Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet metal contact element which can be inserted into a chamber of an insulating housing and comprises a rear terminal portion for connecting a conductor, a forward contacting portion, and an intermediate locking section with at least one stamped, outwardly protruding locking tab to anchor the contact element in the chamber. When a strong tensile load is applied to prior art contact elements, the locking tabs, which usually are bent slightly outwardly, are deflected toward the interior of the contact element and permanently distorted. Thus, the contact element is no longer kept in the proper axial position, and the damaged contact element must be replaced. This problem is solved by the present invention by providing a reinforcing pin inserted into the inner cavity of the locking portion. The reinforcing pin prevents the locking hook from being deflected into the interior of the contact element when a load is applied.

Abstract: A modularized electrical connector includes plural sets of electrical contacts carried by a support means. A first adapter plug having an associated set of electrical contacts is constructed and arranged for disposition in releasable electrical engagement with any selected set of the plural contact sets. A second adapter affixed to the support member is flexibly wired to the movable first adapter and includes an associated set of electrical contacts for electrical connection to a mating connector plug. A mounting member is provided for securing the first adapter in a selected position. Other features are disclosed.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed and has complementary receptacle and plug connector members, each member having a hollow shell containing a conventional insulating insert which houses electrical contacts. A rotatable coupling ring is carried by the plug and is engageable with the receptacle for mating the connector members and holding the contacts in electrical engagement. A radially deflectable detent leaf spring is carried on an inner circumferential portion of the coupling ring, and the leaf spring has a radially extending detent protrusion intermediate the ends thereof and engageable with an annular array of ratchet-type detent teeth on an outer circumferential portion of the connector plug. The leaf spring is comprised of a pair of superimposed leaf portions joined together integrally at adjacent ends thereof by an enlarged loop portion. The loop portion is positionable within an axially exposed mounting recess at one end of the coupling ring.

Abstract: A modularized electrical connector is disclosed and has position adjustable contact elements for engaging selective second contact elements of a complementary electrical connector. The electrical connector includes a housing defining an elongated cavity, with a top portion of the housing having an elongated cavity, with a top portion of the housing having an elongated end opening communicating with the cavity. A movable insert member is provided and includes an insert element constructed and arranged for disposition at any preselected one of a predetermined plurality of positions along the length of the housing cavity. Contact elements are supported by the insert member for mating engagement with selected contact elements of a complementary electrical connector according to the position of the insert member within the cavity.

Abstract: Improved modular interface connectors and connector assemblies incorporating such connectors are disclosed for interconnecting telephones and telephone signal equipment. The modular connectors of the invention include improved mounting structures which permit each connector to be slidably mounted on a support member in at least two alternate orientations and to be retained at any position between two spaced shoulders of the support member. In addition, the modular connector is preferably an integrally molded plastic unit configured to permit its fabrication in a single-action mold. In one embodiment, the interface connector further includes a removable comb member which separates and aligns the active portions of the connector contact elements and prevents access through the entrance aperture of the connector to the free ends of the contact elements.

Abstract: A composite epoxy/glass-microsphere-dielectric for hermetic R.F. connectors and coaxial cables is provided. A material which is a composition of moisture resistant epoxy resin, curing agent, glass microspheres, and silane coupling agent provide a low dielectric constant material to be molded into the various geometrics required for hermetic R.F. connectors and coaxial cables.

Abstract: A crimping apparatus or machine is disclosed in which electrical contacts of any one of a variety of conformations are fed from a receptacle or reservoir which holds a supply of contacts of selected conformation. The contacts are fed seriatim from the receptacle and are oriented and advanced to a crimping mechanism where each contact is selectively crimped to the end of an electrical cable. The receptacle includes a vibratory container which can be supplied with a plurality of contacts in a random array and the container is vibrated whereas the contacts are fed outwardly from the container along a helical path leading from the bottom of the container to an orienting mechanism. The orienting mechanism includes a downwardly inclined ramp connected to the container to be oscillated therewith so that the contacts move down the ramp one at a time due to vibration and gravity toward an advancing mechanism. The advancing mechanism is selectively actuatable and feeds the contacts seriatim to a crimping mechanism.

Abstract: An EMI shielded connector assembly is disclosed for terminating a shielded electrical cable. The EMI shielded cable preferably includes a plurality of conductors and electrically isolated inner and outer EMI shielding layers surrounding the conductors. The connector assembly includes a connector member having a plurality of contact elements, a mating portion for engaging a compatible connector member, and a terminal portion for terminating the cable conductors to the contact elements. A shielding element is electrically connected to the outer shielding layer of the cable and substantially surrounds the terminal portion of the connector member to provide continuous shielding of the connector member from electromagnetic interference, the shielding element being mechanically secured to the cable and to the connector member.

Abstract: A system for maintaining seal integrity under pressure and monitoring leakage within an electric penetration assembly of the type which extends through a containment wall of a nuclear reactor installation. The manifold passage in the penetration header plate is filled with a dielectric liquid and is pressurized by an apparatus which includes an accumulator containing the dielectric liquid and located inside the penetration header plate to supply the liquid thereto. The liquid in the accumulator is kept under pressure by a diaphragm separating the liquid from an inert gas which is under pressure.

Abstract: Circuit transfer apparatus is described for use in transferring from time-responsive control to temperature-responsive control, and vice-versa, in a microwave oven. The low cost, miniaturized apparatus is mounted to the wall of the oven's cooking cavity and is operated from within the cavity by insertion or withdrawal of the cable plug of the heat-sensitive food probe. The probe plug cooperates with insulative elements to activate spring-leaf sheet metal contacts mounted in the housing of the apparatus, to thereby effect the circuit transfer. The housing also serves as mechanical retention means for the probe plug.

Abstract: This invention relates to a locking mechanism for coupling anduncoupling electrical connectors. In the prior art, because of the large number of electrical contacts contained within the male and female connector parts, the insertion and extraction forces for coupling and uncoupling the connector parts are often sufficiently high to damage the supports for the connector parts. This is especially true with printed circuit boards wherein the insertion and extraction forces are applied normal to the flat surface of the board. The present invention overcomes this deficiency by providing an improved locking mechanism for coupling together and uncoupling mating electrical connector parts. One connector part is provided with an actuator pivotally mounted for applying force in both an insertion and an extraction direction as the actuator pivots. A projection on the other electrical connector part receives the insertion and extraction forces for coupling and uncoupling the connector parts, respectively.

Abstract: An electrical connector for attachment to a printed circuit board which allows stacked printed circuit boards to be positioned closer together than previously possible. The connector comprises a housing, one surface of which is mounted against one side of the printed circuit board, and at least one resilient female contact having a terminal end extending through a passageway in the housing and attached to the printed circuit board. An intermediate portion of the female contact is bent such that the portion is substantially parallel to the printed circuit board. The other end of the terminal is folded over to form a wiping surface for contacting a mating male contact extending from an adjacent printed circuit board. The housing includes an opening adjacent the contacting end of the female contact to allow passage of the male contact through the housing and into engagement with the female contact.

Abstract: An electrical contact is disclosed for termination to an electrical conductor. The contact includes a body portion having an active contact element at one end for engagement with a compatible contact and a terminal element at the other end adapted to be terminated to a conductor. The terminal element includes a pair of elongated, spaced conductor engaging arms having inside edges which define a uniformly tapered, inwardly diverging slot extending from the distal end of the terminal element for receiving the conductor. The inside edges of the arms are beveled for piercing insulation about the conductor. The arms have a generally uniform cross section extending substantially the length of the slot. The slot cooperates with the arms to provide substantially uniform normal forces on the conductor as the conductor is moved inwardly along the slot for termination purposes.

Abstract: A hand tool is disclosed for assembling or terminating an electrical cable to a terminal connector or the like which has a receptacle portion for receiving the cable. The hand tool includes a pair of hand operated opposing jaws for movement toward and away from each other. One of the jaws of the tool has a relatively rigid bearing plate defining a bearing surface facing the opposing jaw for engaging the terminal connector. The opposing jaw has a stuffer blade for engaging the cable and driving the cable into the receptacle portion of the connector. A resiliently yieldable backing member is sandwiched between the bearing plate and the one jaw to provide yielding movement therebetween to accommodate variable sized terminal connectors positioned between the jaws and to prevent damage to the electrical cable due to possible excessve pressure being applied when the cable is assembled to the connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly, a protective enclosure therefor and a running cable bridging adapter system which may use one or both of such components are disclosed. The connector assembly includes a pair of connectors electrically coupled back to back and mechanically secured in such relation by a protective support medium, such as epoxy, with at least one bolt receiving aperture extending through the support medium to facilitate compact stacking and mounting of plural connector assemblies in several alternative arrangements within the protective enclosure. The protective enclosure also includes a mounting plate having predetermined arrays of mounting points formed as pre-stressed punch-outs for enabling securance of the member and its supported connector assemblies to various electrical junction boxes or the like each having its own distinctive array of plural mounting points.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of automatically assembling and mounting contacts in plug-type connectors with the plug-type connector consisting of a housing and a strip made of insulating material, which strip can be joined with the housing and which supports the contacts. In addition, the present invention relates to connectors produced according to the method.

Abstract: A connector having a resilient contact that makes a rolling contact with the conductor pads of a printed circuit board instead of a wiping contact therewith. According to the invention, a resilient contact has a first portion which is initially in the path of a board to be inserted in the connector and is displaced along the path as the card is inserted. A second portion of the resilient contact has a bulge which follows in the direction of movement of the first portion, but applies a continually increasing lateral force against the conductor pad as the board continues to be inserted. The invention also includes a latching device for latching the circuit board securely in the connector body.

Abstract: A test adapter plug for connecting a solid wire conductor to a wire-wrap terminal post includes an elongated insulating housing having first and second openings respectively dimensioned to conform to the terminal post and the solid wire conductor, with the conductor opening accommodating passage therethrough only of the bare wire and not the insulation thereon. The housing contains two spaced-apart electrical receptacles interconnected by a conductor or a circuit element, such as a diode, each receptacle having a pair of spaced-apart spring contacts with the pairs of contacts respectively disposed adjacent to the two openings in alignment therewith for receiving and electrically contacting the terminal post and the solid wire conductor. The housing carries a strain relief member adjacent to the conductor opening for receiving the insulated portion of the conductor.

Abstract: Modular connectors and associated adapter assemblies are disclosed for interconnecting telephones and telephone signal equipment. The modular connector and a mounting plate are structured so that the connector sidewalls with integral bosses and/or the apertured mounting plate are resiliently deformable to permit simple insertion and snap-locking of the connector and mounting plate.Various adapter configurations utilizing one or more modular connectors in unique system arrays for interconnection to non-mating signal equipment are also disclosed.

Abstract: A medical terminal clip is disclosed, particularly for use in connecting a lead wire or conductor to an electrode conventionally secured to the skin surface of a human or animal. The electrode comprises a male projection of the buttontype with an enlarged diameter head portion disposed within a recessed area of the electrode. The clip is generally V or wishbone shaped and includes a pair of support arms secured together at one end and normally spaced from each other at the other end. The arms carry resilient conductive loops normally biased out of overlapping condition but movable upon the application of external force into an overlapped condition wherein the clip may be applied over the head portion of the electrode. The support arms have offset depending shoulder portions from which the conductive loops extend and which are positionable within the recessed area of the electrode when the arms are moved toward each other.