Patent ID: 7726994

Claim:
An electrical connector for a helmet-mounted optical system comprising: either a receptacle assembly or a plug assembly that is configured to be mechanically coupled either directly or indirectly to a helmet and electrically coupled to optical device that is mounted to the helmet; and the other of the plug assembly and the receptacle assembly is configured to be mechanically and electrically coupled to a battery pack, wherein each assembly includes a body having a rounded surface and at least one electrical contact positioned within the body, wherein a protrusion extends from the rounded surface of either the plug assembly or the receptacle assembly and at least two slots are defined along the rounded surface of the other of the plug assembly and the receptacle assembly and each slot is sized to receive the protrusion, wherein the plug assembly and the receptacle assembly are configured to be releasably mated together in at least two different orientations by inserting the protrusion into one of the slots and rotating either the plug assembly or the receptacle assembly to releasably mount the battery pack to the helmet and establish an electrical connection between the at least one electrical contact of the plug assembly and the at least one electrical contact of the receptacle assembly.