US 5,685,727 A · Underwater mateable connector

Abstract

An underwater optical or electrical connector has a plug unit containing at least one contact probe and a receptacle unit containing at least one contact member. Each unit has an end wall having an opening aligned with the respective contact probe or member, and the units are adapted to be coupled together with the end wall openings in alignment and the probe projecting through the aligned openings into contact with the contact member. A seal member is rotatably mounted behind each end wall and the end wall and seal members are relatively rotatable between sealed positions in which each end wall opening is sealed and open position in which a port in each seal member is aligned with the respective end wall opening. A biasing device in each unit pushes an overlying portion of each seal member through the end wall opening to seal the opening in the closed position.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An underwater connector, comprising:

a plug unit having a hollow body and a front end wall having at least one opening, at least one probe mounted in the hollow body in alignment with the opening;
a receptacle unit having a hollow body and a front end wall having an opening for receiving the probe when the plug and receptacle units are secured together, and at least one contact member in said hollow body in alignment with said opening;
and
a first seal member rotatably mounted in said receptacle unit behind said front end wall, said seal member having at least one port, and said first seal member and front end wall of said receptacle unit being relatively rotatable between a first position in which said port is offset from said opening and said opening is sealed and a second position in which said port is aligned with said opening for receiving said probe.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Underwater mateable connector

Life of this patent

Underwater mateable connector

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14