Abstract: The invention is an EMI shielded electrical connector characterized by a molded plastic housing (20) that has embedded therein an electrically conductive wire mesh (10). The wire mesh (10) includes an electrically exposed internal shoulder (11) and ends (12 and 13) that may be connected to other electrically conductive members to ground out unwanted electromagnetic interference.

Abstract: A shielding and grounding ring comprises a cup shaped member including a flat ring portion defining the base of the cup and having a central opening sized to fit about a plug shell, a skirt described by a plurality of slots and associated fingers each extending longitudinally from the end of the skirt to locations on the ring portion, and a circumferential lip extending rearwardly from the opening. When a compression ring is plastically deformed in the groove, the lip and the ring portion, respectively, make substantially 360.degree. contact with the annular groove and the radial flange thereby providing positive retention and completing electrical circuit paths with the plug shell. The slots undergo a 90.degree. change in direction to reduce adverse stress which could lead to spring finger failures in the ring.

Abstract: A spiral band (400) having a lock arm (420) for resisting rotation of a coupling nut (300) relative to a plug shell (100), coupling nut (300) including a radial flange (322) having a plurality of detents (340) disposed equiangularly therearound and spiral band (400) being tightly spiraled to interference fit an annular groove (110) of plug connector shell (100) and dome shaped to axially bias the plug shell (100) oppositely of the coupling nut (300), radial expansion of the spring band (400) relative to the plug shell by lock arm (420) allowing uncoupling rotation and radial contraction of spring band (400) followed by lateral deflection of the lock arm from engagement with the detent (340) allowing uncoupling rotation.

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 spiral band (400) having a lock arm (420) for resisting rotation of a coupling nut (300) relative to a plug shell (100), coupling nut (300) including a radial flange (322) having a plurality of detents (340) disposed equiangularly therearound and spiral band (400) being tightly spiraled to interference fit an annular groove (110) of plug connector shell (100) and dome shaped to axially bias the plug shell (100) oppositely of the coupling nut (300), radial expansion of the spring band (400) relative to the plug shell by lock arm (420) allowing uncoupling rotation and radial contraction of spring band (400) followed by lateral deflection of the lock arm from engagement with the detent (340) allowing uncoupling rotation.

Abstract: The invention is an anti-decoupling mechanism for a connector assembly characterized by an axially extending portion (42) at the free end of a spring (40) which engages an axially extending shoulder (12) at the start of a thread (11) on one of the housings (10) during a portion of the final coupling rotation of the coupling ring (30) around the first housing (10). During the final portion of coupling rotation of the coupling ring (30) the projection (41) is moved inwardly to increase the pressure between the projection (41) and the teeth (21) thereby resisting decoupling of the housings (10, 20) when the coupled connector assembly is subjected to vibration.

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: This invention is an anti-decoupling mechanism for an electrical connector assembly of the type having two housings (20, 50) connected together by a coupling ring (30). The invention is characterized by an annular member (10) that has a plurality of slots (11) around the periphery thereof that engages the projection (41) on each spring (40) mounted within a coupling ring (30). The annular member (10) is radially expandable to increase its diameter in response to opposing axial forces applied by the housings (20, 50) as they are drawn together by the coupling ring (30). This anti-decoupling arrangement provides a first lower pressure against the spring (40) during the initial stage of the coupling cycle and a second higher pressure against the spring during the final stage of the coupling cycle thereby reducing the wear on the anti-decoupling mechanism an increasing its effectiveness.

Abstract: A coupling nut (300) mounted to a first shell (100) for connection to a threaded second shell (200) comprises: an operating sleeve (600) rotatably circumposing inner front and rear coupling sleeves (400, 500) having their adjacent ends threadedly interconnected; a roll bar (700) operatively driven by operating sleeve (600) for engaging spaced end faces on respective coupling sleeves to cause relative rotation therebetween; and a coil spring (800) for constantly biasing the coupling sleeves (400, 500) into a first position, right-handed thread (220, 420) operating between second shell (200) and front coupling sleeve (400) and left-handed thread (430, 530) operating between the coupling sleeves (400, 500), coupling rotation beyond mating engagement between the assembly by the right-handed threads causing coil spring (800) to compress and transmit uncoupling rotation to the left-handed threads whereupon the coupling sleeves separate and further coupling rotation of the right-handed thread, uncoupling rotation of

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: A socket contact (10) for electrical connectors and method of manufacture comprised of a contact liner (12), a front guide sleeve (14), and a rear sleeve (16) each of said guide sleeve (14) and rear sleeve (16) interfit over the contact liner (12) with a slight overlap (42) at the approximate midsection of the contact liner (12). The guide sleeve (14) is enabled to be interfit with both the contact liner (12) and the rear sleeve (16) by a crimp (44) formed adjacent the rear end (40) of the guide sleeve (14). A fillet weld (48) is applied at the shoulder (46) created by the guide sleeve (14) overlapping the rear sleeve (16) which weld reinforces the midsection of the socket contact (10).

Abstract: A coupling member (500) comprises outer and inner sleeves (410, 310) mounted for relative corotation about a connector shell (100) and about one another for rotational movement between locked and unlocked positions relative to a coil spring (322) carried by inner sleeve (310), the coil spring (322) being compressed radially inwardly by an inner wall (406) of outer sleeve (410) to drive medial tooth (318) of a spring beam (316) into a locked relation with ratchet teeth (138) disposed around the connector shell, rotation of outer sleeve (410) to a second position registering an undercut (408) in inner surface (406) with coil spring (322), whereby the coil spring expands into a relaxed position and means (422) for normally biasing the sleeves into the locked position.

Abstract: A two piece contact assembly characterized by a method of making the assembly by press fitting a stamped and formed inner sleeve (10) into a cold drawn tubular member (20) to provide an electrical contact having a seamless pin type contact area.