Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having at least one terminal-receiving passage extending in a terminal-insertion direction. A pair of grooves are respectively formed in side walls of the passage and extend in the terminal-insertion direction. A conductive terminal having side walls is inserted into the passage. A pair of smooth outwardly extending projections is formed on the side walls for riding in the grooves in the side walls of the passage. A locking shoulder is spaced from the projections a distance greater than the given distance, whereby the front contact end of the terminal can be inserted into the passage only when the top walls of the terminal and the passage are juxtaposed to align the projections on the terminal with the grooves in the passage.

Abstract: An adapter assembly comprises a cable ferrule that terminates environmental and strength members of a high count fiber optic cable while allowing a plurality of optical fibers to pass therethrough. A flange on the cable ferrule mates with a corresponding groove of a breakout body. A breakout body cover is provided to enclose an open longitudinal channel of the breakout body. Flexible jacketing may be coupled to an end of the breakout body with a traversing plurality of optic fiber encased in the flexible jacketing. In another aspect of the present invention, a modular connector assembly is provided that may be configured in both a pulling configuration (for installation of the cable assembly) and a connector configuration (for termination of the optical fibers). In this manner, relatively inflexible high count fiber optic cables may be transitioned into more flexible configurations for subsequent termination in a relatively inexpensive manner.

Abstract: A electrical connector includes a dielectric housing member for mounting a plurality of terminals. A cover member is engaged with the housing member and combines therewith to define an interior cavity for receiving thereinto a plurality of electrical wires for termination to the terminals. Latches are interengaged between the dielectric housing member and the cover member to hold the members together. The latches include an elongated flexible latch arm projecting from one of the members through the interior cavity into locking engagement with the other member. An open-sided protective silo projects from the one member into the interior cavity alongside the elongated latch arm. The arm is flexible into and out of the open side of the silo. Therefore, the silo protects the elongated flexible latch arm and prevents over-flexing thereof.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a first housing part having first walls, and a second housing part is engageable with the first housing part and has second walls. The first and second walls of the two housing parts combine to define different sides of a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities for mounting a plurality of conductive terminals. The first walls define at least one side of each cavity, and the second walls define at least an opposite side of the cavity.

Abstract: A method of forming a round multi-fiber cable assembly is provided which includes the following steps: providing a round multi-fiber cable, a heat shrinkable tube, a tubing, a boot, a crimp tubing, and a multi-fiber connector; threading the heat shrinkable tube onto the multi-fiber cable; stripping off inner and outer jackets of the multi-fiber cable to pre-determined lengths; ribbonizing the fibers of the multi-fiber cable, if necessary; preparing the tubing as required; threading the fibers and strength members of the multi-fiber cable through the tubing; placing the boot and the crimp tubing on the tubing, assembling the multi-fiber connector to the ribbon; crimping the crimp tubing around the tubing, the strength members and the multi-fiber connector; heat shrinking the heat-shrinkable tubing to the round multi-fiber cable and the tubing; and sliding the boot to attach it to the multi-fiber connector to provide a round multi-fiber cable assembly.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a connector body and a wire shroud secured to the connector body. A mating assist lever is pivotally mounted on the body to be pivotable between an inoperative position and a latched position. A connector position assurance (CPA) member is slidably mounted on the mating assist lever to be slidable between an inoperative position and a locked position. Complementary interengaging locks are provided between the CPA member and the wire shroud to lock the mating assist lever in its latched position when the CPA member is moved to its locked position.

Abstract: An adapter is mountable to a bulkhead, panel, circuit box, circuit board or other substrate, and receives a fiber optic connector. The adapter can be swiveled or rotated relative to the bulkhead, panel, circuit box, circuit board or other substrate, thereby providing for enhanced cable management. The adapter may include a gasket that reduces electromagnetic interference (EMI).

Abstract: A lever type electrical connector assembly includes a first connector having a first housing mounting a plurality of first terminals. A mating assist lever is pivotally movably mounted on the first connector for movement in a pivotal operating stroke between a pre-mated position at one end of the stroke and a fully mated position at an opposite end of the stroke. A second connector includes a second housing mateable with the first housing of the first connector. A coupling is provided between the mating assist lever and the second connector, whereby the connectors are mated and unmated in response to pivotal movement of the lever between its pre-mated and mated positions. Interengaging interference surfaces are provided at spaced locations between the first and second housings of the first and second connectors, respectively. The interference surfaces are engageable when the mating assist lever is at an intermediate point between the opposite ends of its operating stroke.

Abstract: A lightweight flexible breakout device supports a plurality of single optical fibers, a portion of which are ribbonized. The breakout device generally includes a sleeve having a passageway therethrough and an input holder and an output holder positioned within the passageway. The input holder supports the ribbonized portion of the fibers and the output holder supports the plurality of single optical fibers. Each single optical fiber extends through a fiber jacket that is supported by the output holder. A sealant is provided within the housing between the input holder and the output holder and provides support for the fibers within the passageway of the sleeve.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passages. An end cap is coupled to a rear end of the housing and includes a plurality of through passages aligned with the terminal-receiving passages in the housing. A plurality of conductive terminals are insertable into the terminal-receiving passages in the housing from the rear termination end thereof through the through passages in the end cap. Each terminal includes a rear terminating end comprising a crimp section for crimping onto an electrical wire. The cross-sectional configuration of the crimp section relative to the cross-sectional configuration of the respective through passage in the end cap prevents the terminal from rotating as the crimp section passes through the through passage in the end cap.

Abstract: An adapter assembly is provided for mounting in an opening in a panel. The assembly includes a permanent housing and a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket has latch arms for securing the permanent housing within the panel opening and mating arms for receiving an interchangeable housing to be mated with the permanent housing. A dust cap can be provided to protect the permanent housing when no interchangeable housing is mated to the permanent housing. The dust cap can also be used as a removal tool to remove an interchangeable housing from the permanent housing.

Abstract: A connector assembly is provided for removably interconnecting first conductors of a flat flexible circuit to a plurality of second conductors without the use of conductive terminals. The assembly includes a male connector having a relatively rigid male body member with an edge about which the flexible circuit is wrapped, and with the first conductors of the circuit facing away from the body member at the edge thereof. An adapter or other female connecting device includes a first receptacle for receiving the male connector inserted edge-first into the first receptacle. A second receptacle receives the second conductors in position for engaging the first conductors of the flexible circuit at the edge of the male body member.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector assembly includes an outer connector housing defining an optic axis in a through passage. A first key is disposed in the passage at a given position angularly about the axis. An inner optical fiber plug terminates an optical fiber and is disposed in the passage and includes a second key movably positionable about the periphery of the plug to different selected positions of rotational adjustment for the plug. The second key is fixable at any selected position on the plug and is lockable with the first key on the housing to fix the angular position of the plug relative to the housing and, thereby, fix the rotational position of the optical fiber angularly of the optic axis.

Abstract: An electrical connector termination assembly includes a dielectric pin holder. A plurality of elongated terminal pins extend through the pin holder in a pattern of at least two rows of pins with the pins in the respective rows being aligned transversely of the rows. Each of at least some of the terminal pins defining a longitudinal axis and including an arm at a termination end of the pin offset from the longitudinal axis. The arm is bent to define a termination pad extending transversely of the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A lever type electrical connector assembly includes a first connector. A mating assist lever is pivotally movably mounted on the first connector. A slide member is linearly movably mounted on the first connector. A first cam groove and cam follower mechanism is provided between the mating assist lever and the slide member, whereby pivotal movement of the lever relative to the first connector effects linear movement of the slide member relative to the first connector. A second connector is provided with a second cam groove and cam follower mechanism between the slide member and the second connector, whereby the connectors are mated and unmated in response to rotation of the mating assist lever and resulting translation of the slide member. A latch member is provided on the slide member and is latchingly engageable with the first connector and releasable by the second connector, whereby the slide member and the mating assist lever cannot move unless the connectors are at least preliminarily mated.

Abstract: Fiber optic connections are accomplished with passive alignment using a modular approach. An improved waveguide substrate has precisely aligned waveguides secured in place, including at an inlet channel, an outlet channel, or both. The waveguides need not extend beyond the face of the inlet or outlet location, and there is no need to have any unsupported fiber optic fibers connect to the waveguide substrate. When provided, a connector module or modules have fiber optic fibers having supported ends which precisely align with the waveguides of the waveguide substrate. Connecting pins typically are provided to insure alignment between waveguides and fibers is easily attained.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector assembly includes an outer connector housing defining an optic axis in a through passage. A first key is disposed in the passage at a given position angularly about the axis. An inner optical fiber plug terminates an optical fiber and is disposed in the passage and includes a second key movably positionable about the periphery of the plug to different selected positions of rotational adjustment for the plug. The second key is fixable at any selected position on the plug and is lockable with the first key on the housing to fix the angular position of the plug relative to the housing and, thereby, fix the rotational position of the optical fiber angularly of the optic axis.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector module is provided for assembly at a rear face of a fiber optic connector assembly. The module includes a ferrule terminated to at least one optical fiber. A housing is spaced behind the ferrule and includes a rear end exposed at said rear face of the connector assembly. An extender member is removably attached to the housing at the rear end thereof and extends away from the rear face of the connector assembly for facilitating manipulation of the connector module.

Abstract: A system is provided for mounting a connecting device to a substrate. A connector housing is located at one side of the substrate, and a threaded fastening nut is engaged on the housing. A threaded fastener is engaged with the opposite side of the substrate and extends therethrough for tightening the nut toward the substrate in response to rotating the fastener. An assembly tool holds the fastening nut against rotation as the fastener is rotated. The tool includes a first portion for engaging at least a part of the housing to properly position the tool. A second portion of the tool engages the fastening nut to prevent rotation thereof. The second portion of the tool is aligned with the fastening nut automatically in response to engaging the first portion with the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a front mating end, a rear terminating end and at least one terminal-receiving passage extending in a direction defining an insertion axis extending between the ends. The passage has a rear open end communicating with the rear terminating end of the housing. A TPA device is engageable with the housing at the front mating end thereof in a pre-load position. The TPA device includes a through passage communicating with the terminal-receiving passage in the housing. The TPA device is movable rearwardly from the pre-load position to a locking position. A terminal is insertable through the rear terminating end of the housing into the rear open end of the terminal-receiving passage along the insertion axis and into the through passage in the TPA device. The terminal moves conjointly with the TPA device from the pre-load position to the locking position.