Locking means for a plug and receptacle electrical connector

Claim 1

Locking means for an electrical connector having a receptacle, a plug, a coupling ring shell threaded on the plug which on rotation moves the plug and receptacle toward or away from each other depending upon the direction of rotation, a generally semicircular detent spring fixedly located on the outer surface of the plug and including projections which snap into recesses on the inner wall of the coupling ring shell when the receptacle and plug are fully mated and unmated, said detent spring having a groove on its outer convex surface, comprising: the coupling ring shell having an opening extending therethrough which aligns with substantially the midpoint of the detent spring when the plug and receptacle are mated; a locking ring received on said coupling ring shell and rotatable thereabout while fixedly located along the coupling ring shell longitudinal axis, said locking ring inner surface lying over the coupling ring shell opening throughout the full range of rotation and including a first recess which can be aligned with said coupling ring shell opening; and means slidably received within the coupling ring shell opening of such dimensions as to have a portion thereof forced into the detent spring groove by the locking ring inner surface adjacent the locking ring first recess on the coupling ring shell opening being aligned with the detent spring groove.