Abstract: An electrical connector has a body with a bore that terminates in a sloped surface at its inner end. A cap, through which a conductor is threaded, fits into the bore. An axial inner end of the cap is divided into a plurality of spaced-apart gores which, when the cap is forced axially inwardly, will cam against the sloped surface in the bore, displacing the gores toward the axis and gripping and fastening in place the electrical conductor. Preferably the gores have ridges on their internal surfaces and a center pin standing up from the bottom of the bore has grooves mating with some of these ridges.

Abstract: Insulated conductors, of either the wire or multistranded cable variety, are provided with a series of markings or visual indicators along their length on their insulation jackets. The markings include cut markings to show where the conductor is to be cut and, spaced from respective ones of the cut markings by a predetermined insertion depth, insertion markings to show a correct depth of insertion into an associated electrical connector receptacle. Depending on the type of connector for which the conductor is being furnished, the markings may further include a plurality of strip markings, spaced from respective ones of the cut markings by a predetermined strip length, and/or a plurality of final insertion markings, which are spaced from respective ones of the initial insertion markings by a predetermined connector cap compression stroke.

Abstract: An electrical connector has a connector body with a bore and a cap through which a stranded insulated conductor is threaded. A ridge in the external surface of the cap engages with at least one groove in the bore to secure the conductor in place. Preferably, there are at least two such grooves in the bore at different axial positions, and the cap is axially advanced from one such groove to another one farther inside the bore to effect full physical and electrical connection. Surface pairs make up each such ridge and groove, with the area of one of the surface pairs being much greater than the other one of the surface pairs. The connector may have multiple bores and caps, and embodiments are provided for coaxial conductors.

Abstract: One of a set of caps, each having a bore for accepting a conductor within a predetermined range of diameters, has at least one ridge on an external surface thereof formed of a surface pair, with the area of one of the surface pairs being much greater than the other one of the surface pairs. This cap is received into a bore of female connector body with a center pin. The female connector body has one, and preferably has two, grooves formed by a like differential surface pair. A front end of the cap is cut up into fingers which, upon contacting a sloped surface in the female connector body, will fold radially inwardly to clamp the conductor to the center pin.

Abstract: An electrical connector has a connector body with a bore and a cap through which a stranded insulated conductor is threaded. A ridge in the external surface of the cap engages with at least one groove in the bore to secure the conductor in place. Preferably, there are at least two such grooves in the bore at different axial positions, and the cap is axially advanced from one such groove to another one farther inside the bore to effect full physical and electrical connection.

Abstract: An electrical connector has a connector body with a bore and a cap through which a stranded insulated conductor is threaded. A ridge in the external surface of the cap engages with at least one groove in the bore to secure the conductor in place. Preferably, there are at least two such grooves in the bore at different axial positions, and the cap is axially advanced from one such groove to another one farther inside the bore to effect full physical and electrical connection. Surface pairs make up each such ridge and groove, with the area of one of the surface pairs being much greater than the other one of the surface pairs. The connector may have multiple bores and caps, and embodiments are provided for coaxial conductors.

Abstract: Insulated conductors, of either the wire or multistranded cable variety, are provided with a series of markings or visual indicators along their length on their insulation jackets. The markings include cut markings to show where the conductor is to be cut and, spaced from respective ones of the cut markings by a predetermined insertion depth, insertion markings to show a correct depth of insertion into an associated electrical connector receptacle. Depending on the type of connector for which the conductor is being furnished, the markings may further include a plurality of strip markings, spaced from respective ones of the cut markings by a predetermined strip length, and/or a plurality of final insertion markings, which are spaced from respective ones of the initial insertion markings by a predetermined connector cap compression stroke.

Abstract: An electrical connector has a connector body with a bore and a cap through which a stranded insulated conductor is threaded. A ridge in the external surface of the cap engages with at least one groove in the bore to secure the conductor in place. Preferably, there are at least two such grooves in the bore at different axial positions, and the cap is axially advanced from one such groove to another one farther inside the bore to effect full physical and electrical connection.

Abstract: An electrical connector has a connector body with a bore and a cap through which a stranded insulated conductor is threaded. A ridge in the external surface of the cap engages with at least one groove in the bore to secure the conductor in place. Preferably, there are at least two such grooves in the bore at different axial positions, and the cap is axially advanced from one such groove to another one farther inside the bore to effect full physical and electrical connection.

Abstract: In an electrical connector suitable for a multistranded insulated conductor, a frustoconical collar is so dimensioned that it will exhibit physical interference with a housing bore into which the conductor and the collar are inserted. As the collar is advanced into the bore, fingers of the collar more tightly grip the external surface of the conductor. A cap affixes the conductor and collar to the housing to complete the connection.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to an electrical connector for coupling to an insulated single conductor electrical cable or to a coaxial cable, the latter being of the type having an inner conductor enclosed in an inner concentric insulation and having a generally concentric conductive sheath therearound and an outer insulation enclosing the conductive sheath. The subject connector includes a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore therein. One or more conductive arms can be disposed in the bore and electrically connected to the conductive housing portion and have pointed ends sized for piercing the outer insulation of the insulated electrical conductor. A closure member is included for closing the open end of the above and for forcing and/or securing engagement of the pointed ends of the conductive arms through the outer insulation of an electrical cable.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a method and an electrical connector for coupling to a multi-stranded conductor. In a specific embodiment, the subject method and electrical connector can be used for coupling to an insulated multi-stranded conductor. In a specific embodiment, the subject connector can have: a housing having at least one bore for receiving an insulated multi-stranded electrical conductor; an electrically conductive prong located in the bore and electrically connected to the housing; and a securing means for insertion into the bore after insertion of the electrical conductor into the bore and onto the prong. Insertion of the securing means into the bore, after insertion of the electrical conductor into the bore and onto the prong, presses the strands of the electrical conductor against the conductive prong such that the connector makes electrical contact with the electrical conductor and acts to mechanically secure the electrical conductor to the connector.

Abstract: A connector is provided for coupling a single wire electrical cable to an electrical appliance. The connector includes a body portion, a compression collar, and an end cap. The body portion has an elongated axis at one end of which is a battery terminal attaching portion and at the other end of which is a cable receiving portion that has a threaded outer surface and an internally positioned electrically conducive prong for penetrating the end of an electrical cable. The compression collar is sized to fit over an electrical conductor and has gripping fingers for engaging the surface of an electrical conductor. The end cap has an opening through which a cable can be inserted and includes threads on the inner surface for mating with the threads on the body portion. In practice, an electrical conductor is inserted through the opening in the end cap and through the compression collar and impinged onto the conductive prong of the body portion.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to an electrical connector for coupling to an insulated single conductor electrical cable or to a coaxial cable, the latter being of the type having an inner conductor enclosed in an inner concentric insulation and having a generally concentric conductive sheath therearound and an outer insulation enclosing the conductive sheath. The subject connector includes a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore therein. One or more conductive arms can be disposed in the bore and electrically connected to the conductive housing portion and have pointed ends sized for piercing the outer insulation of the insulated electrical conductor. A closure member is included for closing the open end of the above and for forcing and/or securing engagement of the pointed ends of the conductive arms through the outer insulation of an electrical cable.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to a method and connector for coupling to a cable having a center conductor surrounded by a layer of material, further surrounded by one or more conductor wires. In a specific embodiment, the subject coupler can be used with a cable for producing light via electroluminensce.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to an electrical connector for coupling to an insulated electrical conductor or a coaxial cable of the type having an inner conductor enclosed in an inner concentric insulation and having a generally concentric conductive sheath therearound and an outer insulation enclosing the conductive sheath. The subject connector can have a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore therein. The subject connector can also have an electrically conductive pin mounted in the housing with one end protruding axially into the housing bore. A second end of the conductive pin can extend in an opposite direction within a second housing bore. The electrically conductive center pin can have a hollow portion extending thereinto from the protruding end and can have an annular sharpened edge on the protruding end. One or more slits can extend along the side of the center pin from the protruding end to form a plurality of center pin segments.

Abstract: The present invention is for an electrical connector and a method of making an electrical connector which connector has a housing having a bore therein and a housing cap having an aperture therethrough sized for an electrical conductor to pass through. An electrical conductor gripping collar is positioned between the housing and housing cap for gripping an electrical conductor threaded through the housing cap, through the gripping collar, and into the housing bore. The gripping collar is formed of a single generally flat piece of material having at least one opening therein having a plurality of gripping fingers extending from the edge of the opening for gripping an electrical conductor threaded therethrough for holding the electrical conductor to the electrical connector. The gripping collar can advantageously be made of flat material which has been stamped with a shaped die to punch a hole in the material and form the gripping fingers.

Abstract: An electrical connector and method for coupling an electrical conductor thereto has a conductor housing having at least one bore therein and an electrical conductive prong mounted in the housing bore. An electrical conductor gripping collar is positioned in each conductor housing bore with gripping fingers extending from the housing bore. A collar driving member or collar ring has an opening therein to receive an insulated electric conductor which extends therethrough, and through the gripping collar into the housing bore end onto the electrical conductive prong and to engage the extended and of the gripping collar. The collar driving member is used to push the gripping collar further into the housing bore to force the gripping fingers of the gripping collar onto the electrical conductor's insulation. The collar driving member is then fastened to the connector housing to couple the electrical conductor to the electrical connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector for coupling to a coaxial cable of the type having an inner conductor enclosed in an inner concentric insulation and having a generally concentric conductive sheath therearound and an outer insulation enclosing the conductive sheath. The connector has a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore therein. An electrically conductive pin has one end protruding axially into the housing bore and the second prong end extending in an opposite direction within a second housing bore. One or more conductive arms are electrically connected to the conductive housing portion and insulated from the electrical conductive prong and having pointed ends sized for driving the clamp into the outer insulation and into the conductive sheath without contacting the center conductor. A closure member for enforcing engagement of the pointed ends of the conductive arms into the outer insulation.

Abstract: The subject invention pertains to an electrical/connector for coupling to a coaxial cable of the type having an inner conductor enclosed in an inner concentric insulation and having a generally concentric conductive sheath therearound and an outer insulation enclosing the conductive sheath. The connector has a housing having an electrically conductive portion and a bore therein. In a specific embodiment, an electrically conductive pin or prong has one end protruding axially into the housing bore and the second prong end extending in an opposite direction within a second housing bore. One or more conductive clamps are electrically connected to the conductive housing portion and insulated from the electrical conductive prong and has pointed ends sized for driving the clamp into the outer insulation and into the conductive sheath without contacting the center conductor.