# US 6,261,136 B1 · Edge clip terminal

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- Number: US 6,261,136 B1
- Document ID: US6261136B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/613,260
- Filed: 2000-07-10
- Granted: 2001-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 1999-04-30
- Assignees: Die Tech, Inc.
- Inventors: Richard K. Dennis
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6261136B1

## CPC

- H01R 12/57: surface mounting terminals
- H05K 3/3405: {Edge mounted components, e.g. terminals}
- H05K 2201/10386: Clip leads; Terminals gripping the edge of a substrate
- H05K 2201/10984: Component carrying a connection agent, e.g. solder, adhesive
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS

## Abstract

A double sided edge clip terminal for forming soldered connections with opposed contact pads on the edge of a substrate includes a pair of solder contacts each having spaced metal arms and cold extruded solder masses in the interior of the contacts between the arms. Openings are formed in the contacts between the arms to prevent wicking of molten solder along the terminal and away from the contact pads. The terminals are manufactured by extruding the solder masses through the openings and into the space between the arms and beyond the arms, without solder waste.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A contact for forming a soldered electrical connection with a pad, the contact comprising an integral metal body having two base members spaced apart from each other and a pair of laterally separated arms extending between the base members, said base members and arms defining an opening in the metal body, a pad-engaging surface on each arm, said surfaces located to one side of the base members and facing away from the base members; and a solder mass in the opening, the solder mass extending between the separated arms and contacting the arms adjacent the surfaces.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A contact as in claim 1 wherein the pad-engaging surfaces of the arms are flat or curved.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The contact of claim 2 wherein said members lie essentially in a common plane, and the arms extend to one side of the plane.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The contact of claim 1 wherein the pad-engaging surfaces are flat and essentially parallel said members.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The contact of claim 3 wherein said solder mass includes a first portion overlying and engaging one of said members.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The contact as in claim 5 wherein said solder mass includes a second portion overlying and engaging the other said members.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The contact as in claim 6 wherein said solder mass portions engage the sides of said members adjacent the arms.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The contact as in claim 6 wherein said solder mass fills the opening and is flush with the members on the side of the members away from the arms.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The contact of claim 2 wherein said solder mass fills the opening and includes a surface that conforms essentially to at least a portion of said pad-engaging surfaces.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

The contact as in claim 2 including a space under each arm, said solder mass extending into said spaces.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The contact as in claim 10 wherein the solder mass includes portions located outwardly of said arms.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The contact as in claim 1 wherein said solder mass comprises a length of solder wire including solder and a rosin flux, said length of solder wire extruded into said opening.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A solder clip terminal including a pair of claim 1 contacts and a base, the metal body of each contact integrally joined to the base at a bend so that each contact extends generally perpendicularly away from the base to define a clip having a mouth, said arms facing into the interior of the clip, and a lead joined to one of said metal bodies.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A terminal as in claim 13 wherein said lead extends along one of said contacts outside of the clip and including a reverse bend joining the lead to such one contact.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

A terminal as in claim 13 including surfaces on the arms adjacent the clip mouth, said surfaces sloping at a shallow angle to facilitate positioning of the clip terminal on the edge of a substrate.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

A terminal as in claim 15 wherein said angle is not greater than about 35 degrees.

### Claim 17

An edge clip terminal for forming a soldered connection with a substrate pad, the terminal including a metal body having a base and opposed side bodies extending away from the base, one of the said side bodies comprising a pair of spaced base members, a gap separating the base members, and a pair of elongate arms joining the base members and extending across the gap, said arms facing the interior of the clip and including inner pad contact surfaces; and a mechanically formed solder mass on the one side body, said solder mass extending between and engaging the arms, and having a surface facing the interior of the clip, said surface conforming generally to the inner pad contact surfaces of the arms.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The terminal as in claim 17 wherein said solder mass fills the gap and engages the base members.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The terminal as in claim 18 wherein said solder mass includes portions overlying the arms on the inside of the clip.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The terminal as in claim 18 wherein the solder mass includes portions extending under the arms.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The terminal as in claim 20 wherein said solder mass includes portions overlying the sides of the base members facing the interior of the clip.

### Claim 22 (depends on 20)

The terminal as in claim 20 wherein said base members lie generally parallel to a common plane and said arms include lead in surfaces.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

The terminal as in claim 17 wherein said solder mass is flush with the outer surfaces of said base members.

### Claim 24 (depends on 17)

The terminal as in claim 17 wherein said arms are located at the lateral edges of said base members and extend into the clip at generally 90 degrees to the base members.

### Claim 25 (depends on 17)

The terminal as in claim 17 wherein the outer surfaces of the arms are either flat or curved.

### Claim 26 (depends on 17)

The terminal as in claim 17 wherein the solder mass includes a resin core.

### Claim 27 (depends on 17)

The terminal as in claim 17 wherein said solder mass comprises a slug of rosin core solder wire cold flowed into the gap.

### Claim 28

A contact for forming a soldered electrical connection with a pad, the contact comprising an integral metal body having two co-planar base members spaced apart from each other and a pair of laterally separated arms extending between the base members, said base members and arms defining an opening in the metal body, a pad-engaging surface on each arm, said surfaces located to one side of the base members and facing away from the base members; and a cold flowed solder mass filling the opening, the solder mass including a solder surface extending between the arms and conforming to the pad-engaging surfaces on the arms.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

A contact as in claim 28 wherein the solder surface extends a slight distance above the pad-engaging surfaces.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

A contact as in claim 28 wherein the arms are straight or curved.

### Claim 31 (depends on 28)

A contact as in claim 28 wherein the pad-engaging surfaces are essentially parallel with the base members.

### Claim 32 (depends on 1)

The contact of claim 1 wherein the pad-engaging surfaces are curved.

### Claim 33 (depends on 1)

The contact of claim 1 wherein the arms are elongate and extend parallel to each other.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The contact of claim 33 wherein the opening is rectangular.

### Claim 35 (depends on 1)

The contact of claim 1 wherein the solder mass includes a first cold flowed portion engaging a first arm and a second cold flowed portion engaging a second arm.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The contact of claim 35 wherein the solder mass substantially fills the opening between the arms.