Abstract: A connector (12) having a slidelatch member (50) or a slidelatch member (50) adapted to be slidingly secured on a connector (12) by a pair of slidelatch securing posts (56, 58) wherein the slidelatch member (50) is movable laterally between a latched first position and an unlatched second position. The slidelatch member (50) has an elongate base member (60) which defines first and second transverse end portions (66, 68) each having side edges. The base member (60) has an aperture (70) adapted to receive the shroud (72) of the connector (12), and slot means (74, 76) proximate the slidelatch securing posts (56, 58) adapted to permit the slidelatch member (50) to move between the latched first position and the unlatched second position. The slidelatch member (50) further has overturned extensions (80, 82) extending from the transverse end portions (66, 68).

Abstract: A grooming ring on a grooming ring carrier in which the grooming ring extends around a grooming space while being displaced axially to enable all surfaces of the ring to be free of obstruction in at least one direction laterally of a surface of the carrier from which the ring extends. This allows for simultaneous molding of carrier and ring without a mold core for forming the grooming space. In practice, the ring may be formed from two ring portions which are displaced axially relative to each other. The grooming ring carrier may be either a fanning strip or a terminal block.

Abstract: For reliable heavy duty repeatable connection of heavy duty electric power lines of a portable, mobile or temporary nature, involving frequent changes such as extension or relocation, the connector of this invention couples readily in a twist action which locks large area contact surfaces together uniformly and positively to eliminate the risk of accidental uncoupling, degration over time with repeated usage, and general unreliability experienced in non-locking type connectors of known art in this class of service. An uncomplicated rugged configuration, machined from brass, provides mating cone-shaped contact surfaces. A specially located steel pin incorporated into the socket member engages a thread groove in the plug member including a lead-in ledge to clear the pin and guide it into the groove during twist-locking.

Abstract: An electrical connection box for use with automobile wires. Improved waterproofing is provided by arranging bus bars in grooves defined by walls as a base plate, and overlying said bars with waterproof elements.

Abstract: An arrangement of fanning strip and terminal block having mutually engageable interlocking structures which allow for mounting of the fanning strip upon and disconnection of the fanning strip from the terminal block from one side of the terminal block only. In practical constructions, the interlocking structures are rails and complementary slots. These may be of any suitable cross-section, e.g. L-shaped or dovetail shaped.

Abstract: The socket of the invention is provided with tappets that are snapped into slots made in partition walls perpendicular to the fixing front. To adjust the clearances, elastic surfaces are formed on the forward face.

Abstract: A stiffener device for use with electrical connectors. More particularly, the stiffener device includes a rigid L-shaped member having a groove in which an electrical connector is slidingly received and locking clips which are attached to the connector and frictionally received in a channel in the L-shaped member to prevent relative movement between the member and connector.

Abstract: An electric coupling device comprises a test contact strip fastened to an appliance frame, a housing which can be mounted in a space in the appliance frame by means of two pivot pins interspaced along the same axis and which houses a socket terminal strip, levers hinged to the appliance frame and which can be inserted with sliding block cranks in slotted grooves in the housing for swivelling the housing to the appliance frame, and coding means arranged on the appliance frame and housing. To ensure simple, reliable and variable coding, between the pivot pins (11) the socket terminal strip housing (3) has a row of previously made slots (30) with notched contours and open front ends in the direction of plugging, and between the pivot pins (12) the appliance frame (1) has at least one coding pin (31) which can be interchangeably and firmly inserted in openings in the appliance frame and introduced into slots (30) in the socket terminal strip housing (30).

Abstract: The multi-terminal connectors consists of male terminals provided in one of mating connector housings and corresponding female terminals in the other connector housing. The two mating connector housings are joined together by a bolt and a nut for secure connection between terminals, the bolt being provided to one of the connector housings, the nut being provided to the other connector housing. The terminals in the connector housings are so arranged in rows that the quantity of terminals per row progressively decreases in proportion to the distance from the center axis of the housings toward the periphery, to reduce over the entire length of the connector housings, the net bending moment applied on the connector housings when the mating terminals are engaged. This prevents the connector housings from being warped and therefore terminals near the periphery from being connected inclined, assuring smooth and secure connection of terminals.

Abstract: A connector housing molded of plastic includes a pair of latch arms along sides thereof which extend forwardly to latch with corresponding latching means of a housing of a mating connector, during connector mating. Each latch arm is joined integrally to the housing sides by hinge joints adapted to permit flexing during deflection of the latch arm during mating and unmating. The hinge joint includes a bight section spaced from the housing side and joined thereto by a pair of parallel upper and lower legs, with the bight section joined to the middle of the latch arm by a cross-shaped rib section. A horizontal rib component of the rib section joins to the bight section midway between the legs and is able to locally elastically deform the bight section inwardly at the rearward edge thereof and outwardly at the forward edge thereof, during latch arm deflection. The latch arms can have rearward portions deflectable inwardly toward the housing sides to enable delatching and unmating.

Abstract: A cable assembly including electrically isolated longer cables connected along a portion of their lengths. Serial and parallel connectors are provided at the appropriate ends of the cables while a shorter cable connects another serial connector to the serial connector at each end of one of the longer cables.

Abstract: An adaptor (12) includes a threaded portion (14) intended to be screwed into a conventional lamp socket (18) to replace a standard incandescent light bulb. The adaptor includes spring clips (38) that are operative to prevent removal of terminal pins (36) on the base of a fluorescent lamp (30). A table lamp (20) in which the adapter is installed is connected through a male polarized electrical plug (62) to a remote power supply (68). The power supply is plugged into a conventional AC wall outlet (74). A tamper-proof fastener (78) attaches the power supply to the outlet, preventing it from being removed by a user who does not have access to a special driver required to turn the fastener. Spring clips within the power supply prevent removal of the male plug, so that the table lamp cannot be stolen without cutting the power cord.

Abstract: The electrical connector forming a plate over plate arrangement is configured by a connector body, a plurality of female pins, male pins, and mount plates. Vertical through holes for insertion of the male pins and lateral holes for the female pins are provided with the connector body and intersecting respectively in the body, wherein a female pin each having a bifurcate portion at its tip is inserted into the lateral through hole so that the bifurcated portion is located at the intersection, and a male pin mounted on another plate to be connected is inserted in the vertical through hole. The bifurcated portion of the female pin each makes a contact with the male pin, when a plate mounted with male pins is approached closely to a plate mounted with a female pin-inserted connector body.

Abstract: Keying and fastening of mating connectors includes pairs of mating key members, ones of which include central apertures through which extend respective jackscrews having threaded leading ends, and the others of which have threaded apertures into which the jackscrews are threaded to fasten the connectors together after the pairs of keys permit connector mating. The keys in which the jackscrews are mounted permit rotating the jackscrews. The jackscrew leading ends are recessed slightly behind the leading ends of hood-like keying projections of the key members for protection against damage and misalignment, and the threaded apertures of the other keys extend to the leading ends of the keying projections thereof which are adapted to receive the corresponding hood-like keying projections in axial recesses along the outer surfaces extending about halfway around the circumference of the key.

Abstract: A system of keying and fastening together a pair of mating connectors is provided where each of the connectors is of the type having forward and rearward thin walled metal shells clinched together about their flanged edges to retain a housing means therewithin, with the forward and rearward shells having adjacent aperture lateral flanges. The system includes a pair of key members each securable to the front of the forward shell at a respective lateral flange, seated within correspondingly hexagonally shaped flange apertures of the forward shell only, held against the front surface of the rearward shell. On one of the connectors a pair of jackscrews extend through the flange apertures and through with the apertures being slightly larger than the jackscrew portions extending therethrough, the jackscrews being apertures of the key members of the one connector, secured rearwardly of the connector by means permitting rotation after mounting and simultaneously securing the key members to the connector.

Abstract: A heavy-duty electrical plug connector is characterized by a label plate slidably connected with the connector housing for movement between retracted and extended positions. A label containing information designating the poles of the plug connector is provided on the plate. For wiring the connector, the plate is pulled to its extended or reading position wherein the labelled designations of the poles of the connector are visible. After wiring, the plate is slid beneath the housing to its retracted position where it takes up little space and where it does not interfere with wiring work on other connectors.

Abstract: A latching mechanism for computer modules or the like includes a pair of generally L-shaped slide members having defined therein internal grooves for receiving the edge portions of the printed circuit boards of the computer modules. Overlapping tabs secure the slide members upon the edge portions of the circuit board and a pair of opposed springs are compressively captivated between the slide members and the circuit board to urge the slide members outwardly. Each slide member defines a tapered lock tab which cooperates with corresponding recesses within the slide connectors receiving the computer module and providing a locking or latch mechanism.

Abstract: An electrical plug-socket connection in which the socket is provided with sliding latch plates that fit in notches in the plug prongs to latch the prongs in the slots of the socket. Springs urge the latch plates toward their latching positions. Release buttons are diametrically opposite one another on the socket body and may be depressed to release the latch plates through lever arms which slide the latch plates against the spring force to release positions. The latch plates are then disengaged from the notches in the prongs and the prongs may be withdrawn from the slots in the socket. The face of the socket has waterproof gasket and the release buttons are covered by waterproof covers to make the plug-socket water tight.

Abstract: A latch replacement kit for replacing a latch of a damaged in-line connector lock.The kit contains a replacement latch assembly that has a grooved track in which a tie strap routes for tying the latch assembly to the connector.

Abstract: A combination wedge-lock type circuit card retainer and guide slot for use in an electronic chassis. The combination including an elongated base member having a circuit card guide wall formed along one side. One end of the base member has a fixed wedge formed thereon spaced from and facing the guide wall. A support aligned with the fixed wedge is formed adjacent the other end of the base member and it also is spaced from the guide wall. The combination retainer also includes a shaft having a head end and a thread end. The shaft extends through the fixed wedge with its thread end engaged in the support. An end wedge is threaded onto the shaft adjacent the thread end with a center wedge mounted on the shaft between the fixed and end wedges. The center wedge is provided with a spring that is grounded on the base member for biasing the center wedge into engagement and alignment with the fixed and the end wedges. The aligned wedges together with the guide wall forming a circuit card channel or slot.