Abstract: A connector assembly comprises opposed mateable plug and receptable connectors. The plug and receptacle connectors each comprise identical hermaphroditic core insulators molded from an elastomeric material. The hermaphroditic core insulators comprise axially aligned terminal receiving slots extending generally radially inwardly into the outer circumference thereof. The mating end of the core insulator is of a stepped configuration to define a leading mating face and a trailing mating face, such that the leading mating face of one hermaphroditic core insulator is urged into mating face-to-face relationship with the trailing mating face of an opposed hermaphroditic core insulator. A generally cylindrical tubular shroud is disposed around the core insulator and the cable terminated therein. The shroud may be formed from a material that is heat shrunk into secure environmental sealing and strain relief connection with the core insulator and the cable.

Abstract: An electrical connector housing and an electrical connector are provided. The housing comprises telescopingly engageable first and second shells, each of which includes a generally peripheral side wall and opposed ends. The first shell is characterized by a cutout portion extending through the peripheral side wall from the one end thereof to a location intermediate the opposed ends. The second shell includes an aperture extending through the peripheral side wall at a location intermediate the opposed ends. A generally tubular eyelet is dimensioned to be slidably disposed over a cable and to be slidably inserted into the aperture in the second shell, with the axes of the eyelet and the cable being angularly aligned to the central axis of the second shell. The telescoping engagement of the first and second shells causes the cutout portion of the first shell to crimp the eyelet into secure engagement with both the cable and the aperture of the second shell.

Abstract: A grounding backshell assembly is provided for achieving a grounded electrical connection to a conductive braid of a cable, and for simultaneously achieving effective strain relief and environmental sealing. The backshell assembly comprises a generally cylindrical backshell having a toroidally configured coil spring mounted therein. A plunger with a leading concave cam surface is slidably inserted in the backshell for camming engagement with the grounding spring. A toroidally configured strain relief coil spring is disposed around the cable at the rear end of the plunger. A compression nut having a concave camming surface therein is threadably engageable with the backshell such that the concave cam surface thereof is operative to radially compress the strain relief spring and to urge the plunger into camming interengagement with the grounding spring. An elastomeric seal is resiliently engaged with the rear end of the compression nut and is further resiliently engaged with the cable.

Abstract: An electrical connector backshell and a molded environmental seal for use therewith are provided. The backshell includes an internal array of threads for mating with a frontshell. An internal cylindrical surface is provided rearwardly of the threads and terminates at an inwardly directed annular shoulder. The seal is molded from a unitary piece of elastomeric material and is dimensioned to be engaged within the internal cylindrical surface of the backshell. The seal is provided with a mating end for mounting against the shoulder of the backshell. The mating end of the seal is provided with an annular mounting flange for engaging the groove in the backshell. The forward mating end of the seal defines a radially outer annular locking ridge and a radially inner annular sealing ridge. The locking and sealing ridges are constructed for secure environmental sealing engagement with a plurality of different frontshell configurations.

Abstract: An adapter molded from an elastomeric material is adapted to be mounted to an electrical connector having a cable extending therefrom, to provide a strain relief transition of the cable through a bend.

Abstract: An environmentally sealed connector assembly includes interfitting manually telescoping separable plug and receptacle connectors. Each connector includes an outer metallic shell, with the plug connector telescopically interfitting the receptacle shell. A manually compressible resilient split ring is captively mounted on the receptacle shell, and has inwardly extending tab portions communicating with the plug shell when the two shells are intermated. The plug shell includes a tab-receiving channel which locks with the split ring upon telescopic mating of the two connector parts.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes opposed matable halves. Each half of the connector includes a rigid outer shell and a one-piece molded elastomeric insert frictionally retained in the respective outer shell. The inserts frictionally retain appropriate electrical terminals. Keys on the inserts cooperate with keyways on the outer shell to ensure proper alignment and polarization. One of the outer shells is mechanically crimped to the cable to provide strain relief and an environmentally sealed connection. One of the inserts is provided with an outwardly extending sealing flange which is tightly urged into contact between the opposed outer shells for environmental sealing. The forward end of one insert defines a peripheral lip which is urged into tight engagement with the mating face of the opposed insert to further contribute to environmental sealing. A right angle adapter molded from an elastomeric material can provide a strain relief transition of the cable through a right angle bend.

Abstract: A backshell sealing arrangement adapted to make an environmental seal with a variety of frontshell configurations is provided. The backshell includes a generally cylindrical rigid outer shell having a coupling portion with internal threads adapted to engage external threads adjacent the cable end of a plug and receptcle-type connector frontshell. A shoulder is provided in the backshell radially inward of the internal threads and adjacent the coupling portion having a surface which faces the frontshell cable end. A recess is provided radially between the shoulder and an external wall of the backshell. A ring-like resilient gasket of rectangular cross-section elongated in a radial direction is disposed in the backshell such that the outer radial portions of the gasket are received in the recess and the inner axial portions of the gasket are supported on the surface of the shoulder.

Abstract: This is concerned with a cord grip for use with various types of electrical cord and is more specifically concerned with a compression chamber with a distortable grommet which has gripper elements associated therewith so that the gripper elements or unit perform a closing action on the cord in response to reduction in the volume of the compression chamber.

Abstract: This is a cable stripper or tool for removing insulation from cable. The tool has a pair of jaws which are adapted to close on a cable with a cutting blade or tool therein so that when the cable and tool are rotated relative to each other, a cut path will be defined or applied to the cable. The tool has the capability for either square cutting, i.e. a circular cut, or peeling, i.e. a helical cut or both and will automatically apply one cut or the other depending upon its direction of rotation.

Abstract: A modularized pin and sleeve type electrical connector for both portable and stationary industrial applications, the connector having an interfitting plug shell and receptacle shell, male and female inserts which can be interchangeably used therewith, and assorted backshell components. Diaphragms formed across the terminal cavities carried by the inserts act to seal off the cavities, both before and after being pierced by terminals inserted therein. The inserts are multipiece and have conical locking structure formed about the terminal cavities which provide low insertion and high withdrawal forces to the terminals inserted therein. Both the interchangeable inserts as well as the plug and receptacle shells have keying components which permit the inserts to be rotatably positioned in the shells as the connector is assembled in the field, to result in a desired angular mating orientation for the connector.

Abstract: This is concerned with a cord grip for use with various types of electrical cord and more specifically involves a compression chamber with a distortable grommet which has independent gripper elements that are socketed into the grommet so that the gripper elements perform a compound closing action on the cord with the result that the cord grip has great flexibility as to the range of sizes and types of cords it will accept and as to the type of gripping action it will perform on different sizes of cords.

Abstract: A multi-terminal rotary connector assembly including a plug having a generally circular mating end with contacts thereabout. A receptacle has a generally circular opening with contacts therein for receiving and mating with said plug to engage the contacts thereof. The receptacle includes an axially mounted and extending polarization and anti-separation stud for insertion into a corresponding axial aperture in the mating end of the plug. The contacts of the plug and receptacle are spaced from one another circumferentially as the plug and receptacle are mated axially, and engage one another only when the polarizing stud has been received into the axial aperture in the plug and the plug has been rotated with respect to the receptacle to its locked position. During rotation the apexes of the plug contacts slide past the apexes of the receptacle contacts to inhibit counter-rotation. Both the plug and the receptacle may include retention and strain relief means for attachment to an electrical cable.

Abstract: An electrical connector embodying a housing having an elongated cavity therein for removably receiving an elongated plug in the cavity, with an elongated spiral spring member mounted in the cavity, in longitudinal alignment therewith, in position to receive the plug into the spring and afford the electrical connection between the housing and the plug.

Abstract: A circuit connector for electrically connecting a substantially flat flexible conductor to a second conductor. The connector generally includes a housing, a cover, and contacts. The housing is of insulating material and has a relatively flat conductor receiving surface and a plurality of openings that communicate with the conductor receiving surface. A generally resilient self-locking domed wiping contact is disposed in the housing beneath each opening, and slidably engages retaining grooves of the housing. At least one portion of each contact protrudes above the conductor receiving surface to make electrical contact with the flat conductor, and a second portion is adapted for connection to a second conductor. The cover is superposed the flat conductor receiving surface for receiving the flat conductor therebetween. The cover is movable to press and releasably retain the flexible circuit in electrical connection with said resilient contacts.

Abstract: An electrical connector generally including an insulated housing having a plurality of like terminals received therein. The housing includes a hollow chamber portion having two facing walls. One of the walls includes a plurality of upstanding protrusions formed on the interior thereof while the other wall has a plurality of cavities formed therethrough to allow communication into the chamber portion. Each cavity is in alignment with a protrusion. Each terminal includes a crimp portion at one end, an indexing portion at the other end having an opening formed therein and a resilient barrel-shaped portion intermediate the ends. The contact portion has a cross section larger than any other portion of the terminal and also the size of the cavities.

Abstract: A grounding backshell assembly is provided for achieving a grounded electrical connection to a conductive braid of a cable, and for simultaneously achieving effective strain relief and environmental sealing. The backshell assembly comprises a generally cylindrical backshell having a toroidally configured coil spring mounted therein. A plunger with a leading concave cam surface is slidably inserted in the backshell for camming engagement with the grounding spring. A toroidally configured strain relief coil spring is disposed around the cable at the rear end of the plunger. A compression nut having a concave camming surface therein is threadably engageable with the backshell such that the concave cam surface thereof is operative to radially compress the strain relief spring and to urge the plunger into camming interengagement with the grounding spring. An elastomeric seal is resiliently engaged with the rear end of the compression nut and is further resiliently engaged with the cable.