Abstract: A safety trailer hitch including a mechanical connection to connect a trailer to a tow vehicle with the mechanical connection secured by a latch, a backup connection between the trailer and the tow vehicle that is releasably secured to the tow vehicle, a first, normally open switch that is positioned to be closed when the mechanical connection is made, a second, normally closed switch that is positioned to be opened when the latch is closed, and a third, normally closed switch that is positioned to be opened when the backup connection is secured to the tow vehicle, with the second and third switches in parallel and in series with the first switch, an alarm and a source of electric energy in an electric circuit with the switches such that when the first switch and either of the second or third switches are closed, the alarm will be actuated.

Abstract: An electrical jack having at least one socket for receiving an edge connector, a printed circuit board structure having an end portion extending into the socket for reception in the connector upon insertion of the connector into the socket, and switching means normally conditioned to cooperate with a printed circuit on the printed circuit board for electrically connecting a first set of jack terminals to a second set of jack terminals, the switching means extending into the jack's socket for actuation by insertion of the connector into the socket to electrically disconnect the two sets of terminals from each other.

Abstract: A touch-operated switch for electrical apparatus which includes a power connection to the apparatus, a serially connected power socket in the connection provided with a pair of terminal jacks each in the form of make-before-break electrical contacts, a plug-in module containing an electronic circuitry including a solid state power switch, two terminal means on the module for plugging into said terminal jacks, one of said terminal means comprising a pair of electrically discrete pins engaging with respective ones of the electrical contacts of one of said terminal jacks to make electrical connection therewith while opening said contacts, said pins being connected across said power switch, an energizing circuit for the electronic circuitry connected between both said terminal means, and a touch-sensitive control circuit in said electronic circuitry for controlling the operation of said power switch.

Abstract: A power connector includes a shunting bar which will shunt the terminals of one mating member prior to unmating of the connector and maintain the shunt condition during the initial phases of mating of the connector. This connector finds particular use where it is desirable to shunt the secondary of a current transformer when a control module is removed. Likewise the connector can be used to insure discharge of capacitance from associated circuitry thereby making them safe to handle.

Abstract: A jack in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of contact springs that are arranged in a row side by side one another and extend rearwardly cantilever fashion within a plug-receiving cavity. It further includes a switch disposed on each side of the connector contacts. Each switch comprises a movable contact spring that is normally in engagement with a stationary contact spring. The movable contact springs extend within the plug-receiving cavity while the stationary contact springs are remote to the opening.The jack is intended to be connected to a telephone line by respectively wiring the switches in series with the ring and tip conductors and wiring an individual connector contact in parallel with each of the switch contacts. Continuity in the telephone line is then provided by the closed switches of the jack when no plug is inserted into the jack.

Abstract: Circuit boards equipped with conductive paths are commonly adapted to fit into a suitable female connector. At times, protrusions of contact fingers within the female connector are bent to provide an electrical circuit closure, or short, between the bent fingers. As a male circuit board is plugged into the connector, the shorted fingers separate and electrically open. That common state of the prior art ignores the need for an arrangement for shorting pins in a male pin field. This problem is solved by a shorting contact (100) comprising an electrically conductive, folded cantilever spring. The contact, which is mounted on the board (10), mechanically touches predetermined ones (11-1, 11-2) of a plurality of male pins (11). Thereby, the predetermined pins are shorted together. Also, as the female connector (20), which may be lead connected to a printed wiring board, is fitted over the pins, an insulating housing (21) of the connector touches an arm (125) of the contact.

Abstract: A plug-in cartridge designed to mate with an external system via a connector having a plurality of external mating receptacles, and one or more external actuator pins, for engaging the cartridge. The cartridge encloses a printed circuit board with terminals arranged to receive an electrical circuit (e.g., an integrated circuit) susceptible to damage by excessive electrostatic charge. The circuit board includes a plurality of metallic contact areas conductively connected to respective terminals, extending external to the cartridge, and configured to engage the mating receptacles of the connector. The cartridge also includes a protection device comprising a plurality of conductive fingers formed from a common conductive element. The device is arranged such that, when the cartridge and connector are disengaged, the fingers contact associated ones of the contact areas whereby the contact areas and therefore the circuit terminals are connected in common (i.e.

Abstract: An ignition device for a passive retention system, especially in motor vehicles, in which an ignition unit arranged in a housing includes two plug pins which freely project on one side with their free end out of a casing and which are intended for slidingly receiving thereon a plug coupling, while the two plug pins are connected at the other end with an incandescent bridge and are surrounded by an ignition or primer mixture disposed inside of a casing; protective contact means are provided which protect the plug pins against electrostatic charges by short-circuiting the same prior to the emplacement of the plug coupling on the plug pins; the protective contact means consist of an essentially U-shaped elastic clamp which electrically conductively connects with each other the plug pins, when the plug coupling is not inserted, and which is automatically opened, when the plug coupling is inserted, in such a manner that the clamp interrupts the contact between the plug pins only when the regular ignition circuit h

Abstract: An alarm and outlet assembly for use in displaying small appliances and the like comprises a housing defining a plurality of female electrical outlet receptacles. A normally-closed switch is associated with each receptacle and is arranged to be operated into an open state upon engagement of a male electrical connector plug in the corresponding receptacle. Conductors are provided for supplying electrical power to the receptacle and the switches. The switches are defined by a pair of spaced contact conductors in the housing and, for each switch, a movable contact which is spring biased into bridging relation to the contact conductors. Each movable contact is carried on a reciprocable actuator having a head which, in the closed position of the switch, is positioned in the corresponding receptacle to be engaged and depressed by the body of a plug inserted into the receptacle, thus moving the movable contact out of bridging relation to the contact conductors.

Abstract: A protective package for use with a printed circuit board having mounted thereon at least one semiconductive device susceptible to deleterious effects of variance of potential across the terminals of the device or the presence of static electric discharges. The package provides, in one embodiment, a single piece, insulating case supporting and enclosing the entire circuit board and its components and a shorting member having integrally formed, spring biased contact fingers in normal engagement with the termination pads of the board. The contact fingers are separable from engagement with the termination pads upon insertion of the circuit board into an edge connector. Another illustrated embodiment provides a holder or support for a shorting member which may enclose only a portion of a printed circuit board and only a portion including termination pads.

Abstract: A system is provided for automatically actuating an alarm whenever a would-be thief attempts to remove the antenna from a vehicle equipped with a C.B. radio or other communication system. The preferred embodiment includes a hidden switch which remains depressed by the antenna until it is partially unscrewed, at which time the switch closes the alarm circuit. For example, the horn of the vehicle may be connected to the switch and serve as the alarm.

Abstract: Adapter plugs are known for interconnecting two types of R.F. connectors, for example a threaded type coaxial plug to a bayonet type coaxial plug. The present invention incorporates within a standard adapter envelope movable contact members which short the input connection when in the unmated condition, but which permits the adapter to function as a constant impedance transmission line when mated.

Abstract: A warning device, and a receptacle adaptor, the former being connectable between an electrical appliance and power source, for warning of a power interruption to the appliance, and including the receptacle adaptor having a reciprocable spring-biased pin in a channel, communicable with a micro-switch and an appliance plug grounding prong, for activating an alarm when the prong is withdrawn from the channel.

Abstract: A distributing device made up of a set of modular elements for use with multiconductor cables. Each of the modular elements includes symetrically arranged pairs of conductors. Each pair of conductors includes an incoming conductor to be connected to one wire of the multiconductor cable and an outgoing conductor to be connected to a jumper wire. The two conductors are normally shorted together by a spring contact. A plug is provided which by partial insertion allows connection to the conductors of a pair without interrupting the connection between the two conductors, and upon complete insertion, pushes the spring contact away from the conductors to interrupt the connection between the two conductors.

Abstract: An edge connector for a printed circuit card that includes normalling contacts. The connector is designed to make circuit with the printed circuit card before breaking the normalling contacts by having two springable contacts positioned so that the printed circuit card must pass between them and against a first set of contact surfaces before it can reach and separate the normalling or second set of contact surfaces.

Abstract: An alarm circuit for deterring the theft of electrical devices of the type normally plugged into an electrical power receptacle by providing an alarm signal whenever the electrical plug associated with the electrical device has been removed from the receptacle. The alarm circuit comprises an electrical power receptacle having hot, neutral and ground female contacts adapted to receive an electrical plug having corresponding electrical contacts, the receptacle also including a switch for connecting the neutral conductor to the ground conductor upon insertion of at least one of the male contacts associated with the plug. An indicating circuit in association with the receptacle provides an alarm signal when the electrical plug is removed from the receptacle.

Abstract: To provide for closed loop conditions in vacant module positions, as in back panel systems in telecommunications systems, a bridging contact is provided which, in the absence of a module, contacts at least two terminals or contact members. The bridging contact is mounted in the shroud of a back panel. Insertion of a module moves the bridging contact away from contact members. The contact member is given a particular form or shape so that the module does not touch those parts of the bridging contact which actually contact the contact members, giving long serviceability and avoiding damage to the contacting areas.

Abstract: An electrical appliance having a switch controlled plug type connector may be plugged into any one of a plurality of power terminal receptacles connected to a power line through a wall switch or the like. Common ground and neutral conductors are interconnected in parallel with said receptacles while current carrying conductors interconnect in series normally closed contact pairs in each receptacle. The normally closed contacts in each receptacle are opened in response to insertion of the connector to complete an operating circuit and block completion of other operating circuits further from the power source.

Abstract: A master structure supports a plurality of independent switching and control units. Insertion of a switching and control unit into the master structure makes electrical connection. Load carrying circuits are automatically bridged by the removal of a unit. A test connector and plug enable in-circuit isolation and test of the electrical components within a unit. Mechanical keying insures correct location of units within the master structure.

Abstract: An electrical switch has a switch member having a normally bowed portion adapted to be flattened by a holding member to move an edge of the switch member to a position out of engagement with an electrically conducting member and to move the edge of the switch member to a position into engagement with the electrically conducting member when the holding member is removed and the normally bowed portion is allowed to assume its normally bowed position. The switch is particularly adapted to be used in conjunction with a CB antenna connected to a motor vehicle for sounding an alarm if the antenna is removed.

Abstract: An improved subminiature electrical connector arrangement especially suited for miniature electrical or electronic apparatus. The connector arrangement includes a two-piece female connector assembly wherein one part thereof may be suitably interconnected to the circuitry of the apparatus while the same is outside the associated housing. This connector may then be placed in alignment with an opening within the housing and a second connector portion inserts within the opening and makes a snap-fit, weather tight seal therein and engages said first connector portion, all without special tools or any additional hardware. An associated male connector plug makes a convenient interconnection with the female assembly by including a hook-like projection overhanging one edge thereof and which engages a recess in the top of a housing to permit the male plug to rotate downwardly and inwardly into correct mechanical and electrical engagement with the female connector assembly.

Abstract: A first set of conductors (e.g. 25 of them) leading for example to a communications modem, is connected by way of a corresponding set of normally-closed switches to corresponding conductors of a second set, leading for example to local equipment such as a computer. At least one of the above sets of conductors is also connected to connector means into which a multi-wire (e.g. 24 wire) patching cable may be plugged. The plugging-in of the patching cable automatically opens the normally-closed switches to isolate the first and second sets of conductors from each other, as is usually desired for patching purposes. Preferably the switches are magnetically-operable reed switches, switched between their open and closed states by magnet means controlled by the plugging-in of the patching cable.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to mateable electrical connector block for connecting or disconnecting plural electrical signal lines one at a time when the blocks are mated together or uncoupled as the case may be; with sequent connections being separated from each other a maximum distance across the connector blocks thereby eliminating arcing over between such connections as they are being made or disconnected. The connector blocks further include means for automatically disconnecting residual high voltage from the contacts when the connector blocks are uncoupled from each other and the high voltage carrying contacts become dangerously exposed thereby.

Abstract: A photoflash lamp array having electrical terminals adapted to be connected to a camera socket. Means are provided for shorting the terminals when the array is out of a socket. This reduces the possibility of accidental flashing of lamps in the array when a connector terminal is touched by a person or object having an electrical potential such as an electrostatic voltage charge.

Abstract: A photoflash lamp array having electrical terminals adapted to be connected to a camera socket. A spring member, in contact with one terminal, normally engages against a shoulder of another terminal, for shorting the terminals when the array is out of a socket. This reduces the possibility of accidental flashing of lamps in the array when a connector terminal is touched by a person or object having an electrical potential such as an electrostatic voltage charge. When the array is plugged into a socket, the socket lifts the spring member out of contact with the shoulder of the terminal and removes the short.

Abstract: A quick-make, quick-break probe contact assembly for connecting a high voltage cable to a high voltage bushing, the probe contact assembly being mounted in a cable terminator and including a movable section responsive to either an arc-generated arc-extinguishing gas, or to a fuse generated gas pressure for accelerating close-in with the bushing under fault current conditions. The probe contact assembly can also include a spring biased snap release sleeve that is retained within the bushing on load break of the cable terminator from the bushing to accelerate arc-out.

Abstract: An alarm system for indicating the unauthorized withdrawal of an appliance lead from a wall receptacle includes a spring biased arm extending partly through the ground connector opening of the receptacle against a microswitch. When the plug is in the receptacle the arm is displaced by the ground terminal of the plug away from the microswitch, opening the switch. The microswitch is connected in series with a master switch which, in turn, connects to an audio alarm. Upon withdrawal of the plug from the receptacle, the spring biasing forces of the arm direct the arm both across the ground terminal openings and against the micro-switch, closing the circuit to the alarm. Should the plug be removed, a slot is provided in the wall plate through which a key is insertable to withdraw the arm from the ground terminal opening, thus permitting reinsertion of the plug.

Abstract: A device is presented for coupling either a coaxial cable to a coaxial plug or two coaxial cables to one another, requiring a presetting, or activation operation to occur prior to making the coupling or the device will not permit electrical coupling to occur. Also, once the coaxial cable coupling to the device is removed, the device is inactivated so that the electrical connection cannot be made again unless a new presetting operation is performed.

Abstract: A multiple purpose plug arrangement comprises an insulator housing wherein pairs of sheet metal strips form contact surfaces. The strips are bent so as to allow them to operate as rest contacts if desired. These rest contacts can be interrupted by a plug which may form a new circuit via the plug or simply interrupt the circuit via the rest contact. Thin insulator sheets permit the selective interruption of any one of the rest contacts.

Abstract: A jack is provided in which a movable contact is driven away from a fixed contact upon insertion of a plug and returns into abutting relationship with the fixed contact upon withdrawal of the plug. The movable contact comprises an electrically conductive, rigid body which is rotatably mounted at its one end, and is biased toward the fixed contact by means of a coiled spring. When the plug is inserted, the movable contact is displaced against the resilience of the coiled spring to move away from the fixed contact, while when the plug is withdrawn, the resilience of the coiled spring urges the movable contact into abutting relationship with the fixed contact.

Abstract: The connector system includes a radio mounted receptacle with an integral transfer switch, and a separate connector and cable for interface with external radio frequency (R.F.) circuits, and provides a method of connecting external R.F. circuits to a portable radio and for simultaneously and automatically transferring the internal radio circuits from an integral radio antenna to the receptacle. The integral transfer switch of the receptacle connector includes a movable conductive plunger retained within a conducting sleeve and adapted to slide in an insulator between a first position at which the head of the plunger engages an inturned end of the sleeve, and a second position in which the plunger engages a flexible contact connected to the radio circuit and moves it away from a contact connected to the selfcontained antenna.