Abstract: The process for dyeing a continuous polymeric flexible substrate such as a film, uses a strip of transfer paper having sublimable dyes deposited on one surface. The substrate and transfer paper are fed simultaneously into a heat transfer apparatus comprised of a heating means and substrate retaining means. The layers are fed into the apparatus so the uncoated side of the transfer paper is proximate the heating means and substrate is proximate the retaining means. The layers are held against the heating means while sufficient heat is applied to the transfer paper to cause the dye to sublime from the paper and diffuse into the intertices of the substrate.

Abstract: A mold 300 for making a member having at least one first section of a first material and at least one second section of a second material includes first and second plates or mold halves 332,334 adapted to cooperate with each other when positioned in opposing relationship along a mold-closing axis and reciprocally movable relative to one another along the axis during a molding cycle. The first and second plates or mold halves 332,334 define a member-forming area therein when the mold is in a closed position. Sprues in the first and second plates or mold halves are in communication with the portions of the first and second sections respectively of the member-forming area. An ejector 348 for ejecting an eventually mold member includes one surface defining a boundary of the member-forming area. The ejector is movably disposed in one of the plates and is movable into the member-forming area.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing electrical connectors (22) which include rows of contact members (78, 90) held in a housing (24) includes feeding contact members in a wire form in parallel (74, 90), trimming such contact members to provide a partial form therefore at a trim station A, insert-molding such contact members to form a housing (62) and provide a carrier to tie such contact members together at a station (B), trimming said contact members to appropriate lengths, forming said contact members at further stations (C, D) into a multiple contact connector with rows of contact members in common planes held by the housing formed by insert-molding. Stamped and formed contact members (78', 90') are also contemplated utilized in an alternative method and both methods contemplate plating of the contact members either prior to molding or thereafter in alternative constructions, facilitated partially by the forming of the contact members into common planes.

Abstract: A holding device (24) operates to hold a component such as a connector (16) to a printed circuit board (12) through a pair of spring driven projections (30, 40) having barbs (34, 44) engaging interior surfaces (14, 20, 22) of the component and board. Releasible versions (50, 80) facilitate closure by a tool to remove barbs from the components and allow separation of elements.

Abstract: An electrical connector (20) for electrically connecting circuit boards (30,32) or the like comprises two housings (22,24) engaged via a plurality of tongues (100) and grooves (102) positioned on each housing (22,24). The grooves (102) of one housing (22) receive the tongues (100) of the other housing (24), and vice versa, by sliding one into the other. A plurality of interlocks (104) formed on each tongue (100) of one housing (22) mate with interlocks (104) formed on the grooves (102) of the other housing (24) to form a rugged spacer (25). By positioning the housings (22,24) so that different interlocks (104) slide together, one of a plurality of preselected distances may be achieved to match the spacing between circuit boards (30,32). An electrical circuit conductor (26) is positioned on the spacer (25) to provide for electrical connection between the circuit boards (30,32).

Abstract: A board edge connector 10 rotatable between a first and electrically disengaged angular position to a second angular position wherein electrical terminal members 70 of the connector 10 are electrically engaged to conductive areas 102 on a circuit board 92 includes housing means 12 and a plurality of electrical terminal members 70 disposed in terminal receiving cavities 50 therein. Housing means 12 includes a board receiving slot 34 extending along a front wall thereof and in communication with the terminal receiving cavities 50. Slot 34 has opposed upper and lower bearing surfaces 26,21 defining opposed parallel planes and further defining means for guiding connector 10 onto the board 92 at a preselected angle until the leading edge 98 of the board 92 engages a first stop surface 60 defining a first angular position.

Abstract: An electrical connector (10) includes a plurality of terminal members (12) and means for securing the body portions (14) of the terminal members (12) together to form a stacked array. Each terminal member (12) includes a body portion having a first contact section (24) adapted to electrically engage a first electrical article (40) and a second contact section (34) adapted to engage a second electrical article (44). Each terminal member (12) further includes integral spacing means for spacing respective body portions (14) of adjacent terminal members from each other. Upon electrically engaging respective first and second contact sections (24, 34) of the plurality of terminal members (12) with corresponding first and second electrical articles (40, 44), the terminal members (12) provide a plurality of paths for current flow between the first and second electrical articles (40, 44).

Abstract: A card edge electrical connector 10 includes a dielectric housing member 12, a card receiving cavity 30, a plurality of contacts including signal contact members 35,35a arranged in opposed pairs along opposite sides of the card receiving cavity 30 and ground contact member 54 associated with each pair of signal contact members 35,35a. Each signal contact member 35,35a has a first contact surface 43 for engaging corresponding signal traces 184 on the daughter card 172 and second contact sections 52,52a respectively exposed along the mounting face 18 of the housing 12 and adapted to be engaged to corresponding signal contact means 92 of another electrical article 86. A ground contact member 53 is mounted into the housing 12 at each contact location and includes first ground contact sections 62 engageable with ground contact means 180 of card 172 upon full card insertion, the first ground contact sections 62 being spaced both vertically and horizontally from the associated first signal contact surfaces 43.

Abstract: A high density, high frequency connector system 10 having first and second mating connector members 12, 70 each member including a multi-row array of signal contact member 52, 102 disposed in columns, each said signal contact member being secured in a respective passageway; a multi-row array of ground contact members 58, 110 disposed between the columns of signal contact members 52, 102 each of the ground contact members 52, 102 having at least a body section secured in a respective profiled slot 42, 94. Each profiled slot 42, 94 has a width selected to be greater than the thickness of the ground body section and means for maintaining the respective ground body sections centered within the respective otherwise wider slot to define air reservoirs of a controlled width on both sides of each ground contact member.

Abstract: A tool 10 for extracting an electrical terminal member 36 from a terminal receiving passageway 56 of an electrical connector 50 comprises a body portion 12 having an aperture 20 extending axially thereinto, aperture 20 being adapted to receive a section 38 of terminal member 36 therewithin. Aperture 20 has first and second sections 22, 24, the first section 22 being dimensioned to slidably receive the terminal section 38 therewithin and the second section 24 having a reduced inner dimension such that second aperture section 24 provides an interference fit with the terminal section 38. The outer dimensions of the tool body portion 12 are adapted to be received in the terminal receiving passageway 56. Terminal member 36 includes rearward and forward stop means 44, 46, terminal member 36 being restrained from rearward axial movement by stop surfaces 60 within connector housing means 52 cooperable with the rearward terminal stop means 46.

Abstract: This invention includes a method featuring steps having a transport (64, 68) to carry metal articles (10, 14) through a vacuum chamber (62, 66, 90) containing a plasma cleaning station (32) followed by exposure to an evaporant of metal (42) generated by an E-Beam (50) caused to condense on the articles in high vacuum. A channel structure (51) is provided to cause selective condensation upon the surface of said articles. The apparatus includes several stations (101, 102, 103) to provide multiple coatings on one or both sides of an article to be coated.

Abstract: A card edge electrical connector 10 includes a dielectric housing member 12, a card receiving cavity 30, a plurality of contacts including signal contact members 36, 36a arranged in opposed pairs along opposite sides of the card receiving cavity 30 and ground contact member 54 associated with each pair of signal contact members 36, 36a. Each signal contact member 36, 36a has a first contact section 44 for engaging corresponding signal traces 84 on the daughter card 72 and second contact sections 52, 52a respectively exposed along the mounting face 18 of the housing 12 and adapted to be engaged to corresponding signal contact means 92 of another electrical article 86. A ground contact member 54 is mounted into the housing 12 at each contact location and includes ground contact sections 62 engageable with ground contact means 80 of card 72 upon full card insertion.

Abstract: A self-supporting contact for engaging a conductor combined with guard means for protecting both the contact and the conductor against accidental touch by a human hand. The contact is stamped from a flat strip of resilient, conductive material and has a rectangular body with a plurality, preferably four, spaced along and extending in parallel from one edge of the contact body. Each of the contact fingers is formed with a spring arch located near the end of the finger attached to the contact body. The apices of arches of the fingers are alternately directed above and below the plane of the contact body and the spring arches tension each of the contact fingers so as to bias the free ends of the fingers toward the plane of the contact body. The guard means for the contact comprises an insulating housing enclosing the contact body with portions of each of the contact fingers projecting to the exterior of the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector 63 includes at least one length of wire 54 having an insulating means 55 with at least one portion 58 of the wire 54 extending free from the insulating means 55 and a housing 62 adapted to hold the free end 58 and a length of the insulating means relative to a first contact point 102 on an electrical article 100 to be interconnected with connector 63 to wire 54. Wire 54 includes one portion 56 inelastically deformed to provide a second contact point 60 adapted to engage the first contact point 102. Housing 62 includes portions adapted to position the second contact point 60 in bearing relationship with the the first contact point 102 with the spring beam 56 being deflected to provide a normal force engagement between the first and second 102,60 contact points sufficient to assure a stable, low resistance interface.

Abstract: An electrical connector 10 for mating blade-shaped members 114,130 includes a pair of subassemblies 12, each subassembly 12 comprising a housing member 14 and at least one first terminal element 50 secured to the inner surface of respective housing members 14, and means for securing subassemblies 12 together. Each first terminal element 50 includes body portion 52 and first and second arrays of contact arms 66,72 extending outwardly from opposite ends 62,64 thereof. In the assembled connector 10, the free ends 68,74 of contact arms 66,72 of respective terminal elements 50 extend inwardly toward each other defining first and second receptacles 110,112 for receiving first and second blade-shaped members respectively.

Abstract: A package (10) includes a top (12), vacuum or thermoformed, and a bottom (50) of extruded plastic, with the top and bottom formed to define channels to receive components (80) in sliding engagement to facilitate automatic loading therein and unloading. The components (80) slidingly supported by a rail (54) extending from the bottom between legs of components. A lock (86) is provided to extend through the package to hold components therein. A multiple unit breakaway package (110) is also disclosed.

Abstract: An integrally molded electrical connector 10 for interconnecting an array 60 of conductors of a first article 58 with a corresponding array 64 of conductors of a second article 62 includes a plurality of substantially rigid bifurcated tines joined by a bight section 30, each tine having arm portions 18, 24 deflectable toward each other; and compressible support means 46 extending between the arm portions 18, 24 of the tines 16; and continuous circuit means 36 defined along outer surfaces of tine arm portions 18, 24 and bight section 30. The array of tines is formed from a dielectric material. The compressible support means 46 has sufficient durometer to maintain contact normal force between the continuous circuit means 36 and the corresponding contact means of opposed first and second electrical articles 58, 62 upon the arm portions 18, 24 being compressively held between the pair of electrical articles 58, 62.

Abstract: A heater bar assembly intended for use in a soldering apparatus or the like has a laminated self-regulating Curie effect heater mounted on a rigid support member. The heater is rapidly heated in use up to its Curie temperature and maintained at that temperature during a soldering operation so that overheating does not occur and, on the other hand, cold joints are avoided. The heater is slightly resilient, or deformable, so that when it is brought into contact with the wires, it is deformed by the wires thereby increasing the area of contact with the wires. A complete integrated soldering apparatus incorporating the heater bar assembly is also described.

Abstract: An electronic assembly is disclosed comprising a molded dielectric connector means including an electronic package mounted therewithin, the connector means 80 being adapted to be secured to a framework. The connector means includes first and second molded member 82,110 securable together at an interface. The first molded member has outwardly facing surface portion including an interconnection region 94, and includes compliant spring portions 90 integral therewith portions and extending outwardly therefrom at the interface. The compliant spring portions 90 are adapted to be deflected by the second molded member 110 upon assembly of the molded members. Circuit means 92 are included on the first molded member 82 and are defined along the outside surface portions and extending along outwardly facing surface portions of the compliant spring portions 90 and further extending to interconnection region 94.

Abstract: An improved pin header connector (10) mountable to a circuit substrate (120) includes a plurality of modular terminal subassemblies (12), shell means (59) defining a like plurality of terminal subassembly receiving cavities (108) and including means securing the terminal subassemblies (12) within respective cavities (108) in a manner permitting incremental floating of the subassemblies (12) in a transverse direction relative to the shell means (59), and means (50) included on each terminal subassembly (12) for aligning the terminal members (16) thereof with corresponding circuit pads (122) on the circuit substrate (120) upon the connector (10) being mounted to the substrate (120).