Patent attributes
An electrical connector system includes mating pin and socket connectors each designed for improving the mechanical locking capabilities of the electrical connector system. A first connector includes a pin contact having a head portion with grooves formed thereon, and a second connector includes a cavity dimensioned for receiving the pin contact. A pair of channels are formed along an interior wall of the contact-receiving cavity, with a coiled spring seated within each of the channels. When the connectors are mated, one or both of the coiled springs engages one of the grooves of the head portion of the pin contact to latch the first and second connectors together in a locked configuration. The connector system may further include a removable collar that allows the pin to advance further into the contact-receiving cavity to urge the coiled springs into secondary grooves for facilitating decoupling of the connectors.
