Abstract: A male electrical terminal plug for attachment with a female electrical receptacle having a tab with opposite top and bottom surfaces, opposite distal and proximate ends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tab, opposite side ends or edges perpendicular to the lateral axis of the tab, and a portion of the top surface area of the tab between opposite lateral side edges of the tab being sloped or angled relative to the remaining portion of the tab top surface from a base potion of the tab toward a beveled leading edge of the distal end of the tab.

Abstract: A modular connector assembly (10) includes at least first and second modules (12, 54) securable together to form the longer connector. Each module (52) includes a housing (14, 54) having a flange (32,72) extending outwardly from an endwall (24, 64) thereof that are adjacent one another when the modules (12, 54) are placed in an end to end relationship for forming the longer connector. The first flange (32) includes a base (34) having a first opening (36) extending vertically therethrough in communication with the mounting face (18) of first housing (14). The second flange (72) includes a base (74) spaced a selected distance above the mounting face (56) of the second housing 54 and a second opening (76) extending vertically therethrough in communication with the mounting face (58) of the second housing (54).

Abstract: Female electrical contact terminal obtained from a single electrically conducting metal sheet having a rear part (14) enabling it to be connected to an electrical conductor (20) and a front part in the form of a cage (10) consisting of an end (22), of two side walls (26), which are provided with flaps (46) for guiding a male contact during its insertion and with means for fixing this cage in connection housings, and of two upper half-walls in which each flap (46) has a width (L) approximately equal to the internal width defined by the walls of the terminal (10).

Abstract: A socket for use with a semiconductor chip assembly having conductive joining units such as solder balls thereon. The socket includes a flexible dielectric element such as a polyimide sheet having a plurality of apertures extending through it. A backing element disposed beneath the dielectric element has holes of slightly larger diameter than the apertures, the holes being aligned with the apertures so that a lip region of the flexible dielectric element overlies each hole. The socket also includes contacts disposed adjacent to the holes and apertures. The joining units on the chip assembly are of larger diameter than the apertures but smaller than the holes. When the chip assembly is engaged with the socket, the dielectric element deforms. The joining units pass through the apertures and are retained in engagement with the socket, and in electrical contact with the contacts of the socket, by the dielectric element.

Abstract: A latching member has a flange provided so as to extend along the inner face of an electric wire cover. This flange shields a space between an edge of a cut away of the cover and the external peripheral face of the latching member, thereby ensuring that the interior of the cover does not open out directly towards the exterior. Due to this, water is prevented from entering the interior of the electric wire cover.

Abstract: Female electrical contact terminal obtained from a single electrically conducting metal sheet and having a rear part enabling it to be connected to an electrical conductor and a front part in the form of a cage consisting of an end, of two side walls adapted to guide a male contact during its insertion and fixing the cage in a connection housing. One of the side walls has deformations which act alternately on the opposite surfaces of the contact blade associated with the wall so as continuously to control the contact pressure exerted by the blade on the surface of the male contact when it is inserted.

Abstract: A circuit board module includes a plurality of high density edge connectors in which the contacts are arranged in rows, with contact tails extending from the connectors for electrical connection to a circuit board carrying electrical components. Instead of terminating the contacts directly to pads or terminals on the principal surface of the circuit board on which the electrical components are situated, however, the contact tails are terminated to pads or terminals on pairs of intermediate circuit boards connected to the main boards, the intermediate circuit boards each providing two termination surfaces rather than one, thereby effectively doubling the space available for termination. The intermediate circuit boards are connected to the main circuit board by a rigid-flex interconnection, thus facilitating assembly of the connectors to a heatsink or frame of the circuit board following termination of the contact tails to the intermediate circuit boards.

Abstract: A watthour meter socket adapter electrically connects an external sealing ring and/or a metal cover ring on a watthour meter to ground. A surge ground conductor is mounted on an end mounting flange of the socket adapter housing and extends within and is joined to the housing by a first metal fastener. One end of the first metal fastener extends exteriorly of the housing and supports a first metal tab which is engaged by the metal sealing ring. A second metal fastener extends through the surge ground conductor and supports a second external tab engagable with a grounded meter socket cover. Alternately, a tab extends integrally from an upper end of the surge ground conductor for engagement with the sealing ring. In another embodiment, an annular surge ground conductor is mounted within an annular sidewall of a watthour meter socket adapter housing.

Abstract: A connector is provided which includes first and second insulative housings each of which includes first and second contacts, respectively, which may be electrically and mechanically connected and disconnected, in a connected mode and disconnected mode, respectively. The first insulative housing includes shorting bars which are spring biased into contact with the first contacts in the disconnected mode. The second insulative housing includes engagement posts which engage the shorting bars in a connected mode to disengage the shorting bars from the first contacts. An improved manner of mounting the shorting bars in the first insulative housing from the rear of such housing is provided. Each shorting bar is firmly held in place by the mating of a housing keeper within the first insulative housing and shorting bar latches.

Abstract: A plug safety adapter is provided for preventing electric shock from occurring while handling an electric plug. The plug safety adapter is comprised of a cylindrical housing, a face plate and a spring which extends between the cylindrical housing and the face plate for applying a biasing force therebetween. The face plate and the spring are positioned inside the cylindrical housing, such that the face plate is moveable within the housing against the biasing force of the spring. The face plate has holes of the same size as those of the prongs of the electric plug for receiving the prongs, such that the face plate is secured to the electric plug and moves backward and forward with the electric plug. As the plug is pushed into an electrical outlet, the housing will push rearward of the prongs of the electric plug and rearward of the face plate. The forward end of the face plate will fit substantially flush with the lowermost end of the housing when the electric plug is fully inserted into the electrical outlet.

Abstract: An electrical connector including a connector housing for receiving a terminal in a terminal accommodating chamber. The connector housing includes a flexible locking piece which locks the terminal in the connector housing and which deflects into a deflection space when the terminal is inserted into the connector housing. A spacer is inserted into the deflection space of the connector housing to maintain the engagement of the terminal and the flexible locking piece. An inflated portion is formed in the connector housing adjacent to the base of the flexible locking piece to reduce the deflection space of the flexible locking piece, thereby preventing buckling of the flexible locking piece.

Abstract: An electrical cable for a portable computer includes a plurality of electrical leads bound together in a flexible sheath. A first snap connector is joined to the leads. A second snap connector is complementary to the first snap connector and is connected thereto for establishing electrical connection with the computer, and allowing self-disconnection thereof upon yanking of the cable over a range of angles relative to the computer including a hemisphere.

Abstract: In a connector, a terminal plate, having terminals projecting therefrom, is fitted in a housing. Flat surfaces parallel to a direction of insertion of the terminal plate are formed on inner surfaces of the housing. Flat surfaces are also formed on an outer surface of the terminal plate, and contact the flat surfaces of the housing, respectively, to thereby prevent the terminal plate from shaking. Preferably, two pairs of parallel flat surfaces are formed on the inner surface of the housing, and two pairs of parallel flat surfaces are formed on the outer surface of the terminal plate.

Abstract: An electrical connector for coupling two circuitized substrates (e.g., a ball grid array module and a printed circuit board) wherein the connector includes a base member fixedly secured (e.g., soldered) to the printed circuit board and having one substrate oriented therein. The connector further includes a 2-part retention member including one part movably oriented in the base and a second part for directly engaging the retained substrate to cause it to move downwardly (and thus in a completely different direction than the direction of rotation of the movable one part within the base) to thereby provide effective connection between substrates. An interposer may be used if desired. An information handling system including a microprocessor and connector electrically coupled thereto is also disclosed.

Abstract: A solderless connector with multiple modes of compliance providing an initial insertion force differing from the secondary insertion force. The connector has multiple compliant members that can be independently adjusted to accommodate a wide range of circuit members. The connector allows the contact members to be arranged with a fine pitch without shorting. The multiple compliant members accommodate a wide range of thermal and vibrational effects, and can be configured to accommodate a wide range of compression distances. An electrically insulative connector housing is positioned substantially between the first and second circuit members. A resilient contact member is positioned generally within the connector housing. The contact member has resilient first and second circuit interface portions. The resilient contact member comprises a first compliant member. At least one end stop is provided for engaging with the contact member in a second mode of compliance.

Abstract: An electric plug plate having two symmetrical power blade mounting zones and a grounding prong mounting zone between the power blade mounting zones, a plurality of power blade mounting holes and grounding prong mounting holes respectively disposed at the power blade mounting zones and grounding prong mounting zone, two first metal mounting plates and a second metal mounting plate respectively mounted in respective back recesses thereof and having threaded power blade mounting holes or grounding prong mounting holes corresponding to the power blade mounting holes and grounding prong mounting holes at the power blade mounting zones and grounding prong mounting zone for mounting a pair of metal contact blades and a grounding prong subject to one of a variety of electric plug specifications.

Abstract: A locking device protects a charge socket on a vehicle having a traction battery, for charging the traction battery. A charge plug, which is connected with a current source by way of a charge cable, is insertable into the charge socket. The charge can be locked by the locking device to prevent removal. The locking exercised by the locking device is effected by a swing lid which, in the closed position, is used for covering the charge socket. Alternatively, the locking device exercises a locking effect directly on the inserted charge plug whereby the locking device can simultaneously be used for locking the swing lid in its closed position.

Abstract: Microelectronic contacts, such as flexible, tab-like, cantilever contacts, are provided with asperities disposed in a regular pattern. Each asperity has a sharp feature at its tip remote from the surface of the contact. As mating microelectronic elements are engaged with the contacts, a wiping action causes the sharp features of the asperities to scrape the mating element, so as to provide effective electrical interconnection and, optionally, effective metallurgical bonding between the contact and the mating element upon activation of a bonding material.

Abstract: A seal retainer for an electrical connector comprising two seal retainer halves for connecting around a wire assembly, the seal retainer halves being identical with corresponding locking tabs.

Abstract: A coupling part is carried by a junction device housing for movement between a position wherein a face surface of the coupling part is flush (co-planar) with a face surface of the junction device housing and a position wherein the coupling part is recessed within the housing. A lift and latch mechanism urges the coupling part to its flush disposition and serves to latch the coupling part in the recessed disposition. In an alternative embodiment a latch mechanism which includes a finger is slidably carried by the housing for movement with respect to the housing to insert an end of the finger into a first or a second notch in the coupling part to latch the coupling part in either its flush or the recessed disposition.