Solder-bearing lead having solder-confining stop means

A solder-bearing lead formed essentially from a base metal which tends to oxidize upon exposure to the atmosphere so as to become resistant to solder, which comprises:

• an elongated stem which includes at least one surface having the base metal thereof partially coated with a metal coating which is readily wetted by solder for soldering of the stem to an associated article;
• first and second resilient clamping fingers extending in opposed spaced relationship from the elongated stem to define a gap for the reception of a substrate therebetween, at least one of the clamping fingers defining an electrical contact finger having an inner surface for engaging a contact pad on the substrate and having an outer opposite surface which defines a continuation of the one surface of the stem and which has the base metal thereof coated with a metal coating which is readily wetted by solder;
• a solder preform attached to the metal-coated outer opposite surface of the electrical contact finger;
• and
• a solder-confining stop formed on the one surface of the lead stem by an oxidized uncoated portion of the base metal between the solder preform on the electrical contact finger and the metal coating on the stem, for precluding flow of molten solder from the solder preform along the stem to the metal coating thereon during a reflow solder operation in which the electrical contact finger is soldered to the contact pad on the substrate.