Quick-release electrical connector coupling device

Abstract

An electrical coupling assembly is disclosed having a receptacle portion attached to an electrical connector element and releasably attached to a housing, affixed to the opposite electrical connector portion, by engagement of a latching ball on the housing with a latching detent formed on the receptacle. Axial movement of an operating sleeve, with respect to the housing facilitates the coupling and decoupling of the housing and the receptacle. The operating sleeve is spring biased to assume a position with respect to the housing retaining the coupling portions together. A force exerted on a lanyard attached to the sleeve axially moves the sleeve with respect to the housing to decouple the coupling elements. A lanyard guide ring is attached to the housing and has an opening through which the lanyard passes such that the portion of the lanyard extending between the guide ring and the operating sleeve extends in a generally axial direction. The direction of force exerted on the sleeve by the lanyard will always be in a substantially axial direction. The coupling includes a mechanism for disengaging the electrical connector portions before allowing the coupling elements to separate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.