Grooved connector with land bridge

A method for releasing a male element and a female element from a locked position comprising:

• moving the male element within a bore of the female element in a first axial direction to transition from a locked position, in which a finger on one of the group consisting of the male element and the female element is engaged with a depression on the other one of the group consisting of the male element and the female element and blocks movement of the male element in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction, to an over advanced position, the movement in the first axial direction dislodges the finger from the depression and positions the finger on a landing area on the other one of the group consisting of the male element and the female element;
• rotating one of the group consisting of the male element and the female element relative to the non-rotated one of the group consisting of the male element and the female element to transition from the over advanced position to an unlocked position, the rotation moves the finger out of rotational alignment with the depression and aligns the finger with a land bridge on the other one of the group consisting of the male element and the female element, the finger bearing on the landing area during rotation;
• and
• moving the male element within the bore of the female element in the second axial direction, the finger bearing on the land bridge as the finger moves past the depression.

A connector assembly, comprising:

• a female element including a housing defining a bore having an open end and an axis extending through the open end, the axis defining a first axial direction and a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction and a finger including a catch end extending from the housing in a radial direction transverse to the axis;
• a male element insertable into the bore of the female element and movable along the axis, the male element defining a circumferential surface extending around the axis and a depression in the circumferential surface, the depression having a catch wall facing in one of the group consisting of the first axial direction and the second axial direction;
• and
• a locked position including the catch end of the finger of the female element contacting the catch wall of the male element.