Support structure for supporting articles on perforated sheet material

Jan. 11, 1966 , H. j. modrey 3,229,239

SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORTING ARTICLES

Filed Feb. 16, 1960

ON PERFORATED SHEET MATERIAL

Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US3229239A_D0001.tif" />

Jan. 11, 1966 h. j. modrey 3,229,239

SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORTING ARTICLES ON PERFORATED SHEET MATERIAL

Filed Feb. 16, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US3229239A_D0002.tif" />

<img file="US3229239A_D0003.tif" />

FIG. 12 ,89

<img file="US3229239A_D0004.tif" />

FIG. 16

FIG. II

<img file="US3229239A_D0005.tif" />

FIG. 14

FIG. 15

INVENTOR.

HENRY J. MODREY BY i

Attorneys

Jan. 11, 1966 h. j. modrey 3,229,239

SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORTING ARTICLES ON PERFORATED SHEET MATERIAL

Filed Feb. 16, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3

<img file="US3229239A_D0006.tif" />

128

127

<img file="US3229239A_D0007.tif" />

133'

133

100

FIG. 21

130 '129

132

<img file="US3229239A_D0008.tif" />

135

16'

<img file="US3229239A_D0009.tif" />

FIG. 20

107

III

113

113'

<img file="US3229239A_D0010.tif" />

100

109

FIG. 19

108

INVENTOR.

HENRY J. MODREY BY

Attorneys

United States Patent Office

3,229,239

Patented Jan. 11, 1966

3,229,239

SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORTING ARTICLES ON PERFORATED SHEET MATERIAL

Henry J. Modrey, Eagle Drive, Stamford, Conn.

Filed Feb. 16,1960, Ser. No. 9,050 5

Claims. (Cl. 339—125)

The present invention relates to detachable structures for supporting articles on perforated material. It further relates to detachable electric connectors, and also io to perforated pre-wired boards for use in connection with said electrical connectors.

The term “perforated material” as herein used refers to perforated sheets and boards of any configuration, with or without solid backing which may be integral with the perforated material. The perforated material may be cut from fibrous material such as hardboard or plywood, or the material may be metal, cardboard, plastic, tile or glass. It may also be an apertured block or comparatively soft fibrous material such as compressed wood, 20 asbestos and other fibers. The perforations may be disposed in any distribution; utilization of the invention merely requires that there are at least two· appropriately spaced and dimensioned apertures on the side of the material to which the support structure is to· be attached. 25

There are known several support structures of the general kind above referred to for use with perforated hardboard. These structures terminate at one end in one or several hook portions which are inserted into apertures of the sheet material. Such loose attachment ³⁰of the support structure is inherently rather unstable and the supports are especially likely to become dislodged when the support is lifted upwards as often occurs when an article is removed from the support. Even if auxiliary steadying means are employed such as fric- ^3ation studs or stabilizing pins, the attachment is never firmly positive and steady. Furthermore, the insertion of a hook portion through an aperture in the board requires considerable clearance on the rear side of the board. This makes it necessary to interpose spacers or ⁴⁰furring strips between the board and the wall or surface on which it is mounted. The perforation rows which are obscured by such furring strips, can no longer be used for the insertion of support structures.

The present invention provides a novel and improved ⁴⁵support structure which can be rapidly and positively locked to any selected two apertures of sheet material and which can be equally rapidly detached from the sheet material. The attachment is firm and free from any wobble. It will withstand shock and vibration to the ⁵⁰limits of military specifications. Such positive locking affords the advantage over support structures as heretofore known that the support structure and the articles supported by it will not become accidentally dislodged and that the support structures may be used on other ⁵⁵than vertically mounted panels, such as, for example, ceilings.

The invention also provides a novel and improved support structure which does not require an appreciable clearance behind the sheet material. As a result, the aforementioned spacers or furring strips are no longer required, but the perforated material can be mounted flat upon a supporting wall for instance, by simply nailing or screwing or even gluing it to the wall.

According to another aspect of the invention, the support structure is attachable to perforated sheet material in two steps. The mounting member (spring clip) of the structure is inserted in any two selected apertures and it will lock itself automatically and positively to the sheet material when the assembly of the structure is completed by the insertion of a locking member (attachment fixture) in the clip. The attachment fixture will not only lock the clip to the sheet material, but will also lock itself in a fixed angular position in reference to the clip and the sheet material. The removal of the mounted support structure from the sheet material is equally simple. Withdrawal of the fixture will unlock the clip and with it the entire support structure.

According to still another aspect of the invention, the support structure will automatically compensate within a wide range for variations in the thickness of the perforated sheet material on which it is mounted. Such variations in thickness cannot be avoided in practice, especially with perforated hardboard and other non-metallic perforated sheet material. The inherent wide tolerance 15 compensation by the support structure of the invention affords the advantage that the firmness of attachment is largely independent of the tolerances observed in the manufacture of the sheet material and of the support structure itself, thereby materially reducing manufacturing costs. Further, inventory requirements are considerably reduced because one type of clip can be used for widely different gauges of sheet material. The attachment fixtures are identical, irrespective whether used with spring clips dimensioned for thin or thick materials.

The invention also provides for a still further increase of the inherent stability and compensation capabilities of the support structure by providing lateral wings on the spring clips. When the clip is locked to the sheet material, the said lateral wings press against the same, thereby asserting a compensating pressure upon both ends of the clip and further steadying the clip and thus the entire support structure very effectively on the sheet material.

The invention further comprises electrical outlets and receptacles designed to afford a concealed pre-wiring system for perforated boards. The outlets are affixed in selected positions to the rear of a panel or wall, preferably before the same is installed. If and whenever it is desired to install and connect an electrical receptacle on the front side of the panel, spring clips are inserted into the perforation holes behind which an outlet is mounted. Subsequently, the receptacle which in this instance constitutes the attachment fixture of the support structure, is inserted into said spring clips whereby it becomes mechanically attached and electrically connected. This arrangement affords the advantage of a concealed pre-wiring system with optional attachment points for electrical receptacles. Receptacles as aforesaid can be equally conveniently detached and disconnected by withdrawal from the spring clips which thereafter can likewise be removed.

The invention further includes a wall or partition material which is integrally pre-wired for electric power, telephone and intercommunication, all of which can be tapped in any transverse location, and which can further serve for the attachment of mechanical support structures as described. The material consists of a perforated panel to one side of which are adhered one or several conductive strips perforated in registry with the perforations of the ⁶⁰ panel. Such panel constitutes in effect a pre-wired wall the strips in which may carry the power, light, or communication currents. The current carrying strips may be electrically tapped by receptacles attached to the front or opposite side of the panel in any selected positions by ⁶⁵ means of support structures according to the invention thus providing for a rapid, inexpensive and convenient installation. The pre-wired panel of the invention also affords the advantage that no current carrying parts pro70 ^^{le 4l0r4} °f the panel, or are accessible from the front side by ordinary means, thereby avoiding the danger of accidental contact with current carrying

3,329,239 parts. Such panels are most conveniently mounted on furring strips so as to keep the current carrying strips from direct contact with the wall.

According to the invention, pre-wired panels just described may be in the form of a laminate, one layer of which is solid and the other layer of which has the perforations for attachment of electric circuit components. The aforementioned conductive strips are interposed between the two layers. The strips may be metallic foil strips produced and attached by any suitable means, including printed circuit techniques. As is apparent, such laminate does not have any current carrying parts on either outside which are .accidentally accessible. It therefore forms a self-contained wall or partition structure. Connections can .be made only by inserting spring clips according to the invention into the appropriate apertures.

According to still another development of the invention, the apertures in the sheet material and the spring clips used for making electrical connections are so correlated that such connection-making clips can be inserted only in apertures associated with electric conductors, and vice-versa, spring clips intended for mechanical mounting cannot be inserted in apertures associated with conductors.

It is also within the scope .of the invention to provide springy contact clips for electrically connecting and preliminary mechanically joining .pre-wired panels of sheet material as hereinbefore described. ·

Finally, the invention provides m'eaXs by which outside circuit components, such as wires, resistors, capacitors, etc. can be conveniently connected to terminals or wired panels. Such panels may have adhered thereto, circuit patterns as produced, for instance, by printed circuit techniques.

The support structures according to the invention can be inexpensively manufactured by typical mass production operations such as stamping and wire-forming.

Other and further objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims constituting part of the application.

The basic concept of the present invention resides in providing a support structure which is releasably but firmly and positively attachable to perforated sheet material, by forcing the clip from a normally flexed or bent configuration into a less bent configuration, and by utilizing the resulting elongation of the spatial distance between two locking elements on said clip to move the two elements from positions approximately fitting through two selected apertures in the apertured material into positions protruding beyond the perimeter of the apertures, thus locking the clip to the material. The clip is forced from the flexed condition which it has after insertion in the sheet material into the less flexed condition by an attachment fixture which has a curvature different from that of the clip. The term “different curvature” as used herein is intended to encompass any curvature that is different from that of the clip, including a straight configuration- of the attachment fixture and a curvature of the fixture opposite to that of the curvature of the clip. Such opposite curvature is particularly useful to effect an automatic adaptation of the support structure to different gauges of the sheet material as will appear more fully from the.subsequent description.

In the accompanying drawings, several preferred embodiments.of the invention are shown by way of illustra·. tion and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the mounting member of a support structure according to the invention.

FIG. IB is a modification of the mounting member of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 2—2 of FIG. IB on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 3—3 of FIG. IB on ah enlarged scale.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the locking member of one type of support structure.

FIG. 5 is a similar perspective view of a modification of another type of locking member.

FIG. 6 is a similar perspective view of another modification of the locking member.

FIG. 7 is a similar view of still another modification of the locking member.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of support structures according to the invention mounted on perforated sheet material.

FIGS. 9A through 9D show, step by step, the assembly of a mounting member according to FIG. IB and a locking member according to FIG. 5 on perforated sheet material.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of perforated laminate 15 material wired for connecting circuit components to a circuit system by means of support structures according to the invention.

FIG. 11 is a section of the laminate of FIG. 10.

FIG- 12 is a mounting member specifically designed 20 for use in connection with the laminate of FIG. .10.

FIG. 13 is a receptacle attachable to the laminate of FIG. 10 by means of support structures according to the invention.

FIG. 14 is a plan view, partly in phantom, showing 25 the receptacle of FIG. 13 attached to.an assembled laminate according to FIG. -10.

FIG. 15 is a springy contact clip for joining two laminate panels according to FIG. 10.

FIG. 16 is a section of two laminate panels joined by 30 a contact clip according to FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the use of a support structure for electrically connecting several conductors inside a pre-wired perforated laminated panel.

FIG. 18 is a section taken on line 16—16 of FIG. 17 35 on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the use of support structures for attaching and connecting an outside circuit component to a pre-wired panel by means of support structures according to the invention.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view of a mounting member designed for connecting two conductors electrically insulated from each other, to a pre-wired panel, and

FIG. 21 shows the connection of circuit components to a panel by means of the mounting -member according to 45 FIG. 20.

Referring now to the figures in detail, a support structure according to the invention comprises a mounting member referred to as spring clip -and designated by 10 throughout the specification and a locking member re50 ferred to as attachment fixture throughout the specification and designated 1-1 in all mechanical applications of the invention hereinafter described.

The spring clip is made of a suitable springy metal such as steel, bronze or copper and comprises a trans55 versely curved strip 12. The concave side of the strip is the upper side when the clip is mounted to sheet material . and the convex side is the lower side, that is, the side facing the sheet material when the clip is mounted. -From the concave side of the strip depends, at or near each end 60 thereof, a locking element 13. Each locking element is in the form of a shoe having a leg portion 14 and a somewhat pointed terminal portion 15 extending substantially parallel to the plane of strip 12. Each leg portion 14 may have a rounded cross section, the radius of which corre65 sponds to the radius of the aperture in which the clip is to be fitted. The concave, sides of the two leg portions 14 face in opposite direction. The spacing of the two locking elements is such that they approximately fit in two apertures of sheet material -to which the support 70 structure is to be attached. In this connection, it may be mentioned that the two apertures with which the clip Is designed to cooperate, may be disposed horizontally, perpendicularly or diagonally. The support structure of the invention permits full freedom in that respect. The two 75 apertures in which the clip is inserted need not to be adja-.

3,229,239, cent, but several apertures may be spanned by the clip, depending upon the length thereof. All that is necessary for mounting the support structure is that there are two apertures or recesses in a surface in which the two locking elements may be fitted.

Strip 12 has on its convex side retaining means for receiving and positively retaining the attachment fixture 11 of the support structure. The retaining means may take various designs and shapes, it is only essential that they are capable of retaining the fixture on the clip against the inherent spring action of the clip and that they are extended longitudinally of the strip. The retaining means may consist of a pair of guide tracks extending substantially the length of the strip, but it has been found generally preferable to provide two longitudinally spaced pairs of guide tracks 16 and 17 and such are shown in all the figures.

The spring clip according to FIGS. IB, 2 and 3 has the same locking elements and retaining means as described in connection with FIG. 1A. In addition, the clip has a pair of lateral ears or wings 18 which are bent downwardly in reference to the plane of strip 12 as can best be seen in FIG. 2.

The locking member of the attachment fixture of the support structure has a locking portion 20 and a load portion 21. The locking portion must effect an increase of the spatial distance between locking elements 13 of the clip to perform its locking action. Generally speaking, the locking portion must have a curvature different from that of the curvature of the clip in the relaxed or a slightly preflexed condition of the clip. More specifically, it may be transversely curved in the same sense as the clip though less, it may be straight or it may be transversely curved in the direction opposite to the curvature of the clip. Such opposite curvature of the locking portion has special advantages in many applications as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

According to FIG. 4, the locking portion is shown as a flat straight tongue 20 which is rounded at its tip to facilitate insertion of the tongue into the curved guide path defined by tracks 16 and 17 from one end thereof. An arrow indicates the direction in which the tongue is to be inserted into the guide path. The load portion is not fully shown in FIG. 4. As previously mentioned, the load portion may take a practically infinite number of configurations and may serve very many different purposes. It may constitute a support for other articles and it may also constitute part of an article. It may further be used for mechanical purposes only, or it may also be used to effect electric connections as will be pointed put more fully hereinafter. In FIG. 4, the load portion is shown broken off to indicate that it may take any desired shape.

FIG. 5 shows an attachment fixture, the locking portion 28 of which is curved opposite to the curvature of the clip. The curvature may be a continuous arc or may be effected by simply kinking the locking portion in the middle as is indicated by the angle lines. The locking portion has a T-shaped cross section to give the attachment fixture an increased stability. The load portion is again only indicated in the form of a broken off bar.

FIG. 6 shows a locking portion 20Ζ» similar to FIG. 5, but the load portion 21b is shown more fully in the form of two hooks from which articles may be suspended. Finally, FIG. 7 shows a locking portion similar to FIG. 4 except that the locking portion is transversely curved in the form of a shallow continuous arc. The load portion is shown to form a holder for supporting, for instance, a tool. To permit insertion of the fixture in the clip, the fixture is recessed at 22 and the direction of insertion is indicated by an arrow.

FIG. 8 shows three clips according to FIG. IB, inserted in a perforated panel 25 and attachment fixtures inserted in two of the clips. Panel 25 is secured to a support 26. As will be observed, panel 25 is directly secured to its support, for instance, by screws 27, that is, without providing spacing between the panel and the support as is necessary for support structures as theretofore known. The normal inherent elasticity of perforated sheet material either made of fibrous material or of metal and secured to a wall by means of screws, nails, etc. is amply sufficient to supply the minute clearance required for mounting a support structure according to the invention. The clearance required is not more than the thickness of shoe portion 15 and if the sheet material is of the fibrous kind, the shoe portions 15 will force themselves into the fibrous material during the locking operation if for any reason the sheet material is tightly adhered to its support, for instance, due to the proximity of a nail or screw, or the apertures do not extend through the full thickness of the sheet material. Moreover, the shoes have a leverage effect which produces separation even if the panel is closely attached to a surface. If the panel is glued to the surface, the tip of the shoes acts both as a lever and as a cutting knife thereby providing the required clearance between the perforated panel and its backing.

The locking operation will now be explained in detail in conjunction with FIG. 9.

The first step of the locking operation is to insert a spring clip such as shown in FIG. IB in two selected apertures 30 and 31 of perforated sheet material 32. The clip can be pressed into the two apertures by hand by preflexing the clip to the extent necessary, but it has been found more convenient to use the attachment fixture of the support structure as an insertion tool. For this purpose, the locking portion of the fixture, such as locking portion 20α of the fixture shown in FIG. 5, is inserted in guide tracks 17 as shown in FIG. 9A. The left hand locking shoe is first slid into aperture 30 (see FIG. 9A), then the initial curvature of strip 12 is slightly increased by turning the fixture in clock-wise direction as indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 9A and 9B until the strip is sufficiently pre-flexed to permit entry of the right hand locking shoe into aperture 31 (see FIG. 9C). Both locking shoes are now placed in the sheet material with the terminals 15 slightly underlying the sheet material, but without actually securing the spring clip in the sheet material. In order to lock the clip, the locking portion of fixture 11 is withdrawn sufficiently to permit insertion of the locking portion in the left hand guide track 16 and the fixture is then pushed towards the left until the locking portion 20A occupies the position of FIG. 9D.

As a result, strip 12 is flattened thereby causing an increase of the spatial distance between the two locking shoes 13 so that the terminal portions 15 now fully protrude beyond apertures 30 and 31 and underlie the adjacent sheet material (FIG. 9D). If sheet 32 is backed by a wall tightly adhered thereto, the shoes, while moving from the position of FIG. 9C into the position of FIG. 9D, will automatically create the necessary space between the perforated sheet and the backing. When both shoes are inserted in both holes (FIG. 9C), the tip of each shoe portion 15 which constitutes, in effect, a knife blade, is located in the gap between the perforated sheet and its backing. As is evident, the subsequent flattening of strip 12 changes the angle of both shoe portions 15. to positions parallel to the surface of sheet 32 (FIG. 9D). While thus moving from the angle of FIG. 9C into the flat position of FIG. 9D and also outwardly, shoe portions 15 act as levers—the heel of the shoes constituting the fulcrum of the levers—thus forcing the surfaces of the sheet and its backing apart and cutting holes to the extent necessary.

As is apparent, locking portion 20α being slightly convex in reference to strip 12 and having the apex of its curvature opposite to wings 18, will exercise its greatest downward pressure upon the trip portion from which

3,229,239 the wings 18 extend. As these wings are initially downwardly slanted in reference to the plane of strip 12, they are flattened and the outer edges of the wings will press upon the sheet material at two lines laterally spaced in reference to the longitudinal axis of the clip. In other words, the two wings now form a pair of spread legs steadying and stabilizing the clip at its mid portion. Due to the convex configuration of the locking portion, the two ends thereof are now at a greater distance from the surface of the sheet material than the mid portion. As a result, the springiness of strip 12 pressed downwardly in its middle portion will cause the two end portions of the strip to move upwardly, that is, toward the respective parts of the locking portion until stopped by engagement of terminal portions 15 with the lower side of sheet material 32.

As is evident from the previous analysis, the extent to which the outer portions of the clip can and will move upwardly by the pressure exerted upon the middle portion of the clip is determined by the relation between the thickness of sheet material 32 and the length of leg portions 14. The thinner the sheet material is in relation to the length of leg portions 14, the more the outer portions of the clip will move upwardly, and vice-versa. In other words, the clip in coaction with the attachment fixture will automatically compensate for variations in the thickness of the sheet material in reference to the length of leg portions 14. It has been found that by correlating the configuration of the locking shoes 13 and the curvature of the locking portion of the attachment fixture, a wide range of tolerances, both as to the manufacture of the support structure and the thickness of the sheet material can be conveniently bridged, whilst maintaining ease of operation and adequate stability.

The use of a spring clip having wings and an attachment fixture having a convexly curved locking portion affords the widest range of compensation. In some fields of application, a smaller range of compensation is adequate and in such cases, either the wings may be omitted or a straight locking portion may be provided.

It will further be noted that the assembled support structure as shown in FIG. 9D is fixedly held at four points, namely at both ends of the locking portion and at two laterally spread points at the middle of the locking portion. As a result, the support structure is strongly locked to the sheet material and free of wobble irrespective of variations in the thickness of the sheet material and the manufacturing dimensions of the components of the support structure.

FIGS. 10 through 14 illustrate the utilization of the invention for connecting a receptacle to a pre-wired, prefabricated panel. The panel is shown in FIG. 10 as a perforated insulation panel 85 to one side of which metallic foil strips 86 are adhered, formed by any suitable means, including printed circuit techniques. The foil strips have perforations in registry with the perforations of the panel. Some of the perforations are shown as being rectangular or square while the other perforations are shown as being circular for a purpose which will be explained hereinafter. The foil strips may be visualized as being connected to outside circuit components or conductors indicated by a telephone hand set 87 and a 220 volt power line 88. To insulate the current-carrying foil strips, the panel is preferably in the form of a laminate, one layer of the laminate being formed by the aforedescribed panel 85 and the other being a solid insulation panel 89. Panel 89 is grooved at 90 to accommodate foil strips 86. The depth of the grooves is such that the grooves will also accommodate the locking shoes of clips according to the invention. Panels 85 and 89 may be secured to each other by any suitable means. FIG. 11 shows the completed laminate in section.

To connect circuit components to the wired panel, clips are inserted in the manner previously described in two apertures leading to selected foil strips. The clips may be designed with or without wings, but clips made from phosphorous bronze or springy copper, having wings are generally preferred to improve the contact quality irrespective of variations in panel thickness. The clip shown in FIG. 12 has rectangular locking shoes 92 instead of the rounded locking shoes previously shown. The provision of rectangular locking shoes assures that the clip can be inserted in rectangular apertures only, thus enforcing a predetermined and correct selection of the possible Connections and also preventing attachment of a support structure for mechanically supporting an article in wired apertures.

FIG. 13 shows a receptacle 94 including locking portions 95 in the form of flat bars engageable with a clip 91, such as is shown in FIG. 12, in the manner previously described.

FIG. 14 shows in dotted lines the attachment of receptable 94 to the panel 85, the two outer clips 200 being shown as having rectangular locking shoes 201 and as being connected to foil strips under current whereas the middle clip 202 has rounded locking shoes 203 and should be visualized as being connected to ground.

In some instances, it is desirable to join several prewired panels. This can be effected by means of a springy contact clip 96 (see FIG. 3) which is pushed into two aligned panels thus electrically connecting the panels by engaging the foil strips thereof as is shown in FIG· 16. Clips 96 also effect a preliminary mechanical joining of two panels, sufficient to enable a workman to install the panels. Final mechanical joining is generally effected by covering the gap between two panels by moldings, uprights, etc. which also prevent access to the current carrying clips through the gaps.

The continuous and transverse channels formed by the grooves and the foil strips therein afford in conjunction with clips 96 the advantage that the panels can be cut anywhere transverse of the channels in accordance with the specific installation requirements and that a panel so cut can be connected to another panel having matching channels simply by inserting the clips. Accordingly, the panels of FIG. 10 constitutes a pre-wired and pre-fabricated building material that can be cut to shape and size as required.

FIGS. 17 through 21 show further utilizations of support structures according to the invention for electrically connecting circuit components including electronic circuit components to electric conductors.

Referring first to FIGS. 17 and 18, these figures show an insulation panel 100 to one side of which are adhered conductors diagrammatically indicated by a foil strip 101. The conductors may be formed and adhered by any suitable means or processes including printed circuit techniques. As is shown, portions of strip 101 which may be part of circuit patterns, are perforated in registry with perforations of panel 100. A winged clip 10 such as shown in FIG. IB is inserted in the panel as previously described so that the shoes of the clip underlie the strip 101. An outside conductor 102 is then connected to the strip by inserting terminal 103 in clip 10 thereby locking the clip to the panel and connecting conductor 102 to strip 101. As is shown, terminal 103 is similar to the locking portion 20α of the fixture of FIG. 5 though made of sheet material crimped over the end of conductor 102, and functions in the same manner as locking portion 20α.

Clip 10 may also be used to connect a second conductor 104, the plate-shaped terminal 105 of which is slipped between panel 100 and clip 10 before the latter is locked. To secure terminal 105 further, the terminal has turned up noses 106 which straddle the respective wing of clip 10 as shown in FIG. 18.

According to FIG. 19, a circuit component 107 is connected to two conductor strips 108 and 109 on panel 100.

The circuit component 107 may be visualized, for instance, as a resistance pattern 110 formed on an insulation panel 111 by any suitable means, including printed circuit techniques. The ends of the resistance pattern are connected to terminals 112 and 113 which constitute locking portions designed to coact with clips 10. As is evident from the previous description, insertion of clips 10 in panel 100 and subsequent insertion of circuit component 107 will lock the clips and also connect the resistance pattern 110 to the circuit pattern on panel 100. An upturned nose 113' limits insertion of the terminals in the clip so that the same cannot be pushed beyond the clip.

FIGS. 20 and 21 show an arrangement in which the support structures are used to connect two wires 127 and 128 insulated from each other to two portions 129 and 130 of the circuit pattern on panel 100 by means of a single spring clip. The clip which is shown in detail in FIG. 20 is similar to the previously described clips in respect to its locking shoes and retaining means, but the left hand guide tracks 16' are electrically separated from the right hand guide tracks by an interposed insulation coating or layer such as layer 131 of insulation material. The locking member coacting with the clip of FIG. 21 is similar in principle to the previously described locking members except that the two conductors 127 and 128 end in terminals 132 and 133 which are structurally joined but electrically separated by an insulation strip 134 of Tshaped cross section. As is evident, insertion of the terminals in the clip after the latter has been inserted in the panel will lock the clip and also connect conductor 127 to pattern portion 129 and conductor 128 to pattern portion 130. An upturned nose 133' limits insertion of the terminals to the correct position. In the same manner, circuit components such as the circuit component 135 may be connected across conductor portions 129 and 130. Circuit component 135 may be visualized as a resistor or a capacitor.