Patent ID: 6379191
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: H01R,H05K

Abstract:
An electrical connector comprising:a connector housing having a first surface with a center portion, the center portion having a circular periphery; and, a set of contacts disposed radially around the center portion of the connector housing and accessible through a set of openings in the first surface of the connector housing, each contact in the set of contacts having an end, the set of contacts configured to couple to a matching set of contacts on an oppositely mated electrical connector to form a mechanically interlocked electrical connection wherein: (1) the set of contacts are inset in the set of openings in the first surface, where the set of contacts are prohibited from protruding out of the set of openings, and the end of each contact in the set of contacts are angled inward towards the center portion, (2) the mechanically interlocked electrical connection is formed with at least one of the contacts in the set of contacts containing a curved portion that is adapted to substantially mirror an oppositely curved portion on a matching contact in the matching set of contacts in the oppositely mated electrical connector, and, (3) when the electrical connector is mated with the oppositely mated electrical connector, the set of contacts together exert a radial mechanical force for engaging the matching set of contacts.