US3720907A

US3720907A - Panel connector employing flag-type terminals and terminal extracting tool for the same

Info

Publication number: US3720907A
Application number: US00161809A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Asick
Original assignee: AMP Inc
Current assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
Priority date: 1971-02-12
Filing date: 1971-07-12
Publication date: 1973-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 1990-03-13
Also published as: IT946594B; BE779207A; ATA96072A; DE2204924A1; ES399666A1; FR2125428B1; AT326202B; CA961942A; FR2125428A1; AU3777472A; GB1354201A; NL7201808A; SE388994B; DE2204924B2

Abstract

A dielectric block carrying a longitudinally extending trough on one side and a plurality of spaced slots from the same side and intersecting the trough, have the root portions of the slots longitudinally enlarged at one side to define first and second shoulders. A FLAG-type terminal inserted into the trough in the same direction as the subsequently received printed circuit board has a tang within the web portion which contacts the second shoulder to resist removal forces in the plane of card insertion. The flag-type terminal is bent to longitudinally offset the web portion from the wire crimping portion to form an abutment which contacts the first shoulder and resists forces extending along the axis of the wire crimped thereto. A multi-armed extracting tool is inserted within the slot adjacent to the terminal arm for releasing the tang from the second shoulder for extraction of the terminal in the plane of the printed circuit board and in the direction of board extraction.

Description

United States Patent [191 Asick [54] PANEL CONNECTOR EMPLOYING FLAG-TYPE TERMINALS AND TERMINAL EXTRACTING TOOL FOR THE SAME [52] U.S. Cl. .....339/l76 MP, 339/217 S, 339/258 R,

[51] Int. Cl ..I-I05k 1/07, I-IOlr 13/12 [58] Field ofSearch.....339/17 L, 17 LC, 17 LM, 75

MP, 339/176 MP, 184 M, 186 M, 217 S, 258 R,

258 F, 258 P, 276 F [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,075,167 l/l963 Kinkaid ..339/l76 MP 3,524,161 8/1970 Frantz et al.... ..339/l7 L 3,555,493 l/l97l Baumanis ..339/l76 MP FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 305,016 8/1967 Sweden ..339/17 L 1March 13, 1973 OTHER PUBLICATIONS H. H. Buggie Catalog, Printed Circuit Connectors, Jan. 1954, page 2.

Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant ExaminerLawrence J. Staab AtzorneyWil1iam J. Keating et al., Gerald K. Kita, John R. Flanagan and Allan B. Osborne [57] ABSTRACT A dielectric block carrying a longitudinally extending trough on one side and a plurality of spaced slots from the same side and intersecting the trough, have the root portions of the slots longitudinally enlarged at one side to define first and second shoulders. A FLAG-type terminal inserted into the trough in the same direction as the subsequently received printed circuit board has a tang within the web portion which contacts the second shoulder to resist removal forces in the plane of card insertion. The flag-type terminal is bent to longitudinally offset the web portion from the wire crimping portion to form an. abutment which contacts the first shoulder and resists forces extending along the axis of the wire crimped thereto. A multiarmed extracting tool is inserted within the slot adjacent to the terminal arm for releasing the tang from the second shoulder for extraction of the terminal in the plane of the printed circtuit board and in the direction of board extraction.

14 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEBMAR 13 I913 SHEET l UF 5 PATENTEUMAR 13 I975 SHEET 2 BF 5 PATENIEnuAmm

sum

3 or 5 UMTJ PATENTEDMAR 13 ms SHEET L BF 5 JA/ ///V //l f 557 .424 ZTZ 6,9 2:: .5a

PATENTEIJHAR13 191s 3,720,907

7 SHEET 5 or 5 I l m- PANEL CONNECTOR EMPLOYING FLAG-TYPE TERMINALS AND TERMINAL EXTRACTING TOOL FOR THE SAME This application is a continuation in part of U. S. application Ser. No. 114,793 filed Feb. 17, 1971, entitled Improved Panel Connector Employing Flag-type Terminals, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to electrical connectors for forming disengageable electric connections between a plurality of conductors on a rigid panel-like member such as a printed circuit board and a corresponding number of wires external of the panel. The invention is described with respect to a connector for specific use with a printed circuit board, however, it is readily apparent that the invention may be broadly applied to the formation of disengageable electrical connections with panel-like members of a more general nature.

Description of the Prior Art The general use of printed circuit techniques and especially thin, rigid printed circuit boards formed of dielectric material and carrying printed circuit conductors on the surface thereof or embedded within the same, has resulted in the evolvement of different connecting devices capable of disengageably connecting external conductors to the circuit paths on the printed circuit board. One type of connector which is most suitably adapted to the connection of a printed circuit board to a plurality of individual conductors or wires, is set forth in U. 5. Pat. No. 3,075,167, patented Jan. 22, 1963, and assigned to the common assignee. The con nector therein involves a dielectric block having a longitudinally extending trough extending inwardly from one side and partially toward the opposite side for reception of an edge portion of the printed circuit board. The trough is provided with a plurality of spaced, flag-type connectors partially carried within the trough and extending within slots and through a side wall defined by the trough at right angles to the plane of insertion of the printed circuit board. This arrangement eliminates any tendency on the part of a technician, in removing the block from the board and vice versa, to grasp the external wires and pull on them to effect said dis-engagement. The flag-type connectors are characterized by resilient arms which frictionally grasp the individual conductors on the printed circuit board, with a barrel crimp portion extending outwardly from an interconnecting web portion at right angles to the arms, from one side of the web portion, partially within and beyond the slots formed in the side wall of the block. Since the slots which intersect the trough define an L-shaped cavity to receive both the printed circuit board portion grasped between the resilient arms of the flag-type connector, and the wire connecting portion of the terminal which extends at right angles thereto, necessarily, the unitary dielectric block constituting plastic or the like, must be molded in a complex mold. This complexity involves the movement of mold parts in directions at right angles to each other because of the configuration of the cavity. The number of segments forming the mold and the core pins required to define the cavities within the block for subsequent reception of the terminals and the printed circuit board are also high.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The present invention, in a preferred embodiment, constitutes a connector for a printed circuit board or the like involving a dielectric block having an elongated, longitudinally extending trough along one side of the block and extending partially therethrough toward the opposite side with the trough receiving an edge portion of the printed circuit board. A plurality of longitudinally spaced slots extend inwardly of the said one side of said block and inwardly of an adjacent side to intersect said trough and define on opposite side walls thereof, laterally extending recesses. The root portions of the slots are longitudinally enlarged to one side thereof to define first and second shoulder means at right angles to each other. Each slot and its intersecting trough portion receive a flag-type terminal having a pair of laterally spaced arms carried by the trough portion which arms extend outwardly from a terminal web portion to receive the inserted edge portion of the printed circuit board. A wire barrel crimp portion extends outwardly of the web portions at right angles to the arms and beyond the slot.

The web portion and the crimp portion of each terminal are longitudinally offset to define abutment means for contact with the first shoulder means, while a tang carried by the web portion and struck outwardly therefrom is directed at right angles to the abutment means to contact the second shoulder means, thereby resisting forces acting through either the wires or the printed circuit boards tending to remove the same from the terminal. Both the terminal and the printed circuit board are inserted in the same direction, thus insuring seating of the terminal in proper position while restrained against removal by the abutment means and the tang intersecting respective shoulders. The printed circuit board receiving arms are extensions of sides of the web portion which are bent at right angles from the web portion and are in arm facing position and occupy the root portions of the slot to thereby effect good surface contact between the arms and the respective printed circuit board conductor.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, the tang is an integral extension of the web portion from the edge opposite that carrying the arms, lies between the opposed sides of the arms and is directed obliquely toward the free ends of the same, terminating beyond a plane defined by the side edges of the arms. A special extracting tool includes first and second arms insertable into the trough and the slot carrying the flag-type terminal, with the first arm movable to a position between the tang and the web and the second arm extending parallel thereto and movable into abutment with the end of the tang to flex the tang toward the first arm and to maintain the same in flexed position. Abut ment means are formed by the first arm and contact the underside of a lip extending inwardly from the free edge of the tang toward the web portion of the terminal such that the first arm contacts the underside of the lip during extraction of the tool, causing the terminal to follow the tool during extraction. The tool may be formed in unitary fashion from spring sheet metal stock including a loop defining handle joining the arms which are longitudinally movable with respect to each other, the first arm having its tip end reversely bent to define an edge abutment for the lip with the tip end facing the second arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector in accordance with the present invention in assembled relationship to an edge portion of a printed circuit board.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view, partially in section, of a portion of the connector illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the dielectric block of the present invention with several portions of the block rotated at right angles to each other, and the paired core pins employed in the molding of the same are illustrated in proper orientation with the block as used in conjunction with a two-section mold (not shown).

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the connector of the present invention in position to receive an edge portion of a printed circuit board.

FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view, partially in section, of a portion of the connector illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a metal stock strip after punching to form the terminal of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one form of an improved extracting tool employable in conjunction with the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C are partial, sectional views of the connector of FIG. 4 during extraction of a flag-type terminal by means of the tool of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a portion of the terminal, taken about line 99 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is a partial, sectional view of a portion of the connector illustrated in FIG. 4 and employing yet another extraction tool inserted from the same side of the dielectric block slot receiving the terminal.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a connector 2 in accordance with the present invention is adapted to be assembled to and engaged with an edge portion of a printed circuit board 4 having conductors 6 thereon which extend to the edge of the board. The connector comprises two principal components, principally a dielectric block 3 of nylon or other suitable, moldable, electrically insulative material, and a plurality of flag-type terminals 5 for reception therein. The dielectric block 3 is provided with a trough 10 which extends inwardly from one side 8. The trough 10 is adapted to receive the edge portion of the printed circuit board 4. If desired, an arrangement may be incorporated to polarize the connector block 3 with respect to the printed circuit board 4, so that the parts can be assembled only in a proper and intended manner.

A plurality of longitudinally spaced slots are further provided in the block and extend inwardly from the same side 8 as does trough 10 and further from an adjacent side 22. The slots have a depth as measured from side 8 which is greater than the depth of the trough 10 in order to accommodate the particular terminal 5 illustrated in FIG. 2 in a manner to be described hereinafter. The slots 20 intersect the trough 10 and, from the bottom surface 16 of trough 10 upwardly, FIG. 2, the slots are enlarged, both in width and length, as at 18, separated by narrow walls 19. More importantly, the root portions 26 of slots 20 are enlarged longitudinally, that is, to the left side, FIG. 2, and define a first shoulder 28 which faces opposite to the adjacent side 22 of the block and a second shoulder 29 which faces away from the direction of insertion of both the terminal 5 and the printed circuit board 4. The root portions of the slots 20 outside of the trough 10 are further enlarged at 30 to receive the barrel crimp portions of the flag-type terminal 5.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, it is noted that the flag-type terminal 5 of stamped metal or the like comprises a web portion 40 having a wire barrel crimp portion 36 and an insulation crimp portion 38, extending in order from one edge of the web portion outwardly, the wire barrel crimp portion being in crimped engagement with the conducting strands of wire 34 and the insulation crimp portion 38 being in crimped engagement with the insulation of the wire 34 external of the conductors. A latch or tang 42 is partially struck out from web 40 and points in a direction at right angles to the crimp portions of the terminal. Further, it is noted that the terminal web portion and the barrel crimp portions are offset with respect to each other, separated by flat surface abutment portion 41 as one of two bent sides of terminal web portion 40, with this offset being extended to form one of a pair of contact arms 46. The arms 46 are integrally formed with the terminal web portion, extending from opposite sides. The arms have reversely bent ends 48 defining a V-shaped opening for the reception of printed circuit board 4, whose width is slightly greater than that of the opening between arms 46, so that the metallic resilient arms 46 flex slightly to receive the inserted end of the same. It is noted that rather than having narrow edges of the arms in contact with the printed circuit board, in the present embodiment, the full width of the arms contacts the board to provide increased surface contact area between the arms and the respective board conductor.

In the present embodiment, as well as in the reference above, the lower portion of side 8 of the block is recessed with respect to the upper portion so that the block has a generally L-shaped cross section. The block itself may be provided with a circular mounting hole 49 at each end, facilitating mounting of the block to a base or other support 53 by screws 51.

In use, the conductors effecting external connections for the printed circuit board will be provided with the flag-type terminals of the type illustrated in FIG. 2, which are then inserted into the block from the side 8, that is, in the same direction and on the same side as that receiving the printed circuit board. Obviously, during insertion, the tang 42 for each terminal flexes inwardly as it passes through the narrow portion of slot 20, but upon entering the enlarged root area 26 of the slot, relaxes and moves into position just beneath the second shoulder 29, thus preventing removal of the terminal in an opposite direction, that is, away from side 8 of the block. Further, the flat surface portion 41 of the terminal between the

crimp portions

36 and 38 and the web portion 40 defines an abutment which readily seats against the first shoulder 28 at right angles to the seating of the tang 42 against the shoulder 29 to resist forces acting on wires 34 in a direction away from side 22 of the block.

After the terminals have all been inserted, with the V-shaped ends 48 of the arms facing the open end of the trough'l0 and positioned between the narrow walls 19 and within the enlarged slot areas 18 above the bottom 16 of the trough 10, the ends 48 of the arms 46 are not quite touching the sides of recesses 18, the insertion of a printed circuit board 4 allows the contact arms 46 to be spread apart by the board and by the'conductors 6 thereon, allowing frictional grasping of the printed circuit board by the individual terminals at the conductor areas. Thus, the particular type of terminal shown is capable of making contact with conducting paths on both sides of the printed circuit board. One way in which an individual terminal can be removed from the block is by merely inserting a blade into the enlarged root area 26 of the slot 20 to depress tang 42 so that it clears shoulder 29 and is within the web portion when moving upwardly and outwardly through the narrow portion of the slot 20.

The block for receiving the flag-type terminals, may be most advantageously molded at low cost, since the block or housing is made to the use of a simple twopiece, two-directional mold, with the manner of manufacturing of the same being readily seen by reference to FIG. 3. The block 3 as prepared by the mold, is broken away with portion 3' rotated 90 to the block proper to illustrate the various portions of trough and the intersecting slots 20. Further, the exploded view further illustrates use of two

core pin assemblies

60 and 62 of particular configuration, which are associated with a two-piece mold (not shown) which move in conjunction with

assemblies

60 and 62 in opposite directions as indicated by

arrows

64 and 66. This allows molding in a single or straight action mold wherein the two parts of the mold move along a rectilinear path towards and away from each other and all of the shoulders and other cavity portions are formed by the suitably designed core pin assemblies in the form of single units associated with each mold half. With respect to FIG. 3, the core pin assembly 62 is shown in proper orientation with respect to the block proper, while, of course, the block portion 3 has been rotated 90 clockwise from the main portion 3 of the block. The purpose of FIG. 3 is merely to illustrate the low cost manufacturing technique employable in the molding of the block 3 and theuse of core pins to define the cavity portions of the block is readily apparent. In this regard, portions 68 of the upper core pin assembly 60 readily form the elongated trough 10 within the side 8 of the block, the outwardly and downwardly extended portion 70 of the same creates the shoulders 28 which are in contact with abutment 41 of each terminal 5. The narrow lateral extension portion 72 acts in conjunction with

portions

68 and 70 to define slot 20, while large block portion 74 creates, at the root, recess 30 which receives the conductor and insulation crimp portions of the terminal.

Turning to the lower core pin assembly 62, this simplified assembly employs two rectangular abutting

portions

76 and 78 at each location, which defines the enlarged root portion 26 of each slot and forms the shoulder 29 against which abuts, tang 42 during attempted removal of the terminal 5.

Referring in particular to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, an alternate embodiment of the connector of the present invention is illustrated at 2' and is adapted to be assembled to and engaged with an edge portion of a printed circuit board (not shown) identical in con struction and configuration to that. of the previous embodiment and insertable within a trough 10' which extends inwardly from one side 8' of the dielectric block 3' of nylon or other suitable, moldable, electrically insulated material and-forming one of the principal com ponents of the connector. The other components comprise a plurality of flag-type terminals 5' which are received within the dielectric block 3. In like manner to the previous embodiment, a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots 20' are provided in the block and extend inwardly from the same side 8 as does trough l0 and further from an adjacent side 22'. The slots have a depth as measured from side 8' which is greater than the depth of the trough 10 in order to accommodate terminals 5'. The slots 20 intersect the trough 10 with the slots being enlarged both in width and length as at 18 from the bottom surface 16' of the trough 10' upwardly, the enlarged area indicated at 18" is separated by narrow walls 19'. The root portions 26' of the slots 20' are enlarged longitudinally, that is, to the left side, FIG. 4, to define a first shoulder 28 which faces opposite to the adjacent side 22' of the block and a second shoulder 29' which faces away from the direction of insertion of both the terminal 5 and the printed circuit board (not shown) which enters from side 8' of the block. The root portions of the slots 20' outside of the trough 10 are further enlarged at 30' to receive the barrel crimp portions of the flag-type terminals 5'.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the flag-type terminal 5' is formed of stamped metal or the like and prior to being bent into final form, has a configuration indicated best in FIG. 6. A strip 60 of metal stock material has perforations 62 to permit feeding of the strip along a manufacturing path providing a multitude of operations, one of which stamps out, from the strip or blank 60, the individual terminal blanks 64 which are coupled to the perforated feed edge portion 66 by a thin connecting portion 68. The purpose of illustrating the manner of blanking the individual terminals in FIG. 6 is to show that the tang or lance 42' is achieved without substantially increasing the amount of stock m'etal required to produce the individual terminals from the strip during blanking. Thus, the lance or tang 42' of one terminal blank is formed from -the material lying between the contact arms 46' of the next adjacent blank.

In like manner to the previous embodiment, the flagtype terminal 5' of stamped metal comprises a web portion 40' having a barrel crimp portion 36' and an insu lation crimp portion 38', extending in that order from one edge of the web portion outwardly. Thus, the wire barrel crimp portion is in engagement with the conducting strands of wire and the insulation crimp portion 38' is crimped to the insulation 34' surrounding the same.

Unlike the previous embodiment, the tang 42' is integral with the web portion 40', extending outwardly from edge 70 and reversely bent about a line 72 parallel with and in line with edge 70. Tang 42' extends upwardly between arms 46' and is inclined obliquely from the web portion 40'. The terminal web portion 40' and barrel crimp portion are laterally offset with respect to each other and separated by flat surface portion 41' with the offset being formed by one of the pair of contact arms 46 integral with the terminal web portion and extending from opposite sides thereof. In like manner to the previous embodiment, the arms 46' have reversely bent ends 48' defining a V-shaped opening for the reception of the printed circuit board 73, FIG. 9. Preferably embossed contact buttons 71 present raised contact surfaces which facilitate electrical circuit completion with the inserted printed circuit board 73, FIG. 9. The tang 42' is substantially longer and therefore stronger and more durable than the tang 42 of the first embodiment, tang 42' terminating in an enlarged head 74 which is wider at its terminal end and defining a pair of shoulder contact edges 76 on each side of inwardly turned, right angle lip 78, the lip being coplanar with contact edges 76.

Turning to the insulation block housing the terminals, the block in similar manner to the previous embodiment is generally L-shaped in cross section, 'is provided with circular mounting holes 49', at each end of the same to allow mounting of the block to a base or other support. The block itself is modified somewhat from the prior embodiment, in that a rectangular notch or slot 80 is formed extending from the bottom 16 of the trough to the second shoulder 29' for the specific purpose of allowing an arm of an extraction tool to pass beyond the lip 78 of tang 42' after being inserted in the same direction as the printed circuit card to facilitate removal of the flag-type terminal from its respective slot 20 from the same side as terminal and card insertion.

In use, in similar fashion to the prior embodiment, the flag-type terminals 5' are inserted into the slot from side 8, that is, in the same direction and on the same side as that receiving the printed circuit board. Because of the presence of the enlarged head 74, the tang 42 for each terminal 5' flexes inwardly, that is, toward the web portion 40' as it passes through the narrow portion of slot 20 but upon entering the enlarged root area 26 of the slot, relaxes and moves into a position such that the contact edges 76 lie immediately beneath the shoulder 29, thus preventing removal of the terminal in an opposite direction except by use of an extraction tool. Further, the flat surface portion 41' of the terminal, in the identical manner of the first embodiment, forms an abutment which readily seats against the shoulder 28 at right angles to the seating of tang 42' against shoulder 29' to resist forces acting on wires 3 in a direction away from side 22' of the block.

The embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 also involves an insulation block which may be molded in similar fashion to the first embodiment at low cost by the use of a simple two-piece, two-directional mold as is readily seen in the perspective view of FIG. 5.

The present invention is further directed to a specially formed and configured extraction tool, FIG. 7, which enables the flag-type terminal to be extracted from the slots in block 3' receiving the same, the tool being inserted from the circuit board side of the slot to facilitate removal of the terminal 5'. One embodiment of a tool allowing access of the tool from the same side as that receiving the printed circuit board, is illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8A, 8B and 8C. Specifically, extracting tool 82 is unitary, is formed of sheet metal spring stock in the form of a metal strip which is bent to form a handle 84 and which has integrally extending from the same, a first arm 86 and a second arm 88. In that respect, arm 86 is bent through most of its length into L-shaped cross section including a right angle guide portion 90 and terminates in a reversely bent tip portion 92 whose edge 94 defines an abutment surface. Further, an L- shaped stop 96 extends outward of the guide portion 90 and is received within a notch 98 on edge 100 of'arm 88. In this respect, arm 88 is twisted at 102 so that it lies parallel to and adjacent the guide portion 90 of the first arm. The end 104 of second arm 88 terminates in an obliquely tapered camming edge 106. The U-shaped handle 84 provides a biasing force such that the arm 88 in relaxed position has its tip end 104 lying inwardly of the reversed or bent tip end 92 of the first arm 86. By grasping handle 84 and squeezing on the same, the second arm 88 is moved longitudinally with respect to the first arm 86, a distance defined by the slot 98 and the fixed stop 96 carried thereby. The extent of reciprocation and its effect in assisting in unlocking tang 42 from the second shoulder 29 may be best seen by reference to the sequence of steps in the use of the tool, as illustrated in FIGS. 8A 8C.

The flag-type terminal is shown in FIG. 8A in relaxed position within the root portion 26 of slot 20, such that the right angle lip 78 abuts shoulder 29, tang 42' being inclined in this instance upwardly and outwardly, that is, away from the web portion 40 of the flag-type terminal 5. The reversely bent tip end 92 of arm 86 moves into the slot 20 and passes between the web portion 40 and the lance or tang 42' until well beyond the right angle lip 78. With the tool in relaxed condition, the tip end 106 of the second relatively movable arm 88, is well inboard of the tip end 92 of the other arm 86. However, when the arm 86 bottoms out between the tang 42' and the web portion 40', further depression of the tool causes compression of the handle and continued movement of the second arm 88 with respect to the first arm 86, such that the camming surface 106 contacts tang 42' and flexes the tang 42 towards the web portion 40 of the terminal 5' causing the lip 78 to move out from under the shoulder 29', thus freeing the terminal 5'. Further, the edge of the second arm facing the first arm maintains the tang 42' in a flexed parallel position with respect to the web portion 40' and upon removal of the tool, in a direction as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 8C, the abutment edge 94 of the reversely turned tip end 92 of the first arm 86 contacts the bottom surface of the lip 78 of tang 42', forcing the extraction of the terminal 5 along with the extracting tool 82. Thus, as an important advantage of the second embodiment, the individual terminal may be removed from the circuit board slot of the block by means of the tool illustrated in FIG. 7 or an equivalent tool.

Using tool 182, it is necessary to enter from the rearward side of the housing to remove the terminal by pushing rather than pulling. FIG. 10 shows the method of using a simple single arm tool to extract a flag-type terminal when access to side of the block opposite to that receiving the printed circuit board may be readily had. In this case, the tool 182 which is not completely illustrated, includes a blade forming a single arm 188 having a recessed portion 190 terminating in an inclined camming edge 206 at tip end 204 which contacts the flag-type terminal in the area of the bend line 72 to force lip 78 from beneath the second shoulder 29. Continuous movement in the direction of the arrow forces the terminal in this case, upwardly and outwardly of slot The housing or block and its method of manufacture are readily contrasted with the referred to patent, in that the housing illustrated in the patent requires a more complex mold requiring one core pin for each cavity, which move normally to the path of movement of the mold part, requiring separate moving means for the core pins and the mold segment, an obvious disadvantage which results in increased cost of manufacture of the same. In addition, from the above description, since the terminal enters the housing or block in the same direction as that of the subsequently inserted printed circuit board, if any one of the terminals is not properly locked in position within the housing, this subsequent insertion of the printed circuit board contacts protrusion 74 of web portion 40' to automatically move the terminal into the proper position and insure a proper lock between the terminal and the housing receiving the same. The locking latch or tang is positioned so as to allow ready detachment of any one of the terminals from the housing slot to facilitate removal of the same and/or replacement. The employment of a terminal in which the arms face each other from opposite edges of the web portion creates in effect an ad ditional abutment surface area for ready contact with one shoulder to provide greater resistance against forces tending to detach the wires from the terminal.

As mentioned previously, the invention is adaptable to uses in environments other than that shown in the drawing and may readily provide disengageable electrical connections with both tape, cable or panels having flat conductors thereon which are similar, to conventional printed circuit panels. 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 matters set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings are offered by way of illustration only.

What is claimed is:

l. A disengageable connector assembly for connecting a plurality of lead wires with a panel-like member having conductors thereon, comprising:

a dielectric block having a trough extending along one side thereof for reception of said panel-like member,

a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots in said block extending transversely of and intersecting said trough from the side carrying said trough and an adjacent side thereof, portions of said slots being longitudinally enlarged to define first and second shoulder means at right angles to each other,

flag-type terminals carried by said slots, and extending into said trough, each of said flag-type terminals including:

a web portion and a wire connection portion offset by a right angle abutment joining the web portion to the wire connection portion, and

a tang carried by said web portion extending outwardly therefrom and having a contact edge lying at right angles to the plane of said abutment for contacting said second shoulder means, whereby: said flag-type terminal is inserted within said slot in v the same direction as said panel-like member with said abutment facing said first shoulder means and said tang facing said second shoulder means to thereby resist forces acting on the wire coupled 1 thereto or the panel-like member tending to remove the panel from the terminal.

2. The disengageable connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein: the edge of said terminal web portion remote from said abutment is bent at right angles thereto, parallel to said abutment and in the same direction, and said flag-type terminal further includes a pair of panel-receiving arms which comprise flexible extensions of said abutment and said edge respectively and wherein said slots are longitudinally enlarged on each side of said trough to receive said arms, whereby maximum surface contact exists between the panel-like member and respective arms receiving the same.

3. The disengageable connector assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said slots include enlarged root portions extending outwardly, beyond said adjacent side, and said flag-type terminals include an enlarged crimp portion disposed therein.

4. An electrical terminal for use with an edge connector panel-like member comprising:

a substantially flat web portion,

opposed sides of said web portion being bent inwardly in the same direction to define a portion U- shaped in section,

arms extending from each of said bent sidesbeyond said web portion in a common direction,

a crimp portion extending from the free end of one of said bent sides of said web portion, in a direction away from the web portion to define abutment means between the web portion and the crimp portion,

and a tang partially struck out from said web portion extending obliquely therefrom in the direction of said arms.

5. The electrical terminal as claimed in claim 4, wherein said arms initially curve towards each other with the ends flared outwardly to define a V-shaped opening for reception of said panel-like member.

6. A disengageable connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each terminal has opposed arms extending away from said web portion and at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said wire connection portion to resiliently grasp the panel-like member which is inserted therebetween, and said tang comprises an integral extension of said web portion, lying between said arms and extending toward the free end of said arms to contact said second shoulder means. I

7. A disengageable connector assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tang comprises an integral extension of said web portion, lying between said arms and extending toward the free ends of the arms to contact said second shoulder means.

8. A disengageable connector assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tang comprises an integral extension of said web portion, lying between said arms and extending toward the free ends of the arms to contact said second shoulder means.

9. The disengageable connector assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said tang extends obliquely from the edge of said web portion remote from said arms, and wherein said tang terminates beyond a plane defined by the side edges of said arms.

10. The disengageable connector assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said tang extends obliquely from the edge of said web portion remote from said arms, and wherein said tang lies intermediate said abutment and said bent edge and terminates beyond a plane defined by the side edges of said arms.

11. The disengageable connector assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein said tang extends obliquely from the edge of said web portion remote from said arms, and wherein said tang lies intermediate said abutment and said bent edge and terminates beyond a plane defined by the side edges of said arms.

12. An electrical terminal for use with an edge connector panel-like member comprising:

a substantially flat web portion,

integral arms extending from each of said bent sides beyond the web portion in a common direction, a crimp portion extending from the free edge of one of said bent sides of said web portion, in a direction away from the web portion to define abutment means and to offset the web portion from the crimp portion,

and a tang integral with said web portion, lying between said opposed sides and extending towards the free end of said arms.

13. The electrical terminal as claimed in claim 12, wherein said tang extends obliquely away from the edge of said web portion remote from said arms, and wherein said tang lies intermediate said bent sides and terminates beyond a plane defined by the side edges of said arms.

14. The electrical terminal as claimed in claim 13, wherein said arms initially curve towards each other with the ends thereof flared outwardly to define a V- shaped opening for reception of said panel-like member.

Claims

1. A disengageable connector assembly for connecting a plurality of lead wires with a panel-like member having conductors thereon, comprising: a dielectric block having a trough extending along one side thereoF for reception of said panel-like member, a plurality of longitudinally spaced slots in said block extending transversely of and intersecting said trough from the side carrying said trough and an adjacent side thereof, portions of said slots being longitudinally enlarged to define first and second shoulder means at right angles to each other, flag-type terminals carried by said slots, and extending into said trough, each of said flag-type terminals including: a web portion and a wire connection portion offset by a right angle abutment joining the web portion to the wire connection portion, and a tang carried by said web portion extending outwardly therefrom and having a contact edge lying at right angles to the plane of said abutment for contacting said second shoulder means, whereby: said flag-type terminal is inserted within said slot in the same direction as said panel-like member with said abutment facing said first shoulder means and said tang facing said second shoulder means to thereby resist forces acting on the wire coupled thereto or the panel-like member tending to remove the panel from the terminal.

4. An electrical terminal for use with an edge connector panel-like member comprising: a substantially flat web portion, opposed sides of said web portion being bent inwardly in the same direction to define a portion U-shaped in section, arms extending from each of said bent sides beyond said web portion in a common direction, a crimp portion extending from the free end of one of said bent sides of said web portion, in a direction away from the web portion to define abutment means between the web portion and the crimp portion, and a tang partially struck out from said web portion extending obliquely therefrom in the direction of said arms.

6. A disengageable connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein: each terminal has opposed arms extending away from said web portion and at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said wire connection portion to resiliently grasp the panel-like member which is inserted therebetween, and said tang comprises an integral extension of said web portion, lying between said arms and extending toward the free end of said arms to contact said second shoulder means.

12. An electrical terminal for use with an edge connector panel-like member comprising: a substantially flat web portion, opposed sides of said web portion being bent inwardly in the same direction to define a portion U-shaped in section, integral arms extending from each of said bent sides beyond the web portion in a common direction, a crimp portion extending from the free edge of one of said bent sides of said web portion, in a direction away from the web portion to define abutment means and to offset the web portion from the crimp portion, and a tang integral with said web portion, lying between said opposed sides and extending towards the free end of said arms.