Abstract: A connector is provided, for making electrical connections to a replaceable circuit card. A shielded connection is provided by the connector, maintaining high signal integrity without degradation of S/N ratio by loss of signal or introduction of external noise as a result of connection characteristics without noise across the connection. The circuit card includes only features which are inexpensive to produce, resulting in a low circuit card replacement cost.

Abstract: A dual readout SIMM socket includes a dielectric housing having a module receiving slot, terminal slots transverse and open to the module receiving slot, and terminals positioned in the terminal slots. An electrically conductive ground plane extends along a length of the housing. The ground plane has leads for establishing electrical contact with circuits on a substrate. A plurality of signal and ground terminals are arranged in a selected sequence in the terminal slots. Each of the signal and ground terminals has a trace engaging contact point extending into the module receiving slot for establishing electrical contact with respective signal and ground traces on a SIMM panel received therein. Each of the ground terminals has a contact member for establishing electrical contact with the ground plane. Each of the signal terminals has a lead for establishing electrical contact with other circuits on the substrate.

Abstract: A method and structure of an electrical connector is provided for tuning the impedance of the connector according to a given impedance of an electrical circuit in which the connector is interconnected. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a receptacle for receiving a complementary electrical component. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing. The terminals include body portions located in the housing and contact portions for engaging respective contacts on the electrical component. The body portions include mechanically nonfunctional sections of a given area which effect a given capacitance. The mechanically non-functional sections are selectively trimmable to selectively vary the area thereof and thereby vary the capacitance of the terminals and, therefore, the impedance of the connector to match the given impedance of the electrical circuit. The connector includes a plurality of signal terminals and a plurality of ground terminals.

Abstract: An edge connector is adapted for use with a printed circuit board having a mating edge and a plurality of contact pads on opposite sides of the board adjacent the edge. The connector includes an elongated dielectric housing having a slot for receiving the mating edge of the printed circuit board. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing along the slot. Each terminal includes a pair of side support portions fixed to the housing outside opposite sides of the slot, a cross brace portion extending between the side support portions, a terminating portion projecting below the cross brace portion and a spring contact arm projecting upwardly from the cross brace portion and including a contact portion for engaging one of the contact pads on the printed circuit board. The terminals are oriented in an alternating array along the slot whereby the contact portions alternatingly engage contact pads on opposite sides of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An edge connector is adapted for use with a printed circuit board having a mating edge and a plurality of contact pads on opposite sides of the board adjacent the edge. The connector includes an elongated dielectric housing having a slot for receiving the mating edge of the printed circuit board. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing along the slot. Each terminal includes a pair of side support portions fixed to the housing generally near opposite sides of the slot, a cross brace portion extending between the side support portions, a terminating portion projecting below the cross brace portion and a spring contact portion projecting above the cross brace portion for engaging one of the contact pads on the printed circuit board. The spring contact portion extends from one side of the terminal across the slot for engaging a contact pad on an opposite side of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A terminal is provided which includes includes an a non-movable L-shaped base and a swan neck contact coupled to one end of the base. The terminal also includes a split dimple formed on a base of the terminal to provide a front-to-back alignment of the terminal inside terminal-receiving cavities formed in a socket housing. The split dimple also provides the terminal with a strong retention to the plastic body of the connector housing. The terminals are particularly useful in a SIMM socket. Adjacent terminals on opposite sides of the edge card are electrically isolated or independent from each other. By incorporating electrically independent contacts into a SIMM socket, the present invention permits twice as many I/O leads in the same amount of space compared to a conventional SIMM socket and doubles the number of pads per module.

Abstract: A method for the construction of a high density electrical connector for connecting a printed circuit board with a burn-in board in a burn-in system. The method comprises the steps of attaching a standard edge connector to a printed circuit board to form a first set of contacts, attaching two outer contact strips to the printed circuit board to form a second set of contacts, and enclosing the outer contact strips and the edge connector in an outer housing. The edge connector and the outer contact strips are secured to the printed circuit board through soldering. A burn-in board having a plurality of contact pads thereon can be inserted into the electrical connector such that the contact pads come into contact with the first and second set of contacts.

Abstract: In a connector A for a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board 3 is adapted to be held between and connected to a resilient contact piece 5 of each connection terminal 1, received in a terminal receiving chamber 13 of a connector housing 2, and a top plate portion 8 of the connection terminal 1 disposed in opposed relation to the resilient contact piece 5. A guide projection 16 to which the top plate portion 8 is adapted to be fitted is formed on an end wall 14a of the terminal receiving chamber 13 of the connector housing 2. The deformation of connection terminals attached to a connector housing can be prevented, thereby enabling a smooth, positive connection of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device having a chamfer formed along at least one of the ends of a substrate having a terminal electrode disposed thereon for producing a substantially unimpeded flow of an electric current between a connect pin clip and the terminal electrode. The chamfer is a planar chamfer or an R chamfer and has a chamfer angle and chamfer quantity which can be optimized depending on the substrate thickness. After the connect pin is inserted and disposed, molding agents are applied to cover the connect pin clip.

Abstract: A card-edge connector for connecting wiring to electronic circuit cards comprises a generally rectangular housing, one or more removable wire termination blocks, and a cover for retaining the wire termination blocks and for protecting the interior of the connector. A slit-like aperture for receiving a peripheral edge of one or more electronic circuit cards to which wire connections are desired is provided in a first external surface of the housing. The circuit card receptacle has a plurality of contact members for mechanically and electrically engaging contact pads located on the exterior surface of the circuit cards. The inventive connector also has one or more receptacles for receiving the removable wire termination blocks. These receptacles are preferably provided on a different side of the connector housing. Each of the removable wire termination blocks has a plurality of wire retaining terminals to which the external wiring is attached.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved edge connector for making contact with conductor on a flat flexible cable and a printed circuit board requiring only a possible smallest mounting space. An edge connector according to the present invention has terminals inserted in both front and rear portions of the housing. All of the terminals have flexible arms opposite support shelves for contacting a conductor on a cable. The solder tails of the terminals are arranged on bottom of the housing in four lines in a staggered fashion.

Abstract: An electronic connector is configured to removably receive either a circuit card of a first type, having one row of contacts per side, on an insertion tab adjacent to an insertion edge, or a circuit card of a second type, having two rows of contacts per side. Two rows of spring contacts are provided for this purpose on each side of a central card-receiving slot. Interposing means are also provided to prevent contact between a daughter card of the first type fully inserted in this slot and one of these rows on each side. These interposing means may consist of a slotted interposer structure slid over a portion of the insertion tab of the card, or alternately of a pair of pivotable interposers mounted along the length of the connector, to be pivoted by sections of daughter cards of the first type so that vanes extending from these interposers will push these springs away from the card.

Abstract: An auxiliary socket (1) comprising, a housing (2) having multiple electrical terminals (3) in terminal receiving slots (4), the terminals (3) being relatively widely spaced apart, and a panel receiving slot (5) adapted for receiving circuit traces that are intolerant of relatively dense spacing with other circuit traces.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly (40) includes an insulative housing (44) defining a slot (46) formed in the front side of the housing (44). The insulative housing (44) also defines a first signal passages (48, 48a, 49, 49a) and second power passages (56, 56a) which each extend through the insulative housing (44) between the front side (55) and the rear side (57) of the housing (44). Moreover, each first and second passage (48, 48a, 49, 49a, 56, 56a) includes an opening (51, 51a, 54, 54a) into the slot (46). The electrical connector (40) of the present invention also includes a plurality of signal and power conductive members (50, 50a, 52, 52a, 58, 58a) each of which includes a respective signal and power contact portions (60, 60a, 64, 64a).

Abstract: A high density connector (10) for electrically interconnecting conductive paths (14, 84) on close centers between circuit boards such as those of a backpanel (82) and daughter cards (12), includes a clamping mechanism (18, 20) bolted first to a daughter card and then to a backpanel to compress springs (46, 48, 50) held by the mechanism driving flat flexible circuits (52) having contacts (68, 70) on close centers to engage board circuit paths, where the mechanism (18, 20) is rigid and includes spring driven clamps (42) to straighten the daughter card and strain relief the interconnection area. The flexible circuit contacts (68, 70) are offset relative to the springs (48, 50) bearing area to provide a contact wipe of the contact path interconnection.

Abstract: A high power density field wireable connector wherein both the wire insertion and the screw tightening mechanism for retaining an inserted wire in the connector are front accessible and negate the requirement to remove the module as in the prior art. The wiring is located toward the interior of the connector rather than the exterior so that the screws are more accessible. The connector housing includes a mechanism for captivating the mounting screws and a two position locator so that various modules already located in the field can use the same connector. Fingers on the circuit board make contact with contact fingers within the connector. Both the fingers on the circuit board and the contact fingers within the connector are preferably plated with gold. A normal spring force on the fingers within the connector is provided by the cantilever action of interior walls of the connector housing with the contact fingers disposed within the housing.

Abstract: A card edge connector assembly includes a printed circuit card having an edge and a plurality of first conductive pads arranged in a pattern on one side of the card near the edge, and a plurality of second conductive pads arranged in a pattern on the opposite side of the card spaced inwardly of the edge and the first conductive pads. An elongated housing is provided with a card receiving slot for receiving the edge of the printed circuit card. A plurality of pairs of contact elements are mounted in the housing along the length of the slot. Each pair of contact elements includes a short contact element having a spring contact portion for engaging one of the first conductive pads, and a long contact element having a spring contact portion for engaging one of the second conductive pads. The contact portions of each pair of contact elements are spatially overlapped each other in a direction transversely of the slot to increase the deflection capabilities of the contact elements.

Abstract: A molded plastic circuit card edge connector. The connector includes two opposing rows of cantilever contact arms. The rows of contact arms are spaced apart adequately to allow insertion of a circuit board between the arms. The contact arms flex outward to provide spring pressure toward the circuit board. The contact arms include a main contact area which is dimensioned to produce a tapered entrance for receiving a circuit board. A plurality of stop ribs prevent the circuit board from going in too far while a pair of U-shaped guides serve to properly register the circuit board and guide it into place. The connector may be molded as an integral part of a printed wiring board.

Abstract: Surface-mount solder-tails (124) for use in a surface-mount edge connector (100) and other surface-mount components. The terminal members (120) are each formed with an upper-section providing a bearing surface to facilitate slidable insertion of a circuit board within connector housing (10), a mid-section which serves to anchor terminal members (120) within housing (10), and an improved solder-tail section (124) of compact design for establishing electrical contact with conductive traces on the surface of a motherboard (30). The improved solder-tails (124) are provided with an elbow to increase the length, thereby increasing the resiliency in the vertical and horizontal directions. Alternatively, solder-tails (124) may be narrowed or annealed to achieve the same result. Edge connector (100) minimizes an aggregate normal force imparted to said second circuit board (30) while maintaining a proper electrical connection, and the solder-joints are well-protected from stresses imparted to the motherboard.

Abstract: A card edge electrical connector is shown for providing electrical connections between a printed circuit card and a printed circuit board wherein the printed circuit card has either a 32 bit or a 16 bit capacity. The connector includes a housing having a retaining post that is inserted into an aperture of the printed circuit board to retain the connector to the printed circuit board. The retaining post is tubular having an axial slot extending through the sidewall thereof so as to be resilient and durable. Further, each of the contacts disposed within the connector housing includes a stabilizing arm that opposes the forces created by the insertion of the printed circuit card into the connector housing so as to distribute the opposing forces between the stabilizing arm and the base of the contact. Contacts of alternating sizes and having beams of different angles with the base are employed in the connector.

Abstract: A card edge connector having spring contacts that are partially movable by insertion of a circuit board into the connector. The contacts include two contacts that electrically contact each other when a circuit board is not connected to the connector. The two contacts are moved by insertion of a circuit board into the connector which results in disconnection of the electrical contact between the two contacts. This allows a signal contact to be contacted and grounded by a ground contact while the connector is not in use and, nonetheless allows independent ground and signal functions of the two contacts when a circuit board is connected to the connector.

Abstract: A dual readout SIMM socket (10) has been disclosed. The socket (10) includes a housing (12) having panel receiving slots (14), terminal slots (16) transverse and open to panel slots (16) and terminals (13) positioned in the terminal slots (16). The terminals (13) include an S-shaped spring section extending outwardly from one edge (50) of a base section (44) with a depending arm (68) extending into the panel slot (16) for electrical engagement with traces on a circuit panel.

Abstract: A card edge electrical connector is shown for providing electrical connections between a printed circuit card and a printed circuit board wherein the printed circuit card has either a 32 bit or a 16 bit capacity. The connector includes a housing having a retaining post that is inserted into an aperture of the printed circuit board to retain the connector to the printed circuit board. The retaining post is tubular having an axial slot extending through the sidewall thereof so as to be resilient and durable. Further, each of the contacts disposed within the connector housing includes a stabilizing arm that opposes the forces created by the insertion of the printed circuit card into the connector housing so as to distribute the opposing forces between the stabilizing arm and the base of the contact. Contacts of alternating sizes and having beams of different angles with the base are employed in the connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector (10) includes a plurality of terminal members (12) and means for securing the body portions (14) of the terminal members (12) together to form a stacked array. Each terminal member (12) includes a body portion having a first contact section (24) adapted to electrically engage a first electrical article (40) and a second contact section (34) adapted to engage a second electrical article (44). Each terminal member (12) further includes integral spacing means for spacing respective body portions (14) of adjacent terminal members from each other. Upon electrically engaging respective first and second contact sections (24, 34) of the plurality of terminal members (12) with corresponding first and second electrical articles (40, 44), the terminal members (12) provide a plurality of paths for current flow between the first and second electrical articles (40, 44).

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a body accommodating one group of staggered rows of spring contacts for engagement with cone-shaped contacts arranged in correspondingly staggered rows on a printed circuit board. The spring contacts of one row have intermediate flattened parts which slidingly engage with peaks of the corresponding dome-shaped contacts thereby requiring low insertion force while curved parts of spring contacts of the other row are riding up the convex profile of the corresponding dome-shaped contacts requiring high insertion force. Two similar groups of staggered rows of spring contacts may be provided for accommodating boards having staggered rows of raised contacts on both sides of the board.

Abstract: An electrical connector for mechanically and electrically connecting a mother printed circuit board and a removable daughter printed circuit board of the card edge connection type. The connector has a housing with a slot for receiving an edge of the daughter board and two rows of contact chambers for receiving and holding individual contacts therein. The connector also comprises a plurality of a first type of contact having a contact area formed from a bulging bight having a coined contact surface, the curve of the bight and the curve of the crown producing a compound radii.

Abstract: An electrical connecting arrangement is provided between an electrical edge connector and a printed circuit board in which contact pads provided near the edge of the printed circuit board have a convex profile at least in the direction of insertion of the board into an opening in the edge connector. At full board insertion, each spring contact (3, FIG. 1A) of the connector engages a board contact pad (5) at a location (64) on the pad that lies beyond the center (66) of the pad.

Abstract: An electrical connector of the card edge connector type having a housing, two types of contacts and a contact separator. At least two contacts are located in the same contact chamber in the housing with the separator keeping the contacts separate. In an alternate embodiment, the connector has two housings. Each housing has a contact therein and one housing is mounted inside the other housing. The connector can also comprise a signal transmitting section and a power transmitting section formed from modular units that are connected together at their ends.

Abstract: A paired contact electrical connector system (10) having a pair of mateable connectors (12,14) each with respective contact sets (16,20) therein has been disclosed. More particularly contact set 16 includes a pair of contact elements (24,26) having blades (28) lying on opposite sides of fingers (50) on one connector (12) for being received between and electrically engaging a pair of spaced apart beams (68) on a pair of contact elements (64,66) comprising the other contact set (20) positioned in the other connector (14).

Abstract: A bi-level connector for making mechanical and electrical contact between a mother printed circuit board and a daughter printed circuit board. The connector comprises lower level contacts with a varied spring rate when a daughter printed circuit board is inserted. The method of manufacturing the connector comprises forming a strip of two types of contacts, upper contacts and lower contacts, on a single carry strip in alternating fashion such that both the upper and lower contacts can be simultaneously inserted into a connector housing in a single insertion process.

Abstract: An electrical connector that includes a dielectric body having a panel-reception groove and a relatively large number of conductive spring elements extending along side surfaces of the groove to engage conductive strips carried on the panel. Special spacer pads are removably disposed in end areas of the groove to variably limit the insertion of the panel into the groove, thus removing selected ones of the conductive spring elements from connection with the conductive strips. As a further feature, special spacer blocks may be located at the end of the groove to effectively reduce the width of the groove, thus enabling the groove to accept panels having reduced width dimensions. The invention seeks to increase the versatility of the electrical connector, and to reduce the need for a large multiplicity of differently constructed connectors.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for providing interconnections between a plurality of contact pads (22) on a daughter board (20) and contact areas (24) on a mother board (26). The assembly includes an elongated housing (28) with a daughter board receiving cavity (38) along its longitudinal axis (30) and a plurality of contact receiving cavities (36) which are substantially planar and parallel to each other arranged at a slight angle with respect to a normal to the axis (30). The contact receiving cavities (36) intersect the board receiving cavity (38) and within each of them there is disposed a contact member (40) having a contact portion (42) and a contact leg (44) on opposite sides of the board receiving cavity (38). The contact leg (44) extends through the bottom surface (34) of the housing (28) into contact with a contact area (24) on the mother board (26).

Abstract: A card edge connector with flexible printed circuit film. More particularly a card edge connector for electrically interconnecting circuits on two circuit boards through flexible printed circuit film mounted in the connector and with the contact pads thereon being biased outwardly by coil springs behind the contact pads.

Abstract: A bi-level connector for making mechanical and electrical contact between a mother printed circuit board and a daughter printed circuit board. The connector comprises lower level contacts with a varied spring rate when a daughter printed circuit board is inserted. The method of manufacturing the connector comprises forming a strip of two types of contacts, upper contacts and lower contacts, on a single carry strip in alternating fashion such that both the upper and lower contacts can be simultaneously inserted into a connector housing in a single insertion process.

Abstract: A card edge connector 50 for electrically engaging a first and at least one other array of contact pads 46, 48 on a circuit board 40 comprises a first or inner subassembly 51 including housing member 52 having a first group of terminal members 20 disposed therein and a second or outer subassembly 71 including housing member 72 having at least one other group of terminal members 28 disposed therein. The first group of terminal members 20 is adapted to electrically engage the first array of contact pads 46 and the at least one other group of terminal members 28 is adapted to electrically engage the at least one other array of contact pads 48. The outer housing member 72 further including cavity means 86 adapted to receive the inner housing member 52 therein. In the preferred method of assembling connector 50, outer subassembly 71 is disposed over the inner subassembly 51 after the inner terminal members 20 have been electrically connected to their respective contact pads 46, typically by solder.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical card guide or edge connector for mechanically and electrically connecting two printed circuit boards. The connector has an elongated body with an insertion slot at the top for receiving a circuit board and having mechanical snap-type fasteners at the bottom for mechanically securing the connector to a base board. Cross slots are provided in the connector body to receive contacts which are exposed in their mounted positions but which lie within the peripheral profile of the connector body in its fastened position. The contacts are configured with a U-shaped base portion permitting the contacts to be assembled by lateral movement onto the connector body for automatic locking action to secure the contacts into assembled position. The profile of the connector body has a height lower than its width. Pins are provided for locking the mechanical fasteners.

Abstract: A zero insertion force edge card connector is described, for connecting to cards with closely-spaced conductive pads, which is rugged and reliable. The connector includes numerous elongated contacts, each having a middle portion embedded in a dielectric frame element, a terminal end portion extending from the frame towards a card-receiving region, and a tail portion extending from the frame element to a base. The frame element is movably supported on the base by the flexible tail portions of the contacts, and can move towards and away from the card-receiving region by bending of the tail portions. The multiple contacts avoid uncontrolled rotation of the frame element. A spring urges a pair of frame elements together, and a cam controls movement of the frame elements.

Abstract: An edge connector is provided comprising a housing and a plurality of stamped and formed terminals mounted therein. The housing is constructed to be self-compensating for variations in the thickness of a printed circuit board and the location of mounting apertures therein. The housing includes a plurality of terminal receiving cavities, each of which includes an internally disposed latch wall. The terminals each include a base, a solder tail extending from one side of the base and a contact beam and mounting beam cantilevered from the opposite side of the base. The mounting beam includes a mounting arm and a latch arm cantilevered from the mounting arm and disposed intermediate the mounting arm and the contact beam. The latch arm is resiliently deflectable to lockingly engage the centrally disposed latch wall of the housing, and to thereby minimize outwardly directed pressure on the external walls of the housing that could otherwise bow the housing and minimize the effectiveness of the connector.

Abstract: An electronic connector which has a plurality of contacts associated in one or more rows in a connector housing, a shape memory spring associated in the connector housing for driving the contacts, the shape memory spring having a beginning shape and transmitting a recovery force to the contacts generated when the shape memory spring reaches a transformation temperature or higher while recovering a stored shape when the shape memory spring reaches the transformation temperature or higher and returning to the beginning shape by the spring force of the contact when the shape memory spring reaches below its transformation temperature. Thus, the electronic connector can mount or dismount contacts to each other without an inserting or removing force or substantially without an inserting or removing force in a simple structure with a reduced number of parts.

Abstract: A connector adapted to be attached to a mother printed circuit board and to removably receive a daughter printed circuit board of the edge card type and adapted to mechanically and electrically couple the mother and daughter printed circuit boards, the connector comprising an electrically insulating housing; and a plurality of electrically conductive contacts extending through the housing in rows of spaced pairs for removably receiving an edge of a daughter printed circuit board in a central plane between the rows, each contact including a lower section formed as a solder tail positionable to depend from the housing for coupling with the mother printed circuit board; an intermediate section extending upwardly from the solder tail and inwardly toward the central plane for supporting a received daughter printed circuit board; and an upper section extending upwardly and outwardly to define, at the bight of the upper and intermediate sections, a contact area of compound radii configuration on the radially exterio

Abstract: A holder for receiving cards with electronically stored data or printed circuit boards. The holder has guide means to receive the card. The holder is provided with a connector with contact springs for contacting connection strips located on the card. One end of each contact spring is clamped while the other is free to move and make contact with the connection strips. The contact springs include the parts formed by bending and shaped so as to minimize pressure and friction against the connection strips of the card.

Abstract: A high density edgecard connector system includes a first row of cantilever contacts and a second row of cantilever contacts which are longer than those of the first row. The edgecard includes first and second rows of contact pads which are located differing distances from the bottom of the edgecard. Ribs are mounted on the edgecard between each of the contact pads in the first row and lift the cantilever contacts of the second row away from the surface of the edgecard in order to prevent cross connections between the cantilever contacts of the second row and the contact pads of the first row during insertion or withdrawal of the edgecard into or out of the connector. The ribs include ramps on either end and may be integrally molded with a spine which attaches to the bottom edge of the edgecard.

Abstract: This invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly to electric connectors for propagation of a relatively large number of signals between electrical circuits and at very high velocities. The number of signals which can be propagated is quite large in relation to the size of the connectors of the invention and at the same time, the signals can be transmitted at very high velocity and with minimal interference between the signals propagated or from external signal sources. The connectors are also advantageous in that the electrical characteristics of the propagation paths are uniform and they can be readily matched to the characteristics of the circuits which are interconnected so as to minimize standing wave phenomena. The invention also facilitates connection to a plurality of circuit board circuits while providing substantially complete separation of signals propagated to and from the circuits.

Abstract: An edge connector for electrically connecting and mechanically securing a daughter board to a mother board. The edge connector includes an insulator body with a pair of stalks spaced apart so as to accomodate a daughter board therebetween. The insulator body is provided with a number of contacts, each of which is housed inside a contact slot inside the insulator body. Each contact has a surface pressure contact area for electrically connecting to the mother board to which the edge connector is attached. Each contact also has a contact area that extends into the daughter board slot. The contacts are arranged so that in each pair of adjacent contacts one contact has an upper contact area and the other a lower contact area. The upper contact areas are located above the lower contact areas. This makes it possible to use a daughter board with two rows of offset contact pads with this edge connector.

Abstract: A biasing device for card edge connectors. More particularly, the biasing device is formed from suitable materials and includes as an integral part thereof a spring member which biases the device in the connector.

Abstract: An electrical power connector for PC boards or bus bars having low insertion force and low voltage drop across the connector. The connector features a female receptacle having a double set of opposing rows of multipoint spring contacts mating with a two-tiered male plug. The spring contacts make electrical contact to the tiers of the male plug.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solder-bearing lead for attachment to a contact pad on a printed circuit board or like substrate, or for mounting a circuit component on a substrate, suitable for being continuously stamped from a thick strip of metal at high speed, with an improved arrangement for holding the solder mass to provide the necessary solder for a soldered joint, without weakening the lead. Instead of retaining the solder mass by means of a finger struck from the elongated body of the lead (which for narrow leads might only weakly retain the solder and also weaken the lead by unduly reducing its already small cross-section), the solder mass is retained by one or more pairs of integral tabs or ears initially extending laterally from the elongated blank body, and then bent to form a solder-retaining channel in which the tabs may stake the solder.