Method for making electrical connectors

Claim 1

A method of manufacturing electrical connectors comprising the steps of: continuously axially feeding a substantially endless strand of firm, solid elastomeric material which has a Shore A hardness of about 53 and which has a non-yielding core to which the elastomeric material is bonded along a first predetermined path through a folding zone, a bonding zone, and a cutting zone, continuously feeding a substantially endless flat strip of insulating film along a second predetermined path which extends towards, and merges with, said first predetermined path at the beginning of said folding zone, said strip having a width which is greater than the circumference of said strand and having transversely extending spaced apart conductors adhered to the one side thereof which faces away from said first path, said feeding steps being carried out by means of an endless belt which is moved continuously along said second predetermined path and which supports said film during movement through said folding and bonding zones, progressively folding said plastic strip and said belt around said strand in said folding zone and locating marginal side surface portions of said strip against each other and slightly compressing said strand in a direction extending normally of its axis without elongation of said strand during final stages of said folding step so that said strip has a snug fit on said strand, bonding said marginal side surface portions to each other in said bonding zone, and cutting through said film and said strand at periodic time intervals as said strand passes through said cutting zone whereby, electrical connectors each comprising an elastomeric body having a film wrapped therearound and having spaced apart circumferentially extending conductors on the external surface of said film and produced serially.

Claim 2

A method of manufacturing electrical connectors comprising the steps of: continuously axially feeding a substantially endless strand of firm, solid elastomeric material which has a Shore A hardness of about 53 and which has a non-yielding core to which the elastomeric material is bonded along a first predetermined path through a folding zone, a bonding zone, and a cutting zone, continuously feeding a substantially endless flat strip of insulating film along a second predetermined path which extends towards, and merges with, said first predetermined path at the beginning of said folding zone, said strip having a width which is greater than the circumference of said strand and having transversely extending spaced apart conductors adhered to the one side thereof which faces away from said first path, said feeding steps being carried out by means of an endless belt which is moved continuously along said second predetermined path and which supports said film during movement through said folding and bonding zones, progressively folding said plastic strip and said belt around said strand in said folding zone and locating marginal side surface portions of said strip against each other and slightly compressing said strand in a direction extending normally of its axis without elongation of said strand during final stages of said folding step so that said strip has a snug fit on said strand, bonding said marginal side surface portions to each other in said bonding zone, and cutting through said film and said strand at periodic time intervals as said strand passes through said cutting zone whereby, electrical connectors each comprising an elastomeric body having a film wrapped therearound and having spaced apart circumferentially extending conductors on the external surface of said film and produced serially.