Circuit component mount and assembly

Claim 1

In the method of mounting a circuit component to a circuit board means in any of a plurality of modes, using multi-way mount, said component comprising an electrical unit having a base and terminal means projecting endwise from the base, the steps that include: (a) providing a mounting body to support the unit on the circuit board means, the body defining an axis, cavity means, and slot means intersecting the cavity means and formed in a generally axially parallel plane, the body capable of supporting said unit at either of two ends of the body which are axially spaced apart, via said terminal means in said cavity means, (b) providing conductive means including contact structure for electrically connecting said unit with said circuit board means, the contact structure including spring fingers spaced about at least one zone adapted to receive the unit terminal means, in electrical contact therewith, said conductive means including auxiliary terminal means to be integral with said contact structure and the contact structure assembled into the cavity means so that the auxiliary terminal means projects outwardly of the body via said slot means, said contact structure and said auxiliary terminal means being defined by a single metallic sheet having tab means for anchoring the sheet to the body, and said sheet having a bridge portion between said contact structure and said auxiliary terminal means, said bridge portion mounting said tab means deflected from a plane defined by said bridge portion, said plane extending generally axially of the body, and said assembling carried out to locate said bridge portion in said slot means, (c) assembling the conductive means to the body as aforesaid and the electrical unit to the contact structure so that the unit is disposed at one of said ends of the body, and (d) joining the auxiliary terminal means to a circuit board.