# US 2014/0196830 A1 · Heat Sealed Connector Assembly

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- Number: US 2014/0196830 A1
- Document ID: US20140196830A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/160,288
- Filed: 2014-01-21
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2010-08-31
- Assignees: Apple Inc.
- Applicants: Apple Inc.
- Inventors: Eric S. Jol
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196830A1

## CPC

- H01R 43/005: {for making dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof connection, coupling, or casing}
- G09F 9/35: being liquid crystals (G09F9/302 takes precedence; liquid crystal materials C09K19/00; {liquid crystal panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell per se G02F1/13})
- H01R 4/484: {Spring housing details}
- H01R 13/2414: {conductive elastomers}
- H01R 13/504: different pieces being moulded, cemented, welded, e.g. ultrasonic welding, or swaged together
- H01R 13/5202: {Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings}
- H01R 13/5216: {characterised by the sealing material, e.g. gels or resins}
- H01R 13/6582: with resilient means for engaging mating connector
- H01R 13/6594: the shield being mounted on a PCB and connected to conductive members
- H01R 24/60: Contacts spaced along planar side wall transverse to longitudinal axis of engagement
- H01R 24/78: with additional earth or shield contacts
- H01R 43/0221: {Laser welding (H01R43/0228 takes precedence)}
- H01R 4/4821: {Single-blade spring}
- H01R 12/722: {coupling devices mounted on the edge of the printed circuits}
- H01R 13/187: with spring member in the socket
- H01R 13/6273: {comprising two latching arms}
- H01R 2107/00: Four or more poles
- Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing
- Y10T 156/10: Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.