Abstract: An electric plug that has a retractable ground terminal in addition to the customary two terminals. Novel means is used for electrically connecting the three wires to the three terminals without the need of screws functioning as binding posts between the wires and the terminals.

Abstract: A vehicle having an internal storage battery and a body panel is provided with electrical connectors or fittings having portions extending through first and second openings in the body panel. Each fitting includes a conducting stem having an axial recess therein and includes an insulator head abutting one side of the body panel. One fitting has an insulator to prevent conduction between the stem and the body panel. Each threaded stem passes through an opening and receives a nut to clamp the insulator head against the body panel. A conductor extends from one stem to one pole of the internal storage battery. The other fitting is similar but is not insulated. Rather, it is electrically connected to the body panel or may have a conductor extending from the stem to the other pole of the internal storage battery. The fitting recesses receive electrical conductors in an exterior electrical circuit that may extend to another, external storage battery.

Abstract: A co-axial radio frequency flexible connector system for use in traversing hrough and/or over sheaves, hull fittings, cable handling equipment and machinery, and reeling operations. The system comprises a bellows enclosing a spring assembly. The bellows provides a fixed length electrical path which remains the same during flexing, tension and compression. The system is radially rigid to inhibit rotation of components. Electrical contact engagement is enhanced by having the components under a pre-determined amount of compression when assembled and in use.

Abstract: A wedge-shaped printed wiring assembly is inserted into a chassis having guide rails for coarse positioning of the unit the final alignment being accomplished with male and female pins on the connector. Slotted air openings at the entrance and exit of the printed wiring assembly are matched to corresponding openings through the seal. The seal surfaces are tapered a nominal 1.5 degrees top to bottom to facilitate insertion of the printed wiring assembly into the chassis which causes the taper surfaces to come together and force the seal to deflect uniformly and provide a tight interface across the entire surface. The seal material is preferably polyether urethane or a like material.

Abstract: Electrical distribution and/or connection devices include an electrically connecting bridge having two contact limbs with respective contact points for the connection of respective electrical conductors. The contact points may comprise spring clamps. The devices may be formed for mounting in line on a rail and may be formed for the connecting bridge of adjacent devices to be interconnected by a removable bridge component which has two contact limbs for engaging the respective said connecting bridges at web portions thereof disposed between the respective contact points.

Abstract: A separable electrical connector assembly includes mating rod connector and bore switch modules. The bore switch module includes a grasping bore contact member for electrically engaging with a rod contact member which is included in the rod connector module. The rod contact member includes an arc follower at its engaging end. The assembly includes means for providing an operator, during a make operation, with a modified dwell position immediately following which electrical engagement of the rod and bore contact members is made. At the modified dwell position, further insertion of the rod contact member into the switch module is met by a noticeable resistance. At the modified dwell position, a predetermined distance separates the arc follower and the grasping bore contact member. In one embodiment, the bore switch module includes two axially spaced annular grooves respectively containing a gas sealing ring and a stop ring. The rod contact member includes two spaced annular recesses.

Abstract: A hermaphroditic back cover and strain relief part for an electrical connector is disclosed. The part is intended to be mounted on an electrical connector along with an identical part to form a back cover and strain relief. The back cover part comprises a rearward end and first, second, and third co-extensive sidewalls, the first and second sidewalls being parallel to each other and the third sidewall extending normally of the other sidewalls. An inclined shoulder is provided on the external surface of the first sidewall. Means are provided for securing the part to a connector housing and for securing the part to an identical part in opposed relationship thereto. In use, the two parts are mounted on the rearward end of the connector housing with the conductors extending beyond the rearward ends of the parts. The internal surface of each second sidewall is positioned over the recessed surface adjacent to the shoulder of each first sidewall to form an enclosure around the connector.

Abstract: An electric plug that has a pivoted "ground" terminal which may be swung from operative to an inoperative and protective position. The base for the "ground" terminal as well as the base for each of the two electrodes are provided with integral hook-shaped projections around which the bare strands of each wire in the three wire cable can be tightly wound for making an electrical connection between the bare strands of a wire and its associate base. In addition, the terminal carrier that receives the three wire cable has one end received in an end cap provided with recesses for receiving the outer ends of the hook-shaped projections. Also, the end cap has shoulders for pressing the bare strands of the wires into intimate contact with its associate base.

Abstract: A hollow rotatable shaft supported by bearing means surrounds a rivet extending through both ends thereof and rotatable therewith. A non-rotatable contact is connected to a terminal adjacent one end of the shaft and in brushing contact with one end of the rivet. A mechanical coupling is located at the opposite end of the shaft whereby the shaft, rivet and coupling are rotatable as a single unit and electrical current may pass through the rivet as the unit is rotating.

Abstract: A strain relief arrangement associated with a removable wall of a housing includes an integral member which defines a cavity; a post within the cavity; and a slot communicating with the cavity and the inside of the housing. The wall and member provide a depressed region adjacent the cavity, the depressed region including a set for a removable cover, and a pair of holes through which fingers of the cover can engage the inside of the wall. When the fingers engage the wall, a screw can be put through a hole in the cover to engage the post and secure the cover. An abutment on the cover cooperates with the cavity to define a second slot, each of the slots being large enough to slidably but snuggly accommodate a power cord. A cord extending through the slots and around the post is anchored by the assembled arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention consists of a connector suitable for joining, to pass electrical current therethrough, ends respectively of wires, cables or the like, of different metals, such as copper and aluminum, the connector of the present invention involving a housing containing an electrically conductive fluid medium, such as mercury, that, at least partially, covers in any attitude the connector is placed in longitudinal electrical contacts, the contacts formed respectively from the same metal as the respective wire or cable ends that the contacts are electrically connected to, which contacts are arranged parallel to one another, at least parts of opposite conductive surfaces thereof covered by the fluid medium no matter what attitude the connector is placed in to pass current therethrough, with, in one embodiment, said wire or cable ends inserted in sealing arrangement in the housing themselves becoming the contacts.

Abstract: A connector for demountably attaching a large scale integrated circuit package to a backpanel includes a base receptacle mounted on the backpanel with contact means therein which are in contact with the backpanel. In the preferred embodiment, the base receptacle is adapted to receive a leadless circuit package therein with the terminals of the package in alignment with the contact means of the base receptacle, and the base receptacle is provided with upstanding headed studs. A cover having apertures formed therein is mounted atop the base receptacle so that lateral movement of the cover relative to the base causes interaction of the studs with the apertures to load the terminals of the circuit package into conductive contact with the contact means of the base receptacle and to demountably lock the cover in place atop the base.

Abstract: A connector and a slide particularly useful in a floor tool wand for a powered or a nonpowered floor tool for a vacuum cleaner. A slide is mounted on the wand and electrical power is provided to a connector which is adapted to be mounted adjacent the slide. The slide has two generally parallel sides and each side is provided with an outwardly opening notch and a stop. A plug (male) electrical connector is slid along the slide for engagement therewith, and a pivotable lock, which engages the notches, selectively retains the plug connector against the stops.

Abstract: A manifold adapted to detachably carry on one side thereof a plurality of pneumatically and electrically operated control units each of which is adapted to be fluidly and electrically interconnected to pneumatic structure and electrical structure of the manifold. That one side of the manifold has external interconnecting structure for the pneumatic structure and the electrical structure whereby external pneumatic and electrical lines can be interconnected to the same side of the manifold that the units are adapted to be interconnected thereto.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a separable coupling for connecting a suction hose to a vacuum cleaner and at the same time establishing an electric circuit between conductors in the hose and in the cleaner and involves means for preventing short circuits in the coupling even though the latter may suffer a mechanical damage.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an assembly of electrical contacts with a center conductor and a ground conductor on a coaxial cable, the assembly including further a one-piece housing having two parts hinged to each other for closure together, thereby terminating the conductors to the contacts and providing an enclosure for the terminated conductors. The contacts protrude from the housing for pluggable connection into apertures of a printed circuit board.

Abstract: A circuit board with connectors along more than one side designed to be stacked with similar boards, having a plurality of electrical contacts to connect to a connector header with resilient contacts, applying a force to the circuit board which is inclined from a central axis whereby the circuit board and the connector header join a tight, reliable compression contact.

Abstract: A connector housing which is formed of first and second sections which are shaped to form a hollow housing having a cable insert end and a connector opening when in assembled relationship. Cable clamps are used to secure a cable in the cable insert end and to secure the first and second sections together. A multi-pin connector operatively connected to the cable is mounted in the connector opening so as to provide a free-floating connection with a mating connector. The housing may also provide a shielded connection between a utilization device having a mating connector or an identical connector housing having the mating conductor therein to provide a shielded cable-to-cable connection.

Abstract: A two-piece connector plug is provided for terminating a round electric cord of a modular telephone system. A retainer plug having two wedge-shaped legs is pressed through a lateral opening of the connector plug housing to compress and captivate the jacket of a round cord. This plug locks the cord firmly against rotational as well as pulling forces to which the cord may be subject.

Abstract: A grounding device includes an internally threaded collar having an end insulator bushing and provided in its outer peripheral face with a radial coupling socket which has regularly circumferentially spaced longitudinal grooves and a tapped axial bore in its base. A wire clamp includes an elongated base provided at an end thereof with a projecting polygonal shank which slideably engages the socket and grooves to permit the selective angular adjustment of and the angular locking of the wire clamp to the collar. A locking and fastening screw engages a bore coaxially formed in the shank and the tapped bore in the socket base. The wire clamp includes a stationary jaw integrally formed with the base and a screw advanced movable jaw.