Abstract: A backplane assembly includes a backplane board having a plurality of connector assemblies connected thereto for electrical connection with a header mounted on a backplane. The header includes a plurality of pins defining a pin field on the opposite side of the backplane. The pins extend through a mounting rail providing support for a plurality of cable connectors. The mounting rail is stamped and formed to include alignment slots whereas the cable connector is moulded to define alignment ribs. The cable connector housing includes latching arms on opposite sides thereof having locking lugs which lock in place within apertures in the mounting rail. A release mechanism is positioned between the latching arms such that outward movement of the mechanism moves the latching arms together disconnecting the cable connectors from the mounting rail. A twinaxial cable connector inner housing can also be positioned in the cable connector housing, where the inner housing is comprised of outer housings and an inner insert.

Abstract: A coaxial connector for connecting two substrates with reduced component count and suitable for high density packaging comprises a housing 26 having a throughhole 28 which is placed on a circuit board 2. A male terminal 22 is secured in the housing 26 and is connected to a ground conductor 18. On the other hand, a housing 66 having a throughhole 68 is placed on another circuit board 4. A female terminal 62 is secured in the housing 66 and is connected to a ground conductor 19. Signal conductors 16, 17 are formed on the circuit boards 2, 4, respectively. A bolt 6 is used to mate both housings 26, 66 to connect the circuit boards 2, 4 and electrically interconnect the signal conductors 16, 17 on the both circuit boards 2, 4.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for measuring the refractive index of index matching gels. A light source (10) is directed into one (20) of the output legs (20, 22) of an optical splitter (18), where the input leg (26) is interconnected to a fiber optic cable (27). The end of the cable (27)is inserted into the gel (30) to be measured. The incident light source (10) directs an incident light source through the splitter, and through the end (29) of the fiber optic cable (27). The difference in refractive indexes between the fiber optic cable (27) and the gel (30) causes a reflection of the incident light back to the splitter (18) and through a measuring device (52). By measuring the reflected power, and by knowing the incident power and other known factors, the refractive index of the gel can be calculated.

Abstract: An electronic control assembly has a control box, a control module insertable into the control box and an electrical connector which is pivotally mounted within the box, between a position where the control module can be inserted into the box adjacent to the connector and between a position where the electrical connector is in electrical engagement with the electronic module. The electrical connector is pivotally mounted in the control box and includes a lower mounting leg having outer pinion portions which are positioned in a trunnion located in adjacent side walls forming a channel for the receipt of the connector and the module. The electronic module is in precise registration with the connector member, such that when the connector is pivoted into place, the electrical elements within the connector and the electronic module are in precise alignment.

Abstract: A shoe covering member comprises a covering member having a shape conforming to an upper section of a shoe over which it is to cover. A bottom section of the covering member is sealingly engaged with a sole of the shoe and the covering member is provided with a fold at its rear end which is fastened in a folded condition to snugly engage the upper section of the shoe. A projection extends along a side surface of the shoe sole adjacent sealing engagement of the bottom section of the covering member with the sole to protect such engagement.

Abstract: A press for assembling an electrical connector (C) having tines (T) projecting therefrom, to a printed circuit board (PCB), comprises a press ram (40) which is pivotally mounted to the top of the forward end of a press frame (16). A ram (40) has, at its forward end, a connector holder (54) for receiving a connector (C) with the tines (T) of the connector (C) projecting from the holder (54). A ram (40) has a raised, connector loading position, in which the connector holder (54) projects obliquely downwardly towards the operator so that the operator can easily load the connector (C), which may be of microminiature size, into the holder (54). The ram (40) has a drive unit (36) for driving it from its loading position into a vertical position, in which the holder (54) projects towards a printed circuit board (PCB) on a support structure (14).

Abstract: A harness making apparatus comprises a length measurement section to measure the length of a plurality of wires fed from a wire feeder and an insulation displacing section for insulation displacing the wires to a connector fed from a connector feeder. Additionally, the harness making apparatus is provided with a fusing section disposed adjacent to the insulation displacing section for fusing and intercoupling a plurality of wires in such a manner that adjacent wires substantially abut against one another.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly comprises a pin header connector and a socket connector for mating with the pin header connector. The pin header connector has a housing provided with a pair of opposed racks, the socket connector being provided with a pair of opposed levers each having a pinion. The levers can be swung by means of ganged handles to drive the socket connector into, and out of, mated relationship with the pin header connector. In the interest of simplifying the moulding of the pin header connector housing and of reducing its width, each rack projects above the upper edge of the pin header connector housing in substantially coplanar relationship with the respective side wall of that housing, the teeth of each rack overhanging the respective side wall.

Abstract: An electrical contact comprising a holding section (2) formed of opposing side plates (6) bent from a bottom plate (5), a contact section (3) extending outwardly from the holding section (2) for electrical connection with a circuit board, a wire-connection section (4) between the side plates (6) for electrical connection to an insulated electrical wire (30), projections (18) at the sides of the wire-connection section (4) disposed in projection-receiving holes (8) in the side plates (6), and the side plates (6) having thermal-insulation holes (9, 9') adjacent the projection-receiving holes (8) to dissipate heat conducted along the contact section (3) and holding section (2) when the contact section (3) is soldered to the circuit board to obviate the melting or softening of the insulation of the electrical wire (30) in the wire-connection section (4).

Abstract: An apparatus (11) for stripping cable (12) to remove a section of cable jacket (13) includes opposed stripping blades (15) each having a pair of adjacent blade sections (18) including semi-circular cutting edges (19) defined by grooves (20) operable to cut the jacket (13) peripherally with the adjacent blade sections (18) driven axially apart in a relative sense to pull the cut section of the jacket away from the cable. Pairs of guide and gripping members (16) having internesting teeth (23, 24) are positioned adjacent the blade sections (18) to grip the cable (12) and provide a support for the cable. A suction device (17) is displaced axially to receive the cut jacket section and remove such from the stripping site.

Abstract: An electrical connector 10, for connecting individual conductors 27 of an electrical cable 28 to a printed circuit board 11, comprises electrical terminals 26 and a similarly constructed electrical terminal 50. The electrical terminal is characterized in that it has an actuator arm 32 having a first leg portion 36, a second leg portion 38, a third leg portion 40 and a joining portion 42 joining the first, second and third leg portions 36, 38 and 40. An actuator 22 is positioned in an actuation area 44 between engaging surfaces 36a and 38a which causes the electrical terminal 26 to be positioned in a home position in the insulating housing 12. As the actuator 22 is moved further into an actuation area 44, the engaging surfaces 38b and 40a move into pinched engagement with the conductor 26 of the cable 28.

Abstract: An electrical connector (10) of a type adapted to connect signal and ground circuits between a mating connector (60) and a further circuit, board, or cable (50) includes a housing (12) having an interior cavity (20a) defined by side, top, and bottom walls (13, 14, 17, and 18) and a rear wall (16) with the surfaces of the housing being conductive to shield signal contacts (24, 26) therein extended through the rear wall (16) via insulating portions (22); the housing including longitudinal slots (30) containing grounding contacts (32) having spring driven edge portions (34) engaging the grounding and shielding surfaces of a mating connector (60) and post portions (38) extending out of the housing to interconnect to the grounding circuit of a further circuit, board, or cable. One embodiment features a plastic housing (12) with a metallic coating defining surface (M) and another embodiment includes a solid metallic housing (40) and a plastic insert (46).

Abstract: A connector half (2) includes a housing (10) and a bolt fastener (50) having a neck (56) adapted to receive a plate fastener (70) inserted transversely to the bolt through a slot (20) in the connector housing to lock the bolt to the housing. Various embodiments of the plate fastener (70), (70'), and (70") are included, and in one embodiment, the bolt is made to include a neck (54) adapted to receive projections (38) interiorly of a bore (36) in the housing to hold the bolt in position prior to insertion of the fastener plate.

Abstract: An electrical connector for electrically connecting circuit boards together comprising a plug connector (10,40) having plug contacts (13,43) secured in an insulating housing (11a, 11b, 41a) at spaced intervals therealong; a receptacle connector (20,30,50,60) having receptacle contacts secured in an insulating housing (21,31,52a,62a) for electrical engagement with respective plug contacts (13,43) When the connectors are mated; the receptacle contacts and the plug contacts have interlocking sections (17,28,35,43b, 56a,66a) which are interlocked when the connectors are connected together thereby preventing their disengagement.

Abstract: A high density electrical connector includes an insulating housing having contacts arranged in rows to engage the contacts of a mating connector, or first printed circuit board, with the contacts having ends extending in freestanding relationship relative to the housing and including a guide member having beveled surfaces to guide the free ends of the contacts into alignment with holes of a second printed circuit board to facilitate mounting of the connector housing and contacts on the second printed circuit board. Embodiments include a guide member which divide at least one row of contacts into two rows and a guide member which guide four rows of contacts into rows of holes in the printed circuit board. The invention contemplates particularly right angle connectors having contacts wherein the freestanding ends are on slightly different centers.

Abstract: A filter connector (40) for filtering unwanted signals from contacts (46) includes a housing (50) having therewith a subassembly (62) including an auxiliary plate (44) holding capacitors (43) in a spaced array, a grounding plate (42) having holes (41) on the spaced array to receive the capacitors inserted therewithin extending into recesses (49) of a ferrite plate (42) with the ferrite plate contiguous with the grounding plate. Contacts (46) are carried by the subassembly with contact ends (46a) projecting forwardly in the housing and post ends (46b) inserted into a PC board (60). The ground plate (42) includes terminals (54-56) projecting to connect the ground plate to ground circuits of the printed circuit board, suitably bent to provide support for the connector prior to soldering. Embodiments include a molded housing, in one form insert molded (50) around subassembly (62) or premolded (71) with the subassembly (62) secured therein.

Abstract: An electrical connector (20,60) includes rows of chambers (36) into which contacts (26) are held seated in place in such chambers through internal lances (58) and a double-locking device (24) inserted through an opening (40) in a wall of the housing (22) of the connector. The locking device (24) includes latches (52) which cooperatively engage depressions (50) to establish a first locking position allowing contact insertion and further latches (56) which engage interior walls (54) to establish a second locking position upon final insertion of the device (24) into the housing (22). Improper contact insertion and seating precludes operation of the locking device (24) as a visible indication of improper insertion. Proper insertion of locking device (24) assures a double-locking against contact backout and provides primary and secondary retention of contacts in the connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector (10) includes a first housing part (20) fixed to a circuit board and a second housing part (30) fitted within the first housing part and spaced therefrom to alow limited X, Y, and Z movement between such parts, contacts (40) are provided including solder post portions (42) mounted in the first housing part and contact portions (41) in the second housing part adapted to engage the contacts of a mating housing. The contact portions (41) and (42) are interconnected by an integral S-shaped spring (43) to facilitate limited and resilient movement of the contact portions and housing parts to relieve stresses and strains caused by mating and unmating of components, including further connectors to a circuit board through the connector. An alternative embodiment (10') includes legs (42') and a J-shaped contact portions (40') in the second housing part (30') with the connector (10') being adapted to be surface mounted and soldered on a circuit board.

Abstract: A sealing electrical assembly (32) of a type mated with a further connector (11) along a given axis includes first and second housings (1, 2) that telescope together to hold a one-piece seal (3) therebetween. The seal (3) has apertures (10) receiving wires (7) passed through openings (8) in the second housing joining contacts (5) retained in cavities (4) in the first housing and a peripheral surface including ribs (12) engaged by surfaces on a housing (2) of the further connector (11) to be compressed peripherally in a sense transverse to the mating axis of the connectors to effect a seal of the connector interior. One invention embodiment features a seal surface oriented outwardly (12) to be compressed inwardly, and a second embodiment includes a seal surface oriented inwardly (12') to be compressed outwardly against interior surfaces of a second housing to effect a seal of the connector interior.

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.