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US3943625A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method for making tined electrical contacts

Assignee: GTE Sylvania Inc
•
Filing: 1975-01-17
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Granted: 1976-03-16
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Expires: 1995-01-17
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Abstract

Abstract There is disclosed a method for making tined electrical contacts from a continuous metal strip as the strip intermittently moves through a plurality of work stations. The method comprises the steps of advancing the metal strip; positioning a portion of contact material in alignment with an area on said strip, attaching said portion to said area, advancing the metal strip, and thereafter cutting and forming the strip to provide an electrical contact.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert R. Brenan
  • 👤 Gordon L. Johnson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 23:17
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/16; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/931; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49204; Y10T29/49208; Y10T29/4921; Y10T29/49211; Y10T29/49213

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 238 words
A method for making tined electrical contacts from a continuous metal strip intermittently moving through a plurality of work stations, said method comprising: advancing said metal strip in an established first direction of travel to a first of said work stations, said first direction occupying a first plane; advancing a strip of contact material comprising a first layer of a base material and a second layer of a precious metal in an established second direction of travel to said first work station, said second direction of travel occupying a second plane substantially parallel to said first plane of travel of said metal strip; defining a preselected portion of said contact material at said first work station; positioning said preselected portion of said contact material at said first work station in alignment with a predetermined area on said metal strip; securing said preselected portion of said contact material to said predetermined area on said metal strip by attaching said layer of said base material to said predetermined area on said metal strip; separating said preselected portion of said contact material from the remainder of said strip of contact material; advancing said metal strip having said preselected portion of said contact material secured thereto to a second of said work stations; and cutting and forming said strip at said second work station to provide an electrical contact having at least one tine with a precious metal contacting area formed thereon.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 238 words
A method for making tined electrical contacts from a continuous metal strip intermittently moving through a plurality of work stations, said method comprising: advancing said metal strip in an established first direction of travel to a first of said work stations, said first direction occupying a first plane; advancing a strip of contact material comprising a first layer of a base material and a second layer of a precious metal in an established second direction of travel to said first work station, said second direction of travel occupying a second plane substantially parallel to said first plane of travel of said metal strip; defining a preselected portion of said contact material at said first work station; positioning said preselected portion of said contact material at said first work station in alignment with a predetermined area on said metal strip; securing said preselected portion of said contact material to said predetermined area on said metal strip by attaching said layer of said base material to said predetermined area on said metal strip; separating said preselected portion of said contact material from the remainder of said strip of contact material; advancing said metal strip having said preselected portion of said contact material secured thereto to a second of said work stations; and cutting and forming said strip at said second work station to provide an electrical contact having at least one tine with a precious metal contacting area formed thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method according to claim 1 wherin said second direction of travel of said strip of contact material is substantially perpendicular to said first direction of travel of said metal strip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said method for attaching said layer of base material to said predetermined area on said strip to secure said preselected portion of said contact material is welding.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said defining of said preselected portion of said contact material is accomplished by notching said material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 39 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein said separating of said preselected portion of contact material from the remainder of said material is accomplished by withdrawing said contact material in a direction substantially opposing said second direction of travel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method according to claim 1 further including removing preselected areas from said metal strip prior to advancing said strip to said first work station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method according to claim 6 further including coining said metal trip prior to removing said preselected areas from said strip.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3229357A Cited
US3258830A Cited
US3343257A Cited
US3560911A Cited
US3803711A Cited
US3797108A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-03-16 1979-09-15 1980-03-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-03-16 1983-09-15 1984-03-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-03-16 1987-09-15 1988-03-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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