Abstract: An improved sealed connector includes at least one terminal with an associated terminated conductor. The sealed connector includes a housing having at least one resilient arm with a free end finger extending within a terminal receiving channel for retaining the terminal within the terminal receiving channel. The housing includes a sleeve portion extending axially outwardly from a terminal entry wall defining a seal receiving cavity. A seal has at least one aperture for receiving the terminal and is disposed within the seal receiving cavity between the housing terminal entry wall and a connector cover. The connector cover includes terminal position assurance means and a keying member cooperating with the housing terminal retaining arm for securing the terminal within the terminal receiving channel and for keying alignment with the housing and the seal. The housing and the connector cover include cooperating locking mechanisms for securing said connector cover to the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for discharging serial arrays of solid components contained in a three dimensional matrix of feeding positions, into a delivery track, one serial array at a time. The matrix of feeding positions is comprised of trays each having a row of component containing channels. The trays are stacked one on top of another, and loaded in a box-like container. The container is lowered, presenting one tray at a time to a plurality of funnel-shaped discharge openings. A shuttle, capable of selectively blocking the discharge openings, is aligned with one opening at a time, and is operative to receive a serial array of components contained in a channel aligned with that opening. Upon receiving the components, the shuttle returns to a home position in alignment with the delivery track, whereupon it discharges the components into the track.The shuttle is indexed along a row of channels, one channel at a time, until the tray is emptied.

Abstract: A pitch transition wire guide apparatus for use in wire harness fabrication machines includes a plate member having a wire engaging edge and a corresponding number of open-ended wire guide channels, each extending inwardly from the edge to a closed end. The closed ends of said channels are spaced apart by a centerline spacing different from the centerline spacing of the open ends in said edge. The plate is reciprocably moveable between a first position wherein the open ends are in surrounding engagement with the wires adjacent the edge and a second wire-receiving position wherein said wires are disposed at the closed ends. The guide includes actuation means for moving the plate member between said first and second positions. Actuation of the wire guide causes movement of the wires within their respective channels to alter the centerline spacing thereof. The wire guide is useful for making smooth continuous transitions between production runs of different pitch wire harnesses.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printed circuit board assembly including an integral metal stamping having a plurality of conductive circuit paths received in complementarily-shaped recesses of a dielectric substrate. The integral metallic stamping includes an improved snap action switch having an improved actuator mechanism, an improved rotary switch of the type making on/off contact during rotation thereof, and an upstanding plug-like connector member receivable in a mating female connector. Each of the switches mentioned above as well as the plug-like connector can be formed separately in different printed circuit board assemblies.

Abstract: An improved fiber optic connector assembly which includes an optoelectronic device, a housing to receive the optoelectronic device, said housing having an opening to receive therethrough a plug which mounts an optic fiber. The plug is electrically insertable into the housing through the opening in alignment with the optoelectronic device. A resilient door is provided the housing which normally covers and is biased against the opening when the plug is not inserted in the housing. The door is movable away from the opening in response to the insertion of the plug therethrough.

Abstract: An environmentally sealed connector assembly includes interfitting manually telescoping separable plug and receptacle connectors. Each connector includes an outer metallic shell, with the plug connector telescopically interfitting the receptacle shell. A manually compressible resilient split ring is captively mounted on the receptacle shell, and has inwardly extending tab portions communicating with the plug shell when the two shells are intermated. The plug shell includes a tab-receiving channel which locks with the split ring upon telescopic mating of the two connector parts.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes opposed matable halves. Each half of the connector includes a rigid outer shell and a one-piece molded elastomeric insert frictionally retained in the respective outer shell. The inserts frictionally retain appropriate electrical terminals. Keys on the inserts cooperate with keyways on the outer shell to ensure proper alignment and polarization. One of the outer shells is mechanically crimped to the cable to provide strain relief and an environmentally sealed connection. One of the inserts is provided with an outwardly extending sealing flange which is tightly urged into contact between the opposed outer shells for environmental sealing. The forward end of one insert defines a peripheral lip which is urged into tight engagement with the mating face of the opposed insert to further contribute to environmental sealing. A right angle adapter molded from an elastomeric material can provide a strain relief transition of the cable through a right angle bend.

Abstract: A harness making machine includes a transfer system receiving electrical connectors in abutting relation and separates the connectors while moving them from a feed track to a delivery track. The separation provides uniform spacing between terminals for termination of more than one connector in a cycle of machine operation. The feed and delivery tracks are unobstructed, and a pawl carried by a transfer carriage separates the connectors in response to movement of the carriage from the feed track to the delivery track. A shuttle moves the spaced connectors into a nest and the nest is moved to a termination station.

Abstract: A hingeable connector assembly includes at least one female terminal mounted in a terminal mounting space formed in a female connector housing and at least one male terminal member mounted in a male connector housing. The female terminal and said male terminal are rotatable relative to each other while electrically mated.

Abstract: A new and improved heat-dissipating socket connector for connecting individual leads of a leaded module to individual circuits on a printed circuit board comprises a unitary molded dielectric frame including a module-receiving recess. The frame is cantedly mounted on the circuit board with the recess disposed at an angle with respect to the printed board surface. Compliant terminals are mounted in generally open terminal receiving cavities within the frame which are adapted to engage side portions of leads on an inserted module with high contact pressure in an anti-overstress manner. Openings within the frame together with an exposed terminal mounting arrangement, provide ventilation and airflow exposure for portions of the connector and module susceptible to the generation of high temperatures in use. The overall arrangement provides enhanced electrical reliability by reducing the possibilty of heat induced failures.

Abstract: A preloaded spring contact electrical terminal with a support portion mounted in a fixed position in a housing, an abutment portion and a spring flex portion deformed to preload the abutment portion against a housing cavity wall. A contact portion is axially aligned with and axially spaced from the abutment portion to provide a narrow configuration in which preload force, contact force and insertion force can be optimized while contact wear is reduced.

Abstract: A low insertion force mating electrical contact structure is provided in a male terminal including a final contact portion and a forwardly extending lead-in portion having a gradual twisted cross section relative to the final contact portion. In a preferred embodiment, the male terminal is adapted to mate with a dual contact cantilever spring arm female terminal. Opposed smooth-milled surfaces on the male terminal extending through the lead-in portion to the final contact portion engage the female contact portions and gradually cam the female contacts outwardly to provide reduced insertion forces on the male pin during insertion.

Abstract: An insulation displacement type connector for terminating a plurality of insulated conductors. The connector has a housing defined by a generally cylindrical open ended configuration. Insulation displacement type terminals are mounted on the housing around the periphery thereof. The terminals are radially directed such that they are moveable into the interior of the housing. A conductor carrier is telescopically received in the interior of the housing. The carrier has a conductor-receiving surface which aligns the conductors adjacent the terminals when received in the housing. Also disclosed is a method of assembling the connector.

Abstract: A receptacle assembly for making electrical connections to a circuit board mounted in a chassis facilitates assembly of the components and avoids damage to the circuit board connections due to vibrations and shock. The assembly includes a receptacle connector having a housing adapted to be supported on a panel of the chassis and a plurality of terminals supported within the housing. A mounting bracket has a base portion and a grounding bracket clamps the base against the circuit board. Apertures in the base are aligned with a pattern of holes in the circuit board. A flange on the grounding bracket is attached to the panel and a standoff on the grounding bracket positions the mounting bracket and the circuit board in the chassis. A length of multiple conductor flexible cable has conductors with first ends connected to the terminals of the receptacle connector and second ends extending through the apertures for connection to the circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly including a female receptacle for receiving a mating contact member. The mating contact member is an axially elongated member formed of an electrically conductive material. The female receptacle is formed of an electrically conductive material and has an elongated, tubular body adapted to receive the mating contact member. One of the mating contact member or the tubular body of the female receptacle has a predefined, longitudinally extending rotational skew. The mating contact member has at least one resilient, elongated beam that is progressively deflected along said predefined rotational skew when inserted within the female receptacle.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and assembly for testing the electrical integrity of a multi-circuit cable harness. An intermediate harness product is prepared including a short test tab comprising a portion of insulated multiconductor cable extending from a terminated multi-circuit connector. The test tab is stripped to expose at least a portion of the tab conductors. Adjacent exposed portions of the tab are contacted with a test probe capable of electrically testing the adjacent circuits of the harness. If a positive test result is obtained, the test tab is trimmed to provide the finished cable harness product. If a negative test result is obtained, the test tab is left on the intermediate harness product to provide a ready visual indication of a defective cable harness product.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical cable harness making apparatus including a shuttle table system for moving a connector between loading and termination stations. The shuttle table system includes a plurality of coplanar tables moveable in a common closed rectilinear path.Also disclosed is an arrangement for removing integrally molded tabs which join a plurality of housings together at spaced predetermined distances from each other. The arrangement includes a plurality of punches aligned with the connecting tabs and mounted for selective movement between operative and inoperative positions. A cover overlying the punches maintains groups of punches in their respective operative and inoperative positions.Also disclosed for use with the above apparatus is an arrangement of wire guides which pay out predetermined lengths of cable from a supply source and, after cutting the cable free of the source, provide transport thereof to a termination station.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printed circuit board assembly including an integral metal stamping having a plurality of conductive circuit paths received in complementarily-shaped recesses of a dielectric substrate. The integral metallic stamping includes an improved snap action switch having an improved actuator mechanism, an improved rotary switch of the type making on/off contact during rotation thereof, and an upstanding plug-like connector member receivable in a mating female connector. Each of the switches mentioned above as well as the plug-like connector can be formed separately in different printed circuit board assemblies.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for terminating single conductors to an electrical connector having two rows of terminals, one on top of the other. The rows are staggered so that the terminals of one row are located between the terminals of the other row. An improved terminator is used to terminate wires to both upper and lower connector rows with an actuator of constant predetermined downward deflection.The apparatus also includes an improved index means for advancing a succession of terminals to a termination station.

Abstract: A method of packaging solid members having rigid projections, e.g., electrical connectors, on a flexible foam substrate assembly. The method generally includes disposing a portion of the substrate at a workstation and causing the solid member to move toward the substrate so that the projections penetrate the substrate to removably mount said solid member therein. This procedure is repeated as different portions of the substrate are presented to the workstation until a desired number of solid members have been mounted on the substrate. The substrate can then be reeled or arranged in such a manner to be mounted within a suitable container for future removal of the solid members from the substrate.