Abstract: An improved female connector element for a pin and socket electrical connector includes at least four flexible fingers or "cantilever beams" forming a cylindrical socket for the pin of a male connector. A cylindrical sleeve surrounds the fingers and extends beyond their free ends to form an inwardly extending annular guide lip which defines the inlet opening for the pin. The lip both guides the pin properly into the socket and limits the size of the pin that may be inserted, thereby reducing potential damage to the fingers while providing a reliable, durable connector.

Abstract: A removable memory device includes a substrate, such as a printed circuit board, carrying IC memory packages; a connector including a molded plastic connector block for electrically connecting the removable memory device to a host system; and a sheet metal cover for enclosing the substrate. The cover has opposed forward edges including a plurality of forwardly projecting retention tabs received within a plurality of corresponding retention slots formed in the upper and lower outer surfaces of the connector block. The slots and tabs are preferably directed inwardly to provide a secure latched connection between the cover and connector.

Abstract: A multiple male pin electrical header is provided for connection to the surface of a printed circuit board. No header components need extend entirely through the board. The header comprises an integral and electrically insulating body member; and the plurality of male pin connectors extend through the body member. The pins have tail portions adapted to electrically contact pads or other surfaces of a printed circuit board. Pin head portions extend upwardly for connection with another electrical connector. The header body portion is formed to define a plurality of pin cavities, each cavity being shaped to expose only an individual male pin connector for contact by test probe. These cavities are shaped to discourage simultaneous test probe shorting contact across a plurality of connector pins.

Abstract: A method of making conductors for shunt connectors including deforming a continuous strip of conductive material between lateral edges to form a plurality of electrical contacts integral at opposite ends with a pair of carrier strips. The spacing between electrical contacts is initially equal and the carrier strips are then deformed so that electrical contact assemblies having different spacings can be severed from the continuous strip with one of the carrier strips acting as a conductor between a pair of electrical contacts. The electrical contact assemblies are mounted on a non-conductive housings and locked therein by locking tabs with the housings being identical in configuration except for dimensions and having several gripping tabs formed thereon. The resultant shunt connector assemblies have center-to-center spacings between adjacent electrical contacts which are a predetermined dimension and multiples of that predetermined dimension to be capable of interconnecting pins having different spacings.

Abstract: An electrical cable assembly includes a plurality of spaced strip conductors within a supporting body of dielectric material with a contact element for each conductor, all of which are supported in a single housing. Each contact element includes a penetrating end having a plurality of tangs for piercing the dielectric material and a contact mating end, which includes a tubular body having a plurality of deflectable fingers that have free ends adjacent the penetrating end of the contact element.