US2301288A - Terminal - Google Patents

Description

' Gttorneg H V KNAUF JR ETAL TERMINAL Flled Oct 31 1940 Nov. 1o, 19412.

Patented Nov. 10, 1942 g TERMIN A-L Harry V. Knauf, Jr., Oaklyn, and Charles Scheer, Haddoneld, N. J., assignors to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Dela- Ware Application October 31, 1940, Serial No. 363,792

1 Claim.

This invention relates to electrical terminals, and more particularly to terminal banks or boards wherein the conductive terminal elements are aflixed in spaced relation to an insulating base; and to methods of making and assembling the same.

In accordance with the standard practice of axing terminal elements or blanks to an insulating strip, sheet, board or other base, the insulating material is rst punched to provide holes for the reception of the base portions of the terminals which are then crimped or otherwise anchored to the surrounding surface or surfaces of the insulating materials.

The standard practice above described is objectionable (a) because ebonite and the common synthetic resinous materials of which the strips are usually formed may be, and frequently are, shattered during the punching operation; (b) because the force employed in the crimping operation may crack the surfaces to which the bases of the terminals are affixed, and (c) because even where D-shaped (instead of circular) holes are provided, a permanently rigid connection is not ensured merely by bending the base of a terminal over the surrounding surface of the insulating material. v

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a terminal strip, or other insulating base, wherein the terminal elements are maintained in permanent rigid relation, and one which lends itself readily to mass production methods.

Another and important object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, trouble-free method of making terminal strips and the like, and one which, in its practice, alfords a minimum number of nonusable units.

In the drawing:

Figures 1 and 2 are views in perspective of preformed terminal blanks of different patterns which may be employed in carrying the invention into eifect,

Figure .3 is a plan view of a completed terminal strip embodying the invention and incorporating the blanks of Figs. 1 and 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Like reference characters designate the same or corresponding parts in all figures.

The foregoing and other objects are simply achieved in accordance with the invention by aixing the terminal elements or blanks T to an insulating strip S, or the like, as by a stapling operation while the insulating material is in a relatively soft or plastic condition.

Each terminal element T is preferably provided With one or more relatively sharp prongs p to facilitate entry into the relatively soft base material and with a tongue e (Fig. 1) which may be bent over a surface or over an edge of the base S, subsequent to the stapling operation, to lend added rigidity to the structure. As shown in Fig. 1, the prongs p may be located at the base or end of the terminal, or, as shown in Fig. 2, they may be conveniently located on opposite sides of the terminal intermediate its ends in the event that it is desired to utilize the end of the terminal as a mounting lug or bracket b. In Fig. l the terminal T is shown at a moment when the prongs p have been driven through the base S, but prior to being bent into intimate contact with the surface thereof.

When the insulating base or strip S comprises a thermo-setting compound, such, for example, as Bakelite, the prongs p of each terminal element T are preferably driven through the strip, and the prongs p and tongue e bent over the strip, prior to settingf curing or polymerizing it.

Similarly, when the insulating material S comprises a solid or a laminated brous material (e. g., paper or fabric) impregnated with a phenolic or other synthetic resinous material, the terminals T are preferably attached to the insulator S when it is in a semi-cured state, and its polymerization subsequently completed with the prongs p and tongue e of the said metal parts in place.

If, on the other hand, the insulating base S comprises a thermo-plastic (as distinguished from -thermosetting) material, the stapling of the prongs p and the crimping or bending of the prongs p and tongues e may be carried out either before the material has been hardened (by driving out the solvents usually present during the molding operation) in the first instance, or by resoftening it with heat immediately before the stapling operation.

Since, in any event, the insulating base material S is in a relatively soft condition at the time the terminals and other metal parts are aflixed thereto, the said materials cannot shatter or crack during the stapling and crimping operations. Further, the tendency of the said materials to iiow in setting, or to cold flow subsequent to setting, ensures an intimate, rigid and permanent bond between the base material and the parts affixed thereto.

It is not deemed necessary to a complete disclosure of the invention to illustrate a device for performing the stapling and bending operations since the prior art is replete With devices capable of handling staples of various types. Neither is the invention limited in its useful application to the particular shape or pattern of conductors or the attachment portions thereof shown in the drawing, since the disclosure in this respect is merely illustrative for purposes of explaining the inventive concept.

What is claimed is:

Method of making a terminal board from a pre-formed base constituted of a synthetic resinous material, said method comprising semicuring said pre-formed base, driving the prongs of a pronged metal connector through said preformed base, bending the projecting portion of said prongs into intimate contact with said semicured synthetic resinous material, and subsel0 quently completing its cure.

HARRY V. KNAUF, JR. CHARLES L. SCHEER.

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