Electrical connector with means for maintaining a connected condition

In an electrical connector having a plug shell, a receptacle shell, each of said shells receiving a plurality of electrical conductors and a coupling nut, said coupling nut being mounted for rotation relative to one of said shells and having threads adapted to cooperate with corresponding threads on the other of said shells, the combination comprising a plurality of projections extending axially outwardly from the end of said coupling nut, restraining means including a resilient member connected with said one shell and urged into contact with said projections for impeding rotation of said coupling nut, a retainer member mounted on said one shell at the side of said resilient member remote from said coupling nut for maintaining said resilient member in juxtaposition with said coupling nut, said one shell having an external peripheral groove and said coupling nut having an internal groove aligned therewith, and a snap ring partly disposed in each of said grooves to maintain said coupling nut in mounted relation to said one shell, said restraining means comprising a resilient leaf spring interposed between said coupling nut and said retainer member, said leaf spring being in compression between said projections and said retainer member so that at least a portion of said leaf spring bears against said projections, said leaf spring having an elongate arm which is inclined relative to a plane normal to the axis of said coupling nut, said arm having one end in contact with said projections and its other end supported at a position which is free of said projections, whereby said arm is cammed away from said projections when said nut is rotated in one direction, said arm impeding but not preventing rotation of said nut in the other direction, said projections comprising a plurality of ratchet-like teeth carried by said coupling nut, said plurality of teeth being separated from one another by a plurality of surface portions, said surface portions being normal to the axis of rotation of said coupling nut;

• each of said teeth having forward and rearward faces, said forward faces each having a steeper angle than said rearward faces, both of said faces being inclined to the axis of rotation of said coupling nut, the end of said arm bearing against said forward face to impede rotation of said coupling nut in said other direction, and said rearward face camming said arm away from said coupling nut when said coupling nut is rotated in said one direction.