Abstract: Contacts (16) of a circuit component (12) have contact top regions (30) that extend down close to the upper face of a circuit board, and have contact inboard regions (32) that each lies primarily in a plated circuit board hole (34), wherein each contact is formed of bent sheet metal. The contact has a box-shaped cross-section along most of its length, which includes rear and front walls (40, 41) and first and second side walls (42, 44). Along the inboard region, the first side wall has a forward extension (90) that is bent by 90° to form a front wall with a free edge (94) that lies against the front (52) of the second side wall. Along a lower portion of the top region the side walls have forward projections (64, 66) that form upper shoulders (60, 62) for receiving downward forces to press the inboard portions down into the circuit board holes.

Abstract: Contacts (16) of a circuit component (12) have contact top regions (30) that extend down close to the upper face of a circuit board, and have contact inboard regions (32) that each lies primarily in a plated circuit board hole (34), wherein each contact is formed of bent sheet metal. The contact has a box-shaped cross-section along most of its length, which includes rear and front walls (40, 41) and first and second side walls (42, 44). Along the inboard region, the first side wall has a forward extension (90) that is bent by 90° to form a front wall with a free edge (94) that lies against the front (52) of the second side wall. Along a lower portion of the top region the side walls have forward projections (64, 66) that form upper shoulders (60, 62) for receiving downward forces to press the inboard portions down into the circuit board holes.

Abstract: A pair of circuit boards (60, 62) with holes (50, 56), are connected by right angle contacts (10) that are each formed of a single piece of metal with a 90° bend forming first and second elongated contact portions (20, 22) extending along perpendicular axes (24, 26). Each elongated portion has a resiliently compressible pin end (30, 32) for pushing into a circuit board hole, and has a distal end at the bend. A slot (70) at the bend extends into each distal end, with each end of the slot forming a push surface (80, 82) that lies on the corresponding axis. Each pin end of the connector can be installed by a tool projection that enters one end of a slot and pushes the corresponding pin end (20) along its axis. One of the elongated portions (22) can be longer than the other one (20), and an insulative body (64) is attached to the longer elongated portion.

Abstract: A pair of circuit boards (60, 62) with holes (50, 56), are connected by right angle contacts (10) that are each formed of a single piece of metal with a 90° bend forming first and second elongated contact portions (20, 22) extending along perpendicular axes (24, 26). Each elongated portion has a resiliently compressible pin end (30, 32) for pushing into a circuit board hole, and has a distal end at the bend. A slot (70) at the bend extends into each distal end, with each end of the slot forming a push surface (80, 82) that lies on the corresponding axis. Each pin end of the connector can be installed by a tool projection that enters one end of a slot and pushes the corresponding pin end (20) along its axis. One of the elongated portions (22) can be longer than the other one (20), and an insulative body (64) is attached to the longer elongated portion.

Abstract: A contact assembly which includes a silver billet (14) locked in a recess (22) of a copper alloy substrate (12), is constructed so it can be formed in a minimum number of low cost operations. Depressions (70) in the upper face (32) of the substrate, create pressure-flowed quantities (72, 74) of the substrate metal that project into opposite sides (54, 56) of the billet to lock the billet in the recess. The depressions preferably form a continuous 360° groove to form a gas tight seal. The groove has a wall (80) closest to the recess, with that wall extending downward and away from the recess, as a result of a punch (50) that presses downwardly into the upper surface of the substrate and deforms substrate material towards the recess. The billet can be pressed down with sufficient force to expand the billet tight against opposite recess walls.

Abstract: An electrical contact is provided for press-fit insertion into a circuit board, which has a minimal antenna effect in radiating or receiving high frequency signals, while providing a large retention force (resistance to pullout). A compliant section (20, FIG. 4) of the contact is of the eye-of-the-needle type which includes a vertically-extending slot (44) that leaves a pair of largely vertical beams (46, 48) having outer sides (54) lying furthest from the slot. The lower portion (30) of the compliant section extends a small distance (N) below the bottom of the vertical slot, and is rounded to a radius of curvature (A) that is at least twenty percent of the maximum horizontal distance (G) between the outer sides of the beams, to produce a gradually rounded surface that minimizes radiation emission and reception.

Abstract: An electrical contact is provided for press-fit insertion into a circuit board, which produces a large retention force (resistance to pullout) with only moderate hole distortion, and which can be reliably produced at low cost. A press-fit section ( 14, FIG. 4) of the contact is of largely I-beam cross-section, with upper and lower flanges (60, 62) that each have outer faces (64, 66) for abutting the walls of the circuit board hole, and with a web (70) connecting the flanges. The entire cross-section of the contact is of rigid construction for minimal deformation when inserted into the hole, so most of the deformation is of the hole. Each flange face has about the same radius of curvature (C) as that of the hole, and the web is narrower than the flanges, but thick enough to avoid substantial bending.

Abstract: An electrical contact is provided for press-fit insertion into a circuit board, which provides a large retention force (resistance to pullout) even for very small circuit board holes. A compliant section (14, FIG. 1) of the contact, which lies in the hole, is of the eye-of-the-needle type which includes a pair of largely parallel beams (24, 26) with opposite ends that merge and with middle portions (30, 32) that are laterally spaced. Additional holding power is achieved by providing a protuberance (40, 42) on a middle portion of each beam, which projects towards the other beam. When the contact is press-fit in a circuit board hole, at least the tips of the protuberances are crushed, or plastically deformed. The protuberances preferably have sides that are tapered, and the average axial length (H, FIG. 4) of each protuberance is preferably between onethird and three times its thickness (T).