Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having at least one terminal-receiving passage extending in a terminal-insertion direction. A pair of grooves are respectively formed in side walls of the passage and extend in the terminal-insertion direction. A conductive terminal having side walls is inserted into the passage. A pair of smooth outwardly extending projections is formed on the side walls for riding in the grooves in the side walls of the passage. A locking shoulder is spaced from the projections a distance greater than the given distance, whereby the front contact end of the terminal can be inserted into the passage only when the top walls of the terminal and the passage are juxtaposed to align the projections on the terminal with the grooves in the passage.

Abstract: A connector panel mounting system includes first and second panels each having a given thickness between respective insertion surfaces and mating surfaces thereof and an opening with a locating notch in an edge of the opening. First and second connectors each include dielectric housings insertable from the insertion surfaces of the respective panels to insertion positions into the respective openings. Each housing has an outwardly extending locating flange for passing through the locating notch of the opening in the respective panel as the housing is inserted thereinto. The housing of each connector is movable from its insertion position to a mounted position whereat the locating flange thereof abuts the mating surface of the respective panel. The housing of each connector has a recess aligned with the locating notch of the opening in the respective panel when the housing is in its mounted position.

Abstract: A shielded floating panel mounted electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a front mating end and a rear terminating end. The front mating end is designed for mating with a complementary mating connector in a mating direction. A metal shell is mounted about at least the rear terminating end of the dielectric housing. The shell mounts the electrical connector in an opening in and rigidly fixed to a panel. The housing is complementarily engaged within the shell to provide for relative floating movement therebetween in a direction transversely of the mating direction.

Abstract: A keying system for an electrical connector assembly includes a male connector having a body portion, a mating end formed by a plurality of terminal-receiving silos extending from the body portion, and a plurality of support walls integrally joining the silos and combining therewith to define a pattern of interior keying channels. A female connector has a mating end formed by a receptacle, with a plurality of terminals including contact portions extending into the receptacle for insertion into the silos of the male connector. A plurality of locating walls within the receptacle define a pattern of keying members for insertion into the keying channels of the male connector to thereby polarize the connectors.

Abstract: A system is provided for mounting an electrical connector in a panel having an opening with at least one locating slot in the opening. A connector includes a housing insertable into the opening in the panel. The housing has at least one outwardly projecting locating flange for passing through the locating slot of the opening as the housing is inserted thereinto. The housing has at least one outwardly projecting stop flange spaced axially and transversely from the locating flange for abutting the panel when the housing is in its inserted position. The housing is movable within the opening in the panel to a latched position. A latch arm projects outwardly from the housing on the same side thereof as the locating flange and the stop flange for engagement with a latch slot at the opening in the panel when the housing is in its latched position.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is provided for interfacing between a component frame and a printed circuit board. The assembly includes a board connector for mounting on a surface of the printed circuit board and a frame connector mounted on the component frame. The connectors are mated in a mating direction generally perpendicular to the printed circuit board. Complementary interengaging tongues and grooves are provided between the frame connector and the frame and extend generally perpendicular to the mating direction for interengaging the frame connector with the frame. The tongues and grooves are of different sizes to polarize the frame connector relative to the frame. Latches are provided between the frame connector and the frame for holding the connector interengaged with the frame.

Abstract: A system is provided for mounting an electrical connector in a panel having an opening with at least one locating slot in the opening. A connector includes a housing insertable into the opening in the panel. The housing has at least one outwardly projecting locating flange for passing through the locating slot of the opening as the housing is inserted thereinto. The housing has at least one outwardly projecting stop flange spaced axially from the locating flange for abutting the panel when the housing is in its inserted position. The housing is movable within the opening in the panel to a latched position. A latch arm projects outwardly from the housing for engagement with a latch surface on the panel when the housing is in its latched position. A protective shroud is disposed about a substantial portion of the latch arm to protect the latch arm against breakage.

Abstract: A floating panel mount system is disclosed for mounting an electrical connector to a panel. The system includes a panel having an aperture arrangement therethrough. A connector housing has a mating portion adapted to pass through the aperture arrangement from one side of the panel for mating with a complementary connecting device on the opposite side of the panel and adapted to provide substantial clearance in the aperture arrangement permitting floating motion relative to the panel. A locking portion of the connector housing is adapted to pass through the aperture arrangement from the one side of the panel and adapted to provide substantial clearance in the aperture arrangement. A flange portion of the connector housing is adapted to engage the one side of the panel laterally of the aperture arrangement. A retaining cap lockingly interengages with the locking portion and is engageable with the opposite side o the panel to prevent the mating portion from pulling back out of the aperture arrangement.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a terminal-receiving cavity extending in an insertion direction. The housing includes a window in an outer wall communicating with the cavity. A terminal is insertable into the cavity in the insertion direction to a final position. The terminal includes a stop surface transverse to the insertion direction and alignable with the window when the terminal is in its final position. A terminal locking member has a locking projection adapted to pass through the window into the cavity in engagement with the stop surface on the terminal to lock the terminal in the cavity. The locking projection includes a latching portion engageable with a latch surface on the housing to latch the locking member to the housing. Therefore, the locking projection performs a dual function of locking the terminal in the housing and latching the terminal locking member to the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a shroud having side walls forming a receptacle defining a mating axis. A polarizing groove is disposed in one of the side walls extending generally parallel to the mating axis. A latch is disposed in the polarizing groove. A modular connector is insertable into the receptacle along the mating axis and includes a latch projection adapted for moving into the polarizing groove and latchingly engaging the latch of the shroud in the polarizing groove. Therefore, the latch projection on the modular connector cooperates with the polarizing groove and latch on the shroud to perform the dual function of providing a polarizing means and a latch means.

Abstract: An electrical connector panel mounting system includes a panel having a given thickness between two surfaces and including a first opening formed with at least one radially extending locating portion and a second opening spaced from the first opening. A connector includes a dielectric housing inserted from one surface of the panel along an axis to an insertion position into the first opening in the panel. The housing has at least one radially extending locating flange for passing through the locating portion of the first opening as the housing is inserted thereinto. At least one radially extending stop flange is spaced axially and angularly from the locating flange for abutting the one surface of the panel when the locating flange clears the opposite surface of the panel. The housing is rotatable about the axis from its insertion position to a mounted position whereat the locating flange can abut the opposite surface of the panel to prevent axial removal of the housing back out of the first opening.

Abstract: A surface mount electrical connector is adapted for mounting to the surface of a printed circuit board in either of two orientations generally perpendicular to each other. A molded dielectric housing has first and second board mounting faces disposed generally perpendicular to each other. A first boardlock-receiving passage is molded in the housing communicating with the first board mounting face and extending in a given direction which defines the direction of parting of a pair of mold dies for molding the housing. A second boardlock-receiving passage is molded in the housing generally perpendicular to the first passage and communicating with the second board mounting face. Each passage includes a set of bearing walls for engaging a boardlock member inserted into the respective passage, with no one bearing wall in either set thereof being in alignment with any other bearing wall in the other set thereof in said given direction.

Abstract: An electrical connector panel mounting system includes a panel having a given thickness between two surfaces and including a first opening formed with at least one radially extending locating portion and a second opening spaced from the first opening. A connector includes a dielectric housing inserted from one surface of the panel along an axis to an insertion position into the first opening in the panel. The housing has at least one radially extending locating flange for passing through the locating portion of the first opening as the housing is inserted thereinto. At least one radially extending stop flange is spaced axially and angularly from the locating flange for abutting the one surface of the panel when the locating flange clears the opposite surface of the panel. The housing is rotatable about the axis from its insertion position to a mounted position whereat the locating flange can abut the opposite surface of the panel to prevent axial removal of the housing back out of the first opening.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having an elongated terminal-receiving cavity. A window is provided in an outer wall of the housing communicating with the cavity. A terminal is insertable into the cavity to a final position and has a transverse wall alignable with the window when the terminal is in its final position. A terminal locking member has a bifurcated portion adapted for insertion through the window in the housing for embracing opposite sides of the transverse wall of the terminal.

Abstract: A connector assembly is provided for use in conjunction with a switch that includes a switch actuator, such that the switch is automatically actuated in response to the partial mating of the connector assembly. A first connector includes a dielectric housing having terminals mounted therein. The first connector housing has the switch mounted thereon. A second connector includes a dielectric housing having terminals mounted therein adapted for interengagement with the terminals of the first connector. The second connector housing includes an actuating plug for engaging and actuating the switch actuator automatically when the connectors are partially mated.

Abstract: An electrical connector panel mounting system includes a panel having a given thickness between two surfaces and including an opening formed with at least one locating slot extending radially from the opening. A connector includes a dielectric housing insertable from one surface of the panel along an axis to an insertion position into the opening in the panel. The housing has at least one radially extending locating flange for passing through the locating slot of the opening as the housing is inserted thereinto. At least one radially extending stop flange is spaced axially and angularly from the locating flange for abutting the one surface of the panel and preventing further insertion of the housing when the locating flange clears the opposite surface of the panel. A limiting slot extends radially from the opening in the panel. The limiting slot is separate, independent and angularly spaced from the locating slot and has a given angular width.

Abstract: An elongated sheet metal terminal is adapted to be crimped onto an exposed conductor of an electrical wire, the conductor having a given cross-sectional area. The terminal defines a longitudinal axis and includes a mating end, a terminating end and a transition section therebetween. The terminating end has a pair of spaced crimped walls, and the transition section has a pair of spaced transition walls joining the crimp walls to the mating end. The transition section has a minimum cross-sectional area at any given axial location of at least sixty-five percent of the given cross-sectional area of the conductor. The crimp walls are adapted to be completely curled into generally semi-cylindrical configurations into crimping engagement with the conductor. The transition walls are adapted to be partially curled into generally semi-frusto-conical configurations toward the conductor.

Abstract: A strain relief shell is provided for relieving stress between an electrical connector and an electrical cable. The shell includes a pair of complementarily interengageable shell halves defining an interior cavity. The shell halves are releaseably engageable with the electrical connector on a given center line. A pair of cable exit openings are provided through the shell at different orientations such that the cable can exit from one opening in a direction generally parallel to the center line and from the other opening in one of two directions generally transverse to the center line. A pair of holding loops are formed integral with the shell, projecting into the interior cavity thereof, for holding a cable tie about the cable respectively in either of the directions thereof. Break-away plug portions are formed integrally with the respective shell halves for closing the cable exit openings.

Abstract: A strain relief shell is provided for relieving stress between an electrical connector and an electrical cable. The shell includes a pair of complementarily interengageable shell halves defining an interior cavity. The shell halves are releaseably engageable with the electrical connector on a given center line. A pair of cable exit openings are provided through the shell at different orientations such that the cable can exit from one opening in a direction generally parallel to the center line and from the other opening in one of two directions generally transverse to the center line. A pair of holding loops are formed integral with the shell, projecting into the interior cavity thereof, for holding a cable tie about the cable respectively in either of the directions thereof. Break-away plug portions are formed integrally with the respective shell halves for closing the cable exit openings.

Abstract: A terminal positioning assurance device is provided in a terminal retaining electrical connector assembly. The assembly includes at least one terminal having a locking surface on the exterior thereof. An insulative housing has at least one cavity in which the terminal is received. A window is provided in the housing to afford access to the locking surface on the terminal. A locking member has a locking portion for projecting through the window into engagement with the locking surface on the terminal to retain the terminal in the cavity. The locking member is separate and independent of the housing and includes complementary interengaging pivot surfaces between the housing and the locking member for pivoting the locking member between an opened position and a closed position in which the locking portion projects through the window into engagement with the locking surface on the terminal.