Abstract A method and means is disclosed featuring a cold forming of plastic bodies in the form of buttons, pellets or other simple shapes into more complex functional configurations for housing and insulating electrical terminals, mechanical fasteners and the like. The plastic bodies are integrally joined to a thin flexible carrier to facilitate processing. Cold forming is effected by dies brought to bear against the bodies with one of the dies carrying a connector element which forms part of the working die surface. The final forming of the housing deposits or embeds the connector element within plastic material. By making the initial molded configuration of a body topographically similar to the final configuration to reduce the extent of extrusion along a given axis the resulting housing may be made to better withstand subsequent deformation for crimping purposes to terminate electrical leads within the terminal and housing or mechanically fasten other elements together.
As an article of manufacture, a thin web of flexible and reelable material carrying a series of discrete electrical connector assemblies thereon, each assembly comprising a generally tubular plastic housing projecting from one surface of said web and being closed at the end thereof remote from said web, and a metallic sleeve having an outwardly extending flange on one end being snugly encased about its entire outer peripheral wall portion in the housing in the closed end thereof with said flange being embedded in the plastic material of the housing, the thickness of the web being less than the radial thickness of the wall of the housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
As an article of manufacture, a thin web of flexible and reelable material carrying a series of discrete electrical connector assemblies thereon, each assembly comprising a generally tubular plastic housing projecting from one surface of said web and being closed at the end thereof remote from said web, and a metallic sleeve having an outwardly extending flange on one end being snugly encased about its entire outer peripheral wall portion in the housing in the closed end thereof with said flange being embedded in the plastic material of the housing, the thickness of the web being less than the radial thickness of the wall of the housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
An article according to claim 1 in which the materials of the sleeves and housings are of inelasticAlly deformable material for crimping the sleeve into engagement with conductors adapted to be inserted in said sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electrical connector according to claim 2 in which the housings and web are of the same material with the open end of each of the housings being integral with the web.