Abstract: A contact retention system using a self-seating contact (56) includes a housing (22) having at least one contact receiving passageway (30) and a contact (56) associated therewith. Contact (56) has leading and trailing end portions (62, 80) and an intermediate body portion (66). Body portion (66) has a dimension wider than end portions (62, 80) and defines forwardly facing and rearwardly facing latch surfaces (76, 74). Each of opposed passageway side surfaces (36, 42) has a latching projection (38, 44) extending toward the other passageway side surface (44, 38) defining forwardly and rearwardly facing stop surfaces (40, 46) offset from at least one edge (74, 76) of the contact (56) and axially spaced at a slightly greater length that the length of the body portion (66).

Abstract: A surface mountable electrical connector 10 for use with a circuit board 70 of the type having one or more rows 74,82 of closely spaced trace termini 76,84 on the mounting surface 72 of the board 70, the connector 10 including a housing 12 having one or more rows of closely spaced electrical terminal members 30,46 therein. The terminal members 30,46 include elongate arm portions 36,52 extending from the housing 12 to surface mount contact sections 38,54 at free ends thereof. Each terminal associated with an outer row 74 of circuit board termini 76 includes a portion immediately adjacent and inwardly from the contact section 38, which is abruptly directed away from the mounting surface 72 to minimize wicking of solder to a nearby inner row termini 84.

Abstract: A card edge connector (10) for connection to a circuit board (11). At least one key position (19, 20) is formed in the connector (10) between the contacts (15) and the end walls (13, 14) of the connector housing (12). At least one key (21) is disposed in the at least one key position (19, 20). At least one key slot (22) is formed in the circuit board (11) to cooperate with and receive the key (21). A removable key (21) may be removed from the key opening (19, 20) with a tool (27). In an alternate embodiment, the key (21') is irremovable.

Abstract: A pair of shorting contacts (116,116) on mated electrical terminal members (110,110). The shorting contacts are edges of angled surfaces (36) on the respective electrical terminal members which are laterally reversed mirror images of each other. The respective edges confront each other in a substantially transverse configuration. Initial engagement between the respective edges is at an initial point contact (125) at a high stress. The edges thereafter wipe against one another and come to engage at a final point contact. The path from the initial point contact to the final point contact constitutes a line between the respective electrical terminal members.

Abstract: A panel mount connector (10) has a housing (20) with a first mounting surface or shoulder (42) and a mounting post (30) extending therefrom. The mounting post (30) has a deformable web (50) which is deformed as the housing (20) is inserted onto the panel (12), so that the deformable web (50) and first mounting surface (42) cooperate to maintain the connector (10) in position on the panel (12).

Abstract: A pair of shorting contacts (16,16) on mated connector bodies (10,10). The shorting contacts are protrusions on the respective connector bodies which are laterally reversed mirror images of each other. The respective protrusions confront each other in a substantially transverse configuration. Initial engagement between the respective protrusions is at an initial point contact (25) at a high stress. The protrusions thereafter wipe against one another and come to engage at a final point contact (26). The path from the initial point contact to the final point contact constitutes a line between the respective connector bodies.

Abstract: An electrical connector (10) wherein the contacts (32, 34) have tail portions (40, 46) extending into respective holes (18) of a printed circuit board (16). The tail portions are gently curved, which provides a centering of the distal ends (48, 56) of the tail portions over the respective circuit board holes and also results in a low insertion force. Retention is provided by friction of the tail portions against the walls of the holes. The gentle curve of the tail portions keeps them close to the walls of the respective holes so that when a surface mount solder process is utilized, each tail portion provides a wicking action to concentrate the small amount of solder which is available in the region where the tail portion is close to the wall, resulting in a strong mechanical and electrical solder joint without requiring the hole to filled with solder.

Abstract: Improved locking eyelets (2) for securing electrical components to a circuit board by support pylons. A surface-mount electrical connector (40) is anchored to a circuit board (60) by pylons (20) and eyelets (2) mounted at the tip of each pylon (20). Each eyelet (2) is provided with a number of elongate members (8) to allow one-way insertion of a pylon (20) therein. When an eyelet (2) is mounted on a pylon (20), and the pylon (20) is inserted through the circuit board, the pylon (20) causes eyelet (2) to expand at one end, thereby locking both eyelet (2) and pylon (20) within the circuit board.

Abstract: A card edge electrical connector 10 includes a dielectric housing member 12, a card receiving cavity 30, a plurality of contacts including signal contact members 36, 36a arranged in opposed pairs along opposite sides of the card receiving cavity 30 and ground contact member 54 associated with each pair of signal contact members 36, 36a. Each signal contact member 36, 36a has a first contact section 44 for engaging corresponding signal traces 84 on the daughter card 72 and second contact sections 52, 52a respectively exposed along the mounting face 18 of the housing 12 and adapted to be engaged to corresponding signal contact means 92 of another electrical article 86. A ground contact member 54 is mounted into the housing 12 at each contact location and includes ground contact sections 62 engageable with ground contact means 80 of card 72 upon full card insertion.

Abstract: An electrical connector system for electrically connecting circuits on a backplane and daughtercard. More particularly, the connector system includes two mating connectors having engaging conductive contacts for carrying signals, power and providing ground reference planes as required. One connector is mounted on the backplane and the other is mounted on the daughtercard so that the circuits thereon are electrically connected upon mating the two connectors.