Abstract: First and second connector housings are keyed to each other by means of identical parts which can serve as either keys or keyway plugs. The identical parts are produced as a continuous strip comprising a carrier strip from which the parts extend at spaced apart intervals. In the practice of the invention, a section of strip is used which has a number of parts thereon equal to the number of keying positions in the connector assembly. One or more of the identical parts are removed from the strip and assembled to the first housing. Thereafter the remaining parts on the strip are aligned with the keying positions on the second housing and assembled to the second housing. The carrier strip can then be separated from the remaining identical parts.

Abstract: Crimping press comprises an anvil and a die which is movable towards and away from the anvil. The anvil is moved by a rotating shaft having a crank-type coupling to the die. The shaft is capable of limited movement in the direction of movement of the die towards the anvil. The shaft is supported against such movement by a yieldable shaft support that is calibrated to resiliently yield upon development of a predetermined reaction force in the die during the final stages of crimping. When a terminal is crimped onto a relatively small diameter wire, the shaft will not be moved at all or will be moved by only a slight amount if the predetermined force is reached. When a terminal is crimped onto a larger diameter wire, the predetermined reaction force will be developed before the die reaches the limit of its travel towards the anvil and the shaft will move away from the anvil to accommodate the remaining movement of the crank pin.

Abstract: A hand tool of generally known kind and having a reciprocable ram mounted in a tool frame which defines a guideway for a connector extending transversely of the ram path. The ram has a wire pusher adapted to push a wire into a contact in the connector and the connector is stepped across the ram path so that on successive ram strokes wires can be inserted into respective contacts. Reversible indexing structure is provided comprising an index wheel (33) driven on withdrawal of the tool ram through a lost motion coupling (34) and a fork arm (54). The wheel (33) engages pitch pins (10) and precise indexing is controlled by a register pin (38) on a spring lever (39). A moveable slide (49) selectively engages the fork with opposite sides of wheel (33) to effect indexing in opposite senses.

Abstract: Membrane type circuit comprises an insulating support having terminal sites thereon and circuit conductors extending between and among the terminal sites. A tail extends from the support and the conductors extend onto the tail and have output terminals on the tail. The tail is folded so that the output terminals on each side of the fold line are against each other and are connected to each other. Each pair of conductors which extends from two opposed output terminals are therefore a dual conductor. This arrangement simplifies circuit design and avoids the need for crossovers in many circumstances.

Abstract: Apparatus for installing connectors on flat cables comprises an applicator having an application zone and a staging zone which is adjacent to the application zone. A turntable is provided in the staging zone which has a connector-receiving recess. Connectors are delivered to the recess and the turntable is rotated to align the connector with a guide track that extends to the application zone. Connectors can be selectively aligned in either of two possible orientations. The connectors are attached to an endless belt which is advanced during each cycle to deliver connectors to the turntable.

Abstract: Harness making machine comprises an indexible conveyer having wire jigs thereon for holding wires in parallel relationship with the wire ends extending to one side of the conveyer. Each of the wire jigs comprises a plurality of individual wire clamps stacked against each other. The individual wire clamps can be moved from the stack to an extended position so that the wires are individually presented to wire processing machines, such as crimping machine, located on the one side of the conveyer. The invention encompasses the machine, the wire jig, and the method of making harnesses.

Abstract: Electrical terminal for connecting a lead wire to a varnish insulated wire extending from a coil comprises first and second plate-like members in aligned spaced-apart relationship. The plate-like members are connected by spaced-apart straps extending between corresponding ends of the members and aligned slots extend inwardly from the ends so that a coil wire can be moved relatively between the straps and into the slots. A pair of stabilizing ears extend from the side edges of one of the plate-like members towards and past the side edges of the other plate-like member thereby to strengthen and stabilize the box-like structure. A connecting member is provided for connecting a lead wire to the terminal. This connecting member may comprise a tab or lance extending from one of the ears transversely across the entire width of the box-like structure towards the other ear so that a wire can be inserted between the end of the tab and the interior surface of the ear.

Abstract: Electrical connector assembly comprises first and second housing assemblies containing first and second terminals. The terminals are of the type which are mated by locating a plug terminal in offset parallel relationship to a socket and then moving the terminals laterally towards each other. The two connector parts are mated and unmated by means of separate keys which have eccentrics on their ends that cooperate with camming surfaces on one of the connector assemblies. The key which is used for mating the connector assemblies is incapable of disengaging them and the disengaging key is incapable of engaging the connectors with each other. Rigid control of the mating and unmating of the connector assemblies is thereby achieved.

Abstract: Apparatus for installing connectors on cables is disclosed. Each connector comprises a connector housing having a conductor receiving end and terminals therein which receive wires and establish contact therewith. A cover or closure is provided which is assembled to the connector housing at the conductor receiving end. The apparatus comprises a housing jig, a cover jig which is opposed to the housing jig, and a cable locator which locates the cable between the two jigs. Cooperating cutter blades may be provided on the jigs so that when they are moved towards each other, the cable will be cut and the conductors moved into the terminals in the connector housing. In accordance with a further embodiment, the housings and covers are produced as continuous strip material which is fed to the two jigs. Strip material cutters are provided for cutting a connector housing and a section of cover members from the strip at the time of installation of the connector on the cable.

Abstract: Connector assembly comprises plug housing and receptacle housing. The plug housing has a latch arm hinged to one of its sidewalls having a forward portion which extends towards the mating end. A plurality of removable keys are mounted on the plug housing adjacent to the forward portion of the latch arm. The latch arm has an inspection opening to determine the presence or absence of the keys. Keying is achieved by removing one of the keys and placing a key plug in the corresponding keyway in the receptacle. The latch arm has a rearward portion which extends towards the rearward face of the housing. Clearance slots are provided in the rearward portion for wires which extend through the clearance openings, through wire-admitting slots in the housing sidewall and to terminals in the housing. The clearance slots permit the rearward portion of the latch arm to be depressed thereby to raise the forward portion when the plug housing is latched to, or unlatched from, the receptacle housing.

Abstract: A modular plug-dual modular jack adaptor is disclosed. The adaptor is comprised of a two piece molded housing having a plurality of one piece uninsulated conductor members therein, which can engage directly with the contacts in other modular jacks and plugs. The conductor members are made from stamped and formed sheet metal or wire. The adaptor is intended to provide multiple jack access at a single jack location.

Abstract: An encoded keyboard switch comprises a plurality of key positions. Each key position has first and second membrane switches associated therewith. The first switch is immediately beneath the key top and the second switch is beneath the first switch. The first membrane switch has first switch contacts which are commonly connected to a first common external conductor. The second switch contacts of the first membrane switch have output conductors extending therefrom to external signal conductors. The second switch contacts are selectively connected to each other by encoding conductors. Each second associated membrane switch has third switch contacts which are commonly connected to a second common external conductor, and fourth switch contacts which are commonly connected to an internal conductor that is commonly connected to the first contacts of the first associated membrane switches of the key positions.

Abstract: Flag-type terminal comprises a contact portion and a wire connecting portion. The wire connecting portion has a pair of spaced apart plate-like members connected at one end by integral straps. The plate-like members have aligned wire-receiving slots. Each plate-like member has an integral crimpable portion which is crimped onto a wire when the wire is inserted into the slots. The contact portion extends laterally from one of the connecting strap members.

Abstract: A switch actuating assembly for a keyboard switch comprises a frame and plunger slideably mounted on the frame. The plunger has an integral deflectable camming arm extending parallel to the frame from its upper end. The camming arm engages a cam on the frame during depression of the plunger to provide tactile effect when the switch is closed. The plunger can be assembled to the frame in any one of three orientations to provide the tactile effect, to provide a shift locking effect, or to permit closing of the switch without tactile effect.

Abstract: A preloaded electrical connector is described which comprises a housing having a mating face, a wire entry face, and cavities extending through the housing and between the faces. A contact terminal is contained in each of the cavities and each terminal has a wire connecting portion adjacent to the wire entry face. One of the housing sidewalls has an integral housing flap which is hinged to the housing between the faces. The housing flap is in an open condition so that rearward portions of the cavities are open. Each terminal has a channel-shaped wire connecting portion and has a clamping flap integral therewith which is also in an open condition. The clamping flap extends beside the housing flap and when the housing flap is moved to its closed position, it moves the clamping flap to its closed position. In use, wires are positioned in alignment with the channel-shaped connecting portions of the terminals and the housing flap is moved from its open position to its closed position.

Abstract: Electrical connector for connecting a ground conductor to a through conductor comprises an insulating housing on which is mounted a through conductor terminal having a wire receiving slot. The through conductor terminal is integral with a first tap conductor terminal located in a recess in the housing. A second tap conductor terminal is positioned in the recess and is spaced from the first terminal and a capacitor has its leads connected to the first and second terminals. The second terminal has an integral disconnect tap terminal which receives a terminal tab extending from a cover mounted on the housing. The cover serves as a section of the tap conductor and is bolted to a ground connection such as the frame of a motor vehicle.

Abstract: Electrical harness manufacturing apparatus comprises wire feeding means for feeding wires along a wire feed path through upstream and downstream (relative to the direction of wire feed) wire guides. The guides have opposed ends which are adjacent to each other during feeding. The guides thereafter move apart so that fed wires are exposed in a gap between the opposed ends. A transferring device clamps the wires in the gap and wire cutting means are provided to cut the wires adjacent to the transferring means, thereby producing leads having their trailing ends gripped in the transferring means. The transferring means transfers the trailing ends laterally of the feed path to a wire connecting station at which the trailing ends are connected to terminals in a connector. Insulation can be stripped, if desired, from the trailing ends of the cut leads and from the leading ends of the wires extending from the feed means.

Abstract: Electrical contact terminal comprises an elongated metal strip which has been folded along a medial transverse fold line to form two side-by-side arms. A wire-receiving slot is provided at the fold. The arms have parallel portions adjacent to the fold and converging portions extending from the parallel portions. Contact zones are provided on the ends of the converging portions. A brace extends between the arms and restrains movement of the arms away from each other. The location of the brace determines the contact force exerted on the complementary mating terminal device. The terminal is manufactured in strip form and in a condition such that the contact zones are spaced apart when the terminals are attached to the strip. The contact zones can therefore be plated with a conductive metal.

Abstract: Electrical fuse comprises an insulating body having a pair of coplanar blades extending from one end thereof. The blades have portions which are supported in the body and a fuse metal link is contained in the insulating body and extends between the supported portions. The conductors which comprise the blades and the supported portions of the blades are produced by die casting and the fuse metal link is insert die cast in these conductors. The insulating body is molded onto the conductors.

Abstract: Membrane switch device comprises first and second parallel insulating supports having opposed first and second surfaces. A first surface central contact and a peripheral contact are provided on the first surface, the peripheral contact extending around and being isolated from the first surface central contact. The first surface central contact and the peripheral contact have commoning extensions which project towards each other and have adjacent free ends. The free ends of the extension define a commoning locus that surrounds the center of the switch site. The second surface has a second surface central contact thereon which is opposed the first surface central contact and a commoning contact which is opposed to and, conforms to, the commoning zone. The shorting contact is electrically isolated from the second surface central contact. Circuit conductors extend to both contacts on the first surface and to the second surface central contact only on the second surface.