Quick change snap lock connector

Claim 1

A connector for a flexible rotating shaft comprising: a. a sleeve member having one end closed, a shaft connector means secured to the outer side of the closed end of the sleeve member, a transversely disposed torque bar secured inside the sleeve member adjacent the closed end thereof; b. an elongated solid cylindrical segment having outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of said sleeve number for selective insertion therein, a flange member secured to one end of the cylindrical segment, shaft connector means secured to the outside of the flange member opposite the cylindrical segment, a transversely disposed slot provided in the opposite end of the cylindrical segment for slidably receiving the torque bar therein when the cylindrical segment is inserted into the sleeve member to prevent rotation of said cylindrical segment with respect to said sleeve member, spring loaded depressable latch pin carried by the cylindrical segment, between said slot and said flange member, a transversely disposed bore provided in the sleeve member for receiving said latch pin therein when the cylindrical segment is fully inserted into the sleeve member with said torque bar disposed in the said transverse slot and transversely disposed bore provided in the sleeve member for receiving the latch pin is of greater diameter than said latch pin sufficient to prevent said latch from taking torqueloads when the connector is rotated.