Electrical connector

Claim 2

An electrical connector comprising: a. a plug part having a first main contact and a first auxiliary contact; b. a socket part having a second main contact and second auxiliary contact, said plug and socket parts being assembled and disassembled without the need for relative rotation of said parts; and c. means for connecting said parts, said connecting means including delay means for introducing a time delay between operation of said auxiliary contacts and operation of said main contacts, said auxiliary contacts and said main contacts being connected to said plug and said socket such that on assembly of said parts the first and second main contacts mate before the first and second auxiliary contacts mate whereas on disassembly of said parts the first and second auxiliary contacts break before the first and second main contacts break.

Claim 3

An electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises a cam profile and a cam follower, said cam profile being associated with one of said parts and said cam follower being associated with the other of said parts.

Claim 4

An electrical connector according to claim 2 wherein said connecting means comprises a ring member rotatably mounted about said other part; a pin connected to said ring, said pin comprising said cam follower; and a slot formed on said one part, said slot comprising said cam profile.

Claim 5

An electrical connector according to claim 2 wherein said connecting means comprises a ring rotatably mounted on said other part; a pin, connected to said ring, said pin comprising said cam follower; and a slot, formed internally of said ring, said slot comprising said cam profile.

Claim 6

An electrical connector according to claim 2 wherein said connecting means comprises a member pivotally mounted on said one part, said member comprising said cam profile; and a pin projecting from said other part, said pin comprising said cam follower.

Claim 7

An electrical connector according to claim 1 further including spring biasing means connected to each said contact for urging each said contact in the longitudinal direction of said parts, said spring biasing means connected to said main contact having a greater force than said spring biasing means connected to said auxiliary contact.

Claim 8

An electrical connector according to claim 4, wherein the slot is in the form of a tortuous path.

Claim 9

An electrical connector according to claim 1 and including latching means, the latching means being adapted to hold said parts in assembly.

Claim 10

An electrical connector according to claim 1 and including, in respect of each part, a centrally mounted auxiliary contact and four main contacts, the main contacts being equally radially spaced around the auxiliary contact.

Claim 11

An electrical connector comprising a plug part and a socket part, said parts being capable of assembly and disassembly without the need for relative rotation of the parts, and connecting means for said parts; a main contact and an auxiliary contact in each of said parts; delay means in the connecting means adapted to introduce a time delay between operation of the auxiliary and main contacts of the said parts whereby on assembly of the connector the main contacts are arranged to mate before the auxiliary contacts mate, and the auxiliary contacts are arranged on disassembly to break before the main contacts break; and in which spring biasing means are provided in respect of each contact for urging said contact in the longitudinal direction of said parts, the spring biasing means of the main contact being of a greater force than the spring biasing means of the auxiliary contact.

Claim 12

An electrical connector comprising a plug part and a socket part, said parts being capable of assembly and disassembly without the need for relative rotation of the parts, and connecting means for said parts; a main contact and an auxiliary contact in each of said parts; delay means in the connecting means adapted to introduce a time delay between operation of the auxiliary and main contacts of the said parts whereby on assembly of the connector the main contacts are arranged to mate before the auxiliary contacts mate, and the auxiliary contacts are arranged on disassembly to break before the main contacts break; and in which spring biasing means are provided in respect of each contact for urging said contact in the longitudinal direction of said parts, the spring biasing means of the main contact being of a greater force than the spring biasing means of the auxiliary contact.