Electric connector with an anti-vibration mechanism
AssigneeTyco Electronics UK Ltd.
InventorsTomasz Kopinski, Jonathan Mark Eyles
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric connector connectable to a mating electric connector includes and inner part, an outer part and a self-locking mechanism. The inner part is adapted to be connected to an electrical conductor. The outer part is adapted to connect to the mating electric connector. The inner and outer parts are connected coaxially and rotatably to one another. The self-locking mechanism selectively blocks rotation of one of the inner or outer parts with respect to the other one of the inner or outer parts in a first circumferential direction, and permits rotation of one of the inner or outer parts with respect to the other one of the inner or outer parts in a second circumferential direction opposite the first circumferential direction.
Claims20
An electric connector connectable to a mating electric connector, comprising:
- an inner part adapted to be connected to an electrical conductor;
- an outer part adapted to connect to the mating electric connector, the inner and outer parts connected coaxially and rotatably to one another;
- and
- a self-locking mechanism selectively blocking rotation of one of the inner or outer parts with respect to the other one of the inner or outer parts in a first circumferential direction, and permitting rotation of one of the inner or outer parts with respect to the other one of the inner or outer parts in a second circumferential direction opposite the first circumferential direction, the self-locking mechanism includes at least one spring pressed against a locking surface in a radial direction, the locking surface being a surface of one of the inner or outer parts facing towards the other one of the inner or outer parts, the at least one spring is attached to one of the inner or outer parts and an edge of the at least one spring cuts into a material of the locking surface to block rotation in the first circumferential direction.
An electrical assembly, comprising:
- an electric connector, including:
- an inner part adapted to be connected to an electrical conductor;
- an outer part, the inner and outer parts connected coaxially and rotatably to one another;
- and
- a self-locking mechanism selectively blocking rotation of one of the inner or outer parts with respect to the other one of the inner or outer parts in a first circumferential direction, and permitting rotation of one of the inner or outer parts with respect to the other one of the inner or outer parts in a second circumferential direction opposite the first circumferential direction, the self-locking mechanism includes at least one spring pressed against a locking surface in a radial direction, the locking surface being a surface of one of the inner or outer parts facing towards the other one of the inner or outer parts, the at least one spring is attached to one of the inner or outer parts and an edge of the at least one spring cuts into a material of the locking surface to block rotation in the first circumferential direction;
- and
- a mating electric connector coupled to the outer part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.