Electrical connector having improved coupling means

Claim 1

IN A MULTI-CONTACT ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR OF THE TYPE COMPRISING TWO CYLINDRICAL PARTS ENGAGEABLE WITH EACH OTHER, SAID PARTS COMPRISING SHELL MEMBERS HAVING INTERFITTING KEY AND KEYWAY MEANS FOR POLARIZING PURPOSES, ONE OF SAID PARTS HAVING A LOCKING RING ROTATABLY MOUNTED THEREON, SAID LOCKING RING AND SAID OTHER PART HAVING COOPERABLE INTERENGAGEABLE MEANS THEREON TO PULL SAID PARTS TOGETHER UPON ROTATION OF SAID LOCKING RING SHOULDER, SAID RING HAVING AN INTERNAL REARWARDLY FACING SHOULDER, SAID SHELL OF SAID ONE PART HAVING A RADIALLY EXTENDING FLANGE FACING SAID SHOULDER, RATCHET MEANS EFFECTIVE BETWEEN, AND BEING FORMED ON, THE OPPOSED SURFACES OF SAID SHOULDER AND SAID FLANGE, SAID RATCHET MEANS BEING EFFECTIVE TO LATCH SAID LOCKING RING IN AT LEAST ONE POSITION, SAID ONE POSITION CORRESPONDING TO THE STARTING POSITION OF SAID INTERENGAGING MEANS WHEREBY, AFTER INITIAL COUPLING OF SAID SHELLS, SAID LOCKING RING CAN BE IMMEDIATELY ROTATED TO ENGAGE SAID PARTS WITH EACH OTHER.