Printed circuit board lead wire receptacle

Claim 1

A process for making electrical connections between a plurality of lead wires and a printed circuit board support surface having aligned apertures of predetermined diameter, said method comprising the steps of: forming a series of spaced apart tubular terminal connector members from flat strip material each said terminal being attached at spaced intervals to a linking strip; providing each tubular terminal connector with a longitudinal seam the edges of which are spaced apart along at least a portion of said connector; and further providing said connector with a tubular leading end portion and a tubular trailing end portion and with there being an axially presented positive stop shoulder at the junction of said end portions of minimum diameter greater than the predetermined diameter of the support surface apertures and with the trailing end portion having a resilient restriction in the bore thereof; and providing that the linking strip is attached to the trailing end portion only of each member, opposite to the longitudinal seam thereof, such that each leading end portion is free for insertion into a supporting surface whereby the respective connector members are joined entirely through said linking strip; simultaneously inserting the leading end portions of said terminal connector members into corresponding apertures in said support surface, while resilient compressing said connector member thereof to a degree permitting insertion thereof in said aperture to obtain a friction fit, while maintaining the diameter of said shoulders greater than the predetermined diameter of the support surface apertures and engaging said shoulder with said support surface to locate accurately the leading and trailing end portions of the tubular body from opposite sides of the support surface; connecting said terminal connector members to said support surface; severing said terminal connector members from said linking strip; and inserting a plurality of said lead wires respectively into said terminal connector members through the trailing end portions thereof an amount sufficient such that electrical conneCtions are made between said terminal connector members and said lead wires at said resilient restrictions.