Abstract: An electrical connector (20) having a housing member has a latch (28 or 30) pivotably secured to the housing. The latch (28 or 30) has a latch arm (102) defining a plane and a cam arm (106). The latch (28 or 30) is pivotably actuable in the plane of the latch arm (102) upon applying a force to the cam arm (106) to rotate the latch (28 or 30) from a latched first position to an unlatched second position. The force is applied by moving a boot (38) axially along the connector housing through a limited distance from a forward position to a rearward position. Upon removal of the force from the cam arm (102), the cam arm (102) will return from the second position to the lower energy state of the first position due to the action of a spring (98). In returning to the first position, the cam arm (102) returns the boot to a forward position.

Abstract: A shunted connector assembly (14) wherein the electrical connector (12) has a housing (22) with spaced contacts (18), each having an exposed contact portion along an open portion of a side wall (30) of the housing. A shell member (64) is mounted to the connector housing and a shunt contact support housing (66) is slidably mounted to the shell member. The shunt contact support housing is movable generally linearly between first and second positions. When the shunt contact support housing is in the first position, shunt contacts (68, 70) secured therein engage pairs of spaced contacts (18) of the connector. When the shunt contact support housing is in the second position, the shunt contacts are electrically isolated from the connector contacts.

Abstract: A high pin-density electrical connector of the type comprising a rear housing having openings for the passage of elongated, shouldered, electrical contacts through it, and having latching elements on its front face comprising spring fingers which close on the contacts behind their shoulders to latch them against withdrawal. A front housing provides recesses in which each of the latching elements and the front end of a corresponding one of the contacts are seated, with the sidewalls of the recesses providing support for the spring fingers. Close spacings of adjacent contacts are achieved by locating at least some of the recesses so close together that their walls intersect to form a communicating opening between them, and by placing the spring fingers circumferentially in their respective recesses so as to be in apposition to and supported by complete recess walls, rather than at the position of one of the communicating openings, where wall support for the fingers would be absent.

Abstract: A shielded surface mount electrical connector (10) that has an insulative housing (18) having at least one compliant surface mount contact (30) secured therein. The shield (12) has at least one boardlock (14) integral therewith. The boardlock (14) has at least one spring (78 or 80) for reception in a boardlock receiving aperture (74) in a circuit board (16) on which the connector (10) is mounted. The spring (78 or 80) has at least one barb (92) thereon positioned along the spring (78 or 80) to engage the wall of the boardlock receiving aperture (74).

Abstract: There is disclosed a surface mount, circular DIN connector (10) with a housing (12) having a mating face (22) and a terminal receiving face (24). Three rows of terminal receiving cavities (1 to 8) open into the mating face (22) and the terminal receiving face (24). A set of electrical terminals (30) each has a mating portion (32) in a respective one of the cavities (1 to 8), a solder tail (36) extending substantially normally of the mating portion (32), and a connecting arm (38) connecting the mating portion (32) to the solder tail (36). The arms (38) are dimensioned relatively to offset the solder tails (36) with respect to the mating portions (32), in interleaved relationship to form a single row of solder tails (36) for soldering to respective contact pads arranged in a single row on a printed circuit board (20).

Abstract: An electrical connector (19) for mounting against a circuit board (13) comprises, an insulative strip (20), conductive sockets (21) in the strip (20), solder tabs (35) projecting from the sockets (21) and outwardly from a corresponding edge (29) of the strip (20), a bottom of the strip (20) serving as a first mounting surface for engagement against the circuit board (13), and the solder tabs (35) being adapted for being bent, first, in a direction toward the bottom of the strip, and then, to extend outwardly from the edge (29) at nearly the same level with the bottom, and the top (23) of the strip (20) serving as a second, alternative mounting surface for engagement with the circuit board (13).

Abstract: There is disclosed a panel providing a polarization feature to a connector proximate thereto. The panel has a face plate with opposed major surfaces. A complementary connector receiving aperture extends between the major surfaces. The aperture has a wider first region and a narrower second region. The narrower second region defines a portion of the panel adjacent thereto as a polarization feature that is adapted to be engaged by a portion of the complementary connector when the complementary connector is not properly oriented for passing through the aperture. In this manner, a complementary connector having a mating face profile corresponding to the profile of the connector receiving aperture can pass through the aperture in one orientation but not in other orientations.

Abstract: A dielectric housing (4) of a circular, shielded DIN electrical connector (2) comprises a central block (26) with terminal receiving cavities (18) extending axially therethrough and which cooperates with a hood (30) and a base (28) of the housing (4) to define a circular chamber receiving a circular, stamped and formed metal shield (8). The shield (8) has projecting therefrom a uniplanar latch arm (80) having a head (81) which latches positively against a latching shoulder (88) in a slot in the base. The latch arm (80) is deflected in its own plane by a cam surface in the slot as the latch arm (80) is inserted thereinto and then resiles to allow the head (81) to latch against the shoulder (88).

Abstract: A method of producing a circular cross section electrical connector sub-assembly (94) comprising a tubular wire housing (10) and a contact housing (12). The wire housing (10) is placed in a jig (180) with the aid of a handling tab (100) thereon and is located in a vertical position by means of a levelling spigot on the tab (100), which is engaged with a reference surface (188) near the jig (180). Wires (W) of a shielded cable (C) are inserted from below through the housing (10) and are dressed into notches (32) therein. The contact housing (12) is then lowered onto the wire housing (10) with the aid of a handling tab (120) on the contact housing (12). A hood (48) on the contact housing (12) captures the wire housing (10) and the housihg (10 and 12) are then located vertically with the aid of the handling tabs (100 and 120). Radially projecting parts of the wires (W) are trimmed and the contact housing (12) is forced down onto the wire handling (10) fully to mate therewith.

Abstract: A tubular wire housing (10) has at one end, a ring of notches (32), each communicating with a slot (36) for receiving a slotted plate wire connecting portion (64) of a respective contact element (42) of a mating contact housing (12). The wire housing (10) is formed with external half-channels (28). The contact housing (12) has a hood (48) formed with internal half-channels (58). End portions of wires (W) of a shielded cable (C) are inserted through the wire housing (10) and are dressed into the notches (32). The housings (10 and 12) are then mated by capturing the wire housing (10) in the mouth of the hood (48), trimming the radially projecting parts of the wire end portions and then pressing the housings (10 and 12) into full mating relationship. During this operation, the trimmed ends (SP) of the wire end portions become fully enclosed in the half-channels (28 and 58).

Abstract: A circular cross section DIN connector comprises, a wire housing (10), a contact housing (12) and a shielding shell (14). The wire housing (10) has a through bore (16) for receiving an end portion of a shielded electrical cable (C) with wires thereof dressed into notches (32) at one end (30) of the wire housing (10) and extending over slots (34) in the bases (33) of the notches (32). The housings (10 and 12) are mated so that insulation displacement portions (64) of contact elements (42) of the contact housing (12) enter the slots (34) to make electrical contact with the cores of the wires (W). The mated housings (10 and 12) are received in the shell (14) which completely surrounds them. Parts (90) of the shell (14) are crimped down to engage the shielding braid (BS) of the cable (C) and firmly to retain the sub-assembly comprising the mated housings (10 and 12) in the shell (14) which is preferably a seamless drawn shell.

Abstract: A one piece, molded, insulating connector body (14) for a surface mounted, shielded, electrical connector (10), comprises a plug portion (16) projecting from the body (14) into a forward hood (68) thereto, for mating with a shielded electrical socket (18) inserted into the hood (68). There projects from a terminal receiving face (70) of the body (14), a terminal leg spacer plate (74) having notches for receiving the `U`-shaped retaining members (108) on the legs (100) of the terminals (95) in through cavities (62) in the body (14). Each leg (100) has a lance (112) for insertion in a hole (H) in a substrate (S). The legs (100), and cranked arms (102) connecting them to receptacles (96) of terminals (95), are so shaped and dimensioned that even where the cavities (62) are arranged in three superposed rows, the lances (112) can be inserted into the holes (H) where these are arranged in only two rows, and with a different spacing from that of the rows of cavities.

Abstract: A one-piece metal shield (12) for a surface mounted connector (10) having a substantially rectangular body (14) from which a plug portion (16) projects forwardly, is in the form of a rectangular box-like structure having a top wall (24) side walls (26) and a front wall (28). The front wall (28) has a circular opening (30) from the periphery of which spring fingers (34) project inwardly of the shield (12) for engaging the shielding (19) of a shielded electrical socket inserted through the opening (30) to mate with the plug portion (16). The shield (12) is secured to the body (14) by means of flanges (48 and 50) thereon which engage with a snap action in grooves (82, 86) in the body (14). At least the side walls (26) have mounting legs (54) for securing the shield (12)and thus the body (14) to a substrate (S).

Abstract: Coil cartridge intended for use in a load coil assembly comprises a cylinder housing having a stack of toroidal coils therein. The coil wires extend through a seam in the coil housing to terminal housings mounted on the surface of the coil housing. The terminal housings contain terminals to which the coil wires are connected by wire-in-slot connections and the terminals also have slots dimensioned to receive lead wires. The coil housing is a hinged member consisting of two semi-cylindrical parts so that the coils having the terminal housings associated therewith can be placed in the coil housing when it is open. When the coil housing is closed, interengaging means on the coil housing and on the terminal housings latch the coil housing in its closed condition.