Abstract: An electrical connector structure is disclosed having combined in each of its male and female mating shells both interengaging electric terminals which make co-axial, or pin-and-socket, contact by telescoping movement and interengaging low insertion force electric terminals which make side contact by relative transverse movement. The connector shells are designed to be supported on a readily removable modular unit and on a backplate of a supporting shelf on which the modular unit is mounted, the shells being located near the interface of the modular unit and shelf. Movement of the unit on the shelf toward the backplate causes guiding interengagement of the male and female shells.

Abstract: An electrical connector structure is disclosed having low, or zero, insertion force interengaging terminals which do not engage initially as the connector mating portions are moved together, but which are automatically moved into engagement as the mating portions are moved into their fully mated position. This automatic engagement results from a lever, or cam, effect which converts relative telescoping motion of the mating portions into relative lateral motion of the low insertion force terminals therein.

Abstract: An avionic tray is disclosed for supporting electronic instruments on a shelf. The tray includes an aperture formed thereon for providing the supporting instrument with communication to an air plenum chamber. An interchangeable metering plate is adapted to extend over the aperture, with the plate having a predetermined number of metering ports formed thereon in any desired arrangement. The metering plate is interconnected to the aperture by means of a removable annular gasket, which in turn sealingly engages a surface of the electronic instrument. The gasket includes a pair of annular grooves for receiving the peripheral edges of the metering plate and the tray aperture. The gasket is constructed in such a manner that any application of a downward or lateral force on the gasket by the supported instrument causes the metering plate to be forced against the rim of the aperture to tightly hold the portion of the gasket between the two elements and prevent the gasket from becoming disengaged.

Abstract: A mounting member for an extractor hold down apparatus permits the extractor to exert both extraction and insertion forces at different angles to, for example, an electronic unit on an avionic rack. The mounting member is provided with a pair of elongated slots that accommodate a cross bar and retaining disks mounted on the power shaft of the extractor. The slots provide an angle range of at least 18.degree. plus or minus 15.degree..

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a terminal or contact strip for providing electrical contact in a connector shell assembly. The terminal connector strip is pressed from a flat metal blank such as, a copper alloy. The body of the terminal connector strip or pin is bent into a Z-shape or serpentine configuration to enable it to be wedged into an appropriate bore in the shell assembly. The contact head of the connector pin can have a spherical configuration to provide either a mating or point contact with an identical terminal connector pin.