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: An electrical connector assembly has a frame member which is positioned on a housing and is movable between an terminal insertion position and a terminal lock position. The frame member has resilient fingers with extend into terminal receiving cavities of the housing to properly position and maintain the terminals in the terminal receving cavities when the frame member is in the terminal lock position. The frame member has anti-rattle projections which cooperate with a panel when the assembly is mounted therein. The anti-rattle projections ensure that a positive electrical connection will be effected and maintained over time.

Abstract: A mounting device (40) for mounting electrical connectors (10) in a cut-out (32) in a panel (30) without using separate fastening members is disclosed. The mounting device (40) includes a rigid plate (70) attached to each of two opposite sides (22) of the connector (10) and a resilient wing attached to each side (22) in spaced relation to the plate (70) for receiving the panel (30) therein. Bosses (54) on the wings (42) enter windows (34) in the panel (30) to secure the electrical connector (10) in the panel (30).

Abstract: Housing assembly for components, such as Hall effect sensors, comprises an inner housing of premolded relatively firm plastic material and an outer housing which is overmolded on the inner housing. The components are contained in cavities in the inner housing. Passageways extend through the inner housing to the cavities and the soft overmolded material flows through these passageways and forms a surrounding cushion within the cavities for the components. Also disclosed is a system for mounting proximity sensors on an automotive door lock or the like in a manner which detects the fully closed and the partially closed conditions of the door.

Abstract: A stamped and formed terminal for use in establishing an insulation displacemnt termination to wires extending in either of two orthogonal directions is disclosed. The stamped and formed terminal has a box-like conductor terminating portion in which wires can be inserted into slots in opposed plates on two of the four sides. The other plates can then be deformed about weakened sections to overlap a conductor inserted into plates on the adjacent sides to provide strain relief to prevent removal of the wire from the slots. Interconnection to other terminals can then be made to a termination portion which will have the same orientation relative to the insulative body regardless of the direction of the conductors.

Abstract: A connector assembly for commonly connecting a plurality of wires comprises a stamped and formed one-piece electrical connecting device having a plurality of U-shaped members arranged in two parallel rows. The opposed edges of adjacent U-shaped members define wire-receiving slots. The U-shaped members have arms which have openings therein forming beams in each of the arms which are deformed in a controlled manner when wires are inserted into the slots. A housing assembly is also disclosed comprising a housing body and a cover. When the cover is assembled to the housing body, the wires are inserted into the slots and the wires are clamped by the cover and the housing body.

Abstract: A sealed, filtered connector for establishing a disconnectable termination to two wires with a capacitor extending between the two terminals is disclosed. Each terminal has a first slotted or insulation displacement contact section facing outwardly with an intermediate slotted plate contact located between the first outwardly facing contact section and a pin receptacle located at the opposite end of the terminal. The terminals are positioned within a insulative housing having passages for receiving the pin receptacle portions and a cavity located at an opposite end. Sealant can be deposited within the cavity. The electrical termination with leads on a capacitor located within the housing is laterally offset from the insulation displacement contact with the wires and the pin receptacle is laterally offset from each slotted plate interconnection.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a mating receptacle and header. The receptacle includes contacts having beam members integral with and extending between a forward and rearward cylindrical portion. The beam members are formed in opposed pairs with constricted portions at different axial locations. The spacing between the opposed pairs of beams is less than the widths of the beams. The header includes rows of square posts for mating with the socket contacts, the rows of posts being axially offset from each other.

Abstract: An interconnection package including a logic device attached to leads in a lead frame for use with a wiring harness is disclosed. The stamped and formed lead frame includes at least one lead having a disconnectable receptacle contact integral with tabs for through hole attachment of the logic device. The disconnectable receptacle contact includes arcuately formed springs formed upwardly from the lead frame and the tabs are formed downwardly from the lead frame so that the receptacle contact will not be contaminated during wave soldering. In the preferred embodiment, receptacle contacts project from one side of a body encapsulating the logic device and plug contacts project from another side of the body so that the interconnection package can be attached both to a conventional wiring harness and to servomechanical components equipped with conventional terminals.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative housing having a front mating face and a rear sealed face. The connector housing further includes a plurality of terminals disposed in apertures which extend between the front face and the rear sealing face of the housing. The terminals include front contacting portions adjacent to the front face and wire connecting portions adjacent to the rear face. The terminal also includes an integral portion which extends beyond the rear sealing face. A seal is provided at the rear sealing face which is retractable therefrom to expose the extending terminal portions for probing. The seal is retractable from the rear sealing face while the electrical connector is connected to a matable receptacle, and while the system, to which the electrical connector and receptacle are connected, is operating.

Abstract: A sealed electrical connector having a dual molded sealed construction with a rigid body portion and integral wire seals and an integral interfacial seal formed of a material more flexible than the rigid body. The mating connectors each receive a plurality of terminals at least partially within separate passages and one connector housing has a common cavity with which the passages communicate. A retention and keying insert received within the cavity both retains the terminals and provides modular keying to segregate otherwise identical connectors. A matable cap attached to the other member engages the retention insert. The insert and cap are formed from a material less susceptible to plastic flow than the rigid body and plastic flow of the rigid body captures the insert and the cap.

Abstract: An electrical connector for interconnecting a plurality of signals comprises an assembly of a plug and receptacle. The plug includes a housing member having a cavity at its forward end defined by a peripheral wall and a cavity wall, and a rear wall. The housing further includes contact receiving apertures extending between the cavity wall and the rear wall. An insert is locked in place in the forward cavity, the adjacent wall of the insert having standoff feet to define a gap between the cavity wall and insert wall. The insert has apertures in alignment with the apertures in the housing. The apertures within the insert include a shoulder facing the rear wall of the insert. A contact insertable into the apertures in the housing and insert has a lance which is locatable in the gap between the cavity wall and insert wall to lock the contact in place. The receptacle has a right-angled configuration having pins extending from a mounting face for interconnection to a printed circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a mating receptacle and header. The receptacle includes contacts having beam members integral with and extending between a forward and rearward cylindrical portion. The beam members are formed in opposed pairs with constricted portions at different axial locations. The spacing between the opposed pairs of beams is less than the widths of the beams. The header includes rows of square posts for mating with the socket contacts, the rows of posts being axially offset from each other.

Abstract: A plug assembly comprises a housing member having a cavity at its forward end defined by a peripheral wall and a cavity wall, and a rear wall. The housing further includes contact receiving apertures extending between the cavity wall and the rear wall. An insert is locked in place in the forward cavity, the adjacent wall of the insert having standoff feet to define a gap between the cavity wall and insert wall. The insert has apertures in alignment with the apertures in the housing. The apertures within the insert include a shoulder facing the rear wall of the insert. A contact insertable into the apertures in the housing and insert has a lance which is locatable in the gap between the cavity wall and insert wall to lock the contact in place.

Abstract: A high density receptacle has a right-angled configuration having pins extending from a mounting face for interconnection to a printed circuit board. A second face is mountable to a bulkhead and has three rows of pins mounted in a cavity recessed from the second mounting face for interconnection to a matable plug having socket contacts. The contacts within the receptacle are disposed in three tiers, the contacts being bent around mandrels to form the right-angled bend. Below the mandrels is a contact locating plate having contact receiving slots in line with the contacts. The upper and lower row of contacts are laterally aligned with each other and with a first contact receiving slot. The first slot has two widths, and has a rib extending down along the edges of the slot. When the contacts are placed in the slot, the ribs interferingly hold the contacts in place.

Abstract: Electrical connector assembly comprises a plug and a receptacle which has a plug receiving opening extending into its mating face. The plug has latch arms extending from its endwalls adjacent to the leading end of the plug. The latch arms extend divergently and have rearwardly facing shoulders intermediate the ends and handle portions extending from the shoulders to the free ends. Ears extend from the free ends towards the endwalls and are offset from the adjacent plug sidewall so that the latch arms can be flexed towards the plug endwalls for unlatching. The receptacle opening has shoulders therein for engagement with the plug shoulders.

Abstract: A removable strain relief for flat multi-conductor cable connectors is disclosed. The strain relief comprises a rigid body portion having at least two cable-retaining ears extending therefrom which engage openings in a flat cable inserted into the connector. Latching arms flexibly connected to the body portion ends engage latching shoulders on the connector housing endwalls and permit the strain relief to be inserted on or removed from the connector.