Electrical connector coupling ring

• US 4,389,081 A
• Filed: 11/14/1980
• Issued: 06/21/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amphenol Corporation
• Original Assignee: The Bendix Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Gallusser, David O., Toombs, Gary C., Hemmer, Valentine J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCQUADE, JOHN P
• Application Number:
  US06/206,793
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 339/DIG. 2, 339/89, 339/90, 339/187-190
• US Class Current: 439/320
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence

Abstract

A coupling ring 10 for connecting together two halves of an electrical connector assembly includes means integral with the coupling ring for mounting the coupling ring 10 to a connector housing 20. The integral mounting means includes a plurality of resiliently deflectable fingers 11, each having an annular shoulder 12 thereon that mates with a groove 21 in the connector housing so that the coupling ring 10 may be rotatably mounted to a housing 20 of an electrical connector. A skirt 14, integral with the coupling ring 10 protects the fingers 11.

Claims

1. In combination with an electrical connector of the type having:

a housing having a central axis, a forward portion, a rear portion and a groove in said rear portion;

at least one electrical contact mounted in said housing; and

a tubular coupling member mounted to and disposed around a portion of said housing, said coupling member having a rear portion and a forward portion adapted to connect to a similar housing having at least one contact adapted to mate with said contact in said housing, the rear portion of said coupling member having;

at least one inwardly and rearwardly extending finger, each finger resiliently and radially deflectable outwardly from the central axis of said housing, each finger also having an inwardly extending shoulder located in the groove in said rear portion of said housing, the improvement wherein;

said coupling member is an integral one piece molded tubular body comprised of plastic and includes a tubular portion at the rear of the coupling member that extends over each finger whereby each finger to at least the free end thereof is protected.

2. The connector as recited in claim 1 wherein said coupling member includes a plurality of rearwardly extending fingers each having an inwardly extending shoulder located in the groove in said housing.

3. In combination with an electrical connector of the type having:

a cylindrical housing having a central axis, a forward portion, a rear portion and an annular groove in said rear portion;

a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in said housing, each of said contacts having a forwardly facing mating portion; and

a coupling ring mounted to and telescoped over a portion of said housing, said coupling ring having a rear portion and a forward portion adapted to connect to a similar housing having contacts that are adapted to mate with said contacts in said housing, the rear portion of said coupling ring has at least one rearwardly extending finger, each finger resiliently and radially deflectable outwardly from the central axis of said housing, each finger also having an inwardly extending shoulder located in the groove in said rear portion of said housing, the improvement wherein;

said coupling ring is an integral one piece molded tubular body comprised of plastic and includes an annular portion at the rear of the coupling ring that extends over each said finger whereby each finger to at least the free end thereof is protected.

4. The connector as recited in claim 3 wherein said coupling ring includes a plurality of rearwardly and extending fingers each having an inwardly extending shoulder located in the groove in said housing.

5. A one piece coupling ring for use in connecting together an electrical connector assembly, said coupling ring comprising:

a one piece molded tubular body having a central axis, a front portion and a rear portion; and

at least one finger extending rearwardly from the rear portion of said tubular body, each finger resiliently and radially deflectable outwardly from the central axis of said tubular body, each finger having an inwardly extending shoulder at the end portion thereof;

means for connecting said coupling ring to an electrical connector, said means located in the front portion of the tubular body; and

an annular skirt, integral with said tubular body that extends over each finger to at least the free end thereof.

6. The coupling ring recited in claim 5 wherein there are a plurality of fingers.

7. The coupling ring as recitation claim 5 or 6 wherein the ring is comprised of plastic.