Elektrische Kontakt-Anordnung in einem elektrischen Gerät mit Schaltblöcken

927,482. Plug-in circuit assemblies. AMP Inc. March 15, 1961 [March 21, 1960], No. 9422/61. Class 37. A modular electrical circuit assembly comprises a row of insulating boxes each containing electrical components connected to regularly spaced electrical contacts on opposite sides of the box, and a row of connector blocks mounted on a base plate and receiving between each pair of blocks at least one of the boxes, each block having a series of regularly spaced electrical contacts engaging and electrically connecting together contacts of one box with those of an adjacent one. As shown in Fig. 1 electrical components, e.g. of a transistorized radio receiver, are inserted and potted in a series of hollow insulating boxes 20 which are inserted between connector blocks 18 on a metal base plate 12. Leads 24 of the components are electrically connected to contact elements 26 each consisting of a connecting socket, Figs. 2, 3 (not shown) having a channel-shaped U-crosssection body portion the upstanding side walls of which provide the exterior contact surfaces of the units. The contacts are held in position in channels 30 in the hollow boxes by lugs which extend transversely of the channels 30 and engage behind shoulders extending transversely of the channels and provided by a V- cross-section groove 36 in the bottom of the box 20. The connecting blocks 18, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 (not shown), include a row of generally flat blades 28 which are disposed parallel to and in alignment with one another in slots 44 provided with bores 50 in nylon supports 42 of T-cross-section, each bore 50 co-operating with a longitudinally extending rib 52 on a blade 28 to guide and align the latter. The width of each blade 28 is twice that of the central portion 46 of the nylon support so that the side edges 39, 40 of the blades protrude from opposite sides of the portion 46 for engagement with the contact elements 26. Each blade 28 is inserted through the base 48 into the corresponding slot 44 and held in position by tabs 58, 60. The blocks themselves are moulded integrally with pairs of rails 62 which extend longitudinally of each block 18 and are laterally spaced from one another to fit snugly within a slot 64 in the plate 12. The rails are held in position by a U-shaped spring fastener 66 having legs 68 arranged to run in grooves 70 in the outer lateral faces of the rails and overlap the lower face of base plate 12 over about half its width. An auxiliary electrical connecting element i