Heat Sealed Connector Assembly
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorEric S. Jol
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Heat sealing a connector assembly can be performed by providing connector assembly in component accessible state, overlaying sealing tape on electrical contacts and housing, sealing tape being impregnated with heat sensitive adhesive, the overlaying leaving the dimples exposed, and sealing the connector assembly by applying heat to heat sensitive sealing tape.
Claims1
A method for heat sealing an electrical connector assembly, the electrical connector assembly having a plurality of electrical contacts each having a flat pad portion and an upraised portion in the form of a dimple, at least one window bracket arranged to engage a corresponding latch on a plug when the plug is inserted and engaged with the electrical connector assembly, comprising:
- providing the connector assembly in component accessible state;
- providing sealing tape, the sealing tape comprising a thin film impregnated with a heat sensitive adhesive;
- overlaying the housing and the flat pad portion of at least some of the electrical contacts with the sealing tape leaving at least some of the dimples substantially exposed;
- applying an amount of heat to the sealing tape, the amount of heat sufficient to liquefy the heat sensitive adhesive such that the liquefied adhesive flows over a surface of the housing and the plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the dimples remain exposed;
- and
- sealing the electrical contact assembly by allowing the liquefied adhesive to cure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.