Electrical connector having a sealing mechanism
First Claim
1. An electrical connector configured to sealably engage a header, the header including a cavity therein and an outer wall surface having external threads, the connector comprising:
- a plug assembly including an outer plug surface configured to be inserted into the cavity of the header;
a sleeve member coupled to and surrounding the plug surface, the sleeve member including a plurality of fingers biased to flex away from the plug surface in a flared arrangement, the fingers including inner thread elements configured to engage a portion of the external threads;
a sealing band gripping the plug surface; and
a collar configured to slide over the sleeve member when moved between a retracted position and a locked position, wherein the collar compresses the fingers against the wall surface of the header when the collar moves from the retracted position to the locked position such that the fingers engage the sealing band, the sealing band being compressed between the plug assembly and the header.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical connector configured to engage a header is provided. The connector includes a plug that is configured to be inserted into a header cavity and a sleeve member that surrounds an outer plug surface. The sleeve member includes a plurality of fingers biased to flex away from the plug surface in a flared arrangement. The connector also includes a sealing band that grips the plug surface. Also, the connector includes a collar that is configured to slide in the axial direction. When the collar moves from the retracted position to the locked position, the collar deflects the fingers against the wall surface of the header causing the fingers to cover the sealing band and the sealing band is compressed between the plug body and the header.
33 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrical connector configured to sealably engage a header, the header including a cavity therein and an outer wall surface having external threads, the connector comprising:
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a plug assembly including an outer plug surface configured to be inserted into the cavity of the header; a sleeve member coupled to and surrounding the plug surface, the sleeve member including a plurality of fingers biased to flex away from the plug surface in a flared arrangement, the fingers including inner thread elements configured to engage a portion of the external threads; a sealing band gripping the plug surface; and a collar configured to slide over the sleeve member when moved between a retracted position and a locked position, wherein the collar compresses the fingers against the wall surface of the header when the collar moves from the retracted position to the locked position such that the fingers engage the sealing band, the sealing band being compressed between the plug assembly and the header. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electrical connector configured to sealably engage a header, the header including a cavity therein and an outer wall surface having external threads, the connector comprising:
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a plug assembly including an outer plug surface configured to be inserted into the cavity of the header; a sleeve member coupled to and surrounding the plug surface, the sleeve member including a plurality of fingers biased to flex away from the plug assembly in a flared arrangement, the fingers having an outer surface and including inner thread elements configured to engage a portion of the external threads; and a collar configured to slide over the sleeve member when moved between a retracted position and a locked position, wherein, when the collar moves from the retracted position to the locked position, the collar engages the outer surface of the fingers and compresses the fingers against the wall surface of the header such that the inner thread elements of the fingers sealably engage the external threads, wherein the sleeve member is electrically connected to the header when the fingers are engaged with the external threads. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An electrical connector configured to sealably engage a header, the header including a cavity therein and an outer wall surface having external threads, the connector comprising:
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a plug assembly including an outer plug surface configured to be inserted into the cavity of the header; a sleeve member coupled to and surrounding the plug surface, the sleeve member including a plurality of fingers biased to flex away from the plug assembly in a flared arrangement, each of the fingers having an outer surface and including inner thread elements configured to engage a portion of the external threads; and a collar configured to slide over the sleeve member when moved between a retracted position and a locked position, wherein, when the collar moves from the retracted position to the locked position, the collar engages the outer surface of the fingers and compresses the fingers against the wall surface of the header, such that the inner thread elements of the fingers sealably engage the external threads, and wherein the collar includes an inner surface having a plurality of barb members distributed circumferentially about the inner surface and the sleeve member includes a plurality of barbed cut-outs, each cut-out being configured to mate with a corresponding member when the collar and the sleeve member are in the locked position.
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Specification