Abstract: A suspension connector assembly is provided that includes a female connector mounted within a stationary housing that includes a conductive barrel contact surrounded and resiliently supported by an electrically insulative plug body, a movable male connector adapted to be raised toward and lowered away from the female connector that includes a pin contact member having a conductive end insertable within the female barrel contact, and a cam-type latching mechanism for joining the female and male connectors when they are mutually engaged. The length of the male contact member is extended to include an over-travel portion that maintains the conductive end of the pin within the barrel contact of the female connector after the male connector separates a short distance away from the female connector incident to a latching operation.

Abstract: An improved suspension connector assembly is provided that is particularly adapted for use with a multiple pin and barrel type electrical connector. The suspension connector assembly includes a female connector mounted within a stationary housing, a movable male connector adapted to be raised and lowered toward and away from the female connector via the cable of a hoisting mechanism, and a latching mechanism for latching and unlatching the male connector to the female connector when the two are mutually engaged for a latching stroke distance. A resilient mounting assembly interconnects the female connector with the stationary housing. The stroke of the resilient mounting assembly is at least as long as the latching stroke distance of the latching mechanism so that the pins and barrels of the male and female electrical connectors will not be partially pulled apart from one another as a result of the stroke of the latching mechanism.

Abstract: An improved outdoor lighting system is provided that comprises a light assembly formed from at least one tubular mast having a distal end for supporting an electrically powered light source, and a proximal end mounted in the ground, and an electrical cable for connecting the light source to an underground power source. The improved system includes an electrical connector assembly in the cable located in the vicinity of the ground-mounted distal end of the tubular mast. The electrical connector assembly spontaneously disconnects in response to an application of an tensile force indicative of an automobile collision with the mast, thereby preventing damaging tensile forces from being transmitted along the underground portion of the cable to the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A portable power distribution system for distributing electrical power under low light, emergency conditions is disclosed herein. The system generally comprises a plurality of power distribution cables, a plurality of power outlet blocks, each of which is connectable to one of the power distributing cables, wherein each block has at least one electrical receptacle on a first side, and a resilient, water-tight housing that is curved on a second side opposite to the first side and which includes a weight for gravity-biasing the receptacle away from a skyward, water-collecting orientation, and a plurality of connector assemblies, each of which has matable male and female connectors for interconnecting the power distribution cables and the power outlet blocks. Each of the male and female connectors has a resilient housing preferably integrally and solidly formed from an elastomeric material for forming a shock and water resistant covering around its conductive member.

Abstract: A thermostatically controlled heater for heating metal work pieces to within a selected temperature range prior to and during a welding process is disclosed. The heater comprises an electric heating element thermally connected to a heat conductive shoe and electrically connected to a source of electric power via a thermostat assembly. The thermostat assembly includes a heat conductive housing mounted on the heat conductive shoe in intimate thermal contact. The housing contains a thermostat having a thermal sensing area in thermal contact with an area of the heat conductive housing for regulating the amount of electricity conducted to the electric heating element. Accurate control of the temperature of the workpiece is accomplished by constructing the heat conductive housing so that the temperature gradient between the shoe and the thermostat matches the temperature gradient between the shoe and the workpiece itself.

Abstract: An improved outdoor lighting system is provided that comprises a light assembly formed from at least one tubular mast having a distal end for supporting an electrically powered light source, and a proximal end mounted in the ground, and an electrical cable for connecting the light source to an underground power source. The improved system includes an electrical connector assembly in the cable located in the vicinity of the ground-mounted distal end of the tubular mast. The electrical connector assembly spontaneously disconnects in response to an application of an tensile force indicative of an automobile collision with the mast, thereby preventing damaging tensile forces from being transmitted along the underground portion of the cable to the circuit breaker.

Abstract: An improved outdoor lighting system is provided that comprises a light assembly formed from at least one tubular mast having a distal end for supporting an electrically powered light source, and a proximal end mounted in the ground, and an electrical cable for connecting the light source to an underground power source. The improved system includes an electrical connector assembly in the cable located in the vicinity of the ground-mounted distal end of the tubular mast. The electrical connector assembly spontaneously disconnects in response to an application of an tensile force indicative of an automobile collision with the mast, thereby preventing damaging tensile forces from being transmitted along the underground portion of the cable to the circuit breaker.