending and forming operations from
a planar position shown in FIG. 8 to a partially looped
configuration such as shown in FIG. 9, until finally, as shown in
FIGS. 3c and 10, at an exemplary work station generally indicated
at 118, the bight portion 58 is formed to a completely cylindrical
configuration. Simultaneously with the formation of the bight 58,
the spring leg 70 is progressively pivoted into position between
the spaced sidewall portions 80 and 82 and under the overlying tab
86. The clearances are such that when the spring leg is pivoted
into position, during the formation of the cylindrical bight 58, it
will readily pass in the space between the tab 86 and the flange
portion 82. However, upon completion of the bight cylindrical
configuration the spring leg 70 will be constrained to move only in
cantilever deflection fashion without return pivotal motion and
thereby will engage against the tab 86 to prevent further
cantilever deflection and overstressing thereof. To complete the
operation, reference will be made to FIG. 3c wherein at serially
located work station generally indicated at 120 the groove 92 is
provided which facilitates separation of the completed post and
receptacle from the carrier strip 90.
As shown and described, the die progression is particularly
suitable for formation of the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS.
11 and 12. However, the progression may easily be modified to form
the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1. For example, the strip
forming the bight portion 58 may be bent and formed to a U-shaped
configuration to conform with the bight portion 10 rather than to a
completely cylindrical configuration as required in the formation
of the bight portion 58. And, as heretofore described, one of the
tabs, such as the tab 38 may be eliminated during formation of the
preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, enabling the spring leg 20 to be
inserted in the space between the remaining tab 40 and the sidewall
26 during formation of the bight portion in an operation similar to
that above-described. In such a modification, the remaining single
tab 40 is sufficient to prevent overstressing of the spring leg 20
as it is resiliently bent in cantilever fashion.
Other modifications and embodiments of the present invention are to
be embodied in the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *