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US 2006/0154516 A1Published application
Connector overmold spacer
AssigneeSiemens VDO Automotive Corporation
InventorSanto Padula
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connector assembly includes a terminal crimped to an electrical conductor. The terminal is retained in a terminal area of a connector housing. A cable seal is positioned within an opening of the connector housing that leads to the terminal area. A spacer at a rear side of the connector housing provides a mechanical barrier to prevent injected thermoplastics from entering the terminal area during an overmolding process.
Claims19
A connector assembly comprising:
- an electrical conductor;
- a terminal attached to said electrical conductor;
- a housing having at least one opening and a terminal area for receiving said terminal;
- a seal disposed between said housing and said electrical conductor and received within said at least one opening;
- and
- a spacer surrounding said electrical conductor and positioned at a rear side of said housing that blocks encapsulating material from entering said at least one opening.
3 more elements
A method of fabricating a connector assembly comprising the steps of:
- (a) attaching a terminal to an electrical conductor;
- (b) positioning a seal and a spacer around the electrical conductor;
- (c) inserting the terminal into a terminal area of a connector housing and positioning the spacer near a rear side of the connector housing;
- (d) overmolding at least a portion of the electrical conductor and the connector housing with a thermoplastic material;
- and
- (e) sealing the terminal area against intrusion of the thermoplastic material.
3 more elements
A method of sealing a housing of a connector assembly, comprising:
- (a) positioning a first spacer piece around an electrical conductor;
- (b) positioning a second spacer piece around the electrical conductor;
- (c) inserting a seal at least partially within the housing;
- (d) sliding the first spacer piece and the second spacer piece near a rear side of the housing;
- and
- (e) sealing a terminal area of the housing against intrusion of a thermoplastic material.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.