Abstract: An electrical connector assembly has a frame member which is positioned on a housing and is movable between an terminal insertion position and a terminal lock position. The frame member has resilient fingers with extend into terminal receiving cavities of the housing to properly position and maintain the terminals in the terminal receving cavities when the frame member is in the terminal lock position. The frame member has anti-rattle projections which cooperate with a panel when the assembly is mounted therein. The anti-rattle projections ensure that a positive electrical connection will be effected and maintained over time.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an electrically conductive gel comprising an extrinsically conductive gel having dispersed therein a quantity of an intrinsically conductive polymer, where said polymer is present in the amount of between about 0.03 to 1.6%, by weight. Preferred conductive polymers are those selected from the class of polypyrrole, polyaniline, polyanisidine, polythiophene, and derivatives of these base polymers.

Abstract: An arrangement in a token ring line concentrator for providing appropriate connections to a cable includes a connector adaptor (30, 60) having a printed circuit board (34, 64) on which selected contact members (36, 38; 66, 68) are left either unconnected or shorted together to identify the particular type of adaptor, thus identifying the particular type of cable plugged into the adaptor. The port to which the adapter is inserted includes switchable connections controlled by the selective energization of a relay coil (138). The coil (138) is energized when an open connection between the selected contact members is identified.

Abstract: An electrical header assembly (10) for use in automobiles is disclosed. The assembly (10) includes a housing (12) with terminal-receiving cavities (26) recessed in from a front face (62), terminals (18), a separate one piece latch (14) received in the housing (12) to retain the terminals (18) in the cavities (26) and a separate terminal position assurance member (16).

Abstract: A latch mechanism (4) of an electrical header (1) comprises, a lever member (5) pivotally mounted on an end of the header (1) and being adapted for close spacing from a similar lever member (5) of a second electrical header (1), the lever member (5) being adapted to nest against an exterior of the similar lever member (5), and an actuation arm (10) pivotal with the lever member (5) to overlap the similar lever member (5), a reinforcing rib extending beside the arm (10), and a gripping surface (11) along the arm (10).

Abstract: A connector 1 for assembly with an optical cable 2 comprises, a shell 10 encircling a spring biased holder 13 for an optical fiber 3 of the cable 2, a sheath 16 to prevent leaking of adhesive 59 from the holder 13, and strength members 5 of the cable 2 anchored to the shell 10, whereby the holder 13 and the optical fiber 3 of the cable 2 are displaceable with respect to the strength members 5 of the cable 2.

Abstract: A contact assembly for a modular receptacle includes an array of substantially coplanar contacts which are held in position by first and second insulators. The contacts are exposed between the two insulators, and a latch mechanism holds the two insulators in the desired transversely oriented relationship with respect to one another. This contact assembly can be formed by insert molding the insulators around the contacts in a substantially coplanar configuration, and then bending the exposed central portions of the contacts to latch the two insulators into the final transverse orientation.

Abstract: A kit (2) adapting a junction box (4) for installation along a raceway comprises, a mounting bracket (10) having a first adjustable mounting mechanism for locating the mounting bracket (10) along the raceway, providing an initial adjustment, and a second adjustable mounting mechanism for securing a junction box (4) to the mounting bracket (10), and for adjustably locating the junction box (4) along the mounting bracket (10), providing a second and final adjustment to accurately locate the junction box (4) between two premeasured lengths of cable (3).

Abstract: An arrangement for securing a body to a support by means of a post on the body which is inserted into an aperture in the support. The post is formed with a cavity into which there is inserted a resilient retaining member having tapered barbs extending outwardly of the post from opposite sides thereof. When the post is thereafter inserted into the aperture, the retaining member is compressed and the barbs engage the interior walls of the aperture to prevent subsequent removal of the post therefrom.

Abstract: An electrical connector 63 includes at least one length of wire 54 having an insulating means 55 with at least one portion 58 of the wire 54 extending free from the insulating means 55 and a housing 62 adapted to hold the free end 58 and a length of the insulating means relative to a first contact point 102 on an electrical article 100 to be interconnected with connector 63 to wire 54. Wire 54 includes one portion 56 inelastically deformed to provide a second contact point 60 adapted to engage said first contact point 102. Housing 62 includes portions adapted to position the second contact point 60 in bearing relationsip with the first contact point 102 with the spring beam 56 being deflected to provide a normal force engagement between the first and second 102, 60 contact points sufficient to assure a stable, low resistance interface.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a receptacle member (14) and a pin shroud member (16) adapted to be mounted to opposite sides of a printed circuit board. Each receptacle member (14) is adapted to mate with a pin shroud member (16) mounted to another circuit board so that a parallel stack of circuit boards may be interconnected and supported. Each pin shroud member (16) has ground shields (60) which engage terminals (42) in the mating receptacle member (14). The ground shield (60) and the engaged terminal members (42) have pin portions (62, 64) extending through apertures of the respective circuit boards for connection to ground planes on the circuit boards.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly having a metal or metallized plastic housing block (10) with contact members (26) contained within channels (12) in the block (10). The metallic housing block (10) provides a shield to eliminate cross-talk between the contact members (26). The contact members (26) are directly coated with a dielectric material, except where they perform an electrical contact function, to insulate them from the metallic housing block (10).

Abstract: A crimp height adjusting mechanism in a machine for crimping terminals onto the ends of conductors of flexible flat cables. The adjusting mechanism is interposed between the movable crimping die and its drive mechanism and effects changes in crimp height by varying its length. The adjusting mechanism utilizes a sliding wedge block that causes a followed member to extend or recede a desired amount. An adjusting screw controls the sliding movement of the wedge so that very precise changes in crimp height can be achieved.

Abstract: A multiple contact electrical connector for transmission of electrical signals therethrough comprises first and second matable connectors (1,2) each including signal contacts (5,5') and ground contacts (6,6') secured in dielectric housings (3,3') and arranged in a two-dimensional manner therein. The signal contacts (5,5') and the ground contacts (6,6') are arranged in the housings (3,3') in rows spaced at regular intervals with the ground contacts being shifted half a pitch relative to the signal contacts so that when the matable connectors are mated together, the engaged signal contacts (5,5') are surrounded by the engaged ground contacts (6,6').

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a first housing (11) having electrical contacts (18) secured therein and a second housing (12) pivotally mounted within the first housing (11) with electrical contacts (27) secured in the second housing (12) in electrical engagement with respective contacts (18) so that the housings (11, 12) can be angularly positioned with respect to one another when circuit boards to which they are electrically connected are positioned at an angle relative to each other.

Abstract: A coupler (2,3) comprises, a central single mode optical fiber (5) and N number of glass fibers (4), having radii of equal dimensions, fused together along biconic tapered sections (13, 13) to couple optical power from the central fiber (5) completely and uniformly to only the fibers (4) that have optical cores (6).

Abstract: An RF connector switch (18) includes an outer metallic shell (19) containing a dielectric core (49) and contacts (64, 66) having ends (62, 68) in coaxial ports (21, 35). The contacts (64, 66) include second ends (62, 72) aligned with a port (44) in the shell (19) through which a pin (69) may be inserted to operate the ends (62, 74) as a switch.

Abstract: A connector (22) includes a housing (24) having an array of first terminal-receiving passageways (34) each in communication with a spring arm receiving recess (38), each passageway (34) having a terminal member (50) disposed therein. Each terminal member (50) includes a body section (52) having a first connecting portion (54) adapted for surface mount engagement with a circuit pad (122) of a circuit board (120) and a spring arm portion (60). The spring arm portion (60) has a first transverse portion (62) extending laterally from the terminal member (50) proximate the first connecting portion (54), an axial portion (64) of a selected length extending from the first transverse portion (62) and toward a second connecting portion (72) of the terminal member (50), and a second transverse portion (68) extending toward the body section (52). The first transverse portion (62) extends essentially parallel to the mounting face (28) and is recessed therefrom.

Abstract: Improved means for securing an externally mounted ground plate to an electrical connector, the ground plate being secured along one of the sides of the connector and having a leading edge thereof exposed at the mating face of the connector and adapted to be received within the housing of a complementary connector upon the connector being mated thereto. The improved means includes a pair of tabs extending from the ground plate proximate the leading edge thereof and engagable with and latchingly securable in cooperating slots on end walls of the connector housing and an inwardly directed rolled portion extending substantially along the entire length of the leading edge of the ground plate, the rolled portion being received within a cooperating recess of the associated housing side wall. The recess is configured to receive rolled edge of the ground plate such that the ground plate lies securely against the side wall and the overall dimensions of the mating face are not substantially increased thereby.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for terminating a wire to a terminal having a metal contact that is partially assembled to an insulating housing. The apparatus includes a stop that abuttingly engages a side of the contact within the interior of the housing. A stripper arm automatically moves the crimped and assembled terminal laterally so that it is clear of the stop arm for easy removal. The crimping and assembly operations are performed in a single cycle of the press ram.