Abstract: A flanged hollow shroud that is adapted to be sealingly secured to an aperture bulkhead as used, for example, in a vehicle to separate an engine compartment from a passenger compartment, is used to telescopically receive the mating end of a pair of male and female connectors having mating electrical terminals therein. At least one of the connectors, such as the male connector located on the engine compartment side of the bulkhead is sealingly fixed to the shroud and the electric terminals therein are also sealed adjacent to their outboard end within the respective cavities supporting these terminals.

Abstract: A connector device for electric circuit terminals includes mating male and female connectors, one of which has resilient extended lock arm means that will lock behind a lock bar of a sized window of the other connector. When the two connectors are mated, a connector position assurance and assist device is inserted axially along a tracked slot and displaces the void between the sized window and under the extended lock arm means, with this device including releasable, resilient lock tab means to retain it in operative engagement with the connectors.

Abstract: A molded insulator housing of thermoplastic material for an electrical terminal or terminals comprises a plurality of walls which define a corresponding number of elongated cavities having an opening at one end of the insulator housing for terminal insertion. The insulator housing has a terminal lock for each cavity integrally hinged to an outward flange on its bottom wall at the one end of the insulator housing and a slot for each cavity in the bottom wall which defines an inner surface for the terminal lock and flange portions which is substantially coplanar with an outer surface of the adjacent portions of the bottom wall to facilitate the molding of the terminal lock substantially free and separate of the material in the bottom wall.

Abstract: A unitary connector body of molded dielectric material has a pair of elongated hollow members which house a pair of female electrical terminals matable with a pair of laterally spaced blade-like male terminals carried by another electrical device. A transverse bridge connects the intermediate portions of the elongated members in a manner to provide torsionally resilient hinge means whereby the forward portions of the elongated members move laterally away from each other responsive to movement of the rearward portions toward each other and vice-versa. The forward portions are generally C-shaped in lateral section and a longitudinal center piece extends forwardly from the bridge to guide the male terminals into the forward C-shaped portions. The forward portions have rearwardly facing shoulders which cooperate with lateral shoulders of the pair of male terminals to lock the connector body in coupled engagement.

Abstract: Matable electrical connector means having an "inertia" lock with a self-reject feature comprise first and second connector bodies respectively retaining matable male and female terminals having a predetermined terminal engage force. The connector bodies include a deflectable latch arm and generally triangular lock ramp respectively which cooperate to lock the connector bodies together and retain the terminals in a fully mated position. During assembly, the latch arms are deflected outwardly, by the leading portion of the triangular ramps producing a force which resists connection of the connector bodies. This latter resistance force reaches a maximum magnitude of about twice the terminal engage force when the latch arms engage the peaks of the ramps. The terminals do not engage in a way which produces any appreciable resistance force prior to the latch arms passing the peaks whereupon the latch arms produce a force assisting locking of the connector bodies together.

Abstract: An electrical connector has a deflectable plate-like butt contact terminal portion carried at one end of a resiliently twistable, generally U-shaped channel which has its other end connected by a web to the mounting portion of the connector. The mounting portion of the connector is generally U-shaped and adapted to be mounted in a hole extending through a support panel. The butt contact terminal portion and channel may have a frontal area which is no greater than that of the mounting portion thereby reducing space requirements. The connector may conveniently be made by bending a sheet metal stamping.