Molex Corporation

Jack J Schafer

Arvind Patel

William R Lenz

Charles T Walsh

Daniel M Prescott

Ken Grambley

James T Roberts

Masahiro Enomoto

Nels Pearson

A method is provided for manufacturing an electrical connector which includes a dielectric housing having a plurality of side-by-side channels separated by partition walls at one side of the housing. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing, with lead portions of the terminals located in the channels. The method includes the steps of seating the lead portions of the terminals into the channels, and forming first or minor portions from the partition walls onto the lead portions to retain the lead portions in the channels. Second or major portions of the partition walls then are formed onto the first or minor portions which are in contact with the lead portions to securely lock the lead portions in the channels. The seating step and the first forming step may be carried out simultaneously.

Method for manufacturing electrical connectors

An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing adapted for mounting on a complementary support structure in a given mounting direction. The housing has opposite side walls. A latch arm is cantilevered from each side wall of the housing and extends forwardly in the mounting direction. Each latch arm has a latch hook near a free end of the arm. The latch hook projects transversely of the mounting direction inwardly toward the respective side wall of the housing. The side walls include inwardly recessed areas into which the latch hooks extend.

Electrical connector with latch

An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a terminal-receiving passage for insertion thereinto of a terminal in a given insertion direction. The terminal includes a spring contact arm at least in part projecting into the passage for engagement by an appropriate mating contact element. The terminal further includes an engagement arm projecting into the passage behind the spring contact arm at a location to provide an engagement shoulder for an insertion tool which forces the terminal into the terminal-receiving passage of the housing.

Electrical connector

An electrical connector is adapted from mounting to a printed circuit board having a mounting hole. The connector includes a terminal housing having at least one mounting peg insertable through the hole in an axial direction. The mounting peg is bifurcated to define a pair of legs separated by an axial slit. One of the legs is a generally straight leg having a smooth outside surface facing one side of the hole inner wall. The other leg is a hooked leg having a radially outwardly extending hook for latching beneath a surface of the printed circuit board at an opposite side of the hole inner wall. The generally straight leg includes a radially outwardly projecting rib spaced axially at a base of the generally straight leg near the terminal housing. The hooked leg includes a reduced cross-sectional area near a base of the hooked leg near the terminal housing.

Electric connector boardlock

An electrical connector includes a dielectric housing having a terminal-receiving passage for insertion thereinto of a terminal. The terminal includes a cantilevered spring contact arm projecting into the passage for engagement by an appropriate conductor inserted into the passage. The terminal further includes an engagement arm projecting into the passage behind the cantilevered spring contact arm at a location to perform the dual function of providing an anti-overstress engagement surface for the spring contact arm and providing an engagement shoulder for an insertion tool which forces the terminal into the terminal-receiving passage of the housing. The passage is open-ended to allow the conductor to be inserted completely through the housing past the contact arm of the terminal and into the clearance hole of the printed circuit board.

A retention system is provided for an electrical connector adapted to be mounted on the surface of a printed circuit board. The connector includes a housing having a circuit board mounting face. At least one retention member is provided for securing the connector to the printed circuit board. The retention member is generally U-shaped defining a pair of leg sections extending generally perpendicular to the circuit board and a bight section joining the leg sections generally parallel to the circuit board. The bight section defines a pad for solder connection to a solder pad on the circuit board, and the bight section has a given width transverse to the U-shaped profile of the retention member. A recess in the circuit board mounting face of the connector housing is complementarily shaped for receiving at least one of the leg sections of the retention member in an interference fit therewith. The one leg section is narrower than the given width of the bight section. At least one stabilizing flange projects from the bight section into a complementarily shaped recess in the circuit board mounting face. The stabilizing flange is coplanar with, narrower and shorter than the one leg section.

Retention system for circuit board mounted electrical connector

An electrical connector system includes a first connector assembly having an insulative housing defining at least one cavity with a thin male terminal extending thereinto. A second connector assembly includes an insulative housing defining at least one cavity with a spring contact terminal located therein. The thin male terminal is engageable with the spring contact terminal upon mating of the connector assemblies. The first connector assembly includes a supporting wall for supporting one side of the thin male terminal, and the wall extends only partially along the length of the male terminal to leave an unsupported distal end of the terminal. The second connector assembly includes a preloading wall against which the spring contact terminal is biased for preloading the spring contact terminal. The distal end of the thin male terminal is insertable between the spring contact terminal and the preloading wall, with the preloading wall supporting the distal end of the male terminal on the one side thereof, upon mating of the connector assemblies. Therefore, the supporting wall of the first connector assembly and the preloading wall of the second connector assembly combine to provide support along a substantial length of the male terminal. Preferably, the preloading wall is configured to engage and provide support for the unsupported distal end of the thin male terminal before the male terminal engages the preloaded spring contact terminal.

Electrical connector system utilizing thin male terminals

A retention system is provided for an electrical connector mountable to a printed circuit board. The connector is elongated and has opposite ends and elongated sides extending therebetween. At least one retention member is provided for securing the connector to the printed circuit board. The retention member includes a generally U-shaped portion defining a pair of leg sections extending in the longitudinal direction of the connector generally parallel to the printed circuit board, and a bight section joining the leg sections generally perpendicular to the printed circuit board. A recess is provided in one elongated side of the connector complementarily shaped for receiving the U-shaped portion of the retention member inserted into the recess from one side of the connector. A bottom one of the leg sections is roughened and generally planar for surface mounting to the printed circuit board, with the recess being open at the bottom thereof for exposing the bottom leg section.

Retention system for electrical connectors on printed circuit boards

A splice block for use with a condition responsive security switch is provided. The splice block is generally cylindrical and mounted to the end of the switch with terminals unitarily extending therebetween. The splice block includes a base and a cover which is mountable in alternate first and second positions on the base. The first position permits wires to be inserted into the splice block. Movement of the cover into the second position terminates the wires to terminals in the splice block.

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LaGrange, IL, United States of America

Jack J Schafer