Abstract: A housing for a piezoelectric audio transducer comprises a molded cylindrical body having a transducer-receiving recess. Supporting surfaces are provided in the recess spaced from the inner end surface of the recess for supporting the transducer in spaced relationship to the inner end. Terminal receiving wells are provided in the inner end surface and a contact terminal is mounted in each well. A cantilever spring extends obliquely upwardly from each recess and has a contact portion which bears against a transducer supported on the supporting surfaces. Conductors extend from the terminals to the driving circuit for the transducer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a connector receptacle of the telephone jack type is disclosed. The jack housing is produced as a one-piece molding having conductor-receiving channels extending across one of its external sidewalls from the plug-receiving end to the rearward end. The conductors are manufactured by stamping a flat strip to produce groups of spaced-apart conductors extending laterally of the length of the strip. To assemble the conductors to the housing, a group of conductors is positioned in alignment with the channels and the conductors are inserted into the channels. First end portions of the conductors are reversely bent so that they extend diagonally into the plug-receiving opening of the housing and second end portions may be bent laterally and offset from each other so that the second ends can be inserted into staggered holes on a circuit board.

Abstract: A stator for a stepper motor comprises a stator core having a plurality of coil supports on which coils are wound. Selected predetermined coils are connected in series by intermediate portions of the coil wires which extend around the periphery of the core. The end portions of the wires which extend from the series connected coils to terminal housings are connected to terminals in the housings. The lead wires which extend from the stator are also connected to the terminals in the housings. The stator is produced by a continuous winding process followed by a terminal insertion step in which the terminals are inserted into the terminal housings. The method substantially reduces the amount of labor required to produce the stator.

Abstract: A modular harness in which a series of conductors are terminated at opposite ends by identical connectors which are each adapted for connection alternatively to a printed circuit or tabs. The connectors may comprise a housing base having a longitudinally extending slot in a contact face communicating with two rows of longitudinally staggered terminal receiving compartments. The terminals preferably have contact portions with opposed spring arms to grip a tab between them, one arm being bent away from the other arm intermediate its ends to provide a contact surface for a printed circuit at the bend. The other arm may constitute a back-up spring during contact by the one arm with a printed circuit.

Abstract: Switch assembly comprises a switch housing having a membrane switch contained therein. The switch housing has integral mounting means for mounting the assembly in an opening in a panel. The membrane switch has sheet metal switch leads extending therefrom and extending from the housing. When the assembly is mounted on a panel, these leads engage and establish electrical contact with circuit board conductors on a circuit board which is adjacent to the panel.

Abstract: Multi-contact electrical connector comprises a housing having a plurality of side-by-side cavities extending therethrough. Each cavity has a terminal therein which has a wire-in-slot connecting means intermediate its ends and a crimpable portion, adjacent to the rearward end of the cavity, which can be crimped onto a wire. The wire-receiving means and the crimpable means are arranged such that a wire can be inserted into the wire-receiving slot and the crimpable portion can be crimped onto the wire in a single stroke of an inserting and crimping tool.

Abstract: Supporting and contacting means for supporting a disk-like piezoelectric tone transducer on a circuit board comprises a pair of sheet metal supporting members which are mounted on the circuit board in spaced-apart planes which extend normally of the plane of the circuit board. The supporting members are connected by solder tabs to conductors on the circuit board and have opposed re-entrant notches on their upper edges. The transducer is mounted in the supporting members by positioning its circular edge in two corresponding notches, flexing the supporting members and then locating the edge in the remaining notches of the supporting members so that the transducer is engaged at four locations on its periphery. Electrical contact is maintained with the ceramic material of the transducer by means of a spring contact arm mounted on the circuit board between the supporting members.

Abstract: A double-ended connector receptacle for end-to-end connection of modular plugs. Conductors extend longitudinally in channels in a frame and are bent around the frame to form spring contacts whose alignment is maintained by barrier walls extending from the frame. The connector is assembled by telescopic insertion of the frame into a tubular sheath which firmly retains the frame by latching and biasing mechanisms which are integral to the frame and the sheath. Both parts are designed to be produced in straight action molds.

Abstract: An Electrical Connector Receptacle of the telephone jack type comprises a one-piece housing of insulating material having a plug-receiving opening extending into one end thereof. A plurality of side-by-side stamped and formed conductors are insert molded in the housing. Each conductor has a first end which extends diagonally from one internal sidewall of the opening to the rearward end and which serves as a contact spring. The ends of these springs are captured in slots in a barrier bar which extends across the plug-receiving opening. Intermediate portions of the conductors are embedded in an apron which is integral with one external sidewall of the housing and second ends of the conductors extend laterally from the apron towards the plug-receiving end of the housing. The receptacle is mounted on a circuit board with the plug-receiving end in the plane of the circuit board. The manufacturing method for producing the receptacle is also disclosed.

Abstract: Multi-contact electrical connector for connecting a first plurality of conductors to a second plurality of conductors comprises an insulating housing having a plurality of side-by-side contact terminals therein, each terminal being a one-piece stamping having first and second contact portions for engagement with a first and second conductor respectively. The first and second contact portions also have first and second bypass contact surfaces thereon which are against each other. The spring means for maintaining contact force comprises a spring loop which extends circuitously from the first contact portion to the second contact portion. In use, the spring loop maintains the contact forces at all of the contact interfaces and the current flows from the first conductor through the first contact portion, through the bypass contact surfaces, through the second contact portion, and to the second conductor. The spring loop does not serve as a current path and self-inductance in the contact is thereby minimized.

Abstract: A terminal housing having integral coil supporting means for a toroidal coil comprises a coil support portion having a coil locating post extending therefrom which is received in the center opening of the coil. The housing is integral with a deformable housing support arm which is spaced from and extends parallel to the locating post. The housing has terminal-receiving cavities therein which receive the terminals that connect the coil wires to the insulated wires extending from a cable. After these connections are made, the housing is moved against one side of the coil and is latched to the upper end of the locating post by integral latching means so that it extends across the coil. The housing and the lower end of the locating post have additional latching means so that a coil having a support and housing thereon can be stacked against identical coils and housings, and latched to the adjacent coils.

Abstract: A socket assembly for an incandescent lamp having a glass wedge base comprises a housing having a bulb-receiving face, a rear face, a bulb-receiving cavity extending into the bulb-receiving face, and a pair of passageways extending into the rear face and communicating with the bulb-receiving cavity. A stamped and formed contact terminal is inserted in each of the cavities, each terminal having a socket portion disposed in the bulb-receiving cavity and a wire-contacting portion proximate to the rear face. The wire contacting portion has a wire-receiving slot therein and an integral retaining finger extending from the rear face across the entrance to the wire-receiving slot of each terminal. In use, the housing is mounted on a panel having a hole therein which receives a bulb. Wires are connected to the terminals by first flexing the retaining fingers and placing the wires in the entrance portions of the wire-receiving slots of the terminals.

Abstract: Slotted plate terminal comprises two wire-receiving portions, each having an inner plate-like member with a wire contacting slot therein and an outer plate-like member with a strain relief slot therein. Slots extend inwardly from bights which connect each inner plate-like member to an adjacent outer plate-like member at the wire receiving end. Inner plate-like members are connected by a web opposite the wire receiving end. Outer plate-like members have extensions which extend toward each other then laterally of the web to form a mounting portion. The terminal may be mass produced in strip form. Means for mounting and wire insertion are disclosed.

Abstract: Connecting means comprises an electrical terminal and a housing having a terminal-receiving cavity therein. The terminal is a flat one-piece sheet metal device having two integral four-bar linkage mechanisms thereon arranged symmetrically with respect to an axis extending medially through the terminal. The connecting or floating links of the linkages are adjacent to the axis, the fixed links are relatively remote from the axis, and the crank links extend diagonally between the fixed and connecting links. When a wire is positioned between the connecting links and the two four-bar linkages are deformed by applying deforming forces to the ends of the connecting links, the connecting links move laterally towards each other and clamp the wire between their opposed surfaces.

Abstract: A continuous strip of stamped and formed lead frames for a semi-conductor chip comprises spaced apart parallel carrier strips with the lead frames connected to one of the carrier strips at regularly spaced intervals. Each lead frame comprises a chip supporting portion which is centrally located between the carrier strips, and second arm which extends from the chip support portion towards one of the carrier strips and first and third arms on each side of the chip support portion which extend towards the other carrier strip. Terminal tabs are provided on each of the arms, the first and third tabs on the first and third arms extending parallel to each other towards the other carrier strip and the tab on the second arm extending parallel to the other tabs and towards the one carrier strip. Each lead frame is secured to the one carrier strip by a connection section extending from the second tab.

Abstract: Zero insertion force connecting means for connecting spaced-apart conductors on a film to spaced-apart conductors on a circuit board comprises a one-piece stamped and formed spring clip. The clip has a rectangular clip bar which is spaced from the circuit board and has cantilever springs which extend from one edge of the clip bar. The springs are reversely bent so that they extend to the circuit board conductors and then from the circuit board conductors past the other side edge of the clip bar. An integral lifting bar is provided for lifting the springs away from the circuit board thereby to permit insertion of the film and positioning of the film conductors beneath the springs and against the circuit board conductors.

Abstract: A method of terminating coil windings is disclosed in which the ends of the coil wire are wound around posts which are integral with the bobbin prior to and, at the conclusion of, the coil winding process. The bobbin is provided with terminal-receiving cavities located such that the ends of the coil wire extend from the posts across these cavities. Electrical connections to the ends of the coil wire are made by cutting off the posts and thereby severing the wire at a location adjacent to the post and inserting terminals into the cavities which establish contact with the ends of the coil wire. The lead wires can then be connected to the same terminals.

Abstract: A zero insertion force (ZIF) connector clip for connecting parallel spaced-apart cable conductors in a flat cable to parallel spaced-apart circuit board conductors comprises a clip bar having flanges extending from its ends which support the clip bar in spaced relationship to the circuit board conductors. Cantilever springs extend from one edge of the clip bar, each spring having a reversely bent portion, a spring arm portion, an arcuate bend, and a free end which is between the flanges. The arcuate bent portions of the springs bear against the circuit board conductors. A spring unloading means is provided on the clip and has a spring lifting portion which extends between the flanges and is supported in vertical slots in the flanges.

Abstract: A continuous strip of stamped and formed connecting devices comprises a carrier strip having a plurality of sets of splicing devices extending from one of its side edges. Each set comprises first and second splicing devices which are symmetrical with respect to an axis that extends medially between their adjacent sides. Each splicing device has a wire crimp portion which is adjacent to the carrier strip, a connecting transition portion, and a prong crimp portion which is spaced from the carrier strip. The transition portions of each set extend convergently towards the axis of symmetry so that the prong crimp portions are closely spaced. The strip is used to connect first and second wires to first and second prongs extending from a component. Improved manufacturing techniques involving use of this strip for connecting the wires to the prongs are also disclosed.

Abstract: Flat panel display device comprises a multiplicity of LED's arranged in parallel rows and parallel columns in accordance with a grid pattern. First bus conductors extend parallel to the rows and each of the LED's is electrically connected to one of the first bus conductors. Second bus conductors extend parallel to the columns and each LED is connected to one of the second bus conductors. The first and second bus conductors are on the oppositely facing surfaces of an insulating film and the LED's extend through openings in the film located on the grid pattern. Contact with the LED's is achieved by tap conductors which extend from the bus conductors to the LED's. A rigid grating is mounted against the film and has open cells which are located in accordance with the grid pattern. Each LED extends into one of the cells and the internal surfaces of the cells serve to reflect the light of the LED's towards the viewer.