Netcom, Inc.

Keith W MacKenzie

A holder for a piezoelectric crystal wafer comprising a base, a pair of spaced apart leaf springs secured to the base and a seat member secured to the base between the leaf springs. The leaf springs spread outward upon the application of an external force, to permit the placement of a crystal wafer on the seat member and return toward a normal position upon the release of the external force, to resiliently hold the crystal wafer on the seat member. Each leaf spring includes a pair of prongs at the upper end thereof, separated by a slit having a width slightly larger than the thickness of the wafer. An elongated slot is formed in each of the leaf springs and having a width greater than the width of the slit between the prongs. When the crystal wafer is inserted in the holder, the upper part of the wafer is received in the slit of one leaf spring and a side portion of the wafer extends through the slot of the leaf spring. The upper defining edge of the slot contacts the edge of the side portion of the wafer, to prevent the leaf spring from returning to the normal position. Similarly, the opposite upper part of the wafer is received in the slit between the prongs of the other leaf spring, the opposite side portion of the wafer extends through the slot of the other spring, and the upper defining edge of the other spring contacts the edge of the opposite side portion, to prevent the other spring from returning to the normal position. The crystal wafer is cemented to the holder to at least connect with the prongs of one leaf spring, to connect with the prongs of the other leaf spring and to connect with the seat member, so that fixed mechanical connections are made at two spaced apart locations at the upper part of the crystal wafer and at the bottom part of the wafer.

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Lindenhurst, IL, United States of America

Keith W MacKenzie