Abstract: A bulb socket for receiving a bulb which has a plus electrode and a minus electrode comprises a socket housing, a plus terminal and a minus terminal. The plus terminal is mounted in the socket housing, and includes a bulb-side plus terminal portion for electrically connecting with the plus electrode of the bulb and a feeder-side plus terminal portion for electrically connecting with an external plus terminal. The bulb-side plus terminal portion and the feeder-side plus terminal portion are disposed in a juxtaposed condition within the socket hosing. The minus terminal is mounted in the socket housing, and includes a bulb-side minus terminal portion for electrically connecting with the minus electrode of the bulb and a feeder-side minus terminal portion for electrically connecting with an external minus terminal. The bulb-side minus terminal portion and the feeder-side minus terminal portion are disposed in a juxtaposed condition within the socket hosing.

Abstract: A locking mechanism that includes a plurality of female pins that can slide into the locking apertures of corresponding male pins, to secure a male connector to a female connector. The female pins are located within corresponding alignment apertures in the female connector and are oriented to be essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the apertures. The alignment apertures receive the male pins which have cam surfaces that engage the female pins and move the female pins from the first position to the second position. The male pins are inserted into the alignment apertures until the female pins are aligned with the locking apertures, wherein the female pins slide into the locking apertures and interlock the connectors. The female pins extend through the entire length of the locking apertures to effectively double the shear strength of the locking mechanism. The female pins are connected to a handle by a chassis that can move between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: A lock release structure of a connector (23) for locking a male connector (21) with a female connector (27) having a lock portion (51) includes: a lock arm (33) formed in an outer surface of the male connector and having a lock projection (49) engaged with the lock portion (51) of the female connector when both the male and female connectors are locked with each other; and two lock release operation walls (39) formed on both sides of a free end (35) of the lock arm (33). Each of the lock release operation walls is formed with an inner lock engagement release surface (43) brought into contact with one of two free end side surfaces (37) of the lock arm, when the lock release operation walls are depress toward each other, to deform the lock arm by a predetermined distance and thereby to release the lock projection of the lock arm from the lock portion (51) of the female connector. The lock arm can be prevented from being released by an inadvertent external force and is protected from an excessive external force.

Abstract: An elongated modular connector assembly (1) comprises a plurality of connector modules (10, 12) each having an insulative housing (14) and a plurality of contacts (20) therein. Every two adjacent connector modules (10,12) are connected to each other in an end-to-end relationship. An external fastening means (30) latchably aligns such every two adjacent connector modules (10,12) together in the lengthwise direction of the whole connector assembly (1) so that such connector assembly (1) can lengthwise extend itself by adding additional modules thereto to meet the requirements of increasing signal and/or power transmission.

Abstract: An electrical cord plug lock for securing plug of a pair of electrical cords together. The inventive device includes a first cord clamp securable to an extension cord proximal to a plug thereof, and a second cord clamp securable to a power tool cord proximal to a plug of the power tool cord. A joining assembly extends between the cord clamps for securing the plugs together to preclude separation of the plugs during tensioning of the cords.

Abstract: A battery terminal for a terminal post of a battery includes a terminal body formed by a single plate. The terminal body has top and bottom terminal members each continuous to top and bottom tightening members. The top and bottom tightening members are provided with tapered outer surfaces. A tightening tool having upper stage tapered surfaces and lower stage tapered surfaces is place above the tightening members. When the tightening tool is pressed against the tightening members, the upper stage tapered surfaces and the lower stage tapered surfaces press said first and second tapered outer surface to compress said top and bottom terminal members to firmly hold the terminal post.

Abstract: A connector inspecting apparatus includes (i) a connector receiving portion for holding a connector which is to be inspected and which has a terminal and (ii) an inspecting portion which has a detecting piece corresponding to the terminal, and which is arranged for inspecting the connector by moving the connector receiving portion and the inspecting portion toward/away from each other. At least one of the connector receiving portion and the inspecting portion is rotatably attached to a base. The other of the receiving portion and the inspecting portion is so guided as to be moved toward/away from the first. When either of the receiving or inspecting portions is rotated, such a rotational movement is converted into a sliding movement of the other portion. Accordingly, by rotating one of the portions, the connector can be inspected. This not only reduces the space required for installing the connector inspecting apparatus, but also facilitates the inspecting operation.

Abstract: An accessory for an electrical connector, known as a backshell adapter assembly, includes a coupling nut and a generally tubular adapter body. The adapter body is axially secured relative to the coupling nut without the use of a retaining ring by flaring one end of the coupling nut and forming an annular shoulder about the inner circumference of the flared end. The annular shoulder formed on the flared end of the coupling nut cooperates with an annular shoulder formed on the adapter body to provide axial securement of the coupling nut relative to the adapter body once the flared end is crimped. An important aspect of the invention is that the backshell adapter assembly can be used as a stand-alone device or can be used with one or more accessories, such as a grounding spring and an antidecoupling ring for custom applications.

Abstract: An electrical conductor pin assembly including at least one conductor pin having pin insulation, the conductor pin extending in sealed relation through a housing wall terminal assembly of a chamber and a lead wire connector block having an over-surface wall shield assembly extending from the outer face of the connector block configured to spacedly surround both the exposed pin assembly and pin insulation to provide tortuous passageways therebetween, the conductor pin of the assembly force fitting with a passageway in the connector block through a thin breakaway membrane with the wall shield assembly being in sealed relation wit the terminal assembly.

Abstract: A new power plug retainer comprises a cubical or rectangular parallelepiped box having an open side and open end. Opposite the open end is a slot terminating at the open side. Outwardly extending to either side of the open end are a pair of flanges upon which a permanent or semi-permanent adhesive is coated. Optionally, a double adhesive sided foam tape may be attached to each side flange. A third outwardly extending flange may also be added to the open end adjacent the third side. This flange may also be coated with adhesive. The adhesive attachment is specifically directed to obviating the need for any mechanical fastening of the retainer to a plastic or metal cabinet or enclosure. Adjustability for different lengths of plugs is provided by an alternate version of the retainer comprising an open ended box telescopically engaging a second box with a partially closed end. The engagement includes retention means to positively retain the telescopic engagement of the two boxes.

Abstract: A process of a contact member moving over peaked slanting surfaces. A female connector housing is urged into its proper coupling position if a movable member is pressed in after the female connector housing has been inserted to a predetermined position. Conversely, if the movable member is pressed in when the female connector housing has not yet reached its predetermined position, the female connector housing is pressed out. This eliminates the possibility of partial coupling of the female and male connector housings, as the coupling failure is easily noticeable. It also enables the coupling of the connector with a small force due to the leverage obtained.

Abstract: An improved metal terminal receptacle with stoppers for protecting an elastic tongue. The metal terminal receptacle includes a base plate; an insertion portion at an end of the base plate including the base plate, two side walls extending from the base plate, and an upper wall integrally formed with the side walls; a supporting portion for pinching a mated male terminal with an inner wall of the insertion portion and a U-shaped elastic tongue, where the elastic tongue extends from one of the side walls and is inserted into the insertion portion; a wire connecting portion at the other end of the base plate; and projections formed by embossing inwardly the opposing walls, adjacent the wall having the elastic tongue, of the insertion portion, wherein a straight-line cutout is provided in each of the opposing walls before the succeeding embossing work. The upper end faces of the projections acting as the stoppers for limiting the deflection of the elastic tongue within a predetermined elastic limit thereof.

Abstract: An IC socket includes a socket body, an IC receiving portion formed in the socket body, an engagement members for engaging an upper edge or upper surface of an IC package received in the IC receiving portion and applying a push-down force thereto, and a support members for elastically supporting the lower surface or lower edge of the IC package and applying a push-up force thereto. The IC package is held between the support members and the engagement members.

Abstract: A feeding connector used for charging an automobile in which incomplete connection between a feeding connector half and a receiving connector half is prevented and the connection work of both connector halves can be easily carried out with small insertion force.

Abstract: This invention is intended to provide a coupled housing type connector, whose housing is split in two, an outer housing and an inner housing, so that by coupling the split housing portions together, terminals can easily be inserted and fitted in position even when the terminal locking position lies in a narrow and deep structure of the connector. Wires that are passed through the sealing rubber plug are connected with the terminals, which are installed in the terminal accommodating chambers in the inner housing. The inner housing and the rubber plug are fitted into the outer housing so that the electric contact portions of the terminals project from the terminal leadout openings formed in the partition wall of the outer housing.

Abstract: An electrode socket assembly for receiving gas discharge tubes is disclosed. The electrode socket assembly is designed for mounting along a generally flat surface. The assembly includes a barrier panel designed to lie along the flat surface. A housing having a base and a socket is mounted against the barrier panel. A leaf-spring is attached to the base and extends upwardly into the interior of the socket to cooperate with the flexible outer walls of the socket for securely holding the gas discharge tube electrode when inserted into the socket. Additionally, the flexible outer walls of the socket may include ribs that also help secure the gas discharge tube.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly has a pair of mating connector housings carrying mating metal terminals, a double ended shorting clip carried by one of the housings and having both ends thereof in spring biased engagement with its associated metal terminals in that housing, a third housing encircling the housings and a tethered connector position assurance member connected to the third housing. The shorting clip first has one end automatically disengaged from its associated metal terminals by a first cam when the connector housings are mated together and then its other end automatically disengaged from its associated terminals by a second cam on the connector position assurance member when it is connected to the third housing so that a shorting path across the associated metal terminals is only fully disconnected if proper mating of the connector housings is assured.

Abstract: An improved electrical connector is provided that is especially designed for the terminals and drivers of high density ZIF sockets. The terminals used are punched from a strip of metal and formed into a long support piece and a short support piece. The two support pieces respectively form first and second contacts, which provides the connector with both upper and lower conducting surfaces. By virtue of that structure, the terminals can be placed within slots formed in the socket, and can make effective conductive contact with respective PGA pins inserted into the socket.

Abstract: A Christmas lamp socket is provided that includes a socket body and an inner cylindrical wall inserted into the socket body. The socket body has two opposing elongate vertically directed plates inside, an annular groove formed in an inner surface at an upper end thereof. The inner cylindrical wall is formed by two semi-cylindrical walls combined together, each wall having a vertical slot formed in an outer surface for receiving a respective one of the two vertical plates of the socket body therein. Each wall also has an annular ridge formed on an outer surface at the upper end thereof for engagement with the annular groove of the socket body to stably couple the cylindrical inner wall to the socket body. A threaded portion is formed on each inner wall to mate with a threaded metal portion of a lamp. A slot is formed between abutting vertical ends of the two semi-cylindrical inner walls for an elongate conductor to extend therein and protrude out of the slot to contact the metal screw base of a lamp.

Abstract: An electrical connector with a latch includes an insulating housing having a base which has an elongated groove, and first and second contact receiving cavities provided on upper and lower sides of the elongated groove, respectively; first and second contact elements arranged in the first and second contact receiving cavities, respectively, such that contact portions of the first and second contact elements exposed in the elongated groove respectively; a front end face of the first contact receiving cavities being offset from a front end face of the second contact receiving cavities by a predetermined length; a guide slope provided on an upper front edge of the elongated groove for guiding a circuit board into the elongated groove; the contact portions of the first contact elements project into the elongated groove beyond an extended line of the guide slope; and a shortest distance between the contact portions of the first and second contact elements being set slightly less than a thickness of the circuit boa