Intercept connector suitable for use in a telephone system

Claim 1

An intercept connector operable to be releasably connected to the terminal arms of a terminal block to electrically crossconnect selected pairs of said arms, said intercept connector comprising: a backing board of non-conductive material having front and rear surfaces bordered by front, rear, and end edges; a plurality of contact clips located on said front surface of said backing board, each contact clip extending at an acute angle relative to said front edge and comprising a folded metallic strip defining: a base portion having an inner surface seated on the front surface of said backing board; a top portion superposed over said base portion; and a curved bight portion integral with said top and base portions to define a spring connection therebetween yieldably biasing a distal end of said top portion toward an outer surface of said base portion; a distal end of said base portion including outwardly projecting retaining flanges defining an arm-receiving mouth; the distal end of said top portion terminating generally at said receiving mouth and including an angled tip defining a cam lip operable to be raised by an oncoming terminal arm; said base portion having a pair of spaced tabs located intermediate said retaining flanges and said curved bight portion, said tabs projecting from opposite sides of said base portion and extending through apertures in said backing board, said tabs each including: a first portion projecting laterally outwardly from a side of said base portion in the plane of said base portion, and a second portion oriented at a right angle to said first portion and projecting into a respective one of said apertures within a plane oriented perpendicular to said backing board, each of said tabs terminating in said lastnamed plane at the end of said second portion; printed circuit means fixed on said rear surface of said backing board including a plurality of metallic conductor paths terminating at the mounting locations of selected pairs of clips; and a plurality of anchor beads disposed on said rear surface of said backing board at the mounting locations of said clips, said beads being spaced from one another and from said edges of said backing board to present minimal obstruction to the arrangement of said metallic conductor paths; said anchor beads each being formed of solidified metal extending between the second portions of an associated contact clip; said metal being disposed at least partially within said apertures and in adhering relation to both tabs of said associated clip and to an associated circuit path, to anchoR said clip to said backing board and establish electrical communication between said clip and said circuit path.