Sealed plug assembly
First Claim
1. A plug assembly for housing a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, the plug assembly comprising:
- a protective shell having an opening which is dimensioned to receive the USB connector and attached cable therethrough;
a sealing member dimensioned to be received in the opening of the protective shell, the sealing member having a connector receiving opening which extends from a front surface of the sealing member to proximate a back surface of the sealing member, the connector receiving opening being tapered such that diameter of the connector receiving opening is larger proximate the front surface and smaller proximate the back surface;
a plug adapter assembly having a plug body, a seating member and a mating assembly, the plug body having a generally cylindrical opening which extends therethrough which is dimensioned to receive the USB connector therein, the seating member having a seating opening which is dimensioned to cooperate with a mating portion of the USB connector, the mating assembly having a mating opening for positioning the seating member, the mating assembly being dimensioned to engage a mating connector to properly position the mating portion of the USB connector relative to the mating connector;
whereby the protective shell, the sealing member and the plug adaptor assembly can be installed on the USB connector after the USB connector has been terminated to the cable.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A protective plug assembly for use with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector. The plug assembly is installed over a terminated USB connector and provides additional shielding for the USB connector, thereby allowing the USB connector to be used in military, aerospace, industrial or other applications in which signal degradation is a concern. The plug assembly is easily installed in the field, as the plug adapter assembly may be preassembled during manufacture. The plug assembly also provides sealing for the USB connector which allows the USB connector to be used in environmental conditions which are not conducive to the longevity of an unprotected connector.
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A plug assembly for housing a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector, the plug assembly comprising:
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a protective shell having an opening which is dimensioned to receive the USB connector and attached cable therethrough; a sealing member dimensioned to be received in the opening of the protective shell, the sealing member having a connector receiving opening which extends from a front surface of the sealing member to proximate a back surface of the sealing member, the connector receiving opening being tapered such that diameter of the connector receiving opening is larger proximate the front surface and smaller proximate the back surface; a plug adapter assembly having a plug body, a seating member and a mating assembly, the plug body having a generally cylindrical opening which extends therethrough which is dimensioned to receive the USB connector therein, the seating member having a seating opening which is dimensioned to cooperate with a mating portion of the USB connector, the mating assembly having a mating opening for positioning the seating member, the mating assembly being dimensioned to engage a mating connector to properly position the mating portion of the USB connector relative to the mating connector; whereby the protective shell, the sealing member and the plug adaptor assembly can be installed on the USB connector after the USB connector has been terminated to the cable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A plug assembly for housing a USB connector, the plug assembly comprising:
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a protective shell having an opening which is dimensioned to receive the USB connector and attached cable therethrough; a sealing member dimensioned to be received in the opening of the protective shell, the sealing member having a connector receiving opening which extends from a front surface of the sealing member to proximate a back surface of the sealing member, the connector receiving opening being tapered such that diameter of the connector receiving opening is larger proximate the front surface and smaller proximate the back surface; a plug adapter assembly having a plug body, a seating member and a ground member, the ground member having inner tabs and outer tabs, the inner tabs extending from a ground member opening, the ground member opening being dimensioned to receive a mating portion of the USB connector therethrough, the outer tabs being formed about the perimeter of the ground member, the outer tabs are bent to extend toward the plug body, the seating member having a seating opening dimensioned to receive the inner tabs of the ground member therein; wherein a conductive shell of the USB connector is placed in electrical engagement with the plug adapter assembly via the inner and outer tabs of the ground member, allowing for a grounding path to be provided between the USB connector and a mating connector to which the plug adapter assembly is mated. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A plug assembly for housing a USB connector, the plug assembly comprising:
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a protective shell having an opening which is dimensioned to receive the USB connector and attached cable therethrough; a sealing member dimensioned to be received in the opening of the protective shell, the sealing member having a connector receiving opening which extends from a front surface of the sealing member to proximate a back surface of the sealing member, the connector receiving opening being tapered such that diameter of the connector receiving opening is larger proximate the front surface and smaller proximate the back surface; a plug adapter assembly having a plug body and a mating assembly, the plug body having a generally cylindrical opening which extends therethrough which is dimensioned to receive the USB connector therein, the mating assembly having a mating opening for positioning a mating portion of the USB connector relative to a mating connector; a first compressible member being positioned between the plug body and the mating assembly to provide a seal therebetween, a second compressible member being provide between the plug body and the protective shell to provide a seal therebetween, whereby the sealing member, the first compressible member and the second compressible member provide the plug assembly with sealing to protect the USB connector in harsh environmental conditions. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification