Title: Electrical self-aligning connector

Abstract: A self-aligning electrical connector device is disclosed as including a receptacle component (A) having a conically contoured interior and a plug component (B) having a correspondingly contoured conical body receivable in the receptacle component. The plug component B includes a plurality of spaced conductive ring elements 22 having a mating face (22a) and the receptacle component includes a plurality of corresponding spaced conductive ring elements (14) providing mating interface with the mating face of the ring elements of the plug component when connected therewith. Each ring element of the receptacle component includes a plurality of segmented portions, (16a), which defect downwardly when the plug component is inserted therein to assert a biasing force against the face of the ring elements of the plug component providing positive electrical contact and connection between the ring elements of the components.

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Inventors: Clark, Keith H. (Decatur, AL)
Scott, Donald R. (Athens, AL)

Application Number: 06/432057
Filing Date: 1982-09-30
Publication_date: 1983-12-20
Assignee: Nasa (US)

Primary Class(es): 439/249 339/262RR, 339/258RR
Other Classes: H01R13/631; H01R13/12; H01R13/62
US Patent Ref:

3009043	November, 1961	Goodwin, Jr. et al.	339/64R	Disconnecting contact
3673545	June, 1972	Rundle	339/64M	MINIATURE CONNECTOR CONSTRUCTION--ADJUSTABLE OR FLOATING
3855568	December, 1974	Cochrane	339/262R	FORCED CONTACT ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
3951500	April, 1976	Anderson	339/64M	Circular rack and panel connector
4030797	June, 1977	Nieman	339/64M	Electrical connector

Other Refs: DE2140685FR993883

April, 1903	339/182R
September, 1952	339/182R

Primary Examiner: Mcglynn, Joseph H.
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney: Beumer, Joseph H.
Manning, John R.
Wofford Jr., Leon D.

Parent Case Data:

This is a continuation of