Abstract: A connector harness assembly machine includes a wire transport assembly which further includes a conveyor mounted on a conveyor track and having a plurality of wire carriers mounted thereon in spaced relationship with respect to one another. Each wire carrier releasably holds a wire lead in a generally horizontal disposition. The wire carrier is pivotable so that the wire carrier can change positions to carry the wire lead in a substantially vertical disposition for insertion into a housing. The wire transport assembly is driven by an intermittent drive. The harness fabrication assembly has wire grippers for gripping and inserting a wire lead held in the wire carrier upwardly into a connector housing held at the insertion station. Associated with the insertion station is a test probe mechanism to check whether a terminated wire lead has been properly inserted into a connector housing and reject means for rejecting a connector harness assembly which has an improperly inserted terminated wire lead.

Abstract: A connector assembly for electrically connecting a first wire to a second insulation clad wire. A connector assembly generally comprises a unitary terminal including a relatively rigid portion having a wire trap means for receiving a conductive part of the first wire and a wire piercing side with a first insulation cutting edge formed thereon. The terminal also includes a resilient portion spaced from the wire piercing side having a second insulation cutting edge thereon facing the first cutting edge. The space between the first and second cutting edges defines an insulation displacement slot for receiving the second wire. The cutting edges are spaced a distance not less than the diameter of the conductive part of the first wire. The assembly also comprises a housing with an opening through which the terminal is receivable. The housing generally includes a first compartment for receiving the rigid portion of the terminal and the first wire.

Abstract: An electrical connector including a housing made of insulation material and a generally flat electrically conductive terminal. The housing includes a generally channel-shaped terminal receiving cavity having a support surface joining two upstanding wall portions. A pair of flexible locking fingers extend from each of the wall portions over the support surface. The terminal is insertable into the cavity by being pressed downwardly over the fingers so that the fingers resiliently move to allow the terminal to be received between the support surface and the fingers.The connector has a new and improved means for mounting the connector on a panel. The panel includes an aperture with a pair of mounting tabs formed thereon. The mounting means on the connector includes a slot to receive the ends of the tabs.

Abstract: An alternate action switch includes a housing defining a cavity within which an actuator is mounted for reciprocal movement between alternate positions wherein slider contacts on the actuator selectively engage fixed contacts supported by the housing within the cavity. Indexing of the actuator for movement between positions is accomplished by a cam block mounted on the housing and a cam follower mounted on the actuator. The cam block and follower are integrally connected respectively to the housing and actuator by means of flexible integral webs serving both to resiliently bias the follower and cam block toward one another and to constrain their movement to a single direction. Within the housing cavity the actuator is provided with recesses supporting loop contact portions of the slider contacts. Retention recesses within the actuator and latch arms on the contacts hold the slider contacts in position on the actuator.

Abstract: A crimp-type terminal adapted to be electrically connected to the conductors of a wire and inserted into an aperture formed in a circuit panel. The terminal includes an elongated tapered nose section adapted to be received through the aperture. The nose section has a central conductor support area for supporting the conductors of the wire which are surrounded by a rear portion and a forward conductor gripping portion. The conductors are partially exposed between the forward and rear portions after the nose section is inserted through the aperture. When the circuit panel is wave soldered, the solder material adheres directly to the exposed conductors.

Abstract: A connector assembly for electrically connecting substantially flat flexible circuit to a second circuit element. The connector assembly generally includes a housing having a plurality of terminal receiving cavities formed therein having an opening through which the flexible circuit element is received into the cavity and a floor over which the flexible circuit is supported. A plurality of generally resilient terminals are mounted one in each of the cavities. Each terminal includes a first portion contacting the second circuit element and second portion for contacting the flexible circuit. The second portion is normally spaced from the cavity floor so that the flexible circuit is easily insertable inbetween. The second portion is movable to mechanically press against the flexible circuit for ensuring good electrical contact and preventing withdrawal of the flexible circuit. Also included is actuating means associatable with the terminal for moving the second portion to press against the flexible circuit.

Abstract: A zero insertion force connector assembly includes a pair of connector housings each including an array of terminals. As the housings are initially moved together, the terminals are not in engagement and zero insertion force is provided. The housings are subsequently moved transversely with respect to one another in order to close individual pairs of terminals. Each terminal includes a contact blade parallel to the contact blade of another terminal, and the blades are disposed at a forty-five degree angle relative to the direction of transverse housing movement. One blade of each contact pair is supported along one of its edges to provide for a twisting action and reliable electrical contact as the blades are engaged. Transverse movement of the housings is effected by an actuator member mounted on one housing by an integral hinge and movable to a latched position wherein it forces the other housing member to a transverse position thereby closing each of the individual pairs of contacts.

Abstract: A connector assembly machine accepts wires having terminals attached thereto which are loaded manually by an operator, and inserts the terminated wires into predetermined positions, in a multi-cavity connector housing. The housing is indexed to a predetermined sequence of positions relative to an insertion assembly, and wires are arranged in bins adjacent a loading station in an array corresponding to the insertion sequence. Loading of each terminated wire initiates a cycle of operation wherein the terminated wire is gripped at the loading station, transferred to the insertion station, and inserted into the proper housing cavity.

Abstract: A double pole, double throw, lighted push button switch having a switch housing receiving a central support member. A light assembly is provided which can be either independently or dependently connected to an electrical circuit and is mounted on top of the support member. A switch blade assembly is connected to the circuit and mounted within the housing and is movable between a normal position and an unstable position whereby electricity is allowed to flow through a load in the circuit in one position and is allowed to flow through another load when in the other position. An actuator assembly is provided for moving the contact assembly from its normal position to its unstable position. The actuator assembly includes a depressable push button mounted for reciprocal movement, a pawl member, a rotatably mounted ratchet member, and a reciprocally mounted positioner member. The pawl member is associated with the push button for movement therewith.

Abstract: An insulation piercing terminal for use with insulation clad wire. The terminal includes a contact portion and a wire gripping portion that is adapted to be crimped onto the wire. The wire gripping portion includes a central elongated wire supporting area defining the bottom support for the wire and a pair of insulation piercing wings having sharp ends. The piercing wings extend outwardly in opposite directions from the wire supporting area around half the wire and meet in the location on top of the wire where they pierce the insulation at the top location so that the ends of the wings extend downwardly into and contact the wire and then bottom on the wire supporting area.

Abstract: An electrical connector mountable on top of a printed circuit board and connectable to a conductive element located below the connector. The connector generally includes an insulated housing having a plurality of terminal receiving cavities therein and a plurality of like terminals mounted in said cavities. Each terminal receiving cavity has a top opening and a bottom opening through which the conductive element is received in the cavity. The housing also includes a side wall with terminal tail positioning means for positioning and holding a tail portion of a terminal. Each terminal generally includes an elongated strip of metal formed to have a preloaded biased portion adapted to be received in the cavity to engage the conductive element and a tail portion extending from the base portion out of the cavity through the top opening and bent over and down along the side wall so that the end points downwardly for connection to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical connector generally including an insulated housing having a plurality of like terminals received therein. The housing includes a hollow chamber portion having two facing walls. One of the walls includes a plurality of upstanding protrusions formed on the interior thereof while the other wall has a plurality of cavities formed therethrough to allow communication into the chamber portion. Each cavity is in alignment with a protrusion. Each terminal includes a crimp portion at one end, an indexing portion at the other end having an opening formed therein and a resilient barrel-shaped portion intermediate the ends. The contact portion has a cross section larger than any other portion of the terminal and also the size of the cavities.

Abstract: An electrical connector for electrically connecting a modular circuit package such as a large scale integrated circuit package having a plurality of conductive interfaces with a printed circuit board. The connector includes a plurality of generally U-shaped resilient stressable terminals each having a bight-portion and two free ends defining a package contacting end which is adapted to engage one of the interfaces and a circuit contacting end which is adapted to engage one of the points of the printed circuit board. The terminals are mounted in an insulated housing. The housing includes a base member having a plurality of terminal receiving recesses for receiving and positioning the bight portion of each terminal against the side thereof. The housing also includes two generally U-cross section cover members, each of which is adapted to snap-fit over each side of the base member. In this manner, the terminals mounted in the recesses are trapped between the cover and the base member.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for use in an electrical circuit which has a support member for mounting electrical components thereon. The support member includes a first aperture and a second aperture. A first electrical connector is provided for mounting on the support member and includes an insulated base adapted to be received in the first aperture and a plurality of generally rigid conductor pins extending from at least one side of the base. The base has a plurality of indexing openings along the periphery thereof. One of the openings is in alignment with the second aperture. The base also includes a plurality of resilient hook-shaped support member engaging tabs, one underlying each of the indexing openings for engaging the bottom of the support member when the first connector is mounted in the first aperture. A second electrical connector is provided to be mounted and spaced from the first electrical connector.

Abstract: A push-type terminal connector assembly including a terminal housing made of insulating material and with a terminal receiving receptacle adapted to receive a plurality of terminals and a plurality of like terminals each adapted to be plugged into the terminal receiving receptacle. The housing has a plurality of channels formed in the receptacle for transversely dividing the receptacle into a plurality of adjacent terminal receiving stations. A detent ridge is provided in the interior of the receptacle and is adapted to engage a portion of the terminal for positioning and holding the terminal at a receiving station at a given depth. Each terminal includes a lateral compressible contact spring adapted to electrically connect and press against the contact springs of another terminal plugged in an adjacent receiving station.

Abstract: A conductive metal terminal serves to secure a wire conductor to a printed circuit board or other circuit panel. The terminal includes a wire engaging portion for crimping to the wire conductor, together with a nose portion for insertion into a hole in the circuit board. The nose portion is generally cylindrical in shape and its leading edge is defined by a plane sloped relative to the cylinder axis in order to provide a bevelled tip facilitating entry of the nose portion into the panel hole. A slot extending axially in the wall of the cylindrical nose portion extends from the bevelled tip to permit axial compression during insertion. Forward and rear stop means are provided for retaining the terminal in the panel hole after insertion, thereby to secure the wire conductor to the panel.