Patent GB-1230746-A (GB)
IPC: H01R4/64
Filed: 1969-02-28
Abstract: 1,230,746. Electric couplings. AMP. Inc. 28 Feb., 1969 [8 March, 1968], No. 10883/69. Heading H2E. A grounding terminal formed from sheet metal, has a body including two resiliently deformable limb parts 1, 2 or 16 for penetrating an aperture in a grounding panel under force, each limb part having edge serrations 4 or 17 adapted to scrape the aperture wall when penetrating the aperture and the body having an integral extension 8 or 15 for connection to an electrical conductor. In the construction shown in Fig. 7 the fastener is made from a sheet metal blank which has a shank portion 15 and a wider portion 14; the end section of the shank portion 15 remote from the portion 14 is formed into a ferrule (not shown) for connection to an electrical conductor. The two spaced parts 16 are formed by bending opposed tapered side parts of the portion 14 perpendicularly to the main part of the portion; the two parts 16 taper away from the main part of the body and are V- shaped in section the apices of the Vs being directed towards each other. A recess 18 is cut into the sides of each of the parts 16 adjacent its zone of bending with the main part of the body and the serrations 17 are cut in the opposed sides of the parts 16 from the recess 18 towards the narrower ends of the parts 16. The fastener can be hammered or otherwise driven into the panel aperture 10 by force applied to the face of the main part of the body. In a modification the main part 14 is weakened by providing an oblong opening in it. In an alternative construction Fig. 1 the fastener is formed from a sheet metal blank folded up to define the extension 8 which terminates in a ferrule 9; the blank is rolled up at the end of the extension 8 remote from the ferrule to form a tapering generally tubular slotted member 3 which extends substantially perpendicularly to the extension 8. Wings are formed at the junction of the member 3 and extension 8 to lie outwardly of the member 3. They are aligned with the extension 8. The longitudinal edge portions of the member 3 are bent outwardly of the slot to form the limb parts 1, 2. The serrations 4 are cut along the length of the parts 1 and 2 and projections 5 are pressed outwardly of the member 3 on the side remote from the serrations 4. A protrusion 6 is pressed outwardly of the member 3 on the same side as projections 5 and nearer to the junction of the member 3 and the extension 8. The terminal is hammered or otherwise forced into a panel aperture so that the parts 1 and 2 are caused to move resiliently towards each other the fastener being stopped from passing through the aperture by the protrusion 6. The ferrule 9 can be crimped to an electrical conductor. In a modification the protrusion 6 can be omitted in which case the wings 7 prevent the terminal passing through the aperture. The wings can also be omitted in which case the taper of the member 3 prevents the terminal passing completely through the aperture. In a modification instead of the protrusion 6 the member 3 is provided with an opening in the side remote from the serrations 4 and each of the parts 1, 2 are provided with an extension the opening and the extension limiting movement of the fastener into the aperture.