Patent ID: 7086886

Claim:
A connector system comprising: a first tubular connector body comprising a housing having a first body portion and first contact portions; a second tubular connector body comprising a housing having a second body portion configured to telescopingly engage with the first body portion and second contact portions configured to axially mate with the first contact portions; an annular collar rotatively held on the first body, wherein the annular collar encircles the first and second body portions when the first and second body portions are engaged; a spring disposed inside the collar, the ends of the spring being confined between the first body and the collar so as yieldingly to resist rotation of the collar relatively to the first body; at least one collar tab on the collar; and at least one receptacle tab on the second body axially opposed to the at least one collar tab for coupling the collar and first body to the second body, wherein the collar tab and the receptacle tab have opposed flared cam surfaces cooperatively producing rotation of the collar relative to the second body as the first and second bodies are telescoped to a mated contact position, the cam surfaces guiding the collar tab around the body tab, wherein the receptacle tab includes an inclined back surface that extends at a negative angle relative to an axis of rotation of the collar, wherein the coiled spring yields as the collar is rotated by the collar tab and receptacle tab during contact mating, and the spring then rotating the collar tab to a latching position axially behind the receptacle tab thereby releasably locking the connector bodies in mated contacting position.