Abstract: A tie clip includes a strap body formed of a first material. The strap body has a first and second end, a strap retention member, a plurality of teeth disposed on the strap body, and a securing member. The strap body also includes sealing member that is formed of a second material that is different from the first material. The second material is directly chemically bonded to the first material. The first end of the strap body is received in a unidirectional manner in the strap retention member so as to form a loop that fixedly holds at least one object such that the object is prevented from having lateral movement through the loop. When the securing member is fastenably secured within a hole of a mounting structure, the sealing member sealingly engages against the mounting structure surrounding the hole to prevent environmental element intrusion therethough.

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 electrical distribution center electrically interconnects electrical and electronic devices and electrical connectors of wiring harnesses. The electrical distribution center comprises a main bus plate that includes a plurality of stamped metal circuit components that are insert molded in an insulation board. The stamped metal circuit components have a plurality of male blade terminals that project outwardly of the insulation board and that include wire receiving slots. The main bus plate is sandwiched between upper and lower bus plates that each include a plurality of wire circuit components in an insulated routing board that has slots extending through it. The male blade terminals of the main bus plate project through the slots of the upper and lower bus plates for connection with the electrical and electronic components and the electrical connectors of the wiring harnesses.

Abstract: An automotive power plant has an electrically controlled transmission 12 which is connected to control modules by a wiring harness. The end of the wiring harness is attached to the transmission by an electrical connector which has a spring like thermoplastic cover which is secured to the insulator body of the electrical connector by a bayonet slot arrangement and which has an integral cable strap for securing an end of a convoluted conduit forming part of the wiring harness.

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: An automotive power plant has an electrically controlled transmission 12 which is connected to control modules by a wiring harness. The end of the wiring harness is attached to the transmission by an electrical connector which has a spring like thermoplastic cover which is secured to the insulator body of the electrical connector by a bayonet slot arrangement and which has an integral cable strap for securing an end of a convoluted conduit forming part of the wiring harness.

Abstract: A fuse package for a vehicle handles a row of plug-in type fuses in a simple and convenient fashion. An insulator block includes a plurality of terminals arrayed so that a row of fuses held in a cover will plug into the terminals as the cover is installed on the block. The terminals grip the fuses more strongly than the fuses are held within the cover so that the terminals will be pulled out of the cover and stay plugged in to the terminals as the cover is removed, giving easy servicing access to the fuses. The fuses are not held within the cover strongly enough to stay with the cover as the cover is handled, however. A retainer fits within the cover strongly enough to maintain the cover and fuses as a unitary assembly that can be separately handled and installed. The retainer also includes a locking means that interengages with a locking means on the block as the cover assembly is installed to cooperatively keep the cover on the block.

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 prepared ribbon cable is mass terminated to a preloaded electrical connector by wave soldering techniques. The preloaded connector comprises a housing and a plurality of terminals. The housing has an anvil in the form of a flange at the conductor end of the housing and a plurality of fins projecting from the conductor end to isolate the conductor attaching means of the terminals from each other. The terminals are inserted into cavities through openings at the mating end of the housing, retained by solder tabs which are bent over against the flange, and form part of the conductor attaching means. The conductor attaching means further includes slotted terminal portions which receive the conductors and position the ends of the conductors on the bent solder tabs.