Electrical connector latching mechanism

An electrical connector which includes a connector element that has a threaded shaft that lies on an axis, and a clamp element that has an internally threaded nut part that lies on said axis and that can threadably fit on said threaded shaft, wherein:

• said clamp element has a latch ring forming a ring of projections and with each projection having a radially inner end;
• said connector element has a holder ring and at least one latch member having a proximal end mounted on said holder ring and a distal end that projects to a position radially outward of said proximal end and that engages said projections with said latch being deflectable to allow said ring of projections on said clamp element to be turned in at least a first direction to screw said clamp element tightly onto said threaded shaft;
• said distal end of said latch member has a tip forming a surface (15d) that engages one of said projections during an attempted rotation of said clamp element in a second direction, with one portion of said tip lying radially outward of the projection inner end and another portion of said tip lying radially inward of the projection inner end.

An electrical connector which includes a connector element that has a threaded shaft that lies on an axis, and a clamp element which has an internally threaded nut part that lies on said axis and that can threadably fit on said threaded shaft, wherein:

• said clamp element has a latch ring forming a ring of projections, with a space between each pair of adjacent projections;
• said connector element has a holder ring and at least one latch member having a proximal end mounted on said holder ring and a distal end that projects to a position radially outward of said proximal end and that engages said projections with said distal end being deflectable to allow said ring of projections on said clamp element to be turned in at least a direction to screw said clamp element tightly onto said threaded shaft;
• each of said spaces between a pair of adjacent ones of said projections is in the form of a half circle.