INSULATED COMMON STRIP

• US 3,760,330 A
• Filed: 03/31/1972
• Issued: 09/18/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AG Communication Systems Corp. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Anton Wenzel, Joseph C. Bennett
• Inventors: Bennett, Joseph C., Wenzel, Anton
• Primary Examiner(s): Champion, Marvin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lewis, Terrell P.
• Application Number:
  US05/239,983
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 339/17,18,19,176,198,246,249,265
• US Class Current: 439/189
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/714 with contacts abutting directly the printed circuit; Button contacts therefore provided on the printed circuit

Abstract

An insulated common strip for selectively coupling electrical components to the circuits of a printed wiring card. A selftapping screw is used to close an electrical path between first and second pretensioned spring conductors mounted on an insulating block and coupled to the printed circuits.

Claims

1. Apparatus for selectively coupling electrical circuits comprising an electrically insulative mounting block, at least one pair of electrically conductive spring members disposed circumferentially about said mounting block, spaced apart from one another, each having one end extending a selected distance from the surface of said mounting block, and each adapted for coupling to one of said electrical circuits to be coupled said mounting block having an aperture disposed between said conductive spring members, and an electrically conductive screw threaded into said aperture such that tightening said screw closes an electrical path through the head thereof between said spring members.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further including a spring retaining slot disposed in the surfaces of said mounting block for each said conductive spring member and adapted to retain and align said spring members.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further including a plurality of spacing tabs integrally formed on the surface of said mounting block from which said conductive spring members extend.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting block is provided with a plurality of apertures having openings on each surface of said mounting block between the spring members of each said pair.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein each said spring member is formed of spring temper wire having A substantially rectangular cross-section.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein each said spring member is disposed on said mounting block under tension such as to assume an external convex configuration extending beyond the surface of said mounting block whereby said conductive screw compresses said springs when tightened.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 1 further including a printed wiring card bearing said electrical circuits to be selectively coupled, and each said circuit being terminated about an aperture through said wiring card, each said aperture being adapted to receive and electrically engage the portion of said spring member extending beyond the surface of said mounting block.

8. Apparatus as recited in claim 7 further including an access aperture disposed through said wiring card, of a dimension greater than the spacing between said spring members and in register with the space therebetween, whereby said conductive screw inserted through said aperture operates to selectively close the electrical path between said spring members.