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US5447446A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electrical connector component having secured seal

Assignee: ABB Installation Products International LLC
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Filing: 1992-11-05
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Granted: 1995-09-05
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Expires: 2012-11-05
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Abstract

Abstract An electrical connector component comprises a body member defining a compartment therein having an open end for the receipt of a mating electrical connector component, the body member further defining a recess adjacent the open end thereof, and a sealant for sealing engagement with said mating electrical connector component fixedly secured to the body member and resident in the recess. The body member further defines a mating surface located oppositely with respect to the open end and defines a further recess adjacent the mating surface, the sealant being resident also in the further recess. The sealant comprises a flowable material disposed in first part continuously interiorly of the body member adjacent the open end thereof and in second part continuously exteriorly of the body member adjacent the mating surface. Channels are provided in the body member extending into communication with the first and second recesses whereby a fluid flow-supporting path extends throughout the body member and the sealant material may be introduced into one recess and therefrom through the channels into the second recess.

Inventors

  • 👤 Steven D. Miller

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 12:03
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/005; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/52; H01R13/5219

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 150 words
An electrical connector component comprising a body member defining a compartment therein having an open end for the receipt of a mating electrical connector component, said body member defining an interior recess adjacent said open end thereof, said body member further defining a mating surface located oppositely with respect to said open end and defining an exterior recess adjacent said mating surface, a sealant material disposed in first part continuously interiorly of said body member in said interior recess, in second part continuously exteriorly of said body member in said exterior recess, and in third part interiorly of said body member continuously with said sealant material first and second parts, said body member defining a key structure for polarized receipt of said mating electrical connector component, said sealant material third part being resident at least in part interiorly of said key structure to form a part of said key structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 150 words
An electrical connector component comprising a body member defining a compartment therein having an open end for the receipt of a mating electrical connector component, said body member defining an interior recess adjacent said open end thereof, said body member further defining a mating surface located oppositely with respect to said open end and defining an exterior recess adjacent said mating surface, a sealant material disposed in first part continuously interiorly of said body member in said interior recess, in second part continuously exteriorly of said body member in said exterior recess, and in third part interiorly of said body member continuously with said sealant material first and second parts, said body member defining a key structure for polarized receipt of said mating electrical connector component, said sealant material third part being resident at least in part interiorly of said key structure to form a part of said key structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 35 words
The invention claimed in claim 1 wherein said body member includes a plurality of walls bounding said compartment, at least one of said walls providing a channel for residence of said sealant material third part.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 15 words
The invention claimed in claim 1 wherein said sealant material is selected to be silicone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 162 words
A sealed header comprising: an insulative body member including a base, a pair of spaced sidewalls and a pair of spaced endwalls upstanding from said base, said spaced sidewalls and endwalls defining a compartment having an open end within said body member; a plurality of electrically conductive contact pins supported by said base, a portion of said pins extending within said compartment for mating engagement with complemental contacts of a mating connector and a portion of said pins projecting outwardly for connection to an electrical component; an interior seal disposed continuously on interior surfaces of said sidewalls and endwalls adjacent said compartment open end and spaced from said contact pins, said interior seal adapted to provide sealed receipt of said mating connector; and an exterior seal disposed on an exterior surface of said body member adjacent said base and continuously around the periphery thereof, said exterior seal being spaced from said pins and adapted to provide sealed communication with said electrical component.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 162 words
A sealed header comprising: an insulative body member including a base, a pair of spaced sidewalls and a pair of spaced endwalls upstanding from said base, said spaced sidewalls and endwalls defining a compartment having an open end within said body member; a plurality of electrically conductive contact pins supported by said base, a portion of said pins extending within said compartment for mating engagement with complemental contacts of a mating connector and a portion of said pins projecting outwardly for connection to an electrical component; an interior seal disposed continuously on interior surfaces of said sidewalls and endwalls adjacent said compartment open end and spaced from said contact pins, said interior seal adapted to provide sealed receipt of said mating connector; and an exterior seal disposed on an exterior surface of said body member adjacent said base and continuously around the periphery thereof, said exterior seal being spaced from said pins and adapted to provide sealed communication with said electrical component.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 36 words
A sealed header according to claim 4, wherein said body member defines adjacent the open end of said compartment an interior recess in communication with said compartment, said interior seal being resident in said interior recess.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
A sealed header according to claim 5, wherein said interior recess is defined by at least the interior surfaces of said spaced sidewalls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 27 words
A sealed header according to claim 5, wherein said body member defines adjacent the base an exterior recess, said exterior seal being resident in said exterior recess.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 24 words
A sealed header according to claim 7, wherein said body member defines a channel in communication with said interior recess and said exterior recess.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 25 words
A sealed header according to claim 8, wherein sealant material is disposed within said channel in communication with said interior seal and said exterior seal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 22 words
A sealed header according to claim 9, wherein said interior seal, said exterior seal and said sealant material are all formed continuously.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 24 words
A sealed header according to claim 10, wherein said interior seal, said exterior seal and said sealant material are formed by a molding process.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 26 words
A sealed header according to claim 4, wherein said body member further defines within said compartment a key structure for polarized receipt of said mating connector.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 33 words
A sealed header according to claim 9, wherein said key structure defines a key channel in communication with said channel, said sealant material being resident in both said channel and said key channel.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1998-09-04 1999-03-06 1999-09-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2002-09-04 2003-03-06 2003-09-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2006-09-04 2007-03-06 2007-09-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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