Abstract: A header for self-securement to terminal posts extending from a printed circuit board (PCB) includes a member selectively movable into frictional engagement with terminal posts to provide for an increase in retention force as between the header and PCB independently of the force established for insertion of the header upon the terminal posts.

Abstract: A three-row, fifty-position D-connector for mass termination of flat multiconductor cable includes contact elements having insulation-piercing end portions in longitudinally singular locations and terminal end portions conforming in position to the industry-dedicated D-pattern. A method for making the connector provides for deriving diverse contact element sets from a common contact element strip configuration.

Abstract: A three-row, fifty-position D-connector for mass termination of flat multiconductor cable includes contact elements having insulation-piercing end portions in longitudinally singular locations and terminal end portions conforming in position to the industry-dedicated D-pattern. A method for making the connector provides for deriving diverse contact element sets from a common contact element strip configuration.

Abstract: A connector receives a multiconductor cable with one channel receiving ground conductors of the cable in disposition running lengthwise with the cable and another channel receiving signal conductors of the cable bent sidewise to the cable length. Individual contacts engage the cable signal conductors and a common electrical interface is obtained with the ground conductors. At least one of the individual contacts is interconnected with the common interface and all of the contacts are accessible exteriorly of the connector housing, whereby each signal conductor and the common ground are conveyed to accessory apparatus through the cable-terminating connector.

Abstract: A connector for terminating flat cable has insulation piercing teeth adapted, by disposition on different longitudinal side margins of a web, to provide strain relief for a cable along a plurality of separate longitudinal axes.

Abstract: A connector for effecting releasable contact between individual electrical conductors of a printed circuit board and corresponding overlapping exposed conductors of a flat multiconductor cable comprises an elongate U-shaped resilient member having a pair of longitudinally extending legs. A plurality of cantilevered spring members are spaced longitudinally along one of said legs, projecting transversely therefrom in a direction toward the other leg. Means are provided for releasably affixing the connector to the board such that the spring members are positioned in registry with the overlapping conductors. The spring members are dimensioned with respect to the affixing means such that when the connector is assembled to the board the spring members engage and resiliently press the overlapping exposed cable conductors against the corresponding circuit board conductors thereby establishing electrical connection therebetween.

Abstract: The invention teaches the incorporation of passages in a fully enclosed cable connector, through which an electrical probe can be inserted to engage the electrical contacts therein permitting the related electrical circuits to be checked. The passages are placed in the connector body or cover and are probeable from one or both sides so that the contacts can be engaged regardless of the position of the connector with respect to its mounting or the cable position or the incorporation of cable strain reliefs.

Abstract: A zero insertion force type connector for receiving a printed circuit board or the like for making selective electrical contact with the electrical circuitry thereon. The connector comprises a housing having one side thereof with an opening for insertion of a printed circuit board into the housing and a plurality of individual conductors supported within the housing. Each of the individual conductors is movable between a contact position in which the conductor is adapted to engage an associated contact portion on the printed circuit board and a non-contact position in which the conductor is spaced from the printed circuit board when the printed circuit board is in the housing. The individual conductors are normally biased toward and non-contact position so that the printed circuit board may be inserted into the housing with minimal force. A corresponding individual selectively operable actuator member is provided for each of the individual conductors.

Abstract: A coaxial cable connector for providing an electrical connection to a conductor of a coaxial cable, the conductor being surrounded by an insulating member. The connector comprises an elongated longitudinally extending sleeve member for arrangement coaxially about the insulating member. The longitudinally extending sleeve member includes a tongue member which is adapted to bend on a bending axis, which is transverse to the longitudinal direction of the sleeve member. The tongue member has a pair of spaced insulation piercing tines which are spaced apart less than the diameter of the conductor to be engaged. The pair of tines thus define a slot which is adapted to receive the conductor. In this manner, when the tongue member is bent along the transverse bending axis, the insulation piercing tines traverse the insulation and pass on opposite longitudinal sides of the conductor so that the conductor is received within the slot and engaged by the tines to make electrical contact with the conductor.

Abstract: A remote socket for a DIP component composed of a panel mounting means for mounting in a console panel or the like, a socket in said panel mounting means to accept the DIP component, a first connector coupled to the panel mounting means and adjacent the socket to also receive the DIP component, a second connector at the desired location on a printed circuit board or the like and cable connecting said first and second connectors. Various panel mounting means and means to couple the connector to the panel mounting means are described.

Abstract: A multiposition modular connector assembly includes lower and upper halves each comprising a series of frangibly interconnected connector elements, each upper element being individually engaged to a lower element by latch means to provide a composite structure preselectively partable into segments of a predetermined number of positions.

Abstract: An electrical contact for use preferably in connection with ribbon-type flat cable comprises a rectangularly configured head portion having discrete, individually sloped cutting edges at the upper end thereof for piercing through the webbed insulation between adjacent conductors of the cable, the front and rear walls of the head portion being suitably slotted to receive a conductor and make electrical contact therewith.

Abstract: Means for simultaneously interconnecting selective conductors of an insulated multiconductor flat cable include a pair of mating metallic strips adapted to overlie opposite sides of a given segment of the cable and include a first strip having bifurcated contact elements arranged to pierce through the cable insulation about selective conductors and enter preformed apertures in the other strip, which apertures are dimensioned to snugly receive and contain the tines of the bifurcated contact elements. A dielectric housing may be provided to enclose and insulate the various elements of the assembly.

Abstract: An electrical contact adapted for resilient engagement with a substrate having a conductive surface thereon includes a highly deflective preferably spirally looped tail portion arranged to provide relatively uniform contact pressure over its elastic range of deflection. In one embodiment the tail portion is interconnected to a generally tubular head portion having cutting edges thereon for piercing through the insulation of an insulated conductor, a plurality of such electrical contacts being further designed to be contained within a connector housing adapted to interconnect a flat cable to a conductively surfaced substrate and including mounting means on the housing for maintaining the tail portions of the contacts in firm engagement with the substrate while minimizing the force required to assemble the connector to the substrate.

Abstract: An improved connector for coupling the individual conductors of a multi-conductor flat cable to a termination point which may be a socket for receiving the pins of a further connector or the like comprising a base member having a plurality of apertures extending from a first to a second surface, the number of apertures being equal to the number of individual conductors found in the flat cable. Placed in each of these apertures is a contact having a first end which can pierce through the insulation of the multi-conductor cable and make contact with an individual conductor placed in association therewith and which end is placed adjacent the first surface of the base member of the connector. The contact terminates in a contact tail portion which extends towards the second surface of the base member in a socket for receipt therein and contact with the pin of a further connector, or the like.

Abstract: A plurality of flat elongate flexible metallic strips are arranged in spaced parallel relationship within a length of flat flexible dielectric material so that the curled tubular ends of the strips are exposed at either end of the dielectric material to provide contact means thereat. Stiffening means which may comprise coined rib portions are interposed between the exposed tubular ends and the central portion of the strips to prevent flexing of the metallic strips at their juncture with each end of the dielectric material.

Abstract: A double-ended electrical contact includes a selectively bendable central portion arranged to permit the opposing ends of the contact to be selectively offset from one another along parallel axes and generally within a common plane. In one embodiment, the central portion comprises a pair of spaced struts connecting the two ends of the contact together and arranged to define a parallelogram to retain the original axial orientation of each end of the contact after offset. The contacts may be selectively offset and disposd in a contact housing having differently pitched apertures in its upper and lower portions, respectively, to provide mating electrical engagement between differently pitched conductive elements such as a flat cable having a first given spacing between conductors, and a pin or socket connector having a second given spacing between its elements different than the spacing between the flat cable conductors.

Abstract: An electrical contact for joining the conductor of an insulated cable to a further electrical terminal point such as a DIP plug, a printed circuit board card, a flat cable, etc. The upper portion is formed in a cylindrical configuration with two upstanding arms spaced apart at two colinear points on their circumference to provide an insulation piercing slot and a strain relief slot. The free ends of the upstanding arms are pointed to permit the contact to pierce the insulation about a conductor and allow one slot to make a good electrical joint with the conductor itself while the other slot grips the conductor insulation to provide strain relief. A properly configured tail portion permits the connector to be appropriately coupled to a terminal point.

Abstract: A three-row, fifty-position D-connector for mass termination of flat multiconductor cable includes contact elements having insulation-piercing end portions in longitudinally singular locations and terminal end portions conforming in position to the industry-dedicated D-pattern. A method for making the connector provides for deriving diverse contact element sets from a common contact element strip configuration.