Electrical terminal

Claim 2

An electrical terminal comprising a one-piece elongated sheet metal body that defines a U-shaped channel with spaced apart legs that are joined by a bight, said channel-body having an entrance portion for insertion into an aperture in a printed circuit board and a trailing portion for connection to an electrical component, said entrance portion comprising shoulder means on said legs, and a slit formed in each of said legs at locations spaced from the corresponding shoulder means, said slit extending generally parallel to said shoulder means, the leg sections below said slit being flared outwardly with respect to the leg sections upon which said shoulder means are formed, to define edge portions, such that upon engagement of said entrance portion in said aperture, said leg sections will yield during passage through said aperture, but will snap into locking position upon passage therethrough, with said edge portions engaging one surface of said printed circuit board while said shoulder means is engaged with the other, opposed surface of said board.

Claim 3

A terminal according to claim 1 in which said leg sections taper toward the tip of said entrance section.

Claim 4

A terminal according to claim 1 in combination with an electrical connector having an entrance opening with a tongue therein that receives said trailing portion with the tongue between said legs whereby the tongue permits insertion of the terminal into the connector in a predetermined orientation relative thereto.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 1 further including an outwardly struck detent means on said bight for engagement with said circuit board to aid in stabilizing said terminal on said circuit board.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein said detent means is received within said aperture and is in wedging engagement with the walls thereof to effect said stabilizing action.

Claim 7

The terminal as defined in claim 1 wherein said slits are spaced from said shoulder means a distance approximate the thickness of said printed circuit board.

Claim 8

The terminal as defined in claim 1 wherein said leg sections on said entrance portion below said shoulder have a lesser extent than said leg sections above said shoulder.

Claim 9

An electrical terminal comprising a one-piece elongated sheet metal body that defines a U-shaped channel with spaced apart legs that are joined by a bight, said channel-body having an entrance portion for insertion into an aperture in a printed circuit board and a trailing portion for connection to an electrical component, said entrance portion comprising cooperating means for engaging opposite sides of said printed circuit board to lock said body on said printed circuit board, said cooperating means including, shoulder means formed on each said leg and engageable with the upper surface of said board, and terminal leg sections spaced downwardly from said shoulder means and flared outwardly with respect to said leg sections upon which said shoulder means is defined, said outwardly flared leg sections yielding upon passage into said aperture and snapping into locking position for engaging the other side of said printed circuit board upon passage through said aperture, and an outwardly struck detent on said bight for reception in said aperture and for engaging the walls of said aperture in wedging contact to stabilize said terminal on said circuit board.

Claim 10

An electrical terminal comprising a one-piece elongated sheet metal body that defines a U-shaped channel with spaced apart legs that are joined by a bight, said channel-body having an entrance portion for insertion into an aperture in a printed circuit board and a trailing portion for connection to an electrical component, said entrance portion comprising cooperating means for engaging opposite sides of said printed circuit board to lock said body on said printed circuit board, said cooperating means including, shoulder means formed on each said leg and engageable with the upper surface of said board, and terminal leg sections spaced downwardly from said shoulder means and flared outwardly with respect to said leg sections upon which said shoulder means is defined, said outwardly flared leg sections yielding upon passage into said aperture and snapping into locking position for engaging the other side of said printed circuit board upon passage through said aperture, and an outwardly struck detent on said bight for reception in said aperture and for engaging the walls of said aperture in wedging contact to stabilize said terminal on said circuit board.

Claim 11

A terminal as defined in claim 8 wherein said leg includes a slit formed therein and spaced from said shoulder means, said leg sections below said slit defining said outwardly flared terminal leg sections.

Claim 12

A terminal as defined in claim 8 wherein each said leg includes a slot formed therein, which slot defines said shoulder means, and serves to space said outwardly flared terminal leg sections from said shoulder means.