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Enhanced detent guide track with dog-leg

  • US RE31,995 E
  • Filed: 01/19/1984
  • Issued: 10/01/1985
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1979
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In an electrical connector having receptacle means including a receptacle shell;

  • a plug means including a plug housing;

    a coupling nut threaded onto said plug housing, a coupling ring keyed to said coupling nut;

    electrical contact elements carried within said receptacle shell and said plug housing for electrical mating and unmating;

    lock means on said coupling ring and said receptacle shell for releasably holding said contact elements in mating relation;

    means for audibly indicating fully mated and locked relationship of said receptacle means and plug means, said indicating means including an annular groove in said coupling ring, a keyway on said plug housing, and an arcuate spring detent in said annular groove and having a key engaged in said keyway, said detent having radially outwardly directed end portions carried by resilient arcuate arms which are bent when the end portions thereof are between spaced sets of radially outwardly directed recesses in said annular groove during turning of said coupling housing, whereby said end portions snap into a set of recesses to produce an audible sound to indicate fully locked or unlocked position of the receptacle means and plug means, the improvement comprising;

    an enlarged portion defining a dog-leg in said keyway in the path of axial travel of said plug housing whereby said key .[.makes audible contact with a terminating wall of said dog-leg.]. .Iadd.is released from contact with the plug housing .Iaddend.so as to produce an intensified audible snap .Iadd.of the detent end portions .Iaddend.indicating attainment of the fully mated and locked position of the connector.

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