Patent ID: 9004937
Filing Date: 2015-04-14
Classification: H01R,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A through-the-hole (TTH)/surface mount (SMT) insulation piercing connector comprises an electrical contact including a generally flat plate portion that defines a reference plane generally normal to a printed circuit board (PCB) on which the connector is to be mounted and defines generally parallel first and second opposing sides; a plurality of integrally-formed legs within said reference plane projecting beyond said first side of said flat plate portion; at least one generally L-shaped hook portion integrally formed on one surface of said flat plate portion at a point intermediate said first and second sides to form at a free end a piercing tip pointed in a direction of said second side and away from said legs, said piercing tip being spaced a predetermined distance from said flat plate portion, said second side of said flat plate portion being configured and dimensioned to crimp and bend in the direction towards said piercing tip when a suitable tool is pressed onto said second side to urge an insulated wire placed above a piercing tip onto said piercing tip to cause said piercing tip to penetrate the wire insulation and make electrical contact with internal conductive wires or strands within the wire when said second side of said flat plate portion is crimped, said legs being insertable into mounting holes of a substrate for direct TTH mounting in a PCB or be secured to a header provided with mounting holes by TTH soldering and surface mounting by means of a pick-and-place or other automated machine acting on the header.