Abstract: A system is provided for distributing power between connectors in a connector raceway. At least two spaced-apart connectors each include a housing and a plurality of terminals mounted on the housing. A plurality of conductive wires have first ends respectively attached to the terminals and extend from each connector in the connector raceway toward the other connector. A printed circuit board is mounted in the connector raceway between the connectors and includes circuit traces thereon. Second ends of the conductive wires are electrically secured to the circuit traces. Therefore, one connector is electrically coupled to the other connector through the circuit board in the connector raceway.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a plurality of generally parallel elongated terminal-receiving cavities. An opening is formed in a side wall of the housing intersecting the cavities and communicating therewith. A plurality of elongated terminals are insertable into the cavities. Each terminal includes a latching projection. A terminal retainer is positionable in the opening in a direction transverse to the cavities. The retainer includes a plurality of elongated ribs projecting into the cavities and engaging the elongated terminals. At least certain ends of the elongated ribs include camming surfaces for engaging the latching projections on the terminals and moving the terminals to fully inserted positions in the event that the terminals are in only partially inserted positions.

Abstract: An electrical connector is adapted for mounting in an aperture in a panel. A housing has sidewalls bounding an insertion end of the housing insertable into the aperture. A bridge is secured at opposite ends to one of the sidewalls with an intermediate portion and a panel latch being freely flexible relative to the housing. At least one of the opposite ends of the bridge includes a pair of redundant supporting arms. A yieldable anti-vibration arm projects from another of the sidewalls and is mounted to the housing by a pair of redundant support arms. A polarizing rib projects from the housing, and a panel abutment stop is formed integral with the polarizing rib on a radius.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having an elongated terminal-receiving cavity. A window is provided in an outer wall of the housing communicating with the cavity. A terminal is insertable into the cavity to a final position and has a transverse wall alignable with the window when the terminal is in its final position. A terminal locking member has a bifurcated portion adapted for insertion through the window in the housing for embracing opposite sides of the transverse wall of the terminal.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is provided for releasably connecting a first connector to a printed circuit board. The assembly includes a first connector including an elongated dielectric housing having a generally rigid locating post disposed at each opposite end of the housing and adapted to pass through the circuit board. A second connector is adapted for mounting to the opposite side of the circuit board and includes an elongated dielectric housing having an outwardly opening semi-cylindrical locating channel at each opposite end of the elongated housing of the second connector for receiving the locating posts and establishing a non-conductive interference fit therewith. A pair of boardlocks are disposed generally on opposite lateral sides of each of the locating channels and are adapted for insertion into appropriate boardlock holes in the circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical terminal is adapted for use with an electrical conductor. The terminal has a terminating portion with a generally U-shaped cross-section having a web and a pair of sidewalls extending from two opposite longitudinal edges of the web. The sidewalls are generally trapezoidally shaped with relatively wide bases, joined to the longitudinal edges of the web, and relatively narrow tips. The bases are transversely aligned across the web. The tips are offset across the web so that the tips are spaced longitudinally of the web. Therefore, the tips will bypass each other when crimped toward each other to terminate the electrical conductor, all within the longitudinal confines of the bases of the sidewalls.

Abstract: An improved electric connector which permits insertion of a flexible flat cable in its insertion space without causing oblique insertion or misalignment between the exposed conductors of the cable and the terminals of the connector housing. The central feature of the electric connector resides in the lateral distance between the opposed side walls of the connector housing to be tapered with a dimension smaller than the width of the flexible flat cable.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved electric connector having pin-terminals press-fit in an "L"-shaped housing. The vertical wall of the housing comprises a first longitudinal support beam and a lateral arrangement of first flexible joints, which are separated by first slits and integrally connected to the first longitudinal support beam. The horizontal floor of the housing comprises a second longitudinal support beam, a lateral arrangement of second flexible joints, which are separated by second slits, and are integrally connected to the second longitudinal support beam and a lateral arrangement of terminal holding sleeves, each sleeve having a terminal receiving aperture. The terminal holding sleeves are integrally connected both to the first joints of the vertical wall and the second joints of the horizontal floor, thus lying therebetween.

Abstract: An automatic switched power receptacle includes an outlet receptacle adapted to receive a plug. A relay is connected between the power receptacle and a source of power to selectively power the receptacle. A plug presence sensor in proximity to the receptacle senses presence of a plug in the receptacle. The plug presence sensor comprises a light source and light sensor, the light source and light sensor being disposed on opposite sides of a path of movement of a plug being inserted in the receptacle. An automatic control circuit is connected between the relay and the plug presence sensor for selectively energizing the relay to power the receptacle incident to the sensor sensing presence of a plug.

Abstract: An electrical connector is adapted from mounting to a printed circuit board having a mounting hole. The connector includes a terminal housing having at least one mounting peg insertable through the hole in an axial direction. The mounting peg is bifurcated to define a pair of legs separated by an axial slit. One of the legs is a generally straight leg having a smooth outside surface facing one side of the hole inner wall. The other leg is a hooked leg having a radially outwardly extending hook for latching beneath a surface of the printed circuit board at an opposite side of the hole inner wall. The generally straight leg includes a radially outwardly projecting rib spaced axially at a base of the generally straight leg near the terminal housing. The hooked leg includes a reduced cross-sectional area near a base of the hooked leg near the terminal housing.

Abstract: A circuit assembly is provided for terminating an insulated electrical wire having a central conductive core. A generally rigid dielectric base has circuit-receiving channels formed therein. Stamped and formed conductive circuitry is mounted on the base, with circuit portions located in the channels, and with at least one connecting portion for terminating the insulated electrical wire. The connection portion is a wire trap for receiving and trapping the conductive core of the electrical wire. The base includes a wire guide located adjacent the wire trap to guide the electrical wire for insertion of the conductive core into the wire trap and for providing stress relief for the electrical wire.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes an elongated housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities extending transversely of the housing. The cavities are arranged in at least two rows lengthwise of the housing, and two rows of terminal-protective silos project forwardly of a front mating face of the housing in alignment with the cavities. Two generally parallel channels run longitudinally of the housing and intersect the two rows of cavities. A longitudinal solid wall portion of the front mating face of the housing extends lengthwise between the two rows of forwardly projecting silos. A plurality of slits are formed in the front mating face between adjacent silos in alignment with transverse walls between the cavities, the slits extending rearwardly to the channels. A plurality of terminals are adapted to be inserted into the cavities to fully inserted positions in the forwardly projecting silos.

Abstract: A dimmer circuit uses a triac for controlling application of power to a hot terminal where a load will be connected. A DC power supply develops DC power for powering a control circuit which includes a zero crossing detector circuit connected to an integrated circuit chip which develops a timer pulse at the appropriate time to dim the light. The timer pulse is output to a pulse stretching circuit which actually drives the triac. The pulse stretching circuit stretches the pulse to a maximum of one-half of a cycle. This ensures that the triac will be turned on even if the inductive current delays the establishment of adequate latching current. This creates a more symmetrical waveform and results in a reduced DC offset.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for mounting a light-emitting device on a traffic cone, including a head portion for housing the light-emitting device, a power source-receiving portion in connectable or connected electrical contact with the head portion, and a traffic cone-receiving portion. The head portion and the power source-receiving portion are disposed laterally with respect to the traffic cone-receiving portion such that when the apparatus is mounted on a cone and a power source is received in the power source-receiving portion, the head portion and the power source-receiving portion lie laterally alongside the section of the cone received in the cone-receiving portion, and the center of gravity of the apparatus is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the cone.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved electric connector which permits the reduced friction insertion of conductors of a flat flexible cable in a connector housing by a single push, assuring little or no damage to the conductors. The connector includes a housing 1 having terminals 3 arranged laterally and an associated actuator 10 slidably inserted in the connector housing 1. The actuator 10 has a flat stem surface 12 upon which a flat, flexible multiple-conductor cable 16 may lie upon, and a front wall 20 integrally connected to the forward end of the stem 11. The flexible contact arm 6 has an extended section 25 and a non-extended section 26 acting as a cam surface. The top 23 of the front wall of the actuator 10 acts as a cam forward as the actuator is inserted in the housing 1.

Abstract: A panel mounted electrical connector is adapted for mounting in an aperture in a panel. The connector includes a dielectric housing insertable along an axis through the aperture from a first surface to at least a second surface of the panel and including at least one side wall. A flexible latch arm projects from the side wall and includes a locking portion adapted to engage the second surface of the panel at the periphery of the aperture when the housing is inserted completely therethrough. A stop bar projects transversely outwardly of the side wall and includes a stop shoulder adapted to engage the first surface of the panel at the periphery of the aperture when the housing is inserted therethrough. A yieldable anti-vibration arm projects inwardly of the stop bar and is axially aligned with the flexible latch arm.

Abstract: An electrical connector is adapted for surface mounting on a substrate such as a printed circuit board having a mounting hole of a given diameter. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a board-mounting face. An elongated mounting post projects from the board-mounting face for insertion into the mounting hole in the substrate. The elongated mounting post includes a plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced, generally rigid ribs defining a circle having a diameter approximately equal to or less than the given diameter of the mounting hole. A plurality of flexible, longitudinally extending ribs are located alternatingly between the generally rigid ribs and define a circle having a diameter at least slightly greater than the given diameter of the mounting hole.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus is disclosed for mounting an electrical power distribution device to a wall support member inside a wall panel to protect an electrical cable running into the apparatus. The mounting apparatus includes a bracket portion for mounting the power distribution device, the bracket portion being securable to the wall support member to project therefrom. A shield portion of the apparatus extends beyond the bracket portion in the running direction of the cable to protect the cable beyond the power distribution device outside the bounds of the bracket portion.

Abstract: A connector assembly is provided for use in conjunction with a switch that includes a switch actuator, such that the switch is automatically actuated in response to the partial mating of the connector assembly. A first connector includes a dielectric housing having terminals mounted therein. The first connector housing has the switch mounted thereon. A second connector includes a dielectric housing having terminals mounted therein adapted for interengagement with the terminals of the first connector. The second connector housing includes an actuating plug for engaging and actuating the switch actuator automatically when the connectors are partially mated.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for mounting in an opening m a panel or the like and includes a housing having a body portion positionable in the opening in the panel. A separate mounting device, independent of the connector housing, is positionable in a receptacle in the housing. The mounting device includes a panel projecting from the body portion of the housing for abutting one side of the panel at the opening. The mounting device further includes a flexible locking arm projecting from the body portion of the housing for passing through the opening when the body portion of the housing is positioned thereinto and for engaging an opposite side of the panel at the opening.