Abstract: A circuit board mounted electrical connector assembly is adapted for connection to a complementary mating connector through an opening in the circuit board. A connector housing is provided with a plurality of terminals. The housing is mounted on the circuit board. Portions of the terminals are soldered to appropriate circuit traces on the circuit board. A guide member is mounted on the housing after the soldering process so that the guide member does not interfere with the soldering process. However, after soldering, the guide member facilitates guiding the mating connector into connecting position.

Abstract: A connector assembly is disclosed for mounting through an aperture in a panel. The assembly includes an adapter mountable in the aperture. A first connector is mountable to the adapter and has limited axial floating movement relative thereto. A second connector is mateable with the first connector with a given mating force. A latch-release mechanism is provided between the first connector and the adapter to latch the first connector against the floating movement and to allow the second connector to be mated with the first connector with the given mating force. The latch-release mechanism is released in response to a force greater than the given mating force to allow the limited floating movement and numerous mating cycles.

Abstract: A cam lever locking mechanism is provided for an electrical connector assembly which includes a lever pivotally mounted on a first connector. The lever has an eccentric cam for engaging a cam follower on a second connector for providing a mechanical advantage while mating the connectors on a mating axis generally centrally of the connectors, in response to rotation of the lever. The lever is rotatable about a pivot axis transverse to and generally intersecting the mating axis of the connectors. The eccentric cam on the lever is aligned generally with the mating axis of the connectors. The cam follower on the second connector is located generally on the mating axis.

Abstract: A multi-terminal filtered electrical connector assembly includes a housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passageways. A plurality of terminals are received in the passageways, with tail portions of the terminals projecting from the housing. A flexible capacitor filter circuit is mounted on the housing and through which the terminals extend. A ferrite block is provided with a plurality of through holes for receiving therethrough portions of the terminals. A terminal alignment plate may be provided for mounting the ferrite block. A second flexible capacitor filter circuit may be provided through which portions of the terminals extend. The ferrite block may be disposed between the two flexible capacitor filter circuits. The housing is constructed for mounting on a printed circuit board to provide either a right angle connector or a direct mounted connector.

Abstract: An unlatching system is provided in a latchable electrical connector system which includes first and second electrical connectors mateable in a given mating direction. The first connector includes a pair of latch devices interengageable with complementary latches on the second connector when the connectors are mated to resist unmating of the connectors. The latch devices are flexible in a direction transverse to the mating direction for movement into and out of latching interengagement with the latches of the second connector. A transversely flexible unlatching mechanism is coupled between the latch devices and is bowed outwardly therefrom, whereby inward flexing of the unlatching mechanism, as by the application of pressure by a user, is effective to cause outward unlatching movement of the latch devices.

Abstract: A multi-terminal filtered electrical connector assembly includes a housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passageways. A plurality of terminals are received in the passageways, with tail portions of the terminals projecting from the housing. A terminal alignment plate, independent of the housing, includes a plurality of through holes for receiving and aligning the tail portions of the terminals. First complementary interengaging latch devices are provided between the housing and the alignment plate for readily assembling the alignment plate on the housing. A ferrite block is mountable on the alignment plate and includes a plurality of through holes alignable with the holes in the alignment plate for receiving therethrough the tail portions of the terminals. Second complementary interengaging latch devices are provided between the alignment plate and the ferrite block for readily assembling the ferrite block on the alignment plate.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is provided for a flat flexible cable having an array of flat conductors arranged thereon at intervals generally parallel to one another and terminating near a distal edge at an end of the cable. A dielectric housing has an elongate recess with a plurality of terminals at intervals along the recess. Each terminal has a contact portion for engaging a respective one of the flat conductors of the flat flexible cable when the cable end is inserted into the recess. An adaptor includes a blade portion insertable into the recess in juxtaposition on one side of the flat flexible cable for biasing the cable conductors into engagement with the contact portions of the terminals on an opposite side of the cable. The adaptor includes at least one wing portion outside of and generally coplanar with the blade portion, with a registration boss projecting from the wing portion. The flat flexible cable includes a registration aperture engageable about the registration boss.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided with unitarily molded housing and a wire seal cover mounted to the rear end of the housing. A latch extends from a wall of the housing and includes a forwardly projecting locking beam and a rearwardly projecting actuator. The housing further includes a shroud unitarily molded therewith to cover both sides and the top of the locking beam of the latch. The wire seal cover further includes a shroud for protecting the actuator of the latch. However, at least a portion of the shroud on the wire seal cover is open to enable actuation of the latch for unmating the connector.

Abstract: A wire dress cover is provided for an electrical connector. The connector includes a channel on the rear face into which the wire dress cover is slidably engagable. The wire dress cover includes a rib for slidable engagement in the channel and a locking projection for lockingly engaging the housing after a full seating thereon. The wire dress cover includes a slot extending centrally therein to enable the cover to be pinched for disengaging the locking prjections from the housing. In certain embodiments the wire dress cover is defined by a pair of wire dress cover shells which are lockingly engagable with one another.

Abstract: A sealed electrical connector assembly is provided for wire-to-wire electrical connections. The assembly includes a pair of mateable electrical connectors each of which includes a plurality of terminal receiving cavities extending therethrough. Each terminal receiving cavity preferably includes a static locking projection and a dynamic terminal positioning beam which deflects during insertion of the corresponding terminal and which resiliently returns to an undeflected condition for locking the terminal in the housing after complete insertion. A TPA component is mounted to the rear of each housing prior to insertion of the terminal. The TPA component includes terminal receiving apertures which function to rotationally align each terminal for efficient full seating in the corresponding terminal receiving cavity. Positive assurance of full terminal seating is achieved by advancing the TPA component from a first position into a second locked position.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is provided including a panel mountable connector that can float relative to a mounting aperture in the panel and that is self-alignable relative to the mounting aperture. The floating connector includes a generally rectangular housing having a mounting flange extending outwardly therefrom. The connector further includes clusters of deflectable beams extending from each side. The deflectable beams include a locking beam having a locking projection for engaging a side of the panel opposite the side engaged by the panel. Each cluster further includes a pair of deflectable centering beams for centering and rotationally aligning the connector to the mounting aperture in the panel.

Abstract: A terminal is provided for receiving a blade terminal of an automotive fuse. The terminal comprises first and second U-shaped contact arms disposed in spaced relationship to define a blade receiving slot therebetween. As a result, a blade terminal inserted into the blade receiving slot will be contacted on its first side by the first U-shaped contact structure and on its second side by the second U-shaped contact structure. Each U-shaped contact structure is defined by forming the metal material of the terminal about an axis extending parallel to the plane of the metal. Each U-shaped contact structure comprises first and second contact arms and a connecting portion extending therebetween. Each contact arm comprises a generally convex arcuate contact edge extending into the blade receiving slot and generally toward the opposed U-shaped contact structure. Each terminal further comprises bases from which the U-shaped contact structures extend.

Abstract: A connector assembly is provided for automotive fuel injectors or temperature sensors. The connector comprises an insulator housing having a plurality of locking members disposed therein for locking engagement with conductive terminals. The housing is constructed to prevent improper orientation of the terminals therein. The locking members are further constructed to prevent insertion of a second terminal until the first terminal has been properly and fully seated and locked within the insulator housing. A TPA (terminal position assurance) component can be engaged on the insulator housing prior to insertion of the terminals to define a subassembly for shipment to a final assembly location. Movement of the TPA component into a second position on the housing assures proper positioning and alignment of the terminals therein.

Abstract: An improved sealed connector includes at least one terminal with an associated terminated conductor. The sealed connector includes a housing having at least one resilient arm with a free end finger extending within a terminal receiving channel for retaining the terminal within the terminal receiving channel. The housing includes a sleeve portion extending axially outwardly from a terminal entry wall defining a seal receiving cavity. A seal has at least one aperture for receiving the terminal and is disposed within the seal receiving cavity between the housing terminal entry wall and a connector cover. The connector cover includes terminal position assurance means and a keying member cooperating with the housing terminal retaining arm for securing the terminal within the terminal receiving channel and for keying alignment with the housing and the seal. The housing and the connector cover include cooperating locking mechanisms for securing said connector cover to the housing.

Abstract: A multicircuit electrical connector for mass terminating a plurality of insulation-clad wires includes a dielectric housing with a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities formed therein and a wall adjoining the cavities. Wire-receiving regions are formed in the wall, each for receiving a wire moved laterally of its axis into a respective cavity. Improved strain relief means are formed in the housing wall, one adjacent each wire-receiving region. Each strain relief means includes first and second resilient fingers offset from each other along a wire axis and constricting a wire-receiving entrance to a region. The first fingers are mounted to the wall for independent movement relative to their generally opposing second finger, and are independently moveable with respect thereto, as wires are simultaneously introduced into said wire-receiving regions during mass termination in said connector.

Abstract: An edge connector receptacle for electrically coupling pairs of printed circuit boards in parallel spaced apart relation includes a dielectric housing having a forward face formed with a pair of slots for receiving edges of the boards. The housing comprises integrally formed contact support means adapted with recesses for supporting a plurality of generally U-shaped contact members in communication between the slots. The recesses are open to a rear wall of the housing and have inner surfaces which taper to a relatively narrow cross-section toward the forward face of the housing. Shoulders formed at the bight portion of each contact cooperate with the tapered surfaces to limit movement of the contact in the direction of forward housing face. Pockets formed within the recesses cooperate with shoulder portions projecting from the end of each contact leg such that the ends of the contacts are captured and movement of the contact in the direction of the rear of the housing is prevented.