Patent US5846093A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5846093A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Separable connector with a reinforcing member
Assignee: Cooper Industries LLC
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Filing: 1997-05-21
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Granted: 1998-12-08
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Expires: 2017-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A novel male connector for an electrical connector assembly comprises an elastic housing which includes a recess for receiving the end of a female connector. When the male and female connectors are connected, a cavity is formed between the female connector and the recess of the male connector. Along the length of the recess, a rigid member is provided in the male connector which prevents the recess from stretching substantially when the male connector is disconnected from the female connector. Because the recess is prevented from stretching, the air pressure in the cavity between the male connector and the female connector remains relatively high during disconnection. The dielectric strength of the air in the cavity, which is a function of pressure, also remains high, so that the possibility of flashover is substantially eliminated.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank John Muench, Jr.
- 👤 John Mitchell Makal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:23
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/53; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S439/00; Y10S439/921
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
An electrical connector comprising: a first member which includes: a housing having an insulative portion and a first retaining portion having a recess for receiving a second member, the first retaining portion having a first retaining surface for engaging a second retaining surface of the second member to retain the second member in the first member, wherein when the second member is retained in the first member, an interior space is defined between the first retaining portion and the second member; a first electrical contact for making electrical contact with a second electrical contact of the second member when the second member is retained in the first member; and a rigid member embedded within the insulative portion of the housing, and being more rigid than the first retaining portion to substantially prevent at least one of the housing and the first retaining portion from stretching when the second member is removed from the first member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
An electrical connector comprising: a first member which includes: a housing having an insulative portion and a first retaining portion having a recess for receiving a second member, the first retaining portion having a first retaining surface for engaging a second retaining surface of the second member to retain the second member in the first member, wherein when the second member is retained in the first member, an interior space is defined between the first retaining portion and the second member; a first electrical contact for making electrical contact with a second electrical contact of the second member when the second member is retained in the first member; and a rigid member embedded within the insulative portion of the housing, and being more rigid than the first retaining portion to substantially prevent at least one of the housing and the first retaining portion from stretching when the second member is removed from the first member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the rigid member includes a plurality of thin metal strips extending longitudinally within the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an insert, and the rigid member is fixed to the insert.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an insert, and the rigid member is embedded within the insert.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the first member further comprises a pulling eye, wherein the rigid member is fixed to the pulling eye.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an insert and a shield; and the rigid member comprises a first portion fixed to the insert and a second portion fixed to the shield.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the first retaining surface comprises a locking ring, and the second retaining surface comprises a locking groove.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the first member comprises one of an elbow connector and a protective cap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises one of rubber, EPDM, or an elastomeric material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the rigid member comprises one of a metal and a rigid plastic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
An electrical connector comprising: a first member which includes an insulating member having therein an opening for receiving a second member; an elastic insert within the opening of the insulating member, the elastic insert having a first engaging surface for engaging a second engaging surface of the second member; and a rigid member within the first member and fixed to the elastic insert, the rigid member being more rigid than the elastic insert to substantially prevent the elastic insert from stretching when the second member is removed from the first member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
An electrical connector comprising: a first member which includes an insulating member having therein an opening for receiving a second member; an elastic insert within the opening of the insulating member, the elastic insert having a first engaging surface for engaging a second engaging surface of the second member; and a rigid member within the first member and fixed to the elastic insert, the rigid member being more rigid than the elastic insert to substantially prevent the elastic insert from stretching when the second member is removed from the first member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the rigid member includes a plurality of thin metal strips extending longitudinally within the housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the rigid member is embedded within the elastic insert.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the first member comprises one of an elbow connector and protective cap.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the rigid member is fixed to a surface of the elastic insert.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electrical connector of claim 15, wherein the rigid member is fixed to one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the elastic insert.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The electrical connector of claim 15, wherein the rigid member is fixed to a surface of the elastic insert with an adhesive material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the elastic insert has therein a receiving space for receiving the second member, and the rigid member extends along a length of the receiving space in a longitudinal direction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
104 words
An electrical connector comprising: a first member which includes an insulating member having an opening therein for receiving a second member; an insert within the insulating member, the insert having a receiving space for receiving the second member and a first retaining surface for engaging a second retaining surface of the second member to retain the second member in the first member; a shield disposed on an outer surface of the insulating member; and a rigid member extending along an entire length of the receiving space, fixed to the shield, and being more rigid than the insert to substantially prevent the insert from stretching.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
104 words
An electrical connector comprising: a first member which includes an insulating member having an opening therein for receiving a second member; an insert within the insulating member, the insert having a receiving space for receiving the second member and a first retaining surface for engaging a second retaining surface of the second member to retain the second member in the first member; a shield disposed on an outer surface of the insulating member; and a rigid member extending along an entire length of the receiving space, fixed to the shield, and being more rigid than the insert to substantially prevent the insert from stretching.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical connector of claim 19, wherein the rigid member is embedded within the shield.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electrical connector of claim 19, wherein the rigid member is fixed to a surface of the shield.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the first retaining portion is an electrically conductive elastomeric insert.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
52 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an opening into the recess and the first retaining portion includes an inner end wall opposite from the opening into the recess, the rigid member located at least partially between the first retaining surface and the inner end wall of the recess.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the rigid member extends along an entire length of the recess along a longitudinal direction of the first electrical contact.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the rigid member is more rigid than EPDM.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the rigid member is embedded within the insulating member.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The electrical connector of claim 11, wherein the rigid member is located between the elastic insert and the insulating member.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
11 words
The electrical connector of claim 19, wherein the insert is elastic.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
82 words
An electrical connector comprising: a first member having an insulating portion, said insulating portion having an opening for receiving a second member; a conductive insert within the opening of the insulating member, the insert having a receiving space for receiving the second member; and a rigid member extending along an entire length of the receiving space and being more rigid than the conductive insert, to substantially prevent the conductive insert from stretching when the second member is removed from the first member.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
82 words
An electrical connector comprising: a first member having an insulating portion, said insulating portion having an opening for receiving a second member; a conductive insert within the opening of the insulating member, the insert having a receiving space for receiving the second member; and a rigid member extending along an entire length of the receiving space and being more rigid than the conductive insert, to substantially prevent the conductive insert from stretching when the second member is removed from the first member.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
12 words
The electrical connector of claim 29, wherein the conductive insert is elastic.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrical connector of claim 29, wherein the first member includes an outer layer of conductive shielding and the rigid member is located within the housing between the receiving space and the outer layer.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrical connector of claim 29, wherein the first member includes an outer layer of conductive shielding, and the rigid member is fixed to the outer layer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical connector of claim 32, wherein the outer layer is a conductive elastomeric material.
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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) | 2001-12-07 | 2002-06-08 | 2002-12-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-12-07 | 2006-06-08 | 2006-12-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-12-07 | 2010-06-08 | 2010-12-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |