Abstract: An electrical switch assembly includes a first switch contact having a base and an integral first contact arm folded over the base. The contact arm has an upwardly facing contact surface. A second switch contact arm includes a base and an integral spring contact arm folded into cantilevered position over the base. The spring contact arm has a distal end folded thereunder to define a downwardly facing contact surface opposing the upwardly facing contact surface and spaced therefrom in a normally open condition of the switch assembly.

Abstract: An electrical switch assembly includes a first switch contact having a base and an integral first contact arm folded over the base. The contact arm has an upwardly facing contact surface. A second switch contact arm includes a base and an integral spring contact arm folded into cantilevered position over the base. The spring contact arm has a distal end folded thereunder to define a downwardly facing contact surface opposing the upwardly facing contact surface and spaced therefrom in a normally open condition of the switch assembly.

Abstract: An electrical device includes a flat flexible dielectric substrate having a generally round hole of a given diameter. A ductile conductive film is on the substrate in an area at least about the hole. A generally flat terminal blade has a transversely projecting pin portion inserted into the hole in the substrate in contact with the conductive film. Therefore, the flat terminal blade is generally parallel to the flat flexible dielectric substrate. The cross-dimension of the pin portion is greater than the diameter of the round hole. In the preferred embodiment, the dielectric substrate is less than 0.050 inch thick, and the difference between the cross-dimension of the pin portion and the diameter of the round hole is on the order of 5% to 50% of the diameter of the hole.

Abstract: An IC card connector (1) is provided for connecting an IC card (4) having a terminal array (5) to external equipment. The connector includes a base member (2) having a plurality of electrically conductive contacts (16, 17) exposed on one side of the base member (2) for engaging the terminal array of the IC card (4). A cover (3) is hinged to the base member for movement toward and away from the one side of the base member (2). The cover has a receptacle for securing the IC card (4) thereon for pivotal movement therewith and a sliding movement of the IC card (4) relative to the cover in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation. Pivoting of the cover (3) onto the base member (2) of the IC card (4) effects engagement of the IC card terminal array (5) with the plurality of contacts (16, 17) and a sliding movement of the IC card (4) relative to the cover (3) locks the IC card (4) and the cover (3) in the closed position of the connector (1).

Abstract: A terminal-receiving socket assembly (10) is mounted on the bottom of a printed circuit board (12). The socket assembly includes a housing (22) having a terminal-receiving passage (28) in registry with a hole (14) in the board. A conductive contact (32) is mounted on the housing (22) for connection to a circuit (16) on the board and includes a pair of opposing contact arms (36) on opposite sides of the terminal-receiving passage (28) and engageable with a terminal (20) inserted thereinto. The terminal is inserted from the top of the board into the passage (28) and causes the contact arms (36) to flex downwardly (B) and outwardly, allowing for easy insertion of the terminal. However, withdrawal of the terminal (20) causes the flexible contact arms (36) to bias toward each other against the terminal to increase the withdrawal forces of the terminal.

Abstract: A one-piece electrical terminal (10) includes a strip (44) of conductive metal material having a contact portion (14) and a terminating portion (16). The contact portion (14) is fabricated of a relatively soft metal drawn into a shaped contact (18). The terminating portion (16) is integral with the contact portion (14) and is fabricated of a relatively hard tempered metal formed into a spring arm (16) supporting the contact (18).

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a terminal having a generally cylindrical mating portion with an open seam extending longitudinally therealong. A flexible latch flange projects transversely from the mating portion on each side of the seam. A dielectric housing has an elongated terminal-receiving passageway for receiving the mating portion of the terminal. An elongated groove communicates with the passageway for receiving the latch flanges projecting from the mating portion. The groove has side walls converging from a wide mouth end of the groove to a narrow latch end thereof. The side walls of the groove are adapted to engage the latch flanges and resiliently compress the mating portion of the terminal. The latch end of the groove has an abruptly enlarged latch section behind which the latch flanges snappingly interengage to lock the terminal in the passageway.

Abstract: A terminal socket assembly is adapted for mounting on a printed circuit board and includes a conductive terminal socket having a barrel portion insertable axially into a hole in the printed circuit board, with radially outwardly projecting wing portions for soldering to solder pads on the circuit board. A terminal-receiving dielectric housing mounts the terminal socket therewithin. The housing has walls which extend circumferentially about portions of the barrel portion of the terminal socket to prevent solder from wicking along exposed areas of the terminal and interfering with mating. The anti-solder wicking design allows a connector or component to be surface mounted directly on the surface of a circuit board to maximize the density of the entire assembly and the device in which it is used.

Abstract: A terminal position assurance (TPA) system for an electrical connector which includes a dielectric housing having terminal-receiving passageways with latch shoulders formed therein. A terminal is insertable into a rear end of the passageway and includes an outwardly extending primary locking portion adapted to latch behind latch shoulders of the passageway. A TPA device is engageable with a forward mating end of the housing and includes a secondary locking portion insertable into a front end of the passageway to prevent unlatching of the primary locking portion from the latch shoulders. If the terminal is incompletely inserted into the passageway, the secondary locking portion of the TPA device comes in contact with the primary locking portion of the terminal to move the terminal rearwardly and therefore detects incomplete insertion of the terminals.

Abstract: A mating terminal structure includes a generally box-shaped female terminal defining a receptacle with a flexible cantilevered contact beam formed from a bottom wall thereof. The beam includes a radiused contact portion. A male terminal is insertable into the receptacle in a given insertion direction (A) and includes a contact cam for deflecting the cantilevered contact beam and engaging the contact portion thereof. The contact cam has a leading ramp surface extending at a relatively small acute angle relative to the insertion direction for engaging the contact portion and gradually deflecting the cantilevered contact beam. The contact cam also has a trailing locking surface extending at a relatively larger acute angle relative to the insertion direction for providing locking interference between the contact portion of the cantilevered beam and the contact cam of the male terminal to thereby removably lock the male terminal to the female terminal.

Abstract: A terminal block for receiving and terminating one or more conductors. The block comprises a housing of insulating material and screw-operated insulation displacement terminals (3) which are arranged in cavities (22) of the housing. Each terminal (3) includes a first contact member (4) which has an upper portion (5) containing a transverse opening (18) to accommodate one or more conductors. Furthermore, the first contact member (4) has a lower portion forming a downwardly extending pin (6) which extends through a base portion (14) of the housing and can be inserted into a plated-through hole of a printed circuit board. The terminal also includes a second contact member (7) forming a cage (8) which has on its top a threaded bore (11) for a screw (10).

Abstract: A chip carrier socket assembly is provided for an integrated circuit chip having leads extending therefrom. The assembly includes an insulating housing and an insulating cover for positioning a chip carrier therebetween. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing for contacting the leads of the chip carrier. At least one pair of resilient complementarily interengaging latch arms, one latch arm on the housing and the other latch arm on the cover, are provided for securing the cover to the housing about the chip carrier. The latch arms are concealed within a cavity of the assembled housing and cover to prevent unintentional unlatching of the latch arms. An access opening is provided in the cover, communicating with the cavity, and through which the latch arms can be unlatched from outside the assembled housing and cover.

Abstract: An environment-proof electrical connector assembly includes first and second mateable connectors. The first connector has a male terminal. The second connector has a female terminal and includes a conductive receptacle defining a blind cavity for receiving the male terminal and for establishing an electrical connection with the male terminal within the blind cavity. A seal is provided on the first connector for closing the blind cavity in response to mating of the connectors to seal the electrical connection from the environment.

Abstract: A reinforced latch structure for electrical connectors is provided. The latch structure comprises at least one latch on one connector in a mateable pair which is resiliently deflectable about a first axis and which is disposed to contact a cam on the opposed connector during mating. The deflectable latch and/or the cam on the opposed connector define a leading ramp surface, a trailing ramp surface and a locking surface. The leading ramp surface is disposed to resiliently deflect the latch arm and develop stored energy therein. The trailing ramp surface employs the stored energy developed in the latch arm to urge the connectors toward a fully mated condition. The latch arm includes a spring steel wire insert for reinforcement, such that the plastic latch arm does not become permanently deformed. The connectors may be disengaged from one another by biasing the latch arm about a second axis away from the associated connector a sufficient amount to clear the cam and enable disengagement of the connectors.

Abstract: A positive latch structure for electrical connectors is provided. The latch structure comprises at least one latch on one connector in a mateable pair which is resiliently deflectable about a first axis and which is disposed to contact a cam on the opposed connector during mating. The deflectable latch and/or the cam on the opposed connector define a leading ramp surface, a trailing ramp surface and a locking surface. The leading ramp surface is disposed to resiliently deflect the latch arm and develop stored energy therein. The trailing ramp surface employs the stored energy developed in the latch arm to urge the connectors toward a fully mated condition. The locking surface engages a corresponding surface on the cam to lockingly retain the connectors in their fully mated condition. The connectors may be disengaged from one another by biasing the latch arm about a second axis away from the associated connector a sufficient amount to clear the cam and enable disengagement of the connectors.