Abstract: A strain relief electrical cable connector for facilitating ready connection and disconnection of non-metallic, sheath cables and capable of withstanding a 60 pound pull force for 5 minutes without the assistance of terminals or additional hardware. The connector includes a pair of identical, interlocking connector portions, each having a cover and pivotally connected housing. Each cover including a pair of integrally formed, spaced apart projections having inwardly directed, angularly disposed strain relief fingers and further including inwardly directed, angularly disposed wire support standoffs which are provided with a serrated cam exterior portion. The covers also provide wire guide means and a guide post intermediate the guide means and the serrated cam portion. Each housing is provided with terminal retention channels and terminals received therein for connection at one end with the cable wiring and at the other end with associated terminals of the interlocking connector portion.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for crimping a crimpable connector onto at least one electrical conductor. The apparatus includes a pair of crimping arms defining a staging area behind a crimping area. The staging area allows a first connector to be fed thereto and moved to the crimping area to be crimped thereat. A second connector is fed to the staging area, and an ejector moves the second connector into engagement with the first connector to eject the first connector from the crimping area while the second connector moves into the crimping area.

Abstract: A tap connector is provided for interconnection to an electrical cable having a plurality of conductor wires. A base defines a longitudinal axis along which the electrical cable is disposed. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the base and are spaced laterally of the axis for terminating the conductor wires. A cover is pivotally mounted on the base and includes a spreader structure for engaging and spreading the conductor wires automatically in response to mounting the cover on the base.

Abstract: A shielded electrical connector assembly includes a dielectric housing having at least one terminal-receiving passage. An opening is provided in an outside wall of the housing communicating with the passage. A terminal is inserted into the passage, with an engaging portion of the terminal aligned with the opening. A conductive shell is disposed about at least a portion of the housing. The shell includes a finger portion extending through the opening in the housing into engagement with the engaging portion of the terminal.

Abstract: A crimp terminal is adapted for terminating a magnet wire. The terminal includes a wire-receiving barrel defining a longitudinal axis. At least one serration extends axially of the barrel and defines an interior longitudinal edge for piercing the wire coating and engaging the conductor upon crimping the barrel onto the wire. Preferably, a plurality of the axially extending serrations define a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal edges around the interior surface of the barrel. A plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced serrations may be disposed between at least some of the axially extending serrations.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus is disclosed for mounting an electrical power distribution device to a wall support member inside a wall panel to protect an electrical cable running into the apparatus. The mounting apparatus includes a bracket portion for mounting the power distribution device, the bracket portion being securable to the wall support member to project therefrom. A shield portion of the apparatus extends beyond the bracket portion in the running direction of the cable to protect the cable beyond the power distribution device outside the bounds of the bracket portion.

Abstract: A cable tap assembly includes a housing having a mating face (28) and an opposite terminating face (26). A plurality of terminals (32, 40) are mounted in the housing. Each terminal includes a mating portion engageable through the mating face of the housing with a complementary mating terminal, and a terminating portion generally at the terminating face of the housing. A wiring assembly, such as a printed circuit board (16), is mounted on the terminating face of the housing and includes a plurality of connectors (18-20) electrically couples thereto. The connectors are adapted to receive conductors of at least one multi-conductor electrical cable (88). A strain relief cover (22) and cap (24) assembly is mountable at the terminating face of the housing, over the wiring apparatus, and is adapted to hold and provide strain relief for the cable.

Abstract: An applicator tool is provided for applying an electrical connector having a plurality of insulation piercing terminals onto a multi-conductor flat cable. The tool includes a frame having a press ram drivable through a working stroke toward and away from an anvil for supporting the connector. A fixed connector-positioning peg projects from the anvil and is adapted for abuttingly engaging one side of the connector. A spring-loaded yieldable peg projects from the anvil and is adapted for yielding to a retracted condition to facilitate positioning the connector between the pegs.

Abstract: An electrical switch assembly is disclosed to include a housing mounting a pair of spaced switches. A rocker actuator is rockably mounted for movement relative to the housing about a rotational axis between the spaced switches, and with wing portions of the actuator on opposite sides of the rotational axis provided for alternatingly actuating the pair of switches. The rocker actuator is a one-piece component and includes a relatively stiff rocker arm rockable about the rotational axis, a connecting flange projecting outwardly from the periphery of the rocker arm, and an integral flexible intermediate wall joining the rocker arm and the connecting flange. The flexible intermediate wall supports the rocker arm in a neutral position. However, the rocker arm flexes the intermediate wall when the rocker arm is rotated about the axis in either opposite direction from the neutral position to alternate actuating positions.

Abstract: A convenience outlet assembly is adapted for interconnecting electrical components to wires in a flat cable extending behind a wall in a structure. A mounting bracket is secured to a structural support behind the wall and has a peripheral frame about a mounting opening. A cable tap subassembly is attachable to the cable. A mounting box, separate from the mounting bracket, has an open front face and a peripheral flange attachable to the peripheral frame of the mounting bracket. The peripheral flange is located on the exterior of the wall and the peripheral frame is located on the interior of the wall. The mounting box is insertable through an opening in the wall and the mounting opening in the bracket. The cable tap subassembly is mountable in a position at the rear of the box.

Abstract: A plug detection electrical receptacle includes a dielectric housing having at least one passage with an open mating end for receiving a male terminal of a complementary mating electrical plug and an opposite end communicating with a switch on a substrate. A female terminal is disposed in the passage for engagement by the male terminal. A detect switch is located in proximity to the passage for actuation by the male terminal when the male terminal is inserted into the passage in engagement with the female terminal. The detect switch includes an actuator at the opposite end of the passage, the actuator including a male terminal engaging portion and a switch engaging portion. A first flexible skirt extends from the actuator about the periphery thereof into sealing engagement with the substrate about the switch thereon. The flexible skirt supports the actuator with the switch engaging portion out of engagement with the switch on the substrate.

Abstract: A protective covering system is disclosed for use with an electrical receptacle having a front face with openings to receive prongs of an electrical plug. The system includes a protective cover having an adhesive backing for adhering to the front face of the receptacle and apertures for alignment with the openings. Locating projections protrude from the receptacle and locating holes are provided in the cover for registering with the locating projections on the receptacle to properly locate the cover thereon. Preferably, the adhesive backing is an adhesive strip substantially about the periphery of the back side of the cover, and the recessed area in the front face of the receptacle has a depth at least equal to the thickness of the cover.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a pair of spaced receptacle modules mounted to a first printed circuit board which is electrically coupled to a second printed circuit board spaced from and generally parallel to the first printed circuit board. A conductive ground plate is electrically coupled between the printed circuit boards and mechanically supports the circuit boards in their spaced generally parallel relationship. The ground plate is disposed perpendicular to the first and second printed circuit boards forming two separate compartments between the first and second printed circuit boards to provide electromagnetic interference isolation between the compartments. An electrical component such as transformer may be mounted on one side of the ground plate between the spaced generally parallel printed circuit boards, and the ground plate provides a heat sink for the transformer.

Abstract: A receptacle type electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a mating face and mounting a plurality of female electrical terminals adapted for mating with a plurality of male terminals of an appropriate mating electrical component. One of the terminals is a ground terminal adapted for connection to a ground circuit. An insulative cover is mounted over the mating face of the housing and has apertures aligned with the plurality of female terminals. A conductive electrostatic discharge shield includes a plate portion sandwiched between the cover and the mating face of the housing. The shield includes apertures aligned with the plurality of female terminals. The apertures of the plate portion are dimensioned so that the male terminals will not contact the shield. A connecting portion of the shield extends from the plate portion for electrically engaging the ground terminal.

Abstract: A crimping tool is provided for compressing a terminal onto an electrical wire. The tool includes an anvil having a terminal engaging surface area. A ram is reciprocally movable toward and away from the anvil and has a terminal engaging surface area opposing the terminal engaging surface area of the anvil for compressing the terminal therebetween. A second ram is movably mounted on one of the anvil and ram in the respective terminal engaging surface area thereof for selectively compressing the terminal to an extent greater than that afforded by the anvil and the ram alone.

Abstract: A portable hand tool is provided for applying at least a two-part electrical connector having insulation displacement conductive elements to an insulated electrical cable. The tool includes a manually grippable frame, with a loading die on the frame for receiving and holding the two-part electrical connector in spaced relationship. A compression die is movable relative to the loading die into pressure engagement with the electrical connector. A shaft is threaded through the frame and is connected to the compression die to effect movement of the compression die relative to the loading die in response to rotation of the shaft. A manually grippable torque applying handle projects outwardly of the shaft for rotating the shaft. A second manually grippable handle is retractably mounted on the frame for projecting outwardly therefrom and for retraction to an inoperative position alongside the frame.

Abstract: A communications distribution interface unit assembly is mountable to an appropriate frame behind an opening in a wall panel, for instance. A unitary cover is adapted for mounting to the frame and includes a front face, a rear face, and a perimeter wall alignable with the opening in the wall panel. The cover includes integral structural support ribs rigidifying the cover in a direction generally perpendicular to the wall panel. At least one communications module is mountable to the rear of the cover. The module includes at least one connector exposed at the rear of the assembly for easy access thereto. The entire communications module assembly can be preassembled and, thereafter, mounted to the frame behind the opening in the wall panel.

Abstract: A cable tap system is disclosed for selectively connecting a plurality of tap terminals to a plurality of conductors in either a continuous multi-conductor electrical cable or in two ends of two such cables butt up to one another. A closable cable clamp assembly clamps onto the continuous cable or cable ends. A terminal holder is positionable against one side of the cable clamp assembly and mounts a plurality of tap terminals for interconnection to the conductors of the cable. A backing member is positionable against an opposite side of the cable clamp assembly. A plurality of rotatable fasteners are operatively associated between the terminal holder and the backing member for sandwiching the cable clamp assembly therebetween and maintaining the tap terminals interconnected with the conductors of the cable. A tool is provided for simultaneously rotating the fasteners to close the terminal holder and the backing member in a uniform action.