Abstract: An electrical terminal includes a body having a first end, a second end, and a channel having an axis. The channel extends at least through the first end toward the second end, the channel configured and disposed to receive an electrical conductor. A contact gripping element intermediate the first and second ends extends into the channel at an angle from the axis. The contact gripping element is associated with the body. The contact gripping element terminates at an end having a reduced thickness. The contact gripping element is configured to exert a contact gripping contact force on the electrical conductor.

Abstract: An electrical terminal includes a body having a first end, a second end, and a channel having an axis. The channel extends at least through the first end toward the second end, the channel configured and disposed to receive an electrical conductor. A contact gripping element intermediate the first and second ends extends into the channel at an angle from the axis. The contact gripping element is associated with the body. The contact gripping element terminates at an end having a reduced thickness. The contact gripping element is configured to exert a contact gripping contact force on the electrical conductor.

Abstract: An electrical contact (10) including a body portion (12) having first and second connecting sections (30, 40) at opposite ends thereof, and at least three legs (32 34, 36) extending from a common end (18) of the body portion (12) altogether comprising one of the first and second connecting sections (30, 40) of the contact (10). The first (32) of the at least three legs is spaced from a second leg (34) by a selected first distance (d.sub.1) and the second leg (34) is spaced from the third leg (36) by a selected second distance (d.sub.2). The first distance (d.sub.1) is different from the second distance (d.sub.2). The at least three legs (32, 34, 36) are adapted to be received in respective through-holes (52, 54, 56) of a circuit board (50) in a polarized arrangement.

Abstract: A board mounted connector for interconnecting the conductors of the non-terminated end of a flexible circuit or flexible cable to conductive traces on a printed circuit board. The connector includes a two part intermatable housing. The first part of the housing is attached to the circuit board while the second part, having end flanges that slidingly engage the ends of the first part, is movable with respect to the first part between a closed position where the conductors of the flexible circuit are held in contacting engagement with the contacts of the connector and an open position where the flexible circuit is free to be inserted into or removed from the connector. A positive stop is associated with each end of the connector, adjacent diagonally opposite corners, to render the second parts captive to the first part. A detent mechanism is associated with each end of the connector to bias the second part in both its open and closed positions.

Abstract: A surface mountable electrical connector 10 for use with a circuit board 70 of the type having one or more rows 74,82 of closely spaced trace termini 76,84 on the mounting surface 72 of the board 70, the connector 10 including a housing 12 having one or more rows of closely spaced electrical terminal members 30,46 therein. The terminal members 30,46 include elongate arm portions 36,52 extending from the housing 12 to surface mount contact sections 38,54 at free ends thereof. Each terminal associated with an outer row 74 of circuit board termini 76 includes a portion immediately adjacent and inwardly from the contact section 38, which is abruptly directed away from the mounting surface 72 to minimize wicking of solder to a nearby inner row termini 84.

Abstract: An electrical connector (10) is disclosed having a one piece housing (12), a plurality of cavities (18,20,22,24) in the housing, arranged in two vertical stacks (14,16) of four cavities each, and a contact (26,28,30,32) in each cavity. The cavities in each stack are separated by thin walls (48,50,52) of the housing. Each of the contacts has a contact end (68) for mating with a mating connector, and a tail (78) that exits from the contact at a right angle to the mounting surface (36) of the connector. Some of the contacts (28,30,32) have support members (94,96,98,100,102,104) that extend from the contact to engage the floor (53) of the cavity while the upper surface of the contact is in engagement with the ceiling (51) of the cavity. There is a bearing structure established from the tails (78) through the support members and the thin walls (48,50,52) to the top surface (34) of the connector housing.

Abstract: A contact (10) has an intermediate body portion (11) provided with respective side edges (14, 15) formed with a protruding convex portion (16) and a recessed concave portion (17), respectively. The contacts (10) are slidably inserted into respective channels (22) in the insulated housing (21) of an electrical connector (20), the channels (22) being separated by respective walls (23). When the contacts (10) are thus inserted into the channels (22), the convex portion (16) of one contact (10) cooperates with the concave portion (17) of an adjacent contact (10) to trap and deform the wall (23) therebetween, thereby exerting a resilient biasing force for retaining each contact (10) in its respective channel (22).

Abstract: A stacked electrical connector assembly (2) is disclosed of surface mounting on a circuit board (CB). The assembly comprises a sheet metal supporting bracket (4) having superposed upper and lower connector mounting lugs (20 and 24). An upper standard electrical connector (38) is mounted to the upper mounting lugs (20), a lower standard pin header connector N) being mounted to the lower mounting lugs (24). The pins (54) of the pin header connector (10) are connected to contact tails (46) of the upper connector (38) by means of a flat flexible cable (12). A lower standard multi-contact electrical connector (8) is mounted to the lower lugs (24) in front of the pin header connector (10) and has contact tails (76) projecting below the bracket (4).

Abstract: An electrical connector (2) for mounting on a circuit board (4) comprises a housing (8) wiht through passages (10) each receiving an electrical terminal (38) having a transverse lance (76) with a free end (78) lodged in a recess (28) in a side wall (16) of the housing (2). Each terminal (38) has a solder tail (66) for engaging a pad (6) on the board (4), and from which projects a solder tail (66) having a soldering portion (68) outside the housing (2), for soldering to the pad (6) and being flexible about a reduced cross-section part (98). The foot (62) and the tail (66) have sheared edges (94 and 96). Sheared edge (96) engages the pad (6) to provide for high terminal density. The terminals (38) are moved inwardly of their passages (10) against the resilient action of their lances (76) when the connector (2) is applied to the board (4), to urge the sheared edge (96) against the pads (6) while the tails (66) are soldered to the pads (6).

Abstract: An electrical connector (20) for mounting to a printed circuit board (24) includes a boardlock (22) secured thereto by an interference fit. The boardlock (22) has a first portion (58) including means for securing the boardlock (22) to the connector housing (26) and a second portion (68). The second portion (68) comprises spring means (72,74) extending from the first portion (58) to an end (80) beyond the mounting face (30) for reception in a boardlock receiving aperture (56) in the printed circuit board (24). The spring means (72,74) have a slot (70) therebetween and barb means (84) thereon with the barb means (84) positioned along the spring means (72,74) between the first portion (58) and the end (80) to engage wall means (92) of the boardlock receiving aperture (56).

Abstract: A cover and strain relief assembly is disclosed for use with known elongated electrical connectors for providing either a 90.degree. or 180.degree. cable exit from the connector. The subject cover assembly has three pieces including a yoke that engages a mounting flange of the connector and a pair of mating panels which snap together engaging both the yoke and the cable. The mating panels can be reversibly connected, with respect to the manner in which they engage the yoke to yield a 90.degree. or a 180.degree. cable exit from the connector. The panels can further be provided with adjustable cable strain relief means.

Abstract: An improved double entry crimp terminal is disclosed. The subject terminal has a receptacle portion on each end thereof and a crimp barrel intermediate the ends so that the terminal can be crimp connected to a conductor and one receptacle used as the main mating portion with the oppositely directed receptacle providing the ability to probe the terminal when in a mounted and mated condition within an electrical connector system.

Abstract: A latch/eject pin header is disclosed which provides both positive locking of a connector in a header and positive ejection of the connector upon disconnect. The subject header includes an elongated housing defining an elongated cavity therein with a plurality of pin terminals fixed in the base of the cavity and latching members pivotally mounted at the ends of the cavity. Each latching member includes a latching arm for engaging the mating connector, an eject arm for levering the connector from the cavity, and an actuating arm to effect pivotal movement of the latching member.

Abstract: An electrical connector system is disclosed having a pin header and housing assembly which can be latched and separated by the action of a single lever. The subject system includes a pin header mountable on a printed circuit board or the like to enclose an array of pin terminals fixedly mounted therein. The pin header also includes a standoff feature allowing wire wrap connection to the terminals. A connector member is receivable in the pin header and, by means of a lever actuated cam, is locked therein and extracted therefrom. The connector member also includes strain relief means for conductors connected to receptacle terminals carried thereby and the ability to individually probe the terminals without dismounting the connector member from the pin header.