Abstract: An edge connector for a circuit board includes a plurality of contact terminals each having a contact head, each contact head having a loop portion. The contact terminals are supported in a cavity in an insulative housing in such relation that the loop portion of the contact head bears against a shoulder portion of the housing. In one form of the connector, the contact terminals are fixedly mounted in a mounting substrate in such an arrangement that the loop portion of the contact heads bias the insulative housing against the substrate to hold the assemblage. In another form of the connector, the substrate may be eliminated, and the contacts include a lower flange portion adapted to bear against lower surface of the housing and an upper tongue portion adapted to bear against an upper shoulder surface of the housing between the tongue portion and the flange portion.

Abstract: A metal voltage plate is drilled or punched first with alignment holes, placed upon a jig and drilled with contact clearance holes in preselected locations. A metal ground plate is also drilled or punched first with alignment holes, placed upon a jig and drilled with contact clearance holes in preselected locations. The clearance holes are preferably in the range of 80-90 mils in diameter and located in positions where contacts are to pass through a plate without making electrical connection therewith. Next, both the voltage and ground plates are coated, including the inner walls of the clearance holes, with a relatively thick layer of an insulative dielectric material, such as teflon, polyurethane, p.v.c., or the like. The coated voltage plate is then drilled or punched with an array of smaller connecting holes, on the order of 40 mils in diameter, through which contacts to be electrically connected with voltage will be pressed.

Abstract: Electrical contacts are stamped and formed into a right angle configuraton for simultaneous insertion and housing in an effectively removable connector insulator. Linear receiving sleeves may be formed in each of two sections of the insulator, which sleeves meet at right angles, one to the other, when the insulator is assembled. Each linear sleeve is constructed to permit one of the linear portions of the contact to be inserted therein. The assembled insulator serves as a holding fixture and seating tool for transmitting forces applied to the top of the insulator to each one of the contacts for inserting an extended portion thereof into a contact receiving aperture in a mounting substrate for rigid mounting therein, with the orthogonal portion of the contact lying generally parallel to the substrate. The contact of the assembled connector is then in a configuration for parallel to the mounting substrate rather than perpendicular thereto.

Abstract: Press fit contacts having upper mating portions are stamped, formed and oriented out of sheet material for simultaneous insertion and housing in a removable connector insulator. Receiving sleeves formed in the insulator are constructed to permit the contacts to be bottom loaded into the sleeves, seated and lightly held therein. Each contact includes an intermediate press fit collar portion which engages a mating shoulder in the insulator. The insulator serves as a holding fixture and seating tool for transmitting insertion force applied to the top of the insulator to each one of the contacts for press fitting them into contact receiving apertures in a mounting substrate. The contacts held by each insulator are all simultaneously press fitted into the substrate by continuing to apply pressure to the top of the insulator until it is mounted flush upon the substrate.

Abstract: Contacts and receiving sleeves within a connector insulator are sized to permit the contacts to be inserted into the sleeves of the insulator and lightly held in position. Each contact includes a press fit shoulder portion which protrudes from the bottom of the insulator and is adapted for press fitting into a receiving aperture formed in a mounting substrate. After the contacts are press fitted into the mounting substrate, a flat blade-like contact portion protrudes from the top of the insulator for electrical engagement with a female contact (not disclosed) while a contact tail portion extends below the substrate for wire wrap termination. The assembled connector configuration permits removal of the insulator by lifting it from around the contacts which it lightly engages. Further, with the insulator in place, any individual contact may be removed from both the insulator and the substrate for replacement in the event of damage.

Abstract: A contact for electrical component leads is formed by first stamping an outline design from a sheet of relatively thin metal stock. The stamped piece is then bent and folded in four substantially right angle bends about the longitudinal axis of the contact. The folded contact is generally rectangular in cross-section with planar side walls including a four-sided open top lead-receiving socket portion, a four-sided press-fitting central portion and a three-sided tail portion generally square in cross-section. Each planar side of the lead-receiving socket portion also includes a tine extending angularly inwardly and downwardly to mechanically and electrically engage an axially aligned component lead when inserted down into the open top lead-receiving socket portion of the contact.

Abstract: A low profile connector for electrical components having a plurality of leads extending therefrom, such as integrated circuit packages. Rectangular folded contacts, each having an open top lead receiving socket portion, are press fitted into aligned apertures in a substrate with the socket portions lying above the substrate surface. An insulative housing having recesses therein open at each end is laid over the ends of the contacts to receive each one of the socket portions up into a recess in the housing. A component is receiving onto the top surface of the housing with the leads therefrom extending down through the top openings of the recesses into the lead receiving socket portions of the contacts.