Abstract: A cable tap assembly includes a housing having a mating face (28) and an opposite terminating face (26). A plurality of terminals (32, 40) are mounted in the housing. Each terminal includes a mating portion engageable through the mating face of the housing with a complementary mating terminal, and a terminating portion generally at the terminating face of the housing. A wiring assembly, such as a printed circuit board (16), is mounted on the terminating face of the housing and includes a plurality of connectors (18-20) electrically couples thereto. The connectors are adapted to receive conductors of at least one multi-conductor electrical cable (88). A strain relief cover (22) and cap (24) assembly is mountable at the terminating face of the housing, over the wiring apparatus, and is adapted to hold and provide strain relief for the cable.

Abstract: A package is disclosed for storing and dispensing electrical connectors or components thereof. The package employs a plurality of elongated component-containing tubes in a generally parallel laterally stacked array, with opposite ends of the tubes being in generally linear alignments at opposite ends of the stacked array. An elongated, U-shaped end cap slidingly engages the opposite outer walls of the tubes along the opposite ends of the stacked array thereof. A dispensing system is disclosed wherein a pair of upright supports of a dispensing apparatus are disposed in a spaced arrangement for receiving therebetween the stacked array of tubes held together by the end caps. Complementary recessed portions located within said upright supports hold the end caps so that when the stacked array is moved beyond the recessed portions, the end caps remain in the recessed portions.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved shield enclosure comprising a open box-like body having flexible locking arms and flexible grounding arms both integrally connected to the lower edge of the open box-like body. The shield enclosure can be fixed to a printed circuit board, and be grounded simply by inserting its flexible locking arms in the fastening apertures of the printed circuit board, and be grounded by the flexible grounding arms being forced into contact with a ground strip on the printed circuit board, thus requiring no soldering and accordingly improving the efficiency with which shield enclosures can be attached to printed circuit boards.

Abstract: An electrical connector is adapted for mounting to a mounting surface of an electrical apparatus through the engagement of a vacuum-suction nozzle of a pick and place machine. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a first interface adapted to be positioned adjacent the mounting surface of the electrical apparatus, a second interface opposite the first interface and opposite side walls extending between the interfaces. A plurality of conductive terminals are mounted on the housing for interconnection to circuitry on the electrical apparatus. A removable cover is positionable on the housing over at least a portion of the second interface. The cover has a generally planar, smooth surface for engagement by the vacuum-suction nozzle. Slidable retention shoulders are provided between the cover and the side walls of the housing and are adapted to retain the cover on the housing with substantial force in a direction generally normal to the smooth surface of the cover.

Abstract: A power switching circuit selectively connects an electrical load having first and second input connections to any one of a plurality of branch power circuits. Each branch circuit includes a first and second conductor defining a relative voltage therebetween. The power switching circuit includes a selector switch for selecting which of the branch circuits is to be connected to the load. A triac is electrically connected to the first conductor of each branch circuit and to the first input connection of the load for selectively electrically connecting one of the first conductors to the first input connection. A triac is electrically connected to the second conductor of each branch circuit and to the second input connection of the load for selectively electrically connecting one of the second conductors to the second input connection.

Abstract: A low profile hermaphroditic electrical connector is provided for mounting on the surface of a first printed circuit board and is adapted to mate with an identical second connector mounted on the surface of a second printed circuit board to electrically and mechanically couple the boards together. Each connector includes a housing mounting a plurality of stamped female and male terminals. Each terminal includes a surface mounting portion for electrically engaging the respective printed circuit board, a mating portion adapted to mate with the mating portion of the terminal of the opposite gender of the other hermaphroditic connector, and a portion for holding the terminal in the housing. The mating portion of the female terminal includes two opposed, spaced apart contact arms. The arms and the terminal holding portion both project from the mounting portion. The mating portion of the male terminal includes a contact post adapted to be received between the contact arms of the female terminal.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having an elongated terminal-receiving cavity for insertion thereinto of a terminal in a given insertion direction. The cavity includes a constricted opening leading to a locking shoulder facing in the insertion direction. An elongated terminal is adapted to be inserted into the cavity and has a body portion with a cantilevered locking arm formed out of a side wall of the body portion. The locking arm has a fixed end joined to the side wall and a free end projecting outwardly from the side wall oblique to and opposite the insertion direction. The free end is adapted to engage the locking shoulder. The housing and terminal are constructed such that, upon insertion of the terminal into the cavity, the locking arm is biased laterally inwardly and then resiliently returned to a locking position with the free end thereof engaged with the locking shoulder. The locking arm has a first portion bent inwardly from the fixed end oblique to and opposite the insertion direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved electric connector having terminals for contacting two circuit elements (34 and 35). Each terminal includes a flat intermediate base mounting section (2) having projections (7) on its opposite sides, a first cantilever contact beam (3) integrally connected to one end of the intermediate base section (2) extending toward the other end of the intermediate base section (2), and a second cantilever contact beam (4) integrally connected to the other end of the intermediate base section (2) extending toward the one end of the intermediate base section (2). The first contact beam (3) has a contact point (8) resiliently pushed against the upper guide wall (23). This will insure that the conductor (35) is sandwiched between the upper guide wall (23) and the contact point (8) making a good electrical connection. Likewise, the second contact beam (4) has a contact point (10) resiliently pushed against the upper wall (24).

Abstract: An electrical connector arrangement for connecting the exposed conductors of a mating end of a printed circuit member in which an interior mating area for the printed circuit member is defined between left and right side walls of a housing. The top wall has an opening communicating with the interior mating area. Latch members are mounted in the left and right side walls, respectively. The latch members are outwardly displaced to accommodate the downward movement of the mating end of the printed circuit member. The mating end of the printed circuit member is held in position, after the completion of the downward movement, by the force exerted on one surface of the circuit member from terminal conductor engaging ends contacting the exposed conductors and by the opposite force exerted on the opposite surface of the circuit member by resilient top ends of the latch members, thereby assuring the electrical connection.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a terminal-receiving passage for insertion thereinto of a terminal. The terminal includes a cantilevered spring contact arm projecting into the passage for engagement by an appropriate conductor inserted into the passage. The terminal further includes an engagement arm projecting into the passage behind the cantilevered spring contact arm at a location to perform the dual function of providing an anti-overstress engagement surface for the spring contact arm and providing an engagement shoulder for an insertion tool which forces the terminal into the terminal-receiving passage of the housing. The passage is open-ended to allow the conductor to be inserted completely through the housing past the contact arm of the terminal and into the clearance hole of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A generally elongate female electrical terminal includes an improved torsional mating portion having a terminal-receiving passageway adapted to receive a male terminal. The mating portion includes two longitudinally spaced generally U-shaped cross sectional portions defining the front and rear of the passageway. Each U-shaped cross sectional portion is defined by a pair of legs joined by a bight portion. Two spaced apart side walls extend lengthwise of the passageway and connect the legs of the cross sectional portions. Each side wall has two longitudinally spaced, inwardly projecting dimples for engaging the male terminal received in the passageway. A bottom wall extends generally perpendicular from one of the side walls toward the other side wall. A free end of the bottom wall forms a transverse opening with the other side wall intermediate the U-shaped cross sectional portions. The front and rear of the bottom wall are spaced from the cross sectional portions.

Abstract: A shielded hybrid ribbon cable assembly is provided for conducting electrical power and data signals. The assembly includes a plurality of spaced, parallel, power conductors and a plurality of data signal conductors. An insulating material holds together and electrically insulates the plurality of conductors. An electrically conductive shield is disposed about at least the data signal conductors for shielding electromagnetic capacitive interference. An inductive shielding means is interposed between the power conductors and the data signal conductors for shielding the signals of the data signal conductors from inductive magnetic interference generated by the power conductors.

Abstract: An electrical connector system is provided for a video display tube yoke. The system includes a header mounted on the yoke and including a header body and a plurality of stiff terminal pins projecting from the body and terminated to appropriate leads from the yoke. A connector mates with the header and includes a dielectric housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities and a plurality of pin-receiving passages communicating with the cavities. A plurality of terminals are received in the cavities. Each terminal includes a terminal portion adapted to be terminated to a wire conductor, and a trap portion aligned with one of the terminal-receiving passages. The trap portion is adapted to receive and trap one of the stiff terminal pins of the header. Latches are provided between the header and the connector to hold the connector in mated condition with the header.

Abstract: A plug presence sensor comprises an LED and a light sensor in the form of a photo-transistor which senses presence of a plug in a receptacle. The sensor is monitored by a microcontroller to control latching of a relay. The microcontroller de-energizes the relay, so that no power is present at the receptacle, when no plug is inserted. When the plug is inserted, then the microcontroller causes the relay to be energized to provide power to the receptacle. The microcontroller is preprogrammed to communicate with a remote master controller. In the event that a loss of communication occurs between the microcontroller and the master controller, the microcontroller automatically de-energizes the relay so that no power is present at the receptacle. A communication error output signal is connected to an override circuit including a capacitor which differentiates an edge of the communication error signal to inject a pulse onto the plug presence sensor signal which simulates removal and reinsertion of the plug.

Abstract: A tool is provided for crimping a sheet metal terminal onto an exposed conductor of an electrical wire. The terminal defines a longitudinal axis and includes a mating end, a terminating end and a transition section therebetween. The terminating end includes a pair of transversely spaced crimp walls, and the transition section includes a pair of transversely spaced transition walls coplanar with and joining the crimp walls to the mating end of the terminal. The tool includes a pair of opposed crimp jaws defined by an anvil for locating the terminal and a crimp die for crimping the crimp walls into generally semi-cylindrical configurations into engagement with the conductor of the electrical wire. The crimp die includes a portion for crimping the transition walls into generally semi-frusto-conical configurations toward the conductor.

Abstract: An applicator tool is provided for applying an electrical connector having a plurality of insulation piercing terminals onto a multi-conductor flat cable. The tool includes a frame having a press ram drivable through a working stroke toward and away from an anvil for supporting the connector. A fixed connector-positioning peg projects from the anvil and is adapted for abuttingly engaging one side of the connector. A spring-loaded yieldable peg projects from the anvil and is adapted for yielding to a retracted condition to facilitate positioning the connector between the pegs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a small-sized electric motor equipped with an improved electric connector, which prevents high forces being exerted on exposed conductors of an insulated wire in the course of insertion or withdrawal of the exposed conductors from the connector housing, thereby preventing the rubbing between the exposed conductors and the terminal contacts of the electric connector.The electric connector includes an actuator. The actuator, when fully inserted in said connector housing, is adapted to push the exposed conductors against the contacts of the contact beams of the terminals, thereby causing the contact beams of the terminals to be forced into the exposed conductors.

Abstract: An electrical switch assembly is disclosed to include a housing mounting a pair of spaced switches. A rocker actuator is rockably mounted for movement relative to the housing about a rotational axis between the spaced switches, and with wing portions of the actuator on opposite sides of the rotational axis provided for alternatingly actuating the pair of switches. The rocker actuator is a one-piece component and includes a relatively stiff rocker arm rockable about the rotational axis, a connecting flange projecting outwardly from the periphery of the rocker arm, and an integral flexible intermediate wall joining the rocker arm and the connecting flange. The flexible intermediate wall supports the rocker arm in a neutral position. However, the rocker arm flexes the intermediate wall when the rocker arm is rotated about the axis in either opposite direction from the neutral position to alternate actuating positions.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for maintaining an electrical connector assembly mounted on a printed circuit board during soldering of the assembly to the board. A housing has a plurality of terminals mounted therein. The terminals include solder tails projecting from the housing for insertion into respective holes in the printed circuit board. Each terminal is stamped in planar form of sheet metal material. The solder tails are arranged in a row of pairs thereof, with the solder tails in each row being in a plane transverse to the row. All of the solder tails are of similar shape with each solder tail including a straight intermediate section projecting from the housing, a straight tip section for insertion into a respective hole in the printed circuit board, and an offset curved section between the intermediate and tip sections. The curved section of one solder tail extends in a direction transverse to the row opposite to the curved section of the other solder tail in each pair thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved electric connector which is designed to be integrally connected to an electric machine or apparatus, assuring the good electric connection to the input terminals of an electric machine or apparatus. Each terminal of the electric connector has a slit in its tail, the main slit-defining edges being used to make an electric connection with each input terminal of the electric machine or apparatus.