US3553347A

US3553347A - Wire connectors

Info

Publication number: US3553347A
Application number: US746135A
Authority: US
Inventors: John Patrick Harding; Reginald Robert Burges
Original assignee: Post Office
Current assignee: Post Office
Priority date: 1967-07-25
Filing date: 1968-07-19
Publication date: 1971-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 1988-01-05
Also published as: BE718592A; DE1765818C3; DE1765818B2; CH477769A; FR1572098A; JPS4815437B1; NL6810496A; SE361386B; DE1765818A1; ES356451A1; NL155133B

Abstract

Metallic crimping clips for joining together first and second insulated wires, each clip trough-shaped and having formed therein a series of integral strips and tangs so shaped that, on compressing a clip about the wires, the strips and tangs engage with the wires to form an electrically and mechanically permanent joint between the wires, the joint being capable of slight elastic movement under pressure.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventors John Patrick Harding Bushey; Reginald Robert Burgess, Wanstead, London, England [21] Appl. No. 746,135

[22] Filed July 19,1968

[45] Patented Jan. 5, 1971 [73] Assignee Her Majestys Postmaster General London, England [32] Priority July 25, 1967, Oct. 6, 1967 [3 3 Great Britain [3! 1 Nos. 34,163/67 and 45,659/67 [54] WIRE CONNECTORS 8 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

52 U.S.Cl 174/84, 29/628: 174/90; 339/97 511 lnt.Cl. H0lr9/06,

[50] Field ofSearch. l74/84.l

{56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,783,447 2/1957 Watts i. 339/97CX 3,320,354 5/1967 Marley et al 174/88X Primary Examiner- Darrell L. Clay Attorney-Hall and Houghton ABSTRACT: Metallic crimping clips for joining together first and second insulated wires, each clip trough-shaped and having formed therein a series of integral strips and tangs so shaped that, on compressing a clip about the wires, the strips and tangs engage with the wires to form an electrically and mechanically permanent joint between the wires, the joint being capable of slight elastic movement under pressure.

PATENTED JAN 5197! SHEET 1 BF 5 4 Rea/MAD R'Bwvazss INVENTORS ATTORNEY PATENTEUJAN slsn 3553347 7 sum 2 OF 5 7 JOHN P HAnom/r.

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INVENTOR S ATTORNEY PATENTEDJAH 51971 3553347 SHEET 3 OF 5 ATTORNEY PATENTED JAN 5 I97! SHEET 3 OF 5 Jay/y P. ///mo//m Prom/i L1) 341/155)? INVENTORS ATTORNEY PATENTEU JAN 5 I971 SHEET 4 OF 5 aim WILD a m c 1.: s5

INVENTOR 5 BY y vm ATTORNEY PATENTED JAN 5 l9?! SHEET 5 BF 5 INVENTORS B M /&\

ATTORNEY 1 WIRE CONNECTORS This invention relates to wire connectors and more particularly to metallic crimping clips for joining together the individual and corresponding wires of first and second multiconductor cables.

In the past, the separate wires of, for instance, telephone cables to which this invention is particularly directed, have been manually jointed by twisting the wires together and covering the twisted joint with an insulating sleeve. A number of metallic crimping clips haverecently been disclosed for use in conjunction with particular jointing machines to provide improved joints, both electrically and mechanically, over such manual joints.

Theobject of the present invention is to provide an improved metallic crimping clip which, when joining together a pair of wires, contains the necessary amount of stored energy to provide permanence of the electrical and mechanical connection despite temperature changes or creep or cold flow in the conductor, and which is capable of slight elastic moventent under pressure.

Accordingly, the invention provides acrimping clip which consists of a substantially trough-shaped electrically conductive member having a base and first and second upstanding sidewalls, the base containing at least one pair of transverse slits defining a series of crossstrips, the cross-strip between the or each pair of transverse slits being subdivided by a slit substantially perpendicular to the said transverse slits to form a pair of tongue portions, the tongue portions being bendable to lie adjacent to, and to extend from the base in the same general directionas the first and second upstanding sidewalls respectivelyfthe, transverse edges of the other cross-strips, apart from those edges defining the ends of the base, curving upwardly. H j g In afirst embodiment, a crimping clip consists of a substantially trough-shaped, electrically conductive member having a base and first and second upstanding sidewalls, the base containing a plurality of transverse slits defining a series of crossstrips, alternate cross-strips each beingsubdivided by a slit substantially perpendicular to the said transverse slits to form a pair of tongue portions, the tongue portions being bendable to lie adjacent to and to extend from the base in the same general direction as the first and second upstanding sidewalls respectively, the transverse edges of the other cross-strips, apart from those edges defining the ends of the base, curving upwardly.

In a further embodiment, a crimping clip consists of asubstantially trough-shaped, electrically conductive member having a base and first and second upstanding sidewalls, the base containing a pair of transverse slits defining three cross-strips of which the central strip is subdivided by a slit substantially perpendicular to the said transverse slits to form a pair of tongue portions, the tongue portions being bendable to lie adjacent to and to extend from the base in the same general direction as the first and second upstanding sidewalls, the transverse edges of the other cross-strips adjacent to the central strip curving upwardly.

In all embodiments it is advantageous that the inner surfaces of the first and second upstanding sidewalls are embossed, the embossments'each being positioned to lie adjacent to and to back an upwardly bent tongue portion. The embossments on the inner surfaces of the upstanding sidewalls are formed by impressing the outer surfaces of the said sidewalls.

The upwardly curving edges of the other cross-strips may contain an intermediate notch, thus producing separate first and second edges.

Preferably the other cross-strips of the base of the said trough-shaped member are pierced at a number of places to provide upwardly projecting tangs.

Further, the base of the said trough-shaped member may be slit adjacent to both ends of the longitudinal axis thereof in such a manner that first and second substantially triangular or truncated triangular projections may be raised adjacent to each end of that axis to be perpendicular to and transverse of the base of the trough-shaped member. 1.

The base of the further embodiment may, in addition, be slit at both sides of the central strip in such a manner that third and fourth substantially triangular or truncated triangular projections may be raised adjacent to each side of that central strip to be perpendicular to and transverse of the base of the trough-shaped member.

In all embodiments, the base of the trough-shaped member may be upwardly convex; also the transverse edges of the cross-strip or strips which are subdivided'to form the said tongue portions, may curve downwardly.

By way of example only, crimping clipsembodying the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an uncrimped first clip;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an uncrimped first clip;

FIG. 3 is a central longitudinal verticalsection through an uncrimped first clip;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through a crimped first clip;

FIG. 5 is a detail of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a central longitudinal vertical section through an uncrimped second clip;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal vertical section through a crimped second clip;

FIG. 8 is a plan view ofa third clip;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are sections onthe lines IX-lX and XX respectively of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a fourth clip.

Referring to FIGS. l-3, the crimping clip comprises a substantially trough-shaped member 1 of resilient metal such as hard brass or phosphor bronze coated with tin and backed with an insulating cover 2 of polyvinyl chloride or similar plastics material, the cover 2 being wrapped around the longitudinal edges of the clip at 3. The member 1 includes a base 4, which is slightly convex towards the open side of the trough, bounded by first and second

upstanding sidewalls

5, 6.

Four parallel transverse slits in the base of the member I define first and second cross-strips, each of which is divided into first and

second tongue portions

7, 8 by central slits perpendicular to the said transverse slits. The

tongue portions

7, 8 are bent towards the open side of the trough to lie substantially parallel to the

upstanding sidewalls

5, 6.

Each of the

sidewalls

5 and 6 is provided with internal embossments 9 corresponding in numberand position with the upturned tongue portions 7, 8' and formed by pressing in the outer surface of the wall by an appropriate amount.

The base 4 of the member 1 is pierced to provide a series of pairs of upwardly projecting tangs l0, l1 symmetrically positioned about the central longitudinal axis of the base as shown in FIG. 1, the inner tangs 10 being approximately twice the height of the outer tangs 11 for reasons which will be explained when describing the use of the crimping clip to join a pair of wires together.

Two truncated

triangular portions

12, 13 each symmetrical about the central longitudinal axial plane of the member 1, are provided adjacent to each end of and substantially perpendicular to the base 4 by cutting the truncated sides in the base portion to converge towards the corresponding ends of the base '4 and bending the truncated triangular portions so formed upwards about the bases of the portions and towards the center of the base 4.

The apertures formed in the base portion on the upward bending of the

tongue portions

7, 8,'have slightly turned up edges 14, as best shown in FIG. 3, these edgeshaving central notches 15, as shown in FIG. 1, thus forming each edge into first and second independent edges.

FIG. 4 illustrates a clip in a fully compressed state when each wire is trapped at four points 17, i.e. between the upturned edges 14 bordering the apertures in the base 4 and the edges of the

tongue portions

7, 8.

As the

upstanding sidewalls

5, 6 are bent over during compression of the clip, the

tongue portions

7, 8 backed 'bythe embossments 9, engage with the respective wires, the wires then being trapped between the tongue portions and the associated upturned edges 14. The embossments 9 ensure that the tongue portions penetrate the gaps between the upturned edges 14 and that there is sufficient contact movement of the tongue portions and wires to allow a good tearing action by the upturned edges 14 on the insulating cover of the wire. This tearing action strips off the insulating cover at the points of contact with the upturned edges 14 and scrapes clean the wires in preparation for the final contact. On completion of the compression of the clip, the wire is shorn of the insulating cover at the four points 17 shown in FIG. 4 and trapped, as shown in that FIG. and in FIG. 5 between the

tongue portions

7, 8 which are retained in the fully closed position by the embossments 9, and the upturned edges 14; by this arrangement the presence of insulation at those points which might induce creep and relaxation, is substantially avoided. The upturned edges 14 may be proportioned to contain a spring restraint which will maintain contact pressure against the effects of creep and relaxation. Further, these upturned edges also yield as cantilevers to close the gaps 18 (FIG. 3) between the

tongue portions

7, 8 and the edges 14, the edges adjusting themselves according to the diameter of the wire to be trapped.

The notches in the upturned edges 14 divide the latter into two independent edges, and consequently allow for the jointing together of wires of different diameters in any combination by a single symmetrical connector, the amount of yielding of either of the respective edges depending on the diameter of the wire to be trapped by the edge concerned.

In addition to ensuring that the wires to be joined are set in the clip in the correct positions, the truncated

triangular portions

12, 13 assist in the trapping of the wires in the crimped clip by penetrating the insulating covers and making contact with the wires.

The inner tangs 10 formed in the base portion 4 cooperate with the upturned edges 14 to hold the wire in tension and also exert an advantageous stretching and scraping action on the wire during compression of the clip. The outer, smaller, tangs I1 exert a small gripping action on the wire near its point of emergence from the clip which aids in holding the wire in the clip without any appreciable weakening of the wire itself.

FIG. 6 illustrates a slightly modified version of the crimping clip shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the modified clip having

tongue portions

7, 8 provided with inturned side edges 19 which cooperate with the upturned edges 14 to trap the wires as shown in FIG. 7. These inturned edges also yield under the crimping pressure to augment the closing of the gaps 20.

The crimping clip illustrated in FIGS. 8-10 comprises the substantially trough-shaped member 1 of the previous embodiments, the member being made from resilient sheet metal, for example half-hard phosphor bronze 0.010 inch thick and having an electrolytically applied coating of tin of thickness 0.0002 inch. The clip has a base 4 slightly convex towards the open side of the trough, most clearly illustrated in FIG. 10, and the

upstanding sidewalls

5, 6. a

. In this embodiment, two parallel transverse slits in the base 4 define three side-by-side cross-strips of which the central strip is divided into

tongues

7, 8 by a central slit made in the base in a direction at right angles to the transverse slits. Again the

tongues

7, 8 are bent upwardly towards the open side of the trough to lie adjacent to and substantially parallel to the.

sidewalls 5,6 respectively.

Each sidewall has a single internally projecting embossment 9 whose position corresponds with the adjacent tongue and which is formed by pressing in the sidewall by an appropriate amount.

The base 4 of the trough is pierced to form a series of pairs of tangs 10, II, which project towards the open side of the trough. The pairs are symmetrically positioned about the central longitudinal axis of the trough to suit the line of the wire as finally crimped, the

tongues

7, 8 bringing the wires closer together at the middle of the clip. The tangs 10 are identical but those of the pairs 11 are different. Tang 11a is of a height less than half that of tang 11b. It will be noted that the positions of the

tangs

11a, 11b are reversed at one end of the clip compared with the other. The height of each of the tangs 10 is slightly less than that of the tangs 11b. Two triangular portions l2, 13 each symmetrical about the central longitudinal axial plane of the trough are formed in the base 4 by cutting and bending.

The aperture left in the base 4 by the upward bending of the

tongues

7, 8 has upturned edges or deflectable lips as shown at 14.

The effect of bending over the

sidewalls

5, 6 during compression of the clip about wires to be joined is exactly as described in relation to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1- -3 except that, on completion of the compression of the clip. each wire is shorn of its insulatingcover at two points and trapped between the

tongue portions

7,8. I

Similarly, the effect of the inner tangs l0 and the smaller outer tangs 11a is as described earlier, but the larger outer tangs llb, which are close to where the wires are cut, enable the best possible contact with the wire to be made at a point where reduction of strength of the wire is not important.

A slightly modified version of the above-described clip is illustrated in FIG. 11. The pairs of tangs 10 immediately on each side of the aperture remaining in the base 4 on the upward bending of the

tongue portions

7, 8 have been replaced by triangular portions 21, 22 similar to portions l2, 13. These portions 21, 22 help to position the wires on the shorter entry tangs 10a and help retain the wires under the

tongues

7, 8. Further, they combine with the upturned edges 14 to exert a further scraping action on the insulation. The inner tangs 10b associated with the larger outer tangs 11b have beenincreased in height compared with the inner tangs 10a to improve the contact with the wire on the side of the clip where reduction of strength of the wire is not important.

All the clips according to the invention can be used in conjunction with a crimping machine as described in British Pat. Specification No; 1,176,362 to form an electrically and mechanically sound joint between two insulated wires. In such use of a clip, first and second insulated wires to be joined are laid side-by-side in the trough-shaped member I, the wires being laterally separated by the upturned

triangular portions

12, 13 or 12, 21, 22, 13. One of the wires 16 is shown in an open first embodiment of the clip in FIG. 3 while FIG. 8 illustrates a further embodiment of the clip with the wires to be joined shown dotted. To connect the two wires together electrically, the

sidewalls

5, 6 are bent towards the base 4 to compress the clip about the wires, preferably between a dieand moving punch arrangement in which the punch compresses the clip against a substantially flat-ended die, shaped to confine the bends in the

sidewalls

5, 6 of the clip .to very near the base 4 thus minimizing any relaxation after crimping. With such an arrangement the clip is heavily compressed near the base 4 so that the material throughout the section yields and the tensile stress from bending is neutralised. The compression of the clip is augmented by the upward convexity of the base portion which causes the

sidewalls

5, 6 to make contact through the wires with the base portion before completion of the compression of the clip. Completion of the compression of the clip results in the base portion being flattened out with the

sidewalls

5, 6 lying approximately parallel to the base portion. On releasing the compression on the clip, the resilience of the metal allows the reassertion of the upward convexity of the base portion and consequent improvement in the grip on the wires.

Additionally, the punch itself may contain a concavity or the die a protuberance by which a higher crimping action may be delivered to the sides of the trough-shaped member 1 than to the middle of that member, thus causing the

sidewalls

5,6 to sustain a force on the wires by cantilever action after release of the crimping pressure.

The arrangement of the

tongue portions

7, 8 further reduces the effect of relaxation by having the line of relaxation of the clip perpendicular to the direction of contact pressure of the

tongue portions

7,8 on the wire. This also limits the relaxation of the

sidewalls

5, 6 of the clip, so improving the permanence of the contact between the wires and the

tangs

10, 11. a

Thus by a combination of the several means of making contact with the wires, retention of a degree of resilience and minimizing the effects of relaxation, the clips embodying the invention can be used to form joints which provide permanence of electrical and mechanical connections despite temperature changes, creep or cold flow in the conductor or the insulant, and leave a safety margin in performance against unfavorable manufacturing tolerance, or other imperfections in the act of crimping.

Typical dimensions of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 are;

overall length 0.600 inch;

overall width 0.175 inch;

overall height 0.090 inch;

height of truncated triangular projections 0.050 inch; base width of truncated triangular projections 0.060 inch; height of outermost tangs 0.010 inch;

height of innermost tangs 0.020 inch;

width of tongue portions 0.045 inch;

distance between corresponding points on adjacent tongue portions 0.125 inch; width of gap between tongue portions and upstanding edges 0.010 inch;

thickness of material 0.010 inch;

range of wire sizes able to be accommodated in clip 0.0 l 2 to 0.025 inch diameter bare.

Typical dimensions of the embodiment of FIGS. 8l0 are:

overall length 0.647 inch;

overall width 0.175 inch;

overall height 0.090 inch;

height of truncated triangular projections 0.033 inch; base width of truncated triangular projections 0.048 inch; height oftangs 10, 0.015 inch;

height of tangs lla, 0.008 inch;

height of tangs 11b, 0.020 inch;

width of tongue portions 0.050 inch;

width of gap between tongue portions and upstanding edges 0.013 inch; range of wire sizes able to be accommodated in clip 0.012 to 0.025 inch diameter bare.

Typical dimensions of the embodiment of FIG. 11 differ from those of the embodiment of FIGS. 8 as follows:

base width of triangular projections 0.058 inch;

height of tangs 100, 0.014 inch;

height of tangs, 10b 0.020 inch.

We claim:

l. A crimping clip comprising a generally trough-shaped, electrically-conductive member having a base and first and second upstanding sidewalls, the base containing a plurality of transverse slits defining a series of cross-strips, alternate crossstrips each being subdivided by a slit substantially perpendicular to the said transverse slit to form a pair of tongue portions bent to lie adjacent to and to extend from the base in the same general direction as the first and second upstanding sidewalls respectively, the transverse edges of the other cross-strips, apart from those edges defining the ends of the base being bent upwardly to form a deflectable lip, the said other cr'ossstrips being pierced at a number of places to provide upstanding tangs. v

2. A crimping clip as claimed in claim 1 in which the base of the said trough-shaped member is slitiadjacent to both ends of the longitudinally-extending.center line thereof, and first and second generally triangular or truncated triangular projections tongue portions bent to lie adjacent to and to extend from the are struck up adjacent to each end of that center line so as to be perpendicular to and transverse of the base of the troughshaped member.

3. A crimping clip comprising a generally trough-shaped, electrically-conductive member having a base and first and second upstanding sidewalls, the base containing a plurality of transverse slits defining a series-of cross-strips, alternate crossstrips each being subdivided by a slit substantially perpendicular to the said transverse slits to form apair of tongue portions bent to lie adjacent to and to extend from the base in the same general direction as the first and second upstanding sidewalls respectively, the transverse edges of the other cross-strips,

apart from those edges defining the ends of the base being bent upwardly to form a deflectable lip, the said other cr0ssstrips being pierced at a number of places to provide upstanding tangs, and in which the inner surfaces of the first and second upstanding sidewalls are embossed, the embossments each being positioned to lie adjacent to, and to back, an upwardly bent tongue portion.

4. A crimping clip comprising a generally trough-shaped electrically-conductive member having an upwardly-convex base and first and second upstanding sidewalls, the base containing a plurality of transverse slits defining a series of crossstrips, alternate cross-strips each being subdivided by a slit substantially perpendicular to the said transverse slits to form a pair of tongue portions bent to lie adjacent to and to extend from the base in the same general direction as the first and second upstanding sidewalls respectively, the transverse edges of the other cross-strips, apart from those edges defining the ends of the base, being bent upwardly to form a deflectable lip, the outer surfaces of the first and second upstanding sidewalls being impressed'to form embossments on the inner surfaces of said sidewalls, each of which embossments is positioned adjacent to, and to back, an upwardly-bent tongue portion.

5. A crimping clip comprising a generally trough-shaped electrically-conductive member having an upwardly-convex base and first and second upstanding sidewalls, the base containing a plurality of transverse slits defining a series of crossstrips, alternate cross-strips each being subdivided by a slit substantially perpendicular to the said transverse slits to-form a pair of tongue portions bent to lie adjacent to and to extend from the base in the same general direction as the first and second upstanding sidewalls respectively, the transverse edges of the other cross-strips, apart from those edges defining the rality of transverse slits defining a series of cross-strips, alp temate crossstrips each being subdivided by a slit substantially perpendicular to the said transverse slits to form a pair of base in the same general'direction as the first and second upstanding sidewalls respectively, said tongue portions having transverse edges inwardly bent to form deflectable lips, the

transverse edges of the other cross-strips, apart from those edges defining the ends of the base, being bent upwardly to form a defiectable lip, an intermediate notch'in eachsaid lip to produce first and second edges, the outer surfaces of the first and second upstanding sidewalls being impressed to form embossments on the inner surfaces of said sidewalls, each of which embossments is positioned adjacent to, and to' back, an upwardly-bent tongue portion.

7. A crimping clip comprising a generally trough-shaped,

electrically-conductive member having a base and first and I second upstanding sidewalls, the basecontaining a pair of transverse slits defining three cross-strips of'which the central strip is subdivided by a slit substantially perpendicular to the" said transverse slits to form a pair of tongue portions bent to lie adjacent to and to extend from the base in the same general direction as the first and second upstanding sidewalls respec-f tively, the transverse edges adjacent the central strips of the other cross-strips being bentupwardly to'forma deflectable" lip, said other cross-strips being pierced at a number of places to provide upstanding tangs.

8. A crimping clip as claimed in claim 7 in which thebase of H generally triangular or truncated triangular projections are struck up adjacent to each side of that central strip to be perpendicular to and transverse of the base of the trough-shaped member.

Claims

1. A crimping clip comprising a generally trough-shaped, electrically-conductive member having a base and first and second upstanding sidewalls, the base containing a plurality of transverse slits defining a series of cross-strips, alternate cross-strips each being subdivided by a slit substantially perpendicular to the said transverse slit to form a pair of tongue portions bent to lie adjacent to and to extend from the base in the same general direction as the first and second upstanding sidewalls respectively, the transverse edges of the other cross-strips, apart from those edges defining the ends of the base being bent upwardly to form a deflectable lip, the said other cross-strips being pierced at a number of places to provide upstanding tangs.

2. A crimping clip as claimed in claim 1 in which the base of the said trough-shaped member is slit adjacent to both ends of the longitudinally-extending center line thereof, and first and second generally triangular or truncated triangular projections are struck up adjacent to each end of that center line so as to be perpendicular to and transverse of the base of the trough-shaped member.

3. A crimping clip comprising a generally trough-shaped, electrically-conductive member having a base and first and second upstanding sidewalls, the base containing a plurality of transverse slits defining a series of cross-strips, alternate cross-strips each being subdivided by a slit substantially perpendicular to the said transverse slits to form a pair of tongue portions bent to lie adjacent to and to extend from the base in the same general direction as the first and second upstanding sidewalls respectively, the transverse edges of the other cross-strips, apart from those edges defining the ends of the base being bent upwardly to form a deflectable lip, the said other cross-strips being pierced at a number of places to provide upstanding tangs, and in which the inner surfaces of the first and second upstanding sidewalls are embossed, the embossments each being positioned to lie adjacent to, and to back, an upwardly bent tongue portion.

4. A crimping clip comprising a generally trough-shaped electrically-conductive member having an upwardly-convex base and first and second upstanding sidewalls, the base containing a plurality of transverse slits defining a series of cross-strips, alternate cross-strips each being subdivided by a slit substantially perpendicular to the said transverse slits to form a pair of tongue portions bent to lie adjacent to and to extend from the base in the same general direction as the first and second upstanding sidewalls respectively, the transverse edges of the other cross-strips, apart from those edges defining the ends of the base, being bent upwardly to form a deflectable lip, the outer surfaces of the first and second upstanding sidewalls being impressed to form embossments on the inner surfaces of said sidewalls, each of which embossments is positioned adjacent to, and to back, an upwardly-bent tongue portion.

5. A crimping clip comprising a generally trough-shaped electrically-conductive member having an upwardly-convex base and first and second upstanding sidewalls, the base containing a plurality of transverse slits defining a series of cross-strips, alternate cross-strips each being subdivided by a slit substantially perpendicular to the said transverse slits to form a pair of tongue portions bent to lie adjacent to and to extend from the base in the same general direction as the first and second upstanding sidewalls respectively, the transverse edges of the other cross-strips, apart from those edges defining the ends of the base, being bent upwardly to form a deflectable lip, an intermediate notch in each said lip to produce first and second edges, the outer surfaces of the first and second upstanding sidewalls being impressed to form embossmentS on the inner surfaces of said sidewalls, each of which embossments is positioned adjacent to, and to back, an upwardly-bent tongue portion.

6. A crimping clip comprising a generally trough-shaped electrically-conductive member having an upwardly-convex base and first and second sidewalls, the base containing a plurality of transverse slits defining a series of cross-strips, alternate cross-strips each being subdivided by a slit substantially perpendicular to the said transverse slits to form a pair of tongue portions bent to lie adjacent to and to extend from the base in the same general direction as the first and second upstanding sidewalls respectively, said tongue portions having transverse edges inwardly bent to form deflectable lips, the transverse edges of the other cross-strips, apart from those edges defining the ends of the base, being bent upwardly to form a deflectable lip, an intermediate notch in each said lip to produce first and second edges, the outer surfaces of the first and second upstanding sidewalls being impressed to form embossments on the inner surfaces of said sidewalls, each of which embossments is positioned adjacent to, and to back, an upwardly-bent tongue portion.

7. A crimping clip comprising a generally trough-shaped, electrically-conductive member having a base and first and second upstanding sidewalls, the base containing a pair of transverse slits defining three cross-strips of which the central strip is subdivided by a slit substantially perpendicular to the said transverse slits to form a pair of tongue portions bent to lie adjacent to and to extend from the base in the same general direction as the first and second upstanding sidewalls respectively, the transverse edges adjacent the central strips of the other cross-strips being bent upwardly to form a deflectable lip, said other cross-strips being pierced at a number of places to provide upstanding tangs.

8. A crimping clip as claimed in claim 7 in which the base of the said trough-shaped member is slit adjacent to both ends of the longitudinal axis thereof and first and second generally triangular or truncated triangular projections are struck up adjacent each end of that axis to be perpendicular to and transverse of the base of the trough-shaped member, the base also being slit at both sides of the central strip and third and fourth generally triangular or truncated triangular projections are struck up adjacent to each side of that central strip to be perpendicular to and transverse of the base of the trough-shaped member.