Thomas & Betts Corporation

International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation

Gary C Bethurum

Amir-Akbar Sadigh-Behzadi

Peter A Kurbikoff

An electrical connection arrangement includes a printed circuit board comprising a substrate and a given number of electrically conductive traces disposed on a surface thereof. Each trace has an opening therethrough for receiving a contact and the openings are in a predetermined array. An electrically insulative body supports all but one of such contacts with individual opposite ends thereof extending outwardly of the body. An electrically conductive metallic housing integrally defines the other of such contacts with opposite ends extending outwardly thereof and has a passage extending therethrough in which the electrically insulative body is seated. All of the contacts are individually resident in distinct ones of such trace openings and are electrically connected to said traces and their opposite ends may terminate to associated connectors for terminating flat cable to the printed circuit board. The housing has an integral flange which is in electrical contact with its integral contact, whereby the circuitry may be connected to structure parent to the housing without need for a conductive strap.

Electrical connector including a metallic housing and integral ground

A shell-less connector member having an optional grounding shell bracket mounted on the forward mating portion of the connector member. The connector member may be intermated with a standard metal shell connector member or, when the grounding bracket is removed, with the mating shell-less connector member.

Electrical connector with optional grounding element

A pitch transition connector has identical contact elements having insulation-piercing contacts arranged in two rows and spaced at the pitch of a flat cable. Each contact element has a further contact opposite its insulation-piercing contact and axially offset therefrom. The contact elements in one row are in 180-degree out-of-phase relation with those in the other row defining a pitch for the further contacts different from the flat cable pitch.

Flat cable pitch transition connector

The method for creating an environmental seal for the end of a severed multiconductor cable and for sealing the joints between the conductors of such cable with the contacts of a multiple contact connector into which such cable is inserted. A tape of a soft, pliant material is coated on both sides with a flowable, pressure-sensitive adhesive and is formed into a blank which can be adhered to the cable in various ways. In a first form, the blank encompasses the severed end and portions of the cable adjacent the end. When the connector into which the cable has been inserted is compressed, the adhesive is displaced to seal the contact-conductor joints. Folded-over end flaps seal the cable ends. A midspan use of the blank permits the joints to be sealed without reference to the cable end.

Method of making an environmental seal

A zero insertion force connector wherein a central member supports a plurality of electrical contacts at a first end with the free ends thereof mounted in two side members pivotally coupled to such central member. The manipulation of first distal ends of such side members controls the position of the second distal ends and in turn the electrical contacts. In a first position, the second distal ends are separated permitting external electrical contact to be non-engagingly moved between the electrical contacts of the connector. In the second position, the second distal ends bring the electrical contacts into mechanical and electrical contact with the inserted external electrical contacts. A latching member permits the second position to be maintained while various bias means and stops assist. The electrical contacts are of the insulation piercing type and engage the conductors of a flat cable when a cover forces the cable into the insulation piercing portion. The continuity of the joint can be probed through apertures in the side members.

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El Segundo, CA, United States of America

Gary C Bethurum