Abstract: A switching operation is performed in response to an externally applied DC control signal from an external load. An input connector receives an input audio signal from an external audio source, and an output connector that provides an audio output signal. A DC isolator couples the input audio signal from the input connector as the audio output signal on the output connector while isolating the externally applied DC control signal from the input connector. A switch is responsive to the externally applied DC control signal applied to the output connector so as to perform the switch operation.

Abstract: A jack has first and second jack ports, first and second contacts, and a switch having a full, half, and no normal positions. In the full normal position, the switch couples the first and second contacts together when no plug is inserted into either the first or second jack port, and the switch conditions the jack so that, when a plug is inserted into either the first or second jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is broken, the first contact is coupled to the plug if the plug is in the first jack port, and the second contact is coupled to the plug if the plug is in the second jack port. In the half normal position, the jack operates in the same way except that, when a plug is inserted into the second jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is maintained. In the no normal position, there is no coupling between the first and second contacts whether or not a plug is inserted into either the first jack port or the second jack port.

Abstract: A coaxial jack has an electrically groundable housing including first and second ports, a printed circuit board supporting a terminating element and conductive traces, and a center conductor disposed within the electrically groundable housing. The center conductor extends through a hole in the printed circuit board and is normally coupled to the electrically groundable housing contact through the terminating element and the conductive traces. A grounding spring has a leaf spring that acts as switch to break the coupling when a plug is inserted into the first port.

Abstract: A switching coaxial jack has an electrically grounded housing that supports first and second connectors at a first end of the housing and third and fourth connectors at a second end of the housing. A first center conductor is disposed within the first connector, a second center conductor is disposed within the second connector, a third center conductor is disposed within the third connector, and a fourth center conductor is disposed within the fourth connector. A sliding switch within the housing has a first position that electrically couples the first and third center conductors to one another and a second position that electrically couples the first center conductor to one of the second center conductor and the terminating element.

Abstract: A jack has first and second jack ports, first and second contacts, and a switch having a full, half, and no normal positions. In the full normal position, the switch couples the first and second contacts together when no plug is inserted into either the first or second jack port, and the switch conditions the jack so that, when a plug is inserted into either the first or second jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is broken, the first contact is coupled to the plug if the plug is in the first jack port, and the second contact is, coupled to the plug if the plug is in the second jack port. In the half normal position, the jack operates in the same way except that, when a plug is inserted into the second jack port, the coupling between the first and second contacts is maintained. In the no normal position, there is no coupling between the first and second contacts whether or not a plug is inserted into either the first jack port or the second jack port.

Abstract: A switching coaxial jack has an electrically grounded housing that supports first and second connectors at a first end of the housing and third and fourth connectors at a second end of the housing. A first center conductor is disposed within the first connector, a second center conductor is disposed within the second connector, a third center conductor is disposed within the third connector, and a fourth center conductor is disposed within the fourth connector. A sliding switch within the housing has a first position that electrically couples the first and third center conductors to one another and a second position that electrically couples the first center conductor to one of the second center conductor and the terminating element.

Abstract: An environmental connector formed by insert molding a thermoplastic rubber insert into a plastic cylindrical housing having an external shoulder adjacent to an exit aperture for the thermoplastic rubber to flow to an annular void in the cavity of the mold. In such manner, an annular ring such as a gasket or o-ring is formed by the insert molding process, and is connected as one piece with the thermoplastic rubber insert formed in the internal chamber of the housing. The housing is made of polypropylene and the thermoplastic rubber is Santoprene so the two materials stick together to hold the annular ring snugly against the shoulder. The insert of the female connector has a concentric opening to receive the housing of the male connector, and the concentric opening terminates in thin protrusion that is compressible to from an inner seal to prevent the ingress of moisture into the connectors.

Abstract: A solderless audio connector plug including a handle, a plug body, and a conductive sheath having fingers flared outwardly with the free ends pointing inwardly. In assembly, the end of a coaxial cable is inserted through a bore in the handle, and then inserted into the sheath. The plug body is then screwed to the handle, and, as the two are drawn together, the sheath is forced into the bore of the handle. The bore tapers downwardly pushing the fingers inwardly to pierce the outer insulation layer of the coaxial cable. Further, a pointed end of a tip rod is aligned within the plug body to make contact with the center conductor of the coaxial cable. In such manner, electrical continuity is established between the outer conductor and the plug body, and also between the center conductor and the tip rod.

Abstract: A retainer sleeve having a cylindrically curved wall of resilient material spaced radially from its longitudinal centerline for defining a tapered leading end portion, a midportion and an opposing trailing end portion of the sleeve. The defining wall has extended through its thickness a longitudinally coextensive first opening with an open end portion in the trailing end portion of the sleeve disposed in opposing relationship with a hinge portion of the wall. The hinge portion terminates in a closed end of a longitudinal second opening in the wall having an opposing open end portion disposed in diametric opposing relationship with an opposing open end portion of the first opening in the leading end portion of the sleeve. Thus, the first and second openings form therebetween first and second opposing flexible legs which have in the midportion of the sleeve respective proximal end portions.

Abstract: An interlock device having a slip resistant feature. A strip conductor is disposed in a dielectric housing and is electrically connected to a tip terminal plug. The strip conductor has an angled end distal from the tip terminal plug. A spring clamp is disposed in the dielectric housing and is pivotally coupled thereto. The angled end of the strip conductor and the spring clamp are adapted for clamping a conductor wire therebetween. The spring clamp exerts pressure on the conductor wire to maintain it in a fixed position and in contact with the strip conductor and the tip terminal plug.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprising a dielectric body including a housing having therein an open-ended cavity with an opposing closed end formed of a contact support wall of the housing. The wall has extended through its thickness a plurality of laterally spaced holes which communicate with respective aligned channels in the outer surface of the wall. Each of the through-holes has a defining surface from which protrudes integrally a ripple-like projection extending linearly from adjacent the outer surface of the wall toward the cavity. Each of the channels has opposing side surfaces from which protrude integrally respective ripple-like projections having spaced opposing crest portions. The holes are dimensioned for having press-fitted therein contact engaging arms of respective right-angle contact members which compress the respective ripple-like projections in the holes and are pressed against respective opposing surfaces thereof.

Abstract: An electrical jack module having a dielectric box-like housing with an end wall integrally joined to a side wall of the housing, the end wall having extended through its thickness a plurality of mutually spaced sleeves which define respective plug receiving apertures. The side wall has projecting integrally from its inner surface within the housing a plurality of rigid ramp-like detents, each of which is fixedly aligned with a respective one of the plug receiving apertures. Each of the detents has a lower end portion with a sloped surface merging with the inner surface of the side wall adjacent the respective aligned aperture, and has an opposing higher end portion with a surface terminating in an edge portion of the detent aligned with a sheer end surface thereof.

Abstract: An electrical jack of the composite prong type having a leading end portion comprising a tapered tip component of an axially extending tip contact member. The tapered tip component has a proximal end portion terminating in a circular flange which has first diameter and is integrally joined to a rod component of much smaller diameter through a reinforced length component of intermediate diameter. The reinforced length component has a cross sectional size designed for uniformly distributing impact stresses transmitted from the tapered tip component, and has a length greater than its intermediate diameter for minimizing impact stresses transmitted to the rod component. The reinforced length component is slidably installed in a cup-shaped dielectric bushing having a flanged open end portion abutting the circular flange of the tapered tip component. The cup-shaped bushing has an opposing closed end provided with a central aperture through which extends the rod component and an encircling dielectric sheath.

Abstract: A connector adaptor assembly comprising a trough-like frame made of resilient dielectric material and having a connector retainer end portion wherein opposing side walls of the frame are integrally joined to respective taller resilient posts having respective inwardly projected portions extending toward one another. Distal end portions of the posts have adjacent an end of the frame respective surfaces supporting respective integrally protruding bosses which are spaced laterally a predetermined distance apart. The assembly also includes an electrical connector with a cylindrical body disposed recumbently in the frame and having chordally disposed in opposing portions thereof respective slots which are aligned with the respective posts. Adjacent the slots, an annular flange extends radially outward of the body and has a diameter greater than the predetermined distance of lateral spacing between the bosses.

Abstract: A channelized jackfield comprising a housing having therein a linear array of juxtaposed channels wherein respective assemblies of aligned printed circuit boards and connecting slab-like modules are slidably inserted edgewise from the front of the housing. Each of the assemblies includes an inverted L-shaped bracket of dielectric material having a vertical leg latchingly secured to a front edge portion of the printed circuit board and provided with a plurality of spaced notches through which respective terminal lugs extend insulatingly from the printed circuit board and externally of the housing. Also, each of the L-shaped brackets has a leg disposed substantially orthogonal to the vertical leg and carries on its upper surface a guide groove for slidably receiving the connecting module and guiding it into mating engagement with an aligned connector attached to the front edge portion of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A terminal contact assembly comprising a dielectric sleeve of flexible material having a midportion provided with a transverse integral partition wherein a keyway slot extends from an open end thereof communicating with a longitudinal slot in a defining wall portion of the sleeve, through a restricted portion of the keyway slot, to a larger closed end portion thereof centrally disposed in the partition. This assembly also comprises an elongated rigid contact of electrically conductive material having a midportion with an hour glass configuration including a narrow neck portion or key which is inserted laterally through the longitudinal slot in the sleeve and enters the open end of the keyway slot. The key is pressingly urged through the restricted portion of the keyway slot, by virtue of adjacent portions of the sleeve and the integral partition flexing momentarily to widen the restricted portion, and snaps into the larger closed end of the keyway slot thereby locking the contact axially within the sleeve.

Abstract: A self-latching lamp jack comprising first and second dielectric plates disposed in opposing relationship for forming respective opposing sides of the lamp jack. One of the opposing plates is provided with a plurality of interposed wall portions for forming a pair of lamp conductor receiving cavities adjacent one end of the lamp jack. Also, the self-latching lamp jack includes a pair of electrical contact members which are blade-like and are disposed edge-wise between the opposing dielectric plates. Each of the contact members has an end portion disposed in a respective one of the lamp conductors receiving cavities and a midportion provided with a pair of laterally extended tabs which protrude into respectively aligned slots in the plates. The contact members have opposing terminal end portions which extend out of another end portion of the lamp jack.

Abstract: A jack module having a relatively thin substantially rectangular dielectric housing having collared plug receiving apertures on one end thereof. The housing has a mounting bar parallel with said end, and the mounting bar has a plurality of slots perpendicular with the end. A plurality of metal strips each having tabs extending from opposing edges are secured in a predetermined substantially parallel arrangement by inserting the tabs on one edge into said mounting bar and engaging a dielectric retaining bar with slots corresponding to the tabs on the opposite edges over the metal strips. Lifters having one end rotatably engaging the housing have opposite ends extending between metal strips to hold them in a predetermined alignment. Upon insertion or removal of plugs from said plug receiving apertures, the metal strips are permitted to move laterally with the lifters.