Patent ID: 8357016

Claim:
A plug and jack electrical connector arrangement for connecting together the conductors ( 15 ; 115 ) of a pair of cables ( 16 ; 116 ), comprising: (a) a housing ( 4 ; 5 ) containing an open-ended chamber having a first end for receiving one cable end; (b) a plurality of cylindrical contacts ( 11 ; 12 ) connected with the bare ends of the conductors of the cable, respectively; (c) a contact support member ( 17 ; 117 ; 217 ) containing a plurality of parallel longitudinal support passages ( 18 ; 118 ; 218 ) terminating at one end in corresponding outwardly projecting resilient guide sleeve portions ( 18 a , 118 a ; 218 a ), respectively, said contacts being mounted concentrically within, and having free ends projecting collinearly outwardly from, said guide sleeve portions, respectively; (d) a contact holder member ( 21 ; 121 ; 221 ) containing a plurality of parallel longitudinal holder passages ( 20 ; 120 ; 220 ) collinearly arranged opposite said sleeve projections, respectively; and (e) a latch arrangement for positioning said contact holder member longitudinally relative to said contact support member, including: (1) at least one latch hook ( 23 ; 123 ) connected with one of said contact holder and contact support members and extending longitudinally in the direction of the other of said contact holder and contact support members; (2) a first recess ( 24 a ; 124 a ) arranged in the other of said contact holder and contact support members for engagement with said latch hook when said members are longitudinally displaced toward a first partially-assembled spaced condition in which said contact free ends extend partially into the adjacent ends of said support passages, respectively; and (3) a second recess ( 24 b ; 124 b ) arranged in said other member for engagement with said latch hook when said members are longitudinally displaced toward a completely assembled contiguous condition, thereby to cause said resilient guide sleeve portions ( 18 a ; 118 a ) to extend partially into said passages contained in said contact holder member, respectively, whereby said contacts are locked in said holder passages, respectively; (f) said completely assembled contact holder and contact support members defining a contact mounting unit ( 9 ; 10 ; 210 ) that is mounted within the other end of said housing chamber.