Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for simultaneously terminating a plurality of insulated metallic conductors in the insulation-piercing contact members of a multi-contact connector. The apparatus includes a base which supports the connector in conductor-receiving position and a carriage which carries a reciprocating insertion tool. The carriage is pivotally attached to the base and moves between an open position and an operating position wherein the insertion tool is aligned with the connector. Locating means are mounted on the carriage in fixed spatial relation to the insertion tool to align the connector for the termination operation as the carriage moves to the operating position. Self-locking latch means retains the carriage in the operating position and includes a release means which may be actuated while returning the carriage to the open position, all in a single operation.

Abstract: An environmentally protected connector assembly for terminating a coaxial cable includes a tubular stem insertable between the braided outer conductor and inner insulation of the cable and fixedly carrying a collar and rotatably carrying a coupling nut for connection to a compatible connector component. O-rings provide seals between the coupling nut and the compatible connector and the collar. A resilient sleeve is received over the cable and includes inner ribs adjacent to one end to provide a watertight seal with the cable and having at the other end a lip engaging a flange on the collar to provide a further watertight seal. A retaining shoulder in the sleeve cooperates with an enlarged portion of the insertion end of the stem to retain the sleeve in place and provide further sealing. A crimp ferrule around the cable serves to clamp it on the connector stem.

Abstract: A mating clip is provided for use in securing together the mated halves, i.e., a mated receptacle and plug, of a connector. The mating clip is of one piece tubular construction formed from semi-rigid plastic and incorporates inner shoulders which fit grooves of a mated connector. The clip includes a longitudinal hinge integral to the body of the clip and opposite to a slit through the body. The hinge permits the body of the clip to be opened to receive a connector and closed to retain the connector. Latching means are provided in association with the slit to hold the mating clip in its closed state. The spacing of the inner ridges of the mating clip is such that the clip cannot be closed on a connector in place unless the connector is fully assembled so that its grooves mate with the inner shoulder in the clip. The clip prevents extreme flexure or bending of a supported connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed comprising complementary receptacle and plug connector members, each member having a hollow shell containing an insulating insert which houses electrical contacts. A rotatable coupling ring is carried by the plug and is engageable with the receptacle for mating the connector members and holding the contacts in electrical engagement. A resilient means is interposed between the coupling ring and the plug and has a predetermined range of axial deflection relative to the plug. The receptacle is provided with a plurality of bayonet pins and the coupling ring has a corresponding plurality of pin-receiving tracks to provide a bayonet type releasable connection between the coupling ring and the receptacle. The coupling ring has limited axial movement relative to the plug so that upon mating of the connector members, the coupling ring moves axially along the plug toward the receptacle compressing the resilient means therebetween.

Abstract: A termination tool is disclosed for assembling electrical cables, such as ribbon cables or the like, to an electrical connector which has receptacle means for receiving a cable in electrical termination with conductive contacts on the connector. The tool includes a base having a locator portion for properly locating a connector in position for receiving an electrical cable. A pair of spaced opposed clamping jaws are pivotally mounted on the base on opposite sides of the connector locator for movement toward and away from each other to engage a properly positioned connector to hold the connector in position during a termination operation. The clamping jaws are spring loaded and biased outwardly toward inoperative positions whereby a connector can be easily located therebetween. A reciprocally mounted stuffer means is mounted on the tool for movement toward and away from the base and locator means to drive a cable into the receptacle means of the connector.

Abstract: An integral electrical shorting switch and connector assembly is disclosed having a pair of switch terminals each with a shorting end and an opposite contact end isolated from the environment. A conductive member for operatively shorting the switch terminals is mounted to a flexible, water-impervious boot surrounding and sealing the shorting end of the switch terminals, and a connector plug with contacts forms two interference fit seals at the contact end of the switch terminals.

Abstract: A magnetically-locked switch assembly includes a switch unit having internal contact means positioned by an actuator arm between open and closed positions. Unauthorized actuation of the actuator arm is prevented by a locking pin which is displaced to release the actuator arm only in the presence of an externally applied magnetic field. The actuator arm is mechanically actuated from outside the switch housing through a slip-clutch to prevent damage to the actuator arm by application of excessive force when the actuator arm is locked.

Abstract: A connector for making intimate electrical contact with plural insulated conductors of a flat wire cable which includes plural contacts each having a pair of spaced-apart jaw members with insulation piercing and electrical contact portions extending substantially parallel to and on opposite sides of the axis of an associated conductor. Slots in an inner body portion of the connector hold the contacts in two laterally spaced rows on opposite sides of a central cavity. A rigid bar member inserted into the cavity forces the conductors into engagement with the contacts in both rows to first pierce and continuously strip the insulation adjacent a longitudinal portion of each conductor and then position the stripped conductor adjacent the contact portions which thereafter exert a force normal to and make broad flat surface contact with the conductors.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive switch for indicating when a fluid pressure reaches a predetermined limit includes a housing having a top wall and a dielectric substrate within the housing spaced from the top wall. A metal diaphragm is hermetically bonded to the substrate to form a cavity between the top wall and the diaphragm. The diaphragm includes a major resilient portion which deforms responsive to varying fluid pressures within the cavity. A first contact is fixedly mounted relative to the substrate and a second contact, arranged for movement with the deformable diaphragm, is spaced from the first contact in juxtaposition thereto. When the fluid pressure within the cavity reaches a predetermined limit, the second contact engages the first contact to close the switch. When the fluid pressure is below the predetermined limit, the second contact moves with the diaphragm away from the first contact to open the switch.

Abstract: An insulated conductor is terminated in an insulation-opening portion of an electrical contact and the contact jaws are crimped over the conductor to secure the conductor therein. A tool includes a pair of cutting edges and crimping surfaces for cutting and folding over sections of the contact jaws as the tool presses an insulated conductor into an insulation-opening notch formed by the contact jaws. The tool includes a forward end having a surface for engaging and pressing the conductor into the notch, the surface acting against the conductor as a stop to limit the depth of cut of the cutting edges. The tool may also be used after conductor insertion by other techniques to perform the crimping operation. The side surfaces of the tool slidingly engage the cut edges of the contact jaws and prevent an inward movement of the jaws during cutting and crimping.

Abstract: Apparatus is shown for use in loading contacts in contact receiving bores of a resilient insert body. The insert body is provided with internal shoulders and bores forming restrictive passages for holding the contacts and for holding wires attached to the contacts. The apparatus includes an adapter associated with a breech loading assembly for accepting and holding the insert body. An assembly including a bullet within a barrel is pushed into the insert body to gently enlarge the shoulders and the bores. The bullet is then retracted to a stop position, leaving the barrel in place in the bore. The breech lock is then opened and contacts are loaded by hand, or other means, into the bore to the stop position. The barrel is then retracted from the bore permitting the internal shoulders of the resilient insert body to expand and grip the contacts. Thereafter, the resilient insert body, with its contacts and appropriate leads in place, is removed from the apparatus.

Abstract: An assembly for coupling a resilient electrical connector component to another mateable connector component includes a shell engageable about the resilient component. The shell includes a plurality of axially cantilevered, circumferentially spaced fingers at one end thereof which surround the resilient component, the fingers including means for defining a substantially rigid circumferential bearing surface thereabout. An annular coupling member is provided which is engageable with the bearing surface for rotation about the shell and includes means for attachment to the mateable connector component. The coupling member and the bearing surface means are configured and arranged such that the inherent elasticity of the resilient component maintains the coupling member and bearing surface in cooperative engagement.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating the coupling and uncoupling of electrical connectors. The apparatus includes at least one rack gear on the body of a first of a pair of electrical connectors and a pinion member on the other, engageable with the rack and having an actuating lever for rotating the pinion member. As the lever is moved in a first direction, the pinion rotates and engages the rack, pulling the two connectors together. When the lever is moved in the other direction, the connectors are pulled apart.

Abstract: A switch for coaxial circuits is shown, including a moveable contact, a controller which controls the position of the moveable contact, and a latch to hold the moveable contact in the latest position determined by the controller. The moveable contact has an end which is permanently connected to a first terminal of a coaxial switch and a free end which may be connected to either of two other terminals of a coaxial switch as determined by signals to the controller. The controller includes a coil responsive to electrical current to magnetize an armature which is mechanically linked to the moveable contact. The latch includes a permanent magnet which reacts with a magnetized portion of the armature to force the armature and therefore the free end of the moveable contact into the latest position as determined by the polarity of the magnetic field of the coil.

Abstract: An electrical filter connector includes a housing in which a dielectric insert member is positioned. A plurality of pin contacts extend through the dielectric member in parallel-spaced alignment for engaging complimentarily positioned contacts on mating connectors. Ferrite sleeves positioned over the pin contacts coact with individual metal layers deposited on the front and rear surfaces of the dielectric block and a central metal layer within the block to form individual pi filter networks for each pin contact. Electrical connections are maintained between the pin contacts and the individual metal layers by means of solder bridges which extend over the ends of the ferrite sleeves.

Abstract: An electrical contact adapted to be crimped onto an electrical conductor is disclosed. The contact comprises a body portion having an active contact element disposed at one end for connection to a complementary contact and a terminal element at the other end adapted to be fixedly connected to a conductor. The terminal contact element comprises a pair of spaced crimping arms disposed in a common plane and having opposite inside facing edges with beveled surfaces. The beveled surfaces provide a camming action during the crimping operation which permits the arms to pass one another and to completely encircle the conductor, while the arts remain in substantially the same plane, whereby the crimped arms provide a positive mechanical and electrical termination between the contact and the conductor.

Abstract: Bodies, or frames, of use in the formation of modular interconnect terminals, or terminal modules are shown. The bodies are formed, characteristically, from single pieces of material to include pockets or receptacles into which electrical contact elements may be fitted. Each body, or frame, includes regions about which it may be folded to provide a four-sided box-like structure. Before being folded the body is equipped with electrical contact elements which it supports in such a way that first terminals of the contact elements are accessible from outside the folded structure. A flexible printed circuit board having conductors arranged in patterns on at least one face is folded within the box-like structure and its conductors are connected to second terminals of the contact elements to provide selected interconnections between the electrical contact elements.

Abstract: An assembly for use in a fiber optic connector for aligning and spacing the terminal ends of a pair of fiber optic cables to achieve efficient light transfer includes a pair of terminal pins, each having a bore for receiving one of the cables and an external shoulder. A resilient sleeve is tightly received over the terminal pins to align the terminal ends in facing relation and abuts the terminal pin shoulders to effect a predetermined close spacing of the terminal ends to provide efficient light transfer between the pair of fiber optic cables.In a preferred form, each terminal pin includes an insert member which has a concentric channel for receiving and aligning one of the fiber optic cables concentric with the outer dimension of the terminal pin.

Abstract: A termination system, in particular for key telephones, is constructed on a modular basis and includes programmable termination fields for flexibility in providing and altering key telephone functions, and plug-in connection of the telephone instruments at a termination zone for electrically moving a telephone from one location to another without the necessity of disconnecting and reconnecting the individual conductors associated with each telephone instrument.

Abstract: A connector assembly for coupling one or more pairs of fiber optic tubing cable segments comprises a mating plug and receptacle each including insert members having aligned passageways wherein the terminal ends of the fiber optic cable segments are disposed. An alignment sleeve within the passageways fixed to one insert member and slidably received by the other receives the terminal ends at respective ends of the fiber optic cable segments of the sleeve to maintain the terminal ends in axial, transverse and angular alignment.