Sealed electrical connecting means

Claim 2

a sealed multi-contact electrical connector intended for use on a bulkhead, said connector comprising: a housing comprising first and second housing parts, said parts being identical, each of said parts comprising a cylindrical body portion having a mating face and a rearward face, a plurality of contact receiving cavities extending through each of said housing parts, each of said cavities having an enlarged portion extending inwardly from said rearward face and having a constricted portion adjoining said enlarged portion, said first and second parts having said rearward faces against each other with said mating faces facing in opposite directions and with said cavities in axial alignment, an electrical contact pin in each of said cavities, each of said contact pins having a central enlarged diameter portion, adjacent sealing portions on each side of said enlarged portion, and a contact portion at each end thereof extending from said sealing portions, said enlarged portion of each pin being in said enlarged cavity portions of said housings, and said sealing portions being driven relatively into said constricted portions of said cavities and being in sealing relationsHip whereby, said connector is sealed between said mating faces.

Claim 3

A connector as set forth in claim 1, each of said parts having a mounting flange extending laterally from said body portion, said mounting flanges having surfaces which are co-planar with said rearward faces.

Claim 4

A connector as set forth in claim 1, each of said housing parts being of hard thermoplastic material.

Claim 5

A connector as set forth in claim 3, localized portions of said housing parts which are immediately adjacent to said constricted portions of said cavities being elastically deformed and internally stressed whereby said localized portions are resiliently held against said sealing portions of said contact terminals, the remaining portions of said housing parts which are remote from said cavities being unstressed and undeformed.

Claim 6

A connector as set forth in claim 4, said sealing portions of said contact terminals having at least one radially projecting tooth extending endlessly therearound, said tooth having an edge, said tooth having a diameter at said edge which is greater than the diameter of said constricted portions of said cavities.

Claim 7

A sealed multi-contact electrical connector intended for use on a bulkhead, said connector comprising: a housing comprising first and second housing parts, each of said parts comprising a body portion having a mating face and a rearward face, a plurality of contact receiving cavities extending through each of said housing parts, each of said cavities having an enlarged portion extending inwardly from said rearward face and having a constricted portion adjoining said enlarged portion, said first and second parts having said rearward faces against each other with said mating faces facing in opposite directions and with said cavities in axial alignment, an electrical contact terminal member in each of said cavities, each of said contact terminal members having a central enlarged diameter portion, adjacent sealing portions on each side of said enlarged portion, and a contact portion of reduced diameter at each end thereof extending from said sealing portions, said enlarged portions of each terminal member being in said enlarged cavity portions of said housings, and said sealing portions being driven relatively into said constricted portions of said cavities and being in sealing relationship whereby, said connector is sealed between said mating faces.

Claim 8

A sealed multi-contact electrical connector intended for use on a bulkhead, said connector comprising: a housing comprising first and second housing parts, each of said parts comprising a body portion having a mating face and a rearward face, a plurality of contact receiving cavities extending through each of said housing parts, each of said cavities having an enlarged portion extending inwardly from said rearward face and having a constricted portion adjoining said enlarged portion, said first and second parts having said rearward faces against each other with said mating faces facing in opposite directions and with said cavities in axial alignment, an electrical contact terminal member in each of said cavities, each of said contact terminal members having a central enlarged diameter portion, adjacent sealing portions on each side of said enlarged portion, and a contact portion of reduced diameter at each end thereof extending from said sealing portions, said enlarged portions of each terminal member being in said enlarged cavity portions of said housings, and said sealing portions being driven relatively into said constricted portions of said cavities and being in sealing relationship whereby, said connector is sealed between said mating faces.