Electrical connector having a coupling indicator

Abstract

An electrical connector comprises a connector plug part and a connector receptacle part, each part comprising a molded dielectric insert and a metal cylindrical shell within which the insert is fitted and retained. The inserts have passageways therethrough in which are secured matable electrical terminals and an integral hood which extends beyond the mating face of the receptacle insert and the shell of the receptacle part also has a hood which extends forwardly beyond the receptacle insert hood. The hood of the receptacle shell extends over the eternal surface of the plug shell when the parts are mated and threads on the external surface of the receptacle shell hood are engaged by threads provided on the internal surface of a metal coupling ring which is rotatably mounted on the plug shell by a retention spring secured onto the plug shell. A pin is mounted adjacent a projection on the coupling ring, and the pin cooperates with cam and recess sections in the form of detent sections adjacent the projection of the coupling ring to provide an audible, tactile and visible indication of a fully-mated condition of the plug and receptacle parts when the pin has been disposed in one of the recess sections.