Abstract: A mechanism of low cost and easy mounting, provides resistance to rotation of a coupling nut (14) of an electrical connector about the barrel (12) of the connector, and provides a higher resistance to rotation in one direction (U) than the opposite direction (M). A toothed ring (44) with a circle of teeth, is fixed to the barrel. The mechanism includes a washer (42) with projections (70, 72) that engage the teeth of the ring to ride over them during nut rotation, and thereby provide resistance to nut rotation. The washer is bent to form a spring to bias its projections against the teeth of the toothed ring. The washer also has ears (75, 76) that fit into slots in the nut to prevent washer rotation relative to the nut. The teeth of the toothed ring have first sides that are steeper than its second sides to provide higher resistance to rotation in one direction.

Abstract: A battery holder frame (12) that facilitates the removal of a fully installed battery (30) (electrical cell). The frame has top (20), bottom (22), opposite side (24, 26), and back walls (28) that form a cavity (14) that receives a battery by moving the battery rearward into the cavity until the battery abuts the back wall. The back wall upper portion has a bottom edge (66) and leaves an opening (62) below the bottom edge through which the bottom of the battery can move rearward out of the cavity. To remove a fully installed battery, the battery bottom is pushed rearward to cause the battery to pivot so its upper portion (152) moves forward out of the cavity and can be grasped to pull the battery out of the cavity.

Abstract: A mechanism of low cost and easy mounting, provides resistance to rotation of a coupling nut (14) of an electrical connector about the barrel (12) of the connector, and provides a higher resistance to rotation in one direction (U) than the opposite direction (M). A toothed ring (44) with a circle of teeth, is fixed to the barrel. The mechanism includes a washer (42) with projections (70, 72) that engage the teeth of the ring to ride over them during nut rotation, and thereby provide resistance to nut rotation. The washer is bent to form a spring to bias its projections against the teeth of the toothed ring. The washer also has ears (75, 76) that fit into slots in the nut to prevent washer rotation relative to the nut. The teeth of the toothed ring have first sides that are steeper than its second sides to provide higher resistance to rotation in one direction.

Abstract: A connector that has a coupling nut (14) that is rotatable about a barrel (12), with an annular space (42) between them, and with a resistance ring (40) lying in the annular space. The resistance ring allows the nut to rotate with moderate friction in a mating direction M, and provides higher resistance to nut rotation in an unmating direction U. The resistance ring is formed from a metal band with primarily straight band sections (60, 62, 64, 66) that alternately extend at inward and outward inclines from the circumference direction C. As a result, the resistance ring zig-zags by alternately engaging the nut surface (52) that faces the annular space, then the barrel surface (50) that faces the annular space, etc. Some of the radially outer ends of the straight sections are bent into small half circles (67) that fit into corresponding slots (68) in the nut to fix the resistance ring relative to the nut.

Abstract: A battery holder frame (12) that facilitates the removal of a fully installed battery (30) (electrical cell). The frame has top (20), bottom (22), opposite side (24, 26), and back walls (28) that form a cavity (14) that receives a battery by moving the battery rearward into the cavity until the battery abuts the back wall. The back wall upper portion has a bottom edge (66) and leaves an opening (62) below the bottom edge through which the bottom of the battery can move rearward out of the cavity. To remove a fully installed battery, the battery bottom is pushed rearward to cause the battery to pivot so its upper portion (152) moves forward out of the cavity and can be grasped to pull the battery out of the cavity.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector includes a housing (12) with a terminus-holding housing (14) portion that holds a plurality of optical fiber termini (24) with optical cables trailing therefrom. A pair of metal sleeves are crimped to the strength member of each optical cable to form a crimp sleeve assembly (26). The housing including a holder (16) with a plurality of channels (32) that each removably holds one of the sleeve assemblies. This arrangement enables a selected one of a plurality of optical fiber cables with termini fixed thereto, to be easily removed from the rest of the housing, and to allow a new optical fiber cable with a terminus and crimp sleeve assembly thereon to be installed in its place.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector includes a housing (12) with a terminus-holding housing (14) portion that holds a plurality of optical fiber termini (24) with optical cables trailing therefrom. A pair of metal sleeves are crimped to the strength member of each optical cable to form a crimp sleeve assembly (26). The housing including a holder (16) with a plurality of channels (32) that each removably holds one of the sleeve assemblies. This arrangement enables a selected one of a plurality of optical fiber cables with termini fixed thereto, to be easily removed from the rest of the housing, and to allow a new optical fiber cable with a terminus and crimp sleeve assembly thereon to be installed in its place.

Abstract: An adapter is described for receiving a smart card (16) and for electrically connecting smart card pads (24) to terminals (44) at the rear of a PC card (40), which includes a simple and reliable latch (72) for locking the adaptor to the PC card. The latch is slidably mounted on the connector, and has a rear part (74) positioned to be pushed forward by the leading edge (80) of a smart card, and a front part (62) in the form of a pin that causes a pair of arms (54, 56) of the adaptor to lock to the PC card. The rear part is in the form of a flat bar that lies in the plane of the smart card-receiving slot (14), the flat bar extending across the width of the adaptor and having handles (100, 102) at its opposite sides that project from opposite sides of the adaptor housing for manual movement of the latch.