Abstract: Electrical junction means for cables which are part of a telephone wiring system comprises a base frame member disposed on the floor of a building. Multi-conductor cables extend across the floor and have connectors on their ends which are mounted in the base frame member. The connectors mounted in the base frame member or mated with connectors on the ends of conventional cables which extend from the junction means to telephones. Carpeting material on the floor extends up to the base frame member and flaps of carpeting are located on top of the base frame member. A cover member is secured by fasteners to the base frame member and serves to protect the connectors therein. The cover member is clamped against the carpet flaps and against portions of the carpeting which are immediately adjacent to the base frame member. This arrangement provides a self-gaging feature which reduces the tendency of the cover member to become loose.

Abstract: Gear changing mechanism comprises spaced-apart camming plates and three gear changing levers mounted on a common axis which extends between the camming plates. The levers have control arm portions which have slots to receive a camming pin by means of which the levers are selectively oscillated with respect to the common axis. Camming means on the camming plates controls the movement of the camming pin to determine which lever will be oscillated by the camming pin. The camming pin, in turn, is controlled by a gear shift lever to which the camming pin is linked.

Abstract: A connector for establishing electrical contact between two insulated conductors is disclosed. The connector employs a generally V-shaped member having multiple slots extending inwardly from one longitudinal edge of a metallic terminal member. Two slots on the terminal member penetrate the insulation and establish contact with the conductive core of each conductor. A rigid insulating housing anchors the terminal and provides a means for forcing the conductors into the slots. This V-shaped terminal configuration results in the generation of resilient stresses which lead to the establishment of a sufficient slot-type electrical contact with a conductor having a relatively large number of strands comprising its conductive core. This connector is also adapted for use with flat multi-conductor cable.

Abstract: A connector for affixing a flexible conduit having external helical grooves to an electrical junction box is disclosed. The connector comprises a stamped and formed metallic retaining clip in conjunction with a rigid housing. The clip engages the helical grooves and also establishes contact with a circular hole in one face of the junction box. Both a secure mechanical and electrical connection are established so that the metallic conduit and the metallic junction box can serve as a continuous electrical ground. A straight-through and a right angle version of the connector are disclosed. The retaining clip is mounted in the housing so that the connector snaps into the circular hole and can be removed without damage.

Abstract: Wire-in-slot connecting device comprises a plate-like connector member having an arcuate cross-section and having wire-receiving slot extending inwardly from one end thereof. An insulating housing for the connector member has wire-receiving openings extending therein from one side thereof and has connector member openings extending inwardly from an adjacent side which intersect the wire-receiving openings. The connector member openings have a cross-section which is in the form of a geometric segment, the radius of the arcuate wall thereof conforming to the radius of the connector member.

Abstract: An electrical connector housing for securing an electrical terminal in a passageway thereof, the passageway includes a first stop means integrally formed from a first area of the passageway and against which a section of the terminal engages to limit movement of the terminal in one direction in the passageway and a second stop means integrally formed from a second area of the passageway and being spaced from the first stop means, the second stop means defining stiffly-flexible means provided with free end means engageable with another section of the terminal thereby limiting movement of the terminal in another direction in the passageway.

Abstract: A tap connection for a multi-conductor cable is disclosed. This tap connection uses two standard separate multi-contact connectors. Cable wires connect corresponding terminals in each of the two connectors. A method and apparatus for assembling this tap connector is also disclosed. Pairs of cable wires are simultaneously inserted into corresponding slotted terminals in both connectors.

Abstract: Machine for inserting intermediate portions of wires into a wire-receiving portions of terminals in a two-row multi-contact electrical connector comprises a frame having a connector supporting member extending cantilever fashion from the frame. Wire insertion stations are located on each side of the connector supporting means and have insertion rams for moving the wires laterally of their axes and into the wire-receiving portions of the terminals. The cantilever arrangement of the connector supporting means provides clearance for the wires after they have been inserted into the terminals so that the connector supporting means can be indexed towards the frame so as to position all of the terminals in alignment with inserting rams. A wire stop means is provided at the wire insertion stations which serves to position the wires being inserted in alignment with the inserting rams and to permit movement of the inserted wires past the insertion station during indexing.

Abstract: Plier-type hand tool comprises a frame having spaced-apart jaws and a fixed handle extending therefrom. One of the fixed jaws has a ram therein which is reciprocable towards and away from the other jaw. The actuating means for moving the ram comprises a movable handle which is pivoted to the frame. Closing of the handles causes two toggle mechanisms to be straightened which are concatenated with the ram. The arrangement of the toggle mechanisms is such that a relatively deep throat is provided between the jaws for the acceptance of a wide workpiece such as a flat electrical cable. A removable tension member may be provided on the ends of the jaws to prevent excessive flexure of the jaws during use of the tool.

Abstract: Apparatus for installing a multi-contact connector on a flat, multi-conductor cable comprises a connector supporting means for supporting the connector in a predetermined position and a cable supporting means in surrounding relationship to the connector supporting means. The cable supporting means has a cable supporting surface on which the cable is clamped, the supporting surface being located such that a cable clamped thereon will be adjacent to and directly above terminals extending from a connector supported on the connector supporting surface. Upon applying a force against the cable supporting means, the cable is moved downwardly relative to the connector and the terminals penetrate the cable and establish electrical contact with the conductors therein.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for attaching slotted terminals to multiple interspaced helical insulated wires forming the skeleton of a flexible tubular hose is disclosed. Stationary cylindrical severing horns and insertion horns are utilized in conjunction with movable severing and insertion tooling. The flexible hose is positioned in surrounding relationship to the terminals and severing horns so that the wires may be forced into the slots in the terminal.

Abstract: In an electrical component support assembly, the lead wires (which are of different gauges) of electrical components, e.g. resistors, are each gripped by the walls of two slots of identical slotted plate terminals. The two slots of each terminal are of the same minimum width but the two slots are laterally offset from one another and the two plates in which the slots are formed are resiliently connected and are formed so that the plates are mutually displaced laterally as the wires are inserted into the slots, whereby the smaller gauge wires are securely gripped between the two plates.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes slotted plate contacts which are received in cavities in a housing of insulating material. A stuffer forces wires successively into the slots of the slotted plate contacts when moved along a channel in the housing.

Abstract: An electrical tab receptacle for mating with a complementary tab is provided with an integral tongue having a lance whereby the receptacle can be releasably secured to the tab, the tongue being resiliently depressible by means of a finger, a tool, or part of a housing containing the receptacle, to release the receptacle from the tongue.

Abstract: An electrical connector housing for securing an electrical terminal in a passageway thereof, the passageway includes a first stop means integrally formed from a first area of the passageway and against which a section of the terminal engages to limit movement of the terminal in one direction in the passageway and a second stop means integrally formed from a second area of the passageway and being spaced from the first stop means, the second stop means defining stiffly-flexible means provided with free end means engageable with another section of the terminal thereby limiting movement of the terminal in another direction in the passageway.

Abstract: A hand held circuit tester for use in detecting and identifying wiring errors in standard three-wire electrical outlets. Indicator lights, connected between each pair of the three plug-type terminals, are positioned side-by-side on one end of the device. Reference characters may then be aligned with the individual lights and the condition of the wiring can readily be determined. Because of the location of the indicator lights, they may be viewed through openings on three sides permitting use of the device in awkward locations. The components used in the manufacture of the device permit easy assembly of the components into circuits and facilitate insertion of the circuits into an insulated housing to form the completed device.

Abstract: Bundle tie devices, which may be of metal, comprises a thin strip of material having transversely extending slots. The slots have enlarged ends and the material between the enlarged ends is formed outwardly to provide vanes which are interleaved when the device is applied to a bundle. The side of the strip which is against the bundle has no projections which might damage the insulation of the wires in the bundle.

Abstract: A simple, compact multi-conductor tap-connector device incorporates at least three standard multi-contact individual connectors with the corresponding terminals in all of the connectors attached only by short wires running directly between the terminals. Various configurations of mating connectors can be fabricated by the same operations. The interconnecting wires form a unique latticework pattern which permits assembly of the device without the need for excess wire and gives the tap-connector device a degree of structural rigidity. Two forms of specialized apparatus suitable for inserting wires into terminal slots to establish electrical contact are used in assembly of the device.

Abstract: A tool for use in connecting two conductors by crimping a pre-insulated open-U shaped connecting device simultaneously around separate conductors is disclosed. The tool is adapted for trimming either or both wires and can attach the connecting device to a through wire so that a tap connection can be formed. The through wire extends out of the center of the connecting device and the tool forms the insulation around the through wire to establish a suitable dielectric.

Abstract: Multi-contact electrical connector for connecting terminal pads on one panel-like member to terminal pads on another panel-like member comprises a generally U-shaped contact terminal strip. The strip is made up of a strip of thin plastic having spaced-apart spring metal contact terminals adhered to one external surface thereof. The edges of the strip are mounted on an elongated mounting bar of insulating material. The connector is located between the panel-like members with the spring contacts in alignment with corresponding terminal pads. The panel-like members are clamped in a pre-determined relationship so that the terminals are flexed and portions of the terminals on opposite sides of the strip are resiliently urged against the pads.