Connector portion having releasable fastening means
First Claim
1. In a quick-release connector having interengageable male and female connector portions, said male connector portion including an outer shell having openings therethrough, an inner shell concentric with said outer shell and having external recesses therein, and a plurality of spring catches, each of said catches having a portion projecting through a respective one of said openings in said outer shell for locking engagement with said female portion, and said outer shell being axially slidable relative to said inner shell to deflect said portions of said catches to cause disengagement from said female connector portion, the improvement comprising the provision of a plurality of separately formed spring catches which are independent of each other and of said inner shell, each of said spring catches being located in a recess in said inner shell, each of said catches being in the form of a flat strip of resilient material, and each strip being freely supported at its ends in said recess in said inner shell whereby, when said portion of each catch is deflected, said strip thereof is deformed by bowing between said freely supported ends.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A plug and socket connector is disclosed having releasable locking means to prevent unintentional disconnection. The locking means comprises spring catches preferably formed from flat resilient material and they are fitted in a recess or respective recesses in a shell which forms part of one of the connector portions. An environmental seal is provided by locating the catches in the recess or recesses. Other catches are disclosed which are formed in a solid tubular member.
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Citations
6 Claims
- 1. In a quick-release connector having interengageable male and female connector portions, said male connector portion including an outer shell having openings therethrough, an inner shell concentric with said outer shell and having external recesses therein, and a plurality of spring catches, each of said catches having a portion projecting through a respective one of said openings in said outer shell for locking engagement with said female portion, and said outer shell being axially slidable relative to said inner shell to deflect said portions of said catches to cause disengagement from said female connector portion, the improvement comprising the provision of a plurality of separately formed spring catches which are independent of each other and of said inner shell, each of said spring catches being located in a recess in said inner shell, each of said catches being in the form of a flat strip of resilient material, and each strip being freely supported at its ends in said recess in said inner shell whereby, when said portion of each catch is deflected, said strip thereof is deformed by bowing between said freely supported ends.
- 4. A male connector portion for a quick release connector of the type having interengageable male and female connector portions, said male connector portion comprising an outer shell having openings therethrough, an inner shell concentric with said outer shell and having a locating recess in the outer surface thereof, and a plurality of spring catches, said catches each being formed as a flat sheet of resilient material, each catch being defined by an uplifted detent portion bounded at least at opposite sides thereof by axially extending base portions, each detent portions projecting through a respective one of said openings for locking engagement with a female portion, and said outer shell being axially slidable relative to said inner shell for deflecting said detent portions of said catches inwardly to cause disengagement of said detent portions from a female connector portion, said base portion of each of said spring catches being transversely arcuately configured to accommodate the curvature of said locating recess in said inner shell, said detent portions also being transversely arcuately configured with a smaller radius of curvature than that of said base portions whereby said detent portions resist said deflection.
Specification