Patent ID: 7341457

Claim:
An electrical or optical connector configured for use in a fluid environment, comprising: a fixed male connector part ( 3 ) comprising at least one axial contact pin ( 7 ), and a mobile female connector part ( 1 ) configured to be coupled to the male connector part ( 3 ) and comprising a female contact part in the form of an elastic socket that receives the contact pin ( 7 ) upon coupling of the male connector part with the female connector part; and wherein the coupling is carried out with retraction of at least one axial cover spring-loaded and closing, in a watertight manner, a front face of the female connector part ( 1 ) in an unused position, the female connector part( 1 ) comprising a rear handle ( 11 ) configured to allow coupling or uncoupling of the connector by an arm and an end pincer for gripping the handle ( 11 ) of the female connector part ( 1 ); and wherein a rear body part ( 15 ) of the female connector part ( 1 ) comprises a cavity ( 19 ) that retains with limited angular displacement in axial alignment a ball-joint element ( 13 ) rigidly fixed to the handle ( 11 ), and wherein the ball-joint element ( 13 ) is held in along an axis of the female connector part ( 1 ) by a spring ( 35 ) pushing against ( 37 ) at least one of the rear body part ( 15 ) and the handle ( 11 ); and wherein the ball-joint element ( 13 ) comprises a ball joint ( 25 ) and a neck part ( 29 ) extending from the ball-joint and having a diameter slightly smaller than that of the ball-joint ( 25 ), wherein the neck part ( 29 ) is received, with limited axial angular displacement, by a rear aligning hole ( 27 ) defined by half-rings ( 17 ) diposed within cavity ( 19 ), and at least one longitudinal spline ( 31 ) configured to engage into a complementary groove ( 33 ) in the rear body part ( 15 ) of the female connector part ( 1 ), thereby locking, with limited play, rotation of the ball-joint element ( 13 ) relative to the rear body part ( 15 ) of the female connector part ( 1 ).