Abstract: A pin connector assembly comprising a socket (11) adapted to receive a cylindrical electrical plug (12), the plug having a central longitudinal bore (17), the socket being in the form of an insulated housing having a cylindrical receptacle (13) with a pin (14) located in the centre thereof, said pin (14) being adapted to be located in the bore (17) of the plug when the plug and the socket are in mating connection, the assembly further comprising an annular resilient collar (20) adapted to fit either over the pin (14) of the socket or within the bore (17) of the plug and which compresses radially inwards when the circumference of the bore and the pin are of essentially equal size and which remains in an expanded configuration when the circumference of the bore (17) is greater than the circumference of the pin (14), thus maintaining electrical contact between the electrical plug (12) and the socket (11).

Abstract: A pin connector assembly comprising a socket (11) adapted to receive a cylindrical electrical plug (12), the plug having a central longitudinal bore (17), the socket being in the form of an insulated housing having a cylindrical receptacle (13) with a pin (14) located in the centre thereof, said pin (14) being adapted to be located in the bore (17) of the plug when the plug and the socket are in mating connection, the assembly further comprising an annular resilient collar (20) adapted to fit either over the pin (14) of the socket or within the bore (17) of the plug and which compresses radially inwards when the circumference of the bore and the pin are of essentially equal size and which remains in an expanded configuration when the circumference of the bore (17) is greater than the circumference of the pin (14), thus maintaining electrical contact between the electrical plug (12) and the socket (11).

Abstract: A circuit board assembly and a method of manufacturing such an assembly has a circuit board 1 with spaced holes 6 which receive projections 15 of a rigid metal chassis 11 which is part of a sub-assembly 10. The projections 15 are soldered in the holes 6 to rigidly secure the sub-assembly to the circuit board. The sub-assembly 10 has a pair of terminal posts 18 from which extend electrical connections 25, 26 having ends formed as fingers 30, 31. The fingers 30 and 31 are received in sets of corresponding holes 8 and 7 respectively in the circuit board and soldered in their respective holes to provide an electrical connection between the strips 25 and 26 and circuit lines 5 and 4 respectively on the circuit board. The soldered joints between the projections 15 and the circuit board permits torque applied to the terminal posts 18 to be accommodated by the circuit board assembly.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly has a plug (1) and socket (2) which are engageable along axis (3) for a plug body (34) to be received within a socket body (4) as a tubular core (5) of the socket receives a core (35) of the plug. Spring terminals (13) are located within an annular cavity (7) and blade terminals (31) are located within an annular cavity (36) of the respective socket and plug bodies. Terminals (13) have cantilevered contact faces (18) inclined relative to the axis (3) and the terminals (31) have contact edges (52) which slide over the contact faces (18) to provide electrical contact and a cleaning/wiping action therebetween. Contact faces (18) are displaced inwardly against their resilient biasing by engagement with the contact edges (52) while the terminals (31) are restrained from outward displacement by seatings (42) in the wall (34).The spring terminals (13) and blade terminals (31) are fitted axially to their respective bodies through slots 11 and (38) respectively.

Abstract: An electrical terminal 10 has two electrical connectors 16 and 18 carried by upper 12 and lower 14 insulating body members by which it is clamped to a mounting 84. Each connector has a terminal hole 64 and carries an insulating knob 66, 68, which is screw adjustable over an upper length 52 of the connector to open and close the terminal hole 64 while providing an insulating cover for the upper length of each connector. The body member 12 extends over the connectors 16 and 18 to encompass the terminal holes 64 and has access holes 38 and 40 which coincide with the respective terminal holes 64. The upper body member 12 has cavities 20 and 22 within which the insulating knobs 66 and 68 are accommodated respectively as they are adjusted longitudinally on their respective connectors. The structure and dimensions of the terminal 10 preferably ensure that the connectors in the body 12 and knobs are inaccessible to a test finger when the terminal is mounted on a housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector has an insulating body 30 with longitudinal chambers 45, 46 and 47 running through it. Electrical contact elements 81, 82 and 83 are received one each in the chambers. Each chamber has projections .alpha. and .beta. and each contact element has a rebate 86. Rotation of the contact element in the chamber relative to the body from an initial orientation to a second orientation engages the rebate 86 with the projections .alpha. and .beta. to restrain the elements from longitudinal displacement relative to the body. Projections 50 on the external face of the body 30 can engage an external portion of the contact element when that element is rotated to its second orientation to retain the element from rotating relative to the body. The connector can be a plug or a socket. A corresponding method of assembling an electrical connector is described.