# US 9,437,979 B2 · Grounding for electrical connectors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,437,979 B2 - Document ID: US9437979B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/244,638 - Filed: 2014-04-03 - Published: 2015-10-08 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-03 - Assignees: Cooper Technologies Company - Applicants: Charles Pitman Fischer - Inventors: Charles Pitman Fischer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437979B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/6588: with through openings for individual contacts - H01R 13/5202: {Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings} - H01R 13/5219: {Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal} - H01R 13/652: with earth pin, blade or socket - H01R 13/6584: formed by conductive elastomeric members, e.g. flat gaskets or O-rings - H01R 13/6592: the conductive member being a shielded cable - H01R 13/6598: Shield material - H01R 13/6599: Dielectric material made conductive, e.g. plastic material coated with metal - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS ## Abstract A connector can include a first shell having at least one first wall made of an electrically conductive material, where the at least one first wall forms a first cavity. The connector can also include an insert disposed within the first cavity. The connector can further include at least one connector pin disposed in and traversing the first shell. The connector can also include an electrically conductive face seal that abuts against a distal end of the insert within the first cavity, where the at least one connector pin traverses at least one first aperture in the electrically conductive face seal. The connector can further include at least one electrically insulating bushing disposed within the at least one first aperture in the electrically conductive face seal, where the at least one electrically insulating bushing is further disposed between the face seal and the at least one connector pin. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electrical connector, comprising: a first shell having at least one first wall made of an electrically conductive material, wherein the at least one first wall forms a first cavity; an insert disposed within the first cavity; at least one connector pin disposed within and traversing the insert; an electrically conductive face seal that abuts against a distal end of the insert within the first cavity and against an inner surface of the at least one wall of the first shell, wherein the at least one connector pin traverses at least one first aperture in the electrically conductive face seal, wherein the electrically conductive face seal provides a solid ground path with the first shell; and at least one insulating bushing disposed within the at least one first aperture in the electrically conductive face seal, wherein the at least one insulating bushing is further disposed between the electrically conductive face seal and the at least one connector pin, wherein the at least one insulating bushing electrically isolates the at least one connector pin from the electrically conductive face seal; wherein the at least one first aperture in the electrically conductive face seal comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion has a first outer perimeter, and wherein the second portion has a second outer perimeter, wherein the first outer perimeter is greater than the second outer perimeter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the at least one insulating bushing is disposed in the at least one first aperture in the electrically conductive face seal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive face seal further comprises at least one second aperture that traverses therethrough. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrically insulating bushing comprises a third portion having a third outer perimeter and a fourth portion having a fourth outer perimeter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive face seal further comprises a first coupling feature disposed on a proximal side of the electrically conductive face seal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electrical connector of claim 5, wherein the distal end of the insert comprises a second coupling feature, wherein the second coupling feature couples to the first coupling feature of the electrically conductive face seal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electrical connector of claim 1, further comprising: a sealing member disposed within a channel disposed on an outer surface of the first shell. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electric connector of claim 1, wherein the sealing member abuts against an enclosure to create a liquid-tight seal between the first shell and the enclosure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electrical connector of claim 8, wherein the at least one connector pin is configured to be electrically coupled to at least one complementary connector pin and to a cable comprising a ground shield, wherein the ground shield is electrically coupled to the electrically conductive face seal via the first shell. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The electrical connector of claim 7, wherein the sealing member abuts against a second shell to create a liquid-tight seal between the first shell and the second shell.