This invention relates to an electrical connector that is adapted for use with a flat flexible cable. More specifically, this invention relates to an electrical connector that is adapted to engage a seal with a flat flexible cable.
A flat flexible cable is a type of electrical cable that includes a flat, flexible base that support one or more flat electrical conductors thereon. Flat flexible cables are typically used in devices having a large amount of electronics in a relatively small space. In such devices, the flat flexible cable can provide for easier cable management than a conventional round electrical cable. It would be advantageous to have an improved electrical connector for attachment to a flat flexible cable.
The invention relates to an electrical connector. The electrical connector includes a housing. The housing has a housing body. The housing has a cover mount. The housing has a cable cavity that extends through the cover mount along a connector axis. The electrical connector includes a first cover. The first cover is located on the first side of the connector axis. A second cover is located on a second side of the connector axis. The first cover engages the second cover to retain the covers in their relative positions. The covers also engage the cover mount to retain their position relative to the housing.
In another embodiment, the electrical connector includes a housing with a housing body and a cover mount. The cover mount includes a flange and a housing groove located between the flange and the housing body. A cable cavity extends through the cover mount along a connector axis. A first cover is located on a first side of the connector axis. The first cover includes a first cover flange. A second cover is located on a second side of the connector axis. The second cover includes a second cover flange. The first cover engages the second cover to retain the first cover in position relative to the second cover. The first cover flange and the second cover flange are located at least in part in the housing groove.
Another embodiment of the electrical connector includes a cable that is located in part in the cable cavity. The cable extends between the first cover and the second cover.
Various aspects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in
The split cover electrical connector 10 includes a polarizer 30 that extends from the housing body 20. The polarizer 30 is adapted to limit the orientation of the split cover electrical connector 10 relative to the corresponding electrical connector when the two are mated. The split cover electrical connector 10 also includes a connector latch 32 that is part of the housing 18. The connector latch 32 is adapted to engage the corresponding electrical connector in order to retain the split cover electrical connector 10 in a mated position relative to the corresponding electrical connector.
The housing 18 includes a cover mount 34 that extends from the housing body 20. The illustrated cover mount 34 extends from the housing body 20 in a direction parallel to the connector axis 28, but the cover mount 34 may extend from the housing body 20 in any desired direction. The cover mount 34 includes a housing flange 36 and a housing groove 38 that is located between the housing flange 36 and the housing body 20. The housing flange 36 extends generally perpendicular to the connector axis 28, but may extend in any desired direction. The purpose of the cover mount 34 will be described below.
The split cover electrical connector 10 includes a connector seal 39. The illustrated connector seal 39 is a ring made of an elastomeric material, but may be made of any desired material. The connector seal 39 is located in the connector space 24 when the split cover electrical connector 10 is assembled. The split cover electrical connector 10 also includes a cover seal 40. The illustrated cover seal 40 is also a ring made of an elastomeric material, but may have any desired shape and be made of any desired material. The cover mount 34 includes a seal seat 42 located on the housing flange 36. The seal seat 42 is a generally U-shaped groove on an outer surface of the housing flange 36, and the cover seal 40 is located in the seal seat 42 when the split cover electrical connector 10 is assembled.
The split cover electrical connector 10 also includes a first cover 44a and a second cover 44b. The illustrated split cover electrical connector 10 includes two covers 44a and 44b, but may include any desired number of covers 44a and 44b. Both the first cover 44a and the second cover 44b are molded from plastic, but may be made of any desired material and by any desired process. In the illustrated embodiment, the first cover 44a and the second cover 44b have identical shapes, with the second cover 44b rotated 180-degrees around the connector axis 28 from the first cover 44a. However, the first cover 44a and the second cover 44b may have different shapes, if desired. In this description and drawings, parts of the first cover 44a are identified with the suffix “a” and similar parts of the second cover 44b are identified with the suffix “b.”
The first cover 44a includes a cover body 46a and a housing mount 48a that extends from the cover body 46a. The illustrated housing mount 48a extends from the cover body 46a in a direction parallel to the connector axis 28, but the housing mount 48a may extend from the cover body 46a in any desired direction. The housing mount 48a includes a cover flange 50a and a cover groove 52a that is located between the cover flange 50a and the cover body 46a. The cover flange 50a extends generally perpendicular to the connector axis 28, but may extend in any desired direction. The cover flange 50a is adapted to fit at least in part within the housing groove 38 on the housing 18. Additionally, the housing flange 36 is adapted to fit at least in part within the cover groove 52a.
The first cover 44a includes a cable seal seat 54a that is defined in the cover body 46a. The cable seal seat 54a is adapted to accommodate a first cable seal 56a. Similarly, the second cover 44b includes a cable seal seat (not shown) that is adapted to accommodate a second cable seal 56b.
Both the first cable seal 56a and the second cable seal 56b are made from an elastomeric material, but may be made of any desired material and by any desired process. In the illustrated embodiment, the first cable seal 56a and the second cable seal 56b have identical shapes, with the second cable seal 56b rotated 180-degrees around the connector axis 28 from the first cable seal 56a. However, the first cable seal 56a and the second cable seal 56b may have different shapes, if desired. In this description and the drawings, parts of the first cable seal 56a are identified with the suffix “a” and similar parts of the second cable seal 56b are identified with the suffix “b.”
The first cable seal 56a includes a seal body 58a which has a cover surface 60a. In
The first cable seal 56a includes a tail 68a that extends from the seal body 58a generally parallel to the connector axis 28. The tail 68a has a smaller cross-sectional shape, when viewed perpendicular to the connector axis 28, than the seal body 58a. The tail 68a is adapted to be positioned in a tail seat 70a on the first cover 44a to properly position the first cable seal 56a relative to the first cover 44a.
The first cover 44a includes a plurality of cover latches 72a. The first cover 44a includes two cover latches 72a, but may include any desired number of cover latches 72a. The first cover 44a also includes a plurality of cover catches 74a. The first cover 44a includes two cover catches 74a, but may include any desired number of cover catches 74a. The function of the cover latches 72a and the cover catches 74a will be described below.
Referring to
Referring back to
The cover seal 40 is compressed between the connector housing 18 and the first cover 44a and is also compressed between the connector housing 18 and the second cover 44b. As previously described, when the split cover electrical connector 10 is mated with the corresponding electrical connector, at least a portion of the corresponding electrical connector is located in the connector space 24. The connector seal 39 is adapted to engage the corresponding electrical connector. When the split cover electrical connector 10 is mated with the corresponding electrical connector, the connector seal 39, the cover seal 40, the first cable seal 56a, and the second cable seal 56b are adapted to provide a sealed space, indicated generally at 82. The sealed space 82 includes the terminal cavities 26 and the cable cavity 80. The electrical terminals 26 are located in the sealed space 82.
The principle and mode of operation of this invention have been explained and illustrated in its preferred embodiment. However, it must be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20230054115 A1 | Feb 2023 | US |