Molex Corporation

Bruno Checchinato

Roberto Martucci

Helmut Zischka

Mario Previato

Lorenzo G Manassero

Fulvio Gottardo

An electrical device includes a flat flexible dielectric substrate having a generally round hole of a given diameter. A ductile conductive film is on the substrate in an area at least about the hole. A generally flat terminal blade has a transversely projecting pin portion inserted into the hole in the substrate in contact with the conductive film. Therefore, the flat terminal blade is generally parallel to the flat flexible dielectric substrate. The cross-dimension of the pin portion is greater than the diameter of the round hole. In the preferred embodiment, the dielectric substrate is less than 0.050 inch thick, and the difference between the cross-dimension of the pin portion and the diameter of the round hole is on the order of 5% to 50% of the diameter of the hole.

Terminal blades mounted on flexible substrates

A lockable electrical connector assembly which includes a plug terminal having a locking opening therein. A sheet metal receptacle is provided for receiving the plug terminal. The receptacle has a bottom wall, a pair of upstanding side walls terminating in end portions turned inwardly over the bottom wall for engaging the plug terminal, and a resilient tongue cut-out of an opening in the bottom wall. The tongue has a tang for locking in the opening in the plug terminal for securing the terminal against removal from the receptacle. The tongue projects below the bottom wall of the receptacle for exposure to bend the tongue and release the plug terminal. Stop tabs also are cut-out of the opening in the bottom wall of the receptacle in the path of bending movement of the tongue to prevent overstressing the tongue by limiting the amount of bending movement of the tongue.

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Padua, Italy

Bruno Checchinato