A coil spring for use in a cavity, such as in a groove of a pin, a housing, or both. The cavity can also be part of a seal assembly. The coil spring can have a longitudinal component positioned within the plurality of interconnected coils that runs along the spring coil axis in order to increase rigidity of the coil spring. The longitudinal component applies a load against the coil spring and/or provides restriction against the coil spring taking a shape or size different than that of the coil spring retaining groove.

A pawl return spring includes a surface contacting portion adapted to contact a transmission housing. The surface contacting portion includes a first connection region and a second connection region opposite the first connection region. The pawl return spring includes an active coil region connected to the first connection region and disposed about a central longitudinal axis to provide torsional effort to the system. The pawl return spring also includes an inactive coil region connected to the second connection region and disposed about the central longitudinal axis that does not provide torsional effort to the system.

A latching connector having a pin, a housing, and a canted coil spring is disclosed. The housing has an opening that slidably receives the pin. The housing and the pin each have a groove that is sized and dimensioned to receive a portion of the canted coil spring. The pin groove and housing groove have a curved surface with a radius that is equal to or larger than the major axis of the canted coil spring. The canted coil spring has an outer diameter that is equal to or larger than the diameter of the housing groove. Together, the pin, housing, and canted coil spring provide a latching connector with a reliable and consistent connect force and disconnect force. The latching connector provides improved electrical conductivity from the pin to the housing by providing multiple contact points with the canted coil spring.

According to certain embodiments, a container assembly for protecting a flexible panel comprises a back panel positioned behind the flexible panel and offset by a first substantially airtight compartment, a front panel positioned in front of the flexible panel and offset by a second substantially airtight compartment, and a stiffener panel positioned in front of the front panel and offset by a third substantially airtight compartment. The front, back, and stiffener panels each comprise one or more rigid materials. Each rigid material has higher natural frequency and lower excursion properties than the flexible panel. The container assembly is tuned using fixed, gas-piston principles to impart the higher natural frequency and lower excursion properties of the rigid materials to the flexible panel such that the natural frequency of the flexible panel increases and the extent to which the flexible panel experiences excursions greater than 350 microns is reduced.

According to certain embodiments, a vibration-isolating case comprises a resilient, plastic-composite walled case and vibration-damping footing located at the bottom side of the case. Each vibration-damping footing comprises a mounting plate, cushions, and a damping system. The mounting plate has a flat surface and side surfaces extending from the flat surface to form a channel-shaped structure. The flat surface is positioned proximate a bottom outer surface of the case and couples to at least one brace within the case. The cushions are positioned within the channel-shaped structure such that the side surfaces of the mounting plate protect at least a top portion of each cushion. The damping system is positioned between the cushions and comprises a tray containing a quantity of inelastic particulate. A mechanical path exists between the vibration-damping footing and a platform mounted within the case.

According to some embodiments, a vibration-isolating system comprises a case, one or more environmental buffers, a platform suspended within the case by a plurality of wire rope isolators, a crumple zone beneath the platform and configured with one or more shock-absorbing structures, and a container assembly configured on the platform. The container assembly is operable to protect a payload comprising a flexible panel. The container assembly comprises a back panel positioned behind the flexible panel and offset by a first substantially airtight compartment, a front panel positioned in front of the flexible panel and offset by a second substantially airtight compartment, and a stiffener panel positioned in front of the front panel and offset by a third substantially airtight compartment.

A coil spring has a longitudinal component located within the coil spring, where the longitudinal component runs generally along the direction of a longitudinal axis of the coil spring and where the longitudinal component is in contact with the coil spring, characterized in that the longitudinal component biases the coil spring into a shape different from its natural shape and/or from the shape into which the coil spring is biased by a groove in which the coil spring is accommodated. Moreover, the coil spring may be shaped by means of the described longitudinal component. Further, a connector part is disclosed that has the described coil spring and is configured for being connected with a mating connector part. And finally, a connector is disclosed which has the described connector part and the mating connector part.