Patent ID: 7059891

Claim:
Electrical connecting and fastening apparatus for connecting the conductors of a cable with the contacts of a socket member, comprising: (a) a hollow cable ( 4 ), including: (1) a vertically arranged tubular core member ( 5 ) formed from a synthetic plastic electrical insulating material and having inner and outer circumferential surfaces, said core outer circumferential surface containing a plurality of circumferentially spaced helical conductor grooves ( 8 ); and (2) a plurality of helical electrical conductors ( 9 ) arranged in said grooves, respectively; (b) socket means, including: (1) a vertically arranged cylindrical socket member ( 13 ) formed from a synthetic plastic electrical insulating material and having an upper first end containing a downwardly extending bore ( 30 ) having a bottom wall ( 30 a ), and a cylindrical side wall ( 30 b ) having a diameter that corresponds generally with the outer diameter of said core member, thereby to permit axial insertion of said core member within said socket member bore; and (2) a plurality of stationary electrical contacts ( 16 ) arranged in circumferentially spaced relation within and adjacent the side wall of said socket bore; and (c) guide means operable upon progressive axial insertion of said cable within said socket member bore for rotating and twisting the leading end ( 3 ) of said cable about its longitudinal axis and for effecting positive electrical engagement between said conductors and said stationary contacts, respectively, said guide means including: (1) a cylindrical guide projection ( 14 ) extending axially upwardly from said bore bottom wall, said guide projection having an outer circumferential side wall in concentrically spaced relation relative to said bore side wall, the diameter of said projection circumferential surface corresponding generally with and being slightly less than the inner diameter of said core member; and (2) guide rib and slot means ( 6 ; 15 ) arranged between the adjacent circumferential surfaces of said guide projection and said core member.