Abstract: A branch metal terminal has a branch lead terminal portion with a branch wire connected to this terminal portion through a branch female metal terminal. The branch wire is connected to a female-side wire connected to a mold-type electronic part.

Abstract: Structures are disclosed whereby two or more electrical terminal fittings (10,30) are pressed into tight mutual engagement to ensure a good electrical connection. The invention is especially adapted for earth terminal fittings which are mutually engageable by sliding or rotating movement and which each define an aperture to receive a common mounting stud or screw.

Abstract: A watthour meter socket adapter 310 includes a plurality of current jaw contacts 290 and potential jaw contacts 10 mounted between front and rear housings 314, 312, with each jaw contact 290, 10 surrounding by a receptacle 422, 70 in the front housing 314. An aperture in each receptacle 422, 70 allows insertion of a meter blade terminal into the jaw contact. An electrical conductor extends from each jaw contact 290, 10 to an individual terminal 102 mounted in a terminal portion of the front and rear housings 314, 312. Apertures in the front housing 314 allow insertion of a tool into engagement with a fastener 112 carried on each terminal 290, 10 for fixedly joining a terminal clip 116 mounted a conductor 132 extending from the jaw contacts to an external conductor 138 inserted through openings in the bottom of the front and rear housings.

Abstract: An interlocking terminal connection includes a pair of terminal plates each having a base portion with a hole for receiving a fastener. Each terminal plate further includes a pair of wing portions on either side of the base portion. The wing portions on a first terminal plate are displaced upwardly, while the wing portions on a second terminal plate are displaced downwardly. Each base portion includes a latch at the rearward end and a complementary latch window at its forward end. The base portion of the first terminal plate includes a plurality of downwardly deformed retaining members for preventing rotation of the terminal connection during mounting. Upon insertion of the first terminal plate into the second terminal plate, the base portions and wing portions interlock and the latch on each base portion is received within the latch window of the other base portion to prevent the release of the terminal plates.

Abstract: A set of electrical terminals is provided for interconnecting and grounding electrical leads of a harness, for example an automotive engine harness. Each terminal comprises two spaced pairs of spring beams defining a pair of aligned, insulation displacement slots for receiving a common electrical lead. The spring beams of each pair are defined by a pair of juxtaposed loops. The loops of all of the terminals are connected together to provide a cage-like structure by a front wall, a rear wall and a base. One end of each loop is connected to the front wall and the other end of each loop is connected to the rear wall. Lead strain relief ferrules project rearwardly from the base and the rear wall in a single row in closely spaced relationship. The rear wall is secured to the base by means of a flange which has been struck out from the base and which engages over a neck connecting one of the ferrules to the rear wall.

Abstract: The invention relates to a variable orientation, surface mountable connector assembly. Electrical connector 1 comprises an insulative housing 100, a plurality of electrical contacts 200, and a pair of variable orientation board mounts 300. The electrical contacts 200 are mounted in the insulative housing 100 so as to be surface mountable to a printed circuit board 3 regardless of whether the electrical connector 1 is surface mounted vertically or horizontally. Two board mounts 300 are located in corresponding lateral cavities 125 in the insulative housing 100. Each board mount 300 is adapted to be selectively oriented in either a first position corresponding to a vertically mounted electrical connector 1 or a second position corresponding to a horizontally mounted electrical connector 1.

Abstract: Electrical terminals having the same shape are provided and which can be integrated. Two latch flanges 7 are provided projecting in symmetrical positions on the circumference of an eye-shaped connection region 5, and hook portions 10 into which the companion latch flanges 7 enter are formed in positions adjacent to the latch flanges 7 to the rear in the clockwise direction. Projections 12 are formed by shearing the surface of the connection region 5 upwards, inwards from the latch flanges 7, and to the front of these are formed lock holes into which the companion projections 12 fit. The connection region 5 of one terminal 1 is laid over the top surface of the connection region 5 of another terminal 1 concentrically, then the upper terminal is turned clockwise, whereupon the latch flanges 7 engage into the companion hooks 10; the projection 12 of the lower terminal 1 fits in the companion lock hole 13 so that the two terminals 1 are integrated.

Abstract: A combination terminal is provided so that it is minimally deformable. The strength of plate terminals constituting the combination terminal is maximized to ensure the prevention of both backlash and accidental disengagement. A plate terminal includes a rectangular plate-like securing member having a substantially circular securing hole in the center, and a joint having a coated clamping member consecutively extended from the end of the securing member and a conductor clamping member. The securing member is perpendicular to the length direction of the joint. The securing member is provided with retaining planes folded stepwise between base planes on opposite sides of the securing hole. The retaining planes are stepped down by the thickness of each base plane. In one end portion of the base plane is a fitting hole bored therein. In the other end portion stands a lock pawl cut downwardly corresponding to the fitting hole of a mating plate terminal.

Abstract: A multiple wire-splice module for splicing a plurality of pairs of wires together and disconnecting the pairs of wires without impairing the integrity of the wire junction between a wire and the contact of either module. The module has an elongate base for supporting the wires, which base will mate with an elongate body of insulative material having opposite surfaces, and the body supports a plurality of conductive contacts, each with a slotted wire receiving end portion, a second connecting member at the other end and a third connection portion intermediate the ends of the contact, the slotted insulation displacing wire receiving end portion is adapted to connect to a wire in the base when assembled and the second connecting member and the third connection portion are accessible at opposite sides of the base and body for connection to other modules.

Abstract: A terminal for an electrical conductor, the terminal including a metal disc having a hole in its center along with a plurality of detents formed in the metal disc. The detents are configured to be received in nesting relationship with corresponding detents on adjacent terminals when the terminals are stacked with the holes in alignment. A bolt is passed through the holes to secure the terminals together. The nested detents restrict the terminals against rotational movement.

Abstract: A readily disconnectible electrical connection system comprising a connector body having structure for connection to an electrical power source, and a tongue projecting from the body, the tongue having a top surface and a threaded opening intersecting the top surface; and an adapter body having top and bottom surfaces, and multiple side surfaces; the adapter body having an internal recess intersecting one of the side surfaces, and also the bottom surface of the adapter, the recess sized to receive the tongue, and the tongue received in the recess; this adapter having a through-opening extending from the adapter top surface to the recess and being in registration with the threaded opening in the tongue to receive a fastener for threaded connection to the threaded opening; and the adapter having cable structure, and opening structure to receive electrical cable retention structure.

Abstract: A prewired electrical distribution member of the type utilized along movable partitions or similar modular furniture near the bottom edges thereof for distributing electrical energy and having like connectors at opposite ends thereof for connection to like member of an adjacent member is disclosed. Each member includes an elongated rigid central portion having a connector for receiving at least one electrical outlet centrally located therealong and flexible end portions permanently attached thereto. The flexible end portions enclose a plurality of conductors arranged in generally single file vertical alignment and have the connectors permanently fixed to their respective free ends. The connectors have both end and side terminal openings and are uniquely adapted to engage one another in any of an end to end, side to side, or end to side manner for effecting connections at corners.

Abstract: An electrical connector (10,20,30,40) having an insulating housing (11,21,31,41) and electric contacts (14,24,34,44) therein has been disclosed. The electric contacts (14,24,34,44) are individually formed by removing selected parts (53,55,56,58,59,61,62) from stamped electric contact elements (50). The housing (11,21,31,41) includes cavities (12,32) opening on a front surface and cavities (22,42) opening on a back surface.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes at least one contact element (11) for electrically connecting to a data line. The contact element (11) has at one end a contact portion (13), and at the opposing end a conductor terminating portion (15) which has at least two crimping portions (17,19). The crimping portions are used to terminate respective electrical conductors (51,53). The configuration of the crimping portions allow the respective electrical conductors to be terminated to the crimping portions through the use of high speed automated equipment.

Abstract: A unitary power distribution block particularly suitable for high amperage application is disclosed. This new power distribution block features an electrical contact member in the form of a copper bus bar having distinct conductor engagement surfaces disposed in different horizontal planes. The bus bar is held within a steel skeleton to form an internal assembly and a shell of nonconductive material is molded around the internal assembly. The shell has a number of distinct conductor receiving cavities disposed on different horizontal planes of the distribution block.

Abstract: A circuit breaker terminal strip has an offset spade terminal end segment and a conventional lug terminal segment formed integrally so that one or the other or both types of wire connectors can be used with a single terminal. The lug receiving segment has a threaded opening to receive a screw that holds the lug and its wire in alignment with the terminal. The spade segment is integrally connected to the lug receiving segment and configured to receive a quick connector so that the wire on the latter does not interfere with the wire with the lug.

Abstract: An electrical connector (10) for establishing an electrical connection between an outer conductive sheath (22, 22) of a cable (12a, 12b) to the connector (10) comprises an insulative fitting assembly (16, 17) having a first conductive member (42, 42) mounted thereto, an insulative connector housing assembly (14) having a second conductive member (19) mounted thereto. A cable (12a, 12b) having a portion of its conductive sheath (22, 22) exposed is extended through aligned passageways (43, 76, 43, 77) in the fitting (16, 17) and housing assembly (14). The first and second conductive members (42, 42, 19) include first and second, substantially radially extending, sheath-engaging surfaces (53, 53, 93, 94,) respectively, which clamp an exposed fanned-out portion of the conductive sheath (22, 22) therebetween when the fitting assembly (16, 17) is attached to the housing assembly (14).

Abstract: A panel-mounted duplex electrical receptacle easily is ganged with another receptacle to form a power terminal strip of any desired length. Each receptacle is mounted with a snap action in a cutout formed in a panel. The receptacles are wired together by inserting a bare conductor into aligned channels formed in the receptacles. Resilient tongues are provided on contact strips provided within the receptacles for pressing the inserted conductor into electromechanical contact with the respective contact strip. A resilient tab on each receptacle lockingly retains the inserted conductor in each channel. Each contact strip is cut from a substantially planar preform in a scrapless manner.

Abstract: A prewired electrical distribution member of the type utilized along movable partitions or similar modular furniture near the bottom edges thereof for distributing electrical energy and having like connectors at opposite ends thereof for connection to like member of an adjacent member is disclosed. Each member includes an elongated rigid central portion having a connector for receiving at least one electrical outlet centrally located therealong and flexible end portions permanently attached thereto. The flexible end portions enclose a plurality of conductors arranged in generally single file vertical alignment and have the connectors permanently fixed to their respective free ends. The connectors have both end and side terminal openings and are uniquely adapted to engage one another in any of an end to end, side to side, or end to side manner for effecting electrically insulating housing partially open at one end connections at corners.