ELECTRICAL CONNECTION

摘要

An electrical connector assembly (10) includes first and second connectors (11, 12) that each has inner and outer contacts, which provides a visual and tactile indication when the two connectors have not been fully mated. The first outer contact is in the form of a helical spring (16) of electrically conductive material which is contacted by the outer second contact (41) and compressed as mating continues until a detent (74) on one connector engages a groove shoulder (116) on the other connector. If connector mating stops before the detent engages the groove shoulder, the spring will push apart the two connectors to clearly indicate that full mating has not been achieved. A front end of the spring is bent to form a prong (31) that engages the first inner contact front end (102) prior to mating but which is deflected out of contact during mating, with the opposite end of the spring forming a rear terminal (29) of the first connector.