Abstract: A collar clip retains a corrugated conduit and fastens it to a panel. The collar clip comprises a pair of sections connected at one end by an integral flexible hinge, a safety catch at the hinge end of the sections, and a latch at the hinge-remote end of the sections. The safety catch and latch are each alone capable of holding the sections together in an enclosed position around the conduit in the event the hinge fractures.

Abstract: A universal joint comprises inner and outer drive members with longitudinal drive grooves which receive drive balls for transferring torque between the members. The balls are positioned by a cage which is pivoted on the inner and outer drive members about two respective centers which are on opposite sides of and spaced from the cage center. The cage has a cylindrical surface and two stop surfaces inside the cage which permits the inner drive member to slide and pivot with respect to the cage for limited distance which in turn provides either a limited plunge or a limited plunge of reduced resistance.

Abstract: A wiring harness has a main bundle of leads disposed in an axially slit, corrugated tube and break-out leads disposed in a break-out protector which extends through the slit of the corrugated tube. The break-out protector is a one piece molding of thermoplastic material. It has a tubular body with an outwardly flared skirt at one end which is disposed in the corrugated tube. The tubular body has an axial slit and the annular skirt has a communication slot for assemblying the break-out protector around the break-out leads. The tubular body has wedge-shaped portions and the annular skirt has a wavy edge to assist in assembly.

Abstract: A housing for a tri-pot universal joint is manufactured from a tube blank which is cold formed in a two-step indenting process. The indenting process forms the middle of the tube into a tri-lobal section for broaching internal drive tracks while leaving the end portions sufficiently intact to provide circular bands at each end by subsequent machining operations. A closure is attached to the band at one end and the band at the other end is used to mount a conventional boot. A machine having a cam die arrangement suitable for indenting the tube blank is also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrical connector has matable dielectric connector bodies which include means for latching the connector bodies in mating engagement. One connector body has a pair of longitudinally spaced catches on one side and a bail wire pivotally mounted on an opposite side. The other connector body has a latch arm pivotally attached to one side and a projecting cam on the opposite side which has a pair of longitudinally spaced notches. The bail wire snap engages a forward notch and the latch arm snap engages one of the catches to retain the connector bodies in a preliminary latched position where the handles of the bail wire and the latch arm are moveable toward each other with one hand. The connector bodies are then mechanically assisted to a fully mated position and latched therein by moving the handles toward each other.

Abstract: A fuse block assembly for an automotive vehicle comprises a bracket attached behind the front wall of the vehicle instrument panel, a fuse block hinged to the bracket for movement about a horizontal axis between a generally horizontal position where the fuse block is stored behind the instrument panel and a generally vertical position where the fuse block hangs below the instrument panel for easy access to replace the fuses and the like carried by the fuse block and a manually releasable latch at the opposite end of the fuse block which engages the bracket to hold the fuse block in the stored position.

Abstract: A preloaded pivot joint subject to wear in normal use has a protuberance on its internal movable bearing seat which protrudes through the pivot joint cover. As the joint wears, the degree of protrusion progressively diminishes. Indicia are provided on the protrusion and cover cooperatively to identify to the observer whether wear justifying replacement does or does not exist. Wear giving rise to loss in preload sufficient to warrant replacement of the pivot joint is indicated when the top surface of the protuberance recedes to a position having a predetermined observable relationship with the top surface of the cover. The elastomeric ring which provides the preload also provides a seal for an internal grease chamber which is accessible from a fitting in the protuberance.

Abstract: An electrical connector for connecting a DIP and a wiring harness comprising a socket, terminals and a cover. The DIP has two sets of tabs which project from opposite sides of an insulated block and which are folded over onto the top and bottom surfaces of the block respectively. The DIP is disposed in a longitudinal slot at one end of the socket which is between two rows of terminal cavities. A terminal in each cavity is attached to a lead of the wiring harness and has a flexible contact bow engaging one of the tabs of the DIP. The cover is mounted over the slotted end of the socket to retain the DIP.

Abstract: A low profile connector for a printed circuit board is attached to the insulated conductor wires of a wiring harness passive between a connector body and a cover. The terminals have contact bows attached to the leading edges of channel-shaped portions which mount the terminals on ribs in the terminal cavities. The channel-shaped portions have projecting tails under the cover which have aligned slots for making electrical and mechanical connections with the insulated conductor wires. The connector includes a strain relief feature and a panel mounting feature.

Abstract: A connector (10) for mating a flexible printed circuit (48) to a printed circuit board (50) comprises a housing (12) and a spring (14) which is translatably disposed in a cavity (16) of the housing. The cavity (16) has an outer entrance portion (18) in which the spring (14) is temporarily retained while it receives the flexible printed circuit (48) and the printed circuit board (50). The spring (14), the flexible printed circuit (48) and the printed circuit board (50) are then moved into a reduced inner portion (20) of the cavity (16) to increase the spring forces acting on the flexible printed circuit (48) and the printed circuit board (50).

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a plurality of female terminals which are attached to conductor wires which are passed through the longitudinal assembly slots of a connector body after which the female terminals are pulled into the terminal cavities of the connector body through contact openings at one end of the connector body. The female terminals have projecting tabs disposed in the longitudinal assembly slots to orient the female terminals in the terminal cavities and latch fingers to retain the female terminals in the terminal cavities. The latch fingers are accessible through the longitudinal slots to release them from cooperating latch shoulders in the terminal cavities so that the female terminals may be individually removed from the terminal cavities through the contact openings.

Abstract: A split axle drive mechanism for a part-time four-wheel drive vehicle comprises an automotive type differential which has an input to the differential case and a pair of outputs from the respective side gears. One output is directly connected to its associated side gear so that the associated side gear is always drive connected to one selectively driven vehicle wheel. The other output includes a clutch which is disengaged in the two wheel drive mode (selected at the transfer case) so that the other selectively driven vehicle wheel does not back drive the other side gear. This reduces wear and power consumption in the two wheel drive mode.

Abstract: An electric connector comprises a connector body and a cable end attached terminal. The connector body has a flexible latch finger which engages a T-shaped lock projection of the terminal to retain the terminal in the connector body. The connector body also includes an integrally hinged flap which maintains the flexible latch finger in a terminal retaining position and which includes a pair of studs which provide a secondary lock for retaining the terminal in the cavity.

Abstract: A pigtail assembly has four insulated lead wires with terminals for attachment to a heated oxygen sensor post terminal. An insulator sleeve is slidably mounted on a central lead wire and has external guide holes for circumferentially spacing the three remaining lead wires and the three terminals attached thereto. The insulator sleeve also has two slots and a rib which cooperate in assuring proper seating and/or spacing of the three terminals. One of the three terminals has outwardly projecting lock tabs for holding a splash guard in place.A second pigtail assembly has two insulated lead wires with terminals for attachment to a nonheated oxygen sensor post terminal. The insulator sleeve is mounted on one of the lead wires and has an external guide hole for the other lead wire and the terminal attached to it. The insulator sleeve has vent slots and the terminal attached to the other lead wire has outwardly projecting tabs for holding the splash guard in place.

Abstract: A universal joint has a housing which includes an attachment bore which opens into a housing chamber via a counterbore at the inner end of the attachment bore. A seal vent subassembly has an outer rim press which is fitted in the counterbore to form an outer vent chamber which is intersected by a vent hole which extends through the housing wall. The seal vent includes a seal disc which seals the inner end of the attachment bore and a vent disc forms an inner vent chamber in conjunction with the seal disc. The vent disc has a hole establishing communication between the housing chamber and the inner vent chamber, and the rim has holes establishing communication between the inner vent chamber and the outer vent chamber.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises mated plug and socket connectors. The plug connector comprises a connector body which houses a plurality of terminals having box-like contacts and hooks which project out of the terminal cavity openings at the mating end of the connector body. A lock plate having a pattern of holes corresponding to the cavity portion is attached to the mating end of the connector body to lock the terminals in the connector body as a group. The socket connector comprises a connector body having a socket which receives the mating end of the plug connector body. The socket connector has terminals which mate with the plug terminals and which are locked in the socket connector body by a comb.

Abstract: A weatherproof electrical connector has an interface sealing arrangement comprising a plug connector body having towers which slide into terminal cavity enlargements in a mating socket connector body. An apertured seal pad is mounted on the towers and sealingly engages a projecting shroud of the socket connector body.

Abstract: An electrical female terminal comprises a longitudinal floor portion having an integral transverse wall at one end. A pin terminal is inserted through a hole in the transverse wall against a stop formed by an L-shaped flap which is integrally attached to a longitudinal edge of the floor portion of the female terminal. The female terminal has a second flap which is integrally attached to an opposite longitudinal edge of its floor portion and which functions as a spring clip to bias the pin terminal against a projection in the floor portion. The pin terminal is resistance welded to the projection and the flaps are spaced from the transverse wall to provide access for one of the welding electrodes.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a yoke and tube arrangement utilizes a forged yoke having an attaching collar with an unmachined outer conical surface. A tube is pressed on the conical surface wedging the tube end radially outward inducing residual compressive stresses and forming a natural fillet. The tube and yoke are then fillet welded together.

Abstract: A resilient mount attaches the upper end of a MacPherson strut to vehicle body support structure. The mount comprises an annular mounting plate, an elastomeric ring, a central sleeve with an attached end plate, and a ball thrust bearing. The annular mounting plate, the central sleeve and the upper bearing ring of the thrust bearing are bonded to the elastomeric ring to form a subassembly. The mounting plate has a central cup-shaped portion which is embedded in the elastomeric ring and trapped between an enlarged head of the central sleeve and the end plate attached to it. The elastomeric ring has integral flexible lips at its lower end which retain the bearing elements and lower race ring and seal the ends of the thrust bearing.