US 4,109,989 AGranted

Environmentally sealed electrical connector

AssigneeAMP Incorporated

InventorsClair W. Snyder, Jr., Paul B. Derr

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A sealed electrical connector is disclosed in which both the plug and receptacle portions are completely sealed from the normal atmospheric environment in both the connected and disconnected conditions. Each of the plug and receptacle members is provided with a normally closed sealing diaphragm extending across the mating ends thereof to protect the contacts enclosed thereby from moisture, dirt, etc. The diaphragms are opened, when the connectors are mated, by the male pin contact which extends through both sealing diaphragms to engage in the female receptacle contact. The subject connector obviates the need for a cover, which must be removed prior to mating the plug into the receptacle, and thus mating of the plug into the receptacle can be accomplished using one hand only.

Claims28

Dependent claims

An electrical connector which is sealed in a weather tight condition in both the mated and unmated conditions, said connector comprising:

a plug member including a housing having a mating face on one end, a plurality of contact receiving bores passing through said housing and opening onto said mating face, a like plurality of contacts each connected to a respective one of a plurality of conductors of a cable and received in a respective one of said bores with said contact directed towards said mating face, first sealing means covering said mating face of said connector, said first sealing means having a like plurality of normally closed slots each positioned in alignment with a respective one of said bores and said contacts, and second sealing means at the other end of said member effecting a fluid tight seal between said cable and said plug member;
a receptacle member including a plug member receiving recess closed at one end by a contact receiving block with a mating face directed inwardly of said recess, a plurality of contact receiving bores in said block leading to said mating face, a sealing assembly mounted for reciprocal movement in said recess, said sealing assembly including a sealing diaphragm having an outer periphery in wiping engagement with the inner periphery of said plug member receiving recess and a plurality of normally closed slots therein each disposed above a respective one of said contact bores, a rigid support plate having apertures therein aligned with said slots, a spring member attached to said plate and said receptacle housing allowing limited reciprocal movement of said sealing assembly within said recess and a hood extending from said receptacle housing substantially enclosing said plug receiving recess, a slot in said hood extending the length of a bottom portion thereof whereby a buildup of moisture and particles in said hood is prevented;
and
latching means adapted to secure said plug member and said receptacle member together in a mated condition and including a detent on one of said members and a latching lever operatively mounted on the other of said members to resiliently engage said detent.

1 more element

A sealed receptacle member for an electrical connector, said member comprising:

a housing defining a plug receiving recess and hood means projecting from said housing and surrounding said recess, and a slot in said hood means extending the length of a bottom portion thereof whereby buildup of moisture and debris in said hood means is prevented,
a contact block closing one end of said recess with a mating face directed into said recess, a plurality of contact receiving bores in said block opening onto said mating face, and a like plurality of contacts each connected to a respective conductor of a cable and mounted in a respective one of said bores with said contact directed toward said mating face,
a sealing assembly comprising a diaphragm having an outer perphery in wiping engagement with inner periphery of said plug receiving recess, said diaphragm having a plurality of normally closed slots disposed in alignment with each said contact receiving bore, a rigid plate having a plurality of apertures in allignment with said slots and supporting said diaphragm substantially across the entire surface thereof, and spring means resiliently securing said assembly for reciprocal movement within said recess, and
latching means adapted to secure a plug member therein in a mated condition.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/585,622Filed 10 Jun 1975
Granted: 29 Aug 1978
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G02B 6/3849
With means preventing fibre end damage, e.g. recessed fibre surfaces: using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes
H01R 13/5221
Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal: having cable sealing means
G02B 6/3888
Anchoring optical cables to connector housings, e.g. strain relief features: protection from over-extension or over-compression
H01R 13/595
Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip , for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a…: bolts…