Anti-decoupling mechanism for an electrical connector assembly

• US 4,588,246 A
• Filed: 02/04/1985
• Issued: 05/13/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amphenol Corporation
• Original Assignee: Allied Corp. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Schildkraut, Alan L., Brush, Robert W. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): McQuade, John
• Application Number:
  US06/698,285
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 339/89 R, 339/89 L, 339/89 M, 339/90 R, 339/90 C, 339/DIG. 2, 285/82, 285/89, 285/92, 267/156, 267/155, 267/157, 192/72, 192/81 C, 192/415, 192/12 BA, 192/17 D, 192/8 C
• US Class Current: 439/312
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/622 Screw-ring or screw-casing H01R13/623 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/627 Snap or like fastening

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.

Claims

1. A clutch spring for resisting two direction relative rotation between a connector shell and a coupling nut, said coupling nut being rotatably mounted to the shell and having a plurality of engagable detents, said clutch spring comprising a flat leaf of generally rectangular cross-section having opposite ends and formed into a helical coil the inner diameter of which is sized to circumpose and normally immovably frictionally engage about said shell with one and the other said end thereof, respectively, being free and including a lock arm cantilevered therefrom adapted to engage successive of said detents whereby to resist both coupling and uncoupling rotation, said leaf having the long dimension of its cross-section extending radially and the leaf when coiled defining a frusto-conical spring which is adapted to axially bias said coupling nut, said lock arm extending generally tangentially from the coil to terminate in a terminal portion adapted to fit respective of said detents to resist both coupling and uncoupling rotation, coupling rotation requiring the terminal portion to radially expand the coil and uncoupling rotation requiring first that the terminal portion be forced against its detent whereby to drive the lock arm radially inward to place a winding torque on the coil and second that the terminal portion cam the lock arm axially rearwardly and outwardly from engagement with its detent so that the lock arm may advance into engagement with another detent.

2. A helical coil spring for use in resisting relative rotation between each of two relatively rotatable connector members, one and the other of said connector members including, respectively, an annular recess for receiving the spring and a plurality of detents each of which being disposed in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation, characterized by said coil spring being adapted to normally frictionally engage said recess and having a pair of end portions with one said end portion cantilevering from the coil and having its terminal portion operatively connectable and disconnectable with successive of the detents in the other member whereby to transmit winding and unwinding torques to the coil depending upon the direction of rotation, unwinding torques tending to cause the coil to unwind and thereby disengage from its frictional engagement with the recess to rotate and allow rotation, and winding torques tending to cause the coil to wind whereby to increase frictional engagement with the recess until a sufficient torque causes the one said end portion to radially and axially snap from engagement with its detent whereby to allow limited relative rotation only between the two members.