Connector sealing structure

• US 6,334,785 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2001
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Miwa, Takeya
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, TULSIDAS C
• Application Number:
  US09/801,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20010027047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 439/272, 439/273, 439/274, 439/275, 439/587, 439/589
• US Class Current: 439/272
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/521 Sealing between contact members and housing, e.g. sealing insert
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5219 Sealing means between coupling parts, e.g. interfacial seal

Abstract

A connector sealing structure comprises a first connector, a second connector that fits into the first connector, and a sealing pad inserted between the first and second connectors. The first connector has a first connector housing with a socket, and one or more terminal plugs. Each terminal plug has a pin projecting from the bottom of the socket. The second connector has a second connector housing with a leading face, and one or more terminal jacks inside the connector housing. Each terminal jack receives one of the terminal pins. The sealing pad is positioned between the leading face of the second connector and the bottom of the socket of the first connector. The sealing pad has one or more holes, each receiving one of the pins. A bank, which is made of an elastic material, is formed around the hole and tapers down toward the hole. The holes come into tight contact with the pins when the second connector is fit into the socket and pushed against the sealing pad.

Claims

1. A connector sealing structure comprising:

a first connector having a first connector housing with a socket and one or more terminal plugs, each terminal plug having a pin projecting into the socket from its bottom surface;

a second connector having a second connector housing with a leading face and one or more terminal jacks inside the connector housing, each terminal jack receiving one of the terminal pins;

a sealing pad positioned between the leading face of the second connector and the bottom of the socket of the first connector, the sealing pad having one or more holes for receiving the pins, the holes coming into tight contact with the pins when the second connector is fit into the socket and pushed against the sealing pad; and

an elastic bank being provided adjacent each of the holes so as to be tapered down toward the hole.

2. The connector sealing structure of claim 1, wherein the sealing pad is positioned directly on the bottom of the socket.

3. The connector sealing structure of claim 1, wherein the sealing pad is positioned above the bottom of the socket so that a gap is formed between the sealing pad and the bottom of the socket.

4. The connector sealing structure of claim 1, wherein the sealing pad, including the bank, is made of an elastic insulator, and a periphery of the sealing pad is in tight contact with an inner wall of the socket of the first connector.

5. The connector sealing structure of claim 1, wherein the sealing pad consists of a substrate that is made of resin, and banks that are made of an elastic material and formed around the holes.

6. The connector sealing structure of claim 1, wherein the tip of the pin is positioned lower than the top of the bank.

7. A connector sealing structure comprising:

first connector having a first connector housing with a socket and one or more terminal plugs, each terminal plug having a pin projecting into the socket from its bottom surface, the socket having an indent along its inner wall so that the socket becomes slightly broader along the indent;

a second connector having a second connector housing with a leading face and one or more terminal jacks inside the connector housing, each terminal jack receiving one of the terminal pins; and

a sealing pad positioned between the leading face of the second connector and the bottom of the socket of the first connector, the sealing pad having one or more holes for receiving the pins, the holes coming into tight contact with the pins when the second connector is fit into the socket and pushed against the sealing pad, the sealing pad also having a flange along its periphery, the flange being in tight contact with the inner wall of the socket of the first connector.

8. The connector sealing structure of claim 7, wherein the sealing pad is positioned directly on the bottom of the socket.

9. The connector sealing structure of claim 7, wherein the sealing pad is positioned above the bottom of the socket so that a gap is formed between the sealing pad and the bottom of the socket.

10. The connector sealing structure of claim 7, wherein the sealing pad further has elastic banks around the holes, the elastic banks being tapered down toward the associated hole.

11. A connector sealing structure comprising:

a first connector having a first connector housing, one or more terminal plugs, and a sealing pad with one or more holes, the first connector housing having a socket with a bottom and an inner wall, each terminal plug having a pin that projects into the socket from its bottom and which is inserted into the hole of the sealing pad; and

a second connector having a second connector housing with a leading face and one or more terminal jacks inside the second connector housing, each terminal jack receiving one of the terminal pins;

wherein the holes of the sealing pad come into tight contact with the pins when the second connector is inserted into the socket of the first connector and the leading face of the second connector is pushed against the sealing pad;

wherein the sealing pad has a plurality of bank and each of the plurality of banks is adjacent and tapered down toward one of the holes; and

the plurality of banks are made of an elastic material.

12. The connector sealing structure of claim 11, wherein the sealing pad is positioned directly on the bottom of the socket of the first connector housing.

13. The connector sealing structure of claim 11, wherein the sealing pad is positioned above the bottom of the socket of the first connector housing.

14. The connector sealing structure of claim 11, wherein the sealing pad is placed in the socket of the first connector housing in a detachable manner.