# US 10,770,816 B2 · Connector assembly and seal

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- Number: US 10,770,816 B2
- Document ID: US10770816B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/532,797
- Filed: 2019-08-06
- Published: 2019-11-28
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-08-01
- Assignees: Aptiv Technologies AG
- Applicants: Aptiv Technologies Limited
- Inventors: Michael L. Mellott; Glenn E. Robison
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10770816B2

## CPC

- H01R 13/187: with spring member in the socket
- H01R 13/512: assembled by screw or screws
- H01R 13/052: {co-operating with sockets having a circular transverse section}
- H01R 13/113: {co-operating with pins or blades having a rectangular transverse section}
- H01R 13/193: Means for increasing contact pressure at the end of engagement of coupling part {, e.g. zero insertion force or no friction}
- H01R 13/26: Pin or blade contacts for sliding co-operation on one side only {(for modular jack type connectors H01R24/62)}
- H01R 13/28: Contacts for sliding cooperation with identically-shaped contact, e.g. for hermaphroditic coupling devices {(H01R24/84 takes precedence)}
- H01R 13/44: Means for preventing access to live contacts {(making use of a switch actuated by engagement of counterpart H01R13/7036)}
- H01R 13/502: composed of different pieces (H01R13/514 takes precedence)
- H01R 13/5202: {Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings}
- H01R 13/5208: {having at least two cable receiving openings}
- H01R 13/5219: {Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal}
- H01R 13/53: Bases or cases for heavy duty; Bases or cases {for high voltage} with means for preventing corona or arcing
- H01R 13/5812: {the cable clamping being achieved by mounting the separate part on the housing of the coupling device}
- H01R 13/62: Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
- H01R 13/6215: {using one or more bolts}
- H01R 13/665: {with built-in electronic circuit (H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence)}
- H01R 24/66: with pins, blades or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
- H01R 43/16: for manufacturing contact members, e.g. by punching and by bending
- H01R 4/5091: {combined with a screw}
- H01R 13/207: by screw-in connection
- H01R 13/6335: {comprising a handle}
- H01R 13/6683: {with built-in sensor}
- H01R 2201/26: for vehicles
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

A connector assembly includes a first-housing, a second-housing, and a seal. The second-housing is configured to mate with the first-housing. The second-housing has a seal-support surface having a first-surface and a second-surface perpendicular to the first-surface and generally forming an L-shape. The seal-support surface includes a plurality of seal-hangers projecting laterally from the first-surface. The seal is in direct contact with the seal-support surface. The seal defines a wall and a lip extending laterally from the wall. The wall defines an inner-surface that engages the first-surface and an outer-surface that engages the first-housing. The wall further defines a plurality of apertures configured to receive the plurality of seal-hangers. The lip defines a base that engages the second-surface and a top that engages a leading-edge of the first-housing. The plurality of seal-hangers are configured to inhibit bunching or rolling of the wall when the first-housing is mated with the second-housing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
mating a first-housing of a connector assembly to a second-housing of the connector assembly;
the second-housing configured to mate with the first-housing along a mating-axis and includes an outer-perimeter disposed within the first-housing;
the second-housing including a seal configured to inhibit a contaminant from entering the connector assembly;
the seal defining a plurality of apertures;
the plurality of apertures extending through a wall of the seal from an inner-surface to an outer-surface of the seal;
the outer-surface of the seal defining a plurality of horizontal-ribs extending beyond the outer-surface of the seal in a lateral-direction
the second-housing further including a plurality of seal-hangers configured to inhibit a deformation of the seal along the mating-axis when the first-housing is mated with the second-housing;
the plurality of seal-hangers extending through the plurality of apertures; wherein
the plurality of seal-hangers support the wall of the seal and engage a portion of the outer-surface of at least one of the plurality of horizontal-ribs.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the outer-perimeter includes a seal-support surface having a first-surface aligned parallel with the mating-axis and a second-surface aligned perpendicular to the first-surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein a lip of the seal defines a base that engages the second-surface and a top that engages a leading-edge of the first-housing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the lip of the seal extends beyond the leading-edge of the first-housing, the lip imparting a compressive-force between the first-housing and the second-housing when the first-housing is mated with the second-housing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of seal-hangers extend outwardly from the first-surface in the lateral-direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein each seal-hanger in the plurality of seal-hangers includes a retention-lip configured to retain the wall of the seal to the first-surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the retention-lip extends beyond a top-surface of each seal-hanger along the mating-axis.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of seal-hangers project outward from the first-surface in the lateral-direction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of seal-hangers further project, upwardly from the second-surface along the mating-axis.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of apertures define a top-wall that is in direct contact with each seal-hanger.

### Claim 11

A connector assembly, comprising:
a first-housing;
a second-housing;
the second-housing configured to mate with the first-housing along a mating-axis and includes an outer-perimeter disposed within the first-housing;
the second-housing including a seal configured to inhibit a contaminant from entering the connector assembly;
the seal defining a plurality of apertures;
the plurality of apertures extending through a wall of the seal from an inner-surface to an outer-surface of the seal;
the outer-surface of the seal defining a plurality of horizontal-ribs extending beyond the outer-surface of the seal in a lateral-direction
the second-housing further including a plurality of seal-hangers configured to inhibit a deformation of the seal along the mating-axis when the first-housing is mated with the second-housing;
the plurality of seal-hangers extending through the plurality of apertures; wherein
the plurality of seal-hangers support the wall of the seal and engage a portion of the outer-surface of at least one of the plurality of horizontal-ribs.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The connector assembly of claim 11, wherein the outer-perimeter includes a seal-support surface having a first-surface aligned parallel with the mating-axis and a second-surface aligned perpendicular to the first-surface.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The connector assembly of claim 12, wherein a lip of the seal defines a base that engages the second-surface and a top that engages a leading-edge of the first-housing.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The connector assembly of claim 13, wherein the lip of the seal extends beyond the leading-edge of the first-housing, the lip configured to impart a compressive-force between the first-housing and the second-housing when the first-housing is mated with the second-housing.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the plurality of seal-hangers extend outwardly from the first-surface in the lateral-direction.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The connector assembly of claim 12, wherein each seal-hanger in the plurality of seal-hangers includes a retention-lip configured to retain the wall of the seal to the first-surface.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The connector assembly of claim 16, wherein the retention-lip extends beyond a top-surface of each seal-hanger along the mating-axis.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the plurality of seal-hangers further project upwardly from the second-surface along the mating-axis.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The connector assembly in accordance with claim 11, wherein the plurality of apertures define a top-wall that is in direct contact with each seal-hanger.