Connector for electrical circuits

1. A connector for interconnecting or mutually isolating two or more electrical circuits, comprising first and second inter-engageable connector parts, the first part comprising a spigot extending along an axis and at least one first contact for connection to a respective electrical circuit, the second connector part comprising a socket into which the spigot is to be inserted and at least one second contact for connection to a respective electrical circuit, the second part supporting at least one member projecting radially into the socket, the first part defining at least one groove for receipt of the member, a first contact holder of electrically insulating material carrying the at least one first contact and a second contact holder of electrically insulating material carrying the at least one second contact, wherein the first contact holder has a first shroud disposed around the at least one first contact, the first shroud extending axially beyond the at least one first contact, and the second contact holder has a second shroud disposed around the at least one second contact, the second shroud extending axially beyond the at least one second contact, the contact holders being arranged such that when the spigot is received in the socket, the connector parts are moveable between a first axial position in which one of the first and second shrouds is received within the other of the first and second shrouds but the first and second contacts are axially separated and a second axial position in which one of the first and second shrouds is received within the other and the first and second contacts are engaged.

2. The connector according to claim 1 wherein in the first axial position there is a clearance between the first and second shrouds to allow for relative rotation of the connector parts about the axis.

3. The connector according to claim 1 wherein one of the first and second shrouds is in the form of a male shroud spigot that is receivable within a female recess defined by the other of the first and second shrouds.

4. The connector according to claim 3 wherein a first part of the female recess is a channel in which at least a leading end of the male shroud spigot is received when the connector parts are in the first axial position, the channel at least partially circumscribing the axis so as to accommodate relative rotation of the connector parts about the axis.

5. The connector according to claim 4 wherein a second part of the female recess comprises a bore or socket for receipt of the male shroud spigot.

6. The connector according to claim 4 wherein the male shroud spigot has at least one recess on its outer surface to accommodate its receipt in the channel.

7. The connector according to claim 3 wherein the male shroud spigot extends from a main body of one of the first or second contact holders.

8. The connector according to claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of first contacts within the first shroud.

9. The connector according to claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of second contacts, each contact having a second shroud.

10. The connector according to claim 9 wherein at least some of the second shrouds are joined together around two or more second contacts.

11. The connector according to claim 1 wherein the at least one first and second contacts are in the form of electrically conductive pins.

12. The connector according to claim 1 wherein the first contact holder supports male contacts and the second contact holder supports female contacts, the male contacts being received within the female contacts in the second axial position.

13. The connector according to claim 11 wherein the electrically conductive pins of the at least one first contact have a male end portion and the electrically conductive pins of the at least one second contact have a female end portion, the male end portion being received in the female end portion for electrical contact in the second axial position.