Sealed electrical connector

Claim 2

An electrical connector member comprising: an elongated insulator body having a front face and rear face; a plurality of contact passages in said body extending from said front face to said rear face, said passages being spaced from the outer periphery of said body; a projection on said body extending rearwardly from said rear face, said projection having a circular cross-section less than the cross-section of said body defining on said rear face a rearwardly facing annular surface; a plurality of longitudinally extending channels in the outer surface of said projection each aligned with a respective one of said passages; at least one longitudinally extending groove in the outer surface of said projection; a boot of elastic pliant material at the rear of said body having a passageway extending therethrough terminating in an enlarged cavity at one end receiving said projection, the wall of said cavity engaging the outer surface of said projection, said boot having a forward edge engaging said annular surface; and a longitudinally extending rib extending inwardly from said wall of said cavity, said rib slidably engaging with said groove to restrain said boot from rotation to said body.

Claim 3

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein there are provided: a plurality of said grooves circumferentially spaced about the outer surface of said projection and a plurality of said ribs aligned and slidably engaged with said grooves.

Claim 4

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 2 wherein: said grooves are alternately disposed with respect to said channels.

Claim 5

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said projection tapers rearwardly to define a frustoconical outer surface; and the wall of said cavity in said boot has a configuration complementary to that of said surface.

Claim 6

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 including: a plurality of integral longitudinally spaced, continuous annular sealing ribs formed on the outer surface of said boot adjacent to the forward end thereof surrounding said projection.

Claim 7

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 including: an electrical contact in each of said passages; a cable mounted in said passageway in said boot, said cable having a plurality of insulated conductors therein extending forwardly into said cavity; and the end portion of each said insulated conductor lying in a respective one of said channels and being electrically connected to the contact in the passage aligned with said channel.

Claim 8

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 6 including: integral retention means in each said passage engaging with the contact therein to restrict said contact against longitudinal movement in said passage.

Claim 9

An electrical connector as set forth in clAim 6 including: a plurality of integral longitudinally spaced annular sealing ribs formed on the wall of said passageway adjacent the rear of said boot, said ribs sealingly engaging the outer surface of said cable.

Claim 10

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the wall of said cavity sealingly engages the outer surface of said projection except at said channels and groove.

Claim 11

An electrical connector member as set forth in claim 1 in combination with a mounting member including an externally threaded boss having a bore extending therethrough wherein: said connector member is mounted in said bore; cooperating surface means are formed in said bore and on the outer surface of said body restraining said body against rotation in said bore; a rearwardly facing shoulder on said boot; and a coupling nut threaded on said boss having an inwardly extending rear flange which acts upon said shoulder to force said boot axially into said bore against said body upon rotation of said nut.

Claim 12

An electrical connector as set forth in claim 10 including: a plurality of integral longitudinally spaced annular sealing ribs formed on the outer surface of said boot forward of said shoulder sealingly engaging the wall of said bore.

Claim 13

An electrical connector member comprising: an elongaged insulator body having a front face and a rear face; a plurality of contact passages in said body extending from said front face to said rear face and disposed adjacent to but spaced from the outer periphery of said body; a central projection on said body extending rearwardly from said rear face, said projection tapering rearwardly to define a frustoconical outer surface, said projection having a cross-section less than that of said body defining on said rear face a rearwardly facing annular surface; a plurality of longitudinally extending channels in the outer surface of said projection each aligned with a respective one of said passages; a plurality of longitudinally extending keyways in the outer surface of said projection disposed alternately between said channels; a boot of elastic pliant material at the rear of said body having a passageway extending therethrough terminating in an enlarged cavity at one end receiving said projection, the wall of said cavity having a frustoconical configuration complementary to the outer surface of said projection whereby said wall sealingly engages the outer surface of said projection, said boot having a forward edge engaging said annular surface; and a plurality of longitudinally extending keys extending inwardly from said wall of said cavity and aligned with said grooves, said keys slidably engaging with said keyways to restrict said boot from rotation relative to said body.

Claim 14

An electrical connector member comprising: an elongaged insulator body having a front face and a rear face; a plurality of contact passages in said body extending from said front face to said rear face and disposed adjacent to but spaced from the outer periphery of said body; a central projection on said body extending rearwardly from said rear face, said projection tapering rearwardly to define a frustoconical outer surface, said projection having a cross-section less than that of said body defining on said rear face a rearwardly facing annular surface; a plurality of longitudinally extending channels in the outer surface of said projection each aligned with a respective one of said passages; a plurality of longitudinally extending keyways in the outer surface of said projection disposed alternately between said channels; a boot of elastic pliant material at the rear of said body having a passageway extending therethrough terminating in an enlarged cavity at one end receiving said projection, the wall of said cavity having a frustoconical configuration complementary to the outer surface of said projection whereby said wall sealingly engages the outer surface of said projection, said boot having a forward edge engaging said annular surface; and a plurality of longitudinally extending keys extending inwardly from said wall of said cavity and aligned with said grooves, said keys slidably engaging with said keyways to restrict said boot from rotation relative to said body.