Surface mount electrical tabs

Claim 2

A surface mount connector for surface mounting on a generally flat conductive surface of a printed circuit board, the connector comprising a base defining a plane and having a generally flat surface suitable for contact with and attachment to an associated flat conductive surface of the printed circuit board; a contact in the form of a tab having at least one portion projecting from said base in a direction substantially normal to said plane defined by said base; and at least one bent intermediate connecting portion integrally connecting said contact to said base, said contact, base and at least one bent intermediate connecting portion all being formed of a generally flat sheet of conductive material, said at least one portion projecting from said base forming a free edge remote from said base and configurated for engagement by a corresponding connector, said edge being provided with a pair of spaced slots substantially normal to said base to form a pick-up-post at said free edge, said pick-up-post being dimensioned to be received within a vacuum nozzle of surface mounting equipment.

Claim 3

A surface mount connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the width of said slots is substantially equal to the width of said pick-up-post.

Claim 4

A surface mount connector as defined in claim 1, wherein the width of said pick-up-post is substantially less than the width of said tab.

Claim 5

A surface mount connector as defined in claim 3, wherein the ratio of the width of said pick-up-post to the width of said tab is no greater than 0.35.

Claim 6

A surface mount connector for surface mounting on a generally flat conductive surface of a printed circuit board, the connector comprising a base defining a plane and having a generally flat surface suitable for contact with and attachment to an associated flat conductive surface of the printed circuit board; a contact in the form of a tab having at least one portion projecting from said base in a direction substantially normal to said plane defined by said base; and at least one bent intermediate connecting portion integrally connecting said contact to said base, said contact, base and at least one bent intermediate connecting portion all being formed of a generally flat sheet of conductive material, wherein the surface mount connector is a surface mount tab, said at least one portion forming a flat tab to be picked up by a vacuum pick-up nozzle having a central lumen having a substantially uniform circular cross-section and a tubular wall having a predetermined wall thickness, said spaced slots having widths substantially corresponding to said predetermined wall thickness and the width of said pick-up post having substantially corresponding to the diameter of the lumen.

Claim 7

A surface mount connector for surface mounting on a generally flat conductive surface of a printed circuit board, the connector comprising a base defining a plane and having a generally flat surface suitable for contact with and attachment to an associated flat conductive surface of the printed circuit board; a contact in the form of a tab having at least one portion projecting from said base in a direction substantially normal to said plane defined by said base; and at least one bent intermediate connecting portion integrally connecting said contact to said base, said contact, base and at least one bent intermediate connecting portion all being formed of a generally flat sheet of conductive material, wherein the surface mount connector is a surface mount tab, said at least one portion forming a flat tab to be picked up by a vacuum pick-up nozzle having a central lumen having a substantially uniform circular cross-section and a tubular wall having a predetermined wall thickness, said spaced slots having widths substantially corresponding to said predetermined wall thickness and the width of said pick-up post having substantially corresponding to the diameter of the lumen.

Claim 8

A surface mounted connector as defined in claim 5, wherein said base comprises stabilizing means integrally formed with said at least one portion.

Claim 9

A surface mounted connector as defined in claim 6, wherein said stabilizing means comprises at least two leg portions deflected to opposite sides of said at least one portion and arranged in a plane normal to said at least one portion.

Claim 10

A surface mounted connector as defined in claim 7, further comprising severable connecting tabs for connecting adjacent leg portions of adjacent connectors to joint a plurality of connectors into a strip of continuous connectors.

Claim 11

A strip of series connected surface mounted connectors for automated mounting on a surface of a printed circuit board, each connector comprising a base defining a plane; and having a generally flat surface suitable for contact with and attachment to an associated flat conductive surface of the printed circuit board; a contact in the form of a tab having at least one portion projecting from said base in a direction substantially normal to said plane defined by said base and including a pick-up post dimensioned to be received within a lumen of a vacuum pick-up nozzle; and at least one bent intermediate connecting portion integrally connecting said contact to said base, said contact base and at least one bent intermediate connecting portion all being formed of a generally flat sheet of conductive material; an frangible connecting means between each two adjacent connectors, whereby a strip of connectors can be advanced to an automated mounting station and a connector at the downstream end of the strip can be separated from the strip by severing said frangible connecting means between said connector at the downstream end and an adjacent immediately succeeding connector in the strip.

Claim 12

A strip of series connected surface mounted connectors for automated mounting on a surface of a printed circuit board, each connector comprising a base defining a plane; and having a generally flat surface suitable for contact with and attachment to an associated flat conductive surface of the printed circuit board; a contact in the form of a tab having at least one portion projecting from said base in a direction substantially normal to said plane defined by said base and including a pick-up post dimensioned to be received within a lumen of a vacuum pick-up nozzle; and at least one bent intermediate connecting portion integrally connecting said contact to said base, said contact base and at least one bent intermediate connecting portion all being formed of a generally flat sheet of conductive material; an frangible connecting means between each two adjacent connectors, whereby a strip of connectors can be advanced to an automated mounting station and a connector at the downstream end of the strip can be separated from the strip by severing said frangible connecting means between said connector at the downstream end and an adjacent immediately succeeding connector in the strip.

Claim 13

A strip of connectors as defined in claim 9, wherein said frangible connecting means comprises connecting tabs integrally formed with the bases of each two adjoining connectors.

Claim 14

A strip of connectors as defined in claim 9, wherein said frangible connecting means comprises connecting tabs integrally formed with the contacts of each two adjoining connectors.

Claim 15

A blank for a surface mount connector comprising a stamping from a flat sheet of electrically conductive material and including in a common plane a base suitable for attachment to an associated surface of a printed circuit board; a contact in the form of a tab including a pick-up post dimensioned to be received within a lumen of a vacuum pick-up nozzle; and at least one intermediate connecting portion integrally connecting said contact to said base, whereby at least one portion of said contact can be moved to a position substantially normal to said plane by bending said at least one intermediate connecting portion to form the surface mounted connector.

Claim 16

A blank for a surface mount connector comprising a stamping from a flat sheet of electrically conductive material and including in a common plane a base suitable for attachment to an associated surface of a printed circuit board; a contact in the form of a tab including a pick-up post dimensioned to be received within a lumen of a vacuum pick-up nozzle; and at least one intermediate connecting portion integrally connecting said contact to said base, whereby at least one portion of said contact can be moved to a position substantially normal to said plane by bending said at least one intermediate connecting portion to form the surface mounted connector.

Claim 19

A surface mount connector for surface mounting on a generally flat conductive surface of a printed circuit board, the connector comprising a base defining a plane and having a generally flat surface suitable for contact with and attachment to an associated flat conductive surface of the printed circuit board; a contact in the form of a tab having at least one portion projecting from said base in a direction substantially normal to said plane defined by said base; and at least one bent intermediate connecting portion integrally connecting said contact to said base, said contact, base and at least one bent intermediate connecting portion all being formed of a generally flat sheet of conductive material, said base being provided with aperture means suitably dimensioned for promoting and receiving solder by capillary action upon reflow of solder subsequent to placement of the connector on the printed circuit board.

Claim 20

A surface mount connector for surface mounting on a generally flat conductive surface of a printed circuit board, the connector comprising a base defining a plane and having a generally flat surface suitable for contact with and attachment to an associated flat conductive surface of the printed circuit board; a contact in the form of a tab having at least one portion projecting from said base in a direction substantially normal to said plane defined by said base; and at least one bent intermediate connecting portion integrally connecting said contact to said base, said contact, base and at least one bent intermediate connecting portion all being formed of a generally flat sheet of conductive material, said base being provided with aperture means suitably dimensioned for promoting and receiving solder by capillary action upon reflow of solder subsequent to placement of the connector on the printed circuit board.

Claim 21

Method of handling a surface mount connector for surface mounting on a generally flat conductive surface of a printed circuit board, comprising the steps of providing a connector having a pick up post dimensioned to be received with clearance within a lumen of a pick-up nozzle and receiving said pick-up post within said lumen when the connector is to be picked up and placed on a printed circuit board, whereby the connector is supported by the flow of air through clearances formed between the received pick-up post and the internal dimensions of said lumen and not by an absolute vacuum applied to a surface of the connector.

Claim 22

Method of handling a surface mount connector for surface mounting on a generally flat conductive surface of a printed circuit board, comprising the steps of providing a connector having a pick up post dimensioned to be received with clearance within a lumen of a pick-up nozzle and receiving said pick-up post within said lumen when the connector is to be picked up and placed on a printed circuit board, whereby the connector is supported by the flow of air through clearances formed between the received pick-up post and the internal dimensions of said lumen and not by an absolute vacuum applied to a surface of the connector.