Abstract: A battery clamp includes a collar cooperating with opposing compression plates to engage a battery terminal. The clamp further includes a locking mechanism adapted to apply a compression force between the collar and the battery terminal. A method of securing a battery clamp to a terminal includes positioning a clamp around a terminal of a battery, wherein the clamp includes a collar and opposing compression plates. The method further includes engaging the collar to the terminal of the battery by applying a force to the compression plates.

Abstract: A battery clamp includes a collar cooperating with opposing compression plates to engage a battery terminal. The clamp further includes a locking mechanism adapted to apply a compression force between the collar and the battery terminal. A method of securing a battery clamp to a terminal includes positioning a clamp around a terminal of a battery, wherein the clamp includes a collar and opposing compression plates. The method further includes engaging the collar to the terminal of the battery by applying a force to the compression plates.

Abstract: A battery clamp includes a fixed collar cooperating with an adjustable collar to engage a battery terminal. In one embodiment, the adjustable collar is attached to a pivotal grip plate, the pivotal grip plate being pivotably engageable with a base attached to the fixed collar. A method of securing a battery clamp about a terminal includes positioning a clamp around a terminal of a battery, wherein the clamp includes a fixed collar and an adjustable collar. The method further includes engaging the fixed collar and the adjustable collar to the terminal of the battery by adjusting the force applied by the adjustable collar.

Abstract: An axially actuated battery terminal post clamp in which a threaded fastener causes clamping action of a concave post seat onto the convex surface of a battery terminal post, and wherein the threaded fastener is oriented axially, that is, substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the battery terminal post. A clamp body has a concave post seat defining a post seat axis, a first sidewall member and a second sidewall member. First and second U-shaped clips are interfaced with the first and second sidewall members and have guide holes, wherein at least one clip has tapered guide holes. A threaded fastener is oriented parallel to the post seat axis and has tapers which interact with the guide holes to cause the diameter of the post seat to decrease as the threaded fastener is actuated.

Abstract: A fastener having a head and a cylindrical shank, the shank having a first set of opposed wings extending from two opposed longitudinally extending segments and a second set of opposed wings extending from the two other opposed longitudinally extending segments. Wings in opposing segments are identical. Wings in the first set have a larger radial diameter than wings in the second set. Wings in adjacent segments are offset a distance longitudinally. There is a longitudinally extending spacing between one radial edge of each wing in the first set and one radial edge of each wing in the second set. Each of the wings in the second set has a flattened portion on a distal edge that extends to a radial edge. The fastener is particularly useful for maintaining a high ratio of disengage force to engage force over a range of aperture sizes, shapes, and panel thicknesses.

Abstract: A fastener having a head and a cylindrical shank, the shank having a first set of opposed wings extending from two opposed longitudinally extending segments and a second set of opposed wings extending from the two other opposed longitudinally extending segments. Wings in opposing segments are identical. Wings in the first set have a larger radial diameter than wings in the second set. Wings in adjacent segments are offset a distance longitudinally. There is a longitudinally extending spacing between one radial edge of each wing in the first set and one radial edge of each wing in the second set. Each of the wings in the second set has a flattened portion on a distal edge that extends to a radial edge. The fastener is particularly useful for maintaining a high ratio of disengage force to engage force over a range of aperture sizes, shapes, and panel thicknesses.

Abstract: An electrical connector and a slide-in connector mounting bracket are shaped to reduce the amount of sliding motion required to install the electrical connector in the connector mounting bracket.

Abstract: An electrical power distribution center includes stacked circuit arrays of varying current carrying capacity located between an upper housing and a lower housing, each having terminal access holes therein for receiving terminals formed on pre-stamped metal circuit elements. The terminals are selectively connected to either electrical or electronic devices carried on top of the upper housing or to wiring connectors connected to the outer surface of the lower housing. The pre-stamped metal circuit elements are removably mounted in recesses in a plurality of stacked electrical insulation boards supported within the lower housing and centered therein by guide stems formed integrally of the lower housing. Each of the electrical insulation boards includes raised surfaces thereon congruent with the recesses on an adjacent electrical insulation board for holding the metal circuit elements in place therein while insulating each of the metal circuit elements from adjacent metal circuit elements.

Abstract: A miniature female electrical terminal of unitary sheet metal construction comprises a receptacle, a forward appendage which is juxtaposed the receptacle and which has a tang and spaced side rails which protect the latch tang, and a rearward appendage for assistance in inserting the terminal into a terminal cavity of a connector body.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly has an insulator housing which includes a terminal holder and a housing cover for the terminal holder. The terminal holder supports elongated electrical terminals on a longitudinal platform which has a plurality of longitudinal fingers at the forward end and a plurality of partition walls at the rearward end which define terminal receiving channels which are associated with respective fingers. The elongated electrical terminals are laterally inserted into the terminal receiving channels and retained on the terminal holder by pairs of spaced, deflectable latch arms of the fingers. The housing cover has side walls and guide walls which prevent full insertion of a terminal holder having an improperly assembled electrical terminal and which hold the deflectable latch arms in terminal retaining positions when a terminal holder with properly assembled terminals is fully inserted in the housing cover.

Abstract: An electrical terminal is attached to a flexible printed circuit by an attachment means which is in the form of a crimp ferrule which comprises an elongated web which has a plurality of raised convex domes which cooperate with sets of crimp tabs integrally attached at the longitudinal sides of the elongated web. These raised convex domes are set in a pattern with respect to the crimp tabs so that the flexible printed circuit is forced to weave through the crimp ferrule when the crimp tabs are curled or crimped over the flexible printed circuit. This establishes several good and stable electrical contacts between the flexible printed circuit and the crimp ferrule and forces the flexible printed circuit to weave through the attached crimp ferrule to provide a strain relief for the several electrical contacts.

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 combination switch, lamp, and connector assembly for illuminating a glove box compartment includes an insulator having an integral socket portion and an integral connector body portion, a pair of unitary contacts on the insulator extending between the socket and connector body portion, a bulb with a wedge base inserted between bifurcations on the contacts at the socket portion whereby contact is made with the bulb's filament ends and the bulb is held in the insulator, a pair of terminals inserted in the connector body portion from the side of the housing opposite the contacts and engaging leg portions of the contacts to establish electrical continuity, a plunger mounted on the insulator for linear movement from an extended to a depressed position when the glove box door is closed, and a cam on the plunger engageable on a leg portion of one of the contacts to separate that leg portion from the corresponding terminal in the depressed position of the plunger and thereby terminate compartment illumination when