Electrical connector

Claim 2

An electrical connector assembly of the type comprising a cylindrical plug and cylindrical recepticle, said receptacle having a mating face within a cylindrical hood, with said hood having an helical groove thereon, said plug, dimensioned to fit within the hood, has a locking ring rotatably mounted thereon, said locking ring having at least one projecting lug formed unitarily therewith on the inner surface thereof, said lug being dimensioned to be received in the helical groove wheRein the improvement comprises: a. said locking ring, being of firm and resiliently deformable material, having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of said hood to permit an elongation of said locking ring when positioned on said hood; and b. deforming means positioned in said groove for resiliently deforming said locking ring into a generally elongated shape as said lug passes thereover.

Claim 3

An electrical connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said firm and resiliently deformable material is a polymeric material.

Claim 4

An electrical connector assembly of claim 1 with the plug and receptacle being of molded plastic material.

Claim 5

An electrical connector assembly of claim 1, further comprising: mating keying means on said plug and said receptacle.

Claim 6

An electrical connector, which comprises: a. a plug having a plurality of axially passageways therethru to house a plurality of terminal contact-mounted conductors; b. a circumferentially-extending groove positioned on said plug; c. a resilient locking ring having on one end a slotted resilient skirt, said skirt having a plurality of inwardly projecting dogs, said ring rotatably mounted on said plug via positioning said dogs into said circumferentially-extending groove; d. two inwardly projecting lugs diametrically positioned on another end of said resilient locking ring; e. a receptacle adapted to engage said plug, said receptacle having a plurality of axial passageways therethrough to house a plurality of terminal contact-mounting conductors; f. two ribs on said receptacle helically extending from one end of said receptacle toward another end thereof, each of said ribs beginning from said one end 180* from each other, said ribs cooperating to define two grooves operable to receive said lugs on said locking ring; g. a lateral ramp positioned on each of said ribs adjacent said one end of said receptacle, said ramps operable for aligning said lugs with said grooves and for axially displacing said lugs upon disengagement of said receptacle from said plug; h. a boss positioned across each of said grooves, said bosses operable to deflect outwardly said lugs as such pass thereon thereby causing a deformation in said resilient locking ring such that as said lugs pass beyond said bosses said lugs strike said grooves whereby an audio signal is emitted; and i. a barrier positioned across each of said grooves, said barriers operable to abuttingly engage said lugs thereby preventing further rotational movement of said resilient locking ring.

Claim 7

An electrical connector, which comprises: a. a plug having a plurality of axially passageways therethru to house a plurality of terminal contact-mounted conductors; b. a circumferentially-extending groove positioned on said plug; c. a resilient locking ring having on one end a slotted resilient skirt, said skirt having a plurality of inwardly projecting dogs, said ring rotatably mounted on said plug via positioning said dogs into said circumferentially-extending groove; d. two inwardly projecting lugs diametrically positioned on another end of said resilient locking ring; e. a receptacle adapted to engage said plug, said receptacle having a plurality of axial passageways therethrough to house a plurality of terminal contact-mounting conductors; f. two ribs on said receptacle helically extending from one end of said receptacle toward another end thereof, each of said ribs beginning from said one end 180* from each other, said ribs cooperating to define two grooves operable to receive said lugs on said locking ring; g. a lateral ramp positioned on each of said ribs adjacent said one end of said receptacle, said ramps operable for aligning said lugs with said grooves and for axially displacing said lugs upon disengagement of said receptacle from said plug; h. a boss positioned across each of said grooves, said bosses operable to deflect outwardly said lugs as such pass thereon thereby causing a deformation in said resilient locking ring such that as said lugs pass beyond said bosses said lugs strike said grooves whereby an audio signal is emitted; and i. a barrier positioned across each of said grooves, said barriers operable to abuttingly engage said lugs thereby preventing further rotational movement of said resilient locking ring.

Claim 8

The electrical connector of claim 5 wherein said bosses have a beveled side.

Claim 9

A cylindrical first member adapted to intermate with a cylindrical second member to form an electrical connector, said cylindrical second member including a cylindrical housing having a mating face a plurality of bores opening on said face, each bore adapted to receive an electrical terminal therein, at least one helical groove formed on at least a portion of the outer surface of said housing extending from a free end of said housing and terminating at abutments extending across said groove, radially outwardly directed detent means in said groove spaced from said abutments, said first member comprising: a cylindrical body having a mating end adapted to abut said mating face, a plurality of bores opening on said mating end, each bore adapted to receive a mating electrical terminal therein, locking ring rotatably and non slidably mounted on said body, said ring having an internal diameter greater than said first member housing and at least one radially inwardly directed locking lug adapted to be received in said helical groove, at least said ring being formed of a firm plastic material which is resiliently deformable to the extent that said ring can be distorted to an oval shape allowing said lug to pass over said detent means when said first and second members are coupled and said ring threaded into a locking position.

Claim 10

A cylindrical first member adapted to intermate with a cylindrical second member to form an electrical connector, said cylindrical second member including a cylindrical housing having a mating face a plurality of bores opening on said face, each bore adapted to receive an electrical terminal therein, at least one helical groove formed on at least a portion of the outer surface of said housing extending from a free end of said housing and terminating at abutments extending across said groove, radially outwardly directed detent means in said groove spaced from said abutments, said first member comprising: a cylindrical body having a mating end adapted to abut said mating face, a plurality of bores opening on said mating end, each bore adapted to receive a mating electrical terminal therein, locking ring rotatably and non slidably mounted on said body, said ring having an internal diameter greater than said first member housing and at least one radially inwardly directed locking lug adapted to be received in said helical groove, at least said ring being formed of a firm plastic material which is resiliently deformable to the extent that said ring can be distorted to an oval shape allowing said lug to pass over said detent means when said first and second members are coupled and said ring threaded into a locking position.

Claim 11

An electrical connector according to claim 7, further comprising: at least one first keying means on said first member; and at least one second keying means on said second member matable with said first keying means.

Claim 12

A cylindrical plug member adapted to intermate with a cylindrical receptacle member to form an electrical connector, said cylindrical receptacle member including a cylindrical housing having a mating face a plurality of bores opening on said face, each bore adapted to receive an electrical terminal therein, an annular hood extending forwardly of said face, at least one helical groove formed on at least a portion of the outer surface of said hood, said groove extending from a free end of said hood and terminating at abutments extending across said groove, radially outwardly directed detent means in said groove spaced from said abutments, said plug member comprising; a cylindrical body having a mating end adapted to be received in said hood, a plurality of bores opening on said mating end, each bore adapted to receive a mating electrical terminal therein, locking ring rotatably mounted on said body, said ring having an internal diameter greater than said hood and at least one radially inwardly directed locking lug adapted to be received in said helical groove, at least said ring being formed of a firm plastic material which is resiliently deformable to the extent that said ring can be distorted to an oval shape allowing said lug to pass over said detent means when said plug and socket are coupled and said ring threaded into a locking position on said hood.

Claim 13

A cylindrical plug member adapted to intermate with a cylindrical receptacle member to form an electrical connector, said cylindrical receptacle member including a cylindrical housing having a mating face a plurality of bores opening on said face, each bore adapted to receive an electrical terminal therein, an annular hood extending forwardly of said face, at least one helical groove formed on at least a portion of the outer surface of said hood, said groove extending from a free end of said hood and terminating at abutments extending across said groove, radially outwardly directed detent means in said groove spaced from said abutments, said plug member comprising; a cylindrical body having a mating end adapted to be received in said hood, a plurality of bores opening on said mating end, each bore adapted to receive a mating electrical terminal therein, locking ring rotatably mounted on said body, said ring having an internal diameter greater than said hood and at least one radially inwardly directed locking lug adapted to be received in said helical groove, at least said ring being formed of a firm plastic material which is resiliently deformable to the extent that said ring can be distorted to an oval shape allowing said lug to pass over said detent means when said plug and socket are coupled and said ring threaded into a locking position on said hood.

Claim 14

An electrical connector according to claim 9, further comprising: matable keying means integral with each of said plug member and said receptacle member.

Claim 15

In a circular multi-contact connector assembly of the type comprising a plug member and a socket member, said socket member having a cylindrical housing and having a hood extending forwardly from said housing, said plug member having a cylindrical housing and having a mating end which is adapted to extend into said hood when said parts are coupled, the improvement comprising: at least one groove on the external surface of said hood of said socket member, said groove extending from the free end of said hood helically at least partially around the external surface thereof, boss means in said groove at a location remote from said free end of said hood, said plug member having a locking nut rotatably and non slidably mounted thereon in completely surrounding relationship to said mating end, said locking nut having an internal surface which is radially spaced outwardly from said plug housing, at least one locking lug extending radially inwardly from said internal surface, said lug being dimensioned to be received in said groove, at least said locking nut being of a firm plastic material which is resiliently deformable to the extent that said lug is permitted to pass over said boss means when said plug and socket are coupled and said locking nut is threaded onto said hood.

Claim 16

In a circular multi-contact connector assembly of the type comprising a plug member and a socket member, said socket member having a cylindrical housing and having a hood extending forwardly from said housing, said plug member having a cylindrical housing and having a mating end which is adapted to extend into said hood when said parts are coupled, the improvement comprising: at least one groove on the external surface of said hood of said socket member, said groove extending from the free end of said hood helically at least partially around the external surface thereof, boss means in said groove at a location remote from said free end of said hood, said plug member having a locking nut rotatably and non slidably mounted thereon in completely surrounding relationship to said mating end, said locking nut having an internal surface which is radially spaced outwardly from said plug housing, at least one locking lug extending radially inwardly from said internal surface, said lug being dimensioned to be received in said groove, at least said locking nut being of a firm plastic material which is resiliently deformable to the extent that said lug is permitted to pass over said boss means when said plug and socket are coupled and said locking nut is threaded onto said hood.

Claim 17

A connector assembly according to claim 11 further comprising: first keying means integral with said plug member, and second keying means integral with said socket member and matable with said first keying means.