Abstract: An improved connector for coupling the individual conductors of a multi-conductor flat cable to a termination point which may be a socket for receiving the pins of a further connector or the like comprising a base member having a plurality of apertures extending from a first to a second surface, the number of apertures being equal to the number of individual conductors found in the flat cable. Placed in each of these apertures is a contact having a first end which can pierce through the insulation of the multi-conductor cable and make contact with an individual conductor placed in association therewith and which end is placed adjacent the first surface of the base member of the connector. The contact terminates in a contact tail portion which extends towards the second surface of the base member in a socket for receipt therein and contact with the pin of a further connector, or the like.

Abstract: A plurality of flat elongate flexible metallic strips are arranged in spaced parallel relationship within a length of flat flexible dielectric material so that the curled tubular ends of the strips are exposed at either end of the dielectric material to provide contact means thereat. Stiffening means which may comprise coined rib portions are interposed between the exposed tubular ends and the central portion of the strips to prevent flexing of the metallic strips at their juncture with each end of the dielectric material.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a thin adapter member arranged to be adhered by means of a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer contained on one surface of the adapter and prior to use protected by a release layer, which adapter has disposed, along one or two rows, apertures arranged to be aligned with individual flat conductors of the cable, such that when the flat cable and adapter are inserted into a connector, the individual contacts of the connector are permitted to enter the apertures of the adapter and insure proper contact between each contact and its associated flat conductor when the connector is assembled.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a hand supported, hand operated tool for drawing up the loop formed by a self-locking strap about a plurality of articles to be bundled. A slide means translates across a stationary base member bearing at one end pawl means for grasping the strap and along its length finger grips to cause translation of the slide means. An internally confined return spring returns the slide means to an initial position and opens the pawl means. The repetition of the cycle permits the pawl means to grasp the strap at a different location and further translation of the slide means causes further tightening of the strap loop. When the operator determines that sufficient tension exists in the loop, he merely rotates the tool in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction about its longitudinal axis and causes the strap body portion to engage the sharpened sides of the slot in the tool nosepiece causing the strap body portion to be severed.

Abstract: A snap-in connector for coupling a flexible metallic raceway to an electrical enclosure formed from a shell member, to engage the material about the knock-out in an electrical enclosure, and a core member, to engage, hold and ground a flexible metallic raceway. The core member has a cylindrical central portion about which is positioned an inwardly facing rib in the form of a portion of a helix to engage the voids between the covolutions of the raceway to hold the raceway and provide electrical continuity therewith. The shell member and core member are coupled together and provide a first lip to limit connector insertion into the knock-out and in cooperation with latch means to hold the connector to the material about the knock-out while the latch means prevents withdrawal of the connector from the knock-out.

Abstract: A double-ended electrical contact includes a selectively bendable central portion arranged to permit the opposing ends of the contact to be selectively offset from one another along parallel axes and generally within a common plane. In one embodiment, the central portion comprises a pair of spaced struts connecting the two ends of the contact together and arranged to define a parallelogram to retain the original axial orientation of each end of the contact after offset. The contacts may be selectively offset and disposd in a contact housing having differently pitched apertures in its upper and lower portions, respectively, to provide mating electrical engagement between differently pitched conductive elements such as a flat cable having a first given spacing between conductors, and a pin or socket connector having a second given spacing between its elements different than the spacing between the flat cable conductors.

Abstract: A plurality of conductor grasping and piercing ridges are selectively disposed at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of a metallic crimpable ferrule and extend outwardly from its interior wire receiving surface so that upon crimping the ferrule about a wire inserted therewithin, the ridges penetrate the periphery of the wire along an obliquely oriented path defining a number of incrementally displaced transverse planes longitudinally offset from one another to avoid shearing or severing the wire along any one common transverse plane.

Abstract: The resiliently biased movable tool jaw in, for example, a strap applying tool is maintained in closed contact with the other jaw of the tool against a counteracting force during a critical phase of the tool cycle by the selective deployment of a lock pin engageable with the movable jaw and which is operatively coupled to an actuator cooperative with a reciprocating plunger employed to drive the movable tool jaw into its closed position. Movement of the lock pin is synchronized with the movement of the plunger to insure correspondence between the relative positions of the lock pin and the movable jaw.

Abstract: A fastener assembly comprising in overlying, stacked relationship a flat washer, an elastically deformable washer and a nut all enclosed in a shroud which assures all components of the assembly are used and in their proper order. The shroud is fashioned with a retaining lip at one end which, as the assembly is tightened, causes the shroud to retreat from the assembly to prevent its retention between the flat washer and the surface about the threaded stud to which the assembly is fastened. By the inclusion of an additional lip the retention of the shroud, after the torque limiting device coupled to the nut has been removed, can be assured.

Abstract: The enlarged head portion of a preferably unitary molded bundling strap comprises, in one embodiment, a pair of independently supported, spaced, parallel barb means depending within an obliquely oriented opening extending through the head portion, the barb means being oriented in such manner as to be subjected to a non-deflecting force directed essentially along the longitudinal axis of the respective barb means upon coacting locking engagement with the selectively inclined mating surfaces of a plurality of transverse teeth located along one surface of a flat, flexible strap-like member extending from the head portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for safely extracting a mouthpiece which has become jammed or locked into the tubular stem of a musical instrument comprises an adjustable, coaxially aligned assembly including a mouthpiece-engaging slotted ring member externally threaded for engagement with the internally threaded portion of a slotted support collar to which is adjustably coupled a clamping means having a central opening for abutting an enlargement on the tubular stem of the instrument wherein upon rotation of the ring member within the support collar in one direction, the length of the apparatus is increased causing a thrust on the mouthpiece away from the tubular extension of the instrument to free the mouthpiece therefrom.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle comprises an integrally molded body member and flanged face plate formed preferably as a duplex receptacle for the receipt of conventional two and three wire electrial plugs. The interior of the body member comprises a series of selectively positioned contact supports for engagement with novel contact means suitably aligned therewithin. A mating cover member designed to latch with the body member is provided with inwardly directed projections selectiely aligned in a series of rows to provide discrete cradles for each of the conductors of a multiconductor electrical cable to be attached to the receptacle. The receptacle is provided with mounting pawls rotatably and axially replaceable for contact with the inner surface of a support structure and is operable from the front surface of the receptacle which comprises in one embodiment, a pair of pawl supporting screws the head portions of which are accessible from the front surface of the face plate.

Abstract: An electrical contact for joining the conductor of an insulated cable to a further electrical terminal point such as a DIP plug, a printed circuit board card, a flat cable, etc. The upper portion is formed in a cylindrical configuration with two upstanding arms spaced apart at two colinear points on their circumference to provide an insulation piercing slot and a strain relief slot. The free ends of the upstanding arms are pointed to permit the contact to pierce the insulation about a conductor and allow one slot to make a good electrical joint with the conductor itself while the other slot grips the conductor insulation to provide strain relief. A properly configured tail portion permits the connector to be appropriately coupled to a terminal point.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle comprises an integrally molded body member and flanged face plate formed preferably as a duplex receptacle for the receipt of conventional two and three wire electrical plugs. The interior of the body member comprises a series of selectively positioned contact supports for engagement with novel contact means suitably aligned therewithin. A mating cover member designed to latch with the body member is provided with inwardly directed projections selectively aligned in a series of rows to provide discrete cradles for each of the conductors of a multiconductor electrical cable to be attached to the receptacle.

Abstract: A selectively applied crimping force is utilized to provide a stepped crimp to an electrical connection to create a discrete sacrificial anode from base conductor material thereby providing a controlled zone of corrosion which substantially increases the integrity and life of the electrical connection. This effect is achieved by crimping one portion of the connector to a greater extent than the remaining portion thereby extruding and work hardening a given length of the conductor to a predetermined degree to selectively alter the physical characteristics thereof. The degree to which each segment of the wire receiving portion of the connector is compressed may be defined as a ratio encompassing a given range of values designed to optimize the selective corrosion effect. Also disclosed are crimping dies for effecting the selectively stepped crimp, which dies are suitably proportioned to provide the necessary ratio of maximum to minimum crimp height.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a unitary bundling strap having a head end portion and a tail end portion and an elongated strap body portion therebetween. The strap body portion is fabricated with a plurality of teeth extending within the surface thereof and the head end portion is provided with an aperture to permit the strap to be transversely passed therethrough as the strap is drawn about a plurality of articles to be bundled. A selective portion of the head end portion is permitted to rotate in a first direction to permit the passage of the toothed portion of the strap body portion through the head end portion aperture and by the rotation of the head end portion a second opposite direction, as by the attempted withdrawal of the strap or by the tension applied by the bundle about which the strap is placed or the natural tendency of the head end portion due to its design the strap is brought into locking engagement.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle comprises an integrally molded body member and flanged face plate formed preferably as a duplex receptacle for the receipt of conventional two and three wire electrical plugs. The interior of the body member comprises a series of selectively positioned contact supports for engagement with novel contact means suitably aligned therewithin. A mating cover member designed to latch with the body member is provided with inwardly directed projections selectively aligned in a series of rows to provide discrete cradles for each of the conductors of a multiconductor electrical cable to be attached to the receptacle. The receptacle is provided with mounting pawls rotatably and axially replaceable for contact with the inner surface of a support structure and is operable from the front surface of the receptable which comprises in one embodiment, a pair of pawl supporting screws the head portions of which are accessible from the front surface of the face plate.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle comprises duplex receptacle for the receipt of conventional two and three wire electrical plugs. The electrical contacts are formed from a single strip of preferably highly conductive metallic material configured to selectively receive the conventional current carrying and the ground conductors of a conventional multiconductor non-metallic sheathed electrical cable. Each of the contacts is selectively formed to provide a U-shaped portion selectively slotted to provide highly effective insulation severing and conductor engaging independently deflectable finger portions designed to provide a rapid, secure, and permanent connection to the respective cable conductors. The contacts are further provided with flattened looped portions arranged to resiliently engage the contacts of an electrical plug inserted within the receptacle.

Abstract: A flexible branching strip for a wire bundle comprises a pair of preferably flat elongate interlocking members selectively spaced from one another and joined together at discrete intervals by flexible web portions. One of the members contains a series of open wire receiving slots interposed between respective tongue portions which are interlockingly engageable within a series of transverse openings in the other member. Selected wires of a wire bundle may be branched out of the bundle and disposed within respective wire receiving slots, and the strip curled about the branched bundle so that the members may be interlocked to one another with the web portions operating as spaced bundle ties about the unbranched portion of the wire bundle. The branching strip may be temporarily supported in a slotted strip support attachable to a wiring board for convenient orientation of the wire receiving slots during the branching operation.

Abstract: A modular connector assembly comprises discrete connector members each having upstanding leg portions disposed in a specific alternating arrangement along opposite sides of a base portion so as to interlock with the leg portions of an adjacent connector member to provide a composite structure having discrete wire receiving cavities. Mating projections and recesses may be provided along opposing sides of the leg portions to serve as additional locking means between the connector members. In a further embodiment, a slotted divider may be interposed between opposingly positioned connector members to provide the discrete wire receiving cavities.