Quick disconnect connector with positive locking device

Claim 1

For use with a quick-disconnect connector having plug and receptacle members which when locked together in mating relation establish electrical continuity through the connector, cooperating bayonet lock means including at least one J-shaped groove formed in one of the plug and receptacle members, and at least one cooperating pin formed on the other of the plug and receptacle members and adapted to fit into said J-shaped groove, each said J-shaped groove having an axial recess portion and also a transverse recess portion having a seating area separated from the axial recess portion across detent hump means, said pin being adapted to seat against said seating area in the mated condition of the plug and receptacle members, movable spring-loaded contacts on one of said plug and receptacle members engaged and deflected by contacts on the other of said plug and receptacle members when said plug and receptacle members are in mated condition with said spring-loaded contacts serving to bias said pin in seated position in said seating area, the improvement comprising, an annular sleeve element having internal thread means, one of the plug and receptacle members having external thread means for cooperation with the internal thread means of said sleeve element, and the sleeve element being rotatable on one of the plug and receptacle members to move the sleeve axially toward the other of the plug and receptacle members, said sleeve element when bottomed relative to the opposite one of the plug and receptacle members being effective to maintain said pin positively seated in said seating area thereby preventing axial movement of the plug and receptacle members toward one another to provide a releasable positive lock against disengagement of said bayonet lock means.