Abstract: An electrical connector is adapted for mounting to a surface of a printed circuit board having a mounting hole leading to a remote surface of the board. The connector includes a dielectric housing having terminals mounted therein and including a board-mounting face. At least one mounting peg projects from the board-mounting face for insertion into the mounting hole in the printed circuit board. The mounting peg is bifurcated to define a pair of legs separated by an axial slit. The legs have arcuate board-mounting surfaces on the outside thereof. The arcuate surface of at least one of the legs is flattened to define a pair of circumferentially spaced end portions.

Abstract: A system is provided for mounting an electrical connector on a rear side of a panel having a hole through which the connector can mate with a complementary mating connecting device. The system includes a bracket having a body positionable against the rear side of the panel. The body has an aperture alignable with the hole in the panel. A plurality of flanges are arranged in a U-shape and project rearwardly of the body about the aperture for receiving the connector in an insertion direction generally parallel to the rear side of the panel. An electrical connector has a mating end positionable onto the flanges in the insertion direction and includes a mating portion alignable with the aperture in the bracket. Complementary interengaging latches are provided between the mating end of the connector and the flanges for holding the connector on the bracket.

Abstract: A shielded electrical connector assembly includes a dielectric housing having at least one terminal-receiving passage. An opening is provided in an outside wall of the housing communicating with the passage. A terminal is inserted into the passage, with an engaging portion of the terminal aligned with the opening. A conductive shell is disposed about at least a portion of the housing. The shell includes a finger portion extending through the opening in the housing into engagement with the engaging portion of the terminal.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a terminal-receiving cavity extending in an insertion direction. The housing includes a window in an outer wall communicating with the cavity. A terminal is insertable into the cavity in the insertion direction to a final position. The terminal includes a stop surface transverse to the insertion direction and alignable with the window when the terminal is in its final position. A terminal locking member has a locking projection adapted to pass through the window into the cavity in engagement with the stop surface on the terminal to lock the terminal in the cavity. The locking projection includes a latching portion engageable with a latch surface on the housing to latch the locking member to the housing. Therefore, the locking projection performs a dual function of locking the terminal in the housing and latching the terminal locking member to the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is provided for electrically connecting a pair of generally coplanar printed circuit boards. The assembly includes a pair of hermaphroditic connectors adapted for mating in either opposite direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the circuit boards. Each connector includes a housing having a plurality of spaced-apart ribs defining respective spaces between immediately adjacent ribs. The ribs of each connector are interleaved with the ribs of the other connector when the two connectors are mated. A plurality of terminals are mounted on each housing and have rounded hermaphroditic contact portions on the same sides of the ribs so that the contact portions on one connector facingly engage the contact portions on the other connector when the connectors are mated in either opposite direction generally perpendicular to the plane of the circuit boards.

Abstract: An electrical connector is adapted for terminating a flat cable. The connector includes an elongated dielectric housing defining an elongated opening for receiving a flat electrical cable. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing and have contact portions spaced along the opening. An actuator is mounted on the housing for movement between a first position allowing free insertion of the flat cable into the opening and a second position wherein a pressure plate of the actuator biases the cable against the contact portions of the terminals. The actuator includes at least one narrow projection at a leading edge of the pressure plate for preliminarily engaging a narrow portion of the flat cable to bias the cable against only some of the contact portions before the actuator is fully moved to its second position.

Abstract: A shielded electrical connector is adapted to be secured within an opening in a panel. The connector includes a dielectric housing having at least one cavity extending interiorly from a front mating face of the housing for receiving a complementary mating plug connector. A shield is stamped and formed from sheet metal material in a configuration to embrace at least a portion of the housing. The shield includes a generally planar wall insertable into the opening in the panel. A cantilevered tab is struck from the wall and has a secured end and a free end such that the free end extends from the secured end in a direction generally transverse to a direction of insertion of the connector into the panel. The cantilevered tab is generally U-shaped with leg portions of the tab extending generally parallel to the front mating face of the dielectric housing.

Abstract: A shielded electrical connector assembly includes a dielectric housing having a module-receiving cavity. A terminal module is inserted into the cavity. A conductive shell is disposed about at least a portion of the housing. The shell includes a locking portion projecting through the housing into a position for engagement with the terminal module to lock the module in the cavity.

Abstract: An electrical connector system for terminating a flat flexible circuit. The circuit is elongated and of a given width and includes conductors extending longitudinally thereof. The circuit has a reinforcing plate defining a shoulder extending in the width direction of the circuit. An insulative housing has a plurality of terminals. An actuator is inserted into the housing for forcing the conductors of the flat flexible circuit into contact with the terminals. The actuator has an engaging portion extending in the width direction of the circuit for engaging the shoulder of the reinforcing plate and forcing the circuit into the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improvement in an electric connector for a flat, flexible cable having conductors on one side comprising: an insulating housing having a cavity to receive the connecting end of a flat, flexible cable and a plurality of terminal pairs parallel arranged at regular intervals and fixed in the cavity; and an actuator slidably nested in the insulating housing. The actuator has a blade to press the connecting end of the flat, flexible cable against the contacts of the terminals of each pair when the blade of the actuator is inserted in the cavity of the insulating housing. The contacts of the terminals of each pair face one side of the blade, and are aligned and spaced from each other in the direction in which the flat, flexible cable is inserted in the cavity of the insulating housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing adapted for mounting on a complementary support structure in a given mounting direction. The housing has opposite side walls. A latch arm is cantilevered from each side wall of the housing and extends forwardly in the mounting direction. Each latch arm has a latch hook near a free end of the arm. The latch hook projects transversely of the mounting direction inwardly toward the respective side wall of the housing. The side walls include inwardly recessed areas into which the latch hooks extend.

Abstract: A trickle power supply for a light switch module according to the invention enables power to an electronic circuit to be taken directly off the hot line. The power supply operates under what is referred to as the "switched leg theory". All power is taken off the standard switched leg of the light circuit. The power supply bleeds enough current to power its electronic circuitry without turning on the load device, i.e., the light. At the same time, the maximum current to the load is limited to prevent shorting out of the power supply which would effectively disable the switch module.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a shroud having side walls forming a receptacle defining a mating axis. A polarizing groove is disposed in one of the side walls extending generally parallel to the mating axis. A latch is disposed in the polarizing groove. A modular connector is insertable into the receptacle along the mating axis and includes a latch projection adapted for moving into the polarizing groove and latchingly engaging the latch of the shroud in the polarizing groove. Therefore, the latch projection on the modular connector cooperates with the polarizing groove and latch on the shroud to perform the dual function of providing a polarizing means and a latch means.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for terminating a flat cable. The connector includes a housing mounting a plurality of terminals in a generally parallel array. The housing has opposite sides and a front end, with an opening between the sides for receiving an end of the flat cable in engagement with contact portions of the terminals. A pressure member is rotatably mounted on the housing for movement between a first position allowing insertion of the flat cable into the opening and a second position pressing conductors of the flat cable against the contact portions of the terminals. Overhanging extensions project inwardly from the opposite sides of the housing to prevent release of the flat cable from the connector in the event undesired external forces are applied to the cable which would tend to bias the pressure member toward its first position.

Abstract: An electrical connector panel mounting system includes a panel having a given thickness between two surfaces and including a first opening formed with at least one radially extending locating portion and a second opening spaced from the first opening. A connector includes a dielectric housing inserted from one surface of the panel along an axis to an insertion position into the first opening in the panel. The housing has at least one radially extending locating flange for passing through the locating portion of the first opening as the housing is inserted thereinto. At least one radially extending stop flange is spaced axially and angularly from the locating flange for abutting the one surface of the panel when the locating flange clears the opposite surface of the panel. The housing is rotatable about the axis from its insertion position to a mounted position whereat the locating flange can abut the opposite surface of the panel to prevent axial removal of the housing back out of the first opening.

Abstract: A cylindrical plug connector is provided for terminating an electrical cable which includes at least first and second inner conductors surrounded by an outer insulating jacket. A generally cylindrical dielectric housing mounts at least an outer cylindrical conductive contact and an inner conductive contact. The inner conductive contact is terminated to one of the first and second inner conductors of the cable. A terminal has a body portion in engagement with the outer cylindrical conductive contact. The terminal includes a first crimp arm projecting from the body portion for crimping termination with the other of the first and second inner conductors of the cable, and a second crimp arm projecting from the body portion for crimping onto the outer insulating jacket of the cable.

Abstract: An electrical connector (10) includes a dielectric housing (12) having a terminal-receiving passage (14) for insertion thereinto of a terminal (16) in a given insertion direction (A). The terminal includes a first spring contact arm (22) projecting into the passage (14) for engagement by an appropriate first mating conductor. An engagement arm (26) is in line with the first spring contact arm (22) to provide an engagement shoulder for an insertion tool which forces the terminal (10) into the passage (14) of the housing. A second spring contact arm (24) is offset laterally of the insertion direction (A) from the first spring contact arm (22) out of a path for the insertion tool to the engagement arm. The second spring contact arm (24) is adapted for engagement by an appropriate second mating conductor.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector having a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of terminals. The first connector has a conventional DC jack socket with a central contact pin adapted for receiving a conventional DC jack plug. A second connector mates with the first connector and includes a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of terminals for electrical connection to the terminals of the first connector. The second connector has a locating peg insertable into the DC jack socket of the first connector. The locating peg is generally hollow to accommodate the central contact pin of the DC jack socket.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a terminal-receiving passage for insertion thereinto of a terminal in a given insertion direction. The terminal includes a spring contact arm at least in part projecting into the passage for engagement by an appropriate mating contact element. The terminal further includes an engagement arm projecting into the passage behind the spring contact arm at a location to provide an engagement shoulder for an insertion tool which forces the terminal into the terminal-receiving passage of the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided for a flat electrical cable. The connector includes a housing loaded with a plurality of terminals. An actuator is movable mounted on the housing for biasing the cable into engagement with the terminals. A latching system is operatively associated between the housing and the actuator for retaining the actuator on the housing. The latching system includes a first latch mechanism latchable in a first direction and a second latch mechanism latchable in a second direction distinct from and at an angle to the first direction.