Abstract: The invention relates to electrical connectors or more particularly to an improved technique for mounting metal contacts in an electrical connector. Such a technique employs frangible sacrificial ribs in connector channels which engage the contacts upon insertion into the channels and bias the insertion force in a controlled direction thus avoiding connector breakage. The connector has a housing composed of an insulating material and an array of linearly aligned channels extending through a surface of the housing. Each of the channels is defined by internal peripheral walls. At least one frangible dielectric projection extends from a wall of each channel into the channel. The projections are situated either at a same position on each channel wall or at a opposed position on each channel wall of the array of channels.

Abstract: Improved electrical connectors and an improved technique for mounting metal contacts in an electrical connector. Such a technique employs overlapping, staggered arrays of forked electrical contacts in connector channels which engage corresponding blade contacts in a mating connector. The blades are inserted between prongs of the forked contacts. In the preferred embodiment, the electrical connector has an insulating housing having two parallel arrays of linearly aligned, offset, overlapping channels extending inwardly through a front of the housing. Each of the channel arrays extend inwardly through to two arrays of channels at a rear of the first housing. A forked metallic contact having a planar base, a pair of parallel and coplanar prongs at one of the ends separated by a gap, is mounted in each of the front channels such that the prongs from each forked metallic contact is positioned in one of the channels of the rear arrays of channels. A second housing is mated with the first housing.

Abstract: This invention is related to a latchable connector (10) having a plug (12) and a header (14). The header consists of a plug-receiving section (26) along with a pair of posts (16) which are mechanically connected to a printed circuit board. The posts (16) serve to secure the header (14) to a plug through a plurality of latches (30) mounted in the plug housing (11). Locking projections (58) of the latch (30) engage annular grooves (18) of the posts (16) in order to secure the plug (12) to the header (14). A force applied to the latches (30) to urge them towards each other will serve to release the plug (12) from the header (14).

Abstract: This application discloses a precision molded cylinder having a substantially cylindrical body. Chordal sections are formed in the body to create a small void between the chordal sections and an opening into which the cylinder is placed. The chordal sections are disposed adjacent to parting lines of the mold such that any flashing resulting from the molding process will project from the chordal sections and not interfere with the fit between the cylinder and the opening.

Abstract: A cable bend controller (50) comprising a relatively rigid member includes a body section (52) having first and second cable-engaging sections (56,60) at opposing ends thereof. The first and second cable-engaging sections (56) are securable to a cable at a first and second spaced apart locations. The said body section (52) is curved about a preselected radius such that said first cable-engaging section (56) is oriented at a substantial angle to said second cable-engaging section, (60) the body section thereby defining an externally arcuate concave cable-engaging surface (54). Upon fastening the first and second cable-engaging sections (56,60) to the cable (42), cable (42) is required to assume a bend to lie along said externally arcuate concave cable-engaging surface (54).

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: The present invention discloses a low-profile package containing one or more individually operated switches. More particularly, the present invention consists of an insulating housing having therein one or more single pole - single throw switches all of which have been stamped and formed from a single coplanar sheet of conductive material. The upper portion of the housing contains one or more switch actuators which can be depressed to provide momentary switch closure or rotated to provide continuous switch closure.