Abstract: An elongated sleeve or tubular member is provided concentrically fixed about the shank of a screwdriver with the sleeve having an axially flexible section between its opposed ends to facilitate axial shortening of the sleeve when the screwdriver is used to rotate a fastener the head of which is captured within the open end of the sleeve proximal to the blade of the screwdriver. Such axial shortening of the sleeve automatically seats the screwdriver blade within the slot in the head of the fastener when the frictional force between the screw's threads and those of the tapped hole into which it is being driven overcomes the interference fit between the free end of the sleeve and the screw head.

Abstract: A circuit panel connector for enabling the connection of a plurality of circuit terminals at the edge of a circuit panel, such as a printed circuit board, with external conductors includes a unitary block of dielectric material with an elongate slot and self-aligning unitary electrical contact members each having opposed tines for receiving the edge of the circuit panel and a terminal portion with a platform and a clamping screw for selectively securing an external conductor to the electrical contact member.

Abstract: A tubular electrical connector having first and second tubular contact members spaced from one another to establish a gap between them and joined in a unitary structure by a strap unitary with corresponding wall portions of the tubular contact members and bridging the gap, a contact bar bridging the gap and secured in each tubular contact member, and a clamping screw for securing a conductor in each tubular contact member against the contact bar. The gap receives a complementary projection on a terminal block to locate and secure the connector in a terminal block assembly. The connector is fabricated by providing and then bending a metal blank along prescribed boundaries, welding along confronting edges, subsequent to bending, and then locating and securing the contact bar in place.

Abstract: A dual orientation feed-through terminal block capable of being mounted selectively in either one of two orientations and including an electrical terminal member affixed in the block and having a contact extending through a slot in the block, the contact being permanently deformable into remains affixed in the block, to provide a feed-through in a direction appropriate to the selected mounting orientation.

Abstract: A tubular electrical connector having first and second tubular contact members spaced from one another to establish a gap between them and joined in a unitary structure by a strap unitary with corresponding wall portions of the tubular contact members and bridging the gap, a contact bar bridging the gap and secured in each tubular contact member, and a clamping screw for securing a conductor in each tubular contact member against the contact bar. The gap receives a complementary projection on a terminal block to locate and secure the connector in a terminal block assembly. The connector is fabricated by providing and then bending a metal blank along prescribed boundaries, welding along confronting edges, subsequent to bending, and then locating and securing the contact bar in place.

Abstract: A housing for receiving an electrical device and connecting the device into an electrical circuit has a pair of identical housing members joined together along confronting interior faces by complementary catch elements formed integral with the housing members. The electrical device is received within a receptacle in the housing and captured in place in the receptacle by the engagement of a blade contact in the device with a tooth projecting into a socket of a complementary connector in the housing.

Abstract: A circuit panel connector for enabling the connection of a plurality of circuit terminals at the edge of a circuit panel, such as a printed circuit board, with external conductors includes an elongate socket and self-aligning bifurcated electrical contacts juxtaposed with the socket along the length thereof, each having a pair of opposed cantilever tines integral with a common base and carrying contact lobes at the free ends thereof such that both tines are free to flex resiliently relative to one another for the reception of the circuit panel edge between the tines, while the contacts are free to move laterally, relative to the socket, for alignment of the contacts with the circuit panel edge in response to insertion of the circuit panel edge within the socket, and a strap integral with the base of each contact and extending laterally into a tubular connector element having means for releasably clamping an external conductor against the strap within the tubular connector element.