Abstract:
In accordance with one aspect, a connector includes contacts meeting MIL-C-39029/57 or MIL-C-39029/58 without requiring a retaining clip to hold such contacts in place and without embedding such contacts in a plastic housing. The contacts are attached to electrical power or data conductors and loaded into apertures in a rear and front insert. The rear and front insert are held together by a rear and front shell so the contacts remain secure in the apertures. In accordance with another aspect, a latching mechanism provides a robust, reliable mechanism for securing a socket portion of a connector to a plug portion of a connector.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/267,339, filed Dec. 7, 2009, for “Miniature Electrical Connector,” which is fully incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure generally relates to connectors, and in particular to connectors for making electrical connections between power or data sources, receivers, or carriers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The present inventor has recognized that typical electrical connectors using standard MIL-C-39029 contacts commonly use a retaining clip to hold them in the electrical connector. The present inventor has also recognized that retaining clips commonly require a removal tool to be used to remove such contacts from an electrical connector one at a time for repair or replacement. The present inventor has also recognized that retaining clips, which are commonly located with the contacts in the same bore of the connector body, increase the bore size needed to hold a contact and thus increase the required spacing, that is, the axis to axis distance, between such bore centers. 
         [0004]    The present inventor has recognized that other common electrical connectors embed contacts in a plastic housing, which prevents wires from being crimped into such contacts. The present inventor has also recognized that soldering wires into such contacts consumes significant amounts of time and may cause the plastic housing to melt. Melting the plastic housing loosens the embedded contacts and results in an inferior electrical connector that may need to be rejected or re-worked. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In accordance with one aspect, a connector includes contacts meeting U.S. military specification numbers MIL-C-39029/57 or MIL-C-39029/58 without requiring a retaining clip to hold such contacts in place and without embedding such contacts in a plastic housing. Alternatively, other suitable symmetric contacts as well as asymmetric contacts may be used. The contacts are attached to electrical power or data conductors and loaded into apertures in a rear insert and a front insert. The rear and front inserts are held together by a rear shell and a front shell so the contacts remain secure in the apertures. In accordance with another aspect, a latching mechanism provides a robust, reliable mechanism for securing a socket portion of a connector to a plug portion of a connector. In accordance with another aspect, the rear shell and front shell are releasably secured together to permit replacing the contacts without damaging the rear or front shells, i.e., the rear and front shells are re-useable after repairing or replacing contacts. 
         [0006]    The disclosed embodiments overcome the above-identified disadvantages of existing connectors, or may address other disadvantages. Additional aspects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a partly exploded isometric assembly view of a socket and plug. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a partly exploded isometric, sectional assembly view of the socket of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged sectional view of the assembled socket of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a partly exploded isometric, sectional assembly view of the plug of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged isometric, sectional view of the assembled plug of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a partly exploded isometric, sectional assembly view of the socket and plug of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is an isometric, sectional assembled view of the socket and plug of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a partly exploded isometric, rear sectional assembly view of the socket of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    Although the following disclosure describes preferred embodiments, it should be understood that they can be implemented in many alternative forms, shapes, and sizes. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited by the following description. 
         [0016]      FIGS. 1 ,  6  and  7  illustrate mating socket and plug connectors  5  and  10 . Socket connector  5  and plug connector  10  are illustrated with seven socket contacts  15  and seven plug contacts  20 , each arranged with six contacts mutually angularly spaced apart, i.e, in a circle, and one contact mutually spaced apart from the other contacts and centrally located with respect to the other contacts. However, various numbers of socket contacts  15  and plug contacts  20  may be used, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, or more, and various contact arrangements may be used, such as mutually linearly spaced apart or other suitable arrangement. Socket contacts  15  and plug contacts  20  preferably meet the specification of MIL-C-39029/57 or MIL-C-39029/58 for contacts. 
       Socket 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 ,  6  and  7 , socket connector  5  includes a strain relief, such as backshell  25 , coupled to a rear shell  30 , which is coupled to a front shell  35 . Backshell  25 , rear shell  30  and front shell  35  are preferably electrically conductive to provide grounding and electromagnetic interference (“EMI”) protection for socket contacts  15  and conductors connected to socket contacts  15 . Backshell  25  is preferably made from a composite material, such as a glass reinforced resin plated with a metal, such as nickel. Rear shell  30  and front shell  35  are preferably made from metal, such as nickel plated aluminum or other suitable conductor. Rear shell  30  and front shell  35  cooperate to releasably contain a rear insert  40  and a front insert  45 , which in turn cooperate to releasably contain socket contacts  15  in contact apertures  50  and  55 . Rear insert  40  and front insert  45  are preferably made from an electrically insulating material such as a glass filled polyetherimide or other suitable material. 
         [0018]    Preferably, no retaining clip is needed to keep socket contacts  15  in contact apertures  50  and  55  when socket  5  is assembled. Not using a retaining clip preferably permits contact apertures  50  to be mutually spaced apart relatively close to one another. Likewise, contact apertures  55  are preferably mutually spaced apart relatively close to one another. Each contact aperture  50  includes a central axis  51 , and each contact aperture  55  includes a central axis  56 . Preferably, central axes  51  are mutually parallel and spaced-apart, that is, they are substantially parallel to one another to a degree sufficient to align with central axes  56  to hold an elongate contact  15  in a contact aperture  50  associated with a contact aperture  55 . Likewise, central axes  56  are mutually parallel and spaced-apart, that is, they are substantially parallel to one another to a degree sufficient to align with central axes  51  to hold an elongate contact  15  in a contact aperture  55  associated with a contact aperture  50 . 
         [0019]    In a preferred arrangement sized for use with MIL-C-39029/57 or MIL-C-39029/58 contacts, the distance between adjacent central axes 51 is 0.100 inch (2.54 millimeter (“mm”)) to 0.079 inch (2.0066 mm), and preferably 0.081 inch (2.0574 mm). Likewise, a preferred distance between adjacent central axes  56  is 0.100 inch (2.54 mm) to 0.079 inch (2.0066 mm), and preferably 0.081 inch (2.0574 mm). Alternatively, a distance between adjacent central axes may be approximately 0.090 inch (2.286 mm) to approximately 0.079 inch (2.0066 mm), or 0.083 inch (2.1082 mm) to 0.079 inch (2.0066 mm). The minimum distance between central axes, such as axes  51 , may be influenced by geometric arrangement of the contact apertures, such as apertures  50 , and the dielectric material used for rear insert  40  and front insert  45 . Therefore, the minimum distance may be less than 0.079 inch (2.0066 mm). In an alternative arrangement, and independent of the size of the contacts used, contact apertures  50  or contact apertures  55  are preferably separated by a thickness of dielectric material that ranges from approximately 0.023 inch (0.5842 mm) to approximately 0.027 inch (0.6858 mm), and preferably approximately 0.025 inch (0.635 mm), at its thinnest point. 
         [0020]    As best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a latch clip  60  engages rear insert  40  and is retained by rear shell  30  and front shell  35 . Latch clip  60  includes a knob  65  and a “T” shaped latch  70 . When socket  5  is assembled, knob  65  projects through a clip groove  75  ( FIG. 1 ) formed through a wall of front shell  35 . “T” shaped latch  70  is preferably suspended over clip recesses  71  and  72 , which are formed in top surfaces of rear insert  40  and front insert  45 , respectively. Operation of latch clip  60  to lock and unlock socket  5  and plug  10  from each other is described below. 
         [0021]    Socket  5  is preferably assembled as follows. A cable or other suitable data or power conveying device (not illustrated) is threaded through an opening  90  in rear shell  30 . The cable preferably includes one or more individual power or data carriers. Individual power or data carriers, such as insulated wires or wire bundles, internally reflective fiber optics, or other suitable carrier, are isolated and separated from one another. Each carrier is threaded through a contact aperture  50  through rear insert  40  and suitably prepared for insertion into socket contacts  15 . A socket contact  15  is placed over and crimped onto each carrier, or otherwise suitably attached to each carrier. 
         [0022]    Socket contacts  15  are loaded, or inserted, through contact apertures  50  from the front side  95  of rear insert  40 , in other words, from the side facing or proximal to the plug connector  10  when the socket connector  5  and plug connector  10  are connected. Socket contacts  15  and plug sockets  20 , described below, are preferably composed of cylindrical components, are preferably symmetric about a longitudinal axis, and are preferably characterized by a lengthwise nonuniform cross-sectional area, that is, the cross-section viewed along a length of a socket contact  15  displays at least two different cross-sectional areas. Alternatively, socket contacts may include non-cylindrical components and, may be asymmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis, or both. Contact apertures  50  are sized to permit socket contacts  15  to partly enter contact apertures  50  but not to pass completely through them. Preferably, contact apertures  50  are configured in complementary relation to the lengthwise nonuniform cross-sectional area of socket contacts  15  to prevent socket contacts  15  from passing completely through contact apertures  50 . For example, contact apertures  50  may taper so they are larger at the front than at the back, contact apertures  50  may be stepped internally to create a shoulder that prevents socket contacts  15  from passing completely through, or contact apertures  50  may be sized to permit only a portion of socket contacts  15  to enter, for example, by making a large diameter portion or a shoulder on a socket contact  15  too large to enter contact apertures  50  (as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ). Other suitable structures may be used for contact apertures  50  to prevent socket contacts  15  from completely passing through. 
         [0023]    Socket contacts  15  are then inserted, or loaded, into contact apertures  55  in front insert  45  through the rear side  100  of front insert  45 . Alternatively, socket contacts  15  may be entirely or substantially loaded into rear insert  40  and front insert  45  may act as a cap or stop that prevents socket contacts  15  from exiting contact apertures  50 . Contact apertures  55  are also sized to permit socket contacts  15  to partly enter but not pass completely through contact apertures  55 . Preferably, contact apertures  55  are configured in complementary relation to the lengthwise nonuniform cross-sectional area of socket contacts  15  to prevent socket contacts  15  from passing completely through contact apertures  55 . As best illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , contact apertures  55  may include a large diameter portion  105  and a small diameter portion  110  where the large portion  105  is sized to accept socket contacts  15  and the small portion  110  is sized to accept plug contacts  20 . As with contact apertures  50 , other suitable structures may be used for contact apertures  55  to prevent socket contacts  15  from passing completely therethrough. 
         [0024]    Preferably, rear insert  40  and front insert  45  include one or more alignment features to operatively couple the rear insert  40  with the front insert  45  and to prevent relative rotation from occurring between rear insert  40  and front insert  45 , thus keeping contact apertures  50  and  55  aligned. Alignment features may include keys and keyways, pins and sockets, tongues and grooves, a unique array, such as a rotationally non-symmetric array, of contact apertures  50  and  55 , or other suitable structures for aligning two components. For example, when rear insert  40  and front insert  45  are brought together, alignment knobs  46  and  47  projecting from the rear  100  of front insert  45  preferably fit into divots  41  and  42  formed in the front  95  of rear insert  40 . Preferably knobs  46  and  47  are of different sizes, and divots  41  and  42  are correspondingly of different sizes so that only one angular orientation of rear insert  40  with respect to front insert  45  results in knobs  46  and  47  fitting into divots  41  and  42 . Other alignment mechanisms may be used, such as knobs of the same size but differentially spaced and having corresponding divots, alignment grooves and projections, or other suitable mechanisms. When knobs  46  and  47  are fitted into divots  41  and  42 , alignment projection  43  on rear insert  40  is properly aligned with front insert  45  for insertion into front shell  35 . One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the locations of portions of alignment features, such as a projection and a groove, may be swapped between one component and another. 
         [0025]    Latch clip  60  engages rear insert  40 . Preferably, latch clip  60  includes a “C” shaped clip portion  115  ( FIG. 1 ) that engages, or snap fits onto, a flange  120  on rear insert  40 . The elongate base portion  74  of “T” shaped latch  70  overlies recesses  71  and  72  formed in top surfaces of rear insert  40  and front insert  45 , respectively. Preferably, elongate base portion  74  of “T” shaped latch  70  forms a cantilever beam with sufficient movement to permit knob  65  to pass into front shell  35  and to permit “T” shaped latch  70  to engage and disengage plug  10 , as described below. 
         [0026]    The assembled rear insert  40 , front insert  45 , socket contacts  15 , and latch clip  60  are inserted into front shell  35 . Alignment projection  43  of rear insert  40  slides into alignment groove  125  of front shell  35 . Thus contact apertures  50  and  55 , and therefore socket contacts  15 , are preferably placed in a known, repeatable position with respect to front shell  35 . 
         [0027]    Latch  70  slides into clip alignment groove  73  ( FIG. 8 ) in front shell  35 , and knob  65  projects through clip groove  75 . The combination of latch  70  engaging groove  73  and the proximity of knob  65  to the sidewalls of clip groove  75  prevents, or substantially prevents, latch clip  60  from rotating about a longitudinal axis of socket  5 . Preventing rotational movement facilitates reliable operation of latch clip  60  and contributes to preventing wear occurrence of latch clip  60 , front shell  35 , and rear insert  40 . The “T” shaped latch  70  projects through the end of clip groove  75  for engaging plug  10  as described below. 
         [0028]    Rear shell  30  engages exterior threads  130  on front shell  35  and is releasably secured to front shell  35  to hold rear insert  40  and front insert  45  in contact, or substantially in contact, with each other. Other suitable releasable connections may be used that do not cause damage or inelastic (plastic) deformation to rear shell  30  or to front shell  35  when they are separated or joined. Preferably, the front end  135  of front insert  45  engages a lip  140  formed proximate the front end  85  of front shell  35  to prevent longitudinal movement of front insert  45  toward or past the front end  85  of front shell  35 . Longitudinal movement of rear insert  40  towards rear shell  30  is mitigated or prevented by contact between rear shell  30  and the rear end  150  of rear insert  40 . In other words, lip  140  and rear shell  30  preferably cooperate to retain rear insert  40  and front insert  45  and may clamp them together. In a preferred arrangement, when rear shell  30  is secured to front shell  35 , a compressive force is imparted to rear insert  40  and front insert  45 , but none of rear shell  30 , front shell  35 , rear insert  40 , and front insert  45  are permanently deformed or damaged. 
         [0029]    Socket contacts  15  are preferably prevented from longitudinal movement relative to one or more of front shell  35 , rear insert  40 , and front insert  45 , or from substantial enough longitudinal movement to become disconnected from the power or data carriers (not illustrated). Such longitudinal movement restriction is a consequence of the inability of socket contacts  15  to pass through contact apertures  50  and  55  and the inability of rear insert  40  and front insert  45  to move longitudinally, or substantially longitudinally relative to one or more of front shell  35 , rear insert  40 , and front insert  45 . 
         [0030]    Backshell  25  is secured to rear shell  30  in a manner that compresses an electrical power or data conductor without imparting a twisting force to the electrical power or data conductor. For example, two backshell portions  155  may be located so a lip  160  ( FIG. 2 ) engages a rim  165  on rear shell  30 . Preferably, alignment grooves  170  in backshell portions  155  are engaged with alignment projections  175  on rim  165  to locate the backshell  25  with respect to the rear shell  30  and to prevent backshell  25  from rotating once installed on rear shell  30 . Backshell portions  155  are preferably identical, or substantially identical, to each other and preferably include an alignment knob  156  and a corresponding alignment aperture  157 . Preferably, a radius is applied to the rim of alignment knob  156  to facilitate insertion into aperture  157 . Likewise, a radius is preferably applied to the rim of aperture  157  to facilitate receiving alignment knob  156 . Backshell portions  155  are held together, for example, by screws  180  or other suitable fastener. One advantage from compressing an electrical power or data conductor without twisting the electrical power or data conductor is that no, or minimal, deformations are imparted to the electrical power or data conductor that could alter the performance characteristics of, or damage, the electrical power or data conductor. 
       Plug 
       [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 , and  4 - 7 , plug connector  10  includes a strain relief, such as backshell  25  coupled to a rear shell  30 , which is coupled to a front shell  185 . Backshell  25 , rear shell  30  and front shell  185  are preferably electrically conductive to provide grounding and EMI protection for plug contacts  20  and conductors connected to plug contacts  20  and are preferably made of materials as described above. Rear shell  30  and front shell  185  cooperate to releasably contain a rear insert  190  and a front insert  195 , which in turn cooperate to releasably contain plug contacts  20  in contact apertures  200  and  205 . Preferably, no retaining clip is needed to keep plug contacts  20  in contact apertures  200  and  205  when plug  10  is assembled, and contact apertures  200  and  205  may be mutually spaced apart relatively close to one another as described above with respect to contact apertures  50  and  55 . Rear insert  190  and front insert  195  are preferably made from an electrically insulating material such as a glass filled polyetherimide or other suitable material. 
         [0032]    Plug connector  10  is preferably assembled as follows. A cable or other suitable data or power conveying device (not illustrated) is threaded through an opening  210  in rear shell  30 . The cable preferably includes one or more individual power or data carriers. Individual power or data carriers, such as insulated wires or wire bundles, internally reflective fiber optics, or other suitable carrier, are isolated and separated from one another. Each carrier is threaded through a contact aperture  200  through rear insert  190  and suitably prepared for insertion into plug contacts  20 . A plug contact  20  is placed over and crimped onto each carrier, or otherwise suitably attached to each carrier. 
         [0033]    Plug contacts  20  are loaded, or inserted, through contact apertures  200  from the front side  215  of rear insert  190 , in other words, the side facing or proximal to the socket connector  5  when the socket connector  5  and plug connector  10  are connected. Contact apertures  200  are sized to permit plug contacts  20  to partly enter contact apertures  200  but not to pass completely through them. Preferably, contact apertures  200  are configured in complementary relation to the lengthwise nonuniform cross-sectional area of plug contacts  20  to prevent plug contacts  20  from passing completely through contact apertures  200 . For example, contact apertures  200  may taper so they are larger at the front than at the back, contact apertures  200  may be stepped internally to create a shoulder that prevents plug contacts  20  from passing completely through, or contact apertures  200  may be sized to permit only a portion of plug contacts  20  to enter, for example, by making a large diameter portion or a shoulder on a plug contact  20  too large to enter contact apertures  200  (as illustrated in  FIG. 5 ). Other suitable structures may be used for contact apertures  200  to prevent plug contacts  20  from completely passing through. 
         [0034]    Plug contacts  20  are then inserted, or loaded, into contact apertures  205  in front insert  195  through the rear side  220  of front insert  195 . Contact apertures  205  are sized to permit a portion of plug contacts  20  to pass through contact apertures  205 , but to restrain the entirety of plug contacts  20  from passing completely through contact apertures  205 . Preferably, contact apertures  205  are configured in complementary relation to the lengthwise nonuniform cross-sectional area of plug contacts  20  to prevent plug contacts  20  from passing completely through contact apertures  205 . For example, contact apertures  205  preferably include a large diameter portion  206  and a small diameter portion  207 . A shoulder  21  on plug contact  20  fits into large diameter portion  206 , but cannot pass through small diameter portion  207  thus preventing plug contacts  20  from passing completely through contact apertures  205  without employing a retaining clip. 
         [0035]    Preferably, rear insert  190  and front insert  195  include one or more alignment features to operatively couple the rear insert  190  with the front insert  195  and to prevent relative rotation from occurring between rear insert  190  and front insert  195 , thus keeping contact apertures  200  and  205  aligned. For example, when rear insert  190  and front insert  195  are brought together, alignment knobs  196  and  197  projecting from the rear  220  of front insert  195  preferably fit into divots  191  and  192  formed in the front  215  of rear insert  190 . Preferably knobs  196  and  197  are of different sizes, and divots  191  and  192  are correspondingly of different sizes so that only one angular orientation of rear insert  190  with respect to front insert  195  results in knobs  196  and  197  fitting into divots  191  and  192 . Other alignment mechanisms may be used, such as knobs of the same size but differentially spaced and having corresponding divots, alignment grooves and projections, or other suitable mechanisms. When knobs  196  and  197  are fitted into divots  191  and  192 , alignment projection  240  on rear insert  190  is preferably aligned with alignment projection  235  on front insert  195  for insertion into front shell  185 . 
         [0036]    The assembled rear insert  190 , front insert  195 , and plug contacts  20  are inserted into the inside  225  of front shell  185 . The inside  225  of front shell  185  preferably has a constant, or relatively constant, diameter and is preferably dimensioned to create a press fit or an interference fit with rear insert  190  and front insert  195 . Preferably, an alignment groove  230  is formed in the inside  225  of front shell  185 . Alignment projections  235  and  240  on front insert  195  and rear insert  190 , respectively, preferably align with each other and are inserted into alignment groove  230  when the assembled rear insert  190 , front insert  195 , and plug contacts  20  are inserted into the front shell  185 . Thus contact apertures  200  and  205 , and therefore plug contacts  20 , are preferably placed in a known, repeatable position with respect to front shell  185 . 
         [0037]    Rear shell  30  engages exterior threads  245  on front shell  185  and is releasably secured to front shell  185  to hold rear insert  190  and front insert  195  in contact, or substantially in contact, with each other. Other suitable releasable connections may be used that do not cause damage or inelastic (plastic) deformation to rear shell  30  or to front shell  185  when they are separated or joined. Preferably, the press fit or interference fit between rear insert  190  and front insert  195  on the one hand and front shell  185  on the other holds front insert  195  in contact, or substantially in contact, with rear insert  190 . Alternatively, front insert  195  may engage a lip  250  formed in the inside  225  of front shell  185  to prevent longitudinal movement of front insert  195  toward or past the front end  255  of front shell  185 . Longitudinal movement of rear insert  190  towards rear shell  30  is prevented or mitigated by contact between rear shell  30  and the rear end  260  of rear insert  190 . In other words, lip  250  and rear shell  30  preferably cooperate to retain rear insert  190  and front insert  195  and may clamp them together. In a preferred arrangement, when rear shell  30  is secured to front shell  185 , a compressive force is imparted to rear insert  190  and front insert  195 , but none of rear shell  30 , front shell  185 , rear insert  190 , and front insert  195  are permanently deformed or damaged. 
         [0038]    Plug contacts  20  are preferably prevented from longitudinal movement with respect to one or more of front shell  185 , rear insert  190 , and front insert  195 , or from substantial enough longitudinal movement to become disconnected from the power or data carriers. Preferably, such longitudinal movement restriction is a consequence of the inability of plug contacts  20  to pass completely through contact apertures  200  and  205  and the inability of rear insert  190  and front insert  195  to move longitudinally, or substantially longitudinally with respect to one or more of front shell  185 , rear insert  190 , and front insert  195 . In other embodiments, both a press or interference fit and engagement with a lip on the inside of a front shell, for example, as described above, may be used to hold front and rear inserts together. 
         [0039]    Backshell  25  is secured to rear shell  30 . For example, two backshell portions  155  may be located so a lip  160  engages a rim  165  on rear shell  30 . Preferably, alignment grooves  170  in backshell portions  155  are engaged with alignment projections  175  on rim  165  to properly locate the backshell  25  with respect to the rear shell  30  and to prevent backshell  25  from rotating once installed on rear shell  30 . Backshell portions  155  are preferably identical, or substantially identical, to each other and preferably include an alignment knob  156  and a corresponding alignment aperture  157 . Preferably, a radius is applied to the rim of alignment knob  156  to facilitate insertion into aperture  157 . Likewise, a radius is preferably applied to the rim of aperture  157  to facilitate receiving alignment knob  156 . Backshell portions  155  are held together, for example, by screws  180  or other suitable fastener. 
         [0040]    Assembling backshell  25  from two or more pieces facilitates locating a cable or other suitable data or power conveying device therethrough, and facilitates compressing a cable or other suitable data or power conveying device to provide electrical grounding, EMI signal protection, or both. Preferably, backshell portions  155  are made from a nickel plated composite material to facilitate electrical grounding, EMI protection, or both. 
       Joining Socket &amp; Plug 
       [0041]    When an assembled socket connector  5  is connected to an assembled plug connector  10 , an alignment projection  80  on front shell  35  of socket  5  engages the alignment groove  230  formed in front shell  185  of plug  10 . Engaging alignment projection  80  with alignment groove  230  aligns socket contacts  15  with plug contacts  20  so they may be securely connected without damage. 
         [0042]    As socket connector  5  and plug connector  10  are further brought into engagement, front shell  185  of plug connector  10  slides over a reduced diameter portion of front shell  35  of socket connector  5  until locking lip  265  engages “T” shaped latch  70 . “T” shaped latch  70  preferably includes angled wings  270  that cause the “T” shaped latch  70  to flex away from front shell  185  as locking lip  265  passes over angled wings  270 . Once locking lip  265  passes angled wings  270 , the “T” shaped latch  70  snaps towards front shell  185  to provide an audible click indicating that socket  5  and plug  10  are locked together. Angled wings  270  engage locking lip  265  to prevent socket  5  and plug  10  from disengaging each other. 
         [0043]    Pressing on knob  65  causes “T” shaped latch  70  to flex away from front shell  185  into recesses  72  and  71  and disengage angled wings  270  from locking lip  265 . With knob  65  depressed, socket connector  5  may be disengaged from plug connector  10 . 
       Disassembly 
       [0044]    Releasably securing backshells  25  to rear shells  30  and releasably securing rear shells  30  to front shells  35  and  185  permits facilitated access to socket contacts  15  and plug contacts  20  without damaging or deforming components used to form socket connector  5  and plug connector  10 . By disassembling the threaded connections the rear shells  30  may be removed from front shells  35  and  185  thus permitting rear inserts  40  and  190  to be removed. Removing rear inserts  40  and  190  exposes socket contacts  15  and plug contacts  20 , thus facilitating repairs or modifications needed for socket  5  or plug  10 . In other words, replacing or repairing socket contacts  15  and plug contacts  20  is relatively easily accomplished by unthreading rear shells  30  from front shells  35  and  185  without using tools and without damaging or deforming socket connector  5  or plug connector  10 . Releasably securing backshells  25  to rear shells  30  and releasably securing rear shells  30  to front shells  35  and  185  also preferably permits backshells  25 , rear shells  30 , and front shells  35  and  185  to be reused when repairing or replacing socket contacts  15  or plug contacts  20 . In alternative embodiments, a thread locking material may be used between the threads of rear shells  30  and front shells  35  and  185 , which may require pliers or other suitable tools to initially rotate the rear shells  30  with respect to the front shells  35  and  185 . 
         [0045]    Alternatively, rear shells  30  may be non-releasably secured to front shells  35  or  185  for a connection that does not provide facilitated access to the contacts  15  and  20 , the rear inserts  40  and  190 , or the front inserts  45  and  195 . 
         [0046]    It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims.