Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector having a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of conductive terminals. A second connector includes a grounding housing. A double-sided printed circuit board is sandwiched between the first and second connectors. One side of the board has circuit means connected to the terminals of the first connector. A second side of the board has ground circuit means connected to the grounding housing of the second connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a first connector having a dielectric housing mounting a plurality of conductive terminals. A second connector includes a grounding housing. A double-sided printed circuit board is sandwiched between the first and second connectors. One side of the board has circuit means connected to the terminals of the first connector. A second side of the board has ground circuit means connected to the grounding housing of the second connector.

Abstract: A self docking instrument panel connector system is provided with a first connector member (18) attached to an instrument panel assembly (12). A second connector member (20) is attached to a body of a vehicle (16) and is designed to mate with the first connector member (18). One of the connector members (20) is adjustably supported to be movable in first and second lateral directions and in a longitudinal direction in order to accommodate for build tolerances and component insertion variances.

Abstract: A self-aligning connector system is provided for facilitating mating an electrical connector assembly with a complementary mating connector. The system includes a housing having a forward end, a rearward end and side walls extending between the ends. At least one deflectable aligning beam is cantilevered from at least one side wall of the housing. A detent structure is operatively associated between the housing and the aligning beam for holding the beam in an inoperative condition spaced outwardly from the side wall of the housing and, upon mating the connectors, for releasing the beam to a deflectable condition to facilitate self-aligning the housing and mating it with the complementary connector. A frangible break-away web may be provided between the housing and the deflectable aligning beam for holding the beam in its inoperative condition.

Abstract: A mounting system is provided for mounting an electrical connector assembly to an appropriate support structure. The system includes a frame, and an elongated mounting post projecting therefrom for insertion into a mounting hole in the support structure. The post includes a plurality of rigid crush ribs extending lengthwise of the post and spaced from each other circumferentially about a major side of the post. A flexible arm extends lengthwise of the post on an opposite side thereof.

Abstract: A female electrical terminal has a contact end and a terminating end. The contact end includes a pair of opposing walls for receiving a male terminal therebetween. A flexible element is disposed in the contact end for pressing against the male terminal. The flexible element includes a mounting section with spaced wall portions juxtaposed inside the opposing walls of the contact end. Complementary interengaging latches are provided between the opposing walls and the spaced wall portions of the mounting section of the flexible element. An abutment is provided in the contact end to prevent inward collapsing of the spaced wall portions and, thereby, to maintain the latches in interengagement.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a through axial passage for receiving therein an electrical terminal. A cover is hingedly connected to the housing for movement from an open position to a closed position, with the cover and the housing having respective juxtaposed walls bounding at least one lateral side of the passage when the cover is in its closed position. Complementary laterally engaging latches are provided between the juxtaposed walls to hold the cover in its closed position. The wall of the cover is juxtaposed inside the wall of the housing in a lateral direction. Therefore, lateral forces on the terminal biases the wall of the cover outwardly toward the wall of the housing to ensure engagement of the laterally engaging latches.

Abstract: An unlatching system is provided in a latchable electrical connector system which includes first and second electrical connectors mateable in a given mating direction. The first connector includes a pair of latch devices interengageable with complementary latches on the second connector when the connectors are mated to resist unmating of the connectors. The latch devices are flexible in a direction transverse to the mating direction for movement into and out of latching interengagement with the latches of the second connector. A transversely flexible unlatching mechanism is coupled between the latch devices and is bowed outwardly therefrom, whereby inward flexing of the unlatching mechanism, as by the application of pressure by a user, is effective to cause outward unlatching movement of the latch devices.