Patent ID: 6523387
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: H01R,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for making a four-sided electrical contact from a generally planar shaped work piece of conductive material of a predetermined thickness having first and second generally parallel side surfaces terminating in an end surface having a width, said electrical contact having a pair of strategically shaped side tongues and strategically shaped top and bottom tongues, said apparatus comprising:(a) a shearing station for shearing the work piece comprising: (i) a support means for defining a work piece receiving channel for supporting the side surfaces of the work piece; and (ii) shearing means receivable within said work piece receiving channel of said support means for imparting a shearing force to said work piece to controllably shear said work piece in a manner to form a precursor contact having first and second precursor side tongues, a precursor bottom tongue and a precursor top tongue, said shearing means comprising a shearing tool receivable within said work piece receiving channel, said shearing tool including: a. a body portion; and b. a cutter portion carried by said body portion, said cutter portion having walls tapering inwardly, and terminating in an apex defining a shearing edge; (b) first forming means for acting on said precursor contact to strategically shape said first and second precursor side tongues thereof to form shaped first and second tongues; and (c) second forming means for acting on said precursor contact to strategically shape said precursor top and bottom tongues thereof to form shaped top and bottom tongues.