Detachable connection for electrical contacts of a plug and socket

Claim 1

A detachable connection arrangement for the electrical contacts of a plug and a socket, comprising the combination of: a. a plug provided with a plurality of electrical contact pins; b. a socket equipped with electrical contact means and serving to receive said electrical contact pins of said plug to establish an electrical connection with said electrical contact means thereof; c. said electrical contact pins of said plug and said socket being provided with respective cooperating means defining engagement means wherein said engagement means of said electrical contact pins engage with said engagement means of said socket to safeguard against undesired release of the electrical connection to maintain the electrical contact which has been established; d. a rotatably mounted plate member provided for said socket, said plate member having receiving openings for said electrical contact pins of said plug, said rotatable plate member being rotatable between a respective first and second position, said rotatable plate member when assuming its first position and when said contact pins have been withdrawn from said socket serving to cover said electrical contact means of said socket from the outside by means of said rotatable plate member and ensuring against unintentional contact of said electrical contact means from the outside, said plate member when assuming said second position enabling said electrical contact means of said socket to contact said electrical contact pins of said plug; e. blocking means provided for said socket which in said first position of said rotatable plate member lock said rotatable plate member against undesired rotation, so that said plate member is only rotatable into its second position upon insertion of all of said electrical contact pins of said plug into said socket; f. said rotatably mounted plate member being provided with recess means; and g. each said blocking means comprising a substantially arcuate ring-shaped resilient element having a blocking portion engageable with an associated one of said recess means of said plate member and upon introduction of said electrical contact pins into said receiving openings of said rotatable plate member said blocking portions are brought out of engagement with said associated recess means so that said plate member can be rotated from said first position into said second position.