US4418475A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of manufacturing a printed circuit card edge connector having a pull through bellows contact a lay-over insulator
Assignee: Elfab Corp
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Filing: 1982-04-08
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Granted: 1983-12-06
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Expires: 2002-04-08
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a printed circuit card edge connector having a pull through bellows contact and a lay-over insulator. Manufacturing steps include inserting contacts interconnected by a common support strip into the top openings of sleeves and positioning the projections of those contacts within alignment troughs such that the contact tails extend out of the bottom of the openings in alignment. The common support strip is removed and the tails of the contacts are inserted through apertures arranged in linear arrays through the substrate. Force is applied to the tails rigidly press-fit mounting the contacts to the substrate. Further disclosed are the forming of first and second extending ears as integral portions of the upper contactor and intermediate mounting regions of the contact, respectively, and the forming of alignment tracks configured to receive the first and second ears. Also disclosed are methods of manufacture including the use of inner and outer alignment tracks wherein the first ears are inserted into the outer alignment track and, where the outer alignment track extends through the sleeve from the top to the bottom of the insulative block, applying force to the tails of the contacts and passing the first ears along the outer alignment track. Further disclosure includes receiving the ears in interference engagement within the alignment track and sliding sub-projections in interference engagement with the troughs, retaining the contacts within the insulative block in alignment and slideably positioning the upper contactor region relative to the sleeves and slideably receiving the ears of said contacts in said troughs.
Inventors
- 👤 J. Preston Ammon
- 👤 Harry R. Weaver
- 👤 Richard O. Norman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:45
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/51; H01R12/55; H01R12/58; H01R12/585; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/712; H01R12/716; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49117; Y10T29/49124; Y10T29/49147; Y10T29/49204; Y10T29/49208; Y10T29/49222
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
A method for manufacturing a printed circuit card edge connector comprising the steps of: providing an insulative substrate having a plurality contact receiving holes therein, said holes forming arrays lying along linear paths; providing an insulative block having a plurality of pull through sleeves each including a pair of parallel, laterally spaced alignment troughs comprising an alignment track; providing a plurality of contacts each having an upper contactor region, an intermediate mounting portion, a lower tail portion, and a pair of laterally extending projections adapted for engagement with and being received into the alignment troughs in said insulative block, said contacts each including intermediate press fit mounting regions and being connected to a common support strip; inserting a plurality of contacts interconnected by a common support strip into the top openings of said sleeves; positioning said laterally extending projections of said contacts in said insulative housing alignment troughs with said contact tails extending out the bottom openings of said sleeves in axial alignment relative one to the other; removing the common support strip; inserting the contact tails through the contact receiving apertures in the insulative substrate; and applying a longitudinal force to the tails of the contacts to press fit, and thereby rigidly mount, the contacts into the apertures in the substrate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
212 words
A method for manufacturing a printed circuit card edge connector comprising the steps of: providing an insulative substrate having a plurality contact receiving holes therein, said holes forming arrays lying along linear paths; providing an insulative block having a plurality of pull through sleeves each including a pair of parallel, laterally spaced alignment troughs comprising an alignment track; providing a plurality of contacts each having an upper contactor region, an intermediate mounting portion, a lower tail portion, and a pair of laterally extending projections adapted for engagement with and being received into the alignment troughs in said insulative block, said contacts each including intermediate press fit mounting regions and being connected to a common support strip; inserting a plurality of contacts interconnected by a common support strip into the top openings of said sleeves; positioning said laterally extending projections of said contacts in said insulative housing alignment troughs with said contact tails extending out the bottom openings of said sleeves in axial alignment relative one to the other; removing the common support strip; inserting the contact tails through the contact receiving apertures in the insulative substrate; and applying a longitudinal force to the tails of the contacts to press fit, and thereby rigidly mount, the contacts into the apertures in the substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method for manufacturing as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of providing a contact with laterally extending projections includes the step of forming a first pair of transversely extending ears as an integral portion of said upper contactor region and the step of forming a second pair of transversely extending ears as an integral part of said intermediate mounting region of said contact.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method for manufacturing as set forth in claim 2 wherein the step of providing parallel, laterally spaced alignment troughs includes forming two pair of alignment tracks, laterally disposed one from the other in parallel spaced relationship for receiving said first and second transversely extending ears of said contacts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method for manufacturing as set forth in claim 3 wherein the step of forming two pair of alignment tracks includes forming four alignment troughs each parallel to the other in spaced relationship thereto and opposing pairs of which being adapted to receive pairs of said transversely extending ears.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method for manufacturing as set forth in claim 3 wherein said pair of alignment tracks include an outer and an inner alignment track, and said step of positioning said projections of said contacts includes the step of inserting said first pair of transversely extending ears into said outer alignment track and inserting said secod pair of transversely extending ears in said inner alignment track.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method for manufacturing as set forth in claim 5 wherein said outer alignment track extends through said sleeve substantially from the top to the bottom of said insulative block and said step of applying a longitudinal force to the tails of the contacts includes passing said first pair of transversely extending ears along said outer alignment track.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method for manufacturing as set forth in claim 5 wherein said step of inserting said second pair of transversely extending ears into said inner alignment track includes the step of receiving said ears in said alignment track an interference engagement therewith for retaining said contacts within said insulative block.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method for manufacturing as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of positioning said laterally extending projections of said contacts in said troughs includes the steps of sliding said projections in interference engagement with said troughs and retaining said contacts within said insulative block in axial alignment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method for manufacturing as set forth in claim 8 wherein said contact projections comprise transverse ears formed on said intermediate mounting portion of said contact and said step of retaining said contacts within said insulative block in axial alignment includes the step of slidably positioning said upper contactor region relative to said sleeves and slidably receiving said transverse ears of said contacts in said troughs.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-12-05 | 1987-06-06 | 1987-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-12-05 | 1991-06-06 | 1991-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-12-05 | 1995-06-06 | 1995-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |