Wiring device for interconnecting module circuit units

Claim 2

A wiring device for interconnecting modular circuit units comprising a base panel having printed circuitry on at least one surface, a pair of sidewall panels each having printed circuitry on at least one surface, means for supporting said sidewall panels parallel to each other and edgewise on said base panel, a plurality of insulating boxes fitted between said sidewall panels for receiving the electrical components of said units, a plurality of regularly spaced parallel channels in each side of each said boxes which faces said sidewall panels, a plurality of two-part slide-fit frictional connectors, one part of each connector being mounted in one of said channels and having means for connecting with an electrical component, the mating parts of the connectors being mounted on the opposed sides of said sidewall panels and having contact fingers for connection with the printed circuitry of at least said sidewall panels.

Claim 3

A wiring device for interconnecting modular circuit units comprising a base panel having printed circuitry on at least one surface, a pair of sidewall panels each having printed circuitry on at least one surface, means for supporting said sidewall panels parallel to each other and edgewise on said base panel, a plurality of insulating boxes fitted between said sidewall panels for receiving the electrical components of said units, a plurality of regularly spaced parallel channels in each side of each said boxes which faces said sidewall panels, a plurality of two-part slide-fit frictional connectors, one part of each connector being mounted in one of said channels and having means for connecting with an electrical component, the mating parts of the connectors being mounted on the opposed sides of said sidewall panels and having contact fingers for connection with the printed circuitry of at least said sidewall panels.

Claim 4

A wiring device for interconnecting modular circuit units comprising a base panel having printed circuitry on at least one surface, a pair of sidewall panels each having printed circuitry on at least one surface, means for supporting said sidewall panels parallel to each other and edgewise on said base panel, a plurality of insulating boxes fitted between said sidewall panels for receiving the electrical components of said units, a plurality of regularly spaced parallel channels in each side of each said boxes which faces said sidewall panels, a plurality of two-part slide-fit frictional connectors, one part of each connector being mounted in one of said channels and having means for connecting with an electrical component, the mating parts of the connectors being mounted on the opposed sides of said sidewall panels and having contact fingers for connection with the printed circuitry of at least said sidewall panels.

Claim 5

A wiring device for interconnecting modular circuit units comprising a base panel having printed circuitry on at least one surface, a pair of sidewall panels each having printed circuitry on at least one surface, spacer plate means engaging and maintaining said sidewall panels parallel to each other and edgewise on said base panel, a plurality of module elements fitted between said sidewall panels receiving the electrical components of said units, a plurality of slide-fit frictional connectors, one part of each connector being mounted on a module element and having means for connecting with an electrical component, the mating parts of the connectors being mounted on the opposed sides of said sidewall panels and having contact means connected with the printed circuitry of at least said sidewall panels.

Claim 6

A wiring device for interconnecting modular circuit units comprising a base panel having printed circuitry on at least one surface, a pair of sidewall panels each having printed circuitry on at least one surface, spacer plate means engaging and maintaining said sidewall panels parallel to each other and edgewise on said base panel, a plurality of module elements fitted between said sidewall panels receiving the electrical components of said units, a plurality of slide-fit frictional connectors, one part of each connector being mounted on a module element and having means for connecting with an electrical component, the mating parts of the connectors being mounted on the opposed sides of said sidewall panels and having contact means connected with the printed circuitry of at least said sidewall panels.

Claim 7

A wiring device for interconnecting modular circuit units in pluggable elements comprising a plurality of insulating receptacles for containing the electrical components of a unit and having regularly spaced longitudinal exterior grooves in two opposite sides, a plurality of slide-fit frictional connectors each including a blade and a socket therefor, the connector sockets being recessed in said grooves and having means for connecting with said components, a framework for pluggably receiving said receptacles including a pair of sidewall panels, means for securing said panels in parallel spaced relation, each said panel having printed circuitry thereon for interconnecting said units, the connector blades being transversely mounted on the opposed sides of said sidewall panels for slidably engaging said connector socket upon the receptacles being inserted between said sidewall panels, and means on said blade connectors for connection with said printed circuitry.

Claim 8

A wiring device for interconnecting modular circuit units in pluggable elements comprising a plurality of insulating receptacles for containing the electrical components of a unit and having regularly spaced longitudinal exterior grooves in two opposite sides, a plurality of slide-fit frictional connectors each including a blade and a socket therefor, the connector sockets being recessed in said grooves and having means for connecting with said components, a framework for pluggably receiving said receptacles including a pair of sidewall panels, means for securing said panels in parallel spaced relation, each said panel having printed circuitry thereon for interconnecting said units, the connector blades being transversely mounted on the opposed sides of said sidewall panels for slidably engaging said connector socket upon the receptacles being inserted between said sidewall panels, and means on said blade connectors for connection with said printed circuitry.

Claim 9

A wiring device for interconnecting modular circuit units in pluggable elements comprising a plurality of insulating receptacles each for containing the electrical components of a unit and having regularly spaced longitudinal exterior grooves in two opposite sides, a plurality of slide-fit frictional connectors each including a blade and a socket, the connector sockets being recessed in said grooves and having means for connecting with said components, a framework pluggably receiving said receptacles including a pair of spaced sidewall panels mounted edgewise on a base panel, said panels having printed circuitry thereon interconnecting said units, the connector blades being transversely mounted on the opposed sides of said sidewall panels slidably engaging said connector sockets upon the receptacle being inserted between said sidewall panels, and means on said blade connectors connected with said printed circuitry.

Claim 10

A wiring device for interconnecting modular circuit units in pluggable elements comprising a plurality of insulating receptacles each for containing the electrical components of a unit and having regularly spaced longitudinal exterior grooves in two opposite sides, a plurality of slide-fit frictional connectors each including a blade and a socket, the connector sockets being recessed in said grooves and having means for connecting with said components, a framework pluggably receiving said receptacles including a pair of spaced sidewall panels mounted edgewise on a base panel, said panels having printed circuitry thereon interconnecting said units, the connector blades being transversely mounted on the opposed sides of said sidewall panels slidably engaging said connector sockets upon the receptacle being inserted between said sidewall panels, and means on said blade connectors connected with said printed circuitry.

Claim 11

A wiring device for interconnecting modular circuit units in pluggable elements comprising an insulating receptacle for containing the electrical components of a unit and having regularly spaced longitudinal exterior grooves in two opposite sides, a plurality of slide-fit frictional connectors each including a blade and a socket, the connector sockets being recessed in said grooves and having means for connecting with said components, a framework for pluggably receiving said receptacle including a pair of sidewall panels each having a series of regularly spaced pairs of opposed slots extending inwardly of the side edges thereof, a base panel, spacer plate means having tabs engageable with a pair of slots of each sidewall panel and with said base panel for mounting said sidewall panels in spaced relation edgewise on said base panel, said panels having printed circuitry thereon for interconnecting said units, each connector blade having tab means engageable with a pair of said slots for transversely mounting the blades on the opposed sides of said sidewall panels for slidably engaging said connector sockets upon a receptacle being inserted between said sidewall panels, and means on said blade connectors for connection with said printed circuitry.

Claim 12

A wiring device for interconnecting modular circuit units in pluggable elements comprising an insulating receptacle for containing the electrical components of a unit and having regularly spaced longitudinal exterior grooves in two opposite sides, a plurality of slide-fit frictional connectors each including a blade and a socket, the connector sockets being recessed in said grooves and having means for connecting with said components, a framework for pluggably receiving said receptacle including a pair of sidewall panels each having a series of regularly spaced pairs of opposed slots extending inwardly of the side edges thereof, a base panel, spacer plate means having tabs engageable with a pair of slots of each sidewall panel and with said base panel for mounting said sidewall panels in spaced relation edgewise on said base panel, said panels having printed circuitry thereon for interconnecting said units, each connector blade having tab means engageable with a pair of said slots for transversely mounting the blades on the opposed sides of said sidewall panels for slidably engaging said connector sockets upon a receptacle being inserted between said sidewall panels, and means on said blade connectors for connection with said printed circuitry.

Claim 13

A wiring device for interconnecting pluggable modular circuit units comprising a framework including a pair of sidewall panels having printed circuitry thereon, means securing said panels in parallel spaced relation, the circuitry on said sidewall panels extending on the exterior sides along longitudinal lines regularly spaced across the width thereof, a component module received between and having opposed side surfaces disposed closely adjacent the interior sides of said sidewall panels, a plurality of parallel electrical interconnections between said module and sidewall panels, each interconnection including a blade transversely mounted edgewise on a sidewall panel and a blade receiving socket on the module side surface, the edge of said blade adjacent the interior side of the associated panel having regularly spaced projection points from which integral contact tines selectively project, said associated panel having apertures admitting said contact tines therethrough and soldered to the printed circuitry thereon, and said socket having means for connection with the components of said module.

Claim 14

A wiring device for interconnecting pluggable modular circuit units comprising a framework including a pair of sidewall panels having printed circuitry thereon, means securing said panels in parallel spaced relation, the circuitry on said sidewall panels extending on the exterior sides along longitudinal lines regularly spaced across the width thereof, a component module received between and having opposed side surfaces disposed closely adjacent the interior sides of said sidewall panels, a plurality of parallel electrical interconnections between said module and sidewall panels, each interconnection including a blade transversely mounted edgewise on a sidewall panel and a blade receiving socket on the module side surface, the edge of said blade adjacent the interior side of the associated panel having regularly spaced projection points from which integral contact tines selectively project, said associated panel having apertures admitting said contact tines therethrough and soldered to the printed circuitry thereon, and said socket having means for connection with the components of said module.

Claim 15

A wiring device for interconnecting pluggable modular circuit units comprising a framework including a pair of spaced sidewall panels mounted edgewise on a base panel, printed circuitry on said panels, the circuitry on said sidewall panels extending on the exterior sides along longitudinal lines regularly spaced across the width thereof, a component module received between and having opposed side surfaces disposed closely adjacent the interior sides of said sidewall panels, a plurality of parallel electrical interconnections between said module and sidewall panels, each interconnection including a blade transversely mounted edgewise on a sidewall panel and a blade receiving socket on the module side surface, the edge of said blade adjacent the interior side of the associated panel having regularly spaced projection points from which integral contact tines selectively project, said associated panel having apertures admitting said contact tines therethrough and soldered to the printed circuitry thereon, and said socket having means for connection with the components of said module.

Claim 16

A wiring device for interconnecting pluggable modular circuit units comprising a framework including a pair of spaced sidewall panels mounted edgewise on a base panel, printed circuitry on said panels, the circuitry on said sidewall panels extending on the exterior sides along longitudinal lines regularly spaced across the width thereof, a component module received between and having opposed side surfaces disposed closely adjacent the interior sides of said sidewall panels, a plurality of parallel electrical interconnections between said module and sidewall panels, each interconnection including a blade transversely mounted edgewise on a sidewall panel and a blade receiving socket on the module side surface, the edge of said blade adjacent the interior side of the associated panel having regularly spaced projection points from which integral contact tines selectively project, said associated panel having apertures admitting said contact tines therethrough and soldered to the printed circuitry thereon, and said socket having means for connection with the components of said module.

Claim 17

A wiring device for interconnecTing pluggable modular circuit units comprising a framework including a pair of spaced sidewall panels mounted edgewise on a base panel, printed circuitry on said panels, the circuitry on said sidewall panels extending on the exterior sides along longitudinal lines regularly spaced across the width thereof, a component module received between and having opposed side surfaces disposed closely adjacent the interior sides of said sidewall panels, a plurality of parallel electrical interconnections between said module and sidewall panels, each interconnection including a blade transversely mounted edgewise on a sidewall panel and a blade receiving socket on the module side surface, the edge of said blade adjacent the interior side of the associated panel having regularly spaced projection points from which integral contact tines selectively project, said associated panel having apertures admitting said contact tines therethrough and soldered to the printed circuitry thereon, said blade having an end projection from which an integral tine selectively projects through one of a series of apertures in said base panel for connection with the printed circuitry thereof, and said socket having means for connection with the components of said module.

Claim 18

A wiring device for interconnecTing pluggable modular circuit units comprising a framework including a pair of spaced sidewall panels mounted edgewise on a base panel, printed circuitry on said panels, the circuitry on said sidewall panels extending on the exterior sides along longitudinal lines regularly spaced across the width thereof, a component module received between and having opposed side surfaces disposed closely adjacent the interior sides of said sidewall panels, a plurality of parallel electrical interconnections between said module and sidewall panels, each interconnection including a blade transversely mounted edgewise on a sidewall panel and a blade receiving socket on the module side surface, the edge of said blade adjacent the interior side of the associated panel having regularly spaced projection points from which integral contact tines selectively project, said associated panel having apertures admitting said contact tines therethrough and soldered to the printed circuitry thereon, said blade having an end projection from which an integral tine selectively projects through one of a series of apertures in said base panel for connection with the printed circuitry thereof, and said socket having means for connection with the components of said module.

Claim 19

In a wiring device for interconnecting modular circuit units, a base panel having printed circuitry thereon, a sidewall panel having printed circuitry paths extending longitudinally along a side thereof, a plurality of pairs of regularly spaced opposed slots extending inwardly of the side edges of said sidewall panel, a plurality of contact blades each having a pair of tabs engageable in a pair of said slots for mounting the blades on said sidewall panel in contact engageable relation with mating contact elements of the modular units, each blade having contact tine means for selective engagement with the printed circuitry of said base and sidewall panels.

Claim 20

In a wiring device for interconnecting modular circuit units, a base panel having printed circuitry thereon, a sidewall panel having printed circuitry paths extending longitudinally along a side thereof, a plurality of pairs of regularly spaced opposed slots extending inwardly of the side edges of said sidewall panel, a plurality of contact blades each having a pair of tabs engageable in a pair of said slots for mounting the blades on said sidewall panel in contact engageable relation with mating contact elements of the modular units, each blade having contact tine means for selective engagement with the printed circuitry of said base and sidewall panels.

Claim 21

A wiring device for interconnecting modular circuit units comprising a base panel having printed circuitry thereon, a pair of spaced sidewall panels mounted on said base panel and each having printed circuitry paths extending longitudinally along a side thereof at intervals across its width, said sidewall panels having at least one module unit therebetween, and a series of parallel electrical connectors between the sides of the module and the sidewall panels, each of said connectors including in one part means along its length selectively to connect with any of said circuitry paths crossing said length and means selectively to connect with a printed circuitry path on said base panel, said connectors further including a second part mating with said one part and recewsed in the side of a module unit with means for connection to a component lead thereof.

Claim 22

A wiring device for interconnecting modular circuit units comprising a base panel having printed circuitry thereon, a pair of spaced sidewall panels mounted on said base panel and each having printed circuitry paths extending longitudinally along a side thereof at intervals across its width, said sidewall panels having at least one module unit therebetween, and a series of parallel electrical connectors between the sides of the module and the sidewall panels, each of said connectors including in one part means along its length selectively to connect with any of said circuitry paths crossing said length and means selectively to connect with a printed circuitry path on said base panel, said connectors further including a second part mating with said one part and recewsed in the side of a module unit with means for connection to a component lead thereof.

Claim 23

A wiring device for interconnecting modular circuit units comprising a base panel having printed circuitry thereon, a pair of spaced sidewall panels mounted on said base panel and each having printed circuitry paths extending longitudinally along a side thereof at intervals across its width, a row of module units received between said sidewall panels, and a series of parallel connectors each having one part extending across the width of a sidewall panel, said one part having means along its length selectively to connect with any of said circuitry paths crossing said length and means selectively to connect with a printed circuitry path on said base panel, and each connector having a mating part recessed in the side of a module unit with means for connection to a component lead thereof.

Claim 24

A wiring device for interconnecting modular circuit units comprising a base panel having printed circuitry thereon, a pair of spaced sidewall panels mounted on said base panel and each having printed circuitry paths extending longitudinally along a side thereof at intervals across its width, a row of module units received between said sidewall panels, and a series of parallel connectors each having one part extending across the width of a sidewall panel, said one part having means along its length selectively to connect with any of said circuitry paths crossing said length and means selectively to connect with a printed circuitry path on said base panel, and each connector having a mating part recessed in the side of a module unit with means for connection to a component lead thereof.

Claim 25

For use in a wiring framework in a modular circuit system, an insulating box having an open end for receiving the electrical components of a modular unit, a plurality of regularly spaced rectangular grooves in two opposite exterior sides of said box for containing the electrical contacts connecting the modular unit within the system, and a series of vee grooves in the land areas adjacent and parallel to said rectangular grooves, said veE grooves being of lesser depth than said rectangular grooves.

Claim 26

For use in a wiring framework in a modular circuit system, an insulating box having an open end for receiving the electrical components of a modular unit, a plurality of regularly spaced rectangular grooves in two opposite exterior sides of said box for containing the electrical contacts connecting the modular unit within the system, and a series of vee grooves in the land areas adjacent and parallel to said rectangular grooves, said veE grooves being of lesser depth than said rectangular grooves.

Claim 27

A sheet metal contact assembly for connecting a module to a printed circuit panel, said assembly comprising an elongated metallic blade having contact teeth laterally projecting from one side edge thereof, said teeth being for insertion in apertures in a printed circuit panel and for soldering to the printed circuitry of said panel, and an elongated channel-shaped socket for endwise receiving a second side edge of said blade opposite to said one side edge thereof, means for mounting said socket in a channel of the module, at least a pair of opposed sidewall portions of said socket being reentrantly curved, the base of said socket being slotted at least coextensively with the sidewall portions for releasing the portions for spring action, said portions being connected by said base at opposite ends of said slot, each pair of opposed sidewall portions having a relaxed spacing less than the blade thickness.

Claim 28

A sheet metal contact assembly for connecting a module to a printed circuit panel, said assembly comprising an elongated metallic blade having contact teeth laterally projecting from one side edge thereof, said teeth being for insertion in apertures in a printed circuit panel and for soldering to the printed circuitry of said panel, and an elongated channel-shaped socket for endwise receiving a second side edge of said blade opposite to said one side edge thereof, means for mounting said socket in a channel of the module, at least a pair of opposed sidewall portions of said socket being reentrantly curved, the base of said socket being slotted at least coextensively with the sidewall portions for releasing the portions for spring action, said portions being connected by said base at opposite ends of said slot, each pair of opposed sidewall portions having a relaxed spacing less than the blade thickness.

Claim 29

For use in a wiring framework in a modular circuit system, an insulating box having an open end for receiving the electrical components of a modular unit, a plurality of regularly spaced transverse channels in two opposite exterior sides of the box for containing the electrical contacts connecting the modular unit within the system, and a pair of contact keying slots in the bottom of said box each extending along a line intersecting the ends of the channels in one of said sides.

Claim 30

For use in a wiring framework in a modular circuit system, an insulating box having an open end for receiving the electrical components of a modular unit, a plurality of regularly spaced transverse channels in two opposite exterior sides of the box for containing the electrical contacts connecting the modular unit within the system, and a pair of contact keying slots in the bottom of said box each extending along a line intersecting the ends of the channels in one of said sides.

Claim 31

In a sheet metal contact assembly, an elongated channel-shaped socket for endwise receiving a blade from either end of said socket, at least a pair of opposed sidewall portions of said channel being reentrantly curved, the base of said channel being slotted intermediate its length at least coextensively with the sidewall portions for releasing the portions for spring action, said base being connected to said sidewall portions at each of opposite ends of said slot, each pair of opposed sidewall portions having a relaxed spacing less than the blade thickness.

Claim 32

In a sheet metal contact assembly, an elongated channel-shaped socket for endwise receiving a blade from either end of said socket, at least a pair of opposed sidewall portions of said channel being reentrantly curved, the base of said channel being slotted intermediate its length at least coextensively with the sidewall portions for releasing the portions for spring action, said base being connected to said sidewall portions at each of opposite ends of said slot, each pair of opposed sidewall portions having a relaxed spacing less than the blade thickness.

Claim 33

A socket as set forth in claim 15 further including means for mounting said socket in a channel of a block structure and for connection to electrical components in the block structure.