Patent ID: 7591666

Claim:
Surface mount crimp terminal for connection to an insulated conductor having a predetermined substantially uniform external cross-sectional dimension, comprising a generally flat deformable conductive member configured to have an elongate generally uniform U-shaped cross-section along its entire elongate length to define a wire-receiving channel along its length and having a generally flat conductive bottom wall suitable for contact with and attachment to a land or pad on a printed circuit board and providing a generally flat surface area suitable for cooperation with a vacuum nozzle of a pick-and-place machine, and a pair of spaced substantially parallel side walls normally to said bottom wall, for receiving a length of an insulated conductor between said side walls through an open side opposite to said bottom wall, said side walls being spaced from each other a distance substantially equal to the external cross-sectional dimension of the insulated conductor; said side walls being capable of being crimped or bent inwardly towards each other and towards said bottom wall to at least partially close or reduce the dimensions of said open side to urge and maintain mechanical and electrical contact with a conductor within said channel; and insulation piercing means within said channel extending from said flat bottom wall towards said open side for piercing insulation on an insulated conductor positioned between said side walls upon application of a force applied urging the insulated conductor into said channel towards said bottom wall, a generally flat pick-up surface, on said bottom wall within said wire receiving channel, at a point generally at a center of mass or center of gravity to enable a pick-up vacuum nozzle to stably pick up the terminal and move it to a PCB.