Patent ID: 7025616

Claim:
A quick release electrical connector comprising: one or more first electrical contacts deployed on a first portion of the electrical connector; one or more second electrical contacts deployed on a second portion of the electrical connector; the first portion configured to engage and disengage the second portion wherein each of the first electrical contacts electrically couples and decouples with corresponding ones of the second electrical contacts upon connecting and disconnecting of the electrical connector; a first lock deployed on the first portion about the first electrical contacts, the first lock including a first plurality of teeth and a first plurality of slots; a second lock deployed on the second portion about the second electrical contacts, the second lock including a second plurality of teeth and a second plurality of slots; the second lock configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the second portion between first and second rotational positions, the second lock being biased towards the first rotational position and disposed in the second rotational position when the electrical connector is connected; the second lock being captured to the second portion when in the second rotational position; the first and second pluralities of teeth configured to selectively engage and disengage one another upon connecting and disconnecting the electrical connector, said engagement of the teeth operative to rotationally cam the second lock against its bias from the first rotational position to the second rotational position, said engagement of the teeth further operative to substantially prevent relative axial motion between the first and second portions of the electrical connector when the second lock is in the second rotational position; a shroud deployed on the first portion substantially coaxially about the first lock, the shroud including a plurality of splines disposed on an inner surface thereof; the shroud configured to displace along a longitudinal axis of the first portion between first and second shroud positions, the shroud biased towards the first shroud position, the shroud in the first shroud position when the electrical connector is connected; the second plurality of slots substantially aligned with the first plurality of slots when the second lock is in the second rotational position; and the splines engaged with the first and the second plurality of slots when the electrical connector is connected, said engagement of the splines with the second plurality of slots operative to prevent the second lock from rotating with its bias from the second rotational position.