Abstract: An appliance and a power cord assembly for providing electrical power to the appliance are provided. A plug receptacle is positioned on the appliance cabinet which includes two hot prongs, a neutral prong, and a ground prong. A power cord extends between an appliance plug and a wall plug, the wall plug being coupled to either a three prong or four prong outlet. The appliance plug includes four terminals complementary to the plug receptacle, with the neutral terminal and the ground terminal being electrically coupled within the appliance plug if the power cord has three wires.

Abstract: A printed circuit board connector, in particular a press-fit connector, comprises an insulative body carrying a series of contacts which are parts of right-angled pins extended rearwardly by proximal branches substantially perpendicular to the board having a profile adapted to enable their insertion. An insulative body comprises slots for receiving the right-angled pins. Each slot has a bearing surface parallel to the board to which pressure may be applied when press-fitting the profiles. They also have a second bearing surface substantially perpendicular to the board for locating the proximal branches in the direction in which the connection members are inserted.

Abstract: A connector assembly (16) for a memory card (10) includes a frame (24) and a contact-carrying carriage member (30) pivotally mounted to the frame. Guide rails (26, 28) are formed integrally with the frame and extend away from the frame. A first of the guide rails (26) is, together with t he frame, securely mounted to support structure, while the other guide rail (28) is free to flex relative to the frame. Insertion of the card causes the carriage member to be pivoted, against the biasing action of a spring 984), so that the contact members (60) engage respective contact pads (14) on the card. The guide rails are spring loaded toward each other to generate a friction force against the opposed edges (20, 22) of the card which is sufficient to overcome the biasing force of the spring (84) on the carriage member, thereby retaining the card in the connector assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an electrical connection device that positively engages the plug and receptacle ends of electrical devices to extension cords, adjacent extension cords, or positively engages an electrical cord with a power receptacle. The invention is formed so that either the receptacle or plug end of an extension cord or the cover of an electrical outlet has at least one flexible finger, depending on its front surface. The extension cord end or the electric appliance plug engaging the flexible finger has an orifice on its face shaped to accept the flexible finger. As the plug and receptacle ends are pushed together, the flexible finger enters the face orifice. The flexible finger has a locking tab formed as part of its tip. As the flexible finger advances within the opposing face orifice, the locking tab eventually comes into contact with a side orifice. The locking tab, encouraged by the bias of the flexible finger, enters the side orifice.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a recess for receiving an integrated circuit card containing integrated circuit elements and a contact pattern. The connector includes flexible electrodes pretensioned to project into the recess and connect with the contact pattern of an inserted card. A card-engaging lever is supported for entry into the recess from a side of the housing opposed to the flexible electrodes. By biasing the lever toward the electrodes, the integrated circuit card is captured therebetween and tensioned from opposing sides thereof to effect electrical connection. By further providing the card with a spring-loaded shutter and a locking slot opposite to the contact pattern, the lever engages the locking slot and the card is secured in the recess against the resilient bias of the spring-loaded shutter.