HOLE LINER FOR PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS

• US 3,777,303 A
• Filed: 03/15/1972
• Issued: 12/04/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cletus Mcdonough
• Original Assignee: Cletus Mcdonough
• Inventors: McDonough, Cletus
• Primary Examiner(s): Clay, Darrell L.
• Application Number:
  US05/234,958
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 174/68.5 317/11C,11CC 339/17R,17C,217R,217S,275B,221R,258R,256R,258RR 29/629,626
• US Class Current: 439/857
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/58 terminals for insertion into holes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10401 Eyelets, i.e. rings inserted into a hole through a circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10916 Terminals having auxiliary metallic piece, e.g. for soldering
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/3447 Lead-in-hole components H05K3/3415 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/4046 using auxiliary conductive elements, e.g. metallic spheres, eyelets, pieces of wire

Abstract

A hole liner includes a metal body insertable into a hole in a printed circuit board for holding a component lead to be soldered to the board. An upper stop limits insertion, while a resilient latch near the lower end of the body engages the lower surface of the board to prevent withdrawal of the liner. The lower end of the body includes jaws for gripping a component lead inserted into the liner, and at least one of the jaws is connected to the resilient latch. The outer surfaces of the jaws are angled inwardly to aid insertion of the body into the hole, and upon insertion the jaws contract and the latch is resiliently forced inwardly. Upon full insertion the latch moves to its latching position in engagement with the undersurface of the board. The mouth or gap defined by the jaws is smaller than the component lead, so that when the lead is inserted the latch is further extended, thus firmly holding the liner in place on the board.

Claims

1. A hole liner for lining a hole in a printed circuit board having upper and lower surfaces and for receiving a component lead to be soldered into place on the board, said hole liner comprising:

a unitary sheet metal blank formed into a generally cylindrical body having abutting edges forming a seam extending longitudinally of said body;

said body including a barrel portion of right circular cylindrical shape having an outside diameter generally equal to the board hole diameter and having an inside diameter larger than the component lead diameter;

means forming a rigid stop projecting radially outward from said barrel portion and engageable with a first surface of the board upon insertion of the liner into the board hole from the first surface of the board in order to limit insertion of said body into the board hole;

a slot of substantial width in the wall of said barrel portion extending from said seam in one direction around the circumference of the barrel portion for a distance approximately haLf the circumference of the barrel portion;

the portion of said barrel portion on the side of said slot opposite said rigid stop being displaced radially outward in a generally arcuate spiral shape to form a resilient latch arm spaced from said rigid stop by a distance at least as great as the board thickness;

the length of said latch arm being approximately half the circumference of said barrel portion, and the width of said latch arm being small relative to its length;

the edge of said latch arm closest to said rigid stop forming a substantially flat stop surface adapted to interface with and abut the second surface of the board upon insertion of the liner into the board hole;

a first jaw extending from the edge of the latch arm furthest from said rigid stop and having an inclined arcuate shape merging with said arcuate spiral shape of the latch arm for strengthening said latch arm;

the circumferential extent of said first jaw being smaller than the length of said latch arm, and said latch arm including a segment disposed between said first jaw and said barrel portion for permitting radial movement of said latch arm; and

a second jaw similar to said first jaw and extending from said barrel portion of said body opposite said latch arm;

the outer surfaces of said jaws being inclined toward one another to engage the board upon entry of the liner into the board hole and to cam said latch arm radially inwardly to permit movement of the latch arm through the board hole, said latch arm returning to its initial position upon movement of the latch arm fully through the board hole to retain the liner in the board hole;

the ends of said jaws defining a lead receiving gap of smaller diameter than the component lead diameter for further radially extending the latch arm upon insertion of a component lead.

2. The hole liner of claim 1, said barrel portion extending upwardly above said rigid stop for a substantial distance.

3. The hole liner of claim 2, said rigid stop comprising a pair of ears struck from the barrel portion substantially at right angles to the axis of said barrel portion.

4. The hole liner of claim 2, said rigid stop comprising a bead in the wall of the barrel portion.

5. The hole liner of claim 2, the upper end of the body being formed into an outwardly flared chamfer.