Tuning fork inline connection system

Abstract

A tuning fork according to the present invention is made from a relatively thin blank of stamping stock. A plurality of tuning fork units are stamped out of the blank and carried on a continuous strip for further processing. The tuning fork units include integral first and second terminal portions with a first arm extending therebetween. The first terminal portion includes a first core body having first and second spaced apart contact beams extending from one end and a cable mounting portion extending from the other end of the first core body. Likewise, the second terminal portion includes a second core body and third and fourth spaced apart contact beams extending from one end, and preferably a tail extending from the other end of the second core body. The first arm is bent so that the second core body overlies the first core body and the contact beams of the second terminal portion overlie the contact beams of the first terminal portion. The four contact beams are positioned to provide a slot between the contact beams for receiving a portion of another terminal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.