Multi-conductor rotary connector

An electrical connector (10) comprising:

• a) a plug (20) comprising:
• i) an electrically-insulating plug body
• ii) a plug conductor ring (30);
• and
• iii) an electrically-conductive member (W) connected to the plug conductor ring (30) within the plug body (22) and exiting an end of the plug body (22);
• and
• b) a receptacle (40) comprising:
• i) an electrically-insulating receptacle body (42);
• ii) a receptacle conductor ring (150, 250), the receptacle conductor ring (150, 250) having an axial inner bore (150b, 250b) and a transverse opening (154, 254) intersecting the axial inner bore (150b, 250b) at two locations;
• iii) an electrically-conductive member (W) connected to the receptacle conductor ring (150, 250) and exiting an end of the receptacle body (40);
• iv) an electrically-conductive contact (152, 252) received in the transverse opening (154, 254) and having a relaxed position and an elastically-deformed position,
• wherein in the relaxed position the electrically-conductive contact (152, 252) is a straight member and extends transversely within the axial inner bore (150b, 250b) of the receptacle conductor ring (150, 250), and
• in the elastically-deformed position, the electrically-conductive contact (152, 252) is elastically deformed within the axial inner bore (150b, 250b) by the plug conductor ring (30), the plug conductor ring (30) contacting the electrically-conductive contact (152, 252) and electrical contact is achieved between the plug conductor ring (30) and the receptacle conductor ring (150, 250), and
• upon removal of the plug conductor ring (30) from contact with the electrically-conductive contact (152, 252), the electrically-conductive contact (152, 252) returns to its relaxed position.

An electrical connector (10) comprising a plug (20) arranged and designed to connect to a receptacle (40);

• a) the plug (20) comprising:
• i) an electrically-insulating plug body (22);
• ii) a plug conductor ring (30);
• and
• iii) a plug electrically-conductive member (W) connected to the plug conductor ring (30), the plug electrically-conductive member (W) within the plug body (22) and exiting an end of the plug body (22);
• and
• b) the receptacle (40) comprising:
• i) an electrically-insulating receptacle body (42);
• ii) a receptacle conductor ring (50) having an axial inner bore (50b) and an annular groove (51) facing radially inward;
• iii) a receptacle electrically-conductive member (W) connected to the receptacle conductor ring (50) and exiting an end of the receptacle body (42);
• and
• iv) an electrically-conductive contact (100) having a generally annular profile, at least a portion of the electrically-conductive contact (100) received in and contacting the annular groove (51) and at least a portion of the electrically-conductive contact (100) not received in the annular groove (51),
• wherein upon insertion of the plug (20) into the receptacle (40) and substantially radially aligning the plug and receptacle conductor rings (30 and 50), the electrically-conductive contact (100) is elastically deformed and provides electrical contact between the plug conductor ring (30) and the receptacle conductor ring (50).