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EP0252601A1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Sealed connector having unitary molded housing

Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
•
Filing: 1987-06-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-06-04
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Abstract

Abstract A dual molded sealed electrical connector having deformable seals (22, 24, 52) adhering to relatively rigid body portions (20, 50, 54) establishing sealing integrity for individual pin (70) and socket (80) terminals joining corresponding conductors. An interface seal (22) surrounds a cavity (32) containing one terminal (70) and receives a cylindrical protuberance (60) on the other connector housing (12). The seal (22) is deflected radially outward upon engaging a conical surface (60c) on the protuberance (60). The connector bodies comprise one-piece molded members formed sequentially of different materials in the same mold.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert Graham Lundergan
  • 👤 Anil C. Thakrar

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 02:37
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R9/00; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/52; H01R13/5219

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 177 words
A detachable electrical connector for use in establishing an interconnection between conductors in one or more circuits comprising: first (10) and second (12) matable insulated connnector housings; at least one cavity (32) extending through the first connector housing (10); at least one relatively rigid protuberance (60) on a mating end (51) of the second connector housing (12), a bore (60d) in the second housing extending through each protuberance (60); matable electrical terminals (70, 80) in corresponding bores (60d) and cavities (32); the connector being characterized in that the first housing (10) comprises a unitary molded member having a relatively rigid portion (20) and a relatively deformable sealing portion (22), adjacent the mating face (11) of the first housing (10), each cavity (32) in the first housing (10) extending through the relatively rigid portion (20) and the relatively deformable sealing portion (22) and comprising means for receiving a corresponding protuberance (60) whereby the relatively deformable sealing portion (22) establishes sealing integrity around a corresponding protuberance (60) when the first (10) and the second (12) connector housings are mated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 177 words
A detachable electrical connector for use in establishing an interconnection between conductors in one or more circuits comprising: first (10) and second (12) matable insulated connnector housings; at least one cavity (32) extending through the first connector housing (10); at least one relatively rigid protuberance (60) on a mating end (51) of the second connector housing (12), a bore (60d) in the second housing extending through each protuberance (60); matable electrical terminals (70, 80) in corresponding bores (60d) and cavities (32); the connector being characterized in that the first housing (10) comprises a unitary molded member having a relatively rigid portion (20) and a relatively deformable sealing portion (22), adjacent the mating face (11) of the first housing (10), each cavity (32) in the first housing (10) extending through the relatively rigid portion (20) and the relatively deformable sealing portion (22) and comprising means for receiving a corresponding protuberance (60) whereby the relatively deformable sealing portion (22) establishes sealing integrity around a corresponding protuberance (60) when the first (10) and the second (12) connector housings are mated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 61 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein each protuberance (60) has a free end adjacent the mating end of the second housing (12) and a base (60c), the base having a conical contour, the relatively deformable sealing portion (22) of the first housing (10) being at least partially outwardly expandable upon engagement with the conical contour of the protuberance base (60c).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
The electrical connector of claim 2 wherein the sealing portion (22) comprises a cylindrical lip (22a) extending outwardly from the mating face of the first housing (10).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 51 words
The electrical connector of claim 3 wherein a plurality of protuberances (60) are positioned side by side on the mating end of the second housing (12), and a plurality of separate lips (27a) are positoned on the mating face of the first housing (10) oriented in alignment with corresponding protuberances (60).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 37 words
The electrical connector of claim 3 wherein the cylindrical lip (22a) has a free end with a stepped contour (22c, 22d, 22e) comprising means for forming plural discrete sealing contacts upon engagement with the conical surface (60c).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 50 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 further comprising second relatively deformable sealing portions (24) on a rear end of the first (10) and second (12) housings, the second relatively deformable portions (24) comprising means for sealing a conductor after insertion of one of the electrical terminals (70 or 80) therethrough.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 34 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the relatively rigid portions (20) and the relatively deformable portions (22) are formed of different insulative materials joined together at the interface by a chemical affinity therebetween.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 18 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the relatively deformable portions (22) are formed of an elastomeric material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 56 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 further comprising a rigid molded flange (56) extending from a relatively rigid portion of one connector housing and a peripheral molded sealing gasket (58) on one surface of the flange (56), the flange (56) and the sealing gasket (58) each being part of the one unitary molded connector housing (12).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 24 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein each terminal (70, 80) is retained within a rigid portion (20, 50) of each housing (10, 12).

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3059210A Cited
DE2038755A1 Cited
US4204739A Cited

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