Vibration resistant electrical connector
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electrical connector comprising:
- an insert of non-conducting material;
a plurality of electrical connecting elements carried by said insert;
a protective overmold body extending at least partially about said insert and defining a generally cylindrical surface extending circumferentially about said connecting elements, said overmold body further defining first and second segments of flexible threads formed on said cylindrical surface and diametrically located relative to each other.
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Abstract
A quick disconnect electrical connector resistant to vibration-induced disconnect includes a male connector and a female connector each having opposing segments of flexible thread which inter-engage when the male and female are assembled. The thread segments of the female connector are on a flexible wall which deflects to permit mating engagement when the two connectors are pushed together. The male and female connectors are keyed together when assembled to prevent rotation; and the flexible thread segments engage to prevent unintentional disconnect.
50 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electrical connector comprising:
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an insert of non-conducting material;
a plurality of electrical connecting elements carried by said insert;
a protective overmold body extending at least partially about said insert and defining a generally cylindrical surface extending circumferentially about said connecting elements, said overmold body further defining first and second segments of flexible threads formed on said cylindrical surface and diametrically located relative to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
an overmold body including a flexible cylindrical wall defining opposing segments of threads on opposing sides thereof, said female insert defining an outer flexible wall spaced from said cylindrical outer wall of said male connector when said male and female connectors are assembled together and corresponding thread segments of said male and female connectors are interengaged.
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8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein one of said male and female inserts defines a keyway and the other of said male and female inserts defines a key adapted to be received in said keyway when said male and female connectors are connected together.
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9. The apparatus of claim 8 characterized in that a pull force in the range of 10-30 pounds is required to disconnect said male and female connectors when assembled together.
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10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each of said segments of thread extend about its associated cylindrical overmold surface over an included angle in the range of 60°
- -120°
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- -120°
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11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each of said segments of thread extend over an included angle of approximately 90°
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12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said peripheral wall of said female connector defines a first frusto-conical surface and said overmold body of said male connector defines a second frusto-conical surface adapted to engage and seal with said first frusto-conical surface when said male and female connectors are assembled.
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13. Apparatus comprising:
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an insert of insulating material;
a plurality of female connecting-elements at least partially embedded in said insert;
an electric cable including a plurality of wires, each connected to an associated one of said female connecting elements;
an overmold body molded about a portion of said insert and an adjacent portion of said cable, said overmold body including a generally cylindrical, flexible wall having an inner surface opposing and spaced from said insert and at least first and second separated segments of thread integrally molded onto said inner surface. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An electrical connector comprising:
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an insert of insulating material;
a plurality of connecting elements at least partially embedded in said insert;
an electrical cable having a plurality of wires; and
an overmold body of moldable plastic material having a durometer rating in the range of approximately 70 to 100 on the Shore A scale, said overmold body being molded about a portion of said insert and said electrical cable, said wires connected to said connecting elements of said insert, said overmold body defining at least first and second segments of thread, each segment extending about a convex cylindrical surface formed on said overmold body. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification