Abstract: An electrical contact is disclosed for termination to an electrical conductor. The contact includes a body portion having an active contact element at one end for engagement with a compatible contact and a terminal element at the other end adapted to be terminated to a conductor. The terminal element includes a pair of elongated, spaced conductor engaging arms having inside edges which define a uniformly tapered, inwardly diverging slot extending from the distal end of the terminal element for receiving the conductor. The inside edges of the arms are beveled for piercing insulation about the conductor. The arms have a generally uniform cross section extending substantially the length of the slot. The slot cooperates with the arms to provide substantially uniform normal forces on the conductor as the conductor is moved inwardly along the slot for termination purposes.

Abstract: A hand tool is disclosed for assembling or terminating an electrical cable to a terminal connector or the like which has a receptacle portion for receiving the cable. The hand tool includes a pair of hand operated opposing jaws for movement toward and away from each other. One of the jaws of the tool has a relatively rigid bearing plate defining a bearing surface facing the opposing jaw for engaging the terminal connector. The opposing jaw has a stuffer blade for engaging the cable and driving the cable into the receptacle portion of the connector. A resiliently yieldable backing member is sandwiched between the bearing plate and the one jaw to provide yielding movement therebetween to accommodate variable sized terminal connectors positioned between the jaws and to prevent damage to the electrical cable due to possible excessve pressure being applied when the cable is assembled to the connector.

Abstract: A medical terminal clip is disclosed, particularly for use in connecting a lead wire or conductor to an electrode conventionally secured to the skin surface of a human or animal. The electrode comprises a male projection of the buttontype with an enlarged diameter head portion disposed within a recessed area of the electrode. The clip is generally V or wishbone shaped and includes a pair of support arms secured together at one end and normally spaced from each other at the other end. The arms carry resilient conductive loops normally biased out of overlapping condition but movable upon the application of external force into an overlapped condition wherein the clip may be applied over the head portion of the electrode. The support arms have offset depending shoulder portions from which the conductive loops extend and which are positionable within the recessed area of the electrode when the arms are moved toward each other.

Abstract: A connector assembly providing uninterrupted protection against electromagnetic interference includes a receptacle having a recess in which a first contact assembly is positioned, and a plug having a mating portion which fits into the recess. The mating portion contains a second recess in which a second contact assembly is positioned to mate with the first contact assembly as it projects into the second recess from the first recess. Pivotally mounted doors within the first and second recesses protect the contact assemblies from radiation when unmated, and a spring contact between the mating portion of the plug and the walls of the first recess protect the contact assemblies from radiation during transition between unmated and mated conditions.

Abstract: A quick-release electrical connector having a coupling member captive on and rotatable about a body of the connector, the member including circumferentially-spaced, forwardly-projecting tangs of polymeric material constituting a gapped barrel and having an internal screwthread thereon for engagement with an external screwthread of a mating connector. The tangs are resilient and allow rapid disconnection of the connectors upon application of an axial force sufficient to cause interaction of the internal and external screwthreads and expansion of the barrel to allow the internal screwthreads to ride over the external screwthreads. An inhibitor device is provided to selectively inhibit expansion of the barrel and separation of the connectors.

Abstract: An identification means is disclosed for use with lead wires of electrocardiographic monitoring instruments or the like. The identification means includes a terminal body member secured at one end of a lead wire and has a peripheral recess extending substantially thereabout. An identification member having identifying means corresponding to one of a plurality of commonly recorded anatomical positions is positionable onto the terminal body member and has an interior lip snap fit within the recess of the terminal body member to retain the identification member onto the terminal body member and prevent unintentional removal therefrom. The identifying means on the identification member comprises raised indicia and is color coded to the anatomical positions. The identification member exclusive of the raised indicia also is color coded to different color codifications than the raised indicia. A plurality of identification members are provided, each comprising one of a set thereof of differently color coded members.

Abstract: A patchcord connector for use in terminating a plurality of insulated conductors and interconnecting the conductors to a modular terminal board includes a housing having first and second interlockable molded body members. A plurality of contact elements are disposed within the housing and include terminal contact portions having insulation-piercing members for terminating the insulated conductors as the body members are assembled and interlocked. To afford simple and rapid field assembly of the connector, the connector includes gripping members integral with each contact element for securely maintaining each insulated conductor in a terminating position within the connector prior to and during interlocking of the body members and termination of the conductors. Strain relief means are also provided for retaining each conductor within the connector housing when the first and second body members are in a finally assembled and interlocked position.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously terminating a plurality of insulated conductors in the insulation piercing contacts of a multiple contact electrical connector is disclosed. The apparatus includes means for mounting a connector in conductor receiving position, means for aligning the conductors adjacent individual contacts of the connector, means for positioning an insertion member adjacent the contacts, and resilient means forcibly engaged by the insertion member during the termination process. The apparatus allows sufficient displacement of the resilient means by the insertion member so as to accommodate various transverse dimensions of electrical connectors without the necessity of any adjustment.