Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a receptacle that is configured to receive an electrical wire therein along an insertion axis. An electrical contact is held by the housing. The electrical contact includes a contact beam that includes a wire interface that is configured to engage the electrical wire. The contact beam is movable between a closed position and an open position. The wire interface is configured to engage the electrical wire when the contact beam is in the closed position. The wire interface is configured to be disengaged from the electrical wire when the contact beam is in the open position. The contact beam is configured to be slidably engaged by an actuator along an actuation direction that is non-perpendicular to the insertion axis to move the contact beam from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a housing having a receptacle that is configured to receive an electrical wire therein along an insertion axis. An electrical contact is held by the housing. The electrical contact includes a contact beam that includes a wire interface that is configured to engage the electrical wire. The contact beam is movable between a closed position and an open position. The wire interface is configured to engage the electrical wire when the contact beam is in the closed position. The wire interface is configured to be disengaged from the electrical wire when the contact beam is in the open position. The contact beam is configured to be slidably engaged by an actuator along an actuation direction that is non-perpendicular to the insertion axis to move the contact beam from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: A system and method of preventing an unwanted release of wires from a poke in style connector is disclosed. The system and method are designed to prevent wires that can be removed from connectors by simultaneous twisting and pulling force from being released. The system and method operate by bundling at least two wires together to prevent the wires from rotating proximate to the connector.

Abstract: A wire retaining connector, connector system and method of connecting wires to connectors to reduce or eliminate unintentional wire disconnection from wire connectors, including disconnection of poke-in connectors. The connectors and connector systems include a connector body having at least one opening configured to receive a wire, the wire including a partially exposed conductor and insulation. The connector body further includes a wire retention member having at least one surface onto which a wire may be engaged. A cutting projection may also be provided on the wire connector to form a channel in the insulation during insertion of the wire into the connector. The wire retention member or the projection provides sufficient retention of the wire to resist disconnection of the wire from the connector body. A method for connecting wires to the connectors is also provided.

Abstract: A wire retaining connector, connector system and method of connecting wires to connectors to reduce or eliminate unintentional wire disconnection from wire connectors, including disconnection of poke-in connectors. The connectors and connector systems include a connector body having at least one opening configured to receive a wire, the wire including a partially exposed conductor and insulation. The connector body further includes a wire retention member having at least one surface onto which a wire may be engaged. The wire retention member provides sufficient retention of the wire to resist disconnection of the wire from the connector body. A method for connecting wires to the connectors is also provided.

Abstract: A wire retaining connector, connector system and method of connecting wires to connectors to reduce or eliminate unintentional wire disconnection from wire connectors, including disconnection of poke-in connectors. The connectors and connector systems include a connector body having at least one opening configured to receive a wire, the wire including a partially exposed conductor and insulation. The connector body further includes a wire retention member having at least one surface onto which a wire may be engaged. A cutting projection may also be provided on the wire connector to form a channel in the insulation during insertion of the wire into the connector. The wire retention member or the projection provides sufficient retention of the wire to resist disconnection of the wire from the connector body. A method for connecting wires to the connectors is also provided.

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: A system and method of preventing an unwanted release of wires from a poke in style connector is disclosed. The system and method are designed to prevent wires that can be removed from connectors by simultaneous twisting and pulling force from being released. The system and method operate by bundling at least two wires together to prevent the wires from rotating proximate to the connector.

Abstract: A wire retaining connector, connector system and method of connecting wires to connectors to reduce or eliminate unintentional wire disconnection from wire connectors, including disconnection of poke-in connectors. The connectors and connector systems include a connector body having at least one opening configured to receive a wire, the wire including a partially exposed conductor and insulation. The connector body further includes a wire retention member having at least one surface onto which a wire may be engaged. The wire retention member provides sufficient retention of the wire to resist disconnection of the wire from the connector body. A method for connecting wires to the connectors is also provided.

Abstract: A wire retaining connector, connector system and method of connecting wires to connectors to reduce or eliminate unintentional wire disconnection from wire connectors, including disconnection of poke-in connectors. The connectors and connector systems include a connector body having at least one opening configured to receive a wire, the wire including a partially exposed conductor and insulation. The connector body further includes a wire retention member having at least one surface onto which a wire may be engaged. The surface of the wire retention member includes at least one slot or at least one channel. The wire retention member provides sufficient retention of the wire to resist disconnection of the wire from the connector body. A method for connecting wires to the connectors is also provided.

Abstract: A low profile connector assembly comprises at least one contact having a surface mount portion and a wire engagement portion extending from the surface mount portion, and a housing insertable over the at least one contact and retained to the at least one contact. The housing encloses the wire engagement portion and has a wire receiving aperture therethrough. The wire receiving aperture provides access to the wire engagement portion when the housing is retained to the contact.

Abstract: An electrical connector (16) is arranged to releasably receive a pair of conductors (22, 24) and electrically interconnecting the conductors to the terminals (30) of an acoustical speaker (14). The connector includes an insulating housing (36) and a single button (38) in sliding engagement with the housing (36). The button is slidable between a first position (42) where the conductors are held within the connector and electrically interconnected to the speaker terminals (30) and a second position (46) where the conductors (22, 24) can be inserted into the connector or removed therefrom. A pair of contact members (52, 54) are disposed in a cavity (48, 50) within the housing (36). Each contact member includes a tail (28) extending therefrom through an opening (176) in the housing and is electrically interconnected to one of the terminals via a lead (32).

Abstract: A connector (24) is disclosed for electrically interconnecting a component (14) to circuitry within a cabinet (10), where the component is arranged to slide in and out of a bay (12) in the cabinet (10). The connector (24) is attached to the component (14) and includes an insulated housing (40) having a plurality of electrical contacts (60) arranged therein. The contacts (60) are adapted for mating along a first mating axis (23) of the connector with respective ones of other electrical contacts (100) in a mating connector (26) attached to the cabinet (10). The contacts (60) of the connector (24) are further adapted for mating along a second mating axis (74), that forms a right angle to the first mating axis (23), with respective ones of individual contacts (158) attached to individual wires (156) that are secured to the cabinet (10).

Abstract: An electrical connector (20) having a cover (70) pivotally secured thereto includes a housing (22) having a base (42), opposed side walls (26), and end walls (32), together defining a terminal receiving cavity (68) and a plurality of terminals (90) disposed in at least two rows therein. The cover (70) includes a hinge receiving slot (76) extending along a common one of its elongate sides (72) and inwardly from each end thereof. The cover (70) is secured to the housing (22) by a pair of hinges (78) with a base (80) of each hinge retained within in a respective one of the cover slots (76) and the leading end (84) of a leg (82) of each hinge (78) pivotally mounted proximate a middle position of a respective one of the housing end walls (32) adjacent an entrance to the cavity (68).

Abstract: The electrical connector (24) of the present invention includes a coupling (26, 26') for attaching the connector (24) to an equipment cabinet (10) that will permit a certain amount of movement of the connector along the mating axis (64) after mating with a mating connector (32). The coupling (26, 26') includes U-shaped channels (68) attached to the cabinet that receive rollers (88) attached to the connector. The rollers have a V-shaped groove (98) that receives a circular portion (112) of a spring (108) for holding the connector (24) in position during mating but will expand allowing the mated connector pair (24, 32) to move along the mating axis (64) after mating.

Abstract: A latching system for latching first and second connectors (120,20) together along a mating axis includes a pair of latch arms (126) spaced a selected distance apart along a common side (124) of a first housing (122) and extending to free ends (127) proximate the mating face (133) thereof, and a pair of embossments (50) spaced along a common side (24) of a second housing (22) includes beams (52) extending outwardly therefrom a second selected distance beyond a mating face (46) to free ends (53). Upon mating the connectors (120, 20), the free ends (53) of the embossments (50) stabilize axial alignment and orientation of the connectors (120, 20) relative to each other during final stages of mating. The embossments (50) pass freely beside the latch arms (126) during initial stages of mating until the connectors (120, 20) are axially aligned whereupon the latch arms (126) latch during final stages of mating.

Abstract: A right-angle coaxial electrical connector (22) mountable to a circuit board includes a housing (24) having a plurality of contact-receiving passageways (32) and at least two coaxial contacts (36, 38) disposed in the same column defining a stacked configuration. Each coaxial contact (36, 38) includes an inner terminal and an outer conductor, the inner terminal including a right angle body portion (46) extending outwardly of the housing (24) and concluding in a first connecting portion (44) adapted for mounting to the circuit board. A metal shell (64) having two interlocking halves joinable at opposed assembly faces is disposed over the outwardly extending body portion (46) of the inner terminal thereof and engageable with the outer conductor for connection to ground. In one embodiment, the inner terminal is comprised of two terminal subassemblies (40, 52). As an alternative, the connector housing (222) could be used with an intermixture of board mountable contacts (36, 38) and cable terminated contacts (235).

Abstract: A right angle electrical connector (20) includes a housing (22) having a mating face (24), an assembly face (26) opposed from the mating face (24) and adapted to receive at least one electrical contact (50) therein, and a third face (28); at least one contact-receiving passageway (30) extending from the assembly face (26) to the mating face (24), and a contact receiving slot (32) open to the third face (28) and to the assembly face (26). Each electrical contact (50) includes a first connecting portion (52) for electrical engagement with a complementary connector, a second connecting portion (54) extending from the third face (28) and outwardly from the housing (22) for electrical connection to an electrical article and a retention section (56) associated with a cooperable housing channel (36).