Abstract: A high contact force pin-receiving electrical terminal includes a channel-shaped base joined to a forward pin engaging structure with a generally box-shaped pin receiving region. The pin engaging structure has a pair of spaced apart beams extending forwardly of the base to generally define opposed sides of the box-shaped region with opposed pin contacting surfaces for slidably engaging an inserted pin terminal. A resilient beam support member extends between and mechanically interconnects the forward, free ends of the beams to generally define a third side of the box-shaped region. A shroud extends forwardly of the base about at least portions of the beams to protect the beams during handling.

Abstract: A grounding shroud assembly is disclosed for mounting in an opening in a panel and for receiving a cable plug on one side of the panel and contact pins from a printed circuit board on an opposite side of the panel. A generally U-shaped conductive frame includes a base and a pair of sidewalls extending from the base and defining a receptacle therebetween for receiving the cable plug. The base has apertures therethrough for receiving the contact pins. A generally U-shaped conductive spring includes a base and a pair of sidewalls extending from the base for embracing the U-shaped frame. The spring facilitates mounting the shroud assembly in the opening in the panel. The base of the spring has apertures in registry with the apertures in the base of the frame for receiving the contact pins.

Abstract: An electrical pin field connector assembly includes a printed circuit board having a plurality of pins projecting from at least one side thereof. A housing is mounted over the pins with a mounting face of the housing in close proximity to the one side of the printed circuit board. The pins extend through passages in the housing. A locking member is disposed within the confines of the housing and intersects at least one of the passages. The locking member includes a gripping aperture aligned with the one passage for gripping the respective pin that extends therethrough to hold the housing mounted over the pins with the mounting face in close proximity to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is disclosed for terminating a shielded insulated cable (88) having a conductor core (90) with a sheath (92) of insulation therearound, an outer insulating jacket (94) and a shield (96) between the sheath and the jacket. The connector assembly includes a connector housing (64) having a receptacle cavity (66). A preassembled module (58) is adapted to be received in the cavity. The module includes a dielectric insert housing (14) having a terminal-receiving passage (38). An electrically conductive signal terminal (56) is mounted in the passage for termination to the conductor core of the cable. An electrically conductive grounding terminal (12) is mounted on the outside of the insert housing for termination to the shield of the cable. Therefore, the insert housing (14), the signal terminal (56) and the grounding terminal (12) can be preassembled as a module (58) and inserted as a modular unit into the receptacle cavity in the connector housing.

Abstract: A shielded plug and socket electrical connector system is provided for interconnecting a plurality of shielded electrical cables with a printed circuit board. A plurality of plug connectors each include a dielectric housing which mounts a plurality of terminals terminated to conductors of a shielded cable and a two-part shielding hood configured for substantially enclosing the housing. Each plug connector includes a grounding contact fitted within one part of the shielding hood. The grounding contact includes a first plug portion adapted for conductively engaging a shield of the cable and a second plug portion exposed exteriorly of the hood. A socket connector is adapted for mounting to the printed circuit board and includes an elongated dielectric housing defining a plurality of receptacles each for receiving a corresponding one of the plurality of plug connectors. The socket connector includes a grounding bar mounted on the housing and extending lengthwise thereof.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a terminal-receiving passageway. An insulation displacement terminal is received in the passageway for terminating an insulated wire extending into the passageway. The wire includes an electrical conductor with a sheath of insulation thereabout. The terminal includes a terminating section deflectable for displacing the insulation and engaging the conductor. The terminating section is generally flat in a plane coincident with the longitudinal axis of the insulated wire. At least a portion of the terminating section is deflectable upon the application of a force on the terminal generally parallel to the longitudinal axis. The terminating section is configured to be permanently deformed when deflected into insulation-displacing condition with the insulated wire. The invention also is directed to such a terminal, per se.

Abstract: A shielded electrical connector assembly includes a conductive housing having receptacle means for receiving a complementary mating connector. A terminal module includes a dielectric terminal block mounted in the conductive housing at the receptacle. The terminal block mounts a plurality of spaced terminals having contact portions projecting into the receptacle and adapted for electrical interconnection with appropriate contacts of the complementary mating connector. The terminal block has openings between the spaced terminals. The conductive housing includes integral shield portions projecting into the openings in the terminal block between the spaced terminals. The housing also includes integral ground portions in the receptacle and adapted for interconnection with appropriate ground contacts of the mating connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is disclosed for terminating a plurality of insulated electrical wires and which includes a dielectric housing having a mating end and a wire-receiving end with a plurality of open-ended terminal-receiving cavities communicating therebetween. A plurality of terminals respectively are disposed in the cavities. Each terminal includes a mating end near the mating end of the housing, a wire-receiving end near the wire-receiving end of the housing and an axially collapsible insulation-displacement section therebetween. A dielectric cover is positionable against the housing at the wire-receiving end thereof. The cover has a plurality of wire-receiving openings aligned with the wire-receiving cavities in the housing.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a press tool for assembling and terminating electrical connector assemblies. The connector assemblies include a plurality of wires, a first housing component, a mateable second housing component and a plurality of terminals located within the connector assembly which can be simultaneously mass terminated to a portion of wire located within each terminal as a result of the mating of the housing components. Each portion defines an axis. The press tool comprises a first housing component support means for supporting the first housing component and cutting means for cutting each of the wires to a predetermined length. Spacer means is positioned between the first housing component support means and the cutting means for establishing the predetermined length of wire. Second housing component support means are also provided for supporting the second housing component.

Abstract: A connector assembly for terminating a shielded insulated wire having a conductor core with a sheath of insulation therearound, an outer insulating jacket and a shield between the sheath and the jacket. The assembly includes a dielectric housing mounting an electrically conductive signal terminal for termination to the conductor core of the wire. A conductive grounding terminal is disposed outside the dielectric housing and has an insulation piercing section for displacing the outer insulating jacket of the wire to engage the shield thereof, in response to the application of a force on the grounding terminal generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wire. The assembly is applicable for terminating a series of shielded insulated wires, with a plurality of conductive separator plates insert molded to the dielectric housing and individually disposed between adjacent individual signal terminals.

Abstract: A reusable carrier for releasably retaining modular telephone jacks or other small molded articles is stamped and formed from a strip of metal and has a plurality of depending U-shaped clips extending from an elongated carrier strip. The carrier strip is generally flat with a series of pilot holes and struck out, downwardly bent locating projections positioned in between adjacent pilot holes. One of the U-shaped clips extends transversely from the carrier strip adjacent each of the pilot holes and is adapted to be releasably received within a plug receiving cavity of the jack. Each of the U-shaped clips includes a bight portion and opposed legs extending from the bight portion. Each of these legs has a pair of oppositely curved friction springs projecting outwardly from the leg so as to frictionally engage interior side walls of the plug receiving cavity when the jack is placed on the clip.

Abstract: An insulation displacement type connector for terminating a plurality of insulated conductors. The connector has a housing defined by a generally cylindrical open ended configuration. Insulation displacement type terminals are mounted on the housing around the periphery thereof. The terminals are radially directed such that they are moveable into the interior of the housing. A conductor carrier is telescopically received in the interior of the housing. The carrier has a conductor-receiving surface which aligns the conductors adjacent the terminals when received in the housing. Also disclosed is a method of assembling the connector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a board mounted electrical connector for terminating the free end of a flat round conductor cable to post terminals mounted on the board. The connector includes a housing having a cable receiving end and opposed mating end, with a bottom wall having a board engaging surface extending therebetween. Extending parallel to the board engaging surface, between the conductor receiving and mating end is a plurality of wire and terminal receiving cavities which have an open top, communicating with a top surface of the connector housing. Terminals received in the cavities have a wire engaging portion with insulation piercing barbs, and an opposed pin engaging portion with an integrally formed cantilever spring finger. When loaded into the housing, the wire engaging portion of the terminal terminates wire conductors received at one end of the cavity while the pin engaging portion is positioned adjacent pin receiving passageways located adjacent the mating end of the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a connector arrangement for electrically interconnecting adjacent, parallel, spaced-apart printed circuit boards. The connector includes a housing having a mounting surface and passageway for receiving a pin-like male commoning element. The connector further includes a stamped, integral terminal mounted in the housing, which has a resilient female contact disposed in the pin-receiving passageway, and a board engaging portion which is secured to a first printed circuit board. A connector is provided on each printed circuit board to be electrically interconnected, and the pin-receiving passageways are aligned in registry. After installation of the connectors and printed circuit boards, the pin-like male commoning element is inserted through the passageways and apertures provided in each printed circuit board adjacent each passageway, so as to engage each female contact element of each connector to be interconnected.

Abstract: A unitary electrical contact member for terminating an insulated conductor includes a body member supporting a pair of plate portions in parallel spaced apart relation with respect to one another. Each plate portion has an insulation displacement slot which establishes contact with the conductor such that the longitudinal axis of the conductor is oriented normally of the plate portions. A first contact finger depending from the body member cooperates with a second contact finger depending from one of the plate portions thereby providing a receptacle for establishing a biased connection with a pin terminal. The configuration of the contact fingers is such that the pin terminal has its longitudinal axis oriented parallel to the conductor resulting in a highly compact arrangement suitable for miniature electrical connector applications.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a housing fitted with one or more contact members which have the capability of terminating an insulated multi-stranded conductor by displacement of the conductor insulation. The contact member comprises a stamped and formed metallic plate member having an insulation displacement slot which defines, at an end of the plate, a pair of limbs and a relatively wide conductor receiving mouth. The slot tapers from the mouth to a pair of opposed teeth positioned one on each limb in juxtaposed relationship. The teeth are configured to point in the general direction of the mouth and they serve to initiate severing of the conductor coating. The plate may further comprise a pair of coined protrusions adjacent a further narrowed portion of the slot for separating the conductor coating and providing an improved electrical interface between the conductor strands and contact.

Abstract: A collapsible insulation displacement terminal, responsive to an actuating force directed along the length of a wire received in the terminal, includes a metallic body with a pair of side portions positionable on opposite sides of an insulation covered wire. Each side portion includes a weakened intermediate region with an aperture defined therein. When the terminal is compressed by a force applied generally parallel to the length of the wire, the intermediate regions collapse inwardly of the terminal body toward one another. In the process, a contact edge defined by the apertures severs the insulation covering the wire and produces an electrical connection between the central core of the wire and the terminal. The positions of the intermediate regions of the side portions may be offset with respect to one another so that the two intermediate portions do not interfere with one another during their inward severing action.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrical interconnection assembly such as an automobile harness junction box, comprises laying a wire in a groove in a substrate; cutting the wire in the groove into a plurality of pieces; and then transferring the pieces of wire from the groove on to terminals carried by an insulating support to form the assembly.

Abstract: An electrical contact member comprises a conductive plate (4) having therein a slot (5) open to an edge of the plate (4), the slot (5) having a mouth (28) at the edge of the plate (4) and leading to a first inwardly tapering section (29) which leads to a second parallel straight sided section (30), the second section (30) leading into a third inwardly tapering section (31) having convex converging sides leading to a throat (32) which opens into a fourth outwardly tapering section (33) leading into a fifth inwardly tapering section (34) having convex converging sides, the maximum width of the fifth section (34) being less than that of the third section (31), the fifth section (34) defining a closed end (35) for the slot (5). When used with a conductor (100) having a stranded core the slot shape of the contact serves to retain the strands in as near as possible their original relative positions, thus ensuring reliable connection.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a housing fitted with one or more contact members which have the capability of terminating an insulated multi-stranded conductor by displacement of the conductor insulation. The contact member comprises a stamped and formed metallic plate member having an insulation displacement slot which defines, at an end of the plate, a pair of limbs and a relatively wide conductor receiving mouth. The slot tapers from the mouth to a pair of opposed teeth positioned one on each limb in juxtaposed relationship. The teeth are configured to point in the general direction of the mouth and they serve to initiate severing of the conductor coating. The plate may further comprise a pair of coined protrusions adjacent a further narrowed portion of the slot for separating the conductor coating and providing an improved electrical interface between the conductor strands and contact.