TERMINAL BLOCK FOR CIRCUIT BOARD

BORNIER POUR PLAQUETTE DE CIRCUIT

English Abstract

The terminal block of the present invention
provides both a simple high strength mechanical connection
with a circuit board as well as a good electrical
connection. The terminal block has a snapfit with a side
edge of the circuit board due to a cooperation between pins
of the terminal block and holes through the circuit board.
The terminal block simplifies assembly and improves the
mechanical connection of the terminal block with the
circuit board.

French Abstract

Bornier présentant à la fois une simple connexion mécanique de haute résistance avec une plaquette de circuit et une bonne connexion électrique. Le bornier s'enclenche sur un bord latéral de la plaquette de circuit grâce à une coopération entre des tiges du bornier et des ouvertures sur la plaquette de circuit. Le bornier facilite l'assemblage et améliore la connexion mécanique du bornier et de la plaquette de circuit.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A terminal block for a circuit board comprising
body portion, a plurality of pins with each pin extending
outwardly and terminating with a downwardly extending end,
a pivot ledge along one edge of said body portion which
cooperates with said pins to define a circuit board capture
recess, said downwardly extending ends cooperating with
said pivot ledge to define a narrow throat through which an
edge of a circuit board can be inserted.
2. A terminal block as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
plurality of pins have downwardly extending ends of a
length greater than the thickness of a circuit board.
3. A terminal block as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
downwardly extending ends are at 90° to the outwardly
extending portion.
4. A terminal block as claimed in claim 1 wherein said
pins are outwardly movable against an inherent bias urging
the pins to the original position.
5. A terminal block as claimed in claim 4 wherein said
pins at a free end thereof includes a tapered surface for
guiding of said pins during connection with a circuit
board.
6. A terminal block as claimed in claim 5 wherein said
body includes a screw terminal associated with each pin for
electrically connecting a wire to the respective pin.
7. A terminal block as claimed in claim 6 wherein said
downwardly extending ends can distort outwardly from an
original condition and when distorted provides a spring
bias urging the pin to return to the original condition.
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8. A terminal block as claimed in claim 7 wherein said
body is of an injected molded plastic.
9. A terminal block as claimed in claim 8 wherein said
terminal block has at least five pins of the same
construction spaced along a length of said body.
10. In combination a circuit board and a terminal block
said terminal block comprising a body portion, a plurality
of pins extending outwardly with a downwardly extending
end, a pivot ledge along one edge of said body portion
which cooperates with said pins to define a circuit board
capture recess, said downwardly extending ends cooperating
with said pivot ledge to define a narrow throat through
which a side edge of said circuit board is inserted; said
circuit board adjacent said side edge including a plurality
of holes receiving the downwardly extending ends of said
pins, and wherein a portion of said side edge of said
circuit board is trapped within said capture recess
maintaining the position of said pins for soldering to said
circuit board.
11. In combination as claimed in claim 10 said circuit
board includes about each hole a pad for forming part of
the solder connection with said respective pin.
12. A terminal block for a circuit board comprising
body portion, at least one pin with each of said at least
one pin extending outwardly and terminating with a
downwardly extending end, a pivot ledge along one edge of
said body portion which cooperates with said at least one
pin to define a circuit board capture recess, said
downwardly extending end cooperating with said pivot ledge
to define a narrow throat through which an edge of a
circuit board can be inserted.
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Description

CA 02212071 1997-07-31
WH-9849CA
TITLE: TERMINAL BLOCK FOR CIRCUIT BOARD
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to terminal blocks
for connecting with circuit boards and in particular
relates to terminal blocks which are more easily connected
to circuit boards.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known to have a terminal block connector
secured to a circuit board which allows securement of wires
to the circuit board via mechanical connectors of the block
terminal. Such terminal blocks are typically soldered to
the circuit board and various jigs are used to position the
terminal block for the soldering step. Pins of the
terminal block extend over the board and connect with
soldering lands on the board.
These prior art arrangements require good dexterity
in soldering of the pins to the circuit board without
movement of the terminal block while achieving a good
electrical connection. These operations require
considerable time and care as it is imperative to the
successful operation of the circuit board to have the
proper connections. Even with proper connection an
installer connecting the wires to the terminal block can
break a connection of the terminal block to the circuit
board rendering the unit unsatisfactory and resulting in
its return.
The present invention overcomes a number of these
shortcomings and provides a connecting arrangement which is
strong and easier to install.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A terminal block for a circuit board according to
the present invention comprises a body portion, a plurality
of pins with each pin extending outwardly and terminating

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with a downwardly extending end. A pivot ledge is provided
along one edge of said body portion which cooperates with
said pins to define a circuit board capture recess. Said
downwardly extending ends cooperate with said pivot ledge
to define a narrow throat through which an edge of a
circuit board can be inserted.
According to an aspect of the invention the
plurality of pins have downwardly extending ends of a
length greater than the thickness of a circuit board.
A terminal block according to a further aspect of
the invention has the downwardly extending ends of the pins
at 90~ to the outwardly extending portion of the pins.
According to yet a further aspect of the invention
the pins are outwardly movable against an inherent pin bias
urging the pins to the original position.
According to a further aspect of the invention a
free end of each pin includes a tapered surface for guiding
of said pins during initial connection with a circuit
board.
A terminal block according to an aspect of the
invention includes in said body a screw terminal associated
with each pin for electrically connecting a wire to the
respective pin.
A terminal block according to an aspect of the
invention has the downwardly extending ends of the pins
arranged to allow limited distortion outwardly from an
original condition to a distorted position and when
distorted provides a spring bias urging the pin to return
to the original condition.
A terminal block according to another aspect of the
invention comprises a body portion, at least one pin with

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each of said at least one pin extending outwardly and
terminating with a downwardly extending end. A pivot ledge
is provided along one edge of said body portion which
cooperates with said at least one pin to define a circuit
board capture recess, said downwardly extending end
cooperating with said pivot ledge to define a narrow throat
through which an edge of a circuit board can be inserted.
The present invention is also directed to the
combination of a circuit board and terminal block. The
terminal block comprises a body portion, a plurality of
pins with each pin extending outwardly and terminating with
a downwardly extending end. A pivot ledge is provided
along one edge of said body portion which cooperates with
said pins to define a circuit board capture recess. Said
downwardly extending ends cooperate with said pivot ledge
to define a narrow throat through which a side edge of a
circuit board can be inserted. The circuit board adjacent
said side edge includes a plurality of holes which receive
the downwardly extending ends of said pins. In addition, a
portion of said side edge of said circuit board is trapped
within said capture recess thereby maintaining the position
of said pins for soldering to said circuit board.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in
the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of the
circuit and terminal block;
30Figure 2 is a sideview of the terminal block being
connected to a circuit board;
Figure 3 is a partial perspective view of a
terminal block connected to a circuit board; and
Figure 4 is a partial rear perspective view of the
terminal block connected to a circuit board.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The terminal block 2 includes a body portion 4 with
a plurality of outwardly extending pins 6. Each pin has an
outwardly extending portion 7 and a downwardly extending
portion 8. The ends of the pins include a tapered point 9.
A capture ledge 10 is shown in Figures 1 and 2 and in the
case of Figure 1, has been interrupted to allow the pins
and wire connectors to be inserted into the body portion.
The circuit board 20 has a notched region 21 which
defines an edge portion 22 for connection with the terminal
block 2. It can be seen that the downwardly extending ends
of the pins cooperate with the capture ledge 10 of the body
portion to define a circuit board capture recess shown as
30.
Figure 2 shows connection of the circuit board 10
with the terminal block 2. The circuit board is angled to
position the edge 22 within the capture recess 30. The
offset holes 24 are aligned with the downwardly extending
ends 8 of the pins 6 and the tapered point 9 of each pin
can enter the respective offset hole 24. Once the holes 24
have been properly aligned with the ends 8 the circuit
board may be rotated to the 90~ position shown in Figure 2.
This requires some outward distortion or deforming of the
downwardly extending end portion 8 of each pin. With this
arrangement a snap type fit positively retaining the
circuit board in the capture region 30. Basically the pins
are slightly distorted during the rotation of the circuit
board and they are positively retained in the capture
recess 30 and behind the capture ledge 10.
Figure 3 and 4 clearly show how the terminal block
2 has been connected to the circuit board 10. The
downwardly extending ends 8 of the pins 6 pass through the
circuit board and provide a strong mechanical connection
with the circuit board. The pins on the bottom side can be
soldered to the circuit board in the traditional manner

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further strengthening the mechanical connection. The
electrical connection of the pins to the circuit board is
easily accomplished on the top or the bottom surface.
Figure 4 clearly illustrates how the body portion 4
of the terminal block 2 has recessed cavities which receive
the mechanical connectors 40 for securing of wires to the
circuit board. In this way, the wires are connected to the
terminal block 2 and the terminal block forms the
electrical connection with the circuit board. The
mechanical fasteners 40 can include the pins 6 and in this
case, as shown on the body portion, can have the recesses
for this mechanical connection arrangement to allow them to
be inserted and snap fitted within the terminal block.
Other securing arrangements are also possible.
It has been found with the present invention that
the terminal block provides an excellent simple arrangement
for initially positioning of the terminal block in a
position for soldering the circuit board 10 and it greatly
simplifies the soldering as the pin is exposed on the rear
surface of the circuit board or is maintained in the
position on the top surface of the circuit board. In any
event the requirement for jigs and or fine position and
expertise in making the connection is significantly
reduced.
The present invention has been described in detail
with respect to a terminal block having a plurality of
pins, however the invention works well with terminal blocks
having any number of pins. Thus the present invention will
be applicable to terminal blocks having one or more pins.
In some circumstances, terminal blocks are formed by
building up the block from a number of individual units,
each of the units having one or more pins. The present
invention is also applicable to such terminal blocks and
the individual units utilized in the terminal blocks.

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Although various preferred embodiments of the
present invention have been described herein in detail, it
will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that
variations may be made thereto without departing from the
spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended
claims.
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Representative Drawing