Lead frame having integral terminal tabs

Claim 1

A continuous flat strip of stamped and formed lead frames, said strip being of the type comprising spaced-apart first and second carrier strips, said lead frames being integral with said carrier strips at regularly spaced inervals, each of said lead frames comprising a chip supporting portion which is between said carrier strips, and first, second, and third arms, each of said first and third arms having a contact portion which extends over said chip supporting portion, each of said arms having a terminal tab integral therewith which is dimensioned to be mated with a complementary terminal devide, each of said lead frames being characterized in that: said second arm extends from said chip supporting portion towards said first carrier strip, said terminal tab of said second arm extending from said second arm to, and normally of, said first carrier strip and having an end which is adjacent to, and integral with, said first carrier strip, said first and third arms having intermediate portions which extend normally of said carrier strips, said chip supporting portion being between said intermediate portions of said first and third arms, said terminal tabs of said first and third arms extending parallel to each other and parallel to said terminal tab of said second arm, said terminal tabs of said first and third arms extending towards, and normally of, said second carrier strip, and, removable supporting means extending normally from said second carrier strip to, and removably connected at its end to, said chip supporting portion, said supporting means extending between said terminal tabs of said first and third arms, whereby, upon bending said terminal tabs of one of said lead frames normally of the plane of said strip in common direction, said tabs on said first and third arms will be in coplanar spaced-apart relationship and said tab on said second arm will define a plane which is parallel to, and spaced from, the plane of said first and third arms.