BUS CLIP

Abstract: A bus clip (12) having a reversely bent portion forming a channel (12b) for receiving a bus strip (10) and a loop (12l) of resilient material for firmly engaging a terminal post (14). One side of the channel is formed with a tab (12f) which is bent toward the channel (12b) to engage a complementally shaped tapered recess (10e) in the bus strip (10). The loop has a through opening (12o) formed therein for receiving the elongated terminal post (14). The tab (12f) is bent inwardly of the channel at a more pronounced angle than the tapered recess (10e) in the bus strip (10) to provide continual firm engagement therebetween.

Description: BUS CLIP The present invention relates generally to bus clips for interconnecting a bus strip and a terminal post, but more particularly to such clips as are formed of resil¬ ient material for continually urging the strip and post into good electrical interconnection. In the manufacture and assembly of printed cir¬ cuit boards, it is desirable, if not necessary, to freq¬ uently electrically interconnect a bus strip and one or more terminal posts. Sometimes such bus strip is a ground in the electrical circuit, but at other times it has an elec¬ trical potential above around. A typical bus strip is an elonσated member formed of beryllium copper which is elec¬ trically conductive. A terminal post, as the name implies, is an elonσated member which mav have a circular or sσuare cross-section, and terminal posts are usually formed of bery¬ llium copper for σood electrical conductivity. Heretofore connectors have been provided for connecting a terminal pin or post to a bus strip, but such connectors have been incapable of providing the strong phy- sical interconnection as well as the strong electrical in¬ terconnection between the strip and the post. This is due primarily to the shape or configuration of such connector. Such prior art devices are clearly shown and described in U. S. Patent No. 3,918,788 to Walker, et al, and U. S. Pat- ent No. 3,951,497 to Balzano, et al. To overcome the shortcomings of such prior art de¬ vices, the present invention teaches the construction of a clip which utilizes the inherent resiliency of beryllium copper, particularly when it is formed into relatively thin sheet material. The result is that such a bus clip as con¬ templated by the present invention provides a continual bias¬ ing force for urging the bus strip and terminal post into electrical conductivity as well as into the desired physi¬ cal relationship. It is an object of the present invention to pro¬ vide a bus clip for interconnecting a bus strip and a ter- PI minal post wherein the. inherent resiliency" of the material of which, the bus clip is formed, urges the strip and post into firm electrical interconnection. Another object of the present invention is to pro- vide a bus clip as characterized above which utilizes a tab formed on the clip for firmly and strongly engaging the bus strip. Another object of the present invention is to pro¬ vide a bus clip as characterized above which utilizes a tab which is offset into engagement with a bus strip such that it is necessary to break or render inoperative the clip if the clip and bus strip are to be disassembled. An even further object of the present invention is to provide a bus clip as characterized above wherein the tab on the bus clip engages a complementally shaped re¬ cess in the bus strip to provide exceptionally good elec¬ trical conductivity therebetween and to provide firm and str physical interconnection therebetween. 1 An even still further object of the present in- vention is to provide a bus clip as characterized above which is adapted to resiliently engage a terminal post so as to continually provide a strong electrical connection therebetween. Another even still further object of the present invention is to provide a bus clip as characterized above which is simple and easy to install on a bus strip and ter¬ minal post. Another further object of the present invention is to provide a bus clip as characterized above, a plurality of which can be connected to a bus strip and individual ter¬ minal posts without the need for any special tool or unusual human dexterity and abilities in providing such an assembly. An even still further object of the present in¬ vention is to provide a bus clip as characterized above whic is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and which is rug¬ ged and dependable in operation. The novel features which I consider characteris¬ tic of my invention are set forth with particularity in "" the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and mode of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bus clip according to the present invention, shown adjacent a portion of a bus strip therefor; Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of a bus strip having mounted there¬ on a plurality of bus clips according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken sub¬ stantially along line 3-3 of Figure 2 of the drawings; Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of Figure 3 of the drawings; Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational end view of the bus clip as mounted on a bus strip; Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the bus clip and bus strip mounted on a terminal post; and Figure 7 is a fragmentary end elevational view toward the tapered end of the terminal post of Figure 6. Like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown therein a bus strip 10 which is generally rectangu¬ lar in cross-section and which is elongated. Such strip 10 is formed of beryllium copper so as to be highly elec¬ trically conductive to establish a given electrical poten¬ tial. Bus strip 10 is formed with- opposite side surfaces 10a and 10b as well as opposite edge surfaces 10c and lQd. Also shown in Figure 1 of the drawings is a bus clip 12 according to the present invention. Such clip is for the purpose of interconnecting bus strip 10 with a ter¬ minal post 14 shown in Figures 6 and 7. Clip 12 is an elongated strip of sheet material and may be formed of sub¬ stantially any electrically conductive material which is at least moderately resilient. Although beryllium copper is an ideal material for this type of application, it is realized, within the purview of the instant invention, that such a clip 12 could be formed of various other materials which exhibit the desired properties. One end portion 12a of clip 12 is reversely bent to provide a channel 12b having channel side walls 12c and 12d which are joined together by an end wall 12c. As shown, the channel is formed with corners or bends between the various walls to cause said channel 12b to be of such width as to accept or receive the bus strip 10 as will hereinafter be described. Formed in side wall 12c of clip 12 is a rectangu¬ lar tab 12f which is then bent or deformed toward the in¬ side of channel 12b to thereby expose three angularly dis¬ posed tab edges 12g, 12h and 12j to the internal dimensions of such channel. As shown most particularly in Figure 1 of the drawings, the bus strip 10 is formed, in its side wall surface 10a, with a tapered recess lOe which receives the offset tab 12f when the clip 12 is mounted on the bus strip 10. In this regard the offset 12f is bent or offset out of the plane of the channel sidewall 12σ sufficiently to cause the tab 12f to be offset a greater angular amount than the angular amount of the taper of recess lOe. That is, to insure good electrical and physical connection be- tween clip 12 and bus strip 10, it is desired to have tab 12f continually and firmly engage the bus strip within the recess lOe. As such, having tab 12f offset more degrees than the taper of recess lOe from the side wall surface 10a P of bus strip 10 , such, physical and electrical connection is assured.. The other end portion 12k of clip 12 is formed with a loop 121 and an upturned marginal edge 12m. As shown most clearly in Figure 1 of the drawings, the side edges of end portion 12k are crimped downwardly as shown at I2n. Approximately at the beginning of the loop 121 near channel wall 12c, an aperture or through opening 12o is provided in clip 12. Also, the size and amount of bend in the loop 121 is determined by the cross-sectional size and shape of the terminal post 14. The bus clip 12 is inserted on the terminal post 14 as shown most particularly in Figures 6 and 7 of the draw ings, the post 14 extending through the opening 12o to en¬ able the resiliency of the end portion 12k to clamp the post against the side wall 12σ of channel 12b. The crimped edges 12n assist in the clamping function to retain the clip 12 properly positioned on terminal post 14. Figures 3, 4 and 5 show the clip mounted on the bus strip 10, the Figures 3 and 4 showing the detail as to how the tab 12f is offset into the recess lOe of bus strip 10. Figures 6 and 7 show the interrelationship of the clip 12 and terminal post 14 when assembled. Thus, the present invention provides a bus clip which effectively interconnects a terminal post and a bus strip. The inherent resiliency of the beryllium copper of which the clip is formed assures the continual physical and electrical integrity between the strip and post. Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my invention, I am well aware that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

Claims: I CLAIM; 1. A bus clip for providing physical and elec¬ trical interconnection of a bus strip and a terminal post, comprising in combination, a reversely bent portion formed in said clip pro- viding a channel for receiving said strip, said reversely bent portion having an offset extending toward said chan¬ nel for engaging a recess in said bus strip, and means formed in said clip integrally with ; said channel for engaging said post, whereby said post and bus strip can be physi¬ cally and electrically interconnected. 2. A bus clip for providing physical and elec¬ trical interconnection of a bus strip and a terminal post according to Claim 1 wherein, said reversely bent portion of said strip pro- vides an open end for said channel, said offset extends into said channel in a dir¬ ection opposite said open end to prevent separation of said clip and strip when assembled. 3. A bus clip for providing physical and elec¬ trical interconnection of a bus strip and a terminal post according to Claim 2 wherein, said offset fits within a complementally shaped recess in said bus strip. 4. A bus clip for providing physical and elec¬ trical interconnection of a bus strip and a terminal post according to Claim 3 wherein, said offset is formed with at least two angu- larly disposed edges which engage corresponding edges of said recess when said bus strip is within said channel. 5. A bus clip for providing physical and elec¬ trical interconnection of a bus strip and a terminal post according to Claim 4 wherein, said reversely bent portion of said clip com- prises a pair of substantially parallel opposite channel walls and an end wall therefor, said offset being of resilient material and disposed at a predetermined angle to one of said channel walls to it within a complemen- tally shaped tapered recess in said bus strip. 6,, A bus clip for providing physical and elec¬ trical interconnection of a bus strip and a terminal post according to Claim 1 wherein, said means for engaging said post comprises a loop of resilient material to at least partially envelop the post and to resiliently bear thereagainst. 7. A bus clip for providing physical and elec¬ trical interconnection of a bus strip and a terminal post according to Claim β wherein, the resilient material of said -loop urges said post into engagement with the reversely bent portion of said clip to provide a firm electrical connection between said terminal post and said bus strip. 8. A bus clip for providing physical and elec¬ trical interconnection of a bus strip and a terminal post according to Claim 7 wherein, said loop is formed with a through opening for receiving said terminal post. 9. A bus clip for providing physical and elec¬ trical interconnection of a bus_ strip and a terminal post according to Claim 8 wherein, said reversely bent portion of said strip pro¬ vides an open end for said channel, said offset extending into said channel in a direction opposite said open end to prevent separation of said clip and strip when assem¬ bled. 10. A bus clip for providing physical and elec¬ trical interconnection of a bus strip and a terminal post according to Claim 9 wherein, said offset is a tab formed out of a wall of said channel with three substantially right angularly disposed edges, said tab being bent inwardly of said channel to provide the offset condition.

Inventors: STOWELL LYMAN CHARLES JR, STOWELL, LYMAN, CHARLES, JR.
Applicants: APEX ENG CORP, APEX ENGINEERING CORPORATION
Application year: 1983
Main classification: H01R31
IPC codes: H01R31