Abstract: A suitable contact state is attained by an always stable contact pressure between a male contact and a female contact which form a tuning fork type contact. For a contacts providing a tuning fork type contact 2 that attains a contact state by inserting a male contact 4 between a pair of beams 6a and 6b provided on a female contact 6, in the connected state, male contact 4 and female contact 6 are arranged so as to maintain a state wherein the width direction of the male contact is angled relative to the direction of separation of the beams 6a and 6b.

Abstract: A surge protector block assembly includes a plurality of individual 5-pin housing units which are formed integrally together. Each of the plurality of individual housing units has a plurality of surface mountable socket contacts for receiving corresponding pins of a surge protector module. A single and/or multi-layer printed circuit board is provided with a plurality of solder pads. Each of the plurality of individual housing units is surface mounted onto the solder pads of the single and/or multi-layer printed circuit board for electrical connection to corresponding ones of the plurality of the socket contacts.

Abstract: A connector which includes a connector socket and a mated connector plug to be fitted into the connector socket has a socket body which includes upper and lower terminal holding portions. The upper and lower terminal holding portions each have a plurality of terminals which are arranged in a row along the width direction of the socket body. The upper and lower terminal holding portions are arranged so as to face each other through a predetermined spacing. The connector socket further has a rib for maintaining the spacing between the upper and lower terminal holding portions for preventing both the terminal holding portions from being deformed so that they approach each other. The rib is integrally formed with the upper and lower terminal holding portions and arranged substantially at the center of the width direction of the socket body. The mated connector plug has a plate member which is inserted into the spacing when the connector plug is connected to the connector socket.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprising, in combination a body defining first and second electrical terminal entry ports, the first entry ports including four ports, there being an LED unit having pin terminals respectively received in three of said four ports, three of said pin terminals adapted for delivering controllable electrical current for controlling color emitted by the LED unit, another of said pin terminals received in a fourth one of said four ports.

Abstract: A plug-in connection system, having contact paths (2; 3) that are inserted into lateral receiving pockets (1.2; 1.3) of an insulation body (1) and that are fixed with a positive fit in a final assembly position by sliding the contact paths in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. Preferably, fixation elements (1.3; 1.4; 1.5; 1.6) on the insulation body prevent dislocation of each contact path (2; 3) in at least three directions. Specifically, bearing webs (1.3; 1.4) that respectively overlap each contact path prevent the contact path from moving in a direction opposite to the insertion direction. Limit stops (1.6) and a clamping web (1.5) that snaps behind the contact paths prevent displacement of the contact paths in the longitudinal direction and in the direction opposite the longitudinal direction once the contact paths reach the final assembly position.

Abstract: A low insertion force connector that has a female socket and a male plug. The female socket has a contact element with first and second adjacent contact blades. The male plug has a pin terminal with a first side and a second side. The first side has a first receiving zone adjacent to a second receiving zone. The first receiving zone is offset from the second receiving zone such that deflection of the first contact blade by the first receiving zone differs from the deflection of the second contact blade by the second receiving zone when the pin terminal is mated with the contact element.

Abstract: A connector housing and a manufacturing method thereof are provided, which connector housing includes: an outside wall having an upper and lower walls and sidewalls; horizontal partition and vertical partition which form terminal accommodating chambers 9 inside the outside wall; and a thin sidewall portion 6 formed on each of the sidewalls and being thinner than a remaining portion of the corresponding sidewall, wherein a short shot preventing rib 8 is longitudinally formed on the thin sidewall portion integrally therewith in a generally vertical center thereof. The short shot preventing rib 8 projects outside over the remaining portion 7 continuing from the thin sidewall portion 6. The short shot preventing rib 8 is arranged in a line with the horizontal partition 15. The short shot preventing rib 8 is formed thicker than the horizontal partition 15.

Abstract: The invention relates to a battery connector equipped with an insulating housing. Contacts are attached to the housing and are soldered to a circuit board. Each of the contacts has a flat-plate-form base part and a pair of side wall parts that rise from both sides of the base part. A pair of contact arms extend, facing each other, from the side wall parts of the pair of side wall parts, and contact mating contacts. The bottom surface of the base part forms a soldering surface that is soldered to the circuit board. The invention increases the soldering strength of the contacts with respect to the circuit board so that separate reinforcing members are not required. The area occupied by the battery connector on the board is also reduced, and the balance of the soldering positions on the bottom surface of the connector is improved.

Abstract: When a pair of connectors (10, 30) are plugged with each other in a plugging direction, the contact sections (23, 44A) of pairs of contact elements (21, 41) are brought into contact with each other under contact pressures in a first direction perpendicular to the plugging direction, the contact elements being spaced in a second direction perpendicular to the plugging and first directions. At least one contact sections of the pairs of contact elements are flexible in the first direction. The contact sections (23, 44A) are situated in the same range in the first direction, and substantially equal numbers of the contact sections are oriented opposite in the first direction.

Abstract: A line connector, such as a socket outlet or plug, includes at least one contact member such as a receptacle or pin and at least one connecting terminal which is electrically connected to the contact member and to which an electrical conductor can be connected. The connecting terminal has a tail which can be forcibly fitted into a tubular member for connecting a connecting terminal electrically to the contact member. Applications include demountable plugs and sockets.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a floatable mounting apparatus that enables the connector assembly to correct for misalignment between mounting structures. The connector assembly also includes a connector housing having peripheral surfaces with an outer contour shaped to loosely fit in an inner contour of a mounting structure, such as a card, panel, circuit board, bulk head, rack assembly and the like. The connector housing is slidably inserted into the opening through the mounting structure. A chamber is provided in the connector housing adapted to securely retain contacts. At least one latch beam is formed with the connector housing and aligned to engage the mounting structure. A float gap is located between the inner contour of the opening through the mounting structure and the outer contour of the connector housing to enable relative movement therebetween.

Abstract: A CRT socket has reduced thickness but maintains favorable insulation without requiring a change in the construction of the neck of a CRT. The CRT socket arrays a plurality of signal and focusing contact sockets about a central hole. The ends of signal pins of a CRT and of the focusing contact sockets passing partly through an enlarged hole in a circuit board, whereby the height of the CRT socket is reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a connector which includes a connector socket and a mated connector plug to be fitted into the connector socket. The connector socket comprises a socket body which includes upper and lower terminal holding portions each having a plurality of terminals which are arranged in a row along the width direction of the socket body, the upper and lower terminal holding portions are arranged so as to face with each other through a predetermined spacing; and a rib for maintain the spacing between the upper and lower terminal holding portions for preventing both the terminal holding portions from being deformed so that they approach to each other. The rib is integrally formed with the upper and lower terminal holding portions and arranged substantially at the center of the width direction of the socket body. The mated connector plug has a plate member which is inserted into the spacing when the connector plug is connected to the connector socket.

Abstract: A socket-and-plug assembly includes a socket member formed with a looped recess therein and a core that is surrounded by the looped recess and that is formed with a plurality of terminal passages. A latch member has an inserting end section inserted in the looped recess, and a resilient latch arm that is engageable with the socket member and that is resiliently pressable to disengage from the socket member. A plug member includes a terminal seat received snugly in the inserting end section, and a plurality of conductive terminals mounted in the terminal seat and received in the terminal passages, respectively.

Abstract: This invention provides a substrate connector (63) allowing mating terminals to be inserted into terminal accommodating chambers in the housing main body (67) from one side or the other side and comprises an insertion guide portion (75) provided around an installation opening (73) in the housing main body (67) and for guiding the mating terminals into the terminal accommodating chambers (65) when inserting the mating terminals into the terminal accommodating chambers (65) from the other side of the housing main body (67).

Abstract: An electrical power connector (1) for use in a circuit board or backplane system comprises an insulative housing (10) defining a chamber (18) and an opening (11) communicating with the chamber, and a pair of separated conductive contacts (20) received in the chamber. A pair of protrusions (12) extend from opposite sides of the opening. Each contact includes a contact plate (21), a pair of longer contact fingers (242) and a pair of shorter contact fingers (244) between the longer fingers both extending from a front side of the contact plate and form longer and shorter contact sections (245, 247), respectively. Outside surfaces (2452, 2472) of the contact sections are gold plated for conductively contacting against a corresponding receptacle contact of a receptacle connector. The contact plate forms a blocking tab (25) extending in a direction opposite to the plated outside surfaces for insertion between the protrusions of the housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector (1) includes an insulative housing (2) and a number of conductive contacts (3). The insulative housing defines a number of receiving passageways (20) for receiving the conductive contacts. The receiving passageways each comprise a pair of opposite side walls (21) and an upper wall (22) between the side walls. Each side wall defines a mounting channel (23). The conductive contact includes a retaining portion (31), a mating portion (33) extending forwardly from the retaining portion and a tail portion (32) extending rearwardly from the retaining portion. The retaining portion and the mating portion are both received in the receiving passageway. The mounting portion forms a pair of opposite mounting shoulders (34) received in the mounting channels and a number of barbs (37) for engaging with the side walls. The contact forms a number of projections (35) for interference fitting with the upper wall of the receiving passageway.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative housing (30) and a plurality of contacts (10). The housing has a plurality of cavities (36) arranged in two vertical stacks (54, 56), each stack being separated by thin walls (34) of the housing. Each contact has a main body (11), a contact portion (12) for mating with a mating connector, and a mounting member (15) extending perpendicularly from the main body. The mounting member protrudes from a bottom surface (46) of the housing. A plate-like support finger (18) extends obliquely from the main body. The support finger has a suspending end (19) parallel to the main body and extending toward the mounting member. The suspending end bears against a lower wall of the corresponding cavity, thereby preventing the main body from moving downwardly relative to the contact.

Abstract: A suitable contact state is attained by an always stable contact pressure between a male contact and a female contact which form a tuning fork type contact. For a contacts providing a tuning fork type contact 2 that attains a contact state by inserting a male contact 4 between a pair of beams 6a and 6b provided on a female contact 6, in the connected state, male contact 4 and female contact 6 are arranged so as to maintain a state wherein the width direction of the male contact is angled relative to the direction of separation of the beams 6a and 6b.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing electrical energy to an electrical circuit without using a pronged plug are disclosed. A power connector includes a substrate with openings for receiving prongs of an electrical plug. Contacts supported on the substrate extend into the openings. The contacts are connected to the electrical circuit. The substrate is placed over an electrical outlet receptacle. When the prongs of the electrical plug are inserted through the two openings of the power connector and into the outlet receptacle, the prongs touch each of the contacts, respectively, such that electrical power can be supplied to the electrical circuit connected to the pair of contacts. The power connector can be incorporated into a wall plate mounted over an electrical outlet, either in place of or directly over an existing wall plate. An electrical circuit is housed within the wall plate.

Abstract: A connector eliminates any restriction in the arrangement of connecting pins, and makes a unit to be connected compact. A male type connector assembly includes a connector body formed with a cavity portion for receiving a female type connector assembly therein. A unit mounting an electronic device thereon is hierarchically connected to the connector body. The connector body and unit of the female type connector assembly are connected together through a contact. When the male type connector assembly and the female type connector assembly are connected together, the contact is connected to a receptacle contact mounted on the female type connector assembly.

Abstract: A multi-pole electrical connector is to be designed such that it is usable under cramped installation conditions and can be cost-effectively produced. The connector has a contact set having a plurality of contact elements, each of which has a connecting section and a contact section. Both the connecting sections and the contact sections are formed from a single-layer stamped grid and are arranged in one plane. This connector is provided for use in the automobile industry, particularly in fuse boxes and electrical-system control units of motor vehicles.

Abstract: A cable connector includes a cylindrical shell, a contact holder in the form of an inner bottom plate, and a plurality of contacts supported in the contact holder. The contact holder consists of a front holder and a rear holder which are formed with a plurality of through-holes communicating and aligned with each other for embracing the contacts inserted in the through-hole. With this arrangement, in assembling the cable connector, the contacts can be rapidly supported in the contact holder in a simple manner.

Abstract: A battery connector is provided, which includes an insulation housing having at least one terminal receiving groove, and at least one conductive terminal disposed in the one terminal receiving groove, the terminal including a body, a connecting portion that extends from one side of the body and is electrically connectable with a circuit board and a mating portion which extends from the other side of the body. The mating portion includes a first support arm and a second support arm. The first support arm has a first contact portion. The second support arm, parallel to the first support arm, has a second contact portion. The first and second contact portions are directed toward the opposed contact arms and are staggered from each other. The first and second contact portions achieve electrical contact with a mating blade terminal inserted therebetween, thereby increasing normal contact force of the conductive terminal contact.

Abstract: A CRT socket includes a focus side discharge electrode plate formed by a projection from a metallic plate. An elastic contact piece projects from a bottom edge of the metallic plate in a direction reverse to a projecting direction of an electrode portion. An attaching frame portion for nipping and fixing both sides of the focus side discharge electrode plate is formed in a side wall surrounding a discharge air gap chamber. When the focus side discharge electrode plate is attached to the attaching frame portion, the elastic contact piece makes elastic contact with an inside lead portion of the resistance element. Accordingly, the resistance element and the focus contact are connected to each other without requiring a separate connecting device for connecting the resistance element.

Abstract: An electric connector, which includes a housing having two longitudinal rows of terminal slots and a longitudinal insertion slot between the longitudinal rows of terminal slots, signal terminals and grounding terminals respectively mounted in the terminal slots, and a metal grounding plate inserted into the longitudinal insertion slot, the metal grounding plate having springy protruding portions inserted into grounding terminal slots for holding down grounding terminals of the matched electric connector with respective spring strips at the grounding terminals.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a dielectric housing and a number of contacts received in the housing. The housing defines three aligned apertures and a partition is provided between two proximate aperture. The housing defines four recesses equiangularly disposed in a periphery of each aperture and two selected recesses thereof are respectively recessed in two partitions beside the aperture. Therefor each contact is received in a corresponding aperture and abuts against parts of the periphery of the aperture that are not recessed therein while being spaced from the partition. Thus, stress exerted on the partitions is limited thereby preventing the partitions from being crushed by the contacts.

Abstract: For an electrical plug connector with one-piece contact elements which are disposed in contact chambers and have spring legs with an embossed contour which are disposed in a mirror-inverted manner, it is proposed that the spring legs be constructed in such a way that they are at a distance from the contact chamber walls when the contact elements are inserted in the contact chambers, the spring legs being deflected in such a way, when a contact pin is inserted in the contact elements, that the said spring legs are supported on the contact chamber walls.

Abstract: The connector includes at least a terminal accommodating cavity for receiving a receptacle terminal of a rectangular hollow beam. The receptacle terminal has an electrical connection portion including a resilient contact tongue. The terminal accommodating cavity has a pin terminal insertion opening. Furthermore, a distortion preventing member extending from said pin terminal insertion opening is provided in the terminal accommodating cavity. The distortion preventing member is constructed to prevent distortion of a pin terminal even when the pin terminal is incorrectly inserted in a slanting direction through the pin terminal insertion opening into the receptacle terminal. The distortion preventing member has a rising wall rising from a bottom wall of the terminal accommodating cavity. An extended wall is provided to extend from a free end of the rising wall into the terminal accommodating cavity.

Abstract: Disclosure is a molded female receptacle for receiving a male plug. The receptacle includes a pair of a female connector member of electrical conductor material with each connector member including a first end with an insertion slot and a second end with crimping means for attachment to conductor wires. A generally rectangular body member of molded insulating material encases the first and second female connector members that are attached in parallel to a two-wire conductor. The molded body member has first and second ends and four sides, with the body member first end having a pair of rectangular apertures, each in register with an insertion slot of a female connector member embedded within the body member. The two-wire conductor extends from two opposite sides of the generally rectangular molded body member near the second end thereof. The first and second ends of the molded body member may be oriented at 180, 135 or 90 degrees relative to each other.

Abstract: An electrical connector having a plurality of contacts divided into three groups based on height and location where the first group is tall in a peripheral array, the second group is short in the peripheral array and the third group is short in a smaller inner array. A first electrically conductive plate is mounted to the first group of contacts and fastened by screws which are received in central longitudinal threaded holes in the first group of contacts. In a like manner, a second electrically conductive plate is connected to the third group of contacts using screws which are received in central longitudinal holes of the short contacts. Each of the plates has a central opening which is fitted with a screw which allows electrical connections to be made with other circuitry or components.

Abstract: A shear connector includes a plug connector having front and rear insert portions on opposite sides of the shear plane that are held together by a shear bolt scored to shear at a predetermined force, and which is threaded directly into openings in the rear insert in such a way as to eliminate relative movement between the shear bolts and the rear insert during shearing. Pin contact sections extending rearwardly from the front insert are scored at the shear plane to shear at a predetermined force. By varying clearances between the pin contact sections and the sides of the openings of the rear insert into which the pin contact sections extend, groups of contacts can be made to shear at different times, thereby reducing the force required to shear each group without unduly weakening the contacts.

Abstract: An electrical connector (10) mountable to a surface (41) of a printed circuit board (40, 48) for electrically connecting a component (50) to the board (40, 48). The connector (10) has a plurality of contacts (12) supported in a plurality of contact receiving apertures (18) of a connector housing (14). Each of the plurality of contacts (12) is in the form of a thin flat plate (12) having a conductive element engaging portion (32) and a tail portion (33) which is electrically connectable to the board (40, 48), and each contact receiving aperture (18) is a narrow slot (18) which receive a contact (12) and maintains the contact (12) properly positioned in the housing (14).

Abstract: A card connector comprises an elongate header, a number of terminals retained in the header, an alignment socket for interconnecting the terminals with a printed circuit board, and a grounding plate covering the header and the alignment socket. The alignment socket has a step-like configuration and comprises a plurality of passages arranged in a front row and a rear row for receiving the terminals. By such a design, the length of the card connector is significantly reduced thereby reducing occupied area of the card connector on the circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical connector including a female connector (40). The female connector (40) is provided with a housing (12) which have insertion slots (14) opening its one side and allowing male terminals (6) to be inserted, and a plurality of female terminals (10) each having a pair of contact sections (46) which project into the respective insertion slots and hold a male terminal from both of its sides, and having a base section (42) which support these contact sections via a pair of arm sections and is fixed onto the housing. The housing (12) has a recess portion (22) which receives the base section (42) and is formed on one of side wall portions 20 partitioning the insertion slot (14). The arm sections (44) extend from the base section (42) received in the recess portion (22) in a state of being inclined with respect to the axial line of the insertion slot (14).

Abstract: A connector comprises a header having a plurality of contacts mounted thereon in such a manner that the post portions thereof protrude outwardly, and a socket having mounted thereon a plurality of contacts for contacting with the respective post portions of the header and being electrically connected thereto. The socket further has a plurality of guide grooves for receiving the respective post portions of the header thereinto and guiding them to the corresponding contacts of the socket. The guide grooves form slots thin enough to be broken when receiving the post portions thereinto or sufficiently narrower than the width of the post portions. Those regions of the contacts of the socket which contact with the post portions are provided so as not to be exposed outwardly of the socket.

Abstract: In a connector, distal end portions of a pair of elastic tongue pieces are formed with beveling tapered-extension portions such that, when the elastic tongue pieces are displaced substantially perpendicularly to an inserting direction of a rod-like male terminal upon insertion and fitting of the rod-like male terminal between the elastic tongue pieces of a bifoliate female terminal, distal-end outer-side surfaces of the elastic tongue pieces become parallel to an inner wall of a female terminal insertion window with an angle determined by considering an angle of deflection of the elastic tongue pieces. A high-density connector using this contact is also disclosed.

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: Disclosed is a receptacle for an electrical connector comprising a plurality of conductive terminals at least in part enclosed within a housing and there being a plurality of windows in said housing to allow access to said conductive terminals and said housing being extended to at least partially restrict at least some of said windows.

Abstract: An electrical female connector installed in a caravan for connection to a matching electrical male connector including a first terminal and a plurality of second terminals respectively mounted in axially extended center through hole and axially extended border through holes at a connector body inside a housing and connected to respective electrical wires of a cable fastened to the housing, wherein the connector body has a plurality of radial through holes through which screw can be respectively inserted and threaded into a respective screw hole at each second terminals to fix the respective electrical wires to the second terminals; the axially extended border through holes of the connector body are stepped, hexagonal through holes; the second terminals are stepped terminals each having a hexagonal upper section respectively fitted into and received inside the stepped, hexagonal border through holes at the connector body.

Abstract: A pressure absorbing contact includes an engaging portion for fixing in a spaced passageway of a connector. A pressure absorbing portion perpendicularly and obliquely extends from the engaging portion. An elastic curved contacting portion extends from the pressure absorbing portion and includes a contacting surface for electrically contacting an externally inserted contact. A frictional force between the contacting surface of the pressure absorbing contact and the externally inserted contact is considerably eliminated by deformation of the pressure absorbing portion and the elastic curved contacting portion upon application of the frictional force on the contacting surface of the pressure absorbing contact.

Abstract: An improved surface-mount electrical wire connector includes a connector housing and electrical contacts. The housing supports the electrical contacts and includes an upper surface with openings to receive the stripped ends of electrical wire. The upper surface includes an enhanced bearing surface established between a pair of openings by selectively chamfering the perimeter of the openings. This enhanced surface accommodates a suction-cup head on conventional pick-and-place assembly equipment. The electrical contacts include an upper section for receiving and retaining a wire and a lower section, extending through a lower surface of the housing, for solderably affixing the connector to a printed circuit board. The lower section of the contacts preferably include two, parallel, spaced apart members which provide four exposed surfaces to receive and retain solder.

Abstract: A resilient contact piece portion is provided within a connection portion of a female metal terminal, and is folded back at a position spaced forwardly from a front end of the connection portion, thus forming a folded portion of a generally inverted V-shaped cross-sectional shape. Relief recesses for respectively receiving the projected folded portions are formed in a front plate of cavities in a female housing. Thus, a contact portion is shifted forwardly within the connection portion while the cross-sectional shape remains unchanged as before. The contact portion of the resilient contact piece portion is shifted forwardly, and therefore even if the length of projecting of a tab portion is short, a positive electrical connection between the tab portion and the resilient contact piece portion is achieved.

Abstract: Disclosed is a receptacle for an electrical connector comprising a plurality of conductive terminals at least in part enclosed within a housing and there being a plurality of windows in said housing to allow access to said conductive terminals and said housing being extended to at least partially restrict at least some of said windows.

Abstract: A female portion of an electrical connector that minimizes bending of electrical connector pins that are inserted therein by eliminating all flat surfaces on the face of the connector that meets the inserting pins. The connector has only curved surfaces on the face of the connector that meets the pins. The curved surfaces are created by opening holes in the connector that are wider than required for the pins. The holes are then tapered down to a size that snugly accommodates the pins. At the end of the taper, a hole, or shaft, extends through the connector so that the pins are accommodated snugly. The shaft is clad with conductive material so that the connector makes electrical contact with the pins.

Abstract: A surface mounted miniature electrical connector (12) includes a housing (14) having at least a pair of terminal-receiving cavities (30), each having an electrical terminal (40) disposed therein. Each terminal (40) includes a planar body portion (48) having a contact-receiving receptacle (41) defined at one end and a solder tail (56) extending from the other end. The body portion (48) is disposed along a central wall (22) of the housing (14) dividing the at least one pair of terminal-receiving cavities (30) with the solder tail (56) extending outwardly of the housing cavity (30) and then at a right angle to the body portion (48) along the mounting face (26) of the connector (12). The solder tail (56) extends beyond an outer wall (16) of the housing (14) to a contact section (60) adjacent a free end thereof for electrical connection to a respective circuit pad of a circuit board.

Abstract: A press-connecting connector with an integral cover, in which the production cost can be reduced by reducing the number of steps in a connector housing-molding process, and an automatic assembling process can be simplified by a relatively simple mechanical operation. A press-connecting connector 11 of the invention comprises a housing body 16 having terminal receiving chambers 14 which respectively receive press-connecting terminals 13, and having respective open sides 15, and a tubular housing cover 17 fitted on an outer periphery of the housing body 16 to cover the open sides of the terminal receiving chambers 14. Connecting piece portions 18 are molded integrally with the connector, and interconnect the housing body 16 and the housing cover 17.

Abstract: A connector bridges the gap between a gauge and a printed circuit on an instrument cluster case. The connector has a molded body having a base seated on the case and a crown adjacent the gauge. Apertures in the crown receive gauge terminals. Contacts molded in the body have annular heads with spring fingers in the apertures for contacting the terminals and elongated legs extending through the base to connect with the printed circuit.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly according to the current invention comprises a receptacle and a composite action beam for electrically connecting a pin to a printed circuit board. The composite action beam is located in the receptacle and has a movable end and a fixed end. During an initial phase of the pin insertion cycle, the movable end of the composite action beam deflects so as to minimize the force necessary to insert the pin into the connector housing. During an intermediate phase of the insertion cycle, the movable end contacts an inside wall of the connector and the composite action beam functions as a two-end supported beam. The composite action beam supported at both ends exerts sufficiently high normal force against the inserted pin so as to retain the pin in the inserted position. Thus, the composite action beam reduces insertion force without compromising normal retention force once the pin is inserted.