Abstract: An electrical connector (30) includes a body (34) of elastomeric material having cavities (38) containing a conductive gel operable upon deformation of the body of said connector to interconnect conductive pads (16, 22) between components such as a printed circuit board (12) and a chip carrier (20).

Abstract: A connecting device for securing a cable such as an electrical cable. More particularly, the connecting device includes a first cylindrical member having a laterally open groove rotatably positioned in an eccentrical bore of a second member. A passage, defined by the groove and bore, is decreased in diameter upon the relative rotation of the first and second members to compress and securely retain a cable positioned therein.

Abstract: An electrical connector (10,50,50',84,84') for being positioned between parallel surfaces and electrically interconnecting conductive areas on the surfaces is disclosed. More particularly, the connector (10,50,50',84,84') includes a housing (12,52,52',86) and contact elements (14,14',14",70,104) which are formed by wrapping a flexible, circuit carrying film (20,72) around a single canted coil spring (18) or by wrapping a flexible circuit carrying film (104) around two spaced apart canted coil springs (18).

Abstract: A wire-supplying device comprises wire-supplying drums (15) for supplying a plurality of wires (16), a wire-feeding roller (21) for feeding the plurality of wires (16), a weight roller (28) mounted on a sliding member (27) supported on rods (26) for vertical movement therealong, a stopping member (30) on the sliding member (27) for engagement with the rods (26) to stop vertical movement of the sliding member (27), and actuation means for moving and maintaining the stopping member (30) against the rods (26).

Abstract: An area array connector (10) for electrically interconnecting circuit pads (18,20) on spaced apart, substrates (22,24) is disclosed. The connector (10) includes a carrier plate (12) having canted coil spring contacts (16) positioned in openings (14) for electrically interconnecting corresponding circuit pads (18,20) on the respective substrates (22,24) between which the connector (10) is placed.

Abstract: An electrical connector (18) for electrically interconnecting non-parallel substrates (10,12) is disclosed. The connector (18) includes a contact element (24) formed from a single length of flexible, circuit carrying film (40) wrapped around two or more spaced apart coil springs (42) with each wrapped spring provided a segment (60). The contact element (24) is carried in a housing (20) with the segments (60) received in interconnected channels (26) in adjacent surfaces (28) of the housing against which the substrates (10,12) are mounted for electrical engagement with the segments (60).

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing an end of a flat electrical cable for connection to electrical contacts of a connector is disclosed. The apparatus includes a clamp (10) having a movable section (12) for clamping the cable, a positioning device (100) for positioning the clamp section (12) in response to a sensing member (102), conductor aligning comb members (250) and a cutting and bending device (270) for cutting and bending the conductors (1) of the cable.

Abstract: A kit structure for erecting an interior wall within a building or the like has been disclosed. More particularly, the structure includes horizontal member to be attached to a floor and ceiling, vertical members extending between the horizontal members to brace panels placed on the wall, support members in the floor-attached member for supporting the panels and trim strips for concealing the other components and edges of the panel.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly comprising a receptacle connector and a pin header is disclosed. The receptacle connector is attached to wires and the pin header can be secured to a printed circuit board. The receptacle connector is secured in the shrouded pin header by a double acting connector latch extending upwardly from one wall of the header housing. Connector latch comprises a yoke section with upwardly extending deflectable arms and a centrally disposed downwardly extending deflectable cantilever beam. The latching protrusion engages a trough located on the exterior of the receptacle connector.

Abstract: An insulation displacement terminal having a pair of slotted plates retained in a nest formed by embossments on sidewalls extending past the edges of slotted plates. The sidewalls and the slotted plates are formed orthogonally upward from a common base. Outer ellipsoidal embossments are formed on opposite sides of a cylindrical embossment. The embossments are formed by a shallow drawing process without removal of material from the planar sidewalls. Adjacent edges of the embossments are sheared to form a nest receiving the side edges of the slotted plates.This application is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 07/280,753 filed Dec. 6, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,948,382, issued Aug. 14, 1990.

Abstract: A fluorescent light fixture employing modular prewired endcaps as depicted herein. A one piece insulative body includes both fluorescent lamp supports and a junction block. Jumper assemblies comprising wires having socket terminals and junction interconnect terminals on opposite ends are assembled in cavities in the insulative body on the inner face of the insulative body. The insulative body can then be attached to the hood of the fluorescent lamp assembly and lead wires can be attached between the endcap assembly and other components such as ballasts on the fluorescent lighting fixture.

Abstract: A circuit panel subassembly suitable for use in an electromechanical apparatus includes a plurality of wires formed within an electrically conductive grid imbedded within a reaction injection molded panel which forms a part of the housing of the electromechanical apparatus. Wires are deployed in a pattern by using a wire organizing frame and the electrically conductive grid and the frame are subsequently imbedded in a reaction injection molded panel. Terminals attached to the ends of the wires remain exposed at spaced apart locations where components are to be mounted. Separate connector housings can be attached to the panel over the exposed terminals and other components or matable connectors can be attached thereto. The entire apparatus can be constructed robotically.

Abstract: An area array connector (10) employs a flexible interconnect member (30) having electrical circuitry including contact pads (32) which are forced into electrical contact with conductive pads (42) and (52) on a pair of stacked substrates (40) and (50) by means of a canted coil spring (24) that is held in a force application plate (20).

Abstract: An electrical wire connector (10) of the wedge type for commoning a pair of electrical wires (66,68) together is disclosed. More particularly, the C-member (12) has a hole (46) to receive a dimple (60) or pin (96) on the wedge to lock the two components together.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a dielectric housing (10) having a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities (11), a dielectric latching member (50) having latching arms (52) extending into the terminal-receiving cavities (11) and including openings (56), first latching means (21, 22, 60, 61) of the housing (10) and the latching member (50) latching the latching member (50) to said housing (10) at a first position so that electrical terminals (100) are inserted through the openings (56) and into the terminal-receiving cavities (11), second latching means (17, 19, 62) and third latching means (23, 24, 67, 68) of the housing (10) and the latching member (50) latching the latching member (50) at a second position in the housing after being moved inwardly and downwardly so that front ends (66) of the latching arms (52) are positioned adjacent contact sections (101) of the terminals (100) thereby latching the terminals in the terminal-receiving cavities.

Abstract: A tool for stripping outer and inner jackets from an end of a transmission cable comprises upper and lower guide members (18, 19) normally spaced from each other defining an opening (23) therebetween and having first and second guide means (24, 26), cutting blade means (17a, 17b) mounted on the guide members and having first and second cutting sections (17c, 17d; 17e, 17f) aligned respectively with the first and second guide means (24, 26), a support surface (25) on one of the guide members (19) and a cutting member (20b) on the other guide member (18) in alignment with the support surface (25), operating means (11, 11a, 28) connected to the guide members (18, 19) to move them toward and away from each other when the cable is placed in the first guide means (24) so that the first cutting section (17c, 17d) cuts and strips an end of the outer jacket from the cable, then exposed fused ends of the inner jackets are placed on the support surface (25) so that the cutting member (20b) slits the fused inner jackets

Abstract: A printed circuit edge connector having a pluraltiy of electrial terminals, each of which has a compliant contact spring opposed to a relatively more rigid support arm is disclosed. The surface of the contact spring is opposed to an edge of the support arm because the contact spring is bent transversely relative to an arm which is coplanar with the support arm. Each of the terminals is received within aligned channels and cavities and an insulative housing, each of which extend parallel to a board receiving slot opening on the upper face of the housing. The base of the terminals are received within the cavities and include terminal retention means engagable with the housing in the cavities to retain the terminals in the housing.

Abstract: A sealed electrical connector assembly (2) used to interconnect wires (4) with a printed circuit board comprises a receptacle connector (6) matable with a pin header (8). The receptacle connector (6) includes a secondary lock (60) located on the mating face of an insulative housing (30). Integral latches 50 are received within correspondingly shaped pocket (62) in the secondary lock. A conductor seal cap includes a plurality of projections which can be selectively removed. Remaining projections seal individual seal cavities. A stamped and formed pin is used in the pin header. An integral plug is used to seal the leak path on the interior of the stamped and formed cylindrical pins.

Abstract: A paired contact electrical connector system (10) having a pair of mateable connectors (12,14) each with respective contact sets (16,20) therein has been disclosed. More particularly contact set 16 includes a pair of contact elements (24,26) having blades (28) lying on opposite sides of fingers (50) on one connector (12) for being received between and electrically engaging a pair of spaced apart beams (68) on a pair of contact elements (64,66) comprising the other contact set (20) positioned in the other connector (14).

Abstract: An adaptor (14) for adding electronic components to a computer has been disclosed. The adaptor (14) includes a flexible printed circuit strip (34) having holes (38) in a first end section (36) for receiving a PGA package (16) and conductive pads (66) at a second end section (46) arranged in a predetermined pattern and conductive traces connected to and extending between the holes (38) and pads (66). The adaptor further includes a preform (80) having castellations (84) on each edge. The second end section (46) is wrapped around the preform (80) so that the conductive pads (66) are in registration with the castellations (84).