Connector assembly with visual, tactile and audible indication

In a connector assembly which includes first and second connector members adapted for mating engagement;

• a coupling member for drawing said connector members into mating engagement;
• indicating means associated with said coupling member and at least one of said connector members for movement between a first non-indicating position and a second indicating position in response to a predetermined positional relationship of said connector members, said indicating means when in one of said positions being disposed outside of and substantially entirely about the peripheral bounds of the coupling member;
• said indicating means including an outer band-like member extending circumferentially about said coupling member and movable between said positions so as to provide an omni-directional indication of the relative positioning of said mating connector members;
• and
• an inner cam member carried by one of said connector members and engageable by the other connector member for biasing said band-like member from said non-indicating position to said indicating position in response to said predetermined positioning of said connector members.

In a connector assembly which includes first and second connector members, each connector member including mating means adapted for axial connection in engagement with the mating means of the other connector member;

• a coupling ring carried by one of said connector members;
• said other connector member and said coupling ring having complementarily engageable releasable connecting means for moving the connector members axially into mating relation with each other;
• and
• indicating means associated with said coupling ring and movable radially relative thereto between a first non-indicating position and a second indicating position in response to a predetermined positional relationship of said connector members, said indicating means when in one of said positions being disposed outside of and substantially entirely surrounding said coupling ring.

In a connector assembly which includes first and second connector members, each connector member including mating means adapted for axial connection in engagement with the mating means of the other connector member;

• a coupling ring carried by one of said connector members;
• said other connector member and said coupling ring having complementarily engageable releasable connecting means for moving the connector members axially into mating relation with each other;
• and
• indicating means associated with said coupling ring and movable radially relative thereto between a first non-indicating position and a second indicating position in response to a predetermined positional relationship of said connector members, said indicating means when in one of said positions being disposed outside of and substantially entirely about said coupling ring;
• said indicating means when in the other of said positions being disposed at least within the adjacent peripheral bounds of said coupling ring.

In a connector assembly which includes first and second connector members, each connector member including mating means adapted for axial connection in engagement with the mating means of the other connector member;

• a coupling ring carried by one of said connector members;
• said other connector member and said coupling ring having complementarily engageable releasable connecting means for moving the connector members axially into mating relation with each other;
• and
• indicating means associated with said coupling ring and movable radially relative thereto between a first non-indicating position and a second indicating position in response to a predetermined positional relationship of said connector members, said indicating means when in one of said positions being disposed outside of and substantially entirely about said coupling ring;
• said indicating means including an outer band-like member extending circumferentially about said coupling ring and movable between said positions so as to provide an omni-directional visual indication of the relative positioning of said mating connector members.

In a connector assembly which includes first and second mating connector members, each connector member including engageable contact means, fibers, or the like, adapted for axial connection in engagement with the contact means, fibers, or the like, of the other connector member;

• a coupling ring carried by one of said connector members;
• said other connector member and said coupling ring having complementarily engageable releasable connecting means for moving the connector members axially into mating relation with each other;
• and
• visual indicating means associated with said coupling ring and movable radially relative thereto from a retracted position to an indicating position projecting outwardly of the coupling ring in response to a predetermined positioning of said other connector member in relation to the coupling ring, said visual indicating means including;
• an outer band-like member extending substantially entirely about said coupling ring so as to provide an omni-directional visual indication of the relative positioning of said mating connector members,
• an inner cam ring carried by and having limited axial movement relative to said one connector member nd engageable by said other member to effect said axial movement thereof, and
• a plurality of ball bearings disposed in radially openended bores in said coupling ring between said inner cam ring and said outer band-like member and engageable therewith for transmitting movement of said inner cam ring to radial outward movement of said band-like member toward said indicating position.