US3609653A

US3609653A - Electrical connector and method of and means for attaching the same

Info

Publication number: US3609653A
Application number: US769533A
Authority: US
Inventors: William H Wallo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1968-10-22
Filing date: 1968-10-22
Publication date: 1971-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 1988-09-28

Abstract

An electrical connector has edge shoulder and clenching lug means for firmly retaining it on a supporting panel, such as a binding post board, with a solder lug projecting from one face of the panel and a clamp for an electrical lead terminal at the opposite face of the panel, the clamp comprising a clamping base and a movable clamping member such as a square nut held against turning and operable by a screw extending through the clamping base to receive and clamp the electrical lead terminal between the nut and the base. In mounting the connector on the panel, a shoulder on an edge of the connector body engages one face of the panel and a clenching lug on that edge of the connector body is displaced laterally into clamping engagement thrusting the panel against the shoulder, an attachment tool for the purpose having a shearing edge which partially severs the lug from the connector body, a cam surface which displaces the lug toward the panel, and a clenching shoulder which thrusts the lug clampingly toward the shoulder on the connector.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor William H. Wallo 930 N. Pitner Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60202 [211 App]. No. 769,533 [22] Filed Oct. 22, 1968 [45] Patented Sept. 28, 1971 [54] ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE SAME 19 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 339/214 R [51] Int. Cl H01r 13/50 [50] Field of Search 339/214,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,962,487 6/1934 Douglas 339/214 2,446,926 8/1948 Hill et al. 339/266 X 2,715,715 8/1955 Bentley 339/216 3,242,457 3/1966 Haske1l.... 339/95 3,315,215 4/1967 Kulka... 339/126 3,340,497 9/1967 Balint 339/217 3,344,388 9/1967 Parker et al. 339/17 3,486,158 12/1969 Soltysik et al... 339/14 L FOREIGN PATENTS 380,049 9/1923 Germany 339/272 (U) 201,922 5/1956 Australia; 339/220 Primary ExaminerMarvin A. Champion Assistant ExaminerRobert A. Hafer Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson ABSTRACT: An electrical connector has edge shoulder and clenching lug means for firmly retaining it on a supporting panel, such as a binding post board, with a solder lug projecting from one face of the panel and a clamp for an electrical lead terminal at the opposite face of the panel, the clamp comprising a clamping base and a movable clamping member such as a square nut held against turning and operable by a screw extending through the clamping base to receive and clamp the electrical lead terminal between the nut and the base. in mounting the connector on the panel, a shoulder on an edge of the connector body engages one face of the panel and a clenching lug on that edge of the connector body is displaced laterally into clamping engagement thrusting the panel against the shoulder, an attachment tool for the purpose having a shearing edge which partially severs the lug from the connector body, a cam surface which displaces the lug toward the panel, and a clenching shoulder which thrusts the lug clampingly toward the shoulder on the connector.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR ATTACIIING THE SAME This invention relates to electrical connectors, and more particularly concerns electrical connectors of the type adapted to be mounted on dielectric panels of the type known as binding post boards, with solder lug means at one face of the panel and means at the opposite face of the panel for clamping electrical lead terminals to the connectors.

Prior electrical connectors of this general type have had several disadvantages. Where the clamping means has comprised a screwhead, difficulty has been experienced in maintaining the electrical lead terminal against escaping from the clamping head as the frictional turning thrusting pressure is applied, especially where the terminal comprises a skinned or exposed end portion of the lead wire or wires. This difficulty has been true even where the lead terminal has been turned about the screw shank such that the end of the terminal extends in the general direction of turning movement of the screw. Consequently the liability of inadequate retention of the lead terminal, fraying of the terminal where it comprises a multiplicity of small wires, etc., has been a constant problem.

Another problem encountered with prior electrical connectors of this type has been the inadequacy of means provided for attachment thereof to panels such as the binding post boards which are common for radio and television sets, and the like, for attachment of circuit wires by soldering to solder lug portions of the connectors on one side of the panel and detachable connection of antenna wires, and the like, to the connectors at the other side or face of the panel. Electrical connectors for this purpose which are provided with resilient detents so that they can be snapped into place have the disadvantage of generally being loose and sometimes even tending to be dislodged under stress. Crimped-on connector structures sometimes tend to be loose, or at least where solidly anchored sometimes require complicated die means for attachment, and often present undue lateral projections, overlapping flanges, and the like, laterally about the connector at one or both faces of the panel.

According to the principles of the present invention the foregoing and other disadvantages and deficiencies of prior structures are overcome by the provision of an electrical connector which has means for attaching it to a panel, there being a portion on the connector providing a fixed clamping surface, and means for clamping an electrical lead to the clamping surface comprising a clamping portion which is retained against turning relative to the clamping surface about a clamping axis while means such as a screw are operated to thrust the clamping portion clampingly toward the clamping surface.

The connector is adapted to be attached to a panel board having opposite faces and a hole therethrough in and through which the connector is adapted to be assembled. For this purpose the connector has a flat metal strip connector body of a substantial length having opposite edges and means on its opposite end portions for receiving respective electrical lead terminals attached thereto, the body being of a length to extend through the hole in the panel and having a stop shoulder on one side to engage retainingly with one face of the panel, and clenching lug means on the edge of the body spaced from the shoulder for engagement with the panel at the opposite side from the shoulder and operative to clamp the panel against the shoulder. In mounting the connector the body thereof is inserted through the hole in the panel until the stop shoulder engages one face of the panel, and then the clenching lug is laterally displaced relative to the attached edge of the connector body and into thrusting engagement with the panel. This may be effected by means of a shearing, displacing and clenching tool.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved electrical connector having novel means for clamping the terminals of electrical leads thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide means in an electrical connector adapted to clamp the open wire terminal of an electrical lead in a manner which precludes frictional displacement or fraying of the terminal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved electrical connector having novel means thereon for clamping attachment of diverse types of electrical lead terminals singly or in multiples.

A further object of the invention is to provide in an electrical terminal new and improved means for attaching the same to a panel support.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a panel having mounted thereon an electrical connector embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along the line 11-" of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a metal strip blank from which the connector is formed up;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the connector before it is mounted on a panel; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially alongthe line VV of FIG. 1 and illustrating the use of a special tool for attaching the connector to the panel.

An electrical connector 10 embodying features of the invention is constructed and arranged to be attached to a dielectric panel 11 having therein a clearance hole 12 in and through which the connector is adapted to be assembled. By way of example, the connector 10 may be provided on the panel 11 for detachable connection of an antenna lead terminal at one face of the panel while a circuit wire or wires may be soldered to the terminal at the opposite face of the panel.

In desirable construction, the connector 10 has a flat metal strip body 13 of substantial length having opposite longitudinal edges 14. The body 13 is of length to extend through the hole 12 and has along the edges 14 intermediate transversely aligned shoulders 15 which engage one face of the panel 11, with means comprising respective clenching lugs 17 along the side edges extending into panel-clamping engagement adjacent to the opposite face of the panel. Beyond one face of the panel 11, herein the face at which the clenching lugs 17 engage the panel, the connector body 13 has a solder lug 18 of substantial length to which one or more lead wires may be affixed by soldering.

On the other side of the panel 11, that is adjacent to the face of the panel against which the shoulders 15 engage, the con nector body 13 has means for detachably clampingly engaging a terminal end portion 19 of an electrical lead 20 such as for antenna to be connected to a radio or television set. For this purpose, the body 13 has a right angularly extending clamping flange 21 substantially spaced from, and in this instance parallel to, the adjacent face of the panel 11 so as to provide a clearance space within which a clamping member 22 is movable into sufficiently spaced relation to the flange 21 to receive the lead terminal 19 freely between the flange and the clamping member. Drawing up of the clamp is effected by manipulation of a draw-up member operatively engaging both portions of the clamp, namely the flange 21 and the clamping member 22. In a low cost, convenient, easily operated device, the draw-up member comprises a flat-headed screw the shank of which extends freely through an aperture 24 in the flange 21 and is threadedly engaged through an internally threaded hole 25 in the member 22 which conveniently comprises a square nut. The construction and relationship are such that one of the square edges of the nut 22 freely confronts the body 13 so that the nut is held against turning when the screw 23 is turned. When the screw 23 is operated to draw up the nut 22 into clamping engagement with the lead terminal 19, a head 27 on the screw thrusts against the outer face of the flange 21. It will be observed that inasmuch as the nut 22 is held against turning relative to the flange 21, clamping action is performed along a linear axis without transverse movement, avoiding any frictional, twisting, ejecting force on the terminal 19 as would be experienced if such terminal were to be engaged between the turning head 27 of the screw and the flange 21. Further, the terminal 19 is adapted to be efficiently maintained between the two clamping surfaces and any tendency to crowd out as pressure is applied is prevented by the adjacent wall surface of the body 13 where the terminal has been inserted at that side of the screw.

If the terminal 19 is inserted into the clamp at the opposite side of the screw 23, crowding out is prevented by the confronting inner wall of a stabilizing extension 28 of the connector. This extension is desirably of the same width as the widest portion of the body 13 and the clamp flange portion 21 from which it is an integral flange projection at and remote from the body 13 and in a generally U-shape parallel leg spaced arrangement therewith to receive the nut 22 in freely clamping but nontuming axial movement therebetween and with one of the square edges of the nut confronting the extension 28 in the same fashion as the opposite edge confronts the body 13.

For stabilizing mounting of the connector on the panel 11, the extension 28 has means which are counterpart of the means on the body 13 for gripping, clamping engagement with the panel. To this end, the extension 28 has opposite side edges 14' inset in a plane parallel to the plane of the shoulders 15 to provide stop shoulders 15 which engage the same face of the panel 11 as the shoulders 15 and cooperate therewith in maintaining the flange 21 spaced from the plane of the adjacent face of the panel. The remainder of the extension 28 is of a length to protrude beyond the shoulders 15' and extend through the receiving hole 12 in the panel 11. Projecting laterally from the sides of the protruding portion of the extension are laterally deflected integral securing lugs 17 which are clenched against the engaged portion of the panel and clamp it securely to the shoulders 15. Desirably the protruding portion of the extension 28 provides a secondary solder lug 29 which is desirably shorter than the solder lug 18.

In making the connector 10, and more particularly the body 13 and the elements integral therewith, it is adapted to be stamped from suitable gauge sheet metal strip to provide, initially, an elongated blank B (FIG. 3). This blank is bent substantially along spaced parallel lines L into J-shape to provide the body 13, the clamping flange 21 and the stabilizing extension 28. Then the screw 23 and the clamping nut 22 are assembled in the desired relationship with the flange 21 and if desired, the tip of the shank of the screw 23 may be mutilated to prevent unintentional disassembly when the screw is threadedly backed out. In length the screw 23 is sufficient to accommodate a full range of operational requirements, and when initially assembled care is taken to thread the screw shank into the nut 22 sufficiently to assure that when the screwhead 27 is in abutment with the clamping flange 21 the nut will be below the plane of the

shoulders

15, 15.

Mounting of the connector assembly 10 with the panel 1 1 is readily effected by relative assembly wherein the

lugs

18 and 29 are directed into and through the receiving hole 12 which is desirably of a width and length to receive the projecting portions of the connector reasonably closely. Through this arrangement, the edges defining the sides of the opening 12 adjacent to which the

shoulders

15, 15 will engage, closely slidably confront the inset side edges of the projecting portions of the connector along the base portions of the

lugs

17, 17 which at this time are desirably integral with the respective projecting portions of the connector and have their outer edges parallel. To facilitate assembly of the connector with the panel, the free corners of the lugs are preferably chamfered to provide leading

cam surfaces

30, 30.

After initial assembly of the connector with the panel 11, the lugs l7, 17 are severed from the respective projecting .portions of the connector and displaced into clenching engagement with the panel. This is desirably effected by bottoming the connector on an anvil 31 on which the screw head 27 rests and then operating a tool 32 to sever, laterally displace and clench the lugs. For this purpose, the tool 32 may comprise a punch having a clearance opening 33 opening longitudinally downwardly and into which the solder lug projections l8 and 29 are received as punch guides. On its lower end the punch is provided with a pair of spaced parallel downwardly projecting slitting edges aligned with the walls of the guide recess 33 confronting the edges of the

lugs

18 and 29 which are inset sufficiently to afford clear linear access by the shearing edges to the sides of the

clenching lugs

15, 15 which are integral with the sides of the guiding

lug extensions

18 and 29, respectively. As the slitting edges 34 are driven in severing relation into the material joining the clenching lugs to the solder lug and guiding projections, respective cam surfaces 35 sloping outwardly and upwardly from the slitting edges deflect the

clenching lugs

17, 17 bendably laterally. Severance of the clenching lugs continues to a point below the adjacent face of the panel 11 so that as the clenching lugs spread out they are pressed into and compress respective interlocking grooves 37 within which the clenching lugs are thus partially embedded in the adjacent comers of the hole-defining edges of the panel. Severance and clenching displacement of the

lugs

17 and 17 continues until respective aligned clenching shoulders 38 on the punch end and at the outer ends of the cam surfaces 35 and facing in the same direction as the edges 34 engage with the displaced clenching lugs to complete the clenching engagement of the lugs in clamping relation to the panel and thrusting toward the shoulders 15, 15'. The result is an extremely solid connection between the connector and the panel in which relative movement of the electrical connector and the panel in any direction is thoroughly precluded. The moderate embedment of the clenching lugs 17, 17' in the material of the panel 11 appears to compress and strengthen rather than damage or deteriorate the material of the panel. especially where the panel is of Bakelite or similar material. In any event, the connection between the apertured panel and the connector is so thorough that instead of weakening the panel, even where there is a plurality of the connectors mounted in corresponding holes 12 in an array on the panel, as is generally true where the panel comprises a so-called binding post board, the areas in the vicinity of the attached connectors appear to resist bending stresses better than the surrounding imperforate portions of the panel.

In addition to the extremely thorough and efficient clamping connection enabled in the clamp of the connector with exposed wire terminals of electrical leads, similar attachment efficiency is afforded for attachment of the bifurcated or spade terminals frequently applied to electrical leads. It may also be observed that the screw head 27 provides effective clamping means with the clamping flange 21 to receive and fasten a spade or hook terminal, if desired, and as indicated at T in FIG. 4.

It will be understood that variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of this invention.

1 claim as my invention:

1. In an electrical connector and panel assembly:

said panel having opposite faces and a connector-mounting hole therethrough;

said connector having a body extending through said hole;

means on said body maintaining the connector in place on the panel;

an electrical lead-receiving extension on said body at one face of the panel; and

an electrical lead terminal-receiving clamp on said body at the opposite face of the panel comprising a clamping flange confronting the plane of said opposite face of the panel in spaced relation, a screw extending through said clamping flange and said panel hole providing clearance for said screw, and a nut on said screw located between said flange and said opposite face of the panel operative by action of the screw to thrust said nut toward said flange for thereby clamping a lead terminal against said flange; and

means on said body for guiding said nut to move axially but restraining the nut against turning relative to said flange.

2. In an electrical connector and panel assembly:

tension having respective shoulders engaging said opposite face of the panel, said extension projecting through said panel, and respective clenching lugs on said extension and on said body thrusting said panel clamping against said shoulders and comprising the securing means on the body.

comprising a screw extending axially through said flange and having a nut threaded thereon and having edges confronting said legs to restrain the nut against turning when the screw is operated to move said nut toward the flange to clamp a lead against the flange.

said panel having opposite faces and a connector-mounting hole therethrough;

said connector having a body extending through said hole;

means on said body securing the connector to the panel;

an electrical lead-receiving extension on said body at one 5 face of the panel;

an electrical lead terminal-receiving clamp on said body at the opposite face of the panel and comprising confronting clamping portions, means for thrusting said clamping portions into clamping engagement with a lead terminal, and 0 means for guiding one of said clamping portions to move along a linear clamping axis toward the other of said portions without movement transverse to the clamping axis; and

said one clamping portion comprising a flange having a stabilizing extension thereon engaging said panel, and means on said extension securing it to the panel.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, said body and said ex- 4. In an electrical connector and panel assembly wherein said panel has opposite faces and a connector-mounting hole therethrough:

said connector comprising a flange and respective legs at its opposite ends in generally U-shape arrangement with said legs extending through said hole;

said legs having shoulders thereon spaced from said flange engaging against the panel and maintaining said flange in spaced relation to the plane of the adjacent face of the panel;

means carried by said flange and operative in the space between said panel plane and said flange to clamp a lead terminal to said flange; and

on said legs engaging with said panel from the opposite face of the panel and cooperating with said shoulders to retain the connector in place on the panel.

5. An assembly according to claim 4, in which said last-mentioned means comprise clenching lugs integral with said legs and bent therefrom into embedded relation in said panel.

6. An assembly according to claim 4, said clamping means 4 7. An assembly according to claim 6, in which said hole provides a clearance for said screw to project thereinto.

8. An assembly according to claim 7, both of said legs projecting beyond the opposite face of the panel and providing solder lugs.

9. An assembly according to claim 8, one of said solder lugs being substantially longer than the other of said solder lugs.

10. An assembly according to claim 4, said legs extending through and beyond the opposite face of the panel, and said last-mentioned means comprising lugs bent from side edges of said projecting portions of the legs.

11. An electrical connector adapted to be mounted in assembly with a panel having opposite faces and a connector hole therethrough:

said connector having a body adapted to extend through said hole;

means on said body for securing the connector to the panel;

an electrical lead-receiving extension on said body to be located at one face of the panel;

an electrical lead terminal-receiving clamp on said body to be located at the opposite face of the panel and comprising confronting clamping portions, means for thrusting said clamping portions into clamping engagement, and means for guiding one of said clamping portions to move along a linear clamping axis toward the other of said portions without movement transverse to said clamping axis; one of said clamping portions and said guiding means comprising rigid parts on said body;

said one clamping portion comprising a flange angular to said guiding portion of the body and adapted to be in spaced confronting relation to said opposite face of the panel, the other of said clamping portions being located to be operative relative to said flange in the space between said flange and the panel; and

said other clamping portion comprising a threaded nut, and said means for thrusting said clamping portions into clamping engagement comprising a screw threaded through said nut and extending through said flange.

12. An electrical connector adapted to be mounted in assembly with a panel having opposite faces and a connector hole therethrough:

said connector having a body adapted to extend through said hole;

means on said body for securing the connector to the panel;

an electrical lead terminalreceiving clamp on said body to be located at the opposite face of the panel and comprising confronting clamping portions, means for thrusting said clamping portions into clamping engagement, and means for guiding one of said clamping portions to move along a linear clamping axis toward the other of said portions without movement transverse to said clamping axis;

one of said clamping portions and said guiding means comprising rigid parts on said body;

a stabilizing extension from said flange having means thereon for attachment to the panel.

13. A connector according to claim 12, in which said means on the body for securing the connector to the panel comprise integral clenching lugs along opposite side edges on said body, and said connecting means on said stabilizing extension comprising clenching lugs.

14. A connector according to claim 13, said body and said extension having shoulders cooperatively related to said clenching lugs to engage said panel.

15. In combination in an electrical connector adapted to be mounted in assembly with a panel having opposite faces and a connector-receiving hole therethrough:

a generally U-shaped structure having a flange and legs extending from the opposite ends of the flange in the same direction;

shoulders on said legs substantially spaced from said flange and facing generally away therefrom and said legs having portions thereof extending beyond said shoulders and engageable through the panel hole so that said Shoulders will engage a face of the panel;

means on said extension portions engageable with the panel from the opposite face in cooperation with said shoulders to retain the connector on the panel; and

means carried by said flange and operative in the space between said legs and the plane of the face of the panel against which the shoulders engage for clamping an electrical terminal to said flange in said space.

16. A combination according to claim 15, wherein each of said leg extensions comprises a solder lug.

17. A combination according to claim 16, one of said solder lugs being substantially longer than the other of said solder lu s.

l8. A combination according to claim 15, said flange having a hole therethrough, said last-mentioned means comprising a screw having a threaded portion extend. .g freely through said hole, and a nut threaded onto said screw and being operable in posite end areas for attachment of respective electricallead terminals thereto; said connector portion being of a length to extend through the hole in the panel and having a stepped stop shoulder on at least one of said edges to engage retainingly with one face of the panel;

locking means on said connector portion spaced from said shoulder cooperative with the shoulder after said portion has been extended through said hole for opposition to the panel at the opposite face from said shoulder to secure the connector on the panel;

said end area which is nearest said shoulder extending as a spacer to project away from the plane of said one face of the panel and including a flange which extends angularly relative to said connector body portion to remain spaced from said plane whereby to enable reception on said flange of an electrical lead terminal in the space between said flange and said plane; and

means carried in relatively movable, operative relation on and by said flange and adapted to function in said space to clamp the electrical lead terminal to said flange.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 609, 653 Dated Sept. 28, 1971 Inventor(s) William H. W llO It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the Heading [7 the address should read: -930 N. Pitner Avenue, Evanston, Illinois 60202-.

Column 2, line 33, after "In", insert -a--;

line 35, after "of", insert --a--; line 48, after "for", insert "an".

Signed and sealed this 8th day of August 1972.

(SEA

EDWARD PLFLETGHTR ,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHAL; K Attestingg Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. In an electrical connector and panel assembly: said panel having opposite faces and a connector-mounting hole therethrough; said connector having a body extending through said hole; means on said body maintaining the connector in place on the panel; an electrical lead-receiving extension on said body at one face of the panel; and an electrical lead terminal-receiving clamp on said body at the opposite face of the panel comprising a clamping flange confronting the plane of said opposite face of the panel in spaced relation, a screw extending through said clamping flange and said panel hole providing clearance for said screw, and a nut on said screw located between said flange and said opposite face of the panel operative by action of the screw to thrust said nut toward said flange for thereby clamping a lead terminal against said flange; and means on said body for guiding said nut to move axially but restraining the nut against turning relative to said flange.

2. In an electrical connector and panel assembly: said panel having opposite faces and a connector-mounting hole therethrough; said connector having a body extending through said hole; means on said body securing the connector to the panel; an electrical lead-receiving extension on said body at one face of the panel; an electrical lead terminal-receiving clamp on said body at the opposite face of the panel and comprising confronting clamping portions, means for thrusting said clamping portions into clamping engagement with a lead terminal, and means for guiding one of said clamping portions to move along a linear clamping axis toward the other of said portions without movement transverse to the clamping axis; and said one clamping portion comprising a flange having a stabilizing extension thereon engaging said panel, and means on said extension securing it to the panel.

3. An assembly according to claim 2, said body and said extension having respective shoulders engaging said opposite face of the panel, said extension projecting through said panel, and respective clenching lugs on said extension and on said body thrusting said panel clamping against said shoulders and comprising the securing means on the body.

4. In an electrical connector and panel assemBly wherein said panel has opposite faces and a connector-mounting hole therethrough: said connector comprising a flange and respective legs at its opposite ends in generally U-shape arrangement with said legs extending through said hole; said legs having shoulders thereon spaced from said flange engaging against the panel and maintaining said flange in spaced relation to the plane of the adjacent face of the panel; means carried by said flange and operative in the space between said panel plane and said flange to clamp a lead terminal to said flange; and on said legs engaging with said panel from the opposite face of the panel and cooperating with said shoulders to retain the connector in place on the panel.

6. An assembly according to claim 4, said clamping means comprising a screw extending axially through said flange and having a nut threaded thereon and having edges confronting said legs to restrain the nut against turning when the screw is operated to move said nut toward the flange to clamp a lead against the flange.

7. An assembly according to claim 6, in which said hole provides a clearance for said screw to project thereinto.

10. An assembly according to claim 8, one of said lugs being substantially longer than the other of said solder lugs.

11. An electrical connector adapted to be mounted in assembly with a panel having opposite faces and a connector hole therethrough: said connector having a body adapted to extend through said hole; means on said body for securing the connector to the panel; an electrical lead-receiving extension on said body to be located at one face of the panel; an electrical lead terminal-receiving clamp on said body to be located at the opposite face of the panel and comprising confronting clamping portions, means for thrusting said clamping portions into clamping engagement, and means for guiding one of said clamping portions to move along a linear clamping axis toward the other of said portions without movement transverse to said clamping axis; one of said clamping portions and said guiding means comprising rigid parts on said body; said one clamping portion comprising a flange angular to said guiding portion of the body and adapted to be in spaced confronting relation to said opposite face of the panel, the other of said clamping portions being located to be operative relative to said flange in the space between said flange and the panel; and said other clamping portion comprising a threaded nut, and said means for thrusting said clamping portions into clamping engagement comprising a screw threaded through said nut and extending through said flange.

12. An electrical connector adapted to be mounted in assembly with a panel having opposite faces and a connector hole therethrough: said connector having a body adapted to extend through said hole; means on said body for securing the connector to the panel; an electrical lead-receiving extension on said body to be located at one face of the panel; an electrical lead terminal-receiving clamp on said body to be located at the opposite face of the panel and comprising confronting clamping portions, means for thrusting said clamping portions into clamping engagement, and means for guiding one of said clamping portions to move along a linear clamping axis toWard the other of said portions without movement transverse to said clamping axis; one of said clamping portions and said guiding means comprising rigid parts on said body; said one clamping portion comprising a flange angular to said guiding portion of the body and adapted to be in spaced confronting relation to said opposite face of the panel, the other of said clamping portions being located to be operative relative to said flange in the space between said flange and the panel; and a stabilizing extension from said flange having means thereon for attachment to the panel.

15. In combination in an electrical connector adapted to be mounted in assembly with a panel having opposite faces and a connector-receiving hole therethrough: a generally U-shaped structure having a flange and legs extending from the opposite ends of the flange in the same direction; shoulders on said legs substantially spaced from said flange and facing generally away therefrom and said legs having portions thereof extending beyond said shoulders and engageable through the panel hole so that said shoulders will engage a face of the panel; means on said extension portions engageable with the panel from the opposite face in cooperation with said shoulders to retain the connector on the panel; and means carried by said flange and operative in the space between said legs and the plane of the face of the panel against which the shoulders engage for clamping an electrical terminal to said flange in said space.

17. A combination according to claim 16, one of said solder lugs being substantially longer than the other of said solder lugs.

18. A combination according to claim 15, said flange having a hole therethrough, said last-mentioned means comprising a screw having a threaded portion extending freely through said hole, and a nut threaded onto said screw and being operable in said space by manipulation of the screw to move toward and away from said flange to effect said clamping, said nut having edges confronting said legs and being held thereby substantially against turning but enabling axial movement of the nut by manipulation of the screw.

19. An electrical connector adapted to be attached to a panel having opposite faces and a hole therethrough in and through which the connector is adapted to be assembled; a flat metal strip connector body including a portion of substantial length having opposite longitudinal edges and opposite end areas for attachment of respective electrical lead terminals thereto; said connector portion being of a length to extend through the hole in the panel and having a stepped stop shoulder on at least one of said edges to engage retainingly with one face of the panel; locking means on said connector portion spaced from said shoulder cooperative with the shoulder after said portion has been extended through said hole for opposition to the panel at the opposite face from said shoulder to secure the connector on the panel; said end area which is nearest said shoulder extending as a spacer to project away from the plane of said one face of the panel and including a flange which extends angularly relative to said connector body portion to remain spaced from said plane whereby to enable reception on said flange of an electrical lead terminal in the space between said flange and said plane; and means carried in relatively movable, operative relation on and by said flange and adapted to function iN said space to clamp the electrical lead terminal to said flange.