Connector assembly

Claim 2

A connector assembly for making electrical and optical interconnections between a first device, including a rechargeable, battery enclosed within a sealed housing, and a second and a third device external to said housing, said housing defining an enclosed volume around said first device subject to internal pressure build-up when said battery is recharged, said connector assembly comprising: (a) a first connector extending through said housing and having a first plurality of conductor pins and a longitudinal passage extending therethrough, a predetermined number of said first plurality of conductor pins operably coupled to said first device: (b) a second connector having a second plurality of conductor pins and a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, a predetermined number of said second plurality of conductor pins in said second connector operably coupled to said second device to charge said battery, said second connector detachably coupled to said first connector such that said first and second plurality of conductor pins of said first and second connectors engage each other, and said longitudinal bore receives said longitudinal passage placing said enclosed volume in fluid communication with the housing exterior; and (c) a third connector having a third plurality of conductor pins extending therethrough and having a male member, a predetermined number of said third plurality of conductor pins in said third connector operably coupled to said third device, said third connector detachably coupled to said first connector when said second connector is disconnected from said first connector such that said first and third plurality of conductor pins of said first and third connector engage each other and said male member is received by and seals said longitudinal passage.

Claim 3

An electrical or optical connector assembly for venting an enclosed volume within a housing subject to predetermined periods of pressure build-up, said connector assembly comprising: (a) a first connector having a body extending through said housing and a first plurality of pins therein separated from each other in a predetermined pattern by a potting material, at least one of said first plurality of pins having a longitudinal passage extending therethrough and in fluid communication with said enclosed volume, a predetermined number of said first plurality of pins receiving a like number of conductors within said housing; (b) a second connector having a body and a second plurality of pins therein separated from each other in a predetermined pattern by a potting material, a predetermined number of said second plurality of pins operably coupled to a first predetermined device exterior said housing, at least one of said second plurality of pins having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough and through said second connector, said second connector detachably coupled to said first connector such that said predetermined number of said first and second plurality of pins of said first and second connector engage each other and said at least one of said second plurality of pins having said longitudinal bore is received by said longitudinal passage in said first connector forming a continuous conduit through said connector assembly and placing said enclosed volume in fluid communication with the housing exterior; and (c) a third connector having a body and a third plurality of pins therein separated from each other in a predetermined pattern by a potting material, a predetermined number of said third plurality of pins operably coupled to a second predetermined device exterior said housing, said third connector detachably coupled to said first connector when said second connector is disconnected therefrom, such that a predetermined number of said first and third plurality of pins engage each other with one of said plurality of pins received by and sealing said longitudinal passage.

Claim 4

An electrical or optical connector assembly for venting an enclosed volume within a housing subject to predetermined periods of pressure build-up, said connector assembly comprising: (a) a first connector having a body extending through said housing and a first plurality of pins therein separated from each other in a predetermined pattern by a potting material, at least one of said first plurality of pins having a longitudinal passage extending therethrough and in fluid communication with said enclosed volume, a predetermined number of said first plurality of pins receiving a like number of conductors within said housing; (b) a second connector having a body and a second plurality of pins therein separated from each other in a predetermined pattern by a potting material, a predetermined number of said second plurality of pins operably coupled to a first predetermined device exterior said housing, at least one of said second plurality of pins having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough and through said second connector, said second connector detachably coupled to said first connector such that said predetermined number of said first and second plurality of pins of said first and second connector engage each other and said at least one of said second plurality of pins having said longitudinal bore is received by said longitudinal passage in said first connector forming a continuous conduit through said connector assembly and placing said enclosed volume in fluid communication with the housing exterior; and (c) a third connector having a body and a third plurality of pins therein separated from each other in a predetermined pattern by a potting material, a predetermined number of said third plurality of pins operably coupled to a second predetermined device exterior said housing, said third connector detachably coupled to said first connector when said second connector is disconnected therefrom, such that a predetermined number of said first and third plurality of pins engage each other with one of said plurality of pins received by and sealing said longitudinal passage.

Claim 5

A connector assembly for making electrical and optical interconnections between a first device, including a rechargeable battery enclosed within a sealed housing, and a second and a third predetermined device external to said housing, said housing defining an enclosed volume around said first device subject to internal pressure build-up when said battery is recharged, said connector assembly comprising: (a) a first connector having a body extending through said housing and a first plurality of pins longitudinally arranged therein separated from each other by a dielectric having an axial passage extending therethrough, a predetermined number of said first plurality of pins operably coupled to said battery; and (b) a second connector having a body including a first and a second end, a second plurality of pins longitudinally arranged therein, separated from each other by a dielectric, said dielectric having an axial male member extending from said first end, said male member having a longitudinal bore extending partially through said dielectric and in fluid communication with a transverse hole extending substantially through said second connector, a predetermined number of said second plurality of pins operably coupled to second predetermined device to charge said battery, said second connector detachably coupled to said first connector such that said predetermined number of said first and second plurality of pins are in intimate contact with each other and said male member is received in said axial passage forming a continuous conduit through said connector assembly and placing said enclosed volume in fluid communication with the housing exterior; and (c) a third connector having a body defining a first and second end, a third plurality of pins longitudinally arranged therein and separated from each other by a dielectric having an axial male member extending from said first end, a predetermined number of said third plurality of pins operably coupled to said third predetermined device powered by said battery, said third connector detachably coupled to said first connector when said second connector is detached such that said predetermined number of said first and third plurality of pins are in intimate contact with each other and said axial male member of said third conductor is received by and seals said axial passage and said enclosed volume.

Claim 6

A connector assembly for making electrical and optical interconnections between a first device, including a rechargeable battery enclosed within a sealed housing, and a second and a third predetermined device external to said housing, said housing defining an enclosed volume around said first device subject to internal pressure build-up when said battery is recharged, said connector assembly comprising: (a) a first connector having a body extending through said housing and a first plurality of pins longitudinally arranged therein separated from each other by a dielectric having an axial passage extending therethrough, a predetermined number of said first plurality of pins operably coupled to said battery; and (b) a second connector having a body including a first and a second end, a second plurality of pins longitudinally arranged therein, separated from each other by a dielectric, said dielectric having an axial male member extending from said first end, said male member having a longitudinal bore extending partially through said dielectric and in fluid communication with a transverse hole extending substantially through said second connector, a predetermined number of said second plurality of pins operably coupled to second predetermined device to charge said battery, said second connector detachably coupled to said first connector such that said predetermined number of said first and second plurality of pins are in intimate contact with each other and said male member is received in said axial passage forming a continuous conduit through said connector assembly and placing said enclosed volume in fluid communication with the housing exterior; and (c) a third connector having a body defining a first and second end, a third plurality of pins longitudinally arranged therein and separated from each other by a dielectric having an axial male member extending from said first end, a predetermined number of said third plurality of pins operably coupled to said third predetermined device powered by said battery, said third connector detachably coupled to said first connector when said second connector is detached such that said predetermined number of said first and third plurality of pins are in intimate contact with each other and said axial male member of said third conductor is received by and seals said axial passage and said enclosed volume.

Claim 7

A connector assembly for making a predetermined combination of electrical and optical interconnections between a plurality of devices, at least one of said plurality of devices disposed within an interior of a substantially sealed housing subject to first periods of internal pressurization, comprising: (a) means, in a first configuration of said connector assembly, for providing pressure relief to said housing during said first periods of internal pressurization; and (b) means, in a second configuration of said connector assembly, for sealing said housing during second periods when said housing is not subject to internal pressurization.

Claim 8

A connector assembly for making a predetermined combination of electrical and optical interconnections between a plurality of devices, at least one of said plurality of devices disposed within an interior of a substantially sealed housing subject to first periods of internal pressurization, comprising: (a) means, in a first configuration of said connector assembly, for providing pressure relief to said housing during said first periods of internal pressurization; and (b) means, in a second configuration of said connector assembly, for sealing said housing during second periods when said housing is not subject to internal pressurization.

Claim 9

A connector assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said first configuration, comprises: (a) a first connector extending through a wall of said housing and having a plurality of pins and a longitudinal passage extending therethrough in fluid communication with said interior of said housing, a predetermined number of said first plurality of pins receiving conductors interconnected to said at least one of said plurality of devices enclosed within said housing; and (b) a second connector having a second plurality of pins and a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, a predetermined number of said second plurality of pins receiving conductors interconnected to a predetermined one of said plurality of devices exterior said housing, said second connector detachably coupled to said first connector during said periods of internal pressurization of said housing such that said first and second plurality of pins in each connector are engaged, and said longitudinal bore receives said longitudinal passage placing said interior of said housing in fluid communication with the exterior of said housing.

Claim 10

A connector assembly as recited in claim 5, wherein said second configuration, comprises: (a) a third connector having a third plurality of pins extending therethrough and a male sealing member, a predetermined number of said third plurality of pins receiving conductors interconnected to a third one of said plurality of devices external said housing, said third connector detachably coupled to said first connector during said second periods when said housing is not subject to internal pressurization and said second connector is disconnected from said first connector, such that said first and third plurality of pins in said first and third connector are engaged and said longitudinal passage receives and is sealed by said male sealing member and thereby sealing said housing.