Radially mounted spring to connect, lock and unlock, and for snap-on fastening, and for mechanical, electromagnetic shielding, electrical conductivity, and thermal dissipation with environmental sealing

A connect/disconnect, lock/unlock and hold mechanism for mechanical, electromagnetic shielding, electrical conductivity, and thermal dissipation coupling with environmental sealing, the mechanism comprising:

• a housing including a bore therein having a circumferential groove means with generally parallel side walls;
• a continuous coil spring disposed in said circumferential groove means with a portion thereof protruding from said circumferential groove means;
• a cylindrical body sized for insertion into said bore and groove means, disposed on an outside surface of said cylindrical body, for receiving the protruding spring portion and for enabling assembly of the cylindrical body within the bore when the cylindrical body and housing are moved in one direction with respect to one another;
• and
• means, defining a tapered bottom in said circumferential groove means, for preventing the spring from turning past a vertical line when the cylindrical body and housing are moved in another direction with respect to one another in order to prevent disassembly of the cylindrical body and housing.

A snap-on fastening mechanism for mechanical, electromagnetic shielding, electrical conductivity, and thermal dissipation coupling with environmental sealing, the mechanism comprising:

• a cylindrical body having a body diameter and an end portion having a diameter smaller than the body diameter;
• means defining a circumferential groove in said end portion with generally parallel side walls;
• a continuous coil spring disposed in said circumferential groove with a portion thereof protruding from said circumferential groove;
• plate means, having a selected thickness and an opening therein with a diameter greater than the end portion diameter and smaller than the body diameter, for receiving the end portion with the spring protruding from the circumferential groove on a side of the plate means opposite another side of the plate means facing the cylindrical body;
• means, defining a tapered bottom in said circumferential groove, for preventing the spring from turning past a line perpendicular to the cylindrical body axis in order to prevent dis-assembly of the cylindrical body from the plate means.

A connect/disconnect, lock/unlock and hold mechanism for mechanical, electromagnetic shielding, electrical conductivity, and thermal dissipation coupling with environmental sealing, the mechanism comprising:

• a spherical body having a circumferential groove means therein with generally parallel side walls;
• a continuous coil spring disposed in said circumferential groove means with a portion thereof protruding from said circumferential groove means;
• a housing having a bore therein sized to accommodate said spherical body and groove means, disposed in an inside surface of said bore, for receiving the protruding spring portion and for enabling assembly of the spherical body within the bore when the spherical body and housing are moved in one direction with respect to one another;
• and
• means, defining a tapered bottom in said circumferential groove, for preventing the spring from turning past a vertical line when the spherical body and housing are moved in another direction with respect to one another in order to prevent disassembly of the spherical body and housing.

A connect/disconnect, lock/unlock and hold mechanism for mechanical, electromagnetic shielding, electrical conductivity, and thermal dissipation coupling with environmental sealing, the mechanism comprising:

• a housing including a bore therein having a circumferential groove means therein with generally parallel side walls;
• a continuous coil spring disposed in said circumferential groove means with a portion thereof protruding from said circumferential groove means;
• a spherical body sized for insertion into said bore and groove means disposed on an outside surface of said spherical body, for receiving the protruding spring portion and for enabling assembly of the spherical body within the bore when the spherical body and housing are moved in one direction with respect to one another;
• and
• means, defining a tapered bottom in said circumferential groove, for preventing the spring from turning past a vertical line when the spherical body and housing are moved in another direction with respect to one another in order to prevent disassembly of the spherical body and housing.