Abstract: A cylindrical sleeve (66) of electrically conductive, plastically deformable, material completes an electrical circuit path between the braid (46) of a cable (40) terminated to a back shell (30), the braid connected electrically to a ferrule (56), and the sleeve having a forward sleeve portion extending from an annular groove (62) of the ferrule and plastically deformed about the toothed end face (34) of the back shell (30) so as to axially overlap and completely cover the teeth and form a 360.degree. electrically conductive seal about the back shell at a location inwardly of the valleys (36) forming the teeth.

Abstract: A spring member comprises a set of flat arcuate ring segments each having a flange portion extending perpendicularly from its opposite ends. The segments are assembled about a plug shoulder to resist rotation of a coupling nut thereabout only when each of a pair of connector shells are nearly mated, the segments being driven rearwardly by the receptacle and providing a substantially continuous 360.degree. metal-to-metal EMI shield between the forward end face of the receptacle and the plug shoulder when the shells are fully mated. The flange portions are driven into detents disposed in the coupling nut flange and resist rotation only near full mate.

Abstract: A continuous 360.degree. electrically conductive seal between a back shell (30) and an electrically conductive cable braid (46) is provided by a pair of coaxial sleeves (68, 74), a ferrule (56), and an annular shoulder (80), the conductive seal resulting from interference fitting between the sleeves, ferrule and back shell and the shoulder plastically deforming. Outer sleeve (68) is interference fit in ferrule (56). Inner sleeve (74) has its outer periphery interference fit within the outer sleeve and within the back shell. The annular shoulder extends outwardly from the inner sleeve to define forward and rearward facing V-shaped teeth and is comprised of a malleable material adapted to plastically deform within respective teeth extending rearwardly and forwardly from the outer sleeve and the back shell.

Abstract: A continuous 360.degree. electrically conductive seal about the back shell (30) of an electrically conductive connector shell (20) having teeth extending aftwardly from its end face (34) and around the braid shield (46) of a coaxial-type cable (40) connected to the back shell by an accessory boot (50) protects signal carrying conductors from EMI entry and the surrounding area from EMI leakage. A frusto-conical wall including an electrically conductive annular wall portion, such as provided by the inner wall (100) of an accessory ferrule (56), or of an electrically conductive annular cap (68, 78, 86) mounted in the ferrule is interference fit about the toothed end face of the connector shell so as to overlap and completely encircle the back shell at a point inwardly of the valleys (36) of the teeth.

Abstract: A frangible pin (15) extends radially between interfitted first and second shell portions (21, 26) comprising an electrical connector assembly, the pin having a cross-sectional area sized to shear upon application of an external force so that the shells can break-away from one another.

Abstract: A flat, annular-shaped, seal member (50) comprised of a closed-cell elastomeric foam material is bonded to a radial collar (46) of a tubular adapter (43) mounted to an end portion (24) of a plug shell (20) carrying a slidable sleeve (40) and fixed retainer housing (34) coaxially therearound, an annular air space (S) between end portion (24) and sleeve (40) being sealed against the entry of moisture by a forward face of the seal member (50) and an outer annular margin (D) of the seal member (50) being deformably compressed, respectively, against the retainer housing (34) and the interior wall (41) of sleeve (40).

Abstract: A coupling nut (300) including a radial flange (305) having a plurality of angularly disposed spring housings (315), each spring housing for receiving therewithin a cantilevered spring arm (400) having one end secured (402) within an annular undercut (303) circumjacent the flange and the other end (401) disposed within ratchet teeth (105) and free to radially deflect in the spring housing (315) as a result of the radial flange being rotated, rotation against the ratchet teeth camming the spring arm against forward and rearward faces (106, 108) of the succession of peaks and valleys formed by the ratchet teeth around an annular shoulder (140) of a connector shell (100) to which the nut (300) is mounted for rotation.

Abstract: A compound coupling nut (60) mounted to a plug shell (10), first and second sets of detents (34, 84) arranged annularly and extending radially inward from one of the shell and/or the inner coupling sleeve, and a C-shaped detent spring (90) disposed radially-between the first and second detents, the detent spring having inwardly directed spring fingers (100) adapted to engage the ratchet teeth (34) and detent lugs (98) adapted to engage the arcuate detents (84), the detent spring (90) respectively, resisting and not resisting rotation of the coupling nut if rotated in one or the other directions, whereby as external coupling torques act on the coupling nut (60), the spring fingers (100) do not prevent rotation and as external uncoupling torques act on the coupling nut (60), the spring fingers (100) and the detent lugs (98) initially cooperate to resist rotation of the detent spring (90) and the coupling nut (60) until sufficient torque causes the detent lugs (98) to snap free, whereby uncoupling rotation of th

Abstract: A plurality of longitudinally housed looped spring members (340) are pivotally supported by a wire (350) circumposed about a plurality of ratchet teeth (150) defining a contiguous succession of longitudinal peaks and valleys (154, 152) for interengagement, the spring members including a straight end portion (342) advanced around the peaks and valleys and a curved end portion (344) normally out of engagement with the ratchet teeth, the wire being supported in an annular groove (331) of a coupling nut (300) rotatably mounted to one shell (100) of an electrical connector assembly comprising a pair of shells (100, 200), the forward end face (222) of the second shell being drawn against the curved end portion (344) to drive the straight end portion (342) downwardly into the ratchet teeth when mating engagement has been achieved, the bias of the straight end portions (342) resisting rotation of the coupling nut.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly of separable first and second shells (100, 200) and a coupling nut (300) having a radial flange (340) rotatably mounted about first shell (100) and rearwardly of an annular shoulder (140) thereof with a coil spring (500) and an annular ring (400) mounted for sliding disposed between flange (340) and shoulder (140) for resisting unwanted rotation. Annular shoulder (140) and annular ring (400) have frusto-conical tapered faces (150, 420) to define therebetween a Vee-shaped vise for longitudinally squeezing the coil spring (500) and camming the spring radially outwardly from snug contacting fitment with the shell (100) and against an inner wall (322) of the coupling nut whereby frictional contact spring (500) against itself and portions of the coupling nut (300) resist rotation.

Abstract: A coupling ring (30) including a coupling nut (40) circumposed around a plurality of serrations (18) and an unlocking sleeve (50) rotatably mounted to the coupling nut. An arcuately shaped lock member (60) carried by the coupling nut, in cooperation with a spring (66), allows rotation of the nut in a coupling direction and prevents rotation in an uncoupling direction, the lock member being pinned at one end (60a) to the coupling nut and free at the other end (60b) to pivot, the other end being provided with teeth (68) to releasably engage with succeeding of the serrations. The uncoupling sleeve (50) carries a lifter (54) having a free end (54b), the free end normally biased by a compression spring (52) into spaced-apart relation to lock member (60) and adapted to drive nut (40) in the coupling direction.

Abstract: Receptacle connector (10) secured by its flange (18) to panel (30) has a mating portion (14) extending forwardly from the panel for mating with mating portion (24) of plug connector (20) having a coupling member (40) rotatably mounted thereabout and adapted to draw the connectors together, an otherwise exposed region (50) about the mated connection being protected by a cup-shaped moisture seal (60) comprising a tubular body (62) sized to snugly fit about an exterior marginal annulus (41) of the coupling member and an annular flange (64) sized to fit about receptacle mating portion (14). Medial of annular flange (64) is a stiffening plate (70). An array of apertures of size sufficient to receive fasteners (68) pass through receptacle flange (18), annular flange (64), plate (70) and panel (30) annular flange (64) against flange (18) and panel (30) and moisture sealing thereabout.

Abstract: Mating forward ends (14, 24) of a receptacle connector (10) mounted in a panel (18) and plug connector (20) carrying a coupling member (30, 34, 40) are protected by a moisture seal (60) when interconnected. The moisture seal comprises a tubular body portion (64) which squeezes about the coupling member and a cup portion (66) which collapsibly compresses about the panel mounted connector, tubular body (64) including an annular shoulder (62) sized to be received in an annular cavity (50) around a sleeve (40) of the coupling member. The cup (64) comprises a frust-conical skirt (68), an annular collar (67) connecting the skirt to the body (64) and an annular foot (69) for sealing about the panel (18), reduced thicknesses (71, 73, 74) of tubular body portion (64) and annular collar (67) allowing cup portion (64) to collapse rearwardly relative to the coupling member when the annular foot (69) is forced against the panel (18).

Abstract: An electrical connector (20) having disposed around a rearward end portion (25) thereof a plurality of springs (36) in their respective spring cavities (39) and including an operating sleeve (40) circumposed therearound for movement rearwardly to a releasing position, a sealing adaptor (50) mounted to the connector and having a radial collar (56) positioned rearwardly of the cavities and a moisture seal (60) carried by the sleeve and having an inner portion (80) contacting the collar thereby moisture sealing a region around the springs and preventing ice formation in the cavities. The seal is generally V-shaped, with an outer portion (62) being carried in an annular recess (48) of sleeve (40).

Abstract: The invention is an electrical connector assembly of the type having a housing (50); a rubber moisture sealing grommet (70) and a contact retaining insert assembly (10 and 20) characterized by a rear insert (10) having a plurality of passages (15) that contain resiliently and radially deflectable members (11) that include at the forward ends thereof a radially inwardly chamfered surface (13) and, rearwardly adjacent to the chamfered surface (13), a forwardly facing shoulder (12) to engage the rearwardly facing shoulder (31) of a contact (30) located in a passage; and a plurality of passages (22) and a front insert (20) each communicating with a respective forwardly facing shoulder (12) of the deflectable members (11) to enable a tool to be inserted into either the front passages (22) or rear passage (15) to engage and radially deflect the members (11) to release the contact (30) for removal from the rear of the connector.

Abstract: An anti-rotation feature is disclosed for preventing inadvertent disconnection of electrical connector assemblies of the type including mating plug and receptacle shells positioned in mating relationship with a surrounding coupling nut which threadedly engages one of the members and axially engages the other to draw the same into mating relationship upon rotation of the coupling nut. An elongated rod or axle extends chordally across the interior bore of the coupling nut member, with an axially movable element positioned on the axle by a pair of centering springs. The movable element is in engagement with a series of serrations formed about the periphery of one of the electrical connector components so that the centering springs resist relative rotation between the coupling nut and connector component until the spring resistance is overcome to allow relative rotation between the coupling nut member and the connector components.

Abstract: An anti-vibration arrangement for resisting unthreading rotation between a coupling nut and mated components is disclosed, consisting of a deflectable mandrel extending in a radial plane chordally across an interior bore formed in the coupling nut, which mandrel mounts a slidable ball. The mandrel passes adjacent an outer surface portion of one of the electrical connector components defining a clearance space of a smaller dimension than the ball, while the ball is axially positioned in frictional engagement with the surface portion on either side of the clearance space. Rotation of the nut is resisted only minimally in a direction tending to move the ball away from the clearance space while tending to be wedged by rotation in the opposite direction.