Latchable integrally molded electrical connector

Claim 1

In a multiple conductor electrical connector having a plug assembly and a socket assembly each comprising a connector body formed of insulating material and a plurality of electrical contacts respectively insertable into a plurality of contact bores defined in the connector body: a plurality of contact retaining mechanisms integrally formed in each of said connector bodies coaxially with the respective contact bores, each contact retaining mechanism defining a plurality of opposing deflectable longitudinal fingers each having a laterally inwardly projecting buttress portion, the diametric spacing between opposing buttress portions when said fingers are in a relaxed position being less than the outer transverse dimension of an enlarged shoulder portion of the contact to be inserted into the contact retaining mechanism such that said opposing buttress portions abut said shoulder portion and retain said contact after it has been inserted, each said finger being deflected to an offset position during the insertion of said contact into said contact retaining mechanism such that the diametric spacing between said opposing buttress portions is at least equal to said outer transverse dimension of said shoulder portion; and means integrally formed in said connector bodies for polarizing said plug assembly with respect to said socket assembly, the portion of said means formed in the plug assembly connector body being of a generally rectangular external cross-section and having attached thereto a U-shaped latching spring having a latch aperture, the portion of said means formed in the socket assembly connector body being of a generally rectangular internal cross-section slightly larger than said external cross-section and having attached thereto a latch dog insertable into said latch aperture when said plug and socket assemblies are connected together.