US5667406A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Waterproof seal for connector and method for forming same
Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd
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Filing: 1995-07-10
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Granted: 1997-09-16
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Expires: 2015-07-10
Abstract
Abstract A waterproof seal has at its rear portion a wire embracing portion for embracing an outer periphery of a wire. The wire embracing portion includes a flexible tubular portion having a reduced thickness, and a thickened tubular portion extending from the flexible tubular portion. Because buckling strength is enhanced by the thickened tubular portion, the wire can be smoothly passed through the waterproof seal from the distal end of the wire embracing portion without buckling the wire embracing portion and hence without closing an insertion hole. The flexible tubular portion is easily bent about an inner peripheral lip in accordance with the movement of the wire, thereby preventing the bending force from acting on and deforming the main waterproof portion. Alternatively, a groove is formed in one end surface of a rubber plug body, and is disposed around an outer periphery of a proximal end of a tubular portion connected to the rubber plug body. Tension is alleviated between the proximal end of the tubular portion and the rubber plug body in accordance with the deformation of the groove.
Inventors
- 👤 Masaaki Tabata
- 👤 Hiroyuki Hayashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:47
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R43/00; H01R43/005; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/52; H01R13/5205
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A waterproof seal for sealing a cavity of a connector, comprising: a main waterproof portion having an outer periphery contactable with an inner peripheral surface of the cavity; and a wire embracing portion formed integrally with and extending from said main waterproof portion, said wire embracing portion shaped to embrace at least two axially spaced portions of an outer periphery of a wire, said wire embracing portion including a flexible tubular portion having a reduced thickness extending from said main waterproof portion and a thickened tubular portion extending from a distal end of said flexible tubular portion, said thickened tubular portion being bulged radially outwardly over a predetermined length to define a closed gap substantially between said two axially spaced portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A waterproof seal for sealing a cavity of a connector, comprising: a main waterproof portion having an outer periphery contactable with an inner peripheral surface of the cavity; and a wire embracing portion formed integrally with and extending from said main waterproof portion, said wire embracing portion shaped to embrace at least two axially spaced portions of an outer periphery of a wire, said wire embracing portion including a flexible tubular portion having a reduced thickness extending from said main waterproof portion and a thickened tubular portion extending from a distal end of said flexible tubular portion, said thickened tubular portion being bulged radially outwardly over a predetermined length to define a closed gap substantially between said two axially spaced portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A waterproof seal for a connector according to claim 1, further comprising a tapered surface formed on an outer periphery of said thickened tubular portion, said tapered surface being tapered toward a distal end of said wire embracing portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
A waterproof seal for a connector according to claim 1, further comprising a lip formed adjacent a boundary between said main waterproof portion and said wire embracing portion, said lip being securable in intimate contact with said wire, wherein, when said wire is inserted in said waterproof seal, a gap is formed between an inner periphery of said flexible tubular portion of said wire embracing portion and said wire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
94 words
A rubber plug for a waterproof connector comprising: a rubber plug body having a tubular construction for passing a wire therethrough, said rubber plug body being adapted to be held in intimate contact with an inner periphery of a cavity of a connector; a tubular portion extending from one end surface of said rubber plug body; and an annular groove axially formed in said end surface of said rubber plug body, said annular groove being disposed around an outer periphery of a proximal end connected to the rubber plug body of said tubular portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
A rubber plug for a waterproof connector comprising: a rubber plug body having a tubular construction for passing a wire therethrough, said rubber plug body being adapted to be held in intimate contact with an inner periphery of a cavity of a connector; a tubular portion extending from one end surface of said rubber plug body; and an annular groove axially formed in said end surface of said rubber plug body, said annular groove being disposed around an outer periphery of a proximal end connected to the rubber plug body of said tubular portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A rubber plug for a waterproof connector according to claim 4, wherein said annular groove includes a curved surface that is smoothly continuous with an outer periphery of the proximal end of said tubular portion.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for forming a waterproof seal comprising: forming a main waterproof portion; forming a wire embracing portion extending from said main waterproof portion; and providing at least one of said wire embracing portion and said main waterproof portion with means for absorbing bending forces applied to said waterproof seal including an annular groove disposed in an axial direction in said main waterproof portion, said annular groove being disposed around an outer periphery of a proximal end connected to said main waterproof portion of said wire embracing portion.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
88 words
A method for forming a waterproof seal comprising: forming a main waterproof portion; forming a wire embracing portion extending from said main waterproof portion; and providing at least one of said wire embracing portion and said main waterproof portion with means for absorbing bending forces applied to said waterproof seal including an annular groove disposed in an axial direction in said main waterproof portion, said annular groove being disposed around an outer periphery of a proximal end connected to said main waterproof portion of said wire embracing portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to claim 6, further comprising: providing said wire embracing portion with a reduced thickness portion, said reduced thickness portion being flexible and located adjacent said main waterproof portion; and dimensioning an inner surface of the reduced portion such that the inner surface is spaced from a wire inserted in the waterproof seal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 7, further comprising: providing a thickened tubular portion to the reduced tubular portion; and bulging the thickened tubular portion radially outwardly over a predetermined length such that the thickened tubular portion includes one portion that contacts the wire and a second portion that does not contact the wire.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 8, further comprising providing a tapered surface formed on an outer periphery of said thickened tubular portion, said tapered surface being tapered toward a distal end of said wire embracing portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method according to claim 6, further comprising: forming a lip adjacent a boundary between said main waterproof portion and said wire embracing portion, said lip being held in intimate contact with said wire; and forming a gap between an inner periphery of said flexible tubular portion of said wire embracing portion and a wire inserted in the waterproof seal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 6, further comprising providing said main waterproof portion with said means for absorbing, wherein an annular groove is formed in said main waterproof portion, said annular groove being disposed around an outer periphery of a proximal end of said wire embracing portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
94 words
A waterproof seal for sealing a cavity of a connector, comprising: a main waterproof portion contactable with an inner peripheral surface of the cavity; a wire embracing portion extending from said main waterproof portion and contactable with an outer periphery of a wire; and means for absorbing bending forces applied to said waterproof seal including an annular groove axially disposed and formed in a surface of said main waterproof portion, said annular groove being disposed around an outer periphery of a proximal end connected to the main waterproof portion of said wire embracing portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
A waterproof seal for sealing a cavity of a connector, comprising: a main waterproof portion contactable with an inner peripheral surface of the cavity; a wire embracing portion extending from said main waterproof portion and contactable with an outer periphery of a wire; and means for absorbing bending forces applied to said waterproof seal including an annular groove axially disposed and formed in a surface of said main waterproof portion, said annular groove being disposed around an outer periphery of a proximal end connected to the main waterproof portion of said wire embracing portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
A waterproof seal according to claim 12, further comprising a reduced thickness portion in said wire embracing portion, said reduced thickness portion being flexible and located adjacent said main waterproof portion, wherein, when said wire is inserted in said waterproof seal, a gap is formed between an inner surface of the reduced portion and the outer perphery of the wire.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
A waterproof seal according to claim 13, further comprising a thickened tubular portion formed on the reduced tubular portion, said thickened tubular portion bulging radially outwardly over a predetermined length such that the thickened tubular portion includes one portion contactable with the wire and a second portion that is not contactable with the wire.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A waterproof seal according to claim 14, further comprising a tapered surface formed on an outer periphery of said thickened tubular portion, said tapered surface being tapered toward a distal end of said wire embracing portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
66 words
A waterproof seal according to claim 12, further comprising a lip formed adjacent a boundary between said main waterproof portion and said wire embracing portion, said lip being securable in intimate contact with said wire, wherein, when said wire is inserted in the waterproof seal, a gap is formed between an inner periphery of said flexible tubular portion of said wire embracing portion and said wire.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for forming a waterproof seal for sealing a cavity of a connector, said method comprising: placing an outer periphery of a main waterproof portion in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cavity; embracing an outer periphery of a wire along at least two axially spaced positions with a wire embracing portion extending from said main waterproof portion; providing at least one of said wire embracing portion and said main waterproof portion with means for absorbing bending forces applied to said waterproof seal, said means for absorbing including a thickened tubular portion bulged radially outwardly over a predetermined length and reduced thickness at an end portion of the thickened tubular portion to define a closed gap substantially between said two axially spaced portions.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for forming a waterproof seal for sealing a cavity of a connector, said method comprising: placing an outer periphery of a main waterproof portion in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cavity; embracing an outer periphery of a wire along at least two axially spaced positions with a wire embracing portion extending from said main waterproof portion; providing at least one of said wire embracing portion and said main waterproof portion with means for absorbing bending forces applied to said waterproof seal, said means for absorbing including a thickened tubular portion bulged radially outwardly over a predetermined length and reduced thickness at an end portion of the thickened tubular portion to define a closed gap substantially between said two axially spaced portions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 17, further comprising providing an annular groove in said main waterproof portion disposed around an outer periphery of a proximal end of said wire embracing portion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-09-15 | 2001-03-17 | 2001-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-09-15 | 2005-03-17 | 2005-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-09-15 | 2009-03-17 | 2009-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |