US3286671A - Pin and socket connector assembly - Google Patents

Description

PIN AND SOCKET CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY Filed June 10, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. GLENWOOD A. FULLE R M W W Nov. 22, 1966 O G. A. FULLER 3,

PIN AND SOCKET CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY Filed June 10, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 "Wilma; "Film." HIM Ilium. I-Wum Wm... "Him. PT U U 43 vuvwuwwwvwwvwmv b M I '1 i I n I 40 INVENTOR.

(nmwooo A. FULL R BY Nov. 22, 1966 G. A. FULLER 3,286,671

PIN AND SOCKET CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY Filed June 10, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR.

6L EHWOOD A FULLE R Nov. 22, 1966 G. A. FULLER 3,286,671

PIN AND SOCKET CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY Filed June 10, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 m2 INVENTOR.

k C 132 3? I LENWoou A. FULLER Nov. 22, 1966 G. A. FULLER PIN AND SOCKET CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY Filed June 10, 1965 5 Sheets-$heet 5 I'll!ll '""'I,""lll'illlln 19 I60 M's INVENTOR. G'LENWooD A. FULLER to contact each other under substantial pressure.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,286,671 Patented-Nov. 22, 1966 3,286,671 PIN AND SOCKET CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY Glenwood A. Fullenflershey, Pa., assignmto AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa. Filed June 10, 196.3, Ser. No. 286,725 Claims. (Cl. 113-119) This invention relates to an improved pin and socket assembly for use in connectingelectricalcircuit paths.

In an efiort to provide a lowresistance, stable electrical connection of circuit paths having a disconnect function, workers have, over the years, turned again and again to the pin and socket construction wherein one or the other of the connector members is comprised of aplurality of resilient finger members suitably deformed to engage the other member under spring pressure. The early effort of W. D. Weir in US. Patent No. 840,537, shows one example of this. The somewhat later effort of H. F. Wilhelm in US. Patent No. 1,833,145, represents an improvement on Weir. Later efforts such as evidenced by US. Patent No. 2,393,083, to 0. H. Weisgarver, and US. Patent No. 2,455,764, toP. J. Bach et al., represent still further improvements and adaptations of the princi-ple to specialized applications.

Connectors of the above type have numerous advantages in addition to providing a superior electrical connection with a disconnect function. One of the principal additional advantages is that manufacturing and .use tolerance deviation, with respect to the interm ating of parts, is broadened such that production and wear differences in the positions and sizes of relative parts are inherently accommodated by the characteristics of connector design. Thus, if the pin member to be inserted in a given socket member is slightly smaller or larger than optimum due to production tolerance deviation, a good connection may nevertheless be made if the relaxed diameter of the spring part is made such that the maximum tolerance deviation cannot cause the parts .to fail l The same is true with respect to placement of the cooperating connector parts, especially in multiple mounting wherein no one connector half can be exactly :placed with respect to complementing halves.

The present invention constitutes an improvement over the above mentioned prioriart, especially with regard to -multiple mounting and to miniatureconnectors. As will .be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the smaller the ,particular component or .part being manufactured, the more diflicult tolerance control becomes. Thus, forexample if a pin and socket intermating diameter is nominally two hundred mils, a'control to fivepercent accuracy permits a tolerance deviation of ten mils, which is relatively easy to maintain with. existing manufacturing equipment. The same is true with .respect to techniques .utilized in molding plastic blocks for housing connector parts wherein the center-to-center spacing can'be readily controlled to a tolerance deviation of five percent. The developing use of smaller and smaller electronic components asfor so-called microminiature devices has, however, so reducednominalconnector dimensions and center-to-center spacing of parts as to aggravateproduction problems. Additionally, with. respect to the smaller sizes,

it has been found difficult to.provide connector spring members which will withstand repeated engagements and at the same time provide low resistance, stable electrical paths between signal conductors. Specifically, with respect to the pin and socket type construction of the prior art, problems have been encountered with devices of the type shown in Weir, Wisegarver and Bach, with respect to the insertion and withdrawal forces involved. Because of the construction therein utilized, with respect to connectors wherein the pin diameter may be on the order of twenty-five to thirty mils, insertion and withdrawal forces [have resulted in connector part breakage or, in certain instances, electrical connection failure within the component linkedtto the connector due to strains transmitted thereto. With connectors ofthe type shown in the Wilhelm patent and in certain other devices wherein the spring socket is .made of independent spring members ,ing means.

It is a further object of the inventiontoprovide a novel method of manufacturing a pin and socket connector wherein an improved spring resiliency is inherently built into the connector.

Itis yet a further object of the invention to provide an improved pin and socket connector of simple and inexpensive construction, with the .parts thereof adapted to facilitate assembly.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved pin and socket connector adaptablefor use with smaller size conductors to meet high density .wiring vrequirements.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a novel pin and socket connector in conjunction with an improved mounting means whereby use ofthe connector is facilitated, particularly with respect to the smaller sizes.

Other objects and attainments of thepresent invention will become apparent to those skilledvin the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there are shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention; it is,to beunderstood, however, that these embodiments are not intended tobe exhaustive nor limiting of the invention, but are givenfor purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applyingitin practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as maybe best suited to the conditions of a particularuse.

,In the drawings;

FIGURE lis aperspective view of a multiple component interconnection assembly employing the .novel pin and socket construction of. the invention;

FIGURE 2 is aparti al perspective of theunderside of the assembly of FIGURE l, rotated one hundred and eighty degrees;

FIGURE 3 is anelevation of the assembly ofFIGURE .1, taken along lines 3-3;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged elevation of one embodiment of the invention showing a single component pin and mating socket in conjunction with mounting means therefor,,partiallysectioned and aligned for interconnection;

FIGURE 4a is an enlarged view ofthelocking feature of the mounting means as shownin FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 5' is an enlarged, vpartially sectioned, .el'evation of the assembly of FIGUREA, with the pin member inserted within the mounting socket in conj-unctiotn with a completed tcrmi-na tiont-o an auxiliary circuit path;

,FIGURE 6 is anenlargedperspective of one embodiment of the novel spring construction of invention;

FIGURE 7 is. a right handed end-on view of the spring construction shown inFIGU RE 6, somewhat reduced;

FIGURE 8 is a planyiew of sheet inetalstock material prepared in accordance with themethod of the invention to form the spring shown in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional elevation of the sheet metal stock material of FIGURE 8 following a further step of the method of the invention in preparation of the spring member of the invention;

FIGURE is a view of the spring member of the invention as finally formed;

FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 are plan, sectional elevation, and plan views, respectively, of a further embodiment of the spring member of the invention in various degrees of construction;

FIGURES 14, 15 and 1 6 are plan, sectional elevation, and plan views of yet a further embodiment of the invention in various degrees of construction;

FIGURE 16a is a right handed end-on view of the spring member of FIGURE 16;

FIGURES 17, 18 and 19 are plan, sectional elevation,

and plan views, respectively, of a still further embodiment of the invention in accordance with preferred steps of construction; and

FIGURE 20 is an elevation, partially sectioned, of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 17, 18 and 19, in use.

The foregoing objects are attained in the present invention through the use of a novel pin and socket construction wherein the forming of either the male or female members of the invention is accomplished in a manner wherein desired spring resiliency is built into such member as it is formed into its final configuration. In conjunction with this, the invention contemplates a construction permitting the same basic material structure formed ior one range of conductor sizes to be utilized directly in forming connectors for other ranges of conductor sizes. The angular arrangement and working face disposition of the spring members of the connector of the invention are made such that insertion and withdrawal axial forces are not excessive, yet at the same time substantial radial spring forces are developed to maintain the necessary inter-face between connector parts.

Turning now to the description of the invention, FIG- URE 1 shows the edge end of an assembly for interconnecting individual groups of electronic components in 'a manner whereby packaging density and replacement is tacil-itated. Each group of components may be considered as mounted in one module 10, of which numbers of such modules are adapted to be plugged into in an appropriate position in an insulating board member 12. Each module 10 includes a number of projecting conductive pin members 14 extending from within the module connected to components therein and projecting from beneath the module to cooperate with conductive socket receptacles 16 aligned in the pattern of the pin members to intermate therewithin. The projecting pin members 14 and sockets 16 are arranged so that the placement of the center row of pins and sockets provides keying for proper module orientation. In this manner, modules are mechanically and electrically connected to board 12.

Electrical interconnection between components within a given module 10 and/or between modules, or between a module and an outside electrical circuit path, is accomplished by individual conductive paths extending between sockets 16 via conductive metal post members 18 on the underside otf board 12, as shown in FIGURE 2. Thus, for example an interconnection between components within module 10, is made by providing a conductive path extending between the particular posts 18 connected to such components through corresponding pin members 14. An interconnection between modules 10 and 10a is pro vided by extending conductive paths between a post or posts 18 and a post or posts 18a. Similarly, interconnection between a given module such as 18b and external circuits is accomplished by conductive paths provided between posts 18b and edge mounted posts 20 and sockets 21, to which a suitable connector 22, having pin members similar to pin members 14 is connected to provide paths to appropriate external conductors 23.

The scheme shown for accomplishing the extension of conductive paths between posts is one which is particularly adapted to fine wire and the smaller sizes of insulated conductors used with miniaturized electronic components. This scheme is shown generally in FIGURES 3 and 5, wherein Formvar coated conductive wire is terminated by the use of a tapered post and sleeve connection of the type described in US. Patent No. 3,071,750 to J. C. Heselwood, granted January 1, 196 3, or the type shown and described in US. patent application No. 201,983, in the name of the inventor and Carl F. Vieser, filed June 12, 1962, now Patent No. 3,249,908. This type of connection has been found to have substantial utility wherein the wire characteristics are such as to make other pointto-point wiring schemes unsuitable, e.g., Wire-Wrap or soldering.

Turning now to FIGURES 3 and 4, it will be seen that to interconnect a given module such as 10, the module is positioned over the insulating board 12, at an appropriate position which may be marked by some symbol or color corresponding with a mark on the particular module. With the module pins 14 aligned in accordance with sockets 16, the module is then forced down onto the board with the pins being inserted in their respective sockets. It is this type of use that raises the problems with prior art devices above outlined. For, as will be recognized, both dimensional and spacing deviations, as well as insertion-withdrawal forces are cumulative with respect to the pins of each module.

In FIGURE 4, an enlarged sectional view of board 12 shows a pin 14 positioned above a corresponding socket 30. The socket 301's fitted within an aperture 13 in board 12 and is formed in an eyelet construction including, as an integral piece of conductive material, upper radial flange 32, larger than aperture 13 and a lower sleeve 34, which is flared outwardly and against the board surface to lock 30 within the board. Sockets 30 manufactured of soft copper or brass have been found to operate satisfactorily with respect to such forming. It is contemplated that sleeve 34 may be solid if of a soft metal construction or split, if relatively hard metal is used. Opposite to flange 32, is a post member 35 ooaxially disposed within sleeve 34 and having a straight section 36 ended by a tapered section 37, having a number of circular serrations 38 thereon in accordance with the teachings of the above mentioned patent or application. Extending through socket 30 is a bore 40, which has at the opening adjacent flange 32, a double step portion 42 defining a sleeve 44, which may be folded over, as better indicated in FIGURE 4a. Inserted within bore 40 and extending along a substantial portion of its length, is a spring member 46 representing one embodiment of the invention. The upper end of spring member 46 includes a radial flange 48, which fits against the lower portion of step 42 and is captivated by sleeve 44 folded down thereagainst. The socket 30 may thus be seen to provide an extremely simple means for locking itself into board 12 and also a simple means for locking the associated spring member therewithin. It is to be noted that this socket construction comprises only two loose pieces, which favorably compares by a considerable margin, with other known devices capable of performing a similar function.

As will be apparent from FIGURE 4, the relaxed state of spring 46 defines a free inner cross-sectional area along its center region, which is considerably less than the maximum cross-sectional area of pin 14. Addition ally, the inner diameter of the entry portions of spring 46 is larger than the diameter of pin 14. Through this feature, tolerance deviations in either spring 46 or pin 14, or in their multiple center-to-center placement, may be readily arranged with present manufacturing know how, such that no accumulation of tolerance deviationsv can cause pin 14 to fail to expand spring 46 upon insertion therein.

FIGURE 5 shows module 10 inserted on board 12,. with a pin 14 fully inserted within a socket 30'. In accordance with the operation of the novel spring construction, the free end 47 of spring 46 is moved downwardly 67, and 68.

in bore 4! the spring member being held against relative movement by reason of the engagement of flange 48 thereof, with step 42. Upon withdrawal of pin 14, flange 44 folded down over 48 operates to prevent spring 46 from being dislodged from the socket. As will be described more fully in detail, the particular interface defined between the surface of pin 14 and the surface of individual spring fingers of spring member 46'is achieved with considerable force when the pin is positioned as shown in FIGURE 5. Nevertheless, insertion and withdrawal forces have been found to be not so' large as to overly stress the various members including the module 10, the pins thereof, sockets 30 and the springs thereof.

The connection from pin 14 to an auxiliary path such as to an adjacent module or to an external circuit is made through the tapered post 36 and a tapered sleeve in the manner more fully described in the above mentioned Heselwoo-d patent or in the application to Fuller and Vieser. This is shown generally in FIGURES 3 and 5 with a sleeve 50 having an internal taper wedged down over post 36 to force the post serrations38 to terminate insulated wire 52 by biting through the insulation thereof into the center copper conductor. From'F IGURES 1 and 2, it should be apparent that the pin and socket connector of the invention, in conjunction with some means such as the tapered post and sleeve shown, can be employed to interconnect large numbers of distinct electrical paths. Utilizing connectors of the invention, module boards such as that shown, have been successfully arranged to provide a reliable interconnection of thousands of paths with post and socket diameters on the order of twenty mils and with center-to-center spacing between adjacent pin members on the order of fifty mils. This has been accomplished with an economy of parts and of assembly labor not heretofore possible.

The reason for the success of the invention is based upon the novel construction of the spring member. thereof, which in part, is based upon a novel method of forming, which provides an improved resiliency of the spring member and angular disposition of contact area without unduly stressing the portions necessary to form the individual spring. Turning now to FIGURE .6, an enlarged perspective of an embodiment of the invention including the spring construction above described is shown in detail. As can be seen, the spring 60, which maybe considered as identical to spring 46 above described, is

formed of one piece to define at either end, tubular portions 62 and 64 interconnected by spring arms 66, End 62 represents the free end of the spring adapted for axial movement as above described and end 64- includes a radial extension 70, which serves the --flangefunction for holding the spring within the socket assembly.

As a most important consideration and as shown in FIGURE 6, the individual spring arms 66, 67 and 68 'include a spiral configuration tapering inwardly toward the center longitudinal axis of spring 60 and at the same time twisting along their length to join tubular portions 62 and 64 in planes approaching the planar disposition of the metal at the point of juncture. length of arms'66, 67 and 68 is made relatively long as compared with the inner diameter of the spring. Be cause of this, the inner surface of the center of the springs offers to a pin inserted therein, a possible contact area greater than devices of the prior art. The angular disposition of the spring members relative to their twist results in a very substantially increased force developed between spring and .pin surfaces as the spring is driven to pivot about a longitudinal axis toward the plane of juncture with supporting tubular portions. As the pin member is "inserted within aperture of bore 74, it strikes the spring members 66, 67 and 68 and forces them outward, which in turn operates to drive end 62 axially away from end 64. This movement, in conjunction with the low incident angle between spring and pin surfaces, assures that in- Additionally, the

inward taper and angular disposition.

the cross-sectional area of a pin member inserted within =6 sertion and withdrawal forces are not excessive. The provision of three spring mernbers tapered inwardly serves as a guide to virtually eliminate orientation problems with respect to the disposition of a pin being inserted or withdrawn.

FIGUR'E7 depictsan end-onview of the spring 60,

prior to insertion of pin member'and indicates the configuration of :the spring members with-respect to their As will be seen,

spring'60, could vary quite substantially from a size j-ust larger than the' hole76' that appearsin FIGURE 7, to a size approaching aperture74 indiameter.

"The foregoing spring characteristics may be more fully understoodby' following the steps used to form the spring. Viewing nowFIGURES8, 9 and 10, the novel method of theinvention willbe described with reference to a spring member having'four spring arms 90, 92, 94 and 96,

supported .bymembers 81 and'82. Beginning with a roll of sheet metal stock, as for example beryllium copper alloy No. 'ZS'heat treated to a spring temper, the configuration shown;in FIGURE-'8 may be formed by .a standard blanking operation wherein dies are forced against the. sheet material toremove portions as indicated.

In an act-ual embodiment constructed in accordance with the'invention, the sheet-stock material was 4 mils in thickness T, 148 mils in width W and 100 mil-sin length L. The slots .84 of removed material were 93 mils in length and 15 mils in width.

Following theblankiingstep resulting in a formed configuration 80, as shown in FIGURE 8, the sheet stock material is then formed as shown' in FIGURE 9, by standard stamping techniques to include a'bow of mils, BL was mils, and F was'12 mils. "The configuration shown in FIGURE 9 is then formed in the cylindrical shape shown in FIGURE 10 to have an entry diameter'EDlarger than the maximum diameter of the particular pin size to be used with the device. The relaxed inner diameter ID is made substantially less than ,such pindiameter. In the actual sample above mentioned, dimension ED was'28.mils and dimension ID was approximately 12 to 14 mils to accommodate a range of pin sizes from 17 to 25 mils in diameter.

It has ,been found that a preferred method of selecting relative dimensions may be employed to' better assure ,proper operation. From the spring characteristics above described, it will be seen that the first controlling factor is .pin diameter or the range of pin diameters to be employed. Given this and the fact that at least three spring arms are preferred, a'desired spring force is determined with,respect to the step of FIGURE 8, by the three variables of spring arm length, width and thickness.

These factors can be varied'within limits to control spring beam length and'thus. -the.range of deflection ofthe spring and the angle of incidence of engagement of spring and pin surfaces. By'first selectingthe minimum ma- .terial 'thicknesspand slot width which can be practically .worked, the desired spring force deflection and angle of incidence can, be simply controlled by adjusting spring arm lengthand thus beam: length. "The most usual'design restriction is one of center-to-cente-r spacing, but

'if sprir g length,is.crit ical, then the otherfactors may .inga pin diameter of 17 to 19 mils.

be manipulated tojachieve the desired characteristics.

.In a further 'actual embodiment-the application requirement called for a connector capable of accommodat- The sheet materialjthickness employed was 3.5 mils and the spring arm width was made to be 10 mils. It was found that by adjusting the spring beam length, different spring sets could be readily achieved, such that following one insertion and withdrawal, the inner diameter could be set to the proper value. Thus, with a beam length of 70 mils and an inner diameter of 10 mils in the further sample it was found that following one insertion and withdrawal of a l7-mil pin, the inner diameter assumed a permanent set of 12 mils. This provided a S-mil beam deflection.

The forming of spring socket as shown in FIGURE 10, is accomplished by rolling the structure shown in FIGURE 9 to closure about spaced cylindrical mandrels forced against the upper surfaces of the members 81 and 82 of sheet 80. Through this forming operation, which is relatively easily accomplished by standard manufacturing techniques, the individual arms of the spring assume the configuration shown with the features above described without requiring a subsequent step of twisting the tubular end members 81 and 82. It has been found that as an alternative to the step indicated in FIGURE 9, the sheet 80 formed as shown in FIGURE 8, can be first rolled and then clinched inwardly .to define the bow of the same relative dimensions B and BL. This too is accomplished without twisting the tubular members 81 and 82, relative to each other. With either method the avoidance of twisting permits the spring to be mounted with one end relatively free for axial and rotary movement as is required to achieve the characteristics above described. With either method the advantage of the spiral disposition of the spring arms in providing an increased contact area is achieved.

If the particular pin and socket application demands a through connection, wherein pin members are inserted in sockets from either side of a common insulating mounting block or if a greater insertion and withdrawal force is desired, other constructions are available utilizing the principles above defined. FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 show an embodiment of the invention for such use. In FIG- URE 11, 100 represents a sheet stock material which has been suitably blanked in the manner above described to define slots 102 and 104 joining end members 106 and 110, and a central member 108. Between each of the slots 102 and 104 a portion of metal, as above described, is left to define separate sets of spring arms 112 and 114. The material blanked as shown in FIGURE 11 is then bowed as shown in FIGURE 12, with each of the separate spring members 112 and 114 formed inwardly in the manner above described. On end 110 a turned up flange 116 is provided to lock the spring member against relative movement in a suitable socket member, which is similar to the above described socket 30. Following the step shown in FIGURE 12, material 100 is then rolled as shown in FIGURE 13, to form a spring member having two sets of spring arms, each of which includes the desirable features above described. It is to be noted that the twists of the spring arms 112 and 114 are oppositely oriented. This feature has been found to provide a still better mechanical holding of a pin member within the spring due to inward forces having vectors in opposite directions.

Additionally, and in certain uses, the socket shown in FIGURE 13 may be utilized to interconnect separate pin members inserted from either end thereof. In such event it may be convenient to form a holding flange similar to 116, by folding member 108 in a closed U- shaped configuration. In such use ends 106 and 110 would be left free to expand outwardly. The spring formed in accordance with FIGURES 11, 12 and 13 could, of course, have slots of similar sense of rotation if such is desired and could be formed by a final step of clinching rather than the step shown in FIGURE 12.

A further aspect of the invention is shown in FIG- URES 14, 15 and 16, wherein a section of sheet metal material 120, is shown blanked to define slots 121 and spring arms 122, 124 and 126. The spring arms are interconnected between end portions 128 and 130. The sheet is further blanked proximate end 130 to define projections 132 extending outwardly therefrom. The sheet material 120 after blanking, is further formed with the arms being bowed as shown in FIGURE 15 andthereafter rolled into the configuration shown in FIG- URE 16. The flanges 132 serve as anchoring portions similar to flange 48, as above described with respect to FIGURES 4 and 4a. As indicated in FIGURE 16a, the end tubular portions 128 and 130 are formed in a square configuration, which feature could, of course, be employed with any of the preceding spring embodiments. By having square end portions, the center-to center spacing between springs may be reduced.

A comparison of FIGURES 8 and 14 will reveal that with sheet material blanked in continuous lengths, any number of ranges of connector sizes may be accommodated by merely selecting the number of arms necessary and the particular tubular configuration desired. Thus, for a given pin size, four legs may be selected to provide a suitable spring diameter. For a larger pin, five or six legs may be used with an appropirate roll of tubular end portions. This operates to provide wide utility of use for the stock material in its basic form.

FIGURES 17, 18 and 19 show an alternative embodiment wherein the novel spring construction of the invention is formed in a pin configuration rather than in a socket configuration. The method of manufacture is substantially the same. Beginning with sheet stock material 140, blanking operations are carried out to pro vide slots 141, defining legs 142, 144 and 146 separated and interconnected to end portions 148 and 150. The end of portion 150 is preferably blanked as shown with V notches defining ends 152 and the sheet material formed as shown in FIGURE 18 to include a bowed portion with ends 152 turned downwardly. Thereafter, the formed sheet material is then rolled around a cylindrical mandrel to form a pin member with spring arms bowed outwardly rather than inwardly. As will be apparent from FIGURE 19, the blanked configuration of end 150 including members 152, in conjunction with the folding as shown in FIGURE 18 and rolling as shown in FIG- URE 19, defines a pin member 162 tapered so as to avoid any possibility of the pin catching upon the edges of the aperture in which it is inserted. The opposite end 148 is formed in a tubular configuration 154, which is convenient to receive one of the leads of an electronic component which may be crimped or soldered thereto in a suitable fashion. The usual construction calls for the pin member 162 thus formed to be mounted in a phenolic or other insulating board upon which the particular electronic components are mounted with the bore 154 protruding through the board and attached to a component lead. Thereafter, the whole assembly is potted by molding insulating dielectric material therearound to form a module as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. If desired, anchoring spurs or flanges may be included along 148 to better serve the pin member.

FIGURE 20 shows a module with a single pin 162 extending therefrom and aligned over an insulating board 164 having an aperture 166, in which is secured a socket member 168 in the same manner as socket 30',

described with respect to FIGURE 4. Socket 168 includes a tapered post portion 169, which may be terminated as above described, and a central longitudinal bore 170. The bore 170 is sized to be smaller than the maximum diameter of pin 162 and slightly larger than the minimum outer diameter of the pin. With this arrangement interconnection between modules and other modules or components or external circuits may be accomplished with the disconnect function in the manner above described with yet a further reduction in the number of loose pieces which must be handled.

While the embodiment of the invention has been shown with respect to electronic component module boards, it

is fully contemplated that the various embodiments of pin and socket may be utilized separately or in smaller numbers to perform interconnecting functions between electrical signal paths. The emphasis of the advantages of the invention has been stressed with respect to smaller conductors in smaller sizes, wherein the particular advantages of the invention are most useful. It is also contemplated, however, that the assembly of the invention can be utilized with larger sizes with an appreciable economy over existing connectors of the prior art.

The particular means of performing point-to-point wiring has been shown to be a tapered post and sleeve construction in accordance with the above mentioned patent. It is also contemplated that other point-to-point wiring schemes may be accommodated by altering the construction of the sockets to include, rather than a tapered post, other configurations of terminals. For example, a solid Wire-Wrap post could be provided to accommodate either Wire-Wrap or to accommodate clipon type connections.

It is further contemplated that rather than, or in addition to, point-to-point wiring, printed circuit paths on the insulating member could directly interconnect to different socket members by direct engagement with one of the flange members thereof.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art and various apparently different modifications and embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only.

I claim:

1. An improved method for forming pin or socket spring members of the type having an axis of travel to provide engagement for electrical connection comprising the steps of blanking a flat sheet of relatively thin metal material to define a configuration including end portions having the length thereof extending in a direction transverse to the axis of travel with said end portions being spaced apart and joined by material blanked to define a plurality of slots and a plurality of arms, with a slot disposed between each arm of a width equal to or greater than the width of an arm and with the slots and arms being generally parallel to each other and diagonal to the axis of travel such that the perimeter of said configuration is generally rhomboidal, stamping the said arms into an arcuate configuration in a direction transverse to the axis of travel and rolling said blanked and stamped sheet material to a point of abutment of the edges of the end portions to define tubular portions of substantially the same diameter joined together by helically disposed arms.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the said step of stamping is in a directionn to leave said arms bowed inwardly following said step of rolling to thereby define a socket spring member.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the said step of stamping is in a direction to leave said arms bowed outwardly following said step of rolling to define a pin spring member.

4. An improved method of forming spring members of the type having an axis of travel to provide engagement for electrical connection comprising the steps of blanking a flat sheet of relatively thin metal material into a configuration including end portions having the length thereof disposed transverse to said axis of travel with said end portions being spaced apart and joined by material blanked to define a plurality of slots and a plurality of arms, with a slot disposed between each arm of a width equal to or greater than the width of an arm and with the slots and arms being parallel to each other and diagonal to the axis of travel such that the said configuration forms a generally rhomboidal shape, rolling said blanked material to .a point of abutment of the edges of the end portions to form said end portions into tubular portions of substantially the same diameter at the ends thereof joined by said arms in a configuration spirally disposed about the longitudinal center axis of said tubular portions and then clenching said arms to an inward position by force applied transverse to the said axis of travel.

5. As an article of manufacture for an electrical receptacle, a one-piece member of conductive material having spring characteristics including substantially planar first and second support portions of the same length with the length axes parallel to each other, at least three arms of the same length extending between said support portions, the said arms being spaced apart by slots at least as wide as the width of an arm, with the said arms being of a width substantially greater than the thickness thereof and of a length substantially greater than the width thereof, the length axes of said slots and said arms being substantially parallel to each other and disposed so as to diagonally intersect the length axis of the said first and second portions to provide a generally rhomboidal shape to the perimeter of said member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,376,735 5/1921 Stalhane et a1. 1l31 19 1,833,145 11/1931 Wilhelm. 2,004,076 6/ 1935 Knutson 1131 19 2,024,388 12/ 1935 Rabezzana 1131 19 2,593,479 4/1952 Nieter 33917 2,996,026 8/1961 Batcheller 113119 3,039,076 6/1962 Aymar 339252 3,071,750 1/1963 Heselwood 339-97 3,086,190 4/1963 Neidecker et 'al. 339252 X 3,156,517 11/1964 Maximoff et al 339220 FOREIGN PATENTS 110,194 7/1928 Austria.

881,186 1/1943 France.

909,594 4/ 1954 Germany.

22,476 12/ 1961 Germany. 649,447 10/ 1951 Great Britain.

10,505 12/ 1899 Sweden. 138,117 4/1930 Switzerland. 151,479 3/ 1932 Switzerland.

0 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Examiner.

R. E. MOORE, R. J. HERBST, Assistant Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. AN IMPROVED METHOD FOR FORMING PIN OR SOCKET SPRING MEMBERS OF THE TYPE HAVING AN AXIS OF TRAVEL TO PROVIDE ENGAGEMENT FOR ELECTRICAL CONNECTION COMPRISING THE STEPS OF BLANKING A FLAT SHEET OF RELATIVE THIN METAL MATERIAL TO DEFINE A CONFIGURATION INCLUDING END PORTIONS HAVING THE LENGTH THEREOF EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THE AXIS OF TRAVEL WITH SAID END PORTIONS BEING SPACED APART AND JOINED BY MATERIAL BLANKED TO DEFINE A PLURALITY OF SLOTS AND A PLURALITY OF ARMS, WITH A SLOT DISPOSED BETWEEN EACH ARM OF A WIDTH EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THE WIDTH OF AN ARM AND WITH THE SLOTS AND ARMS BEING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER AND DIAGONAL TO THE AXIS OF TRAVEL SUCH THAT THE PERIMETER OF SAID CONFIGURATION IS GENERALLY RHOMBOIDAL, STAMPING THE SAID ARMS INTO AN ARCUATE CONFIGURATION IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO THE AXIS OF TRAVEL AND ROLLING SAID BLANKED AND STAMPED SHEET MATERIAL TO A POINT OF ABUTMENT OF THE EDGES OF THE END PORTIONS TO DEFINE TUBULAR PORTIONS OF SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME DIAMETER JOINED TOGETHER BY HELICALLY DISPOSED ARMS.

Images