SOLDER CUP CONNECTOR

Abstract: Solder cup connector comprises a one piece insulative housing (52) having terminals (10) received in passages (50) extending between mating face (56) and rear face (54). Terminals (10) are stamped and formed from strip stock with a pin or socket (12) formed in one direction from the plane of the stock, a solder cup (20) formed in the opposite direction, and a transition portion (14) crossing the axis of the terminal therebetween. The transition portion (14) has laterally extending flanges (24, 26) which bend to bite into the sidewalls of the passage (50) to prevent withdrawal.

Description: SOLDER CUP CONNECTOR The present invention relates to a solder cup terminal having improved retention means. A known electrical connector, described in AMP Incorporated Catalog No. 79-546, comprises an insulative housing having a mating face, an opposed rear face , and a plurality of passages therethrough from said mating face to said rear face. The passages have respective electrical terminals mounted therein which are received from the rear face. Each terminal is stamped and formed from standard metal strip stock and has a mating portion formed in a first direction from the plane of the stock and an opposed solder cup portion . The known connector is molded in two pieces with resilient fingers disposed radially about each passage to retain the terminal by snapping in behind a collar between the mating portion and the solder cup portion , the entire terminal being formed in the first direction from the plane of the stock. Wire is soldered in the solder cup of each terminal before it is inserted into a respective passage, since the terminals have no solder barriers and must be visually inspected to be sure the solder does not wick into the mating portion , which cannot only impede mating but coat plating . Soldering before insertion is also necessary since there is no means of maintaining radial orientation of the terminals in the passages , and further because the integrity of the resilient fingers would be adversely affected by the heat of soldering . A special tool is required to insert the terminals to prevent damage to the solder joints which could occur if wires were pushed directly. According to the invention , therefore, a connector as described above is characterized by a solder cup portion formed in a second , opposite direction from the plane of the stock and a transition portion crossing the axis of the terminal to axially align the mating portion and the solder cup. The terminal has first retention means comprising a pair of opposed flanges extending laterally from the transition portion to retain the terminals against withdrawal from the rear face by bending to bite into the sidewalls of the passage. The transition portion provides an effective solder barrier and the flanges thereon orient the terminal so that insertion before " soldering is possible. The housing is molded in one piece without resilient fingers in the passages and a special tool is not necessary to insert the terminals. US-A-4,379,611 discloses a connector having terminals which are stamped from non-standard stock and have a pin rather than a solder cup opposite the mating portion . The specification at column 3, lines 21 -24, suggests that a solder cup can be substituted for the pin , and such a terminal is known . This known terminal has a transition portion crossing the axis between the mating portion and solder cup, which are stamped in opposite directions. However, the housing is different from that described above, the terminals being inserted in passages from the mating face and not suited to pin and socket connectors . Further, the use of flanges on the transition portion to prevent pulling the terminals out from the rear face is not suggested . An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a terminal formed in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of a terminal according to the present invention mounted in a housing and prior to application of a wire and solder to the terminal ; and FIGURE 3 is a side elevation , partially in section of the subject terminal after termination and soldering to an associate wire. The subject terminal 10 is formed from standard stock metal strip and has a mating portion 12 , a transition portion 14, first retention means 16, second retention means 18, and a solder cup 20. The mating portion 12 has been shown as a pin extending forwardly from a body 22 but a socket could be used . The body 22 is formed coaxially of the terminal 10, and together with the mating portion 12 is formed from the stock material in a first direction from the plane of the material . The transition portion 14 traverses the axis of the terminal and has flanges 24, 26 of first retention means 16 extending from opposite sides substantially normal to the axis of the terminal . The transition portion 14 has been shown as a single section but it also could be formed with one or more loops. The transition portion 14 also is a demarcation point between the sections of the terminal formed in opposite directions from the plane of the stock material . The second retention means 18 and solder cup 20 are formed in the opposite direction from the plane of the stock material . A method for accomplishing this type of terminal forming is set out in U . S. Patent No. 3, 575 ,034. The second retention means 18 is generally channel-shaped having a base 26 and a pair of side walls 28 , 30 having respective pointed ends 32 , 34. The solder cup 20 is a closed barrel configuration formed by a continuation of base 26 , side walls 36, 38 to top walls 40 , 42 and may have a profiled entry 44 to facilitate both the insertion of a wire 46 and application of solder 48 to the terminal 10. The subject terminal has been shown mounted in a passage 50 of a representative connector housing 52, the passage 50 extending between a rear face 54 and a mating face 56 with a mating portion 12 of the terminal 10 projecting beyond the mating face 56 while the solder cup 20 extends from the rear face 54. The housing 52 is molded of insulative material . Figure 3 shows a wire 46 joined to the subject terminal . The bared conductors 58 are inserted into the solder cup 20 and the penetration can be stopped both by the insulation 60 on the wire 40 as well as abutting against the transition portion 14. The solder 48 is then applied to secure the wire in the terminal . It will be noted that when solder is applied to the subject terminal the transition portion 14 will prevent the wicking of the solder up through and over the mating portion 12. It will also be noted from Figures 2 and 3 that the body 22 serves to position the terminal within the housing 52 while the flanges 24, 26 bitingly engage in the material of the housing 52 on the sides of the passage 50 while points 32 , 34 on the walls 28 , 30 of the second retention means 18 bite into the top of the passage to prevent withdrawal of the terminal. The first retention means 16 provides about 80% of the retention force while the second retention means 18 provides the rest. Pushing or pulling causes the flanges 24, 26 to bend and bite into the sidewalls . The retention means 16, 18 also serve to stabilize the terminal 10 within the housing 52. It is within the scope of the present invention to provide plating on the mating portion and /or a solder coating in the solder cup to facilitate termination by solder reflow .

Claims: C A1MS: 1 . An electrical connector of the type comprising an insulative housing 52 having a mating face 56 , an opposed rear face 54, and a plurality of passages 50 therethrough from said mating face 56 to said rear face 54, the passages 50 having respective electrical terminals 10 mounted therein which are received from the rear face 54, each terminal 10 being stamped and formed from standard metal strip stock and having a mating portion 12 formed in a first direction from the plane of the stock and an opposed solder cup 20 characterized by the solder cup 20 being formed in a second , opposite direction from the plane of the stock, a transition portion 14 crossing the axis of the terminal 10 to axially align the mating portion 12 and the solder cup 20, and first retention means 16 comprising a pair of opposed flanges 24, 26 extending laterally from the transition portion 14 to retain the terminals 10 against withdrawal from the rear face 54 by bending to bite into the sidewalls of the passage 50. 2. An electrical connector as in claim 1 wherein the terminal 10 is characterized by second retention means 18 comprising a channel shaped portion formed in said second direction , said channel shaped portion having a pair of spaced walls 30 having pointed ends 32 , 34 which provide an interference fit in the respective passage 50. 3. An electrical connector as in claim 1 characterized by a one piece housing 52, said mating portion 12 of said terminal 10 comprising a pin 12 extending from said mating face 56 , the solder cup 20 extending from the rear face 54.

Inventors: MCCLEEREY EARL WILLIAM, MCCLEEREY, EARL, WILLIAM
Applicants: AMP INC, AMP INCORPORATED
Application year: 1985
Main classification: H01R9
IPC codes: H01R4, H01R13