Electrical connector environmental sealing plug

• US 4,993,964 A
• Filed: 04/18/1989
• Issued: 02/19/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Martin Marietta Corporation
• Original Assignee: Martin Marietta Corporation
• Inventors: Trummer, Richard O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pirlot, David
• Application Number:
  US07/339,693
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 439/586, 439/587, 439/271-283, 174/65 R, 174/65 G, 174/65 SS
• US Class Current: 439/272
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/443 Dummy plugs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5208 having at least two cable receiving openings
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5213 Covers

Abstract

A sealing plug for a multi-contact electrical connector which precludes the necessity for installation of separate end-seal plugs and spare pin contacts to effect the environmental sealing of non-used pin contact cavities in the connector.

Claims

1. An environmental sealing plug for an electrical connector including a connector plug portion having a shell containing a dielectric insert having pin contact receiving cavities, a rubber gasket mounted in the shell at the forward end of the insert, apertures in said gasket aligned with said insert cavities, conical projections provided on said gasket surrounding said apertures, and a rear elastomeric grommet having annular sealing ribs mounted in said shell at the opposite end of said insert, the sealing plug comprising, a dielectric plug mounted in said pin contact receiving cavity, said plug having a shank portion extending through said grommet, and a pin portion extending a short distance outwardly of the gasket through said apertures, to thereby maintain the rigidity of the conical projection on the gasket to optimize the seal between the mated plug portion and a receptacle portion of the connector.

2. An environmental sealing plug according to claim 1, wherein the annular ribs on the grommet engage the shank portion of the sealing plug, to thereby seal the rear plug portion of the connector.

3. An environmental sealing plug according to claim 1, wherein the sealing plug is made of plastic.

4. An environmental sealing plug according to claim 1, wherein the sealing plug has the same configuration as a spare pin contact.

5. An environmental sealing plug according to claim 4, wherein spring tines are mounted in said insert cavity and engage said sealing plug for retaining said plug in said cavity.