The Whitaker Corporation

The Whitaker Company

David Maurice Wolla

Donald Robert Worthington, Jr

Jimmy Glenn Grubbs

Richard Eric Hasz

Keith R Denlinger

Michael Paul Derstine

John Rudell Bussard

Michael Henry Banas

Joseph Ray Goodman

Bruce Edwin Chapman

Lynn Wilson Abernethy

An electrical receptacle contact is provided having contact beams which are asymmetrically opposed, defining a terminal receiving section therebetween. Asymmetrically opposed contact beams may have various widths to provide an appropriate spring force for a selected plating material, while ensuring that the receptacle contact maintains the same overall dimensional shape as contacts made with a different plating material. Although allowing for variable spring rate in limited dimensioned contact, susceptibility of fracture of the contact of the present invention during forming is minimized.

Electrical receptacle contact

An electrical connector assembly includes two plug connectors 2 that can be mounted in separate pockets 66 in a pin header 62 that can be mounted on an electronic module. Separate plug connectors 2 can be attached to separate wiring harnesses. To insure that an adequate number of wires can be connected in a header of substantially the same size, terminal latches 18 on inner ends of terminal rows are deflectable in a direction that is perpendicular to the direction in other terminal latches 16 in the same row are deflected when terminals 20 are inserted into the housing 4. A terminal position assurance member 30 includes a cantilevered plate 32 that engages terminal latches 16 and a cantilevered arm 24 that engages the terminal latch 18. This provides space for a force applying bolt 50 to be used in each connector.

Connector assembly for multi-pocket header

An electrical connector assembly for mounting an electrical component, such as a radio, on a panel. The connector assembly permits blind mating of a radio in a dash. A header on the radio is mated to a plug connector on a wiring harness. The plug connector is mounted on a mounting member on a panel. When the component is inserted through an opening, such as an opening in an automobile dash, the plug connector can shift into alignment with a header on the component. Ramps on the header and on the plug connector cam the mating connectors into alignment permitting movement in a plane perpendicular to the mating direction. Alignment and movement in the mating direction is permitted by springs holding the plug connector on the housing. Metal springs exerting a mating force when deflected can be use. Alternatively molded cantilever latches can be deflected. The mated connectors can still move in the axial direction after mating.

Self docketing electrical connector assembly

The invention comprises an electrical contact having a body with a crimping section and a base with resilient contact fingers extending forwardly from the base. The base has a tapered cylindrical section. A sleeve is secured over the base and the resilient contact fingers. The sleeve engages the tapered cylindrical section in an interference fit to secure the sleeve thereon.

Socket terminal

A plug housing assembly (10) with an outer socket (20), and inner socket (30), a primary latching member (40), a secondary lock member (60) and electrical contact assemblies (80). The inner socket (30) includes contact receiving apertures (34) for receiving latching beams (44) of the primary latching member. The secondary lock member (60) is inserted transversely relative to the contact insertion direction into inner socket (30) so that walls (65a) of contact chamber (65) will engage a sleeve (82) of electrical contact assembly (80), and bottom wall (66a) of latch chamber (66) of secondary lock member (60) will be disposed adjacent to latching beams (44) so that the beams (44) are secondarily locked into place.

Electrical connector with secondary lock

This invention is directed to an electrical cable connector of the type for mating with and latchably engaging a complementary connector. The connector typically includes a dielectric housing containing an array of electrical contacts for electrical engagement with respective contacts in a complementary connector. The connector further comprises a pair of unitary metal shielding members stamped and formed from a metal sheet blank, where a first of the shielding members includes a pair of reversely bent latching arms extending from a mating end toward a cable receiving end, and a pair of hermaphroditic cover members formed of a dielectric material adapted to interfit together about the electrical connector in sliding engagement therewith, and movable from a first position to a second position to effect unmating of said electrical connector from the header assembly. Each cover member includes a latching arm receiving recess, and a flexible arm engageable with a complementary recess in the opposing cover member. Manual movement of the assembled cover members to the second position causes the respective flexible arms to flex from their resiled position. Releasing the assembled cover members effects a return of the assembled cover members to the first position.

Growing community of inventors

Winston-Salem, NC, United States of America

David Maurice Wolla