Abstract: An electrical connector (10) having a body (20), a switch assembly (30) for slideable disposition in the body (20), and discriminators (60,70,80) for terminating large and/or small gauge wires. The switch subassembly includes a conventional dummy-load test circuit. Insulation displacement contacts (40,50) are disposed in the body and in the discriminators (60,70 80) for termination with the wires. The switch assembly (20) is slidably disposed within the body (20) in a sealed cavity (27), and contacts (32) of the subassembly slidably but electrically interface with contacts (40,50), the switch assembly (20) is thereby suspended in the cavity and its motion is guided along contacts (40,50) which act as tracks as the switch assembly is displaced between normal and test mode positions.

Abstract: An improved expandable reel assembly is disclosed having a pair of mating hub members which allow ready assembly of the reel as well as adjustability for expansion of the width of the reel. The reel assembly includes a pair of sidewall members, a spacer member, and the mating pair of hub members which secure the sidewalls to the spacer member and accomplish both the spacing and locking of the reel assembly.

Abstract: An impact extraction tool is disclosed for driving contacts from housings, circuit boards, and the like. The tool is adapted to extract contacts of substantially any post length and even contacts having posts lying under flush with respect to the supporting surface. The tool has a floating cocking spring and thus is shorter than similar tools.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a receptacle and also a zero insertion force connector in the form of an electrical receptacle mounted within a housing. The housing is provided with an apertured cover which is movable on the housing to one position in order to bias the receptacle to an open position, allowing a male contact to be inserted through the apertured cover and into the receptacle without substantial resistance to insertion thereof. The cover is subsequently moved to a second position on the housing to release the receptacle and allow the receptacle to resiliently close and grip on the male contact, thereby electrically terminating the male contact to the receptacle within the housing. As a further feature of the invention, the receptacle is of stamped and formed configuration having a body portion with a pair of opposed gripping portions projecting therefrom.