Carrier strip for electrical contacts
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorStephen H. Clark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical contact carrier strip includes a main body, a plurality of electrical contacts integrally formed with and connected to the main body, and a plurality of support tabs extending from the main body. Each of the support tabs includes a stem connected to the main body and a free expanded base that is aligned with and wider than the stem. The support tabs provide a clearance gap in which at least portions of the plurality of electrical contacts reside. The plurality of support tabs support the portions of the plurality of electrical contacts over a plane in which distal ends of each of the free expanded bases of the support tabs reside.
Claims20
An electrical contact carrier strip comprising:
- a main body;
- a plurality of electrical contacts integrally formed with and connected to said main body, each of said plurality of electrical contacts comprising at least a portion that is out of plane with respect to said main body;
- and
- a plurality of sets of opposed support tabs extending in one direction from said main body, wherein each of said support tabs is perpendicular to said main body, each of said support tabs comprising a stem connected to said main body and a free expanded base that is aligned with and wider than said stem, said plurality of sets of support tabs providing a clearance gap in which said portions of said plurality of electrical contacts that are out of plane with respect to said main body reside, wherein said plurality of sets of support tabs prevent said portions of said plurality of electrical contacts that are out of plane with respect to said main body from intersecting a plane of a surface over which said plurality of sets of support tabs support said main body.
An electrical contact carrying system comprising:
- a reel;
- a main planar body;
- a plurality of electrical contacts integrally formed with and connected to said main body, each of said plurality of electrical contacts comprising at least a portion that is out of plane with respect to said main planar body;
- and
- a plurality of sets of support tabs extending in one direction from said main planar body, wherein each of said support tabs is perpendicular to said main planar body, each of said support tabs comprising a stem connected to said main planar body and a free expanded base that is aligned with and wider than said stem, said plurality of sets of support tabs providing a clearance gap in which said portions of said plurality of electrical contacts that are out of plane with respect to said main planar body reside, wherein said main planar body is spooled around said reel such that a first portion of said main planar body overlaps a second portion of said main planar body, said plurality of sets of support tabs supporting said first portion of said main planar body over said second portion of said main planar body, wherein said plurality of sets of support tabs prevent said portions of said plurality of electrical contacts that are out of plane with respect to said main planar body from intersecting a plane of a surface over which said plurality of sets of support tabs support said main planar body.
An electrical contact carrier strip comprising:
- a main body;
- a plurality of electrical contacts integrally formed with and connected to said main body;
- and
- a plurality of support tabs extending in one direction from said main body, each of said support tabs comprising a stem connected to said main body and a free expanded base that is aligned with and wider than said stem, said support tabs providing a clearance gap in which at least portions of said plurality of electrical contacts reside, wherein said plurality of support tabs support said at least portions of said plurality of electrical contacts over a plane in which distal ends of each of said free expanded bases of said support tabs reside.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.