Abstract: A connector assembly is disclosed for mounting through an aperture in a panel. The assembly includes an adapter mountable in the aperture. A first connector is mountable to the adapter and has limited axial floating movement relative thereto. A second connector is mateable with the first connector with a given mating force. A latch-release mechanism is provided between the first connector and the adapter to latch the first connector against the floating movement and to allow the second connector to be mated with the first connector with the given mating force. The latch-release mechanism is released in response to a force greater than the given mating force to allow the limited floating movement and numerous mating cycles.

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: A female terminal includes a bottom wall, and a pair of opposing side walls extending upwardly from opposite sides of the bottom wall. A hole is formed in each side wall near the top thereof. Top half walls extend inwardly from the tops of the side walls and define a seam therebetween. A spring contact element is located inside the seam and include lug portions engageable in the holes near the tops of the side walls to bias a male terminal into engagement with the bottom wall.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating flat flexible circuits which include a flat flexible insulating substrate having conductive circuit material thereon and electronic components mounted on the substrate. The method includes providing a continuous strip of the substrate. The strip is moved to a work station whereat the electronic components are mounted thereon. The strip, with the electronic components mounted thereon, is wound onto a reel for subsequent processing. The continuous strip of substrate is provided with a code for reading at the work station.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed for mating with a dashboard mounted speedometer assembly that includes a housing with a plurality of terminal pins projecting therefrom. A plurality of elongated terminals each have a resiliently expandable socket portion at one end for receiving one of the terminal pins of the speedometer assembly, a terminating portion at the opposite end for interconnection with circuitry on a printed circuit board, and an intermediate portion between the ends. A dielectric housing has a mating face and a board mounting face with a plurality of through terminal-receiving passages extending between the faces. Each passage includes a cavity portion for receiving the socket portion for one of the terminals and an intermediate portion for receiving the intermediate portion of the terminal, with the terminating portion of the terminal projecting from the board mounting face of the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a housing having a forward mating end and a rearward terminating end. A plurality of terminal-receiving cavities extend between the ends. A plurality of terminals are received in the cavities. A TPA device is selectively engageable with the housing at the mating end thereof. The TPA device includes a guide structure for guiding a complementary connecting device into mating engagement with the mating end of the connector housing.

Abstract: A cam lever locking mechanism is provided for an electrical connector assembly which includes a lever pivotally mounted on a first connector. The lever has an eccentric cam for engaging a cam follower on a second connector for providing a mechanical advantage while mating the connectors on a mating axis generally centrally of the connectors, in response to rotation of the lever. The lever is rotatable about a pivot axis transverse to and generally intersecting the mating axis of the connectors. The eccentric cam on the lever is aligned generally with the mating axis of the connectors. The cam follower on the second connector is located generally on the mating axis.

Abstract: A multi-terminal filtered electrical connector assembly includes a housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passageways. A plurality of terminals are received in the passageways, with tail portions of the terminals projecting from the housing. A flexible capacitor filter circuit is mounted on the housing and through which the terminals extend. A ferrite block is provided with a plurality of through holes for receiving therethrough portions of the terminals. A terminal alignment plate may be provided for mounting the ferrite block. A second flexible capacitor filter circuit may be provided through which portions of the terminals extend. The ferrite block may be disposed between the two flexible capacitor filter circuits. The housing is constructed for mounting on a printed circuit board to provide either a right angle connector or a direct mounted connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly includes a circuit board having a plurality of terminals mounted thereon. The circuit board is positionable within an enclosure which includes a side wall hingedly connected to a base wall. The side wall defines a header housing adapted for receiving an edge of the circuit board with the terminals projecting through apertures in the side wall.

Abstract: A sealed electrical connector includes a housing having an interior cavity for sealingly receiving a mating connector. A latch arm engages the mating connector for holding the connectors in mated condition. A passageway communicates the interior cavity with the environment. A seal closes the passageway. The latch arm includes a release portion for biasing the seal and opening the passageway to release air entrapped in the cavity automatically as a function of mating the connectors.

Abstract: A strain relief structure is provided for connecting a flat flexible cable to a circuit board. The flat flexible cable includes an array of parallel conductors, flexible insulation disposed around the conductors and a web of insulation disposed between adjacent conductors. The strain relief structure includes a body having at least one cable receiving aperture extending therethrough. A deflectable strain relief extends into the cable receiving aperture for engaging the web of insulation between at least a pair of conductors. Transverse walls, independent of the strain relief structure, extend into the cable receiving aperture for biasing at least one of the conductors out of the plane of the flat flexible cable.

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.

Abstract: A multi-terminal filtered electrical connector assembly includes a housing having a plurality of terminal-receiving passageways. A plurality of terminals are received in the passageways, with tail portions of the terminals projecting from the housing. A terminal alignment plate, independent of the housing, includes a plurality of through holes for receiving and aligning the tail portions of the terminals. First complementary interengaging latch devices are provided between the housing and the alignment plate for readily assembling the alignment plate on the housing. A ferrite block is mountable on the alignment plate and includes a plurality of through holes alignable with the holes in the alignment plate for receiving therethrough the tail portions of the terminals. Second complementary interengaging latch devices are provided between the alignment plate and the ferrite block for readily assembling the ferrite block on the alignment plate.

Abstract: A sealing system is provided between an electrical connector assembly and another connector component, panel or the like. The connector assembly includes a housing having a mating end with a seal-receiving channel and a resilient seal received in the channel. The seal includes a sealing groove having a given width and a given depth. The connector component includes a sealing lip insertable into the sealing groove when the connector assembly and the connector component are mated along a mating axis. The sealing lip has a width greater than the width of the sealing groove and a length relative to the depth of the sealing groove such that the lip is spaced from the bottom of the groove when the connector assembly and the connector component are in mated condition. Therefore, only sealing forces normal to the mating axis are effected between the sealing lip and the sealing groove.

Abstract: A low profile panel mountable retainer is provided for mounting an elongated electrical connector in an elongated generally rectangular opening in a panel. The retainer is molded of plastic material and includes an elongated, generally rectangular housing insertable into the panel opening for receiving the connector. The housing has end walls and flexible elongated side walls defining a connector-mounting aperture. A pair of resilient wings extend along the outside of each side wall of the housing. Each pair of wings includes an inner snap-in wing, made up of a plurality of discrete snap-in wing portions, spaced from the respective side wall for passing through the panel opening and for bearing against an opposite side of the panel. Each snap-in wing portion provides a discrete retaining area to assure secure mounting of the retainer to the panel. Each pair of wings also includes an outer stop wing spaced from the respective inner snap-in wing for bearing against an entry side of the panel.

Abstract: A terminal retention system is provided in an electrical connector for terminating a conductor. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a terminal-receiving passage. A terminal is received in the passage. The passage includes an opening for access therethrough of a crimping tool, and the terminal includes a crimp section aligned with the opening for engagement by the crimping tool to deform the crimp section into crimping engagement with the conductor. A cavity is provided in the passage aligned with the crimp section of the terminal and into which the crimp section can deformably expand to retain the crimped terminal in the passage as a function of crimping the crimp section onto the conductor.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed with a dielectric housing having a through passage for receiving a female terminal which includes a terminating end for engaging a conductor and a mating end for receiving a male terminal. A resilient locking arm is formed on the housing and is adapted to engage a locking surface on the female terminal for locking the female terminal in the passage. The locking arm is located for engagement by the male terminal upon entering the passage to prevent the locking arm from disengagement with the locking surface.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided with a transversely aligned terminal position assurance (TPA) component that is slidably insertable into a transverse keyway in the connector housing. The TPA component includes a plurality of flexing primary latches and a corresponding plurality of static secondary locks. The flexing primary latches are disposed to align with the terminal receiving cavities of the housing when the TPA component is in a pre-load position. The terminals can be inserted into the housing with the TPA component in this pre-load position such that the flexing primary latches at least temporarily retain the terminals in the housing. Upon complete insertion of all terminals the TPA component is indexed transversely into a final locked position such that the static secondary locks thereof positively engage each terminal to ensure complete insertion. A symmetrical front mating seal is configured to be held in the housing by suction to prevent separation during unmating.

Abstract: A male terminal is provided with a male contact portion and a shroud portion disposed about the male contact portion. The male contact portion is integral with and folded into the interior of the shroud portion whereby the shroud portion protects the male contact portion. An electrical connector assembly includes a female connector having a housing which includes channels for receiving the shroud portion of the male terminal, and a female terminal in the housing mates with the male contact portion of the male terminal when the shroud is received in the channels of the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector is provided with unitarily molded housing and a wire seal cover mounted to the rear end of the housing. A latch extends from a wall of the housing and includes a forwardly projecting locking beam and a rearwardly projecting actuator. The housing further includes a shroud unitarily molded therewith to cover both sides and the top of the locking beam of the latch. The wire seal cover further includes a shroud for protecting the actuator of the latch. However, at least a portion of the shroud on the wire seal cover is open to enable actuation of the latch for unmating the connector.