Quick disconnect connector

Claim 2

In an electrical connector having first and second assemblies including electrical terminals adapted to interfit when the assemblies are axially interengaged, the combination comprising: a first shell member housing the first assembly, said first shell member including an annular shoulder thereon; a second shell member housing the second assembly; a plurality of resiliEnt fingers movably disposed axially on said second shell member, each of said fingers having a tip portion adapted for restrainably engaging said shoulder, said tip portion normally deflected in a radially outer position passable over said shoulder; keeper means axially movable over said fingers for coercing said tip portions into a radially inner position for engaging said shoulder when said tip portions are passed thereover in a direction toward the first assembly, and for releasing said tip portions to assume the radially outer position when said keeper means is coerced a predetermined distance in a direction opposite the first assembly; and biasing means coupling said fingers and said second shell member for biasing said tip portions engageably toward said shoulder in a direction opposite the first assembly while biasing said second shell member axially toward said first shell member when the first and second assemblies are axially interengaged.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1, above, further including: a reference mark on said second shell member located to be visibly hidden by said fingers when said second shell member is biased toward said first shell member to an extent corresponding to complete axial interengagement of the first and second assemblies, and to be visibly exposed when said second shell member is biased toward said first shell member to an extent corresponding to incomplete axial interengagement of the first and second assemblies.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1, above, further including second biasing means coupling said keeper means and said fingers, for urging said keeper means axially over said tip portions when the assemblies are axially interengaged.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 1, above, wherein the first and second assemblies include first and second faces respectively, positioned obverse one another when the assemblies are axially interengaged, and further including: an electrically nonconductive, resilient gasket member covering one of said faces, said biasing means biasing said first and second faces against opposing sides of said gasket member to effect a fluidtight seal therebetween when the first and second assemblies are axially interengaged.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 1, above, wherein said first and second shell members are electrically conductive, and further including: means for effecting a conductive path between said first and second shell members when the assemblies are axially interengaged.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 1, above, wherein said first and second shell members are electrically conductive, and the first and second assemblies include first and second faces respectively, said faces positioned obverse one another when the assemblies are axially interengaged, and further including: an electrically nonconductive, resilient gasket member covering one of said faces, said biasing means biasing said first and second faces against opposing sides of said gasket member to effect a fluidtight seal therebetween when the first and second assemblies are axially interengaged, and means for effecting a conductive path between said first and second shell members when the assemblies are axially interengaged.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 1, above, wherein said first and second shell members are electrically conductive, and said first shell member includes an electrically conductive face portion perforated to receive the second assembly terminals but insulated therefrom.

Claim 9

An electrical connector comprising: a receptacle including an engaging end, a cylindrical shell extending outwardly over said engaging end and being adapted to be retracted from said engaging end, a plurality of fingers formed in said shell at spaced intervals around the periphery thereof, said receptacle including means for outwardly biasing said plurality of fingers with relation to the center of said shell, each finger including a locking ridge and a cam ridge inwardLy disposed thereon; a sleeve being disposed around said receptacle, said sleeve being forwardly biased toward the engaging end of said receptacle and over said sleeve, said sleeve being extendable over the fingers for urging the fingers inwardly when biased in the forward movement and for locking the cam ridge of said fingers against the engaging end of said receptacle when said shell is retracted and said sleeve is biased forward; and a plug being adapted to engage said receptacle and including a locking groove disposed around the periphery thereof for receiving the locking ridge of the fingers when being engaged with said receptacle when said sleeve is forwardly biased.

Claim 10

An electrical connector comprising: a receptacle including an engaging end, a cylindrical shell extending outwardly over said engaging end and being adapted to be retracted from said engaging end, a plurality of fingers formed in said shell at spaced intervals around the periphery thereof, said receptacle including means for outwardly biasing said plurality of fingers with relation to the center of said shell, each finger including a locking ridge and a cam ridge inwardLy disposed thereon; a sleeve being disposed around said receptacle, said sleeve being forwardly biased toward the engaging end of said receptacle and over said sleeve, said sleeve being extendable over the fingers for urging the fingers inwardly when biased in the forward movement and for locking the cam ridge of said fingers against the engaging end of said receptacle when said shell is retracted and said sleeve is biased forward; and a plug being adapted to engage said receptacle and including a locking groove disposed around the periphery thereof for receiving the locking ridge of the fingers when being engaged with said receptacle when said sleeve is forwardly biased.

Claim 11

The connector as defined in claim 8 and further including means for biasing said cylindrical sleeve towards the engaging end of said receptacle. 10 The connector as defined in claim 8 and further including a second shell disposed around said plug for receiving the extending end of said first shell.

Claim 12

The electrical connector as defined in claim 8 and further including: a second cylindrical shell disposed around said plug for receiving the extending end of said first cylindrical shell between said second shell and said plug; and means for urging the extended end of said first shell towards the engaging end of said plug and out of engagement with said first shell of said plug.

Claim 13

In an electrical connection apparatus: a first member including an engaging end having a shoulder thereon, said first member including a cylindrical surface therearound; a sleeve being slidably disposed around said first member and including a plurality of fingers formed around the periphery thereof and along the longitudinal axis, each finger including a locking ridge disposed on the inside thereof and a cocking ridge adjacent with said locking ridge on said fingers, said fingers being outwardly biased when said cocking ridge engages the shoulder on the engaging end of said first member, said sleeve being biased towards the engaging end of the first member; a second member including a receiving ridge around the periphery thereof and adapted to engage the locking ridge of said sleeve when said sleeve is slidably moved towards the engaging end of said first member and towards said second member; and a locking sleeve disposed around said first sleeve and being biased in a forward position for forcing said outwardly biased fingers of said first sleeve into engagement with the locking ridge of said second member and for maintaining the fingers of said plurality outwardly biased when said cocking ridges on said plurality of fingers are wedged between the shoulder on said engaging end and said forwardly biased locking sleeve.

Claim 14

In an electrical connection apparatus: a first member including an engaging end having a shoulder thereon, said first member including a cylindrical surface therearound; a sleeve being slidably disposed around said first member and including a plurality of fingers formed around the periphery thereof and along the longitudinal axis, each finger including a locking ridge disposed on the inside thereof and a cocking ridge adjacent with said locking ridge on said fingers, said fingers being outwardly biased when said cocking ridge engages the shoulder on the engaging end of said first member, said sleeve being biased towards the engaging end of the first member; a second member including a receiving ridge around the periphery thereof and adapted to engage the locking ridge of said sleeve when said sleeve is slidably moved towards the engaging end of said first member and towards said second member; and a locking sleeve disposed around said first sleeve and being biased in a forward position for forcing said outwardly biased fingers of said first sleeve into engagement with the locking ridge of said second member and for maintaining the fingers of said plurality outwardly biased when said cocking ridges on said plurality of fingers are wedged between the shoulder on said engaging end and said forwardly biased locking sleeve.

Claim 15

The combination as defined in claim 12 and further including spring means disposed around the surface of said first member to urge said first sleeve towards the engaging end to effectively disengage the locking ridge of said fingers from the locking groove of said first member.

Claim 16

The combination as defined in claim 12 and further including spring means for biasing said locking sleeve in a forward position.

Claim 17

The combination as defined in claim 14 and further including an outer sleeve disposed around said second member and spaced therefrom to receive the first sleeve on said first member.