Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for terminating multi-conductor cable. A plurality of terminals are preloaded partially into a housing leaving their crimped terminating portions extending therefrom in such a position as they can be readily crimped connected to a cable. This allows for the terminals to be gang handled during the loading of the housing and yet be separated for individual termination on the cable. The cable can be crimped simultaneously to all of the terminals and the terminals fully inserted into the housing in subsequent operations. The terminal used with the subject method and apparatus includes an extra tine which serves alignment, stabilization, and cable positioning functions.

Abstract: An improved spring-loaded terminal assembly is disclosed of the type in which an insulating housing has a conductor-receiving aperture extending into a cavity defined by the housing and alignable with a corresponding aperture in a terminal mounted in the cavity. Resilient means, which maintains the apertures normally out of axial alignment, must be overcome to align the apertures to permit insertion of a conductor therein. The resilient means then returns the apertures to an unaligned orientation, thereby pinching the conductor between the apertures. Specifically, the improvement consists of integrating the resilient means into the terminal.

Abstract: An improved terminal is disclosed for securing a cover to a base of a multicontact connector while terminating flat multiconductor cable. Specifically, the improvement consists of a slotted terminal with latching ears directed normally from a plane defined by the slot defining arms of the terminal. As a result, undue flexure of the arms in relation to each other, which would cause a narrowing of the slot during mating of the cover to the base, is eliminated.

Abstract: A power distribution block is disclosed for supplying bussed power to a circuit board. The block uses, in combination, a known connector having therein a plurality of terminals each having one mating end and an oppositely directed conductor engaging portion. A plurality of bus bars, each having at least one tine extending from each of two ends, are each electrically and mechanically joined to at least one connector and to a circuit board. The assembly of connector and bus bars is enclosed in a housing shell serving to both separate rows of bus bars and support the connector on the circuit board.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for effecting a line tap for modular unit, residence, or similar wiring situations. The device allows for a power cable to be tapped without utilizing a junction box, which would necessarily require severing and rejoining of the cable. The device further provides for the tapping cable to be connected to the subject power cable tap by means of known electrical connector.

Abstract: A locking device is disclosed for use with an open ended, rotary cam actuated, zero insertion force edge board connector to block the card receiving slot of the connector thereby preventing any damage to contacts mounted therein by movement of a circuit board laterally with respect to the connector when the contacts are closed and, therefore, improperly positioned for such movement. The locking device also ensures proper operation of the ZIF connector by preventing closure of the terminals onto an improperly positioned circuit board. The two piece construction of the subject locking device makes it easier to manufacture and far less prone to breakage than previously known similar devices.

Abstract: The subject connector lockingly interconnects flat flexible cable with fixed terminals of a printed circuit board or the like. The connector has a receptacle member which is mounted on and secured to the printed circuit by pin portions of receptacle terminals extending from the receptacle member. The mating plug is designed to receive a flat flexible cable therein with the cable being terminated by crimped on pin terminals. The plug both provides a shroud receiving the receptacle therein and encloses and protects the pin terminals. The plug provides locking intermating with the receptacle member and locking retention of the cable so that it cannot be unintentionally removed from the plug.

Abstract: A cartridge holder and interconnect system is disclosed formed primarily of two components, namely, a cartridge and an assembly for receiving and holding the cartridge. The holder assembly includes a housing of rigid insulative material and a connector member adapted to engage a circuit board or the like and to engage the cartridge. The holder assembly also has a replaceable face plate profiled for polarizing and keying reception of an appropriate cartridge in the housing. The face plate is detachably secured to the housing so that by simply replacing the face plate the housing can be adapted to receive different cartridges. The housing is also adapted to be situated spaced above a circuit board so as to accommodate components thereunder thereby preserving the available surface of circuit board.

Abstract: A cartridge holder and interconnect system is disclosed formed primarily of two components, namely, a cartridge and an assembly for receiving and holding the cartridge. The holder assembly includes a housing of rigid insulative material and a connector member adapted to engage a circuit board or the like and to engage the cartridge. The holder assembly also has a replaceable face plate profiled for polarizing and keying reception of an appropriate cartridge in the housing. The face plate is detachably secured to the housing so that by simply replacing the face plate the housing can be adapted to receive different cartridges. The housing is also adapted to be situated spaced above a circuit board so as to accommodate components thereunder thereby preserving the available surface of circuit board.

Abstract: An applicator tool is disclosed for applying multiple terminal electrical connectors to flat cables, formed by a plurality of closely spaced parallel conductors, in a single application step. The tool is a bench mounted applicator which is adjustable to accommodate preformed multi-conductor flat cables of conventional dimensions and which also will allow sequential application of connectors to form a daisy chain cable. The applicator tool includes means to positively clamp the multi-conductor flat cable so as to be properly and accurately aligned with the tooling assembly, which applies the connector to the cable, and to ensure that the cable will stay in place during the application step. The tooling assembly is adaptable to accommodate a wide range of terminal configurations and connector sizes. While the actuation means for the tool has been shown as being manual, it likewise can be powered by any known means, such as a fluid drive.

Abstract: A zero insertion force connector is disclosed for making an interconnection between a mother circuit board and a daughter circuit board. A receptacle assembly is mounted on the mother board and includes a housing with a carrier block movably mounted therein. A plurality of first terminals are fixed in the housing and a plurality of second terminals are fixed in the carrier block making a constant wiping engagement with the first terminals. In a two-piece embodiment a plug assembly is mounted on the daughter board and is receivable in the cavity of the receptacle assembly. A plurality of third terminals are mounted on the plug assembly and make a fixed engagement with the daughter board and are positioned to make a wiping engagement with the second terminals in the carrier block after the plug assembly is received in the receptacle assembly and the carrier block is moved relative thereto.

Abstract: A hand tool is disclosed for sequentially terminating individual wires into terminals by utilizing an insulation displacing technique. More particularly, the subject tool includes an indexing system which can be adjusted to accommodate connectors having terminals on different centerline spacings and still accomplish accurate positioning of the conductor with respect to the associated terminal. The subject tool can also accommodate connectors having preloaded terminals on one or both sides of the connector.

Abstract: A two-piece connector is disclosed for making zero insertion force interconnection between a mother board and a daughter board. The connector includes a plug mounted on the daughter board and a receptacle mounted on the mother board. A linear moving cam means acts on terminals carried by the receptacle to drive them normal to the elongated axis of the receptacle. When the receptacle terminals are opened by the cam means, the plug can be inserted into the receptacle either in a normal abutting fashion or end insertion by being moved laterally into the receptacle from one end. The terminals in the receptacle each have a blade which serves as the mating portion. The terminals carried by the plug each have a pair of closely spaced tines forming a pocket therebetween which receives a mating blade therein. The subject connector system is particularly useable for effecting a high density array interconnection between mother/daughter boards.

Abstract: A connector assembly is disclosed for mounting a module on a circuit board or the like without requiring any soldering. The subject assembly includes a header mounted on a circuit board to at least partially enclose an area of contacts integral with the circuit board. A plug assembly is secured to a mating module and adopted to engage in the header. The plug assembly includes an outer housing enclosing an inner housing which is directly attached to the module and movable within the outer housing. At least one series of spring terminals are mounted in the plug assembly with a first portion engaging the outer housing and a second portion bearing against the module carried by the inner housing. Spring bias means are mounted in the outer housing bearing against the opposite side of the inner housing from the terminals.

Abstract: An RF, EMI shielding assembly is disclosed having the capability of capacitively coupling the shielding to system ground so that there will be no ground currents flowing and shocks and arcing will be substantially eliminated. The assembly has a pair of metal shells enclosing a standard connector terminating a shielded cable and a capacitor assembly forming a capacitor with the shells. The capacitor assembly includes springs which make engagement with an equipment closure to effect the capacitive coupling assuring like ground potential throughout the thus connected system.

Abstract: A kit is disclosed for converting a standard connector opening in a panel or the like into a shielded pin receptacle. The kit includes a ground plane spring and a shielded header shroud. The spring is a planar metal member having spring fingers on the outer periphery and a central opening conforming to the panel opening. A plurality of integral inwardly directed tines surround the central opening and extend substantially normal to the spring. The shroud is formed of insulative material with a cavity profiled to receive both the tines and a mating connector. An array of openings in the bottom of the cavity permit insertion of pin terminals from a pin header, pin connector or the like.

Abstract: An electrical terminal is disclosed for use in the insulation displacing termination of conductors having substantially any center spacing. The terminal is provided with two spaced apart and substantially parallel side beam members which define a conductor receiving channel therebetween. Each side beam has at least one insulation piercing extension perpendicularly formed therefrom to extend into the channel toward a corresponding extension formed from the opposite side beam. As the conductor is moved laterally of its axis and into the channel, the edges of the corresponding insulation piercing extensions serve to pierce the insulative covering of the conductor and establish electrical and mechanical contact between the terminal and the conductor. Termination tooling for use in terminating the conductor is also disclosed and includes a pressing bar, and a block having supportive means for reinforcing the terminal side beams during the termination procedure.

Abstract: A connector is disclosed for making a pluggable interconnection between conductive planes of adjacent pairs of stacked circuit boards. The subject connector can be used on any mating edge of a circuit board and does not require the use of either a back plane or a mother board. The subject connector can be especially effective as an add-on to original equipment but also can be used as a spacer and interconnect in new equipment. The subject connector has very cost effective stamped and formed contacts providing great economy for the connector.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for terminating multi-conductor cable. A plurality of terminals are preloaded partially into a housing leaving their crimped terminating portions extending therefrom in such a position as they can be readily crimped connected to a cable. This allows for the terminals to be gang handled during the loading of the housing and yet be separated for individual termination on the cable. The cable can be crimped simultaneously to all of the terminals and the terminals fully inserted into the housing in subsequent operations. The terminal used with the subject method and apparatus includes an extra tine which serves alignment, stabilization, and cable positioning functions.

Abstract: An anode connector is disclosed utilizing insulation piercing techniques to effect interconnection of a terminal with a conductor of a high voltage lead. This connector obviates the previous techniques requiring screws for attachment of the terminals and/or the molding in place of pre-terminated conductors resulting in a connector which is impossible to repair. The subject connector includes a molded insulative housing suitably profiled to engage both an anode and a high voltage lead. A terminal according to the present invention is mounted in the housing and receives the high voltage lead therein with the terminal effecting an insulation piercing, conductor engaging termination of the high voltage lead.