Abstract: An apparatus for concentrically aligning and terminating an optical fiber within the terminal end of a fiber optic connector includes the use of a resilient jig having a bore dimensioned for receiving the optical fiber. The jig is aligned relative to the connector so that the jig bore is concentric to the outer dimension of the connector terminal end. The resilient jig is uniformly compressed in a chuck to cause the jig bore to contract about an optical fiber threaded through the connector and the jig bore. As a result, the optical fiber is firmly held in concentric alignment to the outer dimension of the connector terminal end for subsequent curing of adhesive material within the connector for terminating the optical fiber to the connector.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrical connector assembly including apparatus for securing a metallic coupling ring on a connector body or shell. A metallic retaining ring is secured into the rear of the coupling ring bore through the interaction of an annular sawtooth groove pattern formed on the outside of the retaining ring and on the rear inside of the coupling ring bore. The dimensions of the sawtooth groove pattern are carefully selected so as to permit metallic materials to be used for both rings. The connector assembly includes a pair of shells, each having electrical contacts carried by a dielectric retention disc secured in a respective shell for engagement with the electrical contacts of the other shell. Each shell has a large diameter recess for receiving a large diameter portion of each disc force fit through a small diameter portion of the respective shell to thereafter retain the disc.

Abstract: A tool for simultaneously inserting each of a plurality of wires in respective non-deforming insulation piercing terminals disposed in a terminal retaining body. The terminal retaining body is supported in the tool so that each terminal is aligned with a guide slot through which the wires are forced by the action of insertion tabs. The ends of the wires are retained in coil springs which are coupled to releasing handles so that the springs may be extended to facilitate removal of the wires. As the insertion tabs are forced through the guide slots, a cutting member disposed in each of the slots cooperates with an edge of the insertion tabs to cut the wire at a predetermined point. The tool is adjustable to accept terminal retaining bodies of various shapes and sizes.

Abstract: An electrical ribbon connector is disclosed having a protective hood which is assembled to or disassembled from a locked position on the connector insert member by either a sliding or pivoting technique. The hood is also automatically locked or secured in its final assembled position, and the locked or latched structure may be easily disengaged using a simple prying device such as a screwdriver. The connector body or insert member also includes retent structure for maintaining the plug and receptacle connectors in fully mated assembly but which also prevents contaminants from reaching the interior of the fully mated connectors.

Abstract: An identification means is disclosed for use with lead wires of electrocardiographic monitoring instruments or the like. The identification means includes a terminal body member secured at one end of a lead wire and has a peripheral recess extending substantially thereabout. An identification member having identifying means corresponding to one of a plurality of commonly recorded anatomical positions is positionable onto the terminal body member and has an interior lip snap fit within the recess of the terminal body member to retain the identification member onto the terminal body member and prevent unintentional removal therefrom. The identifying means on the identification member comprises raised indicia and is color coded to the anatomical positions. The identification member exclusive of the raised indicia also is color coded to different color codifications than the raised indicia. A plurality of identification members are provided, each comprising one of a set thereof of differently color coded members.

Abstract: An electrical connector for removable connection with a plurality of spaced conductors in a flat strip, such as a length of ribbon wire. The connector includes a housing containing a plurality of contacts and a conductor supporting member movable relative to the housing between an insertion position and a clamping position. The contacts and the conductors supporting the member define a plurality of conductor-receiving passages, the passages becoming smaller in size when the supporting member is moved from the insertion position to the clamping position. The conductors of a flat strip may be easily inserted into the passageways when the supporting member is in the insertion position, and the conductors are securely clamped between the contacts and the supporting member when the supporting member is in the clamping position.

Abstract: A medical clip, particularly for connecting a lead conductor to an electrode conventionally secured to the skin surface of an animal or human, and which electrode typically comprises a male projection of the button-type; the clip being of a generally V or wishbone configuration, the arms of which carry resilient wire loops normally biased out of overlapping condition but movable upon the application of external force into an overlapped condition wherein the clip may be applied over said button onto said electrode. The clip is provided with means preventing accidental contact with the male electrode when the clip is in position thereon, and with means preventing undesired tilting of the clip thereby minimizing inadvertent and unintentional disassembly of the clip from the electrode.

Abstract: An assembly is disclosed for mounting and for connectorizing an electronic switching device containing a heat generating semiconductor to an associated heat sink, wherein the switching device includes a body portion containing the semiconductor, a plurality of leads protruding from the body portion and a metallic heat conductive mounting tab carried by the body portion and protruding in a direction opposite to the leads. The assembly comprises a housing of dielectric material. The housing has a body cavity for receiving the body portion of the switching device and for preventing lateral movement thereof relative to the housing. The depth of the body cavity is slightly greater than the thickness of the body portion of the switching device to receive the complete body portion therein. The housing has a tab cavity for receiving the mounting tab of the switching device, and bias means formed integrally with the tab cavity for biasing the mounting tab outwardly from the housing.

Abstract: A pin or socket type electrical contact of an efficient modular design selectively provides transient voltage overload protection, inductive and capacitive filter impedance for frequency discrimination, and series DC resistance and a fusing element for appropriate current limiting functions. In all forms, the filter contact may include resilient, electrically conductive bushings interposed between the aforesaid impedance components and the input and output ends of the contact both to accommodate simplified and reliable assembly of the modular components and to assure a negligible probability of mechanical stress damage in installation of the contact in its system operating environment.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a plurality of electrical contact elements disposed therein for terminating one end of an insulated conductor and a shroud securable to the connector housing to cover the electrical contact elements. Improved strain relief for the terminated conductor is provided by base clamp means securable to the housing and engageable with the conductor, and fastener clamp means engageable with the conductor and securable to the base clamp means. The base clamp means includes first detent means adjustably matable with second detent means disposed on the fastener clamp means to enable adjustable locking engagement between the base and fastener clamp means to grip the insulated conductor therebetween, the base and fastener clamp means being easily engaged or disengaged without the use of tools and adjustable relative to each other to accept conductors of different sizes.

Abstract: A method and assembly are disclosed for terminating a plurality of signal and ground or shield conductors of a ribbon cable. The assembly includes a contact plate having a plurality of termination tabs each joined to a carrier strip and a ground member. The active signal conductors of the cable are electrically connected to each of the tabs while the ground conductors are connected to the ground member. The terminated cable is then insert molded in an integral dielectric housing, leaving only the carrier strip and portions of the termination tabs and ground member exposed. The carrier strip is then severed from the connector, thereby electrically isolating the termination tabs from each other and the ground member. The resulting connector is mechanically and electrically reliable and may be interfaced with compatible electrical components without damage to the individual terminations.

Abstract: A patchcord connector for use in terminating a plurality of insulated conductors and interconnecting the conductors to a modular terminal board includes a housing having first and second interlockable molded body members. A plurality of contact elements are disposed within the housing and include terminal contact portions having insulation-piercing members for terminating the insulated conductors as the body members are assembled and interlocked. To afford simple and rapid field assembly of the connector, the connector includes gripping members integral with each contact element for securely maintaining each insulated conductor in a terminating position within the connector prior to and during interlocking of the body members and termination of the conductors. Strain relief means are also provided for retaining each conductor within the connector housing when the first and second body members are in a finally assembled and interlocked position.

Abstract: A connector assembly suitable for connecting a leadless integrated circuit device to a circuit board. The circuit device typically has a plurality of flat conductive pads spaced along parallel edges thereof. The circuit board similarly typically has a plurality of flat conductive pads spaced along parallel first and second rows. The connector assembly includes a pair of anchor plates bonded to the circuit board and spaced by a distance just sufficient to accommodate said integrated circuit device therebetween. First and second banks of elongated essentially parallel contacts are fixedly connected, as by solder, to the circuit board pads. When the removable circuit device is placed on the circuit board between the anchor plates, connection from the fixedly connected contact banks to the circuit device pads is made by first and second banks of flexible parallel bridging contacts.

Abstract: An electrical contact member formed from an axially extended tube is provided intermediate its ends with an axially extending insulation-opening slot. The slot is terminated at one end in an entry opening through the tube. The entry opening and an inwardly tapered entry ramp are formed by a free-ended piece of the tube wall bent into the inner opening of the tube. An insulated conductor may be inserted into the contact member in either of two ways: by insertion through the appropriate end of the tube and deflection by the entry ramp through the entry opening; or, by insertion through the entry opening and deflection by the entry ramp through the end of the tube. After insertion by either method, the ends of the insulated conductor may be pulled to force the conductor into a narrowed engagement portion of the slot where the insulation around the conductor is opened by spreading or cutting and electrical contact is made between the tube and the metallic conductor.

Abstract: This invention relates to an electrical assembly, such as an electrical cable assembly, to electrical elements such as electrical connector elements for terminating the assembly, and to housings for electrical elements. The housings for the electrical elements are formed of first and second housing members of insulating material, the housing members having mating sides which are fitted together to form the members into a housing. The first member has a plurality of pins projecting from the mating side thereof and the second member has a hole therethrough for each of the pins. The length of the pins and the relative position of the pins and holes are such that each pin passes through the corresponding hole and is exposed on the side of the second member opposite the mating side. The exposed portion of each pin is cold-flow expanded to hold the members together.

Abstract: A multiple contact filter connector capable of accommodating high RF currents and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The connector includes an outer metallic shell, a dielectric body within the shell and at least one network filter contact assembly. The inner body has at least one through channel and a transverse cavity which communicates with the shell and the channel. The network filter contact assembly has a ground electrode and a pin electrode and is disposed within the portion of the channel bridging the cavity. Conductive curable filler material is charged into the cavity around and in contact with the ground electrode to efficiently and inexpensively establish a ground plate for the connector. A retention means disposed within the channel and a locking means carried by the contact cooperate to provide axial strain relief, thereby protecting the bond between the conductive filler material and the ground electrode.

Abstract: A linear sensor array is deployed horizontally on the ocean floor by first deploying a vertical array, between an anchor and a float from which the array is suspended, and then decreasing the buoyancy of the float gradually as the float is carried away from the anchor by ocean currents. The float is comprised of a suitably large volume of buoyant material such as hollow glass microspheres freely floating inside a liquid filled plastic container. To gradually reduce buoyancy, the microspheres are allowed to flow out through a neck near the top of the container while water is allowed to enter the bottom of the container through a liquid permeable membrane. The diameter of the neck is selected for optimum sinking rate of the float.

Abstract: An improved connector pin assembly and method for concentrically aligning and terminating an optical fiber of a fiber optic cable with respect to the outer dimension of the pin negates the heretofore required epoxy or other adhesive for providing secure termination of an optical fiber within a terminal pin. The assembly includes a terminal pin having a fiber optic cable receiving bore extending into the pin from its rear end and a terminal end bore of smaller dimension extending into the terminal pin from the terminal pin forward terminating end. The terminal end bore communicates with the cable receiving bore and is concentric to the outer dimension of the terminating pin terminal end. A resilient insert member having a central aperture dimensioned for receiving the optical fiber and an outer portion which is greater in dimension than the terminal end bore when the insert member is in its free uncompressed state is forced into the terminal end bore.

Abstract: A system for deploying a vertical linear sensor array from a transiting vessel comprising a tubular deployment case closed at the bottom by a descent weight that is connected to a plurality of sensors packed in the case and connected in sequence by a cable of signal wires to a unit for creating drag in the descent of the deployment case and sensors, such as a collapsed parasol-type drogue or a buoyant body. Stacked over the telemetering unit is a cable dispenser open at the bottom and closed at the top by a nose weight. A substantial length of signal cable is coiled in the cable dispenser to pay out from the center with one end connected to the nose weight and the other connected to transmit sensor signals. A toroid core around the signal cable where it is being payed out inductively couples sensor signals to a signal line connected to an inner conductor of an armored cable.

Abstract: An improved connector for terminating flexible parallel conductors in which a male part has a length of distal surface about which an end of a flexible group of parallel conductors is bent. The male part, with the group of parallel conductors bent thereabout is inserted into a female part having a closed slot therein and a plurality of contacts along one of the walls thereof. Upon mating of the two connector parts, the contacts of the female part electrically engages respective ones of the parallel conductors. Various means are provided for keeping the conductors aligned during the mating action and latch members on both male and female parts cooperate to releasably secure the two parts together.