Gte Products Corporation

Osram Sylvania Inc.

James C Humphrey

Douglas G Seymour

Ronald E Thomas

John F Culver

The present invention features an electrical and electronic connector module having six degrees of freedom. The connector module is particularly useful in advanced electrical and electronic wiring systems, such as multiplexed wiring systems, wherein many electrical functions or signals share common wire pathways. The connector module comprises a male header containing a plurality of male connector elements. A plurality of female connector elements disposed in a receptacle assembly is designed to align and mate with respective ones of the male connector elements disposed in the male header. The header and receptacle align by means of a pair of header shoulder bolts that seat within apertures disposed on distal ends of the receptacle. The mating of the male-female connectors is assured by reason that the receptacle is allowed to float within a housing, which forms part of the receptacle assembly.

Connector module having six degrees of freedom

An automotive headlamp socket includes an interior floor having a wall projecting therefrom. The wall contains a plurality of T-shaped slots which frictionally accept electrical contacts.

Automotive headlamp socket

A sliding gimbal comprises a first hollow mounting frame having an inner surface and an outer surface with at least one mounting member associated with the outer surface. A pair of oppositely disposed stud receiving slots is formed on the first frame inner surface, and this pair of slots is elongated. A second hollow mounting frame having an inner surface and an outer surface and including a pair of oppositely disposed cylindrical studs projecting therefrom is mounted within the first frame with the studs engaging the slots. A pair of oppositely disposed protuberance receiving slots is formed in the second frame inner surface, this pair of protuberance receiving slots being also elongated and being formed in surfaces adjacent to and orthogonal to the second frame outer surfaces carrying the cylindrical studs; An article mounted within the second hollow mounting frame comprises a body carrying a pair of oppositely disposed cylindrical protuberances on body outer walls which engage the pair of oppositely disposed protuberance receiving slots. The article is preferably one half of an electrical connector. The employment of the cylindrical studs in the elongated slots allows pivotal movement about the stud axis and sliding movement which is virtually frictionless.

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Russell, PA, United States of America

James C Humphrey