Lanced hold-downs

Abstract: A lanced hold-down (10) for securing a component such as a connector, to a printed circuit board assembly has a number of interconnected portions (14, 16, 18, 20) . First and second interconnected portions (14, 16) are each in the form of a flat strip with sides (22, 26) and edges (24, 28). A third portion (18) connected to the second portion (16) has sides (30) and one or more curved or inclined edges (32) to enable the hold-down (10) to be inserted into a hole in the printed circuit board. A fourth portion (20) in the form of a flat finger is connected to the third portion (18) and is offset from the third portion (18). The fourth portion (20) also has sides (36) and edges (38, 39, 40) . One of the edges (38) of the fourth portion (20) acts as a ramp to form an interference fit with the hole and produces with another of the edges (39) a barb (42) to guide the ramp into the hole but to resist withdrawal.

Description: This invention relates to hold-downs for securing components to circuit assemblies and more particularly to lanced hold-downs for securing connectors to printed circuit boards. Various apparatus exist for locating and securing connectors onto printed circuit boards (PCBs) prior to and during soldering of terminals mounted in the connector to the circuit assembly. Terminal pins of through-mount connectors have been aligned or crimped to secure connectors onto PCBs. See, for instance, U.S. -A- 4,907,978 and U.S. -A- 4,847,588. However, these hold-downs do not work well for softer or more flexible terminals. Further, the non-parallel alignment of pin tails as disclosed in U.S. -A- 4,907,978 requires the pin tails to be bent into a straightened portion in order to insert the pin tails into standard parallel rows of holes. Terminal pins of through-mount connectors have been configured to secure the connector to a PCB by causing an interference fit between press-fit sections of the terminals within plated-through holes in a PCB. for instance, U.S. -A- 4,735,587 discloses a header with two rows of pins with selected opposed pin pairs having cantilever retention arms for engaging interior surfaces of circuit board holes to hold the header to a circuit board prior to and during soldering. The pins are held in the board holes merely by the interference fit between linear corners or edges of the pins against the wall of the board holds. The particular shape and orientation of the retention arms results in the need for a relatively high insertion force in order to press the pin into a hole. Other hold-downs that are separate from the connector terminals have been disclosed or used for securing either surface-mount connectors or through-mount connectors to PCBs. Rivets or nut and bolt assemblies have been used for this purpose. Other such apparatus is disclosed, for instance, in U.S. -A-4,717,219. These hold-down appartuses take up a relatively large surface area of the connector and PCB. Further, these hold-downs typically require a secondary operation after the hold-down is inserted in a board hole to spread the hold-down out to retain the hold-down in the hole. Another example of hold-downs which require a special insertion tool to fix them into holes in the PCB is described in DE-U-8714341.0. Other generally flat hold-downs are disclosed that take up less surface space on a PCB. See, for instance, U.S. -A- 4,907,987. However, the retention force caused by the interference fit between this hold-down in a connector housing is low which may necessitate the use of a special seating tool to connect such a hold-down to a board. Solder tail portions of through-mount terminals have been cut or lanced forming a finger angled with respect to the flat sides of the solder tails. The finger comprises a compliant section for forming an interference fit in a plated-through hole in a PCB. However, softer metal solder tails having a similarly formed angled finger buckle when forced into or towards a similarly sized plated-through hole. FR-A-2593017 describes a locking device with rectangular hold-downs each having a lower portion with a resilient hook which engages beneath the underside of a PCB. The hook is designed to deform inwardly to permit the hold-down to be pushed through a hole in the PCB until the hook is free from the hole and can spring outwardly and trap the hold-down in place. A general object of the invention is to provide an improved hold-down. In accordance with the invention there is provided a lanced hold-down for holding a connector to a circuit assembly the circuit assembly having a hole for receiving the hold-down, said hold-down comprising: a first portion comprising a substantially flat strip having a pair of first sides, and a pair of first edges; a second portion connected to the first portion, the second portion comprising a substantially flat strip having a pair of second sides and a pair of second edges: a third portion connected to the second portion the third portion having a pair of third sides, and at least one inclined or curved third edge configured to facilitate insertion into the hole and a fourth portion connected to the third portion the fourth portion comprising a substantially flat finger having a pair of fourth sides and at least three fourth edges interconnecting the fourth sides characterised in that a first one of the fourth edges of the fourth portion forms a ramp for contacting and sliding against the inner surface of the hole as the hold-down is pressed into the hole to cause the fourth portion to be compressed inwardly towards the second portion and the first one of the fourth edges of the fourth portion intersects a second one of the fourth edges to provide a barb which creates an interference fit with the inner surface of the hole to maintain the fourth portion at least partly in the hole and to inhibit withdrawl of the hold down from the hole. A lanced hold-down constructed in accordance with the invention can be used to hold down the connector, either a through-mount connector or a surface mount connector on a printed circuit board at least while other terminals mounted in the connector are soldered to the circuit board. The hold-down can be part of one of the terminals or contact elements mounted in the housing or separate or apart from the connector terminals. The lanced hold-down constructed in accordance with the invention can be flat with corresponding sides of the portions co-plannar or a slight clearance or offset may exist before the second and fourth portions. In one embodiment, one of the second edges and one of the fourth edges directly contact the inner surface of the hole and the fourth portion then bends towards the second portion as the hold-down is pressed into the hole. In another embodiment a fifth portion, complementary to the fourth portion, may be provided and in this case edges of the fourth and fifth portions contact the hole surface and the fourth and fifth portions are both bent inwards towards the second portion. In another construction the first to fourth portions all form a first section and the hold-down has another section in mirror image to the first section which is designed to fit into a hole in the connector. The invention may be understood more readily and various other features of the invention may become apparent from consideration of the following description. Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a right angle, through-mount, horizontal card connector having terminals with solder tails made into hold-downs in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 is a side view of a first embodiment of an end section of a hold-down in accordance with the present invention. Figure 3 is a first embodiment of a cross sectional view generally along line A-A in Figure 2 taken in the direction of the arrows. Figure 4 is a second embodiment of a cross sectional view generally along line A-A in Figure 2 taken in the direction of the arrows. Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the hold-down of Figure 2 press-fit in a hole through a circuit board in accordance with the present invention. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a connector having surface-mount terminal pins and hold-downs in accordance with the present invention. Figure 7 is a side view of a second embodiment of an end section of a hold-down in accordance with the present invention. Figure 8 is a side view of a third embodiment of an end section of a hold-down in accordance with the present invention. Figure 9 is a side view of a hold-down with two end sections being mirror images of one another. Figure 10 is a side view of a hold-down with two end sections with a first end section being a fourth embodiment of an end section of a hold-down in accordance with the present invention and the second end section being a mirror image of the first end section. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) Throughout the following detailed description, similar reference characters refer to similar elements in all figures of the drawings. Referring to Figure 1, there is illustrated a perspective view of a connector 2 having lanced hold-downs 10 in accordance with the present invention. Although the lanced hold-downs 10 of the present invention can be used to secure virtually any electrical connector to a circuit assembly, Figure 1 illustrates the lanced hold-downs 10 on or as part of solder tails of electrical terminals 4 of a right angle, through-mount, horizontal card connector 2. Alternatively, the hold-downs of the present invention can be in addition to, or apart or distinct from, the connector electrical terminals 4', such as, when the connector 2' is a surface mount connector 2' as illustrated in Figure 6. The connector 2 illustrated in Figure 1 has a dielectric housing 5 having a first mating surface 6 and a second mating surface 7. A plurality of passages 8 extend in rows and columns through the housing 5. A plurality of electrical terminals 4 are mounted in the passages 8. The terminals 4 are through-mount terminals having solder tails arranged in rows and columns for inserting into and soldering to plated through-holes in a circuit assembly. The connector 2 of Figure 1 has one or more pair(s) of the terminals 4 adjacent to one another at opposite ends of two different rows of the electrical terminals 4 made into the lanced hold-downs 10 in accordance with the present invention. The term "circuit assembly" is intended to include any assembly that includes a plurality of conductors, leads, plated through holes or conductive paths, pads or areas. The circuit assembly can be a printed wiring board or a printed circuit board, such as a backpanel, a mother board or a daughter board. The circuit assembly can be rigid or flexible. Figure 2 is a side view of a first embodiment of an end section 12 of the lanced hold-down 10 illustrated in Figure 1. The lanced hold-down 10 comprises a first portion 14, a second portion 16, a third portion 18 and a fourth portion 20. For ease of understanding, dotted lines have been inserted in Figure 2 to show where these portions 14,16,18, 20 connect to one another. The first portion 14 comprises a substantially flat strip having a pair of first sides 22 and a pair of first edges 24. The pair of first edges 24 interconnect the pair of first sides 22. The second portion 16 is connected to the first portion 14. The second portion 16 comprises a substantially flat strip having a pair of second sides 26 and a pair of second edges 28. The pair of second edges 28 interconnects the pair of second sides 26. The third portion 18 is connected to the second portion 16. The third portion 18 has a pair of third sides 30 and at least one inclined edge 32 configured to facilitate insertion of the third portion 18 into a hole through the printed circuit board. Figure 2 illustrates a pair of edges 32 that are inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis 34 of the hold-down 10. However, there could be, for instance, one curved edge or several curved edges, instead of two inclined edges 32. The curved edge(s) or inclined edges 32 interconnect the pair of third sides 30. The first portion 14 and the third portion 18 are generally symmetric about the longitudinal axis 34. The fourth portion 20 is connected to the third portion 18. The fourth portion 20 comprises a substantially flat finger having a pair of fourth sides 36 and at least three fourth edges 38,39,40. The fourth portion 20 has a first fourth edge 38, a second fourth edge 39 and a third fourth edge 40. The fourth edges 38,39,40 interconnect the pair of fourth sides 36. The first one 38 of the three fourth edges comprises a ramp for causing an interference fit with a wall of a hole through the printed circuit board. The smaller this angle is, the greater the mechanical advantage in inserting the hold-down 10 in a PCB hole. The ramp 38 has a width that is the thickness of the fourth portion 20. The first one 38 of the fourth edges intersects the second one 39 of the fourth edges forming a barb 42 such that the ramp 38 allows easy insertion of the hold-down 10 into the hole. However, the barb 42 digs into the hole wall if the hold-down 10 is withdrawn from the hole. The fourth portion 20 is progressively farther away from the second portion 16 as distance increases from the third portion 18. Further, the width of the second portion 16 plus the width of the fourth portion 20 equals or substantially equals the width of the first portion 14. The first fourth edge 38 and the third fourth edge 40 can be substantially parallel or slightly tapered towards one another farther from the third portion 18. Preferably, the width of the fourth portion 20 is less than the width of the second portion 16. Figure 3 is a first embodiment of a cross sectional view taken generally along line A-A in Figure 2 in the direction of the arrows. In this embodiment, one (or a first) side of the pair of first sides 22, the pair of second sides 26, the pair of third sides 30 and the pair of fourth sides 36 are coplanar or substantially coplanar. Further, the other (or a second) side of the pair of first sides 22, the pair of second sides 26, the pair of third sides 30 and the pair of fourth sides 36 are coplanar or substantially coplanar. In this embodiment, the fourth portion 20 is spaced from the first portion 14 when the fourth portion 20 is compressed to contact the second portion 16. In other words, if the fourth portion 20 was bent entirely towards the second portion 16 such that the third edge 40 of the fourth portion 20 and the adjacent edged 28 of the second portion 16 were contacting and flush with one another, a gap 44 would exist between the second edge 39 of the fourth portion 20 and the first portion 14. The gap 44 exists to allow the fourth portion 20 to be bent towards the second portion 16 without the second edge 39 contacting the first portion 14. In order to make this embodiment, a slug of the terminal 4 can be removed to form the gap 44. Figure 4 is a second embodiment of a cross sectional view taken generally along line A-A in Figure 2 in the direction of the arrows. In this embodiment, the fourth portion 20 has been bent providing a slight clearance D (perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the sides 26 of the second portion 16 or the sides 36 of the fourth portion 20) between the second portion 16 and the fourth portion 20 at about the second edge 39 of the fourth portion 20. In this embodiment, one (or a first) side of the pair of first sides 22, the pair of second sides 26 and the pair of third sides 30 are coplanar or substantially coplanar. Further, the other (or a second) side of the pair of first sides 22, the pair of second sides 26 and the pair of third sides 30 are coplanar or substantially coplanar. In this embodiment, a slug of materiel does not have to the removed to form a gap between the fourth portion 20 and the first portion 16. In other words, in this embodiment, if the fourth portion 20 was pressed such that its sides 36 were coplanar with the sides 22 of the first portion 14 and if the fourth portion 20 was bent entirely towards the second portion 16 such that the third edge 40 of the fourth portion 20 and the adjacent edge 28 of the second portion 16 were contacting and flush with one another, a gap would not exist between the second edge 39 of the fourth portion 20 and the first portion 14. The clearance D is no larger than is necessary to enable the fourth portion 20 to bend into contact with the second portion 16 without the second edge 39 of the fourth portion 20 contacting the first portion 14. The clearance D is preferably equal to or less than about 0,0254mm (0.001 inches). In operation, when the hold-down 10 illustrated in either Figure 3 or Figure 4 is forced or pressed into a hole through a PCB, one of the pair of second edges 28 and one of the fourth edges (i.e., the ramp 38) compress against the wall defining the hole. Note that the edges 28 and 38 that contact the hole wall comprise flat surfaces extending the entire thickness of the end section 12, rather than mere linear corners. As a result, referring to Figure 5, the fourth portion 20 will bend towards the second portion 16 forming an interference fit within the hole 11. As explained above, if the hold-down 10 was withdrawn back up the hole 11, the barb 42 will grab or dig into the hole wall further deterring removal of the hold-down 10 from the PCB 9. The hold-down of Figure 3 can be made by the following process. Solder tails of through mount terminals 4 secured to a connector housing can be placed in grooves or a nest in a die. Then, a punch can simultaneously cut out the slug from two adjacent solder tails 4 forming the gap 44. Third, another punch with an inclined cutting edge lances the fourth portion 20 from the second portion 16. This includes a cutting or shearing of the solder tail 4. It further includes bending or curling the fourth portion 20 away from the second portion 16 both in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 34 and perpendicular to the second sides 26. Fourth, the fourth portion 20 is pressed or forced in a direction perpendicular to the second sides 20 until the hold-down is in the shape depicted in Figure 3. More specifically, the sides 36 of the fourth portion 20 are pressed or forced to be coplanar with the sides 26 of the second portion 16. The hold-down of Figure 4 can be made by the same process. However, a slug does not need to be punched out. Further, in the last step, the fourth portion is pressed until it is shaped as depicted in Figure 4. More specifically, the sides 36 of the fourth portion 20 are pressed or forced towards the planes intersecting the sides 26 of the second portion 16, but the sides 36 are not fully returned to be coplanar with the sides 26. Figure 7 is a side view of another embodiment of an end section 46 of a hold-down in accordance with the present invention. This embodiment can be the same as any of the embodiments illustrated in Figures 2-5, except it has a stand-off or stop 50. The stand-off or stop 50 comprises a pair of tabs 52 extending in opposite directions from the edges 24 of the first portion 14. The tabs 52 have opposing first and second shoulders 54,56. The first shoulders 54 are on the connector side of the tabs 52 and can be used to stop further insertion of the hold-down into or through the connector housing. The second shoulders 56 can be used to contact the PCB or block further insertion of the hold-down into the board hole thereby providing the height of the tabs 52 as a clearance or stand-off between the connector housing and the PCB to allow cleaning after soldering. Figure 6 illustrates the end section 46 extending from a housing 5' of a surface mount connector 2' apart or distinct from the connector electrical terminals 4'. Figure 8 is a side view of another embodiment of an end section 56 of a hold-down in accordance with the present invention. This embodiment is best used in holes having a diameter of no less than about 0.06 inches. This embodiment can be the same as any of the embodiments illustrated in Figures 2-7, except it has a fifth portion 60. Parts of end section 56 that correspond to parts of end section 12 are designated by the same number increased by 100. The fifth portion 60 is connected to the third portion 118. The fifth portion 60 comprises a substantially flat finger having a pair of fifth sides 62 and first, second and third fifth edges 68,69,70. The fifth edges 68,69,70 interconnect the pair of fifth sides 62. The fifth portion 60 is progressively farther away from the second portion 116 as distance increases from the third portion 118. Further, in this embodiment the second portion 116 is also symmetric about a longitudinal axis 134. Like the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, the embodiment of Figure 8 can have one side of the pair of first sides 122, the pair of second sides 126, the pair of third sides 130, the pair of fourth sides 136 and the pair of fifth sides 62 being coplanar. Further, the other side of the pair of first sides 122, the pair of second sides 126, the pair of third sides 130, the pair of fourth sides 136 and the pair of fifth sides 62 can be coplanar. Alternatively, like the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, the embodiment of Figure 8 can have a slight clearance D perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the sides 126 of the second portion 116 or the fourth portion 120 between the second portion 116 and the fourth portion 120 at about the second edge 139 of the fourth portion 120. Similarly, the embodiment of Figure 8 can have a slight clearance D' perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the sides 126 of the second portion 116 or the fifth portion 60 between the second portion 116 and the fifth portion 60 at about the second edge 69 of the fifth portion 60. As seen in Figure 8, a plane perpendicular to the first, second and third sides 122,126,130 can bisect the first, second and third portions 114,116,118 such that the hold-down on either side of the plane is substantially a mirror image of the hold-down on the other side of the plane. The clearances D and D' can extend in the same or opposite directions. Further, the width of the second portion 116 plus the width of the fourth portion 120 plus the width of the fifth portion 60 equals or substantially equals the width of the first portion 116. In operation, the hold-down is pressed into a hole through a printed circuit board such that one 138 of the fourth edges and one 68 of the fifth edges compress against the wall defining the hole. As a result, the fourth portion 120 and the fifth portion 60 will bend towards the second portion 116 forming an interference fit within the hole. Figure 9 is a side view of a hold-down with two end sections 12,12' where the end section 12' is a mirror image of the end section 12 of Figure 2. More specifically, the first portion 14, the second portion 16, the third portion 18 and the fourth portion 20 comprise the first end section 12. The lanced hold-down further includes a second end section 12' comprising or substantially comprising a mirror image of the first end section 12. The second end section 12' is for insertion into a hole in a housing of a connector such that one of the pair of second edges 28' in the second end section 12' and one of the fourth edges 38' in the second end section 12' compress against the housing wall defining the hole in the housing. The fourth portion 20' in the second end section 12' will bend towards the second portion 16' in the second end section 12' forming an interference fit within the hole in the housing. An insertion end of the third portion 18' will contact an end or bottom of the hole in the housing preventing further insertion therein. Figure 10 is a side view of another hold-down with a first end section 76 being a fourth embodiment of an end section of a hold-down in accordance with the present invention. The hold-down further comprises a second end section 76' which is a mirror image of the first end section 76. Parts of end section 76 that correspond to parts of end section 12 are designated by the same number increased by 200. The end section 76 can be the same as the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, except (1) it has no gap 44 between the fourth portion 220 and the first portion 214 when the fourth portion 220 is bent into contact with the second portion 216 and (2) the second portion 216 and the fourth portion 220 include mating inclined linear edges 78,80. Since there is no gap 44, no slug needs to be punched out in its manufacturing process. The inclined linear edge 78 of the second portion 216 interconnects one of the pair of second edges 228 and a shoulder edge 82 extending perpendicularly from one of the pair of the first edges 224. Further, the inclined linear edge 80 of the fourth portion 220 interconnects the second fourth edge 239 and the third fourth edge 240 extending from the the first fourth edge 238. This embodiment allows the fourth portion 220 not to contact the first portion 214 before the fourth portion 220 is compressed into most or virtually all of the space originally between the fourth portion 220 and the second portion 216 when the hold-down is inserted into a hole which compresses the fourth portion 220 towards the second portion 216. It should be noted that all hold-downs disclosed herein can be configured to have two mirror image end sections where one of the end sections is a mirror image of the other end section, like those illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. Further, it is within the scope of the present invention to connect any end section disclosed herein to any other end section disclosed herein or elsewhere. The hold-downs of the present invention can be made from any suitable metal used for making hold-downs, such as stainless steel. Further, the hold-downs can be made from any suitable metal used for making electrical terminals, such as brass, phosphor bronze, beryllium copper and the like. The hold-down may be plated or coated with a layer, such as tin, lead, nickel, palladium, gold, silver or a suitable alloy. Further, the hold-downs can be made from materials with a tensile strength less than about 27.6 x 10 6 Pa (40,000 pounds per square inch (psi)). Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of the present invention as hereinabove set forth, can effect numerous modifications thereto. These modifications are to be construed as being encompassed within the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims: A lanced hold-down (10) for holding a connector (2) to a circuit assembly the circuit assembly having a hole for receiving the hold-down (10), said hold-down (10) comprising: a first portion (14, 114, 214), comprising a substantially flat strip having a pair of first sides (22, 122), and a pair of first edges (24, 224); a second portion (16, 116, 216), connected to the first portion (14, 114, 214), the second portion comprising a substantially flat strip having a pair of second sides (26, 126), and a pair of second edges (28, 228); a third portion (18, 118, 218), connected to the second portion (16, 216 216), the third portion (18, 118, 218), having a pair of third sides (30, 130), and at least one inclined or curved third edge (32), configured to facilitate insertion into the hole and a fourth portion (20, 120, 220), connected to the third portion (18, 118, 218), the fourth portion (20, 120, 220), comprising a substantially flat finger having a pair of fourth sides (36, 136), and at least three fourth edges (38, 39, 40, 138, 139, 140, 238, 239, 240), interconnecting the fourth sides (36, 136); characterised in that a first one of the fourth edges (38, 138 238), of the fourth portion (20, 120, 220), forms a ramp for contacting and sliding against the inner surface of the hole as the hold-down is pressed into the hole to cause the fourth portion (20, 120, 220), to be compressed inwardly towards the second portion (16, 116, 216), and the first one of the fourth edges (38, 138, 238), of the fourth portion (20, 120, 220), intersects a second one of the fourth edges (39, 139, 239), to provide a barb (42) which creates an interference fit with the inner surface of the hole to maintain the fourth portion at least partly in the hole and to inhibit withdrawl of the hold down from the hole. A lanced hold down according to claim 1, wherein the fourth portion (20, 120, 220) extends progressively further away from the second portion (16, 116, 216) as the distance increases from the third portion (18, 118, 218). A lanced hold-down according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the first portion (14, 114, 214), the second portion (16, 116, 216), the third portion (18, 118, 218) and the fourth portion (20, 120, 220) are parts of an electrical terminal solder tail. A lanced hold-down according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein one side of the pair of first sides (22, 122), the pair of second sides (26, 126), the pair of third sides (30, 130) and the pair of fourth sides (36, 136) are substantially coplanar; and the other side of the pair of first sides (22, 122), the pair of second sides (26, 126), the pair of third sides (30, 130), and the pair of fourth sides (36, 136) are substantially coplanar. A lanced hold-down according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein: a slight clearance D exists substantially perpendicular to the sides (26, 36) of the second portion (16) or the fourth portion (20) between the second portion (16) and the fourth portion (20) at about the second edge (39) of the fourth portion (20). A lanced hold-down according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the fourth portion (20) is spaced from the first portion (14) such that when the hold-down is inserted into the hole to compress the fourth portion (20) towards the second portion (16), the fourth portion (20) will not contact the first portion (14) before the fourth portion (20) is compressed into most of the space originally between the fourth portion (20) and the second portion (16). A lanced hold-down according to any one of Claims I to 6, wherein the fourth portion (20) is spaced from the first portion (14) when the fourth portion (20) is compressed to contact the second portion (16). A lanced hold-down according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the second portion (216) and the fourth portion (220) including, mating inclined linear edges (78, 80), the inclined linear edge (78) of the second portion (216) interconnecting one of the pair of second edges (228) and a shoulder edge (82) extending perpendicularly from one of the pair of the first edges (224) and the inclined linear edge (80) of the fourth portion (220) interconnecting two of the fourth edges (239, 240). A lanced hold-down according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the width of the second portion (16) plus the width of the fourth portion (20) substantially equals the width of the first portion (14). A lanced hold-down according to any one of Claims I to 9 and constructed so that when the hold-down is pressed into the hole one of the pair of second edges (28, 228) and one of the pair of fourth edges (38, 138, 238) compress against the inner surface of the hole and the fourth portion (20, 120, 220) will bend towards the second portion (16, 116, 216) to cause the barb to form the interference fit within the hole. A lanced hold-down according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 and further comprising: a fifth portion (60) connected to the third portion (118), the fifth portion (60) comprising a substantially flat finger having a pair of fifth sides (62) and a pair of fifth edges (68,69,70), the pair of fifth edges (68, 69, 70) interconnecting the pair of fifth sides (62), a first one of the fifth edges (68, 69, 70) forming a ramp for contacting and sliding against the inner surface of the hole as the hold-down is pressed into the hole to cause the fifth portion (60) to be compressed inwardly towards the second portion (116) and the first one of the fifth edges (68, 69, 70) intersects a second one of the fifth edges (68, 69, 70) to provide a barb which creates an interference fit with the inner surface of the hole whereby when the hold-down is pressed into the hole such that said first one of the fourth edges of the fourth portion (120) and said first one of the fifth edges (68, 69, 70) of the fifth portion (60) compress against the inner surface of the hole, the fourth portion (20) and the fifth portion (60) will bend towards the second portion (116) to form the interference fit within the hole. A lanced hold down according to Claim 11, wherein the fifth portion (60) extends progressively further away from the second portion (116) as the distance increases from the third portion (118). A lanced hold down according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein the pair of fifth sides (62) are substantially coplanar with at least the second sides (126). A lanced hold-down according to Claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein a plane perpendicular to the first, second and third sides (122, 126, 130) bisects the first, second and third portions (114, 116, 118) such that the regions on either sides of the plane are substantially mirror images of one another. A lanced hold-down according to Claim 11, 12, 13 or 14, wherein the width of the second portion (116) plus the width of the fourth portion (120) plus the width of the fifth portion (60) substantially equals the width of the first portion (116). A lanced hold-down according to any one the preceding claims, wherein the first portion (14), the second portion (16), the third portion (18), and the fourth portion (20) comprise a first end section (12, 76); and the hold-down further comprises: a second end section (12', 76') formed substantially as a mirror image of the first end section, the second end section serving for insertion into a hole in a housing of the connector such that as one of the pair of second edges (28') of the second end section (12', 76') and one of the pair of fourth edges (38') of the second end section (12') compress against the inner surface of the hole in the housing, the fourth portion (20') of the second end section will bend towards the second portion (16') of the second end section to form an interference fit within the hole in the housing. A lanced hold-down according to any one of the preceding claims and made of a material with a tensile strength less than 27.6 x 10 6 Pa. An electrical connector for mounting to a circuit assembly, comprising: a dielectric housing (5) having a plurality of passages (8) through the housing; a plurality of electrical terminals (4) mounted in the passages, the terminals extending out of the passages and arranged in rows and columns for connection to conductive areas on the circuit assembly; and at least one lanced hold-down (10) according to any one of the preceding claims mounted to and extending from the housing. An electrical connector according to Claim 18, wherein: the plurality of electrical terminals (4) are through-mount tenninals having solder tails for inserting into and soldering to plated through-holes in the circuit assembly and there is a pair of the lanced hold-downs arranged adjacent to one another at opposite ends of two different rows of the electrical terminals. An electrical connector according to Claim 18 or 19 wherein: the first portion (14, 114, 214) the second portion (16, 116, 216), the third portion (18, 118, 128) and the fourth portion (20, 120, 220) of the or each hold-down (10) are parts of solder tails of the plurality of the electrical terminals. An electrical connector according to Claim 18, wherein: the plurality of electrical terminals (4) are surface-mount terminals for soldering onto the conductive areas on the circuit assembly and there are at least three of the lanced hold-downs (10) arranged such that the fourth portion (20, 120, 220) of at least one of the lanced hold-downs (10) extends in a direction substantially opposite to the fourth portions (20, 120, 220) of the other lanced hold-downs.

Inventors: HAHN MARLYN EUGENE, HAHN, MARLYN EUGENE
Applicants: BERG ELECTRONICS MFG, BERG ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING B.V.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: H01R9
IPC codes: H05K3, H01R12, H01R13