Abstract: A connector device provides an electrical connection between parallel mounted circuit card assemblies. On one circuit card assembly a male electrical connector is mounted which has electrical connection pins extending from it. On the other circuit card assembly is female electrical connector which has electrical connection holes which receive the connection pins. Mounted proximate to the male electrical connector is a connector guide which contacts at least two edges of the female electrical connector and guides the connector pins into the connector holes. The connector guide also extends above the connector pins and provides protection for the pins while the circuit card assembly is being handled.

Abstract: The connector is structured such that a spring piece member 30 supported by a male side connector housing 10 can be compressed in the two directions of the sliding motion of the connector when the connector is mounted and removed, a seesaw type lever piece member 40 disposed so as to be seesawable in the sliding direction of a female connector housing 20 can be inclined forwardly and backwardly into engagement with the two end portions of the spring piece member 30, and the seesaw type lever piece member 40 can be inclined according to the fitted state of the connector by a waiting side guide projection piece 17 and a movable side guide 45 respectively provided in the male side and female side connector housings 10 and 20.

Abstract: A connector fitting construction in which a pair of male and female connectors can be fitted together easily, and a housing can be formed into a small size, and two connectors can be held in a good mutually-fitted condition. In the connector fitting construction, side rib-receiving portions are formed in an inner surface of a hood portion of a male connector, and a notch is formed in one side wall of the hood portion. An under-rib is formed on an outer surface of an inner housing. Side ribs are formed respectively on opposite side walls of a housing of a female connector, and extend in a connector-fitting direction. A bracket for mounting on other member is formed on an outer surface of the housing.

Abstract: A cable connector assembly is provided which is particularly useful as a vehicle antenna cable connector. Two mating connectors are provided, one having a male contact and the other having a female contact. A pair of latches is provided which engage one another when the contacts are fully electrically connected. A resilient member is contained in one of the connectors to urge the connectors apart if the connectors are not fully connected and the latches fully engaged.

Abstract: A coupler for connecting a first element to a second element includes a first connector piece securable to the first element; a second connector piece for attaching to the first connector piece; and a flexible breakaway device mounted on the second element for releasably securing the second connector piece to the second element. A method of connecting and disconnecting a first element and a second element includes the steps of providing a first connector piece on the first element; attaching a breakaway device to the second element; attaching a second connector piece to the breakaway device that is attached to the second element; securing the first connector to the second connector; releasing the second connector piece from the second element by deflecting a portion of the breakaway device when a separation force is applied between the first and second elements.

Abstract: An electrical cable for a portable computer includes a plurality of electrical leads bound together in a flexible sheath. A first snap connector is joined to the leads. A second snap connector is complementary to the first snap connector and is connected thereto for establishing electrical connection with the computer, and allowing self-disconnection thereof upon yanking of the cable over a range of angles relative to the computer including a hemisphere.

Abstract: The connector is structured such that a spring piece member 30 supported by a male side connector housing 10 can be compressed in the two directions of the sliding motion of the connector when the connector is mounted and removed, a seesaw type lever piece member 40 disposed so as to be seesawable in the sliding direction of a female connector housing 20 can be inclined forwardly and backwardly into engagement with the two end portions of the spring piece member 30, and the seesaw type lever piece member 40 can be inclined according to the fitted state of the connector by a waiting side guide projection piece 17 and a movable side guide 45 respectively provided in the male side and female side connector housings 10 and 20.

Abstract: An automatic disconnector for a plug includes an ejector for ejecting the plug from an outlet socket; a sensor for sensing current flow through the plug and for sensing a substantial cessation of the current flow. Upon occurrence of a substantial cessation of current flow, the ejector operates to eject the plug from the outlet. The disconnector is optionally integrally formed with the plug or with the outlet socket. An optional keyed plug is utilizable for selectively enabling the disconnector.

Abstract: A battery cable terminal (2') is integrally combined with the housing (11) of a safety separator (2) to form a compact unit. An on-board cable (starter cable 4) is fastened to the separator (2) in such a way as to be separated by an incorporated powered drive element (6) upon accident-conditioned actuation thereof through a control pulse from an accident sensor (airbag collision safety system 1) and in such a way as to prevent by the use a spacer (14, 14') other electroconductive touch contacts.

Abstract: Matable electrical connectors are protected against damage from excessive external force while they are reliably mated under normal conditions. One of the connectors 10 has a pair of latch devices 40a ,40b which are received in a pair of latch receiving recesses 23a ,23b in a connector housing 20. The latch devices 40 have resilient circular tongues 44 which are received in the recesses 23 with a controllable tensile force so that the latchable electrical connector 10 can be unmated from a matable connector 10' without manually unlatching the latch devices 40.

Abstract: A seismic cable connector adapter assembly for coupling sub-diameter seismic streamer-cables to standard-sized instrumented cable connector modules.

Abstract: A vehicle signal connection arrangement is provided including a male member having a body with first and seconds ends, the body mounting a plurality of leads extending therethrough, the body having a multi-dimensional axial inner hole with a first end and a second end with a shoulder separating the first and second ends of the hole, the shoulder having a generally oblong passage extending therethrough; a female member having a body with first and second ends for mounting a plurality of leads extending therethrough to make contact with the leads of the male member, the female body having a multi-dimensional generally axial inner hole with a first end and a second end and a shoulder separating the first and second ends of the hole, the shoulder having a generally oblong passage extending therethrough; a protrusion connected with one of the members for a snap interference fit into a depression of the other member; and a mounting member pivotally mounting the female member.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a connector which, in use, is connected to a shore cable. The shore cable provides power to a vehicle. A connection in the apparatus to the vehicle's starting circuit actuates an ejector mechanism when the vehicle's engine is started. The ejector mechanism ejects the shore cable from the apparatus and a switch interrupts the current prior to the completion of the ejection action, thereby preventing arcing at the connector and assuring long contact life.

Abstract: An RJ-11 jack, or plug, is described that is self-locking and has a self-ejecting feature. In particular, an RJ-11 jack is constructed with a tang on the rear lower portion of the RJ-11 jack in such a way that the tang is coupled to a locking tab of the RJ-11 jack. When inserted into an RJ-11 receptacle, or housing, the tang is compressed as a result of contact with an inside wall of the RJ-11 receptacle. The locking tab of the RJ-11 jack locks the RJ-11 jack into position with the tang compressed. The RJ-11 jack includes a tool access opening such that a tool, like a small screwdriver, can be inserted to press on a release tab, which is connected to the locking tab. When pressed, the applied force pushes up on the release tab, thereby moving up the locking tab and releasing the RJ-11 jack. The resultant decompression of the tang causes the RJ-11 jack to eject.

Abstract: A flat rectangular rear holder having groovelike wire inserting parts and a thickness. On a side surface of the rear holder are retaining projections for retaining a housing and a releasing hole for inserting a releasing jig. The rear holder is engaged with the housing that has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers on a rear end thereof and retaining holes corresponding to the retaining projections along the peripheral wall thereof. With the rear holder engaged with and retained by the housing, an upper end part of the rear holder is projected from the rear end of the housing, so that the upper part of the releasing hole is exposed. This exposed part has an opening area so large as to allow a rear holder releasing jig to be inserted thereinto.

Abstract: A joint connector has a notch for exposing an outer peripheral surface of a bus bar-containing holder to the exterior when the holder is fitted in a holder receiving chamber is formed in a peripheral wall of the holder receiving chamber. Steps are formed at the outer peripheral surface of the bus bar containing holder, each of the steps being located at the notch when the bus bar-containing holder is fitted in the holder receiving chamber, thereby enabling the lifting of the bus bar-containing holder. A step is provided at the notch, so that the notch has a stair-like configuration. A plurality of notches and a plurality of pairs of steps are provided at the peripheral wall of the holder receiving chamber and the outer peripheral surface of the bus bar-containing holder, respectively.

Abstract: A latching apparatus for interlocking electrical connectors such as the Ethernet.RTM. compliant 15-pin D-shell AUI connector. The latching apparatus is made a part of the male AUI connector, and includes a key for engaging and operating the locking member of the female AUI connector. The key can be incorporated into any device or mating connector which attaches to the AUI connector of an Ethernet.RTM. LAN adapter. The key is operated by hand and in one embodiment is coupled to a switch for modifying an Ethernet.RTM. signal to indicate whether the lock is in the locked or in the unlocked position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a locking mechanism for a connector assembly of low engaging/disengaging force type comprising a pair of connectors which are engaged with each other; an engaging drive lever having cam grooves and a lock engaging piece is swingably mounted on one of the connectors, and the other connector has driven pins which are engaged with the cam grooves, and a lock which includes a flexible locking piece formed upright in the outer wall of the other connector, and a lock releasing part extended from the free end portion of the flexible locking piece. After the connectors have been engaged with each other, with a locking protrusion of the lock engaging part engaged with the flexible locking piece the lock releasing part is depressed to move the flexible locking piece across the direction of a force of holding the connectors locked, to release the connectors from each other.

Abstract: An electrical connector (1), comprising: an insulative housing (2), a shroud (3) to receive therein a shorting bar (25) at a selected one of multiple positions (29) interconnecting electrically at least two electrical contacts (5) selected from multiple contacts (5), each of the positions (29) of the shorting bar (25) being aligned with at least one of multiple openings (21) for said one of the openings (21) to provide an entryway for an extraction tool (30) to extract the shorting bar (25).

Abstract: A leadless component socket comprises a one- or two-piece leadless component contact socket assembly having a plurality of holes with a respective plurality of spring contacts disposed therein. The socket assembly includes a finger slot or slots to facilitate the manual removal of a chip carrier from the socket and a bias clip and integral keyed corner for assuring proper alignment of the chip carrier with the contacts of the socket assembly. The socket further comprises a cover, a cover support, an insulator assembly and a backup plate or other fastening means for supporting the socket on a printed circuit board. The socket assembly can be configured with a variety of contact terminal ends adapted for a desired mode of circuit board interface. A variety of cover configurations are also accommodated and disclosed.

Abstract: A resilient C shaped connector ring is described which can be snapped onto a BNC type coaxial connector plug. The connector ring includes a pair of short protrusions that prevent the outer shell of the modified BNC type coaxial connector plug from rotating. Also included is a pair of long protrusions that provide a gripping action when the modified BNC type coaxial connector plug is installed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical contact intended especially for connecting at least two coupled or linked appliances or vehicles electrically.This contact comprises a first conventional electrical contact part (1, 7) and a second part (11, 13) adjacent to the contact part and forming a reversible mechanical junction for the electrical contact, the junction being makable manually under no voltage and breakable under no voltage in response to a specific pulling force.

Abstract: A connection assembly in which the ends of two flat cables overlap each other with bared conductive layers thereon held in resilient engagement with each other by a connector. At least one of the flat cables is capable of being withdrawn laterally from the connector. Offset polarizing pins in the connector extend through different length slots in the movable flat cable. The slots open at the end of the cable so that when the cable is withdrawn from the connector, the cable will not be torn, or resist withdrawal of the cable from the connector. A conductive shielding bead is formed on the opposed surfaces of the two halves of the connector around the contacting regions of the cables. An insulative flap is formed over the bared conductive layers on the movable cable which prevents such layers from engaging the shielding bead when the cable is withdrawn from the connector.

Abstract: A shuttle or recessed housing 11 for a vehicle radio and/or fixed recording player is disclosed. This shuttle is particularly designed to permit owner removal of such a unit 10 located in an attractive vehicle dashboard console 20 in which it is the desire that the release mechanism be totally or virtually concealed. A thin metal housing 11 conforms to the shape of the radio and cassette tape or compact disk player unit and has narrow concealed edge flange on at least one edge of the front opening. Openings are present in at least the rear face of the shuttle 11 to allow the normal connectors of the radio 10 to engage mating connectors 52 in the shuttle 11. A dummy tape cassette or compact disk 40 including an outward extending handle 41 accompanies the shuttle 11. The dummy cassette 40 is introduced into the slot 14 engaging player holding elements. By a gentle tug on the handle 41 the entire unit 10 is removed from the vehicle.

Abstract: A connector apparatus having a connector socket and a connector plug arranged such that respective contacts of the connector socket and connector plug are kept in contact with each other by magnetic force, whereby when unintentional tension is applied to a cord, the cord can be prevented from being broken and the connector socket and the connector plug can be easily coupled to and/or removed from each other.

Abstract: A new and improved heat-dissipating socket connector for connecting individual leads of a leaded module to individual circuits on a printed circuit board comprises a unitary molded dielectric frame including a module-receiving recess. The frame is cantedly mounted on the circuit board with the recess disposed at an angle with respect to the printed board surface. Compliant terminals are mounted in generally open terminal receiving cavities within the frame which are adapted to engage side portions of leads on an inserted module with high contact pressure in an anti-overstress manner. Openings within the frame together with an exposed terminal mounting arrangement, provide ventilation and airflow exposure for portions of the connector and module susceptible to the generation of high temperatures in use. The overall arrangement provides enhanced electrical reliability by reducing the possibilty of heat induced failures.