Electrical contact stabilizer assembly

Claim 2

An electrical contact assembly comprising: a leadframe having at least one plurality of leads disposed in spaced relationship each terminating at one end in a respective contact, and terminating at an opposite end in a plurality of contact fingers at a site for mounting an electronic circuit to which the leads are connected; first and second integral members of electrically insulative material, at least one of which includes at least one element cooperative with said at least one plurality of leads for positioning and maintaining said leads in intended relative alignment; and said first and second integral members being disposed on respective opposite sides of the leadframe and having cooperative elements for retaining the members in locking engagement with the leadframe sandwiched therebetween.

Claim 3

An electrical contact assembly for maintaining the alignment of a plurality of leads relative to each other during the process of molding a plastic housing around the assembly, the assembly comprising: a leadframe having a plurality of electrically conductive leads each terminating at a first end thereof in a respective contact and at a second end thereof in a respective contact finger at a site for mounting an electronic circuit to which the leads are connected, the plurality of respective contacts disposed in predetermined spaced relationship to each other; first and second members each integrally formed of an electrically insulating material and configured to receive and maintain in intended spaced relationship therebetween portions of said plurality of electrically conductive leads ; and said first and second members including cooperative elements for interconnecting said first and second members when said first and second members are mounted on opposing sides of said leadframe.

Claim 4

An electrical contact assembly for maintaining the alignment of a plurality of leads relative to each other during the process of molding a plastic housing around the assembly, the assembly comprising: a leadframe having a plurality of electrically conductive leads each terminating at a first end thereof in a respective contact and at a second end thereof in a respective contact finger at a site for mounting an electronic circuit to which the leads are connected, the plurality of respective contacts disposed in predetermined spaced relationship to each other; first and second members each integrally formed of an electrically insulating material and configured to receive and maintain in intended spaced relationship therebetween portions of said plurality of electrically conductive leads ; and said first and second members including cooperative elements for interconnecting said first and second members when said first and second members are mounted on opposing sides of said leadframe.

Claim 5

The electrical contact assembly of claim 1 wherein said leadframe further includes at least one detent in at least one of said plurality of leads for receiving pre-selected ones of said at least one positioning and maintaining cooperative element.

Claim 6

The electrical contact assembly of claim 1 wherein said cooperative elements for retaining said opposing members in locking engagement include interlocking male and female connecting elements.

Claim 7

The electrical contact assembly of claim 4 wherein said female connecting elements include male connecting element receiving apertures and said male connecting elements include locking detents cooperative with said female connecting element receiving apertures to maintain each of said female elements in locking engagement with a respective corresponding male element.

Claim 8

The electrical contact assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said cooperative positioning and maintaining elements includes at least one integrally formed raised member dimensioned for insertion between portions of selected ones of said at least one plurality of leads.

Claim 9

The electrical contact assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second integral members includes an aperture to permit flow of a molten housing material.

Claim 10

The electrical contact assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second integral members includes at least one integrally formed stand-off boss.

Claim 11

The electrical contact assembly of claim 8 wherein selected ones of said plurality of contacts depend from said leadframe.

Claim 12

The electrical contact assembly of claim 2 wherein at least one of said first and second members includes at least one integrally formed raised member dimensioned for insertion between portions of selected ones of said plurality of electrically conductive leads.

Claim 13

The electrical contact assembly of claim 2 wherein at least one of said first and second integral members includes an aperture to permit flow of a molten housing material.

Claim 14

The electrical contact assembly of claim 2 wherein at least one of said first and second integral members includes at least one integrally formed stand-off boss.

Claim 15

The electrical contact assembly of claim 10 wherein said leadframe includes at least one detent in at least one of said plurality of leads for receiving pre-selected ones of said at least one integrally formed raised member.

Claim 16

The electrical contact assembly of claim 2 wherein said cooperative interconnecting elements include interlocking male and female connecting elements.

Claim 17

The electrical contact assembly of claim 16 wherein said female connecting elements include male connecting element receiving apertures and said male connecting elements include locking detents to cooperate with said female connecting element receiving apertures, to maintain each of said female elements in locking engagement with a respective corresponding male element.

Claim 18

The electrical contact assembly of claim 1, wherein: said first integral member further includes: an end section; a stabilizer extending from said end section; and at least one connecting element; and said second integral member further includes: an end section; a stabilizer extending from said end section; at least one integrally formed raised element extending from said end section and dimensioned for insertion between selected adjacent ones of said plurality of leads; an integrally formed ridge extending substantially the length of said stabilizer and dimensioned for insertion between selected adjacent ones of said plurality of leads; and at least one connecting element cooperative with said at least one connecting element of said first integral member to interconnect said first and second integral members with said leadframe sandwiched therebetween.

Claim 19

The electrical contact assembly of claim 16, wherein at least one of said first and second integral members further includes at least one integral stand-off boss.

Claim 20

The electrical contact assembly of claim 16, wherein at least one of said first and second integral members further includes an aperture to permit flow of a molten plastic material.

Claim 21

The electrical contact assembly of claim 16 wherein said first integral member further includes at least one aperture dimensioned to receive a corresponding one of said at least one integrally formed raised elements of said second integral member.

Claim 22

The electrical contact assembly of claim 16 wherein said first and second integral member end sections are disposed substantially perpendicularly to said first and second integral member stablizers respectively.

Claim 23

The electrical contact assembly of claim 16 wherein said first integral member further includes at least one inegrally formed raised element extending from said first integral member end section and dimensioned for insertion between selected adjacent ones of said plurality of leads.