Abstract: A connector assembly includes a female connector body and a male connector body defining a shroud configured to receive the female connector body. The electrical connector assembly further includes a resilient seal axially surrounding a portion of the female connector body. The seal is disposed intermediate the female connector body and the shroud. The connector assembly additionally includes a seal retainer attached to the female connector body. The female connector body defines an outwardly extending retaining ledge on the forward portion of the female connector body. The seal defines an inwardly extending retaining hook engaging the retaining ledge. A portion of the retaining hook is disposed intermediate the female connector body and the seal retainer.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a female connector body and a male connector body defining a shroud configured to receive the female connector body. The electrical connector assembly further includes a resilient seal axially surrounding a portion of the female connector body. The seal is disposed intermediate the female connector body and the shroud. The connector assembly additionally includes a seal retainer attached to the female connector body. The female connector body defines an outwardly extending retaining ledge on the forward portion of the female connector body. The seal defines an inwardly extending retaining hook engaging the retaining ledge. A portion of the retaining hook is disposed intermediate the female connector body and the seal retainer.

Abstract: An electrical connector has a connector body in the form of a molded plastic pass through article that has a cylindrical portion that is inserted into a panel hole. The article has a flange at one end of the cylindrical portion engaging an insertion side of the panel, and a plurality of supports extending from an opposite end of the cylindrical portion in an axial direction away from the cylindrical portion. A plurality of flexible transverse lock arms are attached to the plurality of supports and extend therefrom in cantilever fashion. The plurality of flexible transverse lock arms are spaced from the cylindrical portion in the axial direction and terminate in lock feet that engage the back side of the panel.

Abstract: An electrical connector has a connector body in the form of a molded plastic pass through article that has a cylindrical portion that is inserted into a panel hole. The article has a flange at one end of the cylindrical portion engaging an insertion side of the panel, and a plurality of supports extending from an opposite end of the cylindrical portion in an axial direction away from the cylindrical portion. A plurality of flexible transverse lock arms are attached to the plurality of supports and extend therefrom in cantilever fashion. The plurality of flexible transverse lock arms are spaced from the cylindrical portion in the axial direction and terminate in lock feet that engage the back side of the panel.

Abstract: An electrical connector (12) has a body (20) with a shorting clip (26) mounted at a distal end (24) of the body (20). The clip (26) axially extends into a cavity (22) of the body and normally shorts two electrical male terminals (25) housed within the body (20).

Abstract: An electrical connector has terminals that are retained in terminal cavities of a connector body by rigid lock nibs that project into the terminal cavity from a rigid wall and rigid lock nibs that are attached to a flexible beam that is opposite the rigid wall and that project into the terminal cavity.

Abstract: An electrical socket terminal includes a socket housing defining a cavity. The socket housing includes a first set of walls, a second set of rigid walls connected to the first set of wall and spacing the first set of walls apart, and at least one resilient socket contact inwardly depending from the first set of walls into the cavity. The socket contact(s) include at least one inwardly depending stabilizer adapted to laterally restrain a plug contact.

Abstract: A stagable electrical connector and method of assembly has a housing and a shuttle that moves with respect to the housing from a staged position to an assembled position. An electrically conductive terminal snap fits to the shuttle when in the staged position and generally does not move with respect to the shuttle as the shuttle is then moved from the staged position to the assembled position that further secures the terminal to the shuttle. Preferably, a one-way coupler is carried between the shuttle and the housing to strongly resist withdrawal of the shuttle from the housing as the terminal is snap fitted to the shuttle. During snap fitting of the terminal, a flex beam of the shuttle is free to move giving way to the terminal and resiliently flexing back when the terminal is fitted to the shuttle.

Abstract: An electrical connector has terminals that are retained in terminal cavities of a connector body by rigid lock nibs that project into the terminal cavity from a rigid wall and rigid lock nibs that are attached to a flexible beam that is opposite the rigid wall and that project into the terminal cavity.

Abstract: An improved box-shaped female electrical connector featuring an optimized conductive (electrical and thermal) path, a spring contact insensitive to deformation, minimization of male blade insertion force, and maximization of contact force with the blade, all made possible by inclusion of the following structural aspects: an optimized conductive path, a spring contact carried by a dual spring contact member operative interfaced with an over stress abutment, a spring contact shield at the mouth of the electrical connector, and a basal contact, disposed opposite the spring contact, which is part of the direct conductive path of the electrical connector.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a connector body and an electrical terminal. The connector body has a terminal receiving cavity that includes a lock nib that extends from a floor into the cavity. The terminal has a lock bar that engages the lock nib to retain the terminal in the terminal receiving cavity. The lock nib and lock bar are shaped to increase terminal retention.

Abstract: A low profile socket connector has a shroud for receiving a plug connector and a connector lock for retaining the plug connector when it is plugged into the socket connector. The exterior wall of the shroud has through slots extending through the exterior wall to form a lock arm connected to the remainder of the exterior wall of the shroud by flexible straps. The lock arm has a lock nib that extends inwardly of the lock arm beam to provide the connector lock. The lock arm includes a depressible release lever and a fulcrum located between the lock nib and the depressible release lever that extends inwardly of the lock arm for engaging a fulcrum support of the socket connector whereby the lock nib is moved outwardly away from the plug connector when the depressible release lever is depressed to release the plug connector.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrical female terminal which comprises a direct current path between a contact region defined by a plurality of circumferentially spaced contact vanes formed as beams having opposite ends connected to terminal body portions and wherein each vane is twisted on its length to provide a radially inwardly directed contact on a beam that provides a torsional force component that increases normal forces for providing electrical contact without producing a commensurate increase in the force required to engage a pin within the contact region.

Abstract: A sleeve terminal which provides a continually assured level of normal force with respect to a received pin terminal, even as the sleeve member thereof may tend to relax over time. The sleeve terminal includes a sleeve member having a slot which allows the sleeve member to be resiliently expanded when a pin terminal is inserted therewithin. A pair of resilient arms characterized by an opposing V-shape are formed integrally with the sleeve member on opposing sides of the slot. The apex of the resilient arms provides a contact location with the inner surface of a barrel which is concentrically receives the sleeve terminal. A free end of each resilient arm is spaced a predetrmined distance from the sleeve member. A wire mount is connected to the sleeve member opposite the slot. In operation, a pin terminal is inserted into the sleeve member, causing the sleeve member to be resiliently expanded as the slot widens.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrical female terminal which comprises a direct current path between a contact region defined by a plurality of circumferentially spaced contact vanes formed as beams having opposite ends connected to terminal body portions and wherein each vane is twisted on its length to provide a radially inwardly directed contact on a beam that provides a torsional force component that increases normal forces for providing electrical contact without producing a commensurate increase in the force required to engage a pin within the contact region.

Abstract: A force distribution seal for an electrical connection system having matable electrical connectors prevents leakage at the joint between the coupled connectors. The force distribution seal comprises a seal body with a plurality of radial bending ribs extending outward from the seal body. At least one external radial compression rail is disposed between each pair of adjacent bending ribs. At least one internal radial compression rail extends inward from the seal body. The internal radial compression rail is longitudinally disposed between a pair of adjacent bending ribs and corresponds to at least one external radial compression rail whereby force exerted upon a corresponding external radial compression rail by a radial bending rib is transferred to the internal compression rail to form a superior seal.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly has a multiple cavity thermoplastic connector body for receiving cylindrical terminals. The connector body has cantilevered deflectable arms provided with underlocks which overlie open channels provided with aligned lock ramps. The terminals, when being connected to the connector body, engage the ramps and cause the arms to be deflected from their normal position until lands on the terminal move past the lock ramps and underlocks on the arms whereupon the arms snap back to their normal position and provide an audible click to apprise an assembler that the terminal has been properly connected.

Abstract: An electrical terminal for making butt contact with a dome shaped contact of an electrical device comprises an elongated base plate that has a contact support at a forward end that is integrally attached to a longitudinal side of the elongated base. A resilient contact tongue is integrally attached to the contact support and extends rearwardly over the elongated base plate in cantilever fashion. The contact tongue is bow shaped in the longitudinal direction and has a curved mid span or apex portion that is arcuate in cross section for butt engaging a dome shaped contact of an electrical device.