Arrangement for retaining electrical connector insert

Claim 2

An electrical connector device comprising an annular shell, an insert of dielectric material received in said shell, said insert having a plurality of openings therethrough, a contact in each of said openings for engaging a mating contact and completing an electrical circuit, and means for retaining said insert in said shell, said retaining means including two longitudinally spaced opposed inwardly directed fixed abutments on the inner surface of said shell, and at least one outwardly projecting element on said insert, said element being positioned between said abutments, said element having opposite edges spaced longitudinally of said insert a distance substantially equal to the distance between said abutments, whereby said insert is retained by said shell and held against substantial longitudinal movement relative thereto, the first of said abutments extending for a limited distance circumferentially of said shell for providing a space adjacent said first abutment, said element extending for a limited distance circumferentially of said insert, whereby, for assembly of said shell and said insert, said insert is movable longitudinally relative to said shell to move said element past said first abutment so that, upon subsequent relative rotation of said insert and said shell, said element is so positioned between said abutments, said element including a portion extending from one of said edges and away from the other of said edges longitudinally relative to said shell so as to provide an additional edge engaging the side of said first abutment for limiting the rotational movement of said insert upon said positioning of said element between said abutments.

Claim 3

An electrical connector device comprising an annular shell, an insert of dielectric material received in said shell, said insert having a plurality of openings therethrough, a contact in each of said openings for engaging a mating contact and completing an electrical circuit, and means for retaining said insert in said shell, said retaining means including two opposed inwardly directed abutments on the inner surface of said shell, the first of said abutments being defined by a plurality of laterally spaced portions on said shell, the second of said abutments being an annular shoulder, a plurality of outwardly extending elements on said insert positioned between said first and second abutments for retaining said insert in said shell, said elements having a circumferential dimension no greater than the distance between adjacent surfaces of said portions of said first abutment for permitting said insert to be installed in said shell by moving said elements through said spaces between said portions of said first abutment, and subsequently rotating said insert to position said elements between said portions of said first abutment and said annular shoulder, and means bonding said insert to said shell for rotationally securing said insert to said shell for preventing said insert from rotating so as to remove said element from its position between said abutments.

Claim 4

An electrical connector device comprising an annular shell, an insert of dielectric material received in said shell, said insert having a plurality of openings therethrough, a contact in each of said openings for engaging a mating contact and completing an electrical circuit, and means for retaining said insert in said shell, said retaining means including two opposed inwardly directed abutments on the inner surface of said shell, the first of said abutments being defined by a plurality of laterally spaced portions on said shell, the second of said abutments being an annular shoulder, a plurality of outwardly extending elements on said insert positioned between said first and second abutments for retaining said insert in said shell, said elements having a circumferential dimension no greater than the distance between adjacent surfaces of said portions of said first abutment for permitting said insert to be installed in said shell by moving said elements through said spaces between said portions of said first abutment, and subsequently rotating said insert to position said elements between said portions of said first abutment and said annular shoulder, and means bonding said insert to said shell for rotationally securing said insert to said shell for preventing said insert from rotating so as to remove said element from its position between said abutments.

Claim 5

An electrical connector device comprising a tubular cylindrical shell having a forward end and a rearward end, an insert of dielectric material received in said shell, said insert having a forward end and a rearward end and a plurality of openings extending therethrough between said forward end and said rearward end of said insert, an electrical contact in each of said openings, and means for retaining said insert in said shell, said retaining means including an annular radially inwardly directed forwardly facing fixed shoulder adjacent said rearward end of said shell, said shoulder falling in a radial plane, said shell having a plurality of spaced longitudinal slots in the inner circumferential wall thereof extending inwardly from said forward end of said shell, said slots being interconnected by circumferential recesses adjacent said shoulder for thereby defining a plurality of rearwardly facing fixed abutments opposite said shoulder, said abutments falling in a single radial plane and having ends extending to said slots, a plurality of elements on said insert extending circumferentially and radially outwardly adjacent said rearward end of said insert, said elements being positioned between said forwardly facing shoulder and said rearwardly facing abutments, each of said elements having a forward edge adjacent one of said abutments and a rearward edge adjacent said shoulder, said edges being in radial planes and spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between said adjacent abutment and shoulder for preventing relative axial movement of said insert and said shell, said elements having circumferential dimensions no greater than the widths of said slots for permitting them to be slid through said slots to said forwardly facing shoulder upon assembly of said insert and shell so that upon subsequent relative rotation of said insert and said shell said elements are so positioned between said forwardly facing shoulder and said abutments, and means for preventing substantial rotation of said insert relative to said shell.

Claim 6

An electrical connector device comprising a tubular cylindrical shell having a forward end and a rearward end, an insert of dielectric material received in said shell, said insert having a forward end and a rearward end and a plurality of openings extending therethrough between said forward end and said rearward end of said insert, an electrical contact in each of said openings, and means for retaining said insert in said shell, said retaining means including an annular radially inwardly directed forwardly facing fixed shoulder adjacent said rearward end of said shell, said shoulder falling in a radial plane, said shell having a plurality of spaced longitudinal slots in the inner circumferential wall thereof extending inwardly from said forward end of said shell, said slots being interconnected by circumferential recesses adjacent said shoulder for thereby defining a plurality of rearwardly facing fixed abutments opposite said shoulder, said abutments falling in a single radial plane and having ends extending to said slots, a plurality of elements on said insert extending circumferentially and radially outwardly adjacent said rearward end of said insert, said elements being positioned between said forwardly facing shoulder and said rearwardly facing abutments, each of said elements having a forward edge adjacent one of said abutments and a rearward edge adjacent said shoulder, said edges being in radial planes and spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the distance between said adjacent abutment and shoulder for preventing relative axial movement of said insert and said shell, said elements having circumferential dimensions no greater than the widths of said slots for permitting them to be slid through said slots to said forwardly facing shoulder upon assembly of said insert and shell so that upon subsequent relative rotation of said insert and said shell said elements are so positioned between said forwardly facing shoulder and said abutments, and means for preventing substantial rotation of said insert relative to said shell.