Abstract: A female connector has a folded pair of arms with a pair of juxtaposed slots apposed to a pair of perpendicular arms form the same spine. The arms flex to blade open width when molded into a receptacle. The arms are strong and resilient and flex free of the molding plastic. In cold temperatures there is only a small surface contact between the arms and the molded plastic allowing the arms to flex to receive blades unimpeded by the plastic. An extension cord for outdoor use with the female connector can receive 15 amp or 20 amp plug blades in temperatures at least as low as -10.degree. C.

Abstract: A housing for female receptacles in a molded female receptacle plug has a body and cover to receive female receptacle connectors. The housing is a premold for the receptacle plug. Female receptacles may be engaged in the housing and simultaneously crimped to wires in a cord set. The body and cover are interengagable. They can be snap fit or slide fitted together with female receptacle crimp ends on necks extending through the housing safe from mold plastic flashing in molding, when load bars are conventionally engaged into blade openings in the housing. The assembly of the housing and female receptacle is automatable with labor and material economies obtained in the molding and from automatable assembly and simultaneous crimpability of the engaged female receptacles.

Abstract: A stamped metal female blade receptacle is three sided, having a longitudinal opening. There is a flat side and curved side. The metal is resilient so that the curved side releases from the plastic when molded into a plug. In a plug, the receptacle is supported against unwanted flexure and biased against a received blade, providing full surface contact on one side of the receptacle. The sides of the receptacle do not fatigue in use. The receptacle is economical of metal and adapted for automated crimping. The structure of the receptacle enables one size receptacle to serve blades of various widths and thicknesses.The receptacles can be provided, integral on a stamping strip and alternately folded over, to be parallel to each other for machine crimping.

Abstract: The present invention is a metal blade formed of folded strips (13, 14) for an assembly of electrically conductive contacts in a printed circuit board, adapted to access line current, such as in a 120 V AC outlet. The assembly may be used in various ways such as an intermediate in the making of molded plugs. The blades are adapted for fabrication in a progressive stamping operation and for automation in use from a roll or hopper. A blade of the present invention has resilient tabs (21) and spaced away sharp edge fingers (16). The tabs are formed to snap engage in a tapered slot (26) in a printed circuit board with the sharp edges (17) of the fingers (16) in electrical contact with a printed circuit and to hold its engagement even before being soldered. Each of the folded strips includes pad (12) and a section of a bubble (15) formed to prevent flashing of plastic during a molding process.

Abstract: A multi-station stamped metal conductor in a multi-outlet receptacle enables the simplified molding of the receptacle with less parts and wire connections. The conductor has articulated stations coinciding with the individual outlets, each station having a female receptacle with an appropriate pin or blade opening. The conductors are easily held in position for molding of the receptacle. Each conductor requires only a single crimped conductor wire serving all of the stations. The molding may be done without change to prior art molds.

Abstract: A premold cap and core with its specific configuration saves labor and material in the making of heavy duty female connectors. The premold core and cap receive female receptacles that are crimped to lead cable. The premold then is cast into a female connector. The female receptacles are capped in place held in insets in the core. The cap is hollow and receives the core locking the female receptacles in place. The cap replaces the prior art fiber disk and presents polarized openings for polarized male pins with flag-like ends. The engaged male pins on a male connector are rotated so that the flag-like end are beneath the polarized openings and cannot be disengaged without rerotation of the connectors.

Abstract: A progressive stamping strip for electrical parts is provided with a spaced away wire safety crimp. The stamping strip may be used to automatically crimp leads to both the electrical part and the wire safety crimp. The wire safety crimp is severed from the stamping strip separate from the electrical part. The wire safety crimp retains the wires together and retains them in the plug. The present invention provides an electrical part with a wire safety crimped on a lead, as well as a molded plug with the wires protected against exposure from the plug.

Abstract: A high retention, yet relatively low insertion force and withdrawal force female disconnect receptacle is provided. The female disconnect has a pad rising from its base, preferably lanced from the base. The lancing provides a firmness to the pad interacting with the metal of the base which holds a metal tab well, with a desired low insertion force and low withdrawal force that retains and does not easily degrade upon reuse. The pad preferably has a flat bearing surface.

Abstract: A progressive stamping strip for electrical parts is provided with a spaced away wire safety crimp. The stamping strip may be used to automatically crimp leads to both the electrical part and the wire safety crimp. The wire safety crimp is severed from the stamping strip separate from the electrical part. The wire safety crimp retains the wires together and retains them in the plug. The present invention provides an electrical part with a wire safety crimped on a lead, as well as a molded plug with the wires protected against exposure from the plug.