Patent ID: 7044759

Claim:
An automatically disconnecting plug, comprising: a housing having an interior cavity with an access opening; a drive member rotatably mounted within the interior cavity, the drive member having a central aperture defined by a threaded circumferential sidewall having interior threads; a threaded shaft having exterior threads, a first end and a second end, the shaft extending through the central aperture of the drive member with the exterior threads engaging the interior threads of the threaded circumferential sidewall, such that rotation of the drive member in a first rotational direction causes axial movement of the threaded shaft in a first direction toward the access opening and rotation of the drive member in a second rotational direction causes axial movement of the threaded shaft in a second direction away from the access opening; an electrically conductive first coupling member carried by the first end of the threaded shaft, the first coupling member being adapted to mate with an external mating second coupling member; a drive mechanism for selectively rotating the drive member upon a selected triggering event occurring, whereby the first coupling member is carried by the shaft in the second direction away from the access opening and into the interior cavity of the housing and out of engagement with the second coupling member; and a stop on the housing which is adapted to prevent the second coupling member from being drawn into the housing along with the first coupling member.