Abstract: A two-part panel fastener comprises a socket member and a stud member. The socket member includes a base, an elongated retaining head supported above one side of the base, a receptacle defining a central bore extending from the opposite side of the base, a lip which constricts the opening to the bore, and a frusto-conically shaped flange extending from the end of the receptacle and having a concave surface facing away from the base and surrounding the opening to the bore. The elongated retaining head is adapted to pass through an elongated or "double-D" shaped aperture in a first panel and to be retained relative to the first panel when the head is turned a quarter-turn.

Abstract: An improved relay assembly comprising a relay, a circuit board and a base in which the relay is directly mounted to the circuit board terminals are mounted to the board and the assembly of relay board and terminals is then inserted and retained in the base. Interconnecting circuitry for connecting the terminals to the various elements of the relay and also for carrying out other chosen functions is provided by the circuit board and the connection of the relay and terminals to the board is carried out by one step soldering. The whole may be placed in the housing and be hermetically sealed. Variations of terminal structure arrangements for improved rigidity and reliability are described as well as details of relay structure and contact mounting.

Abstract: A timed switch for controlling an electric load has a relay mounted within the switch housing. The relay has a pair of contacts which are connected to the load, a movable core connected to one of the contacts and a holding coil which holds the core in and holds the contacts closed when energized and releases them when deenergized. The switch also has a timer; and a manual actuator for moving the core and closing the contacts, actuating the timer and actuating the relay coil. The timer is connected to the relay coil to deenergize the coil and release the contacts upon expiration of a predetermined interval measured by the timer. The contacts may also be opened by actuation of the manual actuator without having to overcome the holding force of the relay coil on the core.

Abstract: A plug for sealing an aperture in a panel includes a body portion adapted to close the aperture, a flange portion adapted to overlie an upper surface region adjacent the aperture, one or more insert portions adapted for insertion through the panel in contact or close adjacency to the edge surface of the aperture, and a body of sealant material in the form of a ring in contact with the under surface of the flange portion. The sealant material has the property of flowing when heated to an operating temperature lower than the melting point of the plug material, and the insert portion or portions of the plug and the body of sealant are formed so as to cause at least part of the sealant, upon being heated, to flow and adhere between the edge surface of the panel aperture and at least part of an insert portion.

Abstract: A disposable medical electrode includes a compliant annular support layer having an adhesive surface, a compliant discoid gel pad having a diameter less than the inner diameter of the support layer, an electrical terminal and a holder for maintaining the support layer, gel pad and terminal in relative juxtaposition. The holder includes a pair of mating sections which can be clamped together on opposite sides of the support layer and terminal to retain those components against relative motion. Also, one section includes a central passage through it for snugly receiving the gel pad so that one surface of the gel pad is in intimate contact with the terminal and the opposite surface of the gel pad is exposed at the outer end of said passage and lies more or less in the same plane as the adhesive surface of the support layer.

Abstract: An electrical switch with a magnetic core for driving a first contact for engaging a second spring mounted contact. A plunger can engage the core to move it into a winding moving the first contact so that current is supplied to the winding for holding the core in inner position when the first and second contacts connect. The plunger carries an arm which can engage the spring mount for the second contact and move it away from the first contact, only when the second contact is in its deflected position by virtue of engagement by the first contact. A housing, an indicator light and connecting terminals are also provided.

Abstract: An automobile brake light switch has a switch housing, a spring-loaded plunger extending through the housing, fixed terminals mounted in the housing, a slide coupled to the plunger, and a resilient movable contact mounted on the slide to engage the terminals. The slide is coupled to the plunger so that it will travel reciprocally and linearly relative to the housing upon operation of the plunger. The plunger is linearly adjustable relative to and independently of any movement of the slide.

Abstract: A blind spring clip fastener for insertion in a round hole in a work piece has a head portion and a shank portion extending perpendicular to the head portion. The shank portion comprises a pair of spaced-apart mirror image sections extending from opposite side edges of the head portion, each section including a resilient leg and a pair of wings integral with the free ends of the leg and extending toward the head portion at opposite side edges of the leg. Each wing is shaped so that it has a side edge extending upwardly-outwardly beyond the plane of its leg and a free end extending from a point beyond the plane of the associated leg relatively steeply upwardly-inwardly toward the head portion.

Abstract: A one-piece spring washer for use with threaded fasteners such as screws has a self-retention feature whereby, once positioned on the screw, it remains firmly in place. The washer comprises an annular body defining a central aperture for receiving the screw shank and a plurality of thread engaging teeth bent up from the body about the aperture for holding the washer in place. Each tooth has a helical thread confronting edge having a pitch that is steeper than, and in the opposite sense of, the pitch of the screw thread so that the teeth extend crosswise of and grip the crest of the thread. A plurality of spring elements are bent up from the washer body outboard of, but in the same direction as, the teeth. The spring elements, which flex downwardly when the screw is tightened against a workpiece, load the screw axially to resist loosening of the screw.

Abstract: A self-referencing position switch particularly adapted to respond to the position of an automobile gear shift lever. The switch is responsive to the position of a movable external member relative to a stationary member and includes a pair of housing sections one of which is attached to the stationary member and the other of which defines a track for a movable switch member which follows the movements of the external member and is arranged to close the switch at a selected location along the track. The two housing sections are movable relative to one another in more or less the direction of the track so that by engaging the movable switch member against one or the other end of the track and moving the housing sections relative to one another, the selected location on the track can be correlated with a selection position of the movable member.

Abstract: A timed electric switch in a housing preferably for direct current loads such as for heating elements in vehicle windows, in which manually closable contacts supply current to the load and also to a digital timing circuit, which completes a circuit from said contacts through a holding solenoid for the contacts. After a predetermined count has been achieved in the timing circuit, the current supply through the holding solenoid is interrupted thereby releasing the contacts. Provision is made for allowing the second and subsequent timing periods to differ from the first timing period by independently supplying potential to the timing circuit, such as through the vehicle ignition switch. Reset of the timing circuit to produce the initial timing period once again is effected by switch off and re-operation of the ignition switch. An illuminated indication is provided, preferably by a light emitting diode, which operates when power is supplied to the load.

Abstract: A releasable hose fitting comprises a male member that mounts on the end of a flexible hose and a complementary female member that mounts on a hose receiving nipple. The male member includes a pair of arms that extend along the side of the hose and that include inwardly projecting barbs that grip the hose walls to hold the member on the hose. The male member also includes a pair of relatively resilient wings that extend along the side of the hose and that include outwardly projecting noses. The female member has a cup-like configuration including a wall portion defining an entrance opening in which the male member is received. A locking rim is formed on the inside surface of the wall portion. As the male member is pushed into the female member, the wings deflect inwardly until the noses clear the rim, whereupon they snap outwardly and lock behind the rim. The male member is released from the female member simply by squeezing the wings inwardly sufficiently for the noses to clear the rim.

Abstract: A monitoring circuit for electrically conductive resistive devices such as diesel glow plugs in which the devices are fed through an electrically sensitive path, and the voltage across the electrical devices is sensed with respect to a reference. If the sensed voltage is above the reference indicating the presence of a defective device, a warning is indicated. The circuit includes means allowing warm up of the devices before sensing, and for inhibiting signals, which would otherwise indicate a false warning, after a chosen period for sensing.

Abstract: A finishing disk hub assembly includes a hub section composed of an internally threaded adapter surrounded by a support pad which section is arranged to be screwed onto a rotary threaded shaft. An annular socket is formed in the end of the adapter, a wall of the socket being provided with a set of spaced-apart radial threads. The assembly also includes a locking plate having a set of legs arranged to project through the central opening of a finishing disk into the socket by way of the gaps between the threads. Abutments are provided on the legs which interlock with the adapter threads when the legs are inserted into the adapter socket and the plate is turned through an angle relative to the adapter thereby drawing the plate toward the adapter and clamping the disk between the adapter and the plate.

Abstract: A cable strap for tying a bundle of cables comprising a flexible encircling element which is adapted to wrap the cables and which has engaging means thereon, retaining means having a locking element which is adapted to inter-engage with the engaging means on the encircling element and an extensible section between the encircling element and the retaining means which is resiliently extensible in the direction of the length of the encircling element. The engaging means on the encircling element is detachably inter-engageable with the locking element so that the encircling element can be wrapped around a bundle of cables and then temporarily locked in position by inter-engagement of the engaging means with the locking element.

Abstract: A molding retainer for fastening a molding to a support panel which has a head stud welded thereon. The retainer is of molded plastic construction, and has an open-ended channel extending through it from one end to the other whereby it can be slidably mounted on the stud from either of its ends. The channel defines a retention area intermediate the end of the retainer and two insertion areas leading from its ends to the retention area and the retainer carries a pair of resilient tongues which are urged against the head of the stud when the retainer is mounted on the stud and the stud head is disposed in the retention area. Each of the tongues has an abutment which engages the stud head to inhibit accidental removal of the retainer from the stud when the stud head is positioned in the retention area. The retainer carries external shoulders over which the molding can be slid or snapped once the retainer is secured to the stud.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing composed of two hinged-together housing sections molded of plastic as a single unitary part. One housing section defines a pair of spaced-apart resilient walls with a slot between them and a series of connector locations spaced along the slot. The other housing section defines a series of compartments which are in register with the connector locations when the two housing sections are superimposed. A flexible printed circuit is folded into the slot, the circuit having pairs of conductive paths positioned in the slot at each said connector location, which paths extend out of the slot so that electrical connections can be made to provide electrical power to bulbs removably retained at said connector locations and in electrical contact with the path pairs at said locations.

Abstract: An electrical relay of the low current type and general purpose usage in alternating current and direct current circuitry is provided in four main components in structural combination and organization enabling manufacture and assembly by automation techniques at a high degree of accuracy, and more particularly comprising a base mounting a core, the core in turn pivotally mounting an actuator thereby supported in engagement with a spring armature anchored to the base and movable by the actuator upon pivotal actuation of the latter, the assembly of core and base being adapted accurately to locate the actuator.

Abstract: A one-piece plastic fastener that is insertable in a non-circular, e.g., square, panel aperture and that accommodates a screw for securing another article to the panel. The fastener includes a relatively flat head portion defining a central opening, a hollow, open-ended, inwardly flexible shank portion extending from a major surface of the head portion and cross-sectionally matching the shape and size of the panel aperture, and a closed-end barrel portion extending from the major surface of the head portion within the interior hollow space of the shank portion and defining an internal screw receiving and encapsulating bore aligned with the opening in the head portion. Longitudinal protuberances are formed on the external surface of the shank portion that cause the shank portion to flex inwardly as the fastener is pushed into the aperture.

Abstract: A panel hole closure is composed of a rigid plate having an integral array of resilient fingers projecting from one surface of the plate inboard of the plate rim. A integral stiffener is provided for each finger which stiffens the finger against inward deflection toward the axis of the plate so that once the closure is seated in a panel aperture, it is difficult to dislodge. A plastic sealing ring encircling the plate rim may be melted and flow to provide a fluid-tight seal between the closure plate and panel.