Abstract: A battery connector assembly for an automotive electrical system. The battery connector assembly includes a clamp portion joined to an electrically conductive body member at one end thereof and a stud portion joined to the body member at another end thereof. A pinchbolt and fastener is used to secure the clamp portion to a battery terminal post of a first battery. A transfer terminal is electrically connected to a second battery and is also removably connected to the stud portion. When both the battery connector assembly is connected to the terminal post of the first battery, and the transfer terminal is connected to the stud portion, the fastener used to clamp the clamp portion to the terminal post is obstructed from access. The result is that removing the clamp portion from the first battery is inhibited without first removing the transfer terminal.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes an elongated housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving cavities extending transversely of the housing. The cavities are arranged in at least two rows lengthwise of the housing, and two rows of terminal-protective silos project forwardly of a front mating face of the housing in alignment with the cavities. Two generally parallel channels run longitudinally of the housing and intersect the two rows of cavities. A longitudinal solid wall portion of the front mating face of the housing extends lengthwise between the two rows of forwardly projecting silos. A plurality of slits are formed in the front mating face between adjacent silos in alignment with transverse walls between the cavities, the slits extending rearwardly to the channels. A plurality of terminals are adapted to be inserted into the cavities to fully inserted positions in the forwardly projecting silos.

Abstract: A 240 volt electrical circuit comprised of modular components which quickly assemble in a manner such that all wiring is completed in the electrical box prior to installing the 240 volt receptacle module, thereby eliminating the need for extra length wires in the electrical box and the cumbersome wiring practices associated with conventional 240 volt electrical circuits. The 240 volt receptacle module plugs into the prewired electrical box, thereby providing quick and easy removal and replacement of the module in the event of failure. The 240 volt electrical circuit is self-configured by simply assembling the modular components. A dedicated earth ground is self-distributed to each electrical component with no effort on the part of the installer, thereby providing safer electrical circuits.

Abstract: A feedthrough (34) is formed of a feedthrough plate (44) having at least one bore (46) therethrough and a feedthrough pin (48) hermetically sealed into the bore (46). The feedthrough pin (48) includes an elongated pin (50) having an axis of elongation (52), a recess (54) in at least one end of the pin (50), the recess (54) extending parallel to the axis of elongation (52), and a gold coating (56) within the recess (54). There are preferably a plurality of bores (46) in the feedthrough plate (48) and a corresponding plurality of the feedthrough pins (48). The gold coatings (56) at the ends of the feedthrough pins (48) are desirably lapped to ensure coplanarity and a smooth surface finish especially suited for wire bonding or tab bonding.

Abstract: An electric bulb socket to which an electric bulb having an electrode on the bottom of its cylindrical base is attached includes a cylindrical socket housing having an open end through which the base of the electric bulb is inserted there into and a bottom. A spring support is accommodated in the socket housing so as to face the bottom of the base of the electric bulb, the spring support having an electric supply side electrode abutting against the electrode of the electric bulb. A coil spring is mounted in the socket housing so as to be located outside the spring support for urging the spring support so that it is raised toward the open end of the socket housing. The coil spring is disposed so as to be in parallel with the base of the electric bulb inserted into the socket housing. The length of the socket housing required for accommodating the coil spring can be reduced.

Abstract: A device for electrically connects a plurality of electrical devices with a source of electrical energy. The device includes a base, a primary power cord, a primary reel, the capability of receiving a plurality of separate conductors, and at least two secondary reels. The primary power cord is adapted for connection with the source of electrical energy. The primary reel is attached to the base and has the primary power cord at least partially wound thereon. The primary reel is biased in a first direction and rotatable in the opposite direction which permits extension and retraction of the primary power cord. Each of the plurality of separate conductors is adapted for electrical connection with the primary power cord and adapted for providing a remote source of electrical energy to the electrical device. Each of the secondary reels include one of the conductors at least partially wound thereon for effecting extension and retraction thereof.

Abstract: A connector is connected to a cable composed of a plurality of electric wires, each of which comprises a metal wire covered with an insulator, and a sheath provided with an opening formed at its terminal end and covering the electric wires with one end portions of the electric wires projecting from the opening. The connector comprises an insulating base member, a plurality of conductive contact elements fixedly supported in the base member, and an insulating cover member removably coupled to the base member and covering terminal portions of the contact elements respectively connected to the metal wires. The cover member comprises an electric wire positioning portion for holding terminal ends of the one end portions of the electric wires so that the terminal ends confront the contact elements corresponding thereto, respectively, and a cable holding portion for holding the cable at an end portion of the sheath adjacent the opening.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle assembly for attachment to a luminaire housing comprises a housing defining a plurality of contact seating channels extending therethrough along axes parallel to a contact member insertion axis, electrical contact members being seated in the housing channels individually along the axes parallel to the contact member insertion axis. A clamp member is joined to the housing by a threaded fastener. The housing defines an anti-rotation member resident in the clamp member which prevents the clamp member from rotational movement relative to the housing upon tightening the threaded fastener.

Abstract: An electrical cord clamp is disclosed for securing an end of an electrical cord to an electrical device or connector. The electrical cord clamp provides strain relief between the ends of the electrical conductors of the electrical cord and the terminals of the electrical device or connector. The cord clamp has a pair of clamping members tiltably coupled to a pair of housing halves of the electrical device for tiltably engaging the electrical cord upon installation thereon to pull the electrical cord towards the terminals of the electrical device or connector. One or more spring elements are preferably provided for normally biasing the clamping members to their original position prior to assembly within the electrical device or connector. In one embodiment, the spring elements are integrally formed with the cover halves. In other embodiments, clamping members are provided with one or more spring elements or arms.

Abstract: An electrical connector (1) having an insulating housing (3), and contacts (7) in the same row being of identical mass in respective contact receiving cavities (8), one of the contact receiving cavities (8) contains one of the contacts (7) that is shortened by a bend (24), and has its front end farther from a mating end (2) of the housing (3) than another of the contacts (7) in another of the contact receiving cavities (8).

Abstract: A fused electrical connector having a molded body containing a fuse receptacle with a keyed construction. The keyed construction of the fuse receptacle is complementary to the fuse itself or a keyed construction attached to the fuse such that only a fuse having the correct key can be fitted to a particular connector. The keyed construction of the fuse receptacle may include channels and recesses which cooperate with formations on body parts which fit around a standard cartridge fuse. The keyed construction of the fuse receptacle may also include a central block which cooperate with a non-standard cartridge fuse.

Abstract: A grounding strip for a memory card connector is disclosed to provide the electrical grounding of the memory card inserted. The memory card connector comprises a guide frame having a pair of guiding slots. Each of the guiding slots has formed therein a pair of notches and a receiving slot. The grounding strip comprises a substantially elongated body. A curved contact portion is formed approximate one end of the elongated body that arises generally above the surface of the elongated body. An end portion is formed at the remote end beyond the contact portion of the elongated body. A first pair of bent portions are respectively located at the opposing sides of the elongated body and extending away from the surface of the elongated body, and each of the first bent portions has formed thereon a latching means. When the grounding strip is assembled to the designated location on the guide frame of the memory card connector, the end portion would be received in the receiving slot of the guiding slot.

Abstract: An electrical cord clamp is disclosed for securing an end of an electrical cord to an electrical device or connector. The electrical cord clamp provides strain relief between the ends of the electrical conductors of the electrical cord and the terminals of the electrical device or connector. The cord clamp has a pair of clamping members slidably coupled to a pair of housing halves of the electrical device for slidably engaging the electrical cord upon installation thereon to pull the electrical cord towards the terminals of the electrical device or connector. The clamping members can have one or more spring elements or arms integrally formed therewith for normally biasing the clamping members to their original position prior to assembly within the electrical device or connector.

Abstract: A connector having male and female terminals can be positively connected together without requiring alignment precision on the part of the housing for the terminals. A male terminal has a round stem with a large diameter proximal end portion and a small diameter distal end portion. A female terminal has a connection portion formed on a triangular horizontal cross-section and a pair of holding plate portions extending from a base plate portion. The connection portion can resiliently fit on an outer periphery of the large diameter portion. An insertion groove, which is slightly smaller than the diameter of the small diameter portion, is formed between front ends of the two holding plate portions. A pair of outwardly-opening guide plate portions are formed on opposite edges of the insertion groove so the female terminal can be fitted on the round stem and the small diameter portion is guided by the guide plate portions to fit in the insertion groove.

Abstract: A system is described for electrically grounding plug and receptacle connectors (12, 16, FIG. 3) as they mate, which occupies minimal space that would otherwise be occupied by regular pin-and-socket contacts, and which isolates sparks created during ground connections. Each connector has a dielectric housing (54, 80) lying at the end of a circuit board (60, 82). The receptacle connector has a shield (100) extending around its dielectric housing, the shield having a tab (162) that is soldered to a grounded trace (160) on the corresponding circuit board. The plug connector carries a plug ground member (142) that has a front end (144) for engaging the shield on the connector member when the connectors mate, the plug ground member having a rear end forming a tab (172) that is soldered to a grounded trace (174) on its corresponding circuit board. The plug ground member lies in a groove (140) of the dielectric housing, with a resilient bent portion (146) projecting out of the groove.

Abstract: The connector has an insulating body of rectangular cross-section formed with at least one row of passages extending parallel to a plugging direction, each passage being formed with a backwardly directed shoulder. At least one side wall of each passage is cut out to form a detent whose resilience tends to hold it in a position in which it projects into the respective passage. Contact terminals are received in the passages and each sized to be retained by the respective detent against the respective shoulder. A unitary locking grid has an end wall which contacts a front end face of the body and is formed with holes in register with the passages, two side flanks that are spaced apart so as to straddle those two walls of the body which are orthogonal to the row, and two side flaps that are connected to the end wall by flexible portions, and that are designed to contact the outside walls of the body which are parallel to the row.

Abstract: A connector in which double engagement can be easily and positively verified even if an engagement pin has been damaged while being inserted into an engagement pin hole in a housing of the connector. The connector has an insertion engaging device provided with engaging pins for double engagement of a plurality of female terminals accommodated in terminal accommodating chambers which are longitudinally and laterally arranged in a connector housing. The insertion engaging device is provided on one outer peripheral surface of the connector housing, and the connector housing includes ascertainment holes penetrating through positions where fore ends of the engagement pins normally inserted into the engagement pin insertion holes are placed so that the presence of the fore ends of the engagement pins inserted into the engagement pin holes can be visually ascertained.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a plurality of flexible convoluted metal contact strips connectable to external circuits. Switch arms connected to external circuits in a portable unit have a conductive contact area for selectively engaging the contact strips, thereby connecting the base unit and portable unit. A cover on the connector body rotates under pressure from the switch arm to direct excess force from the switch arm around the connector. The range of rotation of the cover is limited under contact of a plurality of stoppers by contact between the cover and a fixed plate. In this manner, excess force from the switch arm is never applies directly to the connector body or underlying connections.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes an elongated dielectric housing adapted for mounting to a surface of a printed circuit board. The housing has terminal-receiving passages extending generally parallel to the circuit board between a front mating face of the housing and a rear terminating face thereof. The passages are arranged in pairs of upper and lower passages, with the passages in each pair being in a plane generally perpendicular to the circuit board. A plurality of terminals are mounted in pairs on the housing with mating portions in the passages and terminating portions projecting from the rear face of the housing for termination to circuit traces on the printed circuit board. The terminals are blanked from sheet metal material with the terminals in each pair being coplanar.

Abstract: A connecting structure consists of an electrical connection box and a fusible link connector to be inserted into the connection box. The fusible link connector includes an insulating housing, a fusible link and a pair of nuts to be inserted into the housing and fitted at respective predetermined utmost positions therein. The electrical connection box is provided with a concave connector receiving portion into which the fusible link connector is to be inserted and which includes a pair of nut-abutting parts. In process of inserting the connector into the electrical connection box, if the nut-abutting parts come into contact with the nuts in the utmost positions, the parts serve to define the positional limit in inserting the insulating housing to a predetermined regular position. On the contrary, if the nut-abutting parts come into contact with the nuts inserted incompletely, the parts serve to prevent the insulating housing from being inserted into the predetermined regular position.