Retaining an insert in an electrical connector

A method of retaining a generally cylindrical insert within a generally cylindrical shell having a forward and a rearward end, the inner wall of the shell including an annular groove to provide an axial face facing rearwardly, and an annular passageway being defined coaxially between the insert and the shell, the steps of the method including:

• reducing the cross-section of the insert whereby to provide a stepped insert having a radial collar therearound, said radial collar defining a pair of annular surfaces,
• inserting the insert into the rearward end of said shell so that one annular surface is circumjacent to the axial face and the other annular surface is encircled by the annular groove,
• removing from an elongated strip of plastically deformable non-conductive material a plurality of strip portions whereby to define a strip member having a plurality of scallops in the form of laterally separated longitudinal columns, each column terminating at a leading edge with the thickness of each column being approximately half that of the annular passageway circumposed by said groove.
• forming the strip member into a cylindrical sleeve having a cross-section corresponding to that of the annular passageway;
• and
• axially inserting the sleeve into the passageway a distance sufficient that the leading edges of said columns engage the axial face with continued insertion being with an external force sufficient to cause the leading edges of each column to curl backwardly and upon themselves into overlapping relationship and radially wedgingly fill the passageway with the curled overlapped edges whereby to lock the columns therewithin.