Electrical Connector Assembly

• US 20070072461A1
• Filed: 03/24/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tramec Sloan, LLC
• Original Assignee: BLD Products Limited (Standard Motor Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Karafa, Anthony, Terryn, Christopher, Williams, Libby, Kuipers, Todd, Helmer, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 7,575,450 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/144
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly, such as for use with a tractor-trailer, comprises a socket and a plug. The plug can comprise a resilient seal configured to surround mating electrical terminals on the socket and the plug. A coupler can be configured to retain the plug in the socket and compress the resilient seal against the socket. The plug can further comprise a knob having a bulbous portion sized to fit in a palm of a user'"'"'s hand for ease of grasping by the user. The knob can include a drip edge.

Claims

1. A plug for an electrical connector assembly comprising a socket having a receptacle defining an interior that terminates at a wall having a proximal face, at least one electrical terminal accessible through the receptacle, and a catch configured to mate with the plug to retain the plug in the socket, the plug comprising:

a body sized for receipt within the interior of the receptacle and having a distal end;

at least one electrical terminal carried by the body and configured to mate with the at least one electrical terminal on the socket;

a catch receiver formed on the body and configured to mate with the catch on the socket to retain the plug in the socket; and

a resilient seal located at the distal end of the body and configured to surround the mating electrical terminals and compress against the proximal face of the receptacle wall when the catch on the socket mates with the catch receiver on the plug body.

2. The plug according to claim 1, wherein the catch receiver comprises a key formed on the body and configured to be received within a keyway formed in the socket receptacle.

3. The plug according to claim 2, wherein the key comprises a proximal end configured for abutting contact with the catch to retain the plug in the socket and compress the resilient seal against the proximal face of the receptacle wall.

4. The plug according to claim 3, wherein a distance between the catch and the proximal face of the receptacle wall is less than a distance between the key proximal end and a distal end of the resilient seal when the resilient seal is uncompressed.

5. The plug according to claim 1, wherein the resilient seal extends distally beyond the distal end of the body.

6. The plug according to claim 5, wherein the resilient seal comprises a peripheral lip.

7. The plug according to claim 1, wherein the socket and the plug each comprise seven of the electrical terminals.

8. The plug according to claim 1, wherein the resilient seal is made from a polymeric material.

9. The plug according to claim 8, wherein the polymeric material comprises polyvinyl chloride.

10. The plug according to claim 1, wherein the body is formed by a core and an outer cover of differing rigidity.

11. The plug according to claim 10, wherein the resilient seal is integrally formed with the core.

12. The plug according to claim 11, wherein the resilient seal is configured to be compressed between the cover and the proximal face of the receptacle wall when the catch mates with the catch receiver.

13. An electrical connector assembly comprising:

a socket comprising;

a receptacle defining an interior that terminates at a wall having a proximal face; and

at least one electrical terminal accessible through the receptacle;

a plug comprising;

a body sized for receipt within the interior of the receptacle and having a distal end;

at least one electrical terminal carried by the body and configured to mate with the at least one electrical terminal on the socket; and

a resilient seal located at the distal end of the body and configured to surround the mating electrical terminals; and

a coupler configured to retain the plug in the socket such that the resilient seal compresses against the proximal face of the receptacle wall.

14. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 13, wherein the coupler comprises a catch on one of the socket and the plug and a catch receiver on the other of the socket and the plug, wherein the catch and the catch receiver are configured to mate with one another to retain the plug in the socket.

15. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 14, wherein the catch receiver comprises a key formed on the body and configured to be received within a keyway formed in the socket receptacle.

16. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 15, wherein the socket further comprises a closure movable to selectively close the interior of the receptacle, and the catch comprises a finger depending from the closure.

17. The electrical connector assembly according to claim 16, wherein the key comprises a proximal end configured for abutting contact with the finger to retain the plug in the socket and compress the resilient seal against the proximal face of the receptacle wall.

18. The plug according to claim 17, wherein a distance between the finger and the proximal face of the receptacle wall is less than a distance between the key proximal end and a distal end of the resilient seal when the resilient seal is uncompressed.

19. The plug according to claim 13, wherein the resilient seal extends distally beyond the distal end of the body.

20. The plug according to claim 19, wherein the resilient seal comprises a peripheral lip.

21. The plug according to claim 13, wherein the socket and the plug each comprise seven of the electrical terminals.

22. The plug according to claim 13, wherein the resilient seal is made from a polymeric material.

23. The plug according to claim 22, wherein the polymeric material comprises polyvinyl chloride.

24. The plug according to claim 13, wherein the body is formed by a core and an outer cover of differing rigidity.

25. The plug according to claim 24, wherein the resilient seal is integrally formed with the core.

26. The plug according to claim 25, wherein the resilient seal is configured to be compressed between the cover and the proximal face of the receptacle wall when the catch mates with the catch receiver.

27. A plug for an electrical connector assembly, the plug comprising:

a body carrying at least one electrical terminal; and

a knob comprising a bulbous portion sized to fit in a palm of a user'"'"'s hand for ease of grasping by the user.

28. The plug according to claim 27, wherein the knob further comprises a distal wall configured to accommodate at least two fingers of the user with the body between the at least two fingers.

29. The plug according to claim 28 and further comprising a neck connecting the body to the knob.

30. The plug according to claim 29, wherein the neck joins the knob at the distal wall such that when the user places the at least two fingers on the distal wall, the user can place each of the at least two fingers on opposite sides of the neck.

31. The plug according to claim 27, wherein the knob further comprises a drip edge configured to prevent fluid from flowing from the knob to the body.

32. The plug according to claim 31, wherein the drip edge comprises a groove formed in the knob.

33. The plug according to claim 32, wherein the groove extends circumferentially around the knob.

34. The plug according to claim 33, wherein the groove has an arcuate profile.