Abstract: An insulation displacement mass termination connector includes a base and a cover with the base having a plurality of insulation displacement terminal elements extending toward the cover. The base and cover are joined by interconnection means for holding the connector in an insertion position for receiving the conductors. The base and cover are movable from the insertion position to a connector termination position in which the elements engage the conductors.

Abstract: A stackable cable spacer for spacing adjacent cables a predetermined variable distance apart is secured between the cables by a cable tie reeved around the cables. The spacer includes a body member having a cable tie receiving means for accepting and locating the cable tie; a first mating portion secured to the body member; and a second mating portion secured to the body member, the second mating portion being adapted to matingly receive the first mating portion of a second spacer allowing said spacer to be used individually or with other spacers in a mating contiguous relationship to provide selectable spacing of adjacent cables.

Abstract: Termination tooling for use with a bench press for terminating a flat cable in an elongate connector. The tooling includes a termination die and positioning structure for holding a connector in place for termination by the die. Stop structure is disposed spaced from the termination die for engaging one end of the cable with the axial direction of the cable being generally normal to the longitudinal direction of the connector so as to locate the cable end with respect to the connector. Finally, the tooling includes slide structure for supporting the cable. The slide structure is movable transversely of the axial direction of the cable between a loading position, wherein the cable engages the stop structure, and a termination position, in which the cable is positioned for termination in the connector by the die, whereby the cable is positioned with respect to the connector without the stop structure engaging the cable during termination.

Abstract: An elongate header for mounting a connector. The header includes a series of insulative L-shaped segments each including a base having an aperture for receiving a header post and further including a resilient, deflectable wall extending from the base. Adjacent segments are joined by interconnection means sufficiently thin that a group of segments can be broken away by hand from the remainder of the segments. The header also includes a post disposed in each aperture, the locking means for cooperating with a component of the connector to lock the connector, once mounted to the header. Finally, the header includes polarizing means for preventing reverse mounting of the connector on the header. Headers of a predetermined number of segments can be removed from an indeterminate length of such segments to preclude the need for a user to carry an inventory of headers of different lengths.

Abstract: A portable tool for simultaneously terminating a plurality of conductors in a mass termination, insulation displacement connector. The connector is positioned in a connector holder mounted on a wiring board. The tool includes structure for detachably mounting the tool on the connector holder. The tool also includes an insertion assembly which reciprocates relative to the holder for moving the conductors to terminate them in the connector. The mounting structure includes locking structure for locking the tool to the holder only prior to termination of the conductors. Thus the operator is prevented from inadvertently removing the tool from the holder prior to conductor termination.

Abstract: A tool assembly for use with a prime mover, such as a bench press, for terminating a plurality of insulated conductors in a mass terminator connector. The tool assembly includes a pair of supports, at least one of which is adapted for attachment to the prime mover, for reciprocal movement relative to one another. The assembly also includes a conductor insertion die set carried by one of the supports for inserting the conductors into the connector. This die set includes an insertion die corresponding to each terminal element of the connector. Finally, the assembly includes connector holding means carried by the other support for holding the connector in alignment with the die set. The holding means has connector release means for retaining the connector in the holding means and is engageable by the connector and movable by the connector from a retention position to a release position and biased to the retention position.

Abstract: An elastic cover applicator includes a folded elastic sleeve having an inner sleeve portion and a coaxially disposed outer sleeve portion overlaying the inner sleeve portion, the sleeve portions being continuously joined at an annular edge. A sleeve support holds the radially expanded sleeve in a radially stretched condition. A lubricating substance is applied between the inner and outer sleeve portions to separate and lubricate. After the applicator is coaxially disposed relative to the elongate object, a longitudinally directed force applied to the outer sleeve portion results in relative longitudinal movement between the outer sleeve portion and inner sleeve portion, removing the elastic cover from the support and applying it to the elongate object.

Abstract: An automatic cable tie installation tool for applying discrete cable ties around bundles of wires or the like where the cable ties are provided to the tool on a continuous ribbon. The automatic tool including a dispenser mechanism that accepts the ribbon of cable ties and provides discrete cable ties therefrom; a tool mechanism that positions the discrete cable tie around the bundle of wire, tensions the tie to a preselected value and severs the tail of the cable tie; and a conveyance mechanism that delivers the cable tie provided by the dispenser mechanism to the tool mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying wire joints, of the type having a crimpable metallic ferrule, to the ends of wires. The apparatus includes a feeder for holding a supply of the joints, a tool for applying the joints to be crimped, and a conveyor interconnecting the feeder and the tool for conveying the joints in series. The tool has a crimping station and first and second crimping members which are movable between an open position and a crimping position for applying a joint held at the crimping station. The tool also includes a wire joint advance mechanism responsive to the crimping members moving toward their open position to advance the next upstream wire joint to the crimping station thereby ejecting the wire joint applied to the wires.As a method, the present invention includes the steps of moving a wire joint from a loading station to the crimping station as the crimping members move to their open position.

Abstract: Termination tooling adapted for use with a prime mover, such as a bench press, for terminating a flat cable in a connector of the type having an insulative base and cover with the base carrying a plurality of insulation displacement terminal elements extending toward the cover. The tooling includes a termination die and holding means for positioning the connector with respect to the termination die. The prime mover is connected to cause the die and the holding means to undergo reciprocal movement relative to one another. The tooling also includes stop means disposed adjacent one side of a connector positioned in the holding means for engaging the leading end of a flat cable. Cable movement means is provided for moving the leading end of the cable a predetermined distance away from the stop toward the connector prior to termination of the connector.

Abstract: A tool for applying an elongate connector to a plurality of insulated conductors. The connector includes a base and a cover with the base having a plurality of insulation displacement terminal elements extending toward the cover. The base and cover are joined by interconnection means for holding the connector in an insertion position for receiving the conductors. The base and cover are movable from the insertion position to a connector termination position in which the elements engage the conductors. The tool includes a die for moving the connector to its termination position, holding means for positioning the connector with respect to the die and prime mover means connected to cause the die and a component of the holding means to undergo reciprocal movement relative to one another. The holding means includes stop means positioned to engage the connector when it is in its insertion position.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a wire harness, the invention comprises several steps. The connectors are positioned at desired locations at a first station. Then wires in lengths dictated by the dimensions of the finished harness are run between predetermined terminal element locations at the connectors. The various wires are fixed in the respective holding means associated with the predetermined terminal element locations so that prior to electrical termination of the wires, the partially completed harness can be moved to a station remote from the first station with the wires maintained relative to the entrances of their corresponding wire-receiving slots.

Abstract: Apparatus for insulating a connector, mechanically joined to one end of an electrical conductor, by positioning a radially expandable resilient insulating sleeve, having an inside diameter in its non-expanded condition smaller than the largest cross-sectional dimension of the connector, about the connector. The connector includes one end portion mechanically joined to the conductor and a terminal end portion for connection to another electrical component. The apparatus of the present invention includes expansion means for expanding the sleeve sufficiently to receive the connector and holding means for maintaining the sleeve in its expanded condition and for permitting the connector to be received, terminal end portion first, into the expanded sleeve.

Abstract: A tie for forming a plurality of objects into a bundle and for holding a pair of objects together comprising an elongate metallic strap, a metallic locking head disposed adjacent one end of the strap for receiving the other end of the strap and metallic roller means captively held within the head for lockingly engaging the strap. The head includes a strap entry face, a strap exit face and a strap-receiving aperture extending between the faces. The head further comprises a floor and a roof diverging in the direction of the exit face. The roller means is movable between a threading position in which it is disposed adjacent the exit face and a locking position wherein the roller means is closer the entry face. The tie further includes strap deflection means functioning along with the roller means to effect a bend in the threaded portion of the strap whereby the threaded strap is maintained in engagement with the roller means without regard to the orientation of the head.

Abstract: .[.A one piece cable tie for positioning first and second wires relative to one another comprising spacer means for spacing the first wire a predetermined distance from the second wire, retaining means for releasably retaining the first wire, securing means for securely holding the first and second wires against relative movement and spaced the predetermined distance, and abutment means for tightening the hold of the cable tie about the wires..]. .Iadd.A one piece tie for attaching an elongate object such as an electrical cable to a support wire. The tie includes an elongate flexible strap, a locking head jointed to one end of the strap for receiving the other end of the strap and at least one relatively rigid leg extending from the locking head between the held cable and wire. The leg is offset relative to the strap so that the strap can be deflected toward, threaded into and drawn tight in the locking head without interference from the leg. .Iaddend.