Watertight electrical contact units

• US 4,894,495 A
• Filed: 07/18/1988
• Issued: 01/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Olympus Optical Company Ltd. (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Toda, Masato
• Primary Examiner(s): Sholl, Linda J.
• Application Number:
  US07/222,339
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 200/302.1-302.3, 200/159 B, 200/51.12, 128/4-6, 128/204.23, 128/303.15, 439/736, 439/819, 439/824, 439/246, 439/247, 439/248, 277/212 C
• US Class Current: 200/51.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/04 combined with photographic or television appliances
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/22 Underwater equipment for submarine periscopes G02B23/08; arrangements on floating structures of underwater viewing devices B63C11/49; arrangement of visual watch equipment on submarines B63G8/38
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/40 Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/52 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal

Abstract

A watertight electrical contact unit is integrally molded by embedding a contact member in a watertight elastic member which is watertightly secured to a body for mounting the contact unit.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising:

component mounting means including first and second mounting sections relatively movable between first and second positions;

electrical switch means including first and second cooperating contact members that are carried by the respective first and second mounting sections, said cooperating contact members being engaged when said mounting sections are in said first position and are disengaged when said mounting sections are in said second position;

a watertight electrical contact unit secured to said first mounting section, said contact unit including a watertight elastic member and said first contact member;

said first contact member including;

(a) a contact portion at a first side of said elastic member;

(b) a conductor connecting portion for electrically connecting said first contact member to a conductor when said first and second mounting sections are in said first position and for connecting said first contact member to the conductor when said first and second mounting sections are in said second position, said conductor connecting portion being located at a side of said elastic member which is opposite to said first side of said elastic member; and

(c) another portion excluding said contact portion and said conductor connecting portion;

with said mounting sections in said first position said contact portion being in direct engagement with said second contact member;

said elastic member being interposed between said first mounting section and said first contact member, and being a molded unitary body wherein said another portion of said contact member is embedded;

said contact portion being operatively positioned to engage said second contact when the latter is disposed forward of said contact portion;

said elastic member including an annular groove open at its rear facing side and formed around said first contact member so as to facilitate movement of said first contact member in the axial direction relative to said first mounting section when said first contact member is being placed in contact with said second contact member.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said contact member has a flanged portion at the middle portion thereof, said flanged portion being embedded in said elastic member, said another portion including said flanged portion.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 further including a plate member for preventing said conductor connecting portion from falling sideways;

said plate member being interposied between said elastic member and said first mounting section;

said plate member extending around the conductor connecting portion.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said elastic member has its peripheral edge formed as a fixing portion to said first mounting section.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said elastic member is formed of material of high desinfectant resistance such as silicone rubber.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said first contact member has first and second flanged portions, only said first flanged portion being molded by being embedded in said elastic member, and a spring being interposed between said second flanged portion and said first mounting section.

7. Apparatus comprising:

component mounting means including first and second mounting sections relatively movable between first and second positions;

electrical switch means including first and second cooperating contact members that are carried by the respective first and second mounting sections, said cooperating contact members being engaged when said mounting sections are in said first position and are disengaged when said mounting sections are in said second position;

a watertight electrical contact unit secured to said first mounting section, said contact unit including a watertight elastic member and said first contact member;

said first contact member including;

(a) a contact portion at a first side of said elastic member;

(b) a conductor connecting portion for electrically connecting said first contact member to a conductor when said first and second mounting sections are in said first position and for connecting said first contact member to the conductor when said first and second mounting sections are in said second position, said conductor connecting portion being located at a side of said elastic member which is opposite to said first side of said elastic member; and

(c) another portion excluding said contact portion and said conductor connecting portion;

with said mounting sections in said first position said contact portion being in direct engagement with said second contact member;

said elastic member being interposed between said first mounting section and said first contact member, and being a molded unitary body wherein said another portion of said contact member is embedded;

said contact portion being operatively positioned to engage said second contact when the latter is disposed forward of said contact portion, and when so engaged said elastic member is deflected rearward thereby establishing a forwardly directed biasing force that contributes at least partially to established butt contact pressure between said contact portion and said second contact engaged thereby.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 also including a spring disposed behind said elastic member and operatively engaged with said first contact member to contribute to said contact pressure when said elastic member is deflected rearward.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, in which said elastic member includes an annular groove having a depth that is substantially greater than its width, said groove being open at its rear facing side and formed around said first contact member so as to facilitate movement of said first contact member in the axial direction relative to said first mounting section when said first contact member is being placed in contact with said second contact member.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which said first contact member and elastic member are both integrally molded in an axially flat thin board form.

11. Apparatus according to claim 7, in which said first contact member has a flexible base plate on which a pattern is formed connected thereto.