Patent ID: 7740499

Claim:
An electrical connector comprising: a plug assembly and a receptacle assembly each including a body having a base surface, a revolved surface defining a longitudinal axis and extending from the base surface and at least one electrical contact coupled to the body; a protrusion extending from the revolved surface towards the longitudinal axis of either the plug assembly or the receptacle assembly and a cam surface defined along the revolved surface of the other of the plug assembly and the receptacle assembly; a helical spring positioned against the base surface of either the plug assembly or the receptacle assembly to bias the protrusion against the cam surface; and a thrust bearing positioned between the helical spring and the protrusion to captivate the helical spring to either the plug assembly or the receptacle assembly; wherein upon engagement between the plug assembly and the receptacle assembly the revolved surfaces of the assemblies are positioned to face each other, and, upon rotation of the assemblies with respect to one another, the protrusion is positioned to move along the cam surface causing the at least one electrical contact of the plug assembly to bear against the at least one electrical contact of the receptacle assembly thereby establishing a connection between the plug assembly and the receptacle assembly.