Patent US3624587A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3624587A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Clinched-wire interconnection device for printed circuit boards
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1970-02-09
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Granted: 1971-11-30
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Expires: 1990-02-09
Abstract
Abstract The disclosed connector is adapted for directly mounting and electrically interconnecting printed circuit boards. Loops of resilient conductive wire project into openings in a receiving printed circuit board such that oppositely disposed pairs of these loops in each opening engage fingerlike insertion strips of a mating printed circuit board.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert R Conrad
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:08
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/716; H01R12/718; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/36; H05K3/366; H05K2201/00; H05K2201/04; H05K2201/048; H05K2201/09; H05K2201/09145; H05K2201/09172; H05K2201/10; H05K2201/10227; H05K2201/10333; H05K2201/10386; H05K2201/10431; H05K2201/10606; H05K3/30; H05K3/301; H05K3/32; H05K3/325
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A connector device formed in a first printed circuit board and adapted to receive insertion strips of a second printed circuit board for mounting and electrically interconnecting said first and second printed circuit boards, said connector comprising: a plurality of aligned openings formed in the first printed circuit board, said openings being alignable with the insertion strips of the second printed circuit board; and at least a separate pair of wire segments associated with each of said openings with opposite end portions of each wire segment mounted to upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the first printed circuit board with a central portion of each wire segment projecting into the associated opening, and with said wire segments of each pair projecting from generally opposite sides of the associated opening, at least one of said wire segments of each pair being connected to a conductor on a surface on the first printed circuit board.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A connector device formed in a first printed circuit board and adapted to receive insertion strips of a second printed circuit board for mounting and electrically interconnecting said first and second printed circuit boards, said connector comprising: a plurality of aligned openings formed in the first printed circuit board, said openings being alignable with the insertion strips of the second printed circuit board; and at least a separate pair of wire segments associated with each of said openings with opposite end portions of each wire segment mounted to upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the first printed circuit board with a central portion of each wire segment projecting into the associated opening, and with said wire segments of each pair projecting from generally opposite sides of the associated opening, at least one of said wire segments of each pair being connected to a conductor on a surface on the first printed circuit board.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the spacing between said projecting portions of each pair of wire segments is such that upon the insertion of thE strips said wire segments elastically deform and thereby apply contact forces for electrically interconnecting said first and second printed circuit boards.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said opposite end portions of each wire segment are clinched to the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of said first printed circuit board.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said opposite end portions of each wire segment are clinched and soldered to the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of said first printed circuit board.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said openings are of a general rectangular shape, said insertion strips are rectangularly shaped protruding fingers and said wire segments, of each pair of wire segments, are formed around opposing edges of said rectangular openings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 5 wherein the diameter of said wire segments relative to the thickness of said first printed circuit board is such that each said wire segment forms a generally ''''U''''-shaped structure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
169 words
A connector system for directly mounting and electrically interconnecting printed circuit boards, said connector system comprising: a first printed circuit board having a plurality of openings formed therein; at least one second printed circuit board having a plurality of fingerlike insertion strips formed along one edge surface thereof, said insertion strips being alignable with the plurality of openings in said first circuit board; at least a separate pair of wire segments associated with each of said openings with opposite end portions of said wire segments engaging the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the first printed circuit board with a central portion of each wire segment projecting into the associated opening, and with said wire segments of each pair projecting from generally opposite sides of the associated opening; and wherein the spacing between said projecting portions of each pair of wire segments is such that upon insertion of the strips the wire segments elastically deform thereby applying contact forces for electrically interconnecting said first and second printed circuit boards.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
169 words
A connector system for directly mounting and electrically interconnecting printed circuit boards, said connector system comprising: a first printed circuit board having a plurality of openings formed therein; at least one second printed circuit board having a plurality of fingerlike insertion strips formed along one edge surface thereof, said insertion strips being alignable with the plurality of openings in said first circuit board; at least a separate pair of wire segments associated with each of said openings with opposite end portions of said wire segments engaging the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the first printed circuit board with a central portion of each wire segment projecting into the associated opening, and with said wire segments of each pair projecting from generally opposite sides of the associated opening; and wherein the spacing between said projecting portions of each pair of wire segments is such that upon insertion of the strips the wire segments elastically deform thereby applying contact forces for electrically interconnecting said first and second printed circuit boards.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said opposite end portions of each wire segment are clinched and soldered to the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of said first printed circuit board.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
141 words
The method of forming a connector structure in a printed circuit board, said method comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of openings in said printed circuit board; clinching opposite end segments of resilient wire segments to the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of said printed circuit board so that at least a separate pair of wire segments pass through each of said plurality of openings with a central portion of each wire portions projecting into the associated opening and with said wire segments of each pair projecting from generally opposite sides of the associated opening; and fastening said opposite end portions to the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of said printed circuit board so that at least one end portion of a wire segment of each pair is connected to a conductor on a surface of said printed circuit board.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
141 words
The method of forming a connector structure in a printed circuit board, said method comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of openings in said printed circuit board; clinching opposite end segments of resilient wire segments to the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of said printed circuit board so that at least a separate pair of wire segments pass through each of said plurality of openings with a central portion of each wire portions projecting into the associated opening and with said wire segments of each pair projecting from generally opposite sides of the associated opening; and fastening said opposite end portions to the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of said printed circuit board so that at least one end portion of a wire segment of each pair is connected to a conductor on a surface of said printed circuit board.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said fastening step comprises wave soldering of said end portions to said printed circuit board.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-29 | 1975-05-31 | 1975-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-29 | 1979-05-31 | 1979-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-29 | 1983-05-31 | 1983-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |