Abstract: A high power electrical connector is provided for transmitting electrical signals from a pair of cables, such as high current capable cables, to an associated member, such as a dash panel. The high power electrical connector includes an insulative housing and a pair of contact path assemblies therethrough for transmission of the electrical signals. The cables can be rotated relative to the housing and rotated relative to each other via the contact path assemblies. Ground path assemblies are also provided for grounding the cables. The cables can each be rotatable relative to a portion of the respective ground path assembly.

Abstract: A high power electrical connector is provided for transmitting electrical signals from a pair of cables, such as high current capable cables, to an associated member, such as a dash panel. The high power electrical connector includes an insulative housing and a pair of contact path assemblies therethrough for transmission of the electrical signals. The cables can be rotated relative to the housing and rotated relative to each other via the contact path assemblies. Ground path assemblies are also provided for grounding the cables. The cables can each be rotatable relative to a portion of the respective ground path assembly.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, conductive terminals mounted therein, and a conductive shield generally covering the housing. A shelf of the housing supports a portion of the shield. Each terminal has a main body, a front contact portion extending from an end of the main body and capable of engagement with contacts of a battery, a rear contact portion extending from an end of the main body and capable of engagement with contacts of an electronic device, and a tail portion extending perpendicularly from the main body. The tail portion is positioned between the front and rear contact portions. The front contact portion is capable of deflecting along a plane defined by a centerline of the main body.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, conductive terminals mounted therein, and a conductive shield generally covering the housing. A shelf of the housing supports a portion of the shield. Each terminal has a main body, a front contact portion extending from an end of the main body and capable of engagement with contacts of a battery, a rear contact portion extending from an end of the main body and capable of engagement with contacts of an electronic device, and a tail portion extending perpendicularly from the main body. The tail portion is positioned between the front and rear contact portions. The front contact portion is capable of deflecting along a plane defined by a centerline of the main body.

Abstract: Power connector modules are provided that can be plug connectors, receptacle connectors, or a system of plug and receptacle connector modules and optionally other modules, that mate together. Each connector has an uncoupled contact feature. The uncoupled contacts have exposed surfaces to dissipate heat resulting from Joule effects. The uncoupled contacts for the plug connector converge to form a blade structure at one side. The uncoupled contacts for the receptacle connector form a receiving section that engages the blade structure of the plug connector when the plug connector and receptacle connector are used together.

Abstract: A battery pack, charger, and terminal blocks for the pack, charger and a cordless power tool are provided. The pack includes battery cells disposed between end caps within a bottom housing of the pack, and a potting boat for housing pack electronics electrically connected to the cells between the end caps and disposed within a pack top housing. A pack terminal block is connected to the potting boat within the top housing. The charger and the power tool each include a terminal block for providing electrical connections between the charger/tool and the battery pack. The terminal block is configured to float side-to-side to provide displaceable movement of the terminal block within the charger housing or tool housing for aligning the battery pack terminal block therein.

Abstract: A battery pack, charger, and terminal blocks for the pack, charger and a cordless power tool are provided. The pack includes battery cells disposed between end caps within a bottom housing of the pack, and a potting boat for housing pack electronics electrically connected to the cells between the end caps and disposed within a pack top housing. A pack terminal block is connected to the potting boat within the top housing. The charger and the power tool each include a terminal block for providing electrical connections between the charger/tool and the battery pack. The terminal block is configured to float side-to-side to provide displaceable movement of the terminal block within the charger housing or tool housing for aligning the battery pack terminal block therein.

Abstract: A connector is provided that is suitable for connection to another connector. The connector can be a plug connector or a receptacle connector. The connector has a power contact and a signal contact. The signal contact may be provided by a modular housing that can be inserted into the connector housing. The signal contact can be wired separately into the modular housing and then the modular housing can be is inserted into the connector housing. A terminal position assurance member can then be used to secure the modular housing and power contact. An assembly of both the plug connector and the receptacle connector can be provided.

Abstract: A battery pack, charger, and terminal blocks for the pack, charger and a cordless power tool are provided. The pack includes battery cells disposed between end caps within a bottom housing of the pack, and a potting boat for housing pack electronics electrically connected to the cells between the end caps and disposed within a pack top housing. A pack terminal block is connected to the potting boat within the top housing. The charger and the power tool each include a terminal block for providing electrical connections between the charger/tool and the battery pack. The terminal block is configured to float side-to-side to provide displaceable movement of the terminal block within the charger housing or tool housing for aligning the battery pack terminal block therein.

Abstract: Power connector modules are provided that can be plug connectors, receptacle connectors, or a system of plug and receptacle connector modules and optionally other modules, that mate together. Each connector has an uncoupled contact feature. The uncoupled contacts have exposed surfaces to dissipate heat resulting from Joule effects. The uncoupled contacts for the plug connector converge to form a blade structure at one side. The uncoupled contacts for the receptacle connector form a receiving section that engages the blade structure of the plug connector when the plug connector and receptacle connector are used together.

Abstract: A female terminal with a mating end suited for receiving a male pin with flat surfaces and a circuit-connecting end for connection to a wire. A terminal-receiving passageway at the mating end has two spaced apart sidewalls, which may be in the form of U-shaped channels, extending lengthwise along the passageway with one or more slots separating the U-shaped channels. Enlarged flat contacting surfaces are formed in the opposing sidewalls and are disposed at an angle to the sidewalls. The sidewalls resiliently flex apart from each other as the male pin is inserted into the passageway such that the angled contacting surfaces become coplanar with the flat surfaces of the male pin and electrically contact the male pin over a greater area than that provided by dimples. One or more notches may be disposed at selected points in the sidewalls of the female terminal to better define and control the flexing characteristics of the spaced apart sidewalls.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle terminal is provided for receiving a mating terminal pin. The terminal includes a front mating end, a rear terminating end and a generally U-shaped base portion between the ends. The base portion includes a base wall, a pair of continuous and solid side walls projecting upwardly from the base wall and a pair of contact arms projecting upwardly from each side wall. The contact arms have opposing contact portions defining multiple contact points on each side of the U-shaped base portion for engaging the terminal pin inserted between the pairs of contact arms.

Abstract: A female terminal with a passageway is defined by generally spaced apart sidewalls for receiving a male terminal. The passageway may be configured from two U-shaped channels, with a primary contact and a sacrificial contact stamped from each sidewall of each U-shaped channel with the sacrificial contacts located forward of the primary contact. The sacrificial contacts are disposed in the direction of insertion of the male terminal into the passageway, and are separated from the sidewall by apertures above and below the sacrificial contact so that any residue from arcing is mostly contained at the edges of the sacrificial contacts.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement is disclosed in a power distribution system for electrification of modular wall panels or the like. A mounting bracket is adapted for location in a wire raceway of a modular wall panel. An electrical receptacle is mountable on the mounting bracket. Complementary interengaging guide ribs and grooves are provided between the bracket and the receptacle for guiding the receptacle into a proper mounted position on the bracket. Complementary interengaging latch arms and latch recesses are provided between the bracket and the receptacle for locking the receptacle on the bracket at its mounted position.

Abstract: A shielded electrical connector assembly includes a dielectric housing having at least one terminal-receiving passage. An opening is provided in an outside wall of the housing communicating with the passage. A terminal is inserted into the passage, with an engaging portion of the terminal aligned with the opening. A conductive shell is disposed about at least a portion of the housing. The shell includes a finger portion extending through the opening in the housing into engagement with the engaging portion of the terminal.

Abstract: An electrical switch assembly includes a printed circuit board having a planar switch pad thereon. An actuator is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the printed circuit board about a pivot axis spaced to one side of the planar switch pad. A planar switch contact on the actuator overlies the planar switch pad on the circuit board. The planar switch contact is disposed at a predetermined angle to the planar switch pad when out of engagement therewith in an inactive condition of the actuator, so that the entire surface of the switch contact engages the entire surface of the switch pad immediately upon initial engagement.

Abstract: A cable tap assembly includes a housing having a mating face (28) and an opposite terminating face (26). A plurality of terminals (32, 40) are mounted in the housing. Each terminal includes a mating portion engageable through the mating face of the housing with a complementary mating terminal, and a terminating portion generally at the terminating face of the housing. A wiring assembly, such as a printed circuit board (16), is mounted on the terminating face of the housing and includes a plurality of connectors (18-20) electrically couples thereto. The connectors are adapted to receive conductors of at least one multi-conductor electrical cable (88). A strain relief cover (22) and cap (24) assembly is mountable at the terminating face of the housing, over the wiring apparatus, and is adapted to hold and provide strain relief for the cable.

Abstract: A convenience outlet assembly is adapted for interconnecting electrical components to wires in a flat cable extending behind a wall in a structure. A mounting bracket is secured to a structural support behind the wall and has a peripheral frame about a mounting opening. A cable tap subassembly is attachable to the cable. A mounting box, separate from the mounting bracket, has an open front face and a peripheral flange attachable to the peripheral frame of the mounting bracket. The peripheral flange is located on the exterior of the wall and the peripheral frame is located on the interior of the wall. The mounting box is insertable through an opening in the wall and the mounting opening in the bracket. The cable tap subassembly is mountable in a position at the rear of the box.

Abstract: A plug detection electrical receptacle includes a dielectric housing having at least one passage with an open mating end for receiving a male terminal of a complementary mating electrical plug and an opposite end communicating with a switch on a substrate. A female terminal is disposed in the passage for engagement by the male terminal. A detect switch is located in proximity to the passage for actuation by the male terminal when the male terminal is inserted into the passage in engagement with the female terminal. The detect switch includes an actuator at the opposite end of the passage, the actuator including a male terminal engaging portion and a switch engaging portion. A first flexible skirt extends from the actuator about the periphery thereof into sealing engagement with the substrate about the switch thereon. The flexible skirt supports the actuator with the switch engaging portion out of engagement with the switch on the substrate.

Abstract: An electrical plug-receiving receptacle includes a housing enclosure with an opening and a cover for closing the opening. The housing enclosure has walls defining at least a portion of the periphery of the opening, including an outside wall and a generally flexible inside wall spaced from the outside wall. The inside wall has an aperture spaced from the opening. The cover includes a generally rigid inner arm for positioning inside the flexible inside wall of the housing enclosure and a generally rigid outer arm for positioning between the inside and the outside walls of the enclosure. The inner and outer arms define a tortuous passage therebetween for insertion thereinto of the inside wall of the housing enclosure. The inner arm has a latching nib for latching engagement in the aperture in the inside wall of the enclosure. The inside wall must bend when inserted into the tortuous passage. The cover may include a heat sink.