Abstract: Light attenuation through a high return loss fixed attenuator is achieved by controlling the offset of two common fiber axes to achieve a controlled transverse misalignment loss while the ends of the fibers are maintained in physical contact under a spring force of the connectors such that a high return loss is achieved.

Abstract: A patch cord includes a cable having a primary transmission member contained within a protective sheathing. An energy transmission member is carried on the cable and extends from a first end to a second end. First and second couplings are connected to the first and second ends of the energy transmission member. The first coupling receives energy from an external source and transmits the energy along the energy transmission member toward the second coupling. The second coupling receives energy from the energy transmission member and generates a visible signal in response to the received energy.

Abstract: A make-before-break edge connector receives an edge portion of a printed circuit board of predetermined thickness. The edge connector includes first and second spring contacts disposed as an opposing pair. Each of the spring contacts includes an entrance end, an intermediate portion and a termination end. At the intermediate portion, the spring contacts include normally closed spring contacts. At the entrance end, the spring contacts include normally open spring contacts.

Abstract: A fail-safe device is provided for an overvoltage protector element where the protector includes a body having first and second contact surfaces and a tip lead, a ring lead and a ground lead extending from the body. The fail-safe device includes a heat deformable dielectric base and an electrically conducted spring member having first and second contact ends. The base is disposed against the element body with the base having first and second spacer ends separating the spring's first and second ends from the protector body's first and second contact surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ganged lamp socket device especially applicable for a bank of LED's. The apparatus includes a housing having a row of sockets with a groove and first pockets on one side of the row and a plurality of second pockets on the other side. A common terminal strip fits in the groove and first pockets, while a plurality of contact members fit in the second pockets. The apparatus is easily assembled using the common strip and plurality of contact members formed in a single conductive sheet. The strip is inserted in the groove and broken from the sheet and then the contact members which are held together by a carrier are inserted in the second pockets. The carrier is broken from the contact members and all items are pressed into place. The apparatus reduces the number of piece parts normally needed for this type of device and increases system reliability.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to connector apparatus comprising a jack (20) usable with either a conventional plug (400) terminating a coaxial cable (410) or a special plug (200) terminating a shielded, twisted pair cable (202). Such versatility was made possible by a full body first conductor (68) having spring contactors (130) which may be separated from grounding contact with barrel (36) of housing (32) by an insulator (216) of plug (200) includes a protruding insulator (216) for separating the contactors (130) and functioning the switching mechanism. Plug (200) also includes first and second conductors (212) and (214) for connection with second and first jack conductors (76) and (68), respectively. In addition, unique structures for pieceparts and assembly details resulting in various interlocking arrangements are disclosed with respect to the structure of jack (20) and plug (200).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ganged lamp socket device especially applicable for a bank of LED's. The apparatus includes a housing having a row of sockets with a groove and first pockets on one side of the row and a plurality of second pockets on the other side. A common terminal strip fits in the groove and first pockets, while a plurality of contact members fit in the second pockets. The apparatus is easily assembled using the common strip and plurality of contact members formed in a single conductive sheet. The strip is inserted in the groove and broken from the sheet and then the contact members which are held together by a carrier are inserted in the second pockets. The carrier is broken from the contact members and all the items are pressed into place. The apparatus reduces the number of piece parts normally needed for this type of device and increases system reliability.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to apparatus for maintaining good conductivity characteristics over time between a spring connector in contact with a connector housing having a plated substrate material. An insert is fitted into an appropriate space in the cast housing. The insert forms a gas tight seal with the housing at appropriate edges. The seal prevents oxidation of plating materials along the edges thereby maintaining good conductivity characteristics over time between the cast housing and the insert. The spring conductor and the insert are made from or plated with materials which do not form an oxide layer and thus maintain low contact resistance over time, thereby preserving good conductivity characteristics of the entire electrical path over time.

Abstract: An electrical connector apparatus (10) is described having a housing with a first end (12) for releasably receiving a terminal end (200) of a jack and a second end (14) for receiving a twisted pair cable (300) having a pair of conductors (301, 302). The housing includes first and second intermediate electrical connectors (70, 80) having first ends (74, 84) for electrically contacting first and second exposed electrical contacts (206, 208) of the terminal end (200) when the terminal end (200) is secured to the housing in predetermined alignment. The first and second intermediate electrical connectors (70, 80) also include second ends (76, 86) having insulation displacement connectors (110) for providing electrical connection between insulation clad conductors (301, 302) of said twisted pair cable (300).

Abstract: A wire insertion tool is disclosed including a manually engageable handle having an impact receiver slideably received on said handle. An impactor is carried on the handle and includes an impactor movable between a rest position and a displaced position and also movable between a load position and a fire position. The impactor presents a first surface opposing the impact receiver when in the load position and a second surface opposing the impact receiver when in the fire position. The second surface is spaced away from the first surface. A compression spring is provided for yieldably urging the impactor toward the impact receiver and toward the load position. A pivot mechanism pivots the impactor against the urging of the compression spring to the fire position as the impactor is moved to the displaced position.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to connector apparatus comprising a jack (20) usable with either a conventional plug (400) terminating a coaxial cable (410) or a special plug (200) terminating a shielded, twisted pair cable (202). Such versatility was made possible by a full body first conductor (68) having spring contactors (130) which may be separated from grounding contact with barrel (36) of housing (32) by an insulator (216) of plug (200) includes a protruding insulator (216) for separating the contactors (130) and functioning the switching mechanism. Plug (200) also includes first and second conductors (212) and (214) for connection with second and first jack conductors (76) and (68), respectively. In addition, unique structures for pieceparts and assembly details resulting in various interlocking arrangements are disclosed with respect to the structure of jack (20) and plug (200).

Abstract: The present invention provides a manually controlled wand which is particularly suited for use in a file control system in which the files are provided with machine readable codes located along an edge of the file. The wand is adapted by the provision of a jig used to bear against the edge of the file for locating the wand in a read position over the code and riding along the file edge to guide and steady the manual movement of the wand to provide an accurate reading of the code.

Abstract: The present invention provides a label jig adapted to guide accurate manual application of an adhesive label or label cover at an edge of a file panel. The jig includes a file edge guide, a label edge guide, raised relative to the file edge guide and a seat portion between and at generally right angles to the edge guides at the top of the file edge guide and at the base of the label edge guide. The seat portion which is used to seat only part of the label has low affinity for the adhesive on the label so as not to detract from its adhesiveness when the seated part of the label is removed from the seat portion of the jig.

Abstract: A conveyor is disclosed for labelling apparatus. The conveyor comprises a plurality of clamps and endless carrier for the clamps. Each clamp is urged to a closed position by a spring and is adapted to be held in an open position for receiving an unlabelled folder. Means closes each clamp to grip sheet material and hold it while it is being labelled for purposes of accurate receipt of applied labels. The body portion presents a base which supports clamped material. A moveable clamp jaw is secured to a member which is adapted to slide in and out of the body portion. The spring means is associated with the member to urge the clamp jaw towards the clamp base. The member has mounted thereon, remote from the jaw, a roller means adapted to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the member. A slider cam is laterally moveable in the body portion and is in contact with the roller. The slider cam has upper and lower cam segments to provide respectively open and closed positions for the clamp.

Abstract: A label sensor adapted for use with a labeller comprises an emitter, a receiver and a fibre optic bundle for transmitting an emitted beam to the receiver. The labeller is of the type which separates spaced-apart labels from a carrier by passing the carrier around the free end of a label splitter tongue member. An end of the fibre optic bundle is positioned in an opening of the splitter tongue near its free end to detect the leading portion of a label as the carrier passes over the bundle end. The use of a fibre optic bundle and its manner of mounting in the tapered end permits the positioning of the relatively bulky emitter or receiver remote of the compact free end of the splitter tongue member and provides a precise label sensing.

Abstract: Process and apparatus is disclosed for replacing file folders, such as required in the conversion of a filing system. Apparatus comprises a support for supporting fastened file material next its fastener during and after fastener withdrawal and fastener remover for withdrawing fastener and file folder away from supported file material. The supported material may be clamped to facilitate replacement of new file folders with corresponding fasteners. The process comprises the steps of inserting a support between file material and file folder fastened thereto by a fastener to position the support next to the fastener, clamping the fastened file material, stripping the file folder with fastener away from the supported clamped material, replacing file folder with new folder and fastener, releasing the clamped material and closing the fastener to secure the file material in the replacement folder.