Programmable sealed connector
AssigneeAMP Incorporated
InventorRobert G. Lundergan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sealed electrical connector assembly (2) used to interconnect wires (4) with a printed circuit board comprises a receptacle connector (6) matable with a pin header (8). The receptacle connector (6) includes a secondary lock (60) located on the mating face of an insulative housing (30). Integral latches (50) are received within a correspondingly shaped pocket (62) in the secondary lock. A conductor seal cap includes a plurality of projections which can be selectively removed. Remaining projection seal individual seal cavities. A stamped and formed pin is used in the pin header. An integral plug is used to seal the leak path on the interior of the stamped and formed cylindrical pins.
Claims20
A sealed electrical connector for use with a plurality of wires, comprising:
- an insulative housing having a plurality of cavities located in an array of terminal positions;
- a plurality of terminals located in a least some of the cavities, each terminal including means for termination to a wire;
- elastomeric sealing means for establishing a seal around each wire, the sealing means having a plurality of holes located at each terminal position, each hole being aligned with a cavity;
- and
- a plate positioned adjacent the sealing means, the plate initially having a plurality of selectively removable projections in a pattern corresponding to the array of terminal positions, projections corresponding to the locations of terminals terminated to wires extending from the terminals through holes in the elastomeric sealing means having been removed, remaining projections extending through holes in the elastomeric sealing means, aligned with unoccupied terminal positions, to establish a seal at each terminal position in the array.
A sealed electrical connector assembly for use in establishing sealed interconnection to conductors at any arbitrary location in an array of terminal positions, the connector assembly comprising:
- first and second connectors:
- the first connector further comprising;
- an insulative housing having a plurality of cavities located in the array of terminal positions, the housing having terminal latches at each of the terminal positions;
- terminals insertable into the cavities at any arbitrary location in the array of terminal locations;
- a secondary lock attachable to the insulative housing, on a mating face thereof, in a first and a second position, the terminal latches being received within pockets in the secondary lock when the terminal latches properly secure the terminals in the insulative housing, the secondary lock being shiftable from the first to the second position only when the terminal latches properly secure the terminal in the insulative housing;
- a peripheral interfacial seal;
- a conductor seal located on a rear face of the insulative housing;
- a programmable plate located on the rear face of the insulative housing, the plate being selectively punctured at the arbitrary locations to permit insertion of a terminal, terminated to a conductor at the arbitrary locations, through the plate, the conductor seal and into the cavities.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.