PUSH-PULL CONNECTOR HAVING A SHEAR-RESISTANT LOCKING RING

A push-pull connector including conventional telescopically slidable male and female connector members each provided with an annular peripheral recess, the members being interlocked by a resilient U-shaped packing secured in one of the recesses and extending into an engaged position in the other recess. A disconnect ring, preferably mounted in this other recess, is slidably movable axially of the connector members to forcefully cam the packing out of its interlocking engagement to permit the connector members to be separated. Shear strength of the locking member is increased by specially forming the recess-engaging portion of the U-shaped packing. In particular, this portion is formed as a parallelogram and the arrangement is such that approximately one-half of the parallelogram projects into engagement with the other recess, the other half of the parallelogram remaining in the recess in which the packing is secured. Compressive forces produced by the normal tendency of the connector members to separate are applied in shear substantially along the diagonal of the parallelogram which, since it contains the maximum bulk of the packing, is capable of resisting the shear.