Abstract: Apparatus for applying connector terminals to a plurality of leads including tensioning means capable of individually tensioning the leads with a predetermined tension, while being gripped and advanced by clamping means for advancing the leads into a terminal. Also, the clamping means may define a forward end which carries a wire guide plate which, in turn, is adapted to be longitudinally slidable back and forth in the direction of advancement, and is spring-biased into an outward position. The leads pass through apertures of the guide plate for precise positioning, relative to the terminal or terminals. The guide plate is thus retractable to permit the free ends of the leads to project into the terminal. Also, a lead-lengthening probe may be provided.

Abstract: An assembly of a contact spring and a wire wrap terminal whereby the contact spring has a socket in which the pin of a suitable electrical device may be inserted. The terminal includes a wrappable wire end to make a connection with an electrical circuit. The contact spring and wire wrap terminal are stamped and formed as two separate pieces to be assembled together for use in a printed circuit board and the like. The contact spring may be formed from a different material than the wire wrap terminal. The assembly is fabricated in a manner to insure proper orientation of the spring when inserted into a board. Gold plating or the other expensive highly conductive materials may economically be applied to selective areas, because the contact spring is formed from flat stock material.

Abstract: An edge connector having an opening for receiving a printed circuit board and having two opposed rows of contact for making electrical contact with conductive pads on opposite sides of a printed circuit board inserted into the connector. The connector is designed with the objective that when the two rows of contacts are in their "at rest" positions, the various contacts in one row will be in engagement with corresponding contacts in the opposed row at a location inwardly of the outer ends of the contacts, thereby electrically shorting the contact ends. The contacts of the connector are designed so that when a leading edge of a printed circuit board is inserted into the slot between the two opposed rows of contacts, such contacts will make electrical contact with conductive pads on both sides of the board, and after such contact is made, further insertion of the board will cause the contacts to separate at the location they had been shorted thereby completing a circuit through the board.

Abstract: The disclosed connector has a housing and a terminal interfitted in a channel in the housing, and special exposed jaws are formed on the terminal between which a wire of the type having a conductive core and an insulation overwrap can be forced to establish a mechanically secure and an electrically sound solderless type connection. One pair of jaws are rigid and have cutting and gripping edges that cut through the insulation overwrap to establish electrical contact with the conductive core. These same edges are used to axially restrain the wire relative to the terminal. The second pair of jaws are flexible and have inwardly sloped tabs presenting adjacent edges that are angled transversely of the wire and are spaced apart approximately by the diameter of the insulation overwrap. The wire thus can be forced past the tabs spreading apart the second set of jaws which then spring back and overlie the wire and thereby transversely restrain the wire relative to the terminal.

Abstract: Contact designs for leadless chip carrier sockets of either the surface compression or the solder type. The contact for a compression type socket employs a dual cantilever configuration mounted on a base member which mechanically isolates one portion of the contact from another. Two cooperative contact designs are used for a solder type socket in which each type is alternately arranged with respect to the other in mounted relationship on a base member. The upper chip carrier contacting portions of the two contacts for a solder type socket are disposed side-by-side along each side wall, while the terminal ends are aligned inwardly perpendicular to the upper alignment.

Abstract: a cover assembly for a leadless chip carrier socket including a spring cover and locking bracket selectively positionable on a socket body in any one of four positions. The spring cover is pivotally mounted on the socket body and is movable between an open position and a closed position at which the cover engages the locking bracket. The cover is formed with four arm members which are spring loaded and which engage the top of a chip carrier at eight pressure points. The force exerted by the spring cover in a closed position applies a downward force against the chip package to effect positive electrical contact with a plurality of contacts mounted in the socket which are adapted to be interconnected with a printed circuit board or circuit pad.

Abstract: Switch assemblies providing switching action with audio and tactile feedback. Warped or raised tactile areas are formed on a conductive body and create a desired noise and feel upon being depressed. The tactile areas also act as electrical contact in the switch assemblies.

Abstract: An improved column mounted switch for vehicles and the like for controlling the windshield wipers and the windshield washer in an automobile or truck. One or more rotatable carriers are in electrical contact with a base member having electrical conductors. The rotatable carriers also have conductive member means which can enter into and pass out of electrically conductive relation with the electrical conductors to act as a switch having multiple functions. The carrier may comprise shaped portions of a conductive metal plate, with the shaped portions being embedded in an insulating plastic disc. Thus the shaped portions form a part of the smooth face of the disc which can smoothly rotate in contact with the electrical conductors of the base, while an added contact may be provided to the carrier by means of a conductive ring, as part of the conductive metal plate, exposed to the other side of the carrier for contact with other conductive member means.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving pins into a printed circuit board and the like which comprises: table means for receiving and retaining a board into which the pins are to be driven; magazine means for holding a supply of the pins in a position parallel to the plane of the table, and receiver means, pivotally movable to receive the pin from the magazine means in one pivotal position and to pivot the pin into transverse relation with the table means in a second pivoting position. Loading means are provided for inserting the pins into the receiver means. Means are also provided for moving the receiver means while in the second pivoting position to drive the pin inserted in it into the board.

Abstract: An electrical connector for mounting on the edge of a printed circuit board, the connector having a plurality of terminals which engage against electrically conductive contact fingers formed on the printed circuit board adjacent the edge thereof, and the connector being designed to clamp over an edge portion of the circuit board so as to permit a high contact pressure between the connector terminals and the circuit board fingers without requiring a high insertion force to interconnect the connector with the circuit board.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying connector terminals to a plurality of leads including tensioning means capable of individually tensioning the leads with a predetermined tension, while being gripped and advanced by clamping means for advancing the leads into a terminal. Also, the clamping means may define a forward end which carries a wire guide plate which, in turn, is adapted to be longitudinally slidable back and forth in the direction of advancement, and is spring-biased into an outward position. The leads pass through apertures of the guide plate for precise positioning, relative to the terminal or terminals. The guide plate is thus retractable to permit the free ends of the leads to project into the terminal. Also, a lead-lengthening probe may be provided.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrical backplane comprising providing an initially oversized ground and potential plate, forming discontinuous slots in a staggered relationship near the edges of the top surface of one of the plates and the bottom surface of the other plates, laminating the plates together by filling the slots with insulative material and trimming the edge portions off by cutting through the filled slots and webs connecting the slots whereby exposed backplane edges lie opposite insulation in the slots of the plates.

Abstract: The disclosed connector has a housing and a terminal interfitted in a channel in the housing, and special exposed jaws are formed on the terminal between which a wire of the type having a conductive core and an insulation overwrap can be forced to establish a mechanically secure and an electrically sound solderless type connection. One pair of jaws are rigid and have cutting and gripping edges that cut through the insulation overwrap to establish electrical contact with the conductive core. These same edges are used to axially restrain the wire relative to the terminal. The second pair of jaws are flexible and have inwardly sloped tabs presenting adjacent edges that are angled transversely of the wire and are spaced apart approximately by the diameter of the insulation overwrap. The wire thus can be forced past the tabs spreading apart the second set of jaws which then spring back and overlie the wire and thereby transversely restrain the wire relative to the terminal.

Abstract: An electrical male connector assembly including a header or male connector having an insulator body member and a plurality of parallel pins which project through opposite sides of the insulator body. The connector includes two separate insulator body members mounted on a common set of parallel pins, and may further include an intermediate mounting member disposed on the same set of pins between the two body members.

Abstract: The following specification describes a system for prefabricating a wiring harness by extending the conductors of flat ribbon cable in desired directions to specific or predetermined locations and slitting the insulating lengthwise at those locations to permit selected conductors to project for connection to a contactor terminal.A projecting conductor is also folded back if it is to be connected to a contact at another location, and to enable the folded back conductor and the other conductors to then extend in a smooth cable, the other conductors are folded at the end of the slit in two reverse legs or three bends corresponding in length to the projection of the connected folded back conductor.Contacts having insulation piercing shanks of unique design are provided for secure insulation piercing engagement with either folded projecting conductors or terminated conductors.

Abstract: The plug-switch includes a pair of terminal blades projecting outwardly of a housing for insertion in an electrical socket, and first and second pairs of contacts. A carrier member, which is movable within the housing between first and second positions, is normally biased to its first position by spring means and is movable from its first position to its second position by engagement with a member associated with an electrical socket. A pair of contact members, which are carried by the carrier member, serve to bridge either the terminal blades and one pair of the contacts or the terminal blades and the other pair of the contacts.

Abstract: A terminal block carries a plurality of terminals, a plurality of end clips connected to certain of the terminals, and a pair of ground clips. The terminal block is provided with cavities for receiving surge-protector gas tubes which are engaged by the end clips and ground clips.