Inline cable connector

An inline electrical connector comprising:

• a first housing shell having a substantially planar first mating section and a first cable entrance section;
• a second housing shell having a substantially planar second mating section and a second cable entrance section, the second housing shell being configured to mate with the first housing shell;
• and
• an outer shell configured to be placed around the mated first and second housing shells, wherein:
• the first mating section includes a first plurality of electrical connectors,
• the second mating section includes a second plurality of electrical connectors configured to mate with the first plurality of electrical connectors upon overlapping engagement of the first mating section and the second mating section,
• the first housing shell includes a first fluid barrier section and the second housing shell includes a second fluid barrier section, with the fluid barrier sections being configured to prevent the flow of fluids to the electrical connectors,
• each one of the first housing shell and the second housing shell includes at least one o-ring on each one of the fluid barrier sections and each o-ring is configured to form a compression fit with a portion of the outer shell to substantially seal the mating sections against fluids upon engagement of the mating sections and placement of the outer shell about the first and second shells, and
• at least a portion of an inner diameter of the outer shell is configured to form a compression fit with the o-rings of the first housing shell and second housing shell.

An inline electrical connector comprising:

• a first housing shell having a substantially planar first mating section and a first cable entrance section;
• a second housing shell having a substantially planar second mating section and a second cable entrance section, the second housing shell being configured to mate with the first housing shell, the first mating section including a first plurality of electrical connectors, and the second mating section including a second plurality of electrical connectors configured to mate with the first plurality of electrical connectors upon overlapping engagement of the first mating section and the second mating section;
• a first electrical cable positioned in the cable entrance of the first housing shell;
• a second electrical cable positioned in the cable entrance section of the second housing shell;
• a first chamber adjacent to the first cable entrance section;
• a lip between the first chamber and the first cable entrance;
• and
• a first ball disposed in the chamber and having a diameter larger than a diameter of the lip, wherein the first electrical cable includes a plurality of conducting wires that pass around the outer surface of the ball.

A method of forming an inline electrical connection, comprising:

• providing a first connector structure having a plurality of pins disposed on a substantially planar first mating surface;
• providing a second connector structure having a plurality of sockets disposed on a substantially planar second mating surface;
• inserting the plurality of pins into the plurality of sockets upon overlapping engagement of the first mating section and the second mating section;
• inserting a first cable into a first cable receptacle of the first connector structure;
• inserting a second cable into a second cable receptacle of the second connector structure;
• placing a first outer tube over the first cable and cable receptacle;
• placing a second outer tube over the second cable and cable receptacle, wherein the outer tubes prevent fluid from entering the connector structures;
• and placing an outer shell around the overlapped first and second housing structures, wherein said outer shell further includes a channel on an inside circumference, which is configured to receive and form an interference fit with a snap ring placed on fluid barrier sections of said housing structures.

An electrical connector assembly comprising:

• a first connector structure defining a first substantially planar connector surface;
• a second connector structure defining a second substantially planar connector surface;
• a plurality of first electrical connectors disposed within the first substantially planar surface, the first electrical connectors extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first substantially planar surface;
• a plurality of second electrical connectors disposed within the second substantially planar surface, the second electrical connectors being oriented to engage the first electrical connectors upon overlapping engagement of the first connector structure and the second connector structure;
• and
• an outer shell configured to be placed around the first and the second connector structures upon overlapping engagement of the first and the second connector structures;
• wherein:
• the first connector structure includes a first fluid barrier section and the second connector structure includes a second fluid barrier section, the fluid barrier sections being configured to prevent the flow of fluids to the electrical connector, and
• at least one of the first connector structure and the second connector structure further includes a snap ring on one of the fluid barrier sections and the outer shell includes at least one channel on its inside circumference configured to receive and form an interference fit with the at least one snap ring to substantially prevent the outer shell from becoming dislodged upon overlapping engagement of the first connector structure and the second connector structure and placement of the outer shell about the first and the second connector structures.