Abstract: A pair of mating connectors includes a receptacle having an insulative housing and at least one conductive receptacle contact with a pair of spaced walls forming a plug contact receiving space. The plug connector has an insulative housing and at least one conductive contact having a pair of spaced walls which converge to form a projection engageable in the plug receiving space of the receptacle contact. In each case, the spaced walls are joined by a bridging structure that unites the walls. The plug and receptacle contacts are retained in the respective housings by engagement of opposed lateral edge portions of the contacts with the housings in a manner to enhance heat dissipation by convection by maintaining substantial portions of the contacts spaced from the housing walls and from each other. The bridging structure may include a retention element for engaging respective connector housings to retain the contact in the housings.

Abstract: A pair of mating connectors includes a receptacle having an insulative housing and at least one conductive receptacle contact with a pair of spaced walls forming a plug contact receiving space. The plug connector has an insulative housing and at least one conductive contact having a projection engageable in the plug receiving space of the receptacle contact. The open structure of both the receptacle and plug contacts enhances heat dissipation and allows flexibility in achieving desired contact normal forces. The contact construction is especially useful for electronic power connectors.

Abstract: A pair of mating connectors includes a receptacle having an insulative housing and at least one conductive receptacle contact with a pair of spaced walls forming a plug contact receiving space. The plug connector has an insulative housing and at least one conductive contact having a pair of spaced walls which converge to form a projection engageable in the plug receiving space of the receptacle contact. In each case, the spaced walls are joined by a bridging structure that unites the walls. The plug and receptacle contacts are retained in the respective housings by engagement of opposed lateral edge portions of the contacts with the housings in a manner to enhance heat dissipation by convection by maintaining substantial portions of the contacts spaced from the housing walls and from each other. The bridging structure may include a retention element for engaging respective connector housings to retain the contact in the housings.

Abstract: A pair of mating connectors includes a receptacle having an insulative housing and at least one conductive receptacle contact with a pair of spaced walls forming a plug contact receiving space. The plug connector has an insulative housing and at least one conductive contact having a pair of spaced walls which converge to form a projection engageable in the plug receiving space of the receptacle contact. In each case, the spaced walls are joined by a bridging structure that unites the walls. The plug and receptacle contacts are retained in the respective housings by engagement of opposed lateral edge portions of the contacts with the housings in a manner to enhance heat dissipation by convection by maintaining substantial portions of the contacts spaced from the housing walls and from each other. The bridging structure may include a retention element for engaging respective connector housings to retain the contact in the housings.

Abstract: A pair of mating connectors includes a receptacle having an insulative housing and at least one conductive receptacle contact with a pair of spaced walls forming a plug contact receiving space. The plug connector has an insulative housing and at least one conductive contact having a pair of spaced walls which converge to form a projection engageable in the plug receiving space of the receptacle contact. In each case, the spaced walls are joined by a bridging structure that unites the walls. The plug and receptacle contacts are retained in the respective housings by engagement of opposed lateral edge portions of the contacts with the housings in a manner to enhance heat dissipation by convection by maintaining substantial portions of the contacts spaced from the housing walls and from each other. The bridging structure may include a retention element for engaging respective connector housings to retain the contact in the housings.

Abstract: A pair of mating connectors includes a receptacle having an insulative housing and at least one conductive receptacle contact with a pair of spaced walls forming a plug contact receiving space. The plug connector has an insulative housing and at least one conductive contact having a pair of spaced walls which converge to form a projection engageable in the plug receiving space of the receptacle contact. In each case, the spaced walls are joined by a bridging structure that unites the walls. The plug and receptacle contacts are retained in the respective housings by engagement of opposed lateral edge portions of the contacts with the housings in a manner to enhance heat dissipation by convection by maintaining substantial portions of the contacts spaced from the housing walls and from each other. The bridging structure may include a retention element for engaging respective connector housings to retain the contact in the housings.

Abstract: A pair of mating connectors includes a receptacle having an insulative housing and at least one conductive receptacle contact with a pair of spaced walls forming a plug contact receiving space. The plug connector has an insulative housing and at least one conductive contact having a pair of spaced walls which converge to form a projection engageable in the plug receiving space of the receptacle contact. In each case, the spaced walls are joined by a bridging structure that unites the walls. The plug and receptacle contacts are retained in the respective housings by engagement of opposed lateral edge portions of the contacts with the housings in a manner to enhance heat dissipation by convection by maintaining substantial portions of the contacts spaced from the housing walls and from each other. The bridging structure may include a retention element for engaging respective connector housings to retain the contact in the housings.

Abstract: A pair of mating connectors includes a receptacle having an insulative housing and at least one conductive receptacle contact with a pair of spaced walls forming a plug contact receiving space. The plug connector has an insulative housing and at least one conductive contact having a pair of spaced walls which converge to form a projection engageable in the plug receiving space of the receptacle contact. In each case, the spaced walls are joined by a bridging structure that unites the walls. The plug and receptacle contacts are retained in the respective housings by engagement of opposed lateral edge portions of the contacts with the housings in a manner to enhance heat dissipation by convection by maintaining substantial portions of the contacts spaced from the housing walls and from each other. The bridging structure may include a retention element for engaging respective connector housings to retain the contact in the housings.

Abstract: A pair of mating connectors includes a receptacle having an insulative housing and at least one conductive receptacle contact with a pair of spaced walls forming a plug contact receiving space. The plug connector has an insulative housing and at least one conductive contact having a pair of spaced walls which converge to form a projection engageable in the plug receiving space of the receptacle contact. In each case, the spaced walls are joined by a bridging structure that unites the walls. The plug and receptacle contacts are retained in the respective housings by engagement of opposed lateral edge portions of the contacts with the housings in a manner to enhance heat dissipation by convection by maintaining substantial portions of the contacts spaced from the housing walls and from each other. The bridging structure may include a retention element for engaging respective connector housings to retain the contact in the housings.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for mounting an electrical connector on a printed wiring board. The printed wiring board is initially positioned on locating projections on a tooling plate. Eyelets are positioned in hold down apertures in the connector. The hold down apertures initially engage the locating projections to align the connector pins with pin receiving apertures on the printed wiring board. Engagement continues until the pins are positioned in the apertures and the lower end of the eyelet is deformed to engage the innerside of the down aperture and the lower side of the printed wiring board.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for mounting an electrical connector on a printed wiring board. The printed wiring board is initially positioned on locating projections on a tooling plate. Eyelets are positioned in hold down apertures in the connector. The hold down apertures initially engage the locating projections to align the connector pins with pin receiving apertures on the printed wiring board. Engagement continues until the pins are positioned in the apertures and the lower end of the eyelet is deformed to engage the innerside of the down aperture and the lower side of the printed wiring board.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly which comprises a printed circuit board on which there is mounted a component of an electrical connector. The printed circuit board and the electrical connector component have aligned mounting apertures. A boardlock member extends axially through these apertures and has a mounting foot engagement structure from which two resilient spaced legs depend. These spaced legs each have projections which are axially spaced from one another so that the connector member may engage a circuit board of one thickness on the projection of one leg and also engage a circuit board of another thickness by the projection on the other leg.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for mounting an electrical connector on a printed wiring board. The printed wiring board is initially positioned on locating projections on a tooling plate. Eyelets are positioned in hold down apertures in the connector. The hold down apertures initially engage the locating projections to align the connector pins with pin receiving apertures on the printed wiring board. Engagement continues until the pins are positioned in the apertures and the lower end of the eyelet is deformed to engage the innerside of the down aperture and the lower side of the printed wiring board.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly for mounting electrical connectors on an edge of a printed circuit board (PCB). A first elongated connector element having opposed first and second ends is positioned on the one major side of the PCB adjacent the edge. A second elongated connector element having opposed first and second ends and positioned on the other major side of the PCB adjacent the edge of the PCB in side by side relation with said first elongated connector. A single fastener simultaneously engages both elongated connector elements and the PCB. The fastener may be a pair of blocks which each have a rear groove and ledge combination to engage the PCB and side tongue and groove combinations to engage the connector elements.

Abstract: A method for mounting a component of an electrical connector to a printed circuit board which makes use of a body with a retention device having a central connecting receiving aperture and wings in planes normal to the body which have opposed inwardly extending latches and a pair of downwardly extending resilient latches. The lateral latches will engage ledges adjacent the housing of the receptacle while the downwardly depending latches will engage alignment slots in a mounting foot from the receptacle and the printed circuit board. The central connector receiving aperture will be engaged by a connector which fixes the nose shield to the pin receiving face of the receptacle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a clip for use in mounting an electrical connector to a printed circuit board (PCB). The clip includes a resilient first panel having a central opening or recess, a second panel also having a central opening or recess and being generally parallel to the first panel, a vertical support connecting the first and second conductive panels, a pair of resilient tin engaging arms suspended over the second conductive panel, and a vertical structure connecting the second panel to the pin engaging arms. Also disclosed is an assembly comprised of the clip as engaged with an electrical connector and a PCB.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly comprising a socket, a plug and a medial wire termination device which includes an insulative housing with a socket receiving recess at one end and a plug engaging projection at the other end. Between the socket and the plug there are transversely spaced, generally parallel metallic contacts. On each of these metallic contacts there are a pair of wire receiving terminals each of which terminals is adjacent to a wire receiving aperture in the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a retention device for fixing a component of an electrical connector to a printed circuit board which comprises a body having a central connecting receiving aperture and wings in planes normal to the body which have opposed inwardly extending latches and a pair of downwardly extending resilient latches. The lateral latches will engage ledges adjacent the housing of the receptacle while the downwardly depending latches will engage alignment slots in a mounting foot from the receptacle and the printed circuit board. The central connector receiving aperture will be engaged by a connector which fixes the nose shield to the pin receiving face of the receptacle.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly which comprises a printed circuit board on which there is mounted a component of an electrical connector. The printed circuit board and the electrical connector component have aligned mounting apertures. A boardlock member extends axially through these apertures and has a mounting foot engagement structure from which two resilient spaced legs depend. These spaced legs each have projections which are axially spaced from one another so that the connector member may engage a circuit board of one thickness on the projection of one leg and also engage a circuit board of another thickness by the projection on the other leg.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly comprising a socket, a plug and a medial wire termination device which includes an insulative housing with a socket receiving recess at one end and a plug engaging projection at the other end. Between the socket and the plug there are transversely spaced, generally parallel metallic contacts. On each of these metallic contacts there are a pair of wire receiving terminals each of which terminals is adjacent to a wire receiving aperture in the housing.