Abstract: An LRM connector is joined to printed circuit boards and secured to cover plates of the LRM at an end thereof to be mated with mother board connector mounted within a black box. The LRM connector is float mounted within cover plates on said LRM and aligns itself with the mother board connector when the LRM is inserted into the black box while maintaining sealing engagement with the cover plates. A metal shroud of the LRM connector provides EMI shielding and engagement with the metal shroud of the mother board connector even if the two metal shrouds are slightly misaligned with respect to each other. A method for assembly includes forming separate contact subassemblies having dielectric material molded around body sections; rearward contact sections on free ends of elongated cantilever beams remain joined to carrier strips until being soldered to conductive pads of the VHSIC circuit cards; then the carrier strips are broken off.

Abstract: A coupler assembly for noninvasive coupling to conductor wires of a twisted pair cable of a data bus uses mating pairs of E-shaped electromagnets defining a pair of electromagnet cores having windings about central legs thereof electrically connected to a control unit for sensing and transmitting signals along the data bus. A lower member with lower electromagnets is mounted to a panel, while an upper member with upper electromagnets includes a circuit substrate having trace windings about substrate apertures receiving the central legs of the upper electromagnets, an electronic subassembly to which the windings are electrically connected to amplify signals received and signals to be sent, and a shielded electrical connector secured at a connector end connected to circuits of the electronic subassembly and matable with a connector of a cable extending to the control unit.

Abstract: A small metal member (50) is secured to a surface (32) of a plastic member (30) by lock tabs (54) bent into a recess (34) in the surface (32), and the plastic material of a central boss (38) in the recess (34) is bulk deformed over ends (68) of the lock tabs (54) forming a recessed joint (70).

Abstract: A system of removably retaining a terminal (16) within a housing passageway (40) includes opposing resilient walls (46A,46B) defining a forward end of the passageway (40) with opposing stop projections (54) extending toward each other and disposed in corresponding notches (26) along first and third sides of the terminal (16), which stop axially rearward terminal movement. A bored shaft (98) of a removal tool (70) is placed over a contact section (18) of the terminal (16) extending outwardly from the housing (12), which tool (70) has a pair of triangular tines (100) at the work end of the tool shaft (98) to be disposed along second and fourth sides of the terminal (16).

Abstract: A system of removably retaining a terminal (16) within a housing passageway (40) includes opposing resilient walls (46A,46B) defining a forward end of the passageway (40) with opposing stop projections (54) extending toward each other and disposed in corresponding notches (26) along first and third sides of the terminal (16), which stop axially rearward terminal movement. A bored shaft (98) of a removal tool (70) is placed over a contact section (18) of the terminal (16) extending outwardly from the housing (12) which tool (70) has a pair of triangular tines (100) at the work end of the tool shaft (98) to be disposed along second and fourth sides of the terminal (16).

Abstract: A pair of track members is fastened to a framework of a black box forwardly of each mother board connector of an array thereof mounted on the mother board of the black box. The track members extend forwardly in parallel from end flanges of the connector to leading ends fastened to the black box framework at the LRM-receiving aperture, so that an LRM placed between the pair of tracks is movable to the mother board connector for mating of the LRM connector therewith. The trailing ends of the track members extend through precisely located holes through end flanges of the mother board connector and through the mother board after which the end portions are fastened to frame members behind the mother board. The track members can be hollow enabling fluid to be circulated therethrough to dissipate heat from the LRM. The track members can constitute the means to fasten the mother board connector to the mother board, and also the mother board to the framework of the black box.

Abstract: An LRM connector is joined to printed circuit boards and secured to cover plates of the LRM at an end thereof to be mated with mother board connector mounted within a black box. The LRM connector is float mounted within cover plates on said LRM and aligns itself with the mother board connector when the LRM is inserted into the black box while maintaining sealing engagement with the cover plates. A metal shroud of the LRM connector provides EMI shielding and engagement with the metal shroud of the mother board connector even if the two metal shrouds are slightly misaligned with respect to each other.

Abstract: A cable strain relief assembly has a first cover (30, 180) fastenable to a cable face (26) of an electrical connector (20) having an array (28) of cables (22) extending therefrom such that the cable array (28) extends over a transverse aperture (50, 184) near the rearward end (36) of the first cover (30, 180). The second cover (80, 182) is securable over the cable array (28) to the first cover (30, 180) at their rearward ends (36, 86) in a manner clamping the cables (22) into the aperture and against surfaces (52, 54, 190) adjacent the forward (56) and rearward (58) sides of the aperture (50, 184).

Abstract: A cassette (12) for loose-piece parts, such as electrical terminals (3), comprising a housing (14) having a storage chamber (22), a feeding portion (32), and a discharge station (38). The parts are mounted in spaced-apart relationship in individual cells (10) of a belt (2) which is wound in a coil in the storage chamber (22). A confined passageway (56) extends from the storage chamber (22) to the feeding portion (32) to guide the belt (2) into the feeding portion where it is engaged by a feeding means on a machine, such as a crimping machine, when the cassette (12) is mounted on the machine. The parts are removed from the cells (10) at a discharge station (38) which may be in the feeding portion (32) of the cassette (12).

Abstract: A key member (50) for an electrical connector (10,100) is removably securable in the housing (12,110) thereof without fasteners and has a rearward retention section (56) comprised of preferably four radially inwardly deflectable quadrants (70) which ride over retention projections (42,130) within connector passageways (28,114). The retention projections (42,130) seat in a recess (82,86) of the key member retention section (56) to secure the key member (50) in the passageway (28,114) against axial movement or misalignment while another polygonal shaped passageway section (36,122) secures a polygonal shaped section (52) of the key member (50) against rotation. The retention projections (42,130) are preferably annular or semiannular to seat in an annular recess (82,86).

Abstract: A small metal member (50) is secured to a surface (32) of a plastic member (30) by lock tabs (54) bent into a recess (34) in the surface (32), and the plastic material of a central boss (38) in the recess (34) is bulk deformed over ends (68) of the lock tabs (54) forming a recessed joint (70).

Abstract: A system of removably retaining a terminal (16) within a housing passageway (40) includes opposing resilient walls (46A,46B) defining a forward end of the passageway (40) with opposing stop projections (54) extending toward each other and disposed in corresponding notches (26) along first and third sides of the terminal (16), which stop axially rearward terminal movement. A bored shaft (98) of a removal tool (70) is placed over a contact section (18) of the terminal (16) extending outwardly from the housing (12), which tool (70) has a pair of triangular tines (100) at the work end of the tool shaft (98) to be disposed along second and fourth sides of the terminal (16).

Abstract: A dielectric protector (50) for an array of wire wrap posts (18) includes a transverse body section (52) having a like array of holes (56) therethrough corresponding to ends (22) of respective posts (18), with body section (52) just forwardly therefrom; holes (56) permit access to post ends (22) by test probes. Pairs of latch arms (70,80) extend to housing (12) from sides (72,82) of body section (52) having latching recesses (76,86) at outwardly deflectable free ends (74,84), which latch to latching projections (24,26) in channels (30,34) along sides (28,32) of housing (12). Gripping sections (78,88) extend in pairs outwardly of outer face (66) from integral hinge joints (90) joining latch arms (70,80) to body section (52) and are manually deflectable together to deflect free ends (74,84) outwardly and delatch post protector (50) from housing (12).

Abstract: Plug connector modules (22) are ganged together side-by-side by a pair of integral spring latch members (70) secured along commoned end surfaces (42) of the modules (22) to comprise a plug connector assembly (20) manipulatable as a unit. Integral spring latch members (70) include discrete securing sections (76) securable to axial key members (50) within modules (22) near end surfaces (42). Forward ends (84) of spring latch members (70) include latching recesses (100) to latch to latching projections (152) of a receptacle connector (150), latching plug assembly (20) to receptacle connector (150) in mated engagement. Gripping sections (110) of spring latch members (70) are deflectable toward each other about fulcrum sections (112) which action deflects free ends (84) outwardly and disengages latching recesses (100) from latching projections (152) to delatch assembly (20) from receptacle connector (150) for unmating thereof. Spring latch members (70) may be removable from plug connector modules (22) for repair.

Abstract: A receptacle connector (10) has a plurality of plug-receiving cavities (24) defined along major sides by either outer major walls (36,38) of the receptacle hood (20) or by lengths of polarizing walls (28) parallel thereto, and along minor sides or ends thereof by minor walls (42) of the hood (20). Individual plug connector modules (100) such as single-row modules (100) receivable into the cavities (24) each include along one major side (124) thereof an elongate polarizing recess (128) to receive a polarizing wall (28). One outer major wall (38) of the hood (20) includes an elongate inward boss (44) shaped to act as a polarizing wall portion (144) from an end module, and the plug connector modules (100) when ganged together (210) will enter the receptacle section defined by the hood (20) only when in a proper polarized orientation.

Abstract: A plug header includes a plurality of tab receptacle contact terminals in two rows of passageways to receive blade sections of male terminals of a mating connector thereinto without stubbing. Lead-in surfaces at forward ends of the passageways cooperate with coplanar tapered forward portions of the opposing spring contact arms to provide continuous lead-in means. One of the spring contact arms is a dual beam for two points of contact engagement with the blade terminal. An axial rib segment of the adjacent passageway wall juts into the slot between the diverging front portions of the dual beam and has a tapered lead-in surface coplanar with the forward surfaces of the diverging front portions. And the slot has stop surfaces engageable with the rib segment if the dual beam spring contact arm is substantially stressed outwardly to minimize overstressing thereof.

Abstract: A retention article for retaining closely-spaced terminals in a connector housing is formed having a stiff water-like article of thermoplastic material and elastomeric material therearound, with a plurality of holes extending therethrough. A pair of arcuate, partly converging wall sections partly surround each hole of said water-like article and extend forwardly from a planar section thereof having forward ends acting as stop surfaces to engage a stop shoulder on each terminal inserted therein. Elastomeric material forward of the planar section surrounds and abuts the outside surfaces of the wall sections, so that when a terminal is inserted into a hole of the retention article it slightly expands the stiff wall sections apart until the stop shoulder passes the forward ends, and the elastomeric material acts to urge the wall sections together against the terminal behind the stop shoulder.

Abstract: A housing for an electrical connector is provided having one or more terminal-receiving cavities having wall portions which resiliently expand when a terminal is inserted therein and return to an unexpanded condition when the terminal is latchingly secured therein. Preferably the expandable wall portions comprise two arcuate arm-like sections. An opening is provided between the cavities from a front (or rear) surface of the housing. A locking insert is provided that is inserted into the opening from the front (or rear) surface after the terminals are secured and the cavity walls are unexpanded, filling the opening such that the cavity walls cannot expand and the terminals become dislodged when the locking insert is in place. The locking insert is preferably latchingly secured in the housing and can be removed, if desired.

Abstract: A preloaded electrical connector is described which comprises a housing having a mating face, a wire entry face, and cavities extending through the housing and between the faces. A contact terminal is contained in each of the cavities and each terminal has a wire connecting portion adjacent to the wire entry face. One of the housing sidewalls has an integral housing flap which is hinged to the housing between the faces. The housing flap is in an open condition so that rearward portions of the cavities are open. Each terminal has a channel-shaped wire connecting portion and has a clamping flap integral therewith which is also in an open condition. The clamping flap extends beside the housing flap and when the housing flap is moved to its closed position, it moves the clamping flap to its closed position. In use, wires are positioned in alignment with the channel-shaped connecting portions of the terminals and the housing flap is moved from its open position to its closed position.

Abstract: An improved electrical connector is disclosed having terminals with receptacle portions which provide greater contact area than with conventional terminals of a tuning fork design. The receptacle portion of the present terminal is formed by a pair of parallel spaced arms, each with a pair of tines inwardly directed towards the other of the arms. Each tine on each arm is bent from the plane defined by the arms in opposite directions with respect to the other tine of the pair and the tine on the opposite arm thereby presenting four tine surfaces defining the sidewalls of the receptacle portion of the terminal. The opposite end of each terminal is provided with a known configuration for engaging a conductor, for example, a slotted plate configuration providing insulation displacing termination of conductors. The terminals can also be profiled between the end portions to compensate for differences in spacing between the conductors to be terminated and the terminals to mate with.