Interconnect Devices, Inc.

Terry P Mawby

Ronny N Galloway

An electrical contact test probe for use in providing electrical continuity between diagnostic equipment and a test point of an electrical circuit under test is provided. The test probe includes an elongated plunger slidably mounted within an elongated tubular barrel and extending outwardly therefrom for contacting the test point of the circuit under test. A spring is seated in the barrel and is interposed between the barrel and the plunger for biasing the plunger axially and outwardly of the barrel. The barrel consists of an elongated body having an inner bore, a generally closed end, and an open end. The barrel also has at least one cantilevered tab struck from the body and having a free end projecting into the inner bore toward the generally closed end of the barrel. The tab is located on the barrel such that the free end engages a shoulder of the plunger when the plunger is in an extended position so as to prevent outward biasing of the plunger beyond the extended position. The tab thereby retains the plunger within the barrel during the testing of the circuit.

Probe with tab retainer

A quick-connect terminal and receptacle for electrical spring test probes used in the printed circuit testing industry has a tubular receptacle having an inner bore with an entrance for inserting a wire terminal. The terminal has an open end receiving a base end of a wire. A barb cut from the terminal wall extends angularly into the terminal bore and away from the open end. The barb has an edge for gripping the wire end and preventing easy pullout. The wire extends to circuit testers which execute a testing routine upon the printed circuit board. The receptacles contain removable and replaceable spring probes and the quick-connect terminal and receptacle assembly provides speed and ease of probe replacement. Sealing rings can extend between the terminal and receptacle to maintain vacuum for use of the arrangement in vacuum actuated test fixtures.

Quick-connect terminal and receptacle

An electrically conductive joint between a conductor and a connector includes a metallic tube and a crimp in the tube to secure a conductor therein. The crimp has a V-shaped outer portion and a substantially V-shaped inner portion including converging walls and a truncated apex with the angle of the inner and outer V-shaped portions being substantially the same. The conductor is secured within the tube in a substantially gas impervious relationship for use in pneumatically operated probe carrying fixtures for testing printed circuit boards.

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Paola, KS, United States of America

Terry P Mawby