Abstract: A modular press block assembly for use in a press tool to mount an electrical connector assembly having a housing and depending terminal pins into a printed circuit board. The modular press block assembly includes a pair of end holders and at least one modular press block positioned between the end holders for engaging the connector assembly and pressing the terminals into the printed circuit board. The invention contemplates a plurality of the modular press blocks of different sizes to form a set thereof for accommodating a plurality of different sizes of connector assemblies. Complementary interengaging keys are provided between the end holders and the modular press blocks and between the press blocks themselves to define proper positioning of the press blocks between the end holders and to maintain that positioning when the end holders are held against the sides of the press block. Spacer blocks also can be used between adjacent press blocks.

Abstract: A manually manipulatable tool is disclosed to facilitate loading an optical fiber in a connector component. The tool includes a base for holding a fiber optic cable with an optical fiber projecting therefrom stripped of its jacket. A carriage holds the connector component in a position for receiving the fiber. The carriage is slidably mounted on the base whereby the carriage can be manually moved relative to the base and thereby move the connector component relative to the fiber optic cable.

Abstract: A card edge electrical connector is shown for providing electrical connections between a printed circuit card and a printed circuit board wherein the printed circuit card has either a 32 bit or a 16 bit capacity. The connector includes a housing having a retaining post that is inserted into an aperture of the printed circuit board to retain the connector to the printed circuit board. The retaining post is tubular having an axial slot extending through the sidewall thereof so as to be resilient and durable. Further, each of the contacts disposed within the connector housing includes a stabilizing arm that opposes the forces created by the insertion of the printed circuit card into the connector housing so as to distribute the opposing forces between the stabilizing arm and the base of the contact. Contacts of alternating sizes and having beams of different angles with the base are employed in the connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for floatable mounting to a panel. The connector includes a plurality of centering beams for engaging edge regions of a mounting aperture in a panel and for exerting centering forces against the edge regions to return the connector to a centered and aligned position. At least one of the centering beams includes a latch for engaging an aperture adjacent to the mounting aperture in the panel to enable float and centering in each of two opposite directions. The connector further includes a TPA component engaged to the rear of the connector housing in a preload condition and in a final seated position. The forward end of the TPA component includes secondary locking latches for engaging the terminals.

Abstract: A wire marking apparatus for marking selected codes onto any of a plurality of wires. The marking apparatus may be disposed between a source of a plurality of wires and an apparatus for processing the wires. The marking apparatus includes a support and marking assembly that is movable in directions extending parallel to the wires and a marking head that is movable in directions orthogonal to the wire. These orthogonal movements are carried out to properly position the marker with the appropriate wire to be marked and at a selected location along the wire.

Abstract: An environment-proof electrical connector assembly includes first and second mateable connectors. The first connector has a male terminal. The second connector has a female terminal and includes a conductive receptacle defining a blind cavity for receiving the male terminal and for establishing an electrical connection with the male terminal within the blind cavity. A seal is provided on the first connector for closing the blind cavity in response to mating of the connectors to seal the electrical connection from the environment.

Abstract: A hand-held tool is provided for scoring and severing an optical fiber. An elongate, generally hollow body has a longitudinal axis extending lengthwise thereof and defines a graspable handle for the tool. A plunger is reciprocally mounted in the hollow body for movement in a path generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis. An optical fiber is supported at one end of the body transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a deflector places the optical fiber under tension. A scoring probe is operatively associated with the plunger and movable therewith towards the fiber for scoring and severing the fiber extending across the path of movement of the scoring probe. An actuator lever is pivotally mounted on the body, operatively associated with the plunger, with a finger depressible portion exposed exteriorly of the body, for manual actuation while grasping the body to move the plunger and scoring probe towards the tensioned optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector for terminating and providing strain relief on an optical fiber cable having an inner fiber, an outer jacket and longitudinal strength material therebetween. A housing has a rear input end into which the fiber, stripped of the outer jacket, extends, along with a front termination end. The rear input end of the housing is externally threaded and about which the longitudinal strength material is positionable. An internally threaded strain relief member is provided and through which the cable extends. The strain relief member is threadable onto the externally threaded rear input end of the housing to clamp the longitudinal strength material directly between the threads of the housing and the strain relief member. Grooves span the threads of the housing to prevent at least some of the longitudinal strength material from spiralling with the threads when the strain relief member is threaded onto the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a two piece die-casted conductive shell that is adapted to be clamped onto a shielded electrical connector. The electrical connector may be formed of a dielectric housing with four sidewalls extending between a mating end and a wire receiving end. A plurality of contacts disposed in the housing are adapted to be connected to conductors extending into the wire receiving end of the electrical connector. A stamped and formed conductive shield surrounds at least a portion of the housing sidewalls. The two piece die-casted or molded plastic shell is formed by the mating of two shell portions with a set of screws projecting through one of the shell portions into the other of the shell portions.

Abstract: This specification discloses an electrically conductive raceway as used in an prefabricated interior wall panel system with a means for electrically connecting a ground wire directly to a portion of the raceway without the need for separate clips or terminals and the method and apparatus for making same.

Abstract: An improved female terminal for an electrical connector wherein the female terminal includes a T-shaped soldering foot, a contact section and a mounting section integrally connected together and stamped out from a metal strip. The contact section and mounting section are linearly contiguous, and the T-shaped soldering foot extends from the mounting section. Each female terminal in a consecutive series of female terminals is integrally connected to a longitudinal carrier strip and has the T-shaped soldering foot and contact section bent to opposite sides of the mounting section. All the female terminals may be inserted in the slots of the female terminal housing simultaneously.

Abstract: A shielded electrical connector is formed by the mating of upper and lower housing covers and is used with twisted pair cables, each of which includes a pair of signal wires and a drain wire enclosed within an outer insulation. Each pair of terminated signal wires is disposed in a contact module which is positioned in one of a plurality of shielded compartments formed between adjacent separating walls extending from the outer housing covers when the covers are mated with each other. Each of the separating walls has a positioning slot into which a positioning rib on the contact modules may be disposed in order to properly position and retain the contact module in one of the shielded compartments. A ferrule assembly is crimped about the end of the insulation of each of the cables and is coupled to the drain wire of the twisted pair cable.

Abstract: An improved anti-bend pin spacer is disclosed for use in a multi-pin connector which includes a male plug having pins terminals fixed in its housing, and a female receptacle having pin holes and contact terminals fixed in its housing. The pin spacer is an insert molded part which is insert molded about free ends of the pin terminals simultaneously with the insert molding of substantial lengths of the pin terminals in the housing of the male plug.

Abstract: A shielded electrical connector assembly which includes an insulating housing having a front mating end and a rear conductor receiving end. A stamped and formed metal shield surrounds at least the rear conductor receiving end of the insulating housing. The shield is formed by a pair of interengaging shield halves. Each shield half has a semicylindrical portion projecting from the rear end thereof and combining with the other shield half to form a cable crimping barrel. The barrel is formed by metal of each shield half being folded rearwardly from a front end thereof, through an opening in the rear end thereof, and thereby being integral with the remainder of the respective shield half. The insulating housing is formed by two interengaging housing halves defining a conductor receiving opening at the rear conductor receiving end of the housing.

Abstract: A fuse socket is provided with a plastic housing having a fuse cavity for receiving an automotive fuse. The housing includes a pair of terminal receiving cavities for receiving the blades of the fuse. Blade receiving terminals are mounted in the respective terminal receiving cavities of the housing. Each blade receiving terminal includes a pair of opposed contact beams extending from a base and converging toward one another. Contact surfaces are defined at the locations of minimum distance between the contact beams. The terminal further includes a generally U-shaped assist structure having a bight generally adjacent the base of the terminal and having a pair of arms extending from the bight and being unitarily connected to locations on the contact beams remote from the base. Areas on the contact beams between the mating end and the base of the terminal are separated from the assist structure.

Abstract: Connectors for field terminating ribbons cables are provided. The connector includes a nonconductive housing having a bottom wall and upstanding side walls extending therefrom to define an open topped termination cavity. A plurality of insulation displacement terminals are frictionally retained in the housing to extend through the bottom wall and into the termination cavity. A flowable sealing grease may be disposed in the termination cavity substantially surrounding the terminals therein. One wall of the housing includes a slot for receiving the ribbon cable in register with the terminals of the connector. A press member is frictionally retained in the housing in a pre-load condition and can be urged into a fully seated locked condition where the press member urges the ribbon cable toward the bottom wall of the housing and into engagement with the terminals therein.

Abstract: A sealing device is provided for closing an opening in a panel which accommodated an electrical connector. The device includes a body positionable about the connector. A sealing flang on the body establishes sealing engagement with the panel about the opening. A positive lock is provided between the body and the connector for holding the sealing device in position with the sealing flange in sealing engagement with the panel.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided with a transversely aligned terminal position assurance (TPA) component that is slidably insertable into a transverse keyway in the connector housing. The TPA component includes a plurality of flexing primary latches and a corresponding plurality of static secondary locks. The flexing primary latches are disposed to align with the terminal receiving cavities of the housing when the TPA component is in a pre-load position. The terminals can be inserted into the housing with the TPA component in this pre-load position such that the flexing primary latches at least temporarily retain the terminals in the housing. Upon complete insertion of all terminals the TPA component is indexed transversely into a final locked position such that the static secondary locks thereof positively engage each terminal to ensure complete insertion. A symmetrical front mating seal is configured to be held in the housing by suction to prevent separation during unmating.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved board-surface mounting type electric connector whose pin terminals are designed to be soldered to a printed circuit pattern by their tail sections. Each tail section is composed of a soldering portion, an intermediate stepwise joint and a non-soldering portion. The soldering portion of the tail section is laid on the printed board, and the non-soldering portion is laid on an isolation wall at a level higher than the printed board, thus leaving space between the printed board and the non-soldering portion available for printing desired circuit patterns. Connector housing may have at least one stopper to abut on the upper surface of each soldering portion for preventing it from rising, thereby keeping each soldering portion stable in position.

Abstract: An electrical connector for mounting in an opening in a panel is provided with a housing positionable in the panel opening. At least one latch arm is molded integrally with the housing for engaging the panel at an edge of the opening for securing the housing in the opening. The latch arm has a stepped configuration for accommodating panels of different thicknesses at the opening.