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Breakaway connector

  • US 5,427,542 A
  • Filed: 11/15/1993
  • Issued: 06/27/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A breakaway connector which has an axis and which comprises a main part that includes a shell with an outside surface, an insulator in the shell, a plurality of contacts in the insulator and a cable extending rearwardly from the insulator and having a plurality of conductors connected to said contacts, wherein the connector also includes a coupling part for coupling to a mating connector device, wherein of said connector and said connector device one has pin contact ends that mate with socket contact ends of the other, with said coupling part surrounding the shell and having an internal surface, and wherein said cable can be pulled rearwardly with respect to saidsaid shell has an external groove in its outside surface which extends by more than 180°

  • about said axis, and said coupling part has an internal groove in its internal surface which extends by more than 180°

    about said axis, with said grooves lying opposite each other; and

    a ring-shaped retainer which has radially inner and outer parts lying respectively in said external and internal grooves, with the walls of said groove of said shell forming a ramp that is angled from said axis to extend radially outward and forwardly and with the walls of the groove of said coupling part constructed to abut said retainer and prevent the retainer from sliding axially thereon, so said retainer deforms to ride out of said groove of said shell while remaining in said internal groove, and said contacts unmate, when a predetermined rearward release force is applied by said cable to said main part which is no more than said predetermined safe force level, when said contacts ends of said connector are mated to said contacts ends of said connector device.

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