Printed circuit board terminal receptacle

Claim 2

A contact constructed to be securely mounted upon a board, and to receive both bifurcated spade terminals and ends of conductors, and comprising: a generally U-shaped structure with the legs of the U comprising a first element and a second element, with both said first and second elements comprising parallel central portions which are generally flat and rectangular in shape and further being, both in structure and in position, substantially mirror images of each other; a transverse portion connecting said first and second elements together to complete the generally U-shaped configuration; each of said first and second elements having securing elements extending from the free end thereof, with each securing element having two side edges and being generally convex in shape with respect to, and further being positioned oppositely to the securing element of the other element to provide a predetermined spacing between said flat, rectangular central portion; each of said two securing elements being of a size to have the four side edges thereof press firmly against the walls of a hole in said circuit board in which they are inserted, and to thereby secure said contact to said circuit board; each of said first and second elements further having the two side edges thereof bent back and towards each other in a direction away from the other element to form a pair of parallel, elongated slots, with the bent back portions having a curved cross-sectional area, with the concave side thereof facing the flat rectangular central portion to provide a spring-like force upon the legs of a bifurcated spade terminal insertable therein.

Claim 3

A contact in accordance with claim 1, comprising: a cut-out portion in each of said flat central portions having a slot-like configuration of a width to receive a conductor forced laterally down thereinto and to make electrical contact with said conductor; said cut-out portions in said first and second flat elements being in substantial registration with each other.

Claim 4

A contact in accordance with claim 1, in which each of said flat rectangular central portions has formed thereon a pair of elongated embossed strips extending longitudinally alongside the lengths of said elongated slots adjacent the inner edge of each leg of a bifurcated male spade terminal when inserted therein, to guide said legs of said spade terminal into said parallel elongated slots of said contact and to maintain the position and alignment of said spade terminals in said contacts.

Claim 5

A free standing contact constructed to be mounted upon a board, to receive a bifurcated spade terminal, and comprising: a generally U-shaped structure having a first leg portion and a second leg portion with facing major surfaces, a transverse portion joining together one end of said first and second leg portions and with each leg portion having two longitudinal edges; each of the two longitudinal edges extending outwardly of said transverse portion of each of said first and second leg portions and being bent back around about 180* and away from the major surface of the opposite leg portion to form a pair of parallel, elongated slots, with the slot openings facing each other to form a channel for receiving a spade-like male terminal; an opening in each of said major surfaces in substantial registration with each other, with each opening comprising a portion for receiving a conductor, and a narrowed portion extending therefrom into which said conductors can be laterally pushed to grip said conductor and make electrical contact therewith; and a securing element extending beyond the free end of each leg portion and being generally convex to and directly opposite the securing element of the other leg portion to maintain predetermined spacing between said facing major surfaces of said first and seconD leg portions; said securing elements being constructed to fit into openings provided therefore in said board to secure said free standing contact upon said board.

Claim 6

A free standing contact constructed to be mounted upon a board, to receive a bifurcated spade terminal, and comprising: a generally U-shaped structure having a first leg portion and a second leg portion with facing major surfaces, a transverse portion joining together one end of said first and second leg portions and with each leg portion having two longitudinal edges; each of the two longitudinal edges extending outwardly of said transverse portion of each of said first and second leg portions and being bent back around about 180* and away from the major surface of the opposite leg portion to form a pair of parallel, elongated slots, with the slot openings facing each other to form a channel for receiving a spade-like male terminal; an opening in each of said major surfaces in substantial registration with each other, with each opening comprising a portion for receiving a conductor, and a narrowed portion extending therefrom into which said conductors can be laterally pushed to grip said conductor and make electrical contact therewith; and a securing element extending beyond the free end of each leg portion and being generally convex to and directly opposite the securing element of the other leg portion to maintain predetermined spacing between said facing major surfaces of said first and seconD leg portions; said securing elements being constructed to fit into openings provided therefore in said board to secure said free standing contact upon said board.

Claim 7

A free standing contact in accordance with claim 4, in which each of said major surfaces has formed thereon a pair of elongated embossed strips extending longitudinally along the lengths of said elongated slots adjacent the edge of each leg of each half of one of said bifurcated spade terminals, when inserted in said channel, to guide said legs of said spade terminal into said parallel elongated slots of said free standing contacts and to maintain the position and alignment of said spade terminal in said free standing contact.

Claim 8

A free standing contact constructed to be mounted upon a circuit board, to receive bifurcated, spade-like terminals, and comprising: a generally U-shaped structure having a first and second leg portions each with a pair of longitudinal edges and substantially parallel major surfaces facing each other, and a transverse portion joining together first ends of said first and second leg portions; each of the two longitudinal edges of each of said first and second leg portions being curled around, away from the major surface of the opposite leg portion and then back towards, but not meeting the outside surface of the leg portion to which it is attached, to form a pair of substantially parallel, tubular portions with longitudinal slots existing where the curled around edges do not meet said outside surface; said longitudinal slots facing each other to form a guide for receiving a bifurcated spade-like male terminal; a cut-away portion in each of said major surfaces in substantial registration with each other and each comprising an opening for receiving a conductor, and a narrowed portion into which said conductor can be pushed to grip said conductor and make electrical contact therewith; and securing elements extending beyond the second end of each leg portion and having a portion thereof extend convexly towards the major surface of the opposite leg portion and in substantial registration with the extended portion of said opposing securing element to maintain a predetermined spacing between said facing major surfaces of said first and second leg portions; said securing elements being constructed to fit into openings provided therefore in said circuit board to secure said free standing contact upon said circuit board.

Claim 9

A free standing contact constructed to be mounted upon a circuit board, to receive bifurcated, spade-like terminals, and comprising: a generally U-shaped structure having a first and second leg portions each with a pair of longitudinal edges and substantially parallel major surfaces facing each other, and a transverse portion joining together first ends of said first and second leg portions; each of the two longitudinal edges of each of said first and second leg portions being curled around, away from the major surface of the opposite leg portion and then back towards, but not meeting the outside surface of the leg portion to which it is attached, to form a pair of substantially parallel, tubular portions with longitudinal slots existing where the curled around edges do not meet said outside surface; said longitudinal slots facing each other to form a guide for receiving a bifurcated spade-like male terminal; a cut-away portion in each of said major surfaces in substantial registration with each other and each comprising an opening for receiving a conductor, and a narrowed portion into which said conductor can be pushed to grip said conductor and make electrical contact therewith; and securing elements extending beyond the second end of each leg portion and having a portion thereof extend convexly towards the major surface of the opposite leg portion and in substantial registration with the extended portion of said opposing securing element to maintain a predetermined spacing between said facing major surfaces of said first and second leg portions; said securing elements being constructed to fit into openings provided therefore in said circuit board to secure said free standing contact upon said circuit board.

Claim 10

A free standing contact in accordance with claim 6, in which each of said major surfaces has formed thereon a pair of elongated embossed strips extending longitudinally alongside the parallel tubular portions of the first and second leg portions adjacent the edge of each leg of each half of one of said bifurcated spade-like male terminals, when being inserted in said tubular portions, to guide said legs of the spade-like terminals into said tubular parallel tubular slots of said free standing contacts and to maintain the position and alignment of said spade terminals in said free standing contacts.

Claim 11

A contact constructed to be securely mounted upon a circuit board, to receive a bifurcated spade terminal, and comprising: a generally U-shaped structure with the legs of the U comprising a first element and a second element, with both said first and second elements comprising central portions having facing inner surfaces which are generally flat and rectangular in shape and further being, both in structure and in position, substantially mirror images of each other; a transverse portion connecting together first ends of said two elements to complete the generally U shaped configuration; said first and second elements each having a securing element having a pair of longitudinal edges and extending longitudinally from the second end thereof for insertion in a hole in said circuit board and being generally curvilinearly shaped, with the convex sides thereof facing each other to provide, in cooperation with said tRansverse portion, a predetermined spacing between said flat rectangular central portions; said two securing elements being of a size and configuration to have the four longitudinal edges thereof press firmly against the walls of said hole in said circuit board in which they are inserted, and to thereby secure said contact to said circuit board; each of said first and second elements further having the edges thereof rolled around and back towards said flat central portion in a direction away from the other element to form a pair of parallel tubular-like elements, each having a generally C-shaped cross-sectional configuration which is not completely closed upon the outer surface of said flat central portion of said element to provide a spring-like force upon the legs of a bifurcated spade terminal insertable therein.

Claim 12

A contact constructed to be securely mounted upon a circuit board, to receive a bifurcated spade terminal, and comprising: a generally U-shaped structure with the legs of the U comprising a first element and a second element, with both said first and second elements comprising central portions having facing inner surfaces which are generally flat and rectangular in shape and further being, both in structure and in position, substantially mirror images of each other; a transverse portion connecting together first ends of said two elements to complete the generally U shaped configuration; said first and second elements each having a securing element having a pair of longitudinal edges and extending longitudinally from the second end thereof for insertion in a hole in said circuit board and being generally curvilinearly shaped, with the convex sides thereof facing each other to provide, in cooperation with said tRansverse portion, a predetermined spacing between said flat rectangular central portions; said two securing elements being of a size and configuration to have the four longitudinal edges thereof press firmly against the walls of said hole in said circuit board in which they are inserted, and to thereby secure said contact to said circuit board; each of said first and second elements further having the edges thereof rolled around and back towards said flat central portion in a direction away from the other element to form a pair of parallel tubular-like elements, each having a generally C-shaped cross-sectional configuration which is not completely closed upon the outer surface of said flat central portion of said element to provide a spring-like force upon the legs of a bifurcated spade terminal insertable therein.

Claim 13

A contact in accordance with claim 8, comprising: a cut-out portion in each of said flat central portions having a slot-like configuration of a width to receive a conductor forced laterally down thereinto and to make electrical contact therewith; said cut-out portions in said first and second flat elements being in substantial registration with each other.

Claim 14

A free standing contact in accordance with claim 8, in which each of said flat rectangular central portions has formed thereon a pair of elongated embossed strips extending longitudinally alongside said tubular-like elements adjacent the edge of each leg of one of said bifurcated spade terminals, when being inserted in said tubular-like elements, to guide said legs of said spade terminals into said tubular-like elements of said free standing contacts and to maintain the position and alignment of said spade terminals in said free standing contacts.