Electrical connector interfacial seals

Claim 2

An electrical connector assembly having an environmental seal between a pair of mating interfaces of a first connector member and a second connector member, each of said connector members having axially extending forward portions which are adapted to mate with one another and form a mated connector assembly; said environmental seal being formed of a resilient material and being mounted on one of said connectors, said seal having a rear portion generally fixed on said connector member, an intermediate portion extending forwardly from said rear portion and mounted adjacent the forward portion of said one connector members and a front edge surface which abuts an opening in the other of said connector members upon mating, and forms a sealing surface therebetween, the opening in said other connector member being fixed relative to the rest of said other connector member, said intermediate portion collapsing outwardly upon mating of said connector members.

Claim 3

An environmental seal for a pair of mating connectors, each of said connectors having a plurality of electrical contacts at least a portion of which is mounted in an insulator block; said contacts in one of said connectors being adapted to be mated with the contacts in the other connector; said seal having a rear portion which is generally fixed to a front surface of one of said insulator blocks and a plurality of intermediate portions and front portions, said intermediate and front portions being tubular in shape and having an inner surface which surrounds said contacts of one of said connectors; the insulator block of said other connector having openings formed at the entry of a bore having its contacts mounted therein with the portion of said other insulator block containing said openings being fixed relative to said contacts; said front end portions of said seal engaging said openings upon mating of said connector shells, while said intermediate portion collapses as said connectors are drawn closer together.

Claim 4

An environmental seal for a pair of mating connectors, each of said connectors having a plurality of electrical contacts at least a portion of which is mounted in an insulator block; said contacts in one of said connectors being adapted to be mated with the contacts in the other connector; said seal having a rear portion which is generally fixed to a front surface of one of said insulator blocks and a plurality of intermediate portions and front portions, said intermediate and front portions being tubular in shape and having an inner surface which surrounds said contacts of one of said connectors; the insulator block of said other connector having openings formed at the entry of a bore having its contacts mounted therein with the portion of said other insulator block containing said openings being fixed relative to said contacts; said front end portions of said seal engaging said openings upon mating of said connector shells, while said intermediate portion collapses as said connectors are drawn closer together.

Claim 5

An environmental seal in accordance with claim 2 wherein a groove is formed on the inner surface of said intermediate portion, said intermediate portion collapsing along the plane of said groove.

Claim 6

An environmental seal in accordance with claim 2 wherein said rear portion is formed of a surface which covers at least the entire front surface of said insulator block to which it is mounted.

Claim 7

An environmental seal in accordance with claim 2 wherein said intermediate portion collapses generally radially along the axis of said connectors.

Claim 8

An environmental seal in accordance with claim 2 wherein said seal will provide an effective seal over a range of distances between said connectors.