The present invention relates to electrical connectors and, more particularly, to electrical connectors for improving the connection between a current carrying wire and a `banana` type connector and especially between large-sized wire cables used in high power audio systems and the `banana` type sockets found on many loudspeakers and amplifiers used in audio systems.
In entertainment-type audio systems, including systems used in the home, the loudspeakers have been traditionally connected to the audio amplifier through loudspeaker wires with the actual interconnection between the end of the wires and the loudspeaker and the amplifier effected through various types of electrical connectors. Historically, these connectors have included a `banana` type jack and socket arrangement in which the socket includes an externally threaded sleeve having a smooth internal bore that receives the male connecting pin of the cooperating jack. The pin usually is designed to resiliently expand in the radial direction to resiliently engage the interior bore of the threaded sleeve. The `banana` type sockets have generally been satisfactory for their intended purpose since their `plug-in` design makes them convenient to use and they provide a relatively good electrical connection. In recent years, however, there has been a tendency in home and commercial audio entertainment systems to vastly increase the power level delivered to the loudspeakers. These higher power systems have included amplifiers adapted to provide several hundred watts of power to loudspeakers capable of handling those power levels. It has been recognized in these powerful systems that losses can be encountered in the traditionally used loudspeaker wire. In response to this realization, these higher power systems have used much larger capacity cables to deliver the audio energy to the loudspeakers. However, the traditional interconnection between the larger capacity speaker wire and the loudspeaker and/or amplifiers is still generally limited to the banana type plug-in-jack arrangement. These types of sockets can also introduce losses into the system, in part, because the quality of the electrical connection between the male jack and the female socket depends upon the radial resilience of the male pin. Accordingly, there is a need for a more audio-power efficiency interconnection between high capacity speaker wires used in high power audio systems and the banana-type sockets traditionally used on the vast majority of existing loudspeakers and amplifiers.