Abstract: An electrical connector including an electrical terminal; a housing member having the electrical terminal mounted therein; and a terminal position assurance (TPA) member. The housing member includes a deflectable latch which latches the electrical terminal inside the housing member. The TPA member is movably mounted on the housing member. The TPA member includes a blocking section adapted to substantially prevent deflection of the deflectable latch and at least one polarization section. The polarization section comprises a first polarizer and a second polarizer. The first polarizer is adapted to allow proper mounting of the TPA member relative to the housing member in only one position. The second polarizer is adapted to allow proper mounting of a mating electrical connector relative to the electrical connector in only one position.

Abstract: A female electrical connector element for connecting a wire lead to a male contact pin has a first end which is crimped to the wire lead and a second end in the form of a socket. The socket includes a cantilevered contact floor and a separate spring contact in opposed relation to the cantilevered contact floor. The male contact pin is inserted between the spring biased contact surface and the cantilevered contact floor to establish an electrical connection. In accordance with the method of fabricating the connector, the cantilevered contact floor is supported sequentially by a series of forming surfaces at a bight portion thereof while the contact floor is being bent through 180.degree.. The side flanges of the female component are then folded over the contact for making an enclosure for defining the socket that retains the unitary spring contact.

Abstract: A female electrical terminal element for connecting a wire lead to a male contact pin has a first end which is crimped to the wire lead and a second end in the form of a socket. The socket includes a cantilevered contact floor and a unitary separate spring contact in opposed relation to the cantilevered contact floor. The male contact pin is inserted between the spring biased contact surface and the cantilevered contact floor to establish an electrical connection. In order to improve the reliability and current carrying capacity of the female component, the cantilevered contact floor is supported at a bight portion thereof while the contact floor is being bent through 180.degree.. After the cantilevered contact floor is bent 180.degree., the side flanges of the female component are folded over to make an enclosure for defining the socket and retaining the unitary spring contact in the socket.

Abstract: A two-part electrical connector, each part having an associated locking member. Locking members engage respective connector parts in a two-step, press-fit relationship. First step engagement secures the locking members to the respective connector parts in loose engagement. Second step engagement locks a plurality of wires or cables and the locking member tightly into the connector parts. Thereafter, the two connector parts are latched together in releasable contact and a good electrical connection is achieved.

Abstract: A construction for a diminutive electrical connector, especially of the type having female-type terminals, includes a connector body for supporting the terminals and a locking block structured to aid in retaining the terminals in the connector body and to provide a closure for openings or "windows" which would otherwise exist adjacent to the mating ends of the terminals. The connector body may also be provided with a lip which serves as a partial closure. Small openings through the closure provide access to the female terminals by male terminals, and are contoured to aid in guiding the relative insertion of the latter into the former.

Abstract: A tab receptacle terminal which adapted to be inserted in an insulating housing comprises a box-like main body portion and two cantilever spring contact members extending from the tab-entry end of the body portion and bent back inside the body portion. A spring retention tang struck from each of two opposed side members of the body portion has an inwardly directed projection engageable by a respective one of the contact members upon flexing of the responsive to insertion of a blade tab between the contact members to bias the tang into retaining relation with an abutment shoulder formed in the housing.

Abstract: A plug-in fuse assembly comprises a one-piece fuse element secured to a housing and having tubular terminal prong portions adapted for insertion into receptacle terminals. The terminal prong portions have retaining means cooperating with locking means formed in the housing for fixedly securing the terminal prong portions to the housing. A fuse link portion of the fuse element extends transversely between the terminal prong portions and is enclosed by the housing. The fuse element is made by punching from a flat sheet of fuse metal a flat blank comprising two laterally spaced and longitudinally extending prong members interconnected at their inner lateral edges by a link member having a non-rectilinear configuration, and then elongating the link member by flexing it from its non-rectilinear configuration to define the fuse link portion while shaping the prong members into tubular form to define the terminal prong portions.