Snap together spring block and method

Abstract

A snap together spring block enables the reliable capture, formation and support of metallic conductors known as lead frames. First and second body halves are designed to mate forming the complete spring block. Each body half incorporates a plurality of cavities and projections, similar to hills and valleys. The cavities and projections can be designed to fit various configurations of lead frames. Integrally molded or formed into one of the body halves is an internal attachment mechanism, such as a clip, which is designed to fit an internal recess molded into the second body half, or mating half, of the spring block for mating the two halves. The plurality of cavities and projections are alternately spaced such that when the first body half is mated to the second body half, the projections are received within the cavities forming a plurality of apertures. Because each half contains both cavities and projections, a plurality of planes are formed when the mating halves are joined, in which lead frames are interposed. The conductors are supported such that they remain rigidly fixed relative to each other. Formed into external surface of second body half is a radius and parallel channels adapted to receive the metallic conductors of the lead frames when the metallic conductors are formed downwardly and rearwardly around the radius of the external surface of the second body half.