Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing that holds multiple electrical conductors, a latch member pivotably coupled to an outer surface of the housing, and a shell surrounding the housing. The latch member includes stem extending between a front end and an opposite rear end. The latch member has a hook tip at the front end, a ramp surface at the rear end, and a pivot location disposed therebetween. The hook tip couples to a locking tab of a mating connector. A ridge of the shell protrudes inward from an interior surface of the shell and engages the ramp surface. Rearward movement of the shell causes the latch member to pivot from a locking position to a release position due to sliding engagement between the ridge and the ramp surface. The hook tip is disposed more proximate to the housing in the locking position than in the release position.

Abstract: A floatable connector is provided that includes a housing and a bushing. The housing includes at least one mounting ear. The mounting ear has an aperture therethrough and at least one deflectable finger that extends into the aperture from an inner surface defining the aperture. The bushing is loaded into the aperture. The bushing includes a stem between a first flange and a second flange. The bushing defines a channel therethrough. The diameter of the aperture of the mounting ear is greater than the diameter of an outer surface of the stem such that an axially extending gap is formed between the inner surface of the mounting ear and the outer surface of the stem. The housing is floatable radially within the gap relative to the bushing.

Abstract: A pass-through connector system is provided that includes a receptacle assembly and a pass-through connector. The receptacle assembly has a mounting ear at least proximate to a mounting end. The mounting ear defines an aperture therethrough that receives a fastener to mount the receptacle assembly to a substrate. A diameter of the aperture of the mounting ear is greater than an outer diameter of the fastener such that a gap is formed between the mounting ear and the fastener. The pass-through connector extends through a window in a panel that at least partially surrounds the substrate. The pass-through connector has a shroud at a plug end that defines an opening to a cavity. The receptacle assembly is floatable radially within the gap relative to the fastener to allow the shroud to guide the receptacle assembly into alignment with the cavity of the pass-through connector during mating.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is shown having a housing member with a lever assist which rotatably draws complimentary connectors together. The lever assist is attached by way of mounting studs to a shroud on each side of the sidewall of the connector housing where the lever arms are positioned within the shroud to protect the lever arms and the gear teeth on the free ends of the lever arms.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly is shown having a housing member with a lever assist which rotatably draws complimentary connectors together. The lever assist is attached by way of mounting studs to a shroud on each side of the sidewall of the connector housing where the lever arms are positioned within the shroud to protect the lever arms and the gear teeth on the free ends of the lever arms.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a card comprising: (a) placing a circuit board within a plastic panel and a metal panel, the metal panel having a plurality of tabs with barbs thereon, the plastic panel having one or more cavities adapted for receiving the tabs; (b) inserting the tabs within the one or more cavities; and (c) transmitting energy to the plastic around the tab such that the plastic flows at least partially around the barbs; and a card made from the above process.

Abstract: A modular jack connector assembly comprising: (a) a dielectric housing having a front and rear orientation and defining at least one receptacle adapted for receiving a mating plug; and (b) a plurality of contacts disposed in the housing, each contact being secured to the housing at a rear portion thereof, each contact extending forward from the rear portion to a free end such that a portion of the contact electrically connects with a mating plug when the mating plug is received within the receptacle.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a card comprising: (a) placing a circuit board within a plastic panel and a metal panel, the metal panel having a plurality of tabs with barbs thereon, the plastic panel having one or more cavities adapted for receiving the tabs; (b) inserting the tabs within the one or more cavities; and (c) transmitting energy to the plastic around the tab such that the plastic flows at least partially around the barbs; and a card made from the above process.

Abstract: A stacked electrical connector 2 including right angle RJ-45 modular jacks 4 positioned in columns also includes LED's 38 positioned on the front mating face 18 of the connector 2. Internal passages 28 extend from the mating face 18 of the jack housing 18 and intersect channels 34 extending to the bottom pcb mounting face 22 where the connector 2 and jacks 4 are soldered to a printed circuit board. LED leads 42 are located in the passages 28 and contacts 44 are located in channels 34. Insulation displacement slots 48 at the top of the contacts 44 terminate the leads 42. The termination points are staggered and the leads 42 in a column are of different lengths so that contacts 44 of different lengths can engage corresponding leads 42. LED's 38 can thus be positioned beside mating openings 20 on the front of the connector 2 to provide status indications.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a fully shielded printed circuit (PC) card holder, that may be readily "snapped" into the assembly, or disassembled, as the case may be. The holder is intended to receive a PC card, where at least one end of the card is adapted to be electrically connected to an I/O type connector. The holder comprises a generally rectangular bottom cover member formed of a conductive material, corner supports integrally molded to the bottom cover member at the respective corners thereof, where each support includes a lower flange portion to which the bottom cover member is exposed. Further, a generally rectangular upper cover member is provided where the periphery thereof includes a downwardly extending flange adapted to engage the lower flange portion in electrical contact with the bottom cover member over a substantial portion of the periphery thereof.