Foam protective housing for refrigerator connector

Abstract

A connector assembly for use in household appliance applications configured to be mounted on a wall having an outer side and an inner side opposite the outer side, the connector assembly comprising: a main connector body introducible into a cutout hole of the wall along a direction; a protective housing locatable on the inner side of the wall configured to protect the main connector body from insulation foam entering the main connector body when the protective housing and the main connector body are foamed in place, the protective housing comprising a receptacle formed at a front portion of the protective housing configured to receive a second end of the main connector body; a flange extending from and surrounding the receptacle, the flange attachable to the wall at the inner side for covering the cutout hole of the wall; a guide channel formed at a rear portion of the protective housing; wherein the guide channel has one or more internal flaps for routing cables of the connector through the rear portion of the housing in a serpentine manner, the one or more flaps being inclined with respect to the guide channel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector assembly to be mounted on a wall, wherein a housing encapsulates the connector and provides protection against insulating foam from entering the connector and terminal interface areas when the housing and connector are foamed in place. Background Technology

[0002] In the electrical industry, multiple connector assemblies are used to mount connectors onto a wall and provide a connection between components located on one side of the wall and components located on the other side of the wall. These components are typically coated with foam insulation material at this stage.

[0003] EP1710874A discloses a device for securing a wire harness to the liner of a refrigerator filled with insulating foam. The device includes a housing for receiving wires and harness terminals inserted therein. One end of the housing is inserted into a retaining hole formed in the liner and secured to the retaining hole by a latch. A deformable cover integrally formed in the middle portion of the housing extends radially from the housing at an angle and covers the retaining hole to prevent the insulating foam from leaking to the outside of the liner through the gap between the housing and the retaining hole. A cap member is attached to the other end of the housing within the liner. The cap member includes a pair of hinged connectors connected to the cap member via narrow sections. When the hinged connectors pivot toward each other and latch to each other, a soft-sealing member further prevents leakage of the insulating foam around the wire harness.

[0004] The main advantage of this system compared to other, more traditional systems is that, due to its construction, it prevents foam insulation from leaking onto the outside of the refrigerator's lining. However, the main disadvantage is that foam insulation can still accidentally seep into the body that houses the wires, or into the cap, and if this happens, there is a risk that the foam will solidify around the wires, making any maintenance work and wire replacement impossible.

[0005] Other solutions on the market (which are expected to use tape or adhesives, such as hot melt glue) to seal the gap between the housing and the liner, but these systems are difficult to assemble and install.

[0006] WO2008025647 relates to a backing part that can be mounted on the foam side of a refrigerator wall for positioning electrical contacts, such as those of switches or other electrical components, relative to windows cut out in the wall. The backing part includes a front housing and a rear housing connected by neck segment units. The front housing is surrounded by a circumferential sealing lip that presses against an end face of the wall. Furthermore, multiple ribs and pins protrude from the front housing and engage with windows cut out in horizontal legs of the wall for securing the backing part. The rear housing consists of a lower portion and a cover connected via a membrane hinge unit. The cover carries multiple latch hooks that engage with eyelets in the lower portion of the rear housing. According to one aspect, a cable extends through a labyrinthine, centrally located chamber in the rear housing, within which the cable is forced to meander through alternatingly projecting transverse webs. The labyrinthine chamber prevents foam from entering via the cable, which is preferably wired through the labyrinthine, multi-bend chamber. Surrounding the labyrinthine chambers, there are auxiliary chambers on the front side of the backing. These auxiliary chambers are where foam that might accidentally penetrate can expand before it penetrates and reaches the centrally positioned chamber. If not prevented, further advance into the central chamber can be prohibited. A disadvantage of this system is its highly complex geometry, designed to accommodate specific cable and contact combinations. Furthermore, it may not be able to completely prevent foam penetration. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a connector assembly system that overcomes the above and other problems. The invention is based on the idea of ​​providing a connector assembly for household appliances, which is configured to reduce the possibility of foam, used as insulating material, entering critical areas of the connector and terminal interface areas of the appliance. Another object of the invention is to simplify the assembly and manufacturing process and make assembly operations easier for customers.

[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, a connector assembly for a household appliance, particularly a refrigerator, is configured to be mounted on a wall. The connector assembly includes: a main connector body introduced into a cutout in the wall along a direction (X1); a protective housing, which may be located inside the wall and configured to protect the main connector body from insulating foam ingress when the protective housing and the main connector body are foamed in place. Furthermore, the protective housing includes: a receptacle formed in a front portion of the protective housing, configured to receive a second end of the main connector body; a flange extending from and surrounding the receptacle, the flange being internally connected to the wall and covering the cutout in the wall; and a guide channel formed in a rear portion of the protective housing. Additionally, the guide channel has an internal flap for routing the connector's cable through the rear portion of the housing in a meandering manner, the flap being inclined relative to the guide channel. This solution is particularly advantageous because, when the housing and connector are foamed in place, it allows protection of the main connector and terminal interface area from insulating foam ingress into the connector, thus preventing leakage of insulating foam through cutouts in the refrigerator wall. The first end or front end of the main connector body is located on the outside of the wall, and the second end or rear end of the main connector body is located on the inside of the wall. The outside of the wall is also referred to as the refrigerator side, while the inside is the foam side. The protective housing consists of three parts. A housing is constructed to accommodate the connector. Each end portion of the housing is configured to connect with a different type of connector. The housing is then attached to the wall via a flange, which is positioned to directly contact and abut against the wall, providing additional sealing. A guide channel is formed in the rear portion of the protective housing and can accommodate different types of cables, single cables, or cable bundles. Additionally, and most relevantly, the guide channel has an internal flap for routing the connector's cable through the rear portion of the housing in a meandering manner, the flap being angled relative to the guide channel. The flap, along with the guide channel, is designed to prevent accidental foam ingress, even when the foam fills the space between the walls and rises from the bottom. The foaming process is accomplished by placing a pressurized liquid between an outer metal and plastic cooler, which then cures under pressure. This design prevents the foam from accidentally entering the guide channels. This construction ensures that the foam does not reach the connectors and terminals and cures before reaching the guide channels. This will facilitate the maintenance process when replacing cables later, as the foam cannot accumulate and cure around the cables.

[0009] According to another embodiment of the invention, the protective housing comprises two halves that are substantially symmetrical about a direction perpendicular to the direction of the insertion notch of the main connector body. The protective housing encapsulates the connector. The two halves facilitate installation and maintenance operations around the connector and cable. Furthermore, the substantially symmetrical halves are connected by a thin-film hinge and / or complementary latching elements, allowing the housing to be easily opened and closed and facilitating maintenance operations. The hinge serves to hold the two halves together until assembled with the connector.

[0010] In a further improvement, the two substantially symmetrical halves are sealed by an overlapping sealing structure, which can be an extension of one of the housing halves that overlaps with the other half, thus covering the other half along the connecting line where the two halves meet. This has the advantage of providing an improved seal across the entire boundary of the entire connecting portion between the two halves.

[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, the flange has a concave surface facing the inner side of the wall and is configured to slightly deflect when in contact with the inner side of the wall to ensure close contact with the surface of the wall. This solution is particularly advantageous because it allows the connector assembly to be mounted on different types of walls without requiring the walls to have the same thickness or a homogeneous surface. The deformation of the flange portion will balance any unevenness that may occur on the inner surface of the wall. Therefore, with this solution, high-precision wall thickness is not required, and cheaper methods for producing walls can be used. Furthermore, the flange extends from and around the housing, thereby abutting against the surface of the wall adjacent to the notched hole or through hole, and providing a seal between the through hole and the area where the second end portion is located.

[0012] According to another aspect, the flange includes a fastening element for attaching the flange to the inner side or foam side of the wall, so as to cover the cutout in the wall from one side of the foam side, while allowing the connector to be received from the refrigerator side opposite the foam side through the cutout. The fastening element is a protruding element adapted to be inserted into further cutouts surrounding the cutout receiving the main connector body. A portion of the fastening element is a straight sliding portion configured to allow the connector assembly to slide through the cutout along direction X1; another portion is a locking portion located on the end portion of the protruding element and configured to retain the connector assembly in the wall along the first direction. In particular, when the connector is secured to the wall, the side of the interlocking portion is configured to abut against the outer side or surface of the wall, which is opposite to the inner side or surface against which the flange portion abuts. This solution is particularly advantageous because, by utilizing the fastening device, it is possible to simultaneously ensure the transfer and sliding of the connector and the fixation of the connector assembly to the wall. The distance between the locking part and the flange surface corresponds to the length of the straight sliding part, which is designed to allow the flange to deflect slightly against the inner wall of the refrigerator, thereby establishing a gapless contact with the wall, and the system is airtight for foam.

[0013] In a further improvement, the fastening element is integrally disposed within the flange. This ensures greater structural stability and guarantees a stable connection between the protective housing and the wall, which is then sealed by the flange surrounding the fastening element and having flexibility to adapt to the shape of the main connector body.

[0014] According to another embodiment, the flange includes multiple lips on its face that abut against a wall after installation. The multiple lips follow the outer contour of the flange face and extend in a rounded profile in the connector insertion direction X1. The lips are configured to deform and be compressed against the wall on the foamed side to ensure uniform contact pressure between the lips and the wall. If the lips are rectangular, rigidity will occur at the corner where the two straight segments of the lip converge. The lower rigidity provided by the rounded profile of the lips of the present invention weakens the reliable, stable, and secure seal between the flange, the front face of the housing, and the wall.

[0015] According to another aspect of the invention, the flaps in the guide channel are inclined at least 60 degrees, more preferably 70 degrees, relative to the guide channel itself. The internal flaps formed within the guide channel need to be inclined to prevent liquid foam from flowing through before it solidifies, thereby avoiding the accumulation of liquid foam around the cable. Foam does indeed tend to solidify. This is particularly important at the rear end of the channel. Smaller angles may impair proper foam flow. The cable leading from the connector is bundled and meanders between the internal flaps of the front and rear ends of the connecting housing. If foam accumulates around the cable, maintenance work will be difficult.

[0016] In one embodiment of the invention, a suitable cap having a tapered, narrowed middle section is attached to the rear end of the housing. The cap prevents further ingress of foam. The use of the cap and its size depend on the number and size of the cables. The narrowed portion of the cap essentially provides a seal as it presses against the cable cover.

[0017] According to another aspect of the invention, the front end and rear end of the housing can be arranged at a relative angle between 80 and 100 degrees, more preferably at 90 degrees. During installation, the guide channel provides direction for the wiring of the bundled cables, and the entire housing assembly can be oriented such that the guide channel is oriented downwards or at an angle of ±10 degrees to the vertical. This orientation provides greater effectiveness in preventing liquid foam from entering the housing. Ideally, the front end and rear end of the housing can be arranged at a relative angle of 90 degrees.

[0018] The solution is advantageous because it allows for both a seal and an electrical connection between the refrigerator's interior and exterior. This prevents the foam from leaking to the exterior when it is introduced into the refrigerator during manufacturing to provide insulation. When the term "refrigerator" is used, it refers to both the refrigeration compartment and the freezer compartment.

[0019] The above-mentioned main objects, as well as other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description prepared in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following and more detailed description of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 It schematically shows, as Figure 2 and Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the connector assembly according to the present invention is shown;

[0022] Figure 2 A schematic three-dimensional rear view of a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0023] Figure 3 A schematic three-dimensional front view of a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0024] Figure 4 A schematic three-dimensional rear view of a connector assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown, wherein the connector assembly is mounted on a wall and the protective housing comprises two symmetrical parts;

[0025] Figure 5 The diagram schematically illustrates two parts of the protective housing and the latching system;

[0026] Figure 6 , 7 Figure 8 schematically illustrates two-dimensional and three-dimensional views of the connector assembly, forming different perspective angles;

[0027] Figure 9 The wall is schematically shown, having a large cut in the middle and smaller cuts around the central cut.

[0028] Figure 10 The outer side of the wall is schematically shown, with one end of the main connector body and fastening elements protruding outwards;

[0029] Figure 11 The front side of the flange is schematically shown, with multiple lips along the circumference of the flange;

[0030] Figure 12 Multiple lips abutting the wall on the foaming side are schematically shown;

[0031] Figure 13 A schematic three-dimensional front view of the hat is shown;

[0032] Figure 14 A portion of the hat is shown schematically;

[0033] Figure 15 A schematic three-dimensional rear view of the connector assembly is shown, in which the cap is integrated into the end portion.

[0034] Figure 16 , Figure 17 The diagram schematically illustrates three-dimensional and two-dimensional front views of a protective housing for a connector assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0035] The invention will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

[0036] Further modifications and variations of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this specification is considered to include all described modifications and / or variations of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims.

[0037] Figure 1A connector assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. As will become clearer in the description, the present invention relates to a connector assembly 100 to be attached to a wall 300, such as the wall of a household appliance, particularly a refrigerator. The wall has an outer side 301, or appliance side, or refrigerator side, and an inner side 302, or foam side. When the household appliance, particularly the refrigerator, is installed in the wall, foam is introduced into the interior of the refrigerator to provide insulation.

[0038] Connector assembly 100 can be made of various materials, such as polyamide 66, which has good sliding and abrasion properties, is electrically insulating, and possesses good wear resistance and high strength. As alternative materials, polypropylene, PBT, or other polymers can be used. Considering the flexibility requirements of the latch and flange, unfilled polymers should best meet these requirements.

[0039] Connector assembly 100 includes connector 101, which includes a first portion or first end 102 and a second portion or second end 103. The connector is inserted into a cutout 303 in the wall by a sliding action in direction X1. After insertion, the first portion of the connector protrudes from the wall 300 on the outer side 301 or refrigerator side, while the second portion 103 protrudes from the other side of the wall 300 on the inner side 302 or foam side. Connector 101 is configured to receive an electrical connection device for providing electrical contact between the first end portion 101 and the second end portion 102. Connector 101 may be, for example, a RAST connector, particularly a RAST 2.5 or RAST 5 connector.

[0040] A protective housing 200 is mounted around the connector 101, on the inner side of the wall or on the foam side 302. The protective housing 200 is configured to protect the connector body 101 from the effects of insulating foam flowing during application. The protective housing 200 has a front portion 201 and a rear portion 202.

[0041] The protective housing 200 includes a reservoir 203 formed in the front portion 201 and configured to receive the second end 103 of the main connector body 101. The reservoir 203 can be of variable size and has a substantially rectangular cross-section, depending on the type of connector to be accommodated.

[0042] Flange 204 extends from and surrounds the housing 203, abutting against the inner side 302 of the wall and covering the cutout 303 of the wall 300. The flange can have different sizes and shapes compared to the housing 203, and can be made of the same or different materials. For example, flange 204 can be made of a more flexible or elastic material to ensure adaptability during installation. A flange 204 made of an elastic material can easily deform and adapt to its shape when pressed between the housing 203 and the wall 300. On the other side, flange 204 can also be used, made of the same material as the housing 203 and the protective housing 200, to ensure a compact structure and minimize the risk of liquid foam entering the housing 200 and contacting the main connector body 101. Having flange 204 made of the same plastic material as the housing 203 and the guide channel 205 also facilitates the manufacturability of the protective housing 200. Preferably, the front portion of the flange has a rectangular shape with rounded corners.

[0043] Integrated with the flange 204 are fastening elements 207, which extend from the inside of the flange 204 toward the outside or refrigerator side 301, along a direction X1 parallel to the insertion notch 303 of the main connector body 101. The size, distribution, shape, and number of fastening elements 207 can be varied. The position and number of fastening elements can be arbitrarily changed. Each fastening element 207 consists of a sliding portion 208 and a locking portion 209. Figure 1 The cross-section shows two fastening elements. The sliding portion 208 is an elongated portion extending from the inner front plane 216 or inner wall of the flange 204, positioned within the internal space defined by the flange 204 on the inner side of the wall 300 or the foamed side 302. The locking portion 208 is positioned at the end of the fastening element 207 and protrudes to the outer side of the wall 300 or the refrigerator side 301. Figure 9 As can be clearly seen from the description, the locking part 209 is pressed into or clamped within the cutout 304 surrounding the cutout 303 that accommodates the main connector body 101. Once the fastening element is clamped in the cutout 303, the protective housing is secured to the wall 300.

[0044] A guide channel 205 is formed in the rear portion 202 of the protective housing 200, on the side of the receiving seat 203 opposite to the starting side of the flange 204 portion. The guide channel 205 has a curved portion and a straight portion, and it has internal flaps 206 essential for guiding the connector's cable 217 through the rear portion 202 of the housing 200 in a meandering manner. The flaps 206 are inclined relative to the guide channel 205. The guide channel 205 includes at least one flap 206, preferably two, more preferably three, but it may also include a greater number of flaps 206. The flaps 206 may be made of the same plastic material as the protective housing 200, or of a different plastic or metal material. The material of the flaps 206 must prevent friction with the cable's rubber sheathing material, allowing the cable 217 to be easily pulled out when needed.

[0045] exist Figure 1 In the cross-sectional view, latching elements 210 can also be seen. These are components of the protective housing 200 and are needed to close the two halves of the protective housing together. The function of the latching elements will be... Figure 4 and Figure 5 It becomes clear in the details.

[0046] As shown in the figure, the housing 203, the flange portion 204 with the fastening element 207, and the guide channel 205 are integrally provided.

[0047] Figure 2 A three-dimensional rear view of the protective housing 200 of the connector assembly 100 mounted on the wall 300 is shown. All the main components of the housing 200 are shown, namely the receptacle 203, the flange 204, the guide channel 205, and the latching element 210. The dimensions of the protective housing 200 can vary depending on the specific application of the connector assembly 100, the dimensions and thickness of the wall 300, and the dimensions and shape of the main connector body 101. For example, the protective housing may have a width of approximately 100 mm, corresponding to the width of the flange 204, a height of approximately 70 mm, more preferably 75 mm, measured from the bottom of the guide channel 205 to the top of the flange 204, and a depth of approximately 60 mm, more preferably 59 mm, which substantially corresponds to the depth of the flange 204, the receptacle 203, and the guide channel 205 together. Figure 2 The inner side or foam side 302 of the wall 300 is also shown.

[0048] Figure 3A schematic three-dimensional front view of the connector assembly 100 is shown from the front side. The first end 102 of the main connector body 101 is visible, and some details of the structure of the flange 204 are also visible. The rear end of the flange 204 is effectively closed by a front plane or inner wall 216 made of the same housing material, from which the fastening element 207 extends. Figure 3 The diagram shows six fastening elements 207 symmetrically distributed around the main connector body 101. Specifically, three fastening elements are located on the upper portion of the flange 104, and three on the lower portion, resulting in three fastening elements above and three below the main connector body 101. This symmetrical distribution allows for a uniform distribution of pressure applied to the wall 300 when the connector assembly 100 is mounted onto the wall 300. Figure 3 It also becomes apparent that each straight sliding portion 208 of each fastening element 207 has a flat shape and may have a width of approximately 10 mm, preferably 6 mm, and a thickness of approximately 5 mm, preferably 3 mm. The concave surface of the flange 204 facing the connector wall 300 (not shown) in... Figure 3 It is also clearly visible above.

[0049] Figure 4 A schematic three-dimensional rear view of the connector assembly 100 before it is installed into the wall 300 is shown. As shown, the connector 101 is installed on the wall 300 by insertion into the main opening 303, and then the protective housing 200 is installed on the connector 101. The housing 200 includes two symmetrical halves 211 and 212, which are the left adapter and the right adapter, and they are then connected and latched together to close the latching element 210. The latching element may be a membrane hinge or a complementary latching element having two corresponding portions 214' and 214"". Once the left adapter 211 and the right adapter 212 of the housing are connected, the retaining element 207 of the flange is pushed toward the notch 304.

[0050] Figure 5 This shows a different perspective. Figure 4 The same protective housing 200 has details of corresponding portions 214' and 214" of two latching elements 210. The corresponding portions 214' and 214" are complementary and configured to press against each other. The portion 214' of the latching element has a slot or recess into which the portion 214" will be inserted. The protective housing can be aligned along... Figures 6 to 8The visible length includes more elements 214' and 214". Element 213 serves two purposes. It allows for the molding of two symmetrical halves 211 and 212 in the same tool during injection molding, thus manufacturing the complete housing in one tool and one machine. Furthermore, part 213 holds the two symmetrical halves 211 and 212 together from molding to assembly, eliminating the need for the person assembling the housing 200 to pick up the two different halves and check for correct orientation during the assembly process. Element 213 can be broken down and removed in later stages of the assembly process. This greatly contributes to increased productivity in the assembly process of the connector with the protective housing.

[0051] Figure 6 , 7 Image 8 shows a three-dimensional view of the connector assembly 100 from three different angles: side, front, and top. Figure 6 and Figure 8 In the image, the first end 102 of the main connector body can be clearly seen extending out of the flange portion 204 for mounting in the wall 300, ready for subsequent connection to electrical appliances.

[0052] Figure 9 Some details of the appliance or refrigerator wall 300 are shown. As previously explained, a main cutout 303 suitable for receiving the connector 101 is located in the center. Symmetrically distributed above and below this cutout 303 are smaller cutouts 304, suitable for receiving fastening elements 207 protruding from the inner wall of the flange 204. Referring to this figure, the large cutout 303 has a width of 70mm ± 1mm ​​and a height of 20mm ± 1mm, and can accommodate... Figure 2 Connector assembly 100. These dimensions are provided by way of example only. The cutouts may have different dimensions depending on the size of the connector to be accommodated. The width may be between 20 mm and 100 mm, preferably between 50 mm and 100 mm. The height may be between 5 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 10 mm and 30 mm.

[0053] Figure 9 Three smaller holes 304 above the large hole 303 and three smaller holes 304 below the large hole 303 are also shown. All the smaller holes must be of the same size to accommodate the insertion of the fastening element 207. In this specific example, each hole has a width of 6 mm ± 0.5 mm and a height of 2 mm ± 0.1 mm.

[0054] The position of the small cutout 304 is defined relative to the large cutout 303. The three top cutouts 304 located above the large cutout 303 are positioned at a distance of 12mm ± 1mm ​​from the centerline (a) parallel to the connector 101 insertion direction X1 of the large cutout 303, and the three bottom cutouts 304 are symmetrically positioned relative to the top cutouts. Observing the large cutout perpendicular to the line (a) and the centerline (b) of direction X1, the left top and bottom small cutouts 304 are located at a distance of 24.5mm ± 1mm ​​from the centerline (b), the right top and bottom small cutouts 304 are located at a distance of 30.5mm ± 1mm ​​from the centerline (b), and the central top and bottom small cutouts 304 are close to the centerline (b) and extend towards the cutout on the right side.

[0055] All dimensions provided are for illustrative purposes only and may vary within a certain range.

[0056] Figure 10 The outer side of the wall or refrigerator side 301 is shown, in which the first end 102 of the connector body 101 and the fastening element 207 are inserted into the wall 300.

[0057] Figure 11 The front face of flange 204 is shown, in which three lips or rings 215 are visible. These lips follow the outer contour of the surface of flange 204, which is rectangular and rounded at the corners. The lips 215 extend with a rounded contour in the insertion direction X1 of the connector. (Observation) Figure 11 There is approximately 1 cm between each circumferential lip or ring 215 and the next circumferential lip or ring. However, this distance can vary and be determined depending on the size of the flange 204 and the type of wall 300. Distances ranging from 3 mm to 20 mm, preferably between 5 mm and 10 mm, are possible. More irregular walls may require the flange 204 to have more rings 215 closer to each other to better accommodate the irregularity of the foamed side 302 of the wall. The lips 215 are actually configured to deform and press against the wall 300 on the foamed side 302 to ensure uniform contact pressure of the lips 215 against the wall 300. The boundaries of the lips 215 follow the same shape as the outer circumference of the flange 204 and are rounded at the corners. This helps to minimize stiffness in the corners, where more of the segments of the lips 215 converge if the segments are straight, for example, in a rectangular lip 215. The lower stiffness given at the rounded corner of the lip 215 of the present invention weakens the reliable, stable and secure seal between the flange 204 and the wall 300 at the front face of the housing 200.

[0058] Figure 12 The cross-section of the flange 204 and lip 215 abutting against the wall 300 is shown. Each lip 215 has a rounded profile that is adapted to press against the wall, thus protecting the surfaces of the flange 204 and the wall 300 from rubbing against each other.

[0059] The lip or ring 215 is made of the same material as the protective housing.

[0060] Figure 13 and 14 A schematic three-dimensional front view of a portion of caps 400 and 403 is shown. Cap 500 is configured to connect to the rear portion of protective housing 200.

[0061] like Figure 13 As shown, the cap 400 consists of three sections: two cylindrical sections 401 and 403, and a tapered intermediate section 402 connecting the two cylindrical sections 401 and 403. The two cylindrical sections 401 and 403 have different diameters. The section 401 with the larger diameter is directly connected to the protective housing 200 on one side and to the intermediate tapered section on the other side, which tapers towards the section 403 with the narrowing diameter. The cap 400 is first inserted by sliding on the rear portion of the protective housing 200 and then secured to the housing 200 by means of two or more fastening elements 404. The fastening elements or latches are flexible elements protruding from the section 401, comprising straight segments and hook-shaped portions located at the ends of the segments. These elements can be bent in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction before being attached to the housing 200 to facilitate mounting the cap 500 onto the housing 200. Alternatively, the elements 404 can be configured to slide on the housing 200 along the insertion direction. The hook-shaped portion of the fastening element is configured to lock into a corresponding element on the surface of the rear portion 202 of the protective housing 200. The cap 400 integrates the cable 217 exiting the protective housing 200 and, due to its tapered shape, holds the cable 217 together. The cap 400 can even have further protective functions (as it further prevents foam ingress) and sealing functions. The portion 403 of the cap 400 has an inwardly projecting annular collar 405 at its bottom portion, which has a smaller diameter than portion 403. The annular collar 405 acts as a sealing element against the cable 217, sealing the entire connector assembly 100 from external space, thereby protecting the connector 101 and associated electrical connections.

[0062] Figure 15 A schematic three-dimensional rear view of the connector assembly 100 is shown, in which a cap 400 is attached to the end of the rear portion 202.

[0063] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the above embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, variations and improvements to the present invention can be made in accordance with the above teachings and within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the protection scope of the present invention.

[0064] Figure 16A three-dimensional front view of the protective housing 200 of a connector assembly 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown. Specifically, in this case, only two fastening elements 207 are provided, one on the upper portion of the flange 104 and one on the lower portion, thus having one fastening element above and one fastening element below the main connector body 101. Each fastening element 207 replaces multiple fastening elements and has a sliding portion 208 and a locking portion 209, wherein the sliding portion 208 is a flat surface extending along the width of the front plane or inner wall 216 of the flange, and the locking portion 209 is at the end of the sliding portion 208. In this case, Figure 9 The smaller cutout 304 shown can also be made into a continuous slit to accommodate a continuous fastening element 207 along its length, thus achieving better strength. This will help the locking element withstand the load of the entire assembly with the suspended mass of the cable.

[0065] Figure 16 An overlapping sealing structure 218 is also shown, which seals the substantially symmetrical two halves of the housing along the connecting line. The sealing structure 218 may be an additional external structure, or preferably consists of an extension of one of the two halves of the housing, such that substantially one half will overlap the other half.

[0066] Figure 17 This is a two-dimensional front view of the connector protective housing 200 of the connector assembly 100 according to the last embodiment of the present invention, and additionally shows the geometry of the front plane or inner wall 216 and an example of a recommended cutout 219 for the connector in the front plane 216.

[0067] For example, even though only RAST 2.5 and RAST 5 connectors are described, it is clear that the present invention can be used with any type of connector.

[0068] Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific illustrative embodiments, but only to the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A connector assembly (100) for use in a household appliance, the connector assembly being configured to be mounted on a wall (300) having an outer side (301) and an inner side (302) opposite to the outer side (301), the connector assembly (100) comprising: The main connector body (101) can be inserted into the cutout hole (303) of the wall (300) along the direction (X1); A protective housing (200), located inside the wall (300) (302), is configured to protect the main connector body (101) from insulating foam ingress when the protective housing (200) and the main connector body (101) are foamed in situ, including... A receiving seat (203) is formed at the front portion (201) of the protective housing (200) and configured to receive the second end (103) of the main connector body (101); A flange (204) extends from and surrounds the receiving seat (203), the flange (204) being attached to the wall on the inner side (302) for covering the cutout (303) of the wall (300); A guide channel (205) is formed at the rear portion (202) of the protective housing (200); The guide channel (205) has one or more internal flaps (206) for routing the cable (217) of the connector assembly through the rear portion (202) of the housing (200) in a meandering manner, the one or more flaps (206) being inclined relative to the guide channel (205).

2. The connector assembly (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The protective housing (200) comprises two halves (211, 212) that are substantially symmetrical about a direction (Y1) perpendicular to the direction (X1).

3. The connector assembly (100) according to claim 2, wherein, The two substantially symmetrical halves (211, 212) are connected by a thin-film hinge and / or complementary latching elements (214', 214").

4. The connector assembly (100) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The two essentially symmetrical halves (211, 212) are sealed by an overlapping sealing structure (218).

5. The connector assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The flange (204) has a concave surface facing the inside of the wall and is configured to deform when in contact with the inside of the wall.

6. The connector assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The flange (204) includes at least two fastening elements (207) adapted to attach the flange (204) to the wall (300) to cover a cutout (303) of the wall (300) on one side.

7. The connector assembly (100) according to claim 6, wherein, The fastening element (207) is a protruding element (207) adapted to be inserted into a plurality of cutouts (304) surrounding the cutout (303) of receiving the main connector body (101).

8. The connector assembly (100) according to claim 6, wherein, The fastening element (207) is integrally disposed within the flange (204).

9. The connector assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The flange (204) includes a plurality of lips (215) extending in a rounded profile along the direction (X1) into the cut-out hole along the direction (X1).

10. The connector assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The flap (206) in the guide channel (205) is tilted at least 60 degrees relative to the guide channel (205) itself.

11. The connector assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, A suitable cap (400) having a tapered, narrowed middle section (402) is attached to the rear portion (202) of the housing (200).

12. The connector assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The front portion (201) and the rear portion (202) of the housing (200) are arranged at a relative angle between 80 and 100 degrees.

13. The connector assembly (100) according to claim 12, wherein, The front portion (201) and the rear portion (202) of the housing (200) are arranged at a relative angle of 90 degrees.

14. The connector assembly (100) according to claim 13, for refrigerator applications.

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