Importance

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Abstract

A pin carrier for locating male contact pins on a printed circuit board (PCB) with a very high degree of accuracy, while placing a very low thermal mass in contact with each male contact pin. The pin carrier has a plurality of chimney structures, each chimney structure configured to retain one male contact pin. Male contact pins are inserted into each chimney such that essentially only that portion of the male contact pin which is to enter the PCB is exposed. The male contact pins are held in the chimney by a frictional retention force just sufficient to maintain the male contact pins securely within the chimneys during shipment and soldering onto a PCB, but not so great as to make removal of the pin carrier difficult after the male contact pins have been soldered to a PCB. In addition to registering the pins while maintaining a low thermal mass, the chimney structure also protects the male contact pin from excessive solder flow due to solder wicking, and from the corrosive effects of solder flux.

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First Claim