General Electric Company

Steven N Lovrekovic

John M Davenport

William H Herrmann

Harry J Bowers

Conrad E Bechard

An electrical accessory having a lead is connected to an electrical cord having a multi-strand conductor by placing the cord and the lead against a backing member. A tool member vibrated at an ultrasonic frequency is brought into engagement with the electrical cord. Insulative material surrounding the conductor is melted and displaced away from the tool member. The conductor is driven against the lead and the lead is driven into the surface of the backing member. Upon de-energization of the tool member, the displaced insulative material solidifies and secures the connection between the conductor and the lead. The tool member includes a tip from which a sharpened projecting portion extends. The projecting portion severs the conductor in those instances where the conductor is to be connected to spaced leads. Serrated driving surfaces are positioned on either side of the projecting member. The serrations minimize excessive displacement of the strands of the conductor during the attachment process and provide a place for insulative material to go so that a good connection between the conductor and the leads can be obtained.

Rapidly formed electrical connection

A wire is positioned alongside a plastic member which carries a conductor, and a portion of the wire is driven sideways into the plastic so that the wire engages against the conductor and is held in place by embedment in the plastic. The wire may be driven into the plastic by a heated tool or by ultrasonic vibration. A particular use of the invention is the connection of wires to circuit runs of printed circuit boards, such as in the FlipFlash photoflash array.

Growing community of inventors

Cleveland, OH, United States of America

Steven N Lovrekovic