Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a receptacle that is configured to receive an electrical wire therein. An electrical contact is held by the housing. The electrical contact includes a contact beam that includes a wire interface that is configured to engage the electrical wire. The contact beam is movable between a closed position and an open position. The wire interface is configured to engage the electrical wire when the contact beam is in the closed position. The wire interface is configured to be disengaged from the electrical wire when the contact beam is in the open position. The electrical connector includes a push-button actuator having a resiliently deflectable spring that is configured to slidably engage the contact beam to thereby move the contact beam from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: An electrical header assembly (10) for use in automobiles is disclosed. The assembly (10) includes a housing (12) with terminal-receiving cavities (26) recessed in from a front face (62), terminals (18), a separate one piece latch (14) received in the housing (12) to retain the terminals (18) in the cavities (26) and a separate terminal position assurance member (16).

Abstract: A pin and socket connector using pin and socket terminals formed into a highly conductive material and using a separate contact band member less resistant to stress relaxation than the material used to form a stamped and formed pin and socket terminals is disclosed. These pin and socket terminals are suitable for use in both sealed and unsealed electrical connectors, employing a secondary lock. The secondary lock has at least one cylindrical projection engaging the corresponding terminals within the cavities from the rear. At least one curved concentric opening radially spaced from a central wire and terminal receiving opening in a rear conductor seal, is configured to receive a corresponding cylindrical secondary lock projections and establish sealing integrity therewith.

Abstract: A connector assembly comprises one electrical connector having at least two terminals shunted in the unmated configuration and a second pull to seat connector. The shunt in the first connector comprises a longitudinally extending beam having laterally extending contact arms which engage adjacent terminals in the unmated configuration. A cap, which can be secured to the mating face of the second connector after terminals are withdrawn into the connector through the mating face, contains a ramp surface which engages the longitudinally extending beam of the deflectable shunt when the two connectors are mated. Clearance is provided on the mating face of the pull to seat connector so that the deflectable shunt is maintained out of engagement with the pins and receptacle terminals in the first and second connectors.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly of terminals terminated to conductors of cables assures the retention of the terminals in the passageways of the housing by an insert member inserted into a transverse cavity at the cable-receiving face along one side of the cables of a row after the terminated terminals are fully inserted. The insert member has forwardly facing stop surfaces which engage rearwardly facing stop surfaces of annuli of the terminals at rearward ends thereof spaced away from the cable insulation. The terminals are preferably primarily retained in the passageways by conventional means so that the insert is a secondary retention means. The insert is secured such as by a pair of latch arms at ends thereof which latch to the housing when the insert's stop surfaces engage those of the terminals of the row.

Abstract: A floating electrical connector for rack and panel connector systems capable of being inserted into and reliably retained within an opening in a panel without tools and without separate fastening elements. The connector includes a connector housing having first and second transverse slots on opposed first and second sides of the housing within which portions of the opening defining edge of the panel extend when the connector is mounted to the panel for longitudinally retaining the connector on the panel while permitting limited longitudinal movement of the connector relative to the panel. The connector also includes first and second retention means for laterally retaining the first and second sides of the connector in the opening while permitting limited lateral movement of the connector relative to the panel. The connector is mountable within a limited space on a panel and can withstand substantial forces encountered while being mated with or disconnected from a complementary connector.

Abstract: An insert member is insertable into a rearward section of an electrical connector and securable therewithin, securing terminals therein. Terminal-engaging stop shoulders at a front end of the insert are disposed against and behind stop shoulders on the terminals disposed in respective terminal cavities in the connector, terminated on ends of conductors. Channels in the insert member pair with channels in the housing walls to substantially contain each conductor therealong. The insert member can have lateral latches thereon to latch in recesses in the housing. The terminal cavities can be arranged in rows, and each row has an insert-receiving cavity in the rearward section of the housing which contains the conductors and is in axial communication with the terminal cavities and a lateral wall extends between the insert-receiving cavities.