Electrical connectors – With sealing element or material for cooperation with...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-24
2001-06-12
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
With sealing element or material for cooperation with...
C439S272000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244886
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors, more specifically to electrical connectors requiring a seal to prevent leakage at the joint between the coupled connectors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,325 to Bensing et al, for an electrical connector with an interface seal discloses an electrical connector with an interface seal mounted on a plug portion of a thermal plastic connector body. The interface seal has a plurality of radial sealing lips that engage a sealing surface on a mating connector body. One advantage of this design is the relatively low engagement force. Another advantage is the radial sealing lips allow for a wider tolerance range between the mated connectors. However, this seal relies solely on the bending stiffness and recoverability of the sealing lips.
A compression seal, in contrast, has a plurality of comparatively short ribs for sealing matable connectors. One of the advantages associated with the compression seal is improved sealing performance. Thermal aging characteristics are also improved. However, a much higher insertion force is required for a compression seal than with the seal disclosed in the '325 patent. Furthermore, much tighter tolerances are required for a compression seal because of the lower compliance associated with the shorter sealing ribs.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a seal having good tolerance benefits with a relatively low insertion force, while having superior sealing performance and good thermal aging characteristics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an interface seal for an electrical connection that has a female connector and a male connector. The female connector has a housing with a plug portion that serves as a mounting surface for the interface seal. The interface seal comprises a seal body with a plurality of radial bending ribs extending from the outer periphery of the seal body. At least one external radial compression rail is disposed between each pair of adjacent bending ribs and preferably at least one internal radial compression rail extends from the inner periphery of the seal body, between the pair of adjacent bending ribs. Thus, force exerted upon each external compression rail is transferred to a corresponding internal compression rail.
A feature of the present invention is that the bending ribs fold over the external radial compression rails when the female connector is mated to the male connector, which provides tolerance benefits of a bending seal and the thermal aging characteristics of compression seals.
Another feature of the present invention is the low engagement force required to mate the connectors with the seal of the present invention installed.
Another feature of the present invention is that the bending ribs distribute force to the external radial compression rails whereby force from the bending ribs is transferred to the internal radial compression rails to achieve improved sealing with only a minimal increase in engagement force.
Yet another feature of the present invention is that by folding the bending ribs over the external radial compression rails, addition stiffness is added to the bending ribs.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention which sets forth the best mode of the invention contemplated by the inventors and which is illustrated in the accompanying sheet(s) of drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4874325 (1989-10-01), Bensing et al.
patent: 4946402 (1990-08-01), Fink et al.
patent: 4950175 (1990-08-01), Plyler et al.
patent: 4998896 (1991-03-01), Lundergan
patent: 5906499 (1999-05-01), Sikora et al.
Bakker John H.
Casterline Gary E.
Kountz John
Scheel Mark A.
Strang William G
Delphi Technologies Inc.
Jones Richard A.
Sircus Brian
Webb Brian S.
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