Patent Application
20250202158
The invention relates to peripheral seal with sloped ribs which reduces mating force and improves sealing performance.
Electrical connector are often mounted in a cutout in a panel to provide an interface between electrical devices on opposite sides of the panel. It is often necessary to provide a good seal between the electrical connector and the panel in order to prevent exchange of gas or liquid through the cutout of the panel. Panel mount electrical connectors generally have a flange which is abutted against the panel. The panel is made from a plastic material, and the panel is often wavy or has other deviations in planarity, thereby causing gaps between the flange and the panel. Further, different panels may vary in thickness, thereby making it difficult to consistently maintain the flange against the panel.
If not properly sealed, liquid or gas may seep through the gap between the panel and the connector, adversely affecting the components and causing failure of the device in which the connector is mounted. In use, an insulative foam may be injected over the panel or the connector. If the panel is wavy or if the flange is not abutted against the panel, the foam will shoot through gaps between the connector and the panel, thereby causing mess and splatter in unwanted areas. This problem is exacerbated when wires extending from the connector are pulled and bent during assembly, thereby cocking the connector in the cutout and causing a larger gap. A further problem exists in that the foam may enter the connector through gaps around the wires and may interfere with electrical reliability of the connector.
In other applications, connectors may include an elastomeric seal at the flange to prevent intrusion of gas or liquid between the flange and the panel. However, many of the known seals do not have sufficient structural flexibility to provide proper sealing and vibration dampening for a wide range of dimensions or in a wide range of environments. In addition, mating and un-mating forces associated with known seals makes it difficult to access when service is required.
It would, therefore, be beneficial to have a peripheral wedge seal which can be used to effectively seal the assembly over a wide range of functional dimensions, provides for lower mating and un-mating forces, provides more compliancy, and provides sufficient vibration dampening between the plug connector and the receptacle connector even in harsh environments. It would also be advantages to the seal to have sufficient structural integrity to prevent the flow of foam to unwanted areas.
The following provides a summary of certain illustrative embodiments of the present invention. This summary is not an extensive overview and is not intended to identify key or critical aspects or elements of the present invention or to delineate its scope.
The seal member of the present invention includes angled, sloped or inclined projections or ribs which distribute the forces evenly across a surface area of a panel or mating connector and across the larger contact area of the projections or ribs. As a result, the mating force is spread out over a wider region, reducing the localized pressure on any specific point.
The angled, sloped or inclined projections or ribs reduce the frictional forces between the seal member and the mating panel or mating connector. The projections or ribs allow for a sliding or rolling action as the seal member contacts the panel or mating connector, thereby requiring less force to install or remove the seal member and connector from the panel or mating connector.
The angled, sloped or inclined orientation of the projections or ribs allows the projections or ribs to act as wedges, pushing against the mating panel and creating a tighter seal with lower force. Consequently, the seal member ensures that the connector will be sealed to the mounting panel or mating connector regardless of waviness in the panel or mating connector or variations in thickness of different panels or mating connector, resulting in enhanced sealing performance.
An embodiment is directed to a seal for use with an electrical connector. The seal includes a base member and projections. The projections extend from the base member. Each of the axes of the projections extending at an angle of greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to a longitudinal plane of the base member.
An embodiment is directed to a sealed panel mount electrical connector having a dielectric housing and a seal member. The seal member is positioned on the dielectric housing. The seal member includes a base member and projections. The projections extend from the base member. Axes of the projections extend at angles of greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees relative to a longitudinal plane of the base member.
Additional features and aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. As will be appreciated by the skilled artisan, further embodiments of the invention are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and associated descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive in nature.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, schematically illustrate one or more exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
The description of illustrative embodiments according to principles of the present invention is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description of embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation unless explicitly indicated as such. Terms such as “attached,” “affixed,” “connected,” “coupled,” “interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. Moreover, the features and benefits of the invention are illustrated by reference to the preferred embodiments. Accordingly, the invention expressly should not be limited to such preferred embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combination of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features, the scope of the invention being defined by the claims appended hereto.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are now described with reference to the Figures. Reference numerals are used throughout the detailed description to refer to the various elements and structures. Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention.
As shown in
The forward portion 12 is configured for mating with a complementary electrical connector (not shown). The flange 16 is dimensioned larger than the opening 20 so that a front face 24 of the flange 16 will confront the mounting panel 22 around the opening 20. The housing 10 has latches 18 which are arranged in opposition to the flange 16 to capture the mounting panel 22.
The rear portion 14 has a rear face 26. Conductor-receiving cavities 28 extend from the rear face 26 through the housing 10 and are open at a front of the forward portion 12. The cavities 28 can hold terminals (not shown) which are attached to conductors (not shown) that extend from the housing 10 through the rear face 26.
The connector 2 shown in the figures is merely illustrative. The connector 2 may have different configurations and different features without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, while the connector 2 is shown mating with a panel 22, the connector 2 may be mated with a mating connector or the like.
The seal member 30 is a flange or peripheral seal which extends proximate to the circumference of the flange 16. As shown in
The seal member 30 has a base member 34 and projections or ribs 36 which extend from the base member 34. The base member 34 is configured to be positioned and maintained in the seal receiving recess 32 of the flange 16. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the base member 34 has a retaining lip or projection 35 which extends from an end thereof. The retaining projection is dimensioned to be received in a retaining recess 37 which projects from the seal receiving recess 32. The cooperation of the retaining projection 35 with the retaining recess 37 helps to maintain the base member 34 and the seal member 30 is position on the flange 16 of the connector 2.
When initially positioned in the seal receiving recess 32, the base member 34 of the seal member 30 has an arcuate or curved bottom surface 39. As shown in
In the illustrative embodiment shown in
As the axis 38 of the projections or ribs 36 extends at an angle relative to the plane 40 of the base member 34, first panel engaging surfaces 44 are sloped or inclined relative to the plane 40 of the base member 34 at the same angle as the axis 38. The first panel engaging surfaces 44 have further angled second panel engaging surfaces 46 provided proximate free ends 48 of the projections or ribs 36. The second panel engaging surfaces 46 extend at an angle 50 relative first panel engaging surfaces 44. The angle 50 is greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees, for example, the angle 50 may be between 30 degrees and 80 degrees, between 40 degrees and 70 degrees, between 30 degrees and 50 degrees.
The projections or ribs 36 are spaced apart by a distance 51. The distance 51 may vary according to the dimensions of the projections or ribs 36. However, the distance 51 is sufficient to allow the projections or ribs 36 to deform when the connector 2 is mated to a thick panel 22, as shown in
In general, the projections or ribs 36, including the thickness 53 of the projections or ribs 36 and the spacing or distance between the projections or ribs 36 are configured to maintain security against incoming debris, liquids, contaminants and sealing by foaming or other materials. In one illustrative embodiment, the angle 42 is approximately 113 degree, the projections or ribs 36 have a thickness 53 of approximate 1.18 mm thick ribs, and the distance 51 between the projections or ribs 36 is approximately 1.40 mm.
When the connector 2 is mounted on the panel 22, the second panel engaging surfaces 46 of the projections or ribs 36 initially engage the panel 22. Continued mating causes the projections or ribs 36 to deform. As this occurs, the first panel engaging surfaces 44 is moved into engagement with the panel 22, as shown in
As shown in
When the connector 2 is fully inserted on the panel 22, 22′ or mated with a mating connector (not shown), the seal member 30 is under pressure, the angled, sloped or inclined projections or ribs 36 engage a larger surface area of the panel 22, 22′ or mating connector than projections or ribs that are not sloped or angled. The angled, sloped or inclined configuration of the projections or ribs 36 help distribute the forces evenly across the larger surface area of the panel 22, 22′ or mating connector and across the larger contact area of the projections or ribs 36. As a result, the mating force is spread out over a wider region, reducing the localized pressure on any specific point. This feature improves the overall durability and lifespan of the seal member 30 and reduces compressive forces. Fine-tuning the angles 42, 50 of the projections or ribs 36 can help achieve the desired reduction in mating force while ensuring an effective seal.
The angled, sloped or inclined projections or ribs 36 can reduce the frictional forces between the seal member 30 and the mating panel 22, 22′ or mating connector. Because of the angle, slope or incline of the projections or ribs 36, the projections or ribs 36 allow for a sliding or rolling action as the seal member 30 contacts the panel 22, 22′ or mating connector, resulting in reduced friction compared to vertical ribs, thereby requiring less force to install or remove the seal member 30 and connector 2 from the panel 22, 22′ or mating connector.
The angled, sloped or inclined orientation of the projections or ribs 36 allows the projections or ribs 36 to act as wedges, pushing against the mating panel and creating a tighter seal with lower force. Consequently, regardless of the thickness of the panel 22, 22′ or mating connector, the seal member 30 seals the connector 2 to its mounting panel 22, 22′ or mating connector. The seal member 30 ensures that the connector 2 will be sealed to the mounting panel 22, 22′ or mating connector regardless of waviness in the panel 22, 22′ or mating connector or variations in thickness of different panels 22, 22′ or mating connector.
When the connector 2 is fully inserted onto the panel 22, 22′ or mating connector, the seal member 30 is compressed. In the compressed state, the angled, sloped or inclined projections or ribs 36 allow for better contact with surface of the panel 22, 22′ or mating connector, resulting in enhanced sealing performance. The angled, sloped or inclined orientation of the projections or ribs 36 helps to distribute the pressure evenly along the projections or ribs 36, reducing the chances of leaks or gaps in the seal member 30.
The angled, sloped or inclined orientation of the projections or ribs 36 allow the projections or ribs 36 to provide greater flexibility and conformity to irregularities in the mating surfaces of the panel 22, 22′ or mating connector than vertical ribs. As the seal member 30 is compressed, the angled, sloped or inclined orientation of the projections or ribs 36 allow the projections or ribs 36 to adjust and conform to the surface of the panel 22, 22′ or mating connector, ensuring a tight and reliable seal. This also can provide vibration dampening when needed.
The angled, sloped or inclined projections or ribs 36 are less prone to extrusion compared to vertical ribs. Extrusion occurs when the seal material is forced into gaps or clearances between mating surfaces under high pressure. The angled, sloped or inclined orientation of the projections or ribs 36 offer greater resistance to extrusion, providing a more reliable barrier against fluid or gas leakage.
While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be used with many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, sizes, materials and components and otherwise used in the practice of the invention, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from the principles of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims, and not limited to the foregoing description or embodiments.
