Abstract: An electrically conductive contact and a method of forming the same from a length of wire are disclosed. The contact has a pin section connected to a fastening section. The fastening section is adapted for press-fitting into the hole of a substrate and includes a solid tip, a neck connected to the pin section, first and second arcuate side surfaces, and first and second major surfaces through which an enlarged slot extends. Each of the first and second major surfaces is at least partially flattened.

Abstract: Upper and lower planar circuit boards are connected in spaced apart parallel relationship by a plurality of contacts each made of a conductive pin, insulative collar and solder ball. The upper ends of the pins are inserted in plated though holes in the upper circuit board and soldered thereto by wave soldering or re-flow. The pins have shoulders to establish the penetration of the pins into the upper circuit board. The lower ends of the pins are bonded to conductive pads on the lower circuit board via the solder balls that are maintained in substantially spherical configuration by the insulative collars and accommodate variations in board co-planarity or pin length. Where the lower ends of the pins do not contact their corresponding conductive pads the volume of solder in the solder balls allows reliable fillet solder joints to be formed.

Abstract: Upper and lower planar circuit boards are connected in spaced apart parallel relationship by a plurality of contacts each made of a conductive pin, insulative collar and solder ball. The upper ends of the pins are inserted in plated though holes in the upper circuit board and soldered thereto by wave soldering or re-flow. The pins have shoulders to establish the penetration of the pins into the upper circuit board. The lower ends of the pins are bonded to conductive pads on the lower circuit board via the solder balls that are maintained in substantially round configuration by the insulative collars and accommodate variations in board co-planarity or pin length. Where the lower ends of the pins do not contact their corresponding conductive pads the volume of solder in the solder balls allows reliable fillet solder joints to be formed.

Abstract: Upper and lower planar circuit boards are connected in spaced apart parallel relationship by a plurality of contacts each made of a conductive pin, insulative collar and solder ball. The upper ends of the pins are inserted in plated though holes in the upper circuit board and soldered thereto by wave soldering or re-flow. The pins have shoulders to establish the penetration of the pins into the upper circuit board. The lower ends of the pins are bonded to conductive pads on the lower circuit board via the solder balls that are maintained in substantially spherical configuration by the insulative collars and accommodate variations in board co-planarity or pin length. Where the lower ends of the pins do not contact their corresponding conductive pads the volume of solder in the solder balls allows reliable fillet solder joints to be formed.

Abstract: A plurality of discrete SMT pins are carried in bandoleer fashion. Each SMT pin has a base formed on its underside with solder flux vapor venting channels and a shaft with a longitudinal axis connected to the base. A consecutive series of identical pin holding segments are arranged in side-by-side or end-to-end fashion to provide a flexible strip windable about a reel. The strip is continuously injection molded of plastic as a plurality of strings each made up of a predetermined number of part holding segments with a forward portion of each string, except for leading string of the strip, being molded over a trailing portion of a preceding string. Each pin holding segment has a receptacle formed by a pair of opposing resilient fingers for frictionally removably holding a shaft of a corresponding SMT pin so that the pin can be inserted and removed in a direction substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of its shaft.

Abstract: A new continuous carrier for surface mount or other electrical or mechanical parts, and a method of fabricating same, formed by molding one or a pair of continuous flexible film strips to a side or sides of a series of desired electrical or mechanical components such that the components are attached to the single strip or filament or suspended between the film strips or filaments. Following the initial molding step, the components, while still supported by the film strips or filament, are subjected to secondary processing Examples are: providing electrically-conductive coatings on the component throughout or selectively, providing electrically-conductive traces on the moldings, or molding in a second molding stage a part of a different composition or shape to the initial molded part.

Abstract: A novel press-fit electrically-conductive contact member, as, for example, an electrically-conductive metal pin, characterized by a conforming section which has an elastically-deformable region which acts as a spring and which is adapted to engage a substrate hole in a press-fitting relationship. The conforming section comprises opposed beam members configured to accommodate a considerably larger hole tolerance yet still provide sufficient retention force to stabilize the pin during a soldering process that such substrates may typically undergo. The beam cross-sections are configured to allow them to occupy a side-by-side position. Contact members with the conforming section can be manufactured by a wire-forming process in which end-to-end connected pins are formed as a continuous strip needing no excess material for carrying the pins, nor are any air gaps formed between the pins, and thus the finished continuous strip of pins can be wound up on a reel.

Abstract: A novel press-fit electrically-conductive contact member, as, for example, an electrically-conductive metal pin, characterized by a conforming section which has an elastically-deformable region which acts as a spring and which is adapted to engage a substrate hole in a press-fitting relationship. The conforming section comprises opposed beam members configured to accommodate a considerably larger hole tolerance yet still provide sufficient retention force to stabilize the pin during a soldering process that such substrates may typically undergo. The beam cross-sections are configured to allow them to occupy a side-by-side position. Contact members with the conforming section can be manufactured by a wire-forming process in which end-to-end connected pins are formed as a continuous strip needing no excess material for carrying the pins, nor are any air gaps formed between the pins, and thus the finished continuous strip of pins can be wound up on a reel.

Abstract: A unitary metal clip is stamped from a flat strip of sheet metal which is bent to provide two pairs of generally V-shaped fingers which extend upwardly from a base and have opposing apexes. An L-shaped arm also extends upwardly from the base between the pairs of fingers and has a horizontal pick-up tab that is located at a height above the opposing apexes of the fingers. A pneumatic head of an automatic pick and place machine grabs the pick-up tab and removes the clip from a pocket of a supply tape unrolled from a reel. The base of the clip is positioned on a solder pad of a PC board before solder re-flow. The lower edge of the sidewall of an EMI shield may be pressed down to bend the pick-up tab downwardly and squeeze the sidewall between the apexes of the fingers.

Abstract: A novel press-fit pin or socket member, as, for example, an electrically-conductive metal pin, characterized by a knurl section which has spaced bumps and adjacent grooves perimetrically and longitudinally spaced from one another and which is adapted to engage a substrate hole in a press-fitting relationship. Pin or socket members with the knurl section can be manufactured by a wire-forming process in which end-to-end connected pins are formed as a continuous strip needing no excess material for carrying the pins, nor are any air gaps formed between the pins, and thus the finished continuous strip of pins can be wound up on a reel.

Abstract: A continuous electrical connector or component part of plastic or metal manufactured by injection molding of axial segments in sequence. A novel in-line interlocking structure is provided for interlocking adjacent segments. The interlocking structure comprises overmolded end units wherein the next overmolded part fills in a hole or recess left in the previous molded part. Electrical or mechanical parts may, if desired, be simultaneously incorporated in the units of each segment during the molding process.

Abstract: A feeder for a pick and place machine used in connection with the mounting of small discrete parts such as electrical and mechanical components comprises a frame and mechanisms connected to the frame for advancing a carrier tape product from a supply reel. The carrier tape product preferably includes a pair of spaced apart continuous parallel carrier tapes having a series of longitudinally spaced parts with opposite sides molded over adjacent inner side edges of corresponding ones of the carrier tapes so that each part bridges the two carrier tapes. The feeder further comprises a separation station mounted to the frame for receiving the carrier tape from the supply reel.

Abstract: A continuous stamping of plated metal components, with carrier links between their ends, for surface mount soldering. A strip of components is formed which can be individually easily separated at severance regions between the adjacent components. The severance regions are located in the carrier links between the components. Preferably, the carrier links are offset upwardly from a solderable surface (20) of the components, or alternatively may be coplanar with such surface (FIG. 17). The carrier regions (21) that remain after severance may also serve as an overtravel stop during insertion of the component into a support. In a two-row embodiment (FIG. 10), the carrier regions (50, 52) are formed to be asymmetrical in order to increase spacing between pins. Advantages include: less material required, lower cost for selective plating, adjustable pin length in the die, flat stamping, tip plating for better electrical contact, and scrapless end product.

Abstract: A continuous electrical connector or component part of plastic or metal manufactured by injection molding of axial segments in sequence. A novel in-line interlocking structure is provided for interlocking adjacent segments. The interlocking structure comprises overmolded end units wherein the next overmolded part fills in a hole or recess left in the previous molded part. Electrical or mechanical parts may, if desired, be simultaneously incorporated in the units of each segment during the molding process.

Abstract: A new continuous carrier for surface mount or other electrical or mechanical parts, and a method of fabricating same, formed by molding one or a pair of continuous flexible film strips to a side or sides of a series of desired electrical or mechanical components such that the components are attached to the single strip or filament or suspended between the film strips or filaments. The film strips may be provided with sprocket holes or other equivalent structure for advancing the film strips during the molding process and for reeling up the resultant assembly onto a reel for sale or distribution to a PCB assembler. The latter places the reel of molded parts onto a conventional feeding device. The parts are then separated from the supporting strips or filament, picked-up by a pick-and-place device and placed onto the PCB in the normal manner. The filament or strip may be constituted of plastic, paper or metal.

Abstract: A novel press-fit electrically-conductive contact member, as, for example, an electrically-conductive metal pin, characterized by a conforming section which has an elastically-deformable region which acts as a spring and which is adapted to engage a substrate hole in a press-fitting relationship. The conforming section comprises opposed beam members configured to accommodate a considerably larger hole tolerance yet still provide sufficient retention force to stabilize the pin during a soldering process that such substrates may typically undergo. The beam cross-sections are configured to allow them to occupy a side-by-side position. Contact members with the conforming section can be manufactured by a wire-forming process in which end-to-end connected pins are formed as a continuous strip needing no excess material for carrying the pins, nor are any air gaps formed between the pins, and thus the finished continuous strip of pins can be wound up on a reel.

Abstract: A continuous electrical connector or component part of plastic or metal manufactured by injection molding of axial discrete segments. A novel in-line chaining structure is provided for interlocking adjacent discrete segments. The interlocking structure comprises complementary reduced-size fitted end units pinned together by a matching component, or a multi-component splicing device which engages one or more holes in adjacent segment units. The resultant strip can be wound up on a reel.

Abstract: A low profile, push-pull, jumper switch that relies on movement of an electrically-insulating switch housing to make and break the connection between two contact members mounted on the surface of a PCB or other substrate. The only metal used are the two contact members and a fixed wire in the housing. The wire is forced into contact with the contact members to electrically interconnect them by movement of the housing when placed in its closed-switch position. In a preferred embodiment, the two contact members are identical and are each constituted of a one-piece U-shaped metal member, with the U-bight depending from the housing and configured to be solderable to the PCB pads or through-holes and thus being fixed. The contact members are configured to latch the housing in its open-switch position or closed-switch position. The switch lends itself to SMT applications.

Abstract: A continuous electrical connector or related part manufactured by injection molding axial segments in sequence. A novel in-line interlocking structure is provided for interlocking adjacent segments. The interlocking structure comprises end units nested together. Electrical or mechanical parts are simultaneously incorporated in the units of each segment during the molding process.

Abstract: Surface mountable socket connector having first and second base portions providing for top, bottom, or horizontal entry of a male mating projecting member depending on the mounting position of the socket connector on a substrate such as a PCB. A spring contact member cantilevered at the first base portion, is configured to contact the projecting member via a hole at the first base portion or at an opposite end of the socket connector. The socket connectors are preferably fabricated from a continuous strip for loading onto a PCB by placement equipment.