Molex Corporation

Edward S Sommer

Robert W DeRoss

Gary E Polgar

Richard R Edgley

Raymond A Silbernagel

Jack D Raymer, Ii

Daniel Nigg

Joseph D Comerci

Kirk B Peloza

Robert M Fuerst

Rupert J Fry

Burke J Crane

John S Luthy

Gordon W Funck

Keith Samuel Maranto

Todd A Hester

Dennis W Berek

Burhe Crane

Robert DePoss

Craig R Pierce

Michael D Driscoll

A system is provided for mounting an electrical connector in a panel having an opening with at least one locating slot in the opening. A connector includes a housing insertable into the opening in the panel. The housing has at least one outwardly projecting locating flange for passing through the locating slot of the opening as the housing is inserted thereinto. The housing has at least one outwardly projecting stop flange spaced axially from the locating flange for abutting the panel when the housing is in its inserted position. The housing is movable within the opening in the panel to a latched position. A latch arm projects outwardly from the housing for engagement with a latch surface on the panel when the housing is in its latched position. A protective shroud is disposed about a substantial portion of the latch arm to protect the latch arm against breakage. In one embodiment, the protective shroud is of a sufficiently large size to combine with the housing to substantially close the opening in the panel when the housing is in its latched position.

Panel mounting system for electrical connectors

A surface mount electrical connector is adapted for mounting to the surface of a printed circuit board in either of two orientations generally perpendicular to each other. A molded dielectric housing has first and second board mounting faces disposed generally perpendicular to each other. A first boardlock-receiving passage is molded in the housing communicating with the first board mounting face and extending in a given direction which defines the direction of parting of a pair of mold dies for molding the housing. A second boardlock-receiving passage is molded in the housing generally perpendicular to the first passage and communicating with the second board mounting face. Each passage includes a set of bearing walls for engaging a boardlock member inserted into the respective passage, with no one bearing wall in either set thereof being in alignment with any other bearing wall in the other set thereof in said given direction. A universal boardlock member is insertable into either passage for selectively mounting either board mounting face of the housing to the printed circuit board.

Electrical connector with universal boardlock

A circuit assembly is provided for terminating an insulated electrical wire having a central conductive core. A generally rigid dielectric base has circuit-receiving channels formed therein. Stamped and formed conductive circuitry is mounted on the base, with circuit portions located in the channels, and with at least one connecting portion for terminating the insulated electrical wire. The connection portion is a wire trap for receiving and trapping the conductive core of the electrical wire. The base includes a wire guide located adjacent the wire trap to guide the electrical wire for insertion of the conductive core into the wire trap and for providing stress relief for the electrical wire.

Circuit assembly having stamped circuitry with a wire trap

An electrical switch assembly is disclosed to include a housing mounting a pair of spaced switches. A rocker actuator is rockably mounted for movement relative to the housing about a rotational axis between the spaced switches, and with wing portions of the actuator on opposite sides of the rotational axis provided for alternatingly actuating the pair of switches. The rocker actuator is a one-piece component and includes a relatively stiff rocker arm rockable about the rotational axis, a connecting flange projecting outwardly from the periphery of the rocker arm, and an integral flexible intermediate wall joining the rocker arm and the connecting flange. The flexible intermediate wall supports the rocker arm in a neutral position. However, the rocker arm flexes the intermediate wall when the rocker arm is rotated about the axis in either opposite direction from the neutral position to alternate actuating positions. The flexible intermediate wall is of a material to return the rocker arm automatically to the neutral position when pressure on the rocker arm is released.

Rocker switch with improved rocker actuator

A releasably latching system is provided for an electrical connector assembly which includes first and second connectors. The first connector has a front mating face and a rear face. The second connector has a front mating face for interfacing with the front mating face of the first connector. A latch arm extends forwardly from the rear face of the first connector and includes a forward latch hook for latching engagement with a latch shoulder associated with the second connector. An aperture is provided in the rear face of the first connector and into which a tool can be inserted in engagement with the latch arm to move the forward latch hook out of latching engagement with the latch shoulder associated with the second connector.

Releasable latching system for electrical connectors

A panel mounted, sealed electrical connector assembly is provided for mounting in an aperture in a panel. The assembly includes a connector housing having a front mating end adapted to be inserted through the aperture from a first surface to at least a second surface of the panel in order to mate with a complementary electrical component. Locking arms project from the housing to mount the housing in the aperture. A sealing boot engages the housing rearwardly of the first surface and extends toward and engages the panel surrounding the aperture. Resilient flanges surround a substantial portion of the periphery of the housing and are adapted to be biased against the first surface of the panel. The sealing boot includes a forward peripheral lip adapted to be received between the flanges of the housing and the first surface of the panel surrounding the aperture, whereby the flanges resiliently bias the lip against the first surface and provides an environmental seal about the aperture.

Panel mounted electrical connector with improved sealing system

An electrical switch assembly is disclosed to include a self-contained switch unit having a pair of depressible operators. A rocker actuator is rockably mounted about a rotational axis overlying the switch unit with wing portions of the actuator disposed on opposite sides of the rotational axis for alternatingly engaging the depressible operators. A two-part housing includes a base part and a cover part. The base part has a receptacle for mounting the self-contained switch unit. The cover part rockably mounts the rocker actuator. The two housing parts have complementary interengaging latches for snapping the parts into latched interengagement. The base part and the self-contained switch unit have complementary interengaging snap latches for snapping the switch unit into latched interengagement with the base part. The rocker actuator and the cover part have complementary interengaging snap latches for snapping the rocker actuator into latched interengagement with the cover part.

Rocker switch

Disclosed is a printed circuit board assembly including an integral metal stamping having a plurality of conductive circuit paths received in complementarily-shaped recesses of a dielectric substrate. The integral metallic stamping includes an improved snap action switch having an improved actuator mechanism, an improved rotary switch of the type making on/off contact during rotation thereof, and an upstanding plug-like connector member receivable in a mating female connector. Each of the switches mentioned above as well as the plug-like connector can be formed separately in different printed circuit board assemblies.

Growing community of inventors

Addison, IL, United States of America

Edward S Sommer