molex connector designer(s) search

[wbates]

I am searching for the designer(s) of the classic 4-pin Molex power
connector that is used to connect internal PC power cables to hard
drives, cd-roms, etc.

I want to give him/her/them a gift.

The gift is in return for years of painful scrapes and cuts on my
hands.

Their connector is so hard to remove, or even to grip, that it's almost
impossible to work with it and not hurt yourself. Surely, thousands if
not millions of men and women around the world have suffered as a
result.

My gift to him, her, or them, is this: a big fat boot to the head.

If anyone knows who he, she, or they might be, please send this note
along to them.

Regards,
Mark Bates
Cambridge, MA

 

[Impmon]

Their connector is so hard to remove, or even to grip, that it's almost
impossible to work with it and not hurt yourself. Surely, thousands if
not millions of men and women around the world have suffered as a
result.

[snip]

It's not the fault of the molex design but rather the fault of some
manufactures. Many molex connector normally comes in and out easily
but I do run into a few that are hard. They are like that often
because of cheap plastic that warped a bit or the company that made it
had a mold that was a fraction off of the spec size. Even loose or
off center pin(s) can cause unneeded difficulities.

Also a pair of glove can be bought in most garden shop for a few
bucks, that would have saved your hand of scrapes and scratches you
had to endure. People who builds computer for a living often have
gloves to wear.

 

[Arno Wagner]

I am searching for the designer(s) of the classic 4-pin Molex power
connector that is used to connect internal PC power cables to hard
drives, cd-roms, etc.

I want to give him/her/them a gift.

The gift is in return for years of painful scrapes and cuts on my
hands.

Their connector is so hard to remove, or even to grip, that it's almost
impossible to work with it and not hurt yourself. Surely, thousands if
not millions of men and women around the world have suffered as a
result.

It is not the fault of Molex that one of their cheaper connectors was
chosen by the designers of the PC. Better connectors have allways been
available, also from Molex. Instead the PC designers went with the
cheapest option that could still do the job, but just barely.

Personally I have not seen the cheap, imprecise molex connectors
used in PCs in any other, non-computer, electronics product so far.

My gift to him, her, or them, is this: a big fat boot to the head.

You do know that this kind of threat is crimninal in many countries?

Arno

 

[Andy]

<http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...N/amp+AND+mate-n-lok&RS=AN/amp+AND+mate-n-lok>
United States Patent 4,544,220
Aiello , et al. October 1, 1985

Inventors: Aiello; Richard E. (Winston-Salem, NC); Moist, Jr.;
Stanford C. (Kernersville, NC); Poleshuk; Robert J. (Greensboro, NC);
Wildman; Timothy C. (Winston-Salem, NC)
Assignee: AMP Incorporated (Harrisburg, PA)
Appl. No.: 566233
Filed: December 28, 1983

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electrical connector having means
for assuring positive seating of contacts therein.

Pin and socket connectors of the type sold under the name MATE-N-LOK
by AMP Incorporated have pin or socket contacts therein which are used
to terminate wires coaxially crimped thereto. The contacts are
situated in cavities through a housing constructed for mated
connection with a complementary housing of another connector assembly.
<http://ecommas.tycoelectronics.com/...er?Action=ecatdrawselcritrslt&Part=1-480424-0>