Radially mounted spring to connect, lock and unlock, hold snap-on fastening, and for mechanical, electromagnetic shielding, electrical conductivity, thermal dissipation with environmental sealing.

摘要

A mechanism for connecting and disconnecting, locking and unlocking, and holding members (10,12) to one another, including snap-on fasteners, and at the same time providing mechanical, electromagnetic shielding, electrical conductivity, and thermal dissipation, coupled with environmental sealing, is provided by a cylindrical or elliptical body (12) having a circumferential groove (34) therein and a continuous coil spring (22) disposed therein. A housing (10), having a bore (36) sized to accommodate the cylindrical, or spherical, body (12), is provided, and a tapered bottom in the circumferential groove (34) prevents the spring (22) from turning past a vertical line, thus locking or connecting the cylindrical, or spherical, member (12) with the housing or plate (10).