Conductive contact with peripheral seal

Abstract

An electrical contact (10) and a connector assembly for receiving the contact (10). The electrical contact (10) has a first mating portion (12), a transition portion (14), a mounting portion (16). The first mating portion (12) extends in a plane substantially parallel to a plane of the mounting portion (16). The transition portion (14) extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of the first mating portion (12). The first mating portion (12) has a mating contact engagement portion (20) and a seal receiving portion (22). A seal retaining projection (30) extends from the seal receiving portion (22). A peripheral seal (50) is disposed on the seal receiving portion (22) of the first mating portion (12) of the electrical contact (10). A housing (100) includes a contact receiving area (102) and a connector mating area (104). A wall (106) is disposed between the contact receiving area (102) and the connector mating area (104). The wall (106) has a contact receiving opening (108) extending through the wall (106).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a conductive contact with a peripheral seal. More specifically, this invention relates to a seal located on a contact (e.g., a grounding plate) for use with a non-overmolded housing. Background Technology

[0002] When assembling an electrical connector to a mating connector or panel, the positioning of the male blades of the connector terminals must be controlled to ensure proper mating between the connector terminals and the mating terminals of the connector or panel. Properly controlling the positioning of the male blades minimizes the possibility of the terminals colliding with the mating terminals during mating. This is especially important for connectors with a large number of terminals.

[0003] To more precisely control the position of terminals and components, the housing of electrical connectors can be manufactured using an overmolding process. This allows for precise control over the position of terminals and components. Furthermore, in environments prone to vibration, the overmolded housing prevents unwanted movement of terminals or components during use.

[0004] While providing overmolded housings is beneficial in many cases, integrating grounding plates into overmolded housings may require expensive machining machines and processes to provide a proper seal in applications and environments where sealing is required. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The problem to be solved is to provide an electrical contact, such as a grounding plate, and a seal that can be positioned in a housing, especially an overmolded housing, without requiring expensive machining machines and processes.

[0006] This problem is solved by an electrical contact having a first mating portion, a transition portion, a fixed portion, and a second mating portion. The first mating portion extends in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the fixed portion. The transition portion extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first mounting portion. The first mating portion has a mating contact engagement portion and a seal receiving portion. A seal retaining protrusion extends from the seal receiving portion.

[0007] The electrical contact may have a peripheral seal disposed on a sealing receiving portion of a first mating part of the electrical contact. The peripheral seal may be made of a compliant material with a hardness of 50 or higher. The peripheral seal has a first surface and an opposing second surface. A top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface extend between the first and second surfaces. A plurality of sealing protrusions extend from the top surface, the bottom surface, and the side surfaces. The free ends of the sealing protrusions form ridges extending around the periphery of the peripheral seal. Recesses are disposed between adjacent sealing protrusions. Attached Figure Description

[0008] The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an exemplary grounding plate and seal according to the present invention.

[0010] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the grounding plate, in which the seal has been removed.

[0011] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the seal.

[0012] Figure 4 This is a perspective view of a portion of the housing, showing the grounding plate receiving area and the seal receiving opening.

[0013] Figure 5 It is along Figure 4 The section view of the shell portion taken by line 5-5.

[0014] Figure 6 It is a perspective view of the housing portion with the grounding plate and seal positioned aligned with the grounding plate receiving area and the seal receiving opening.

[0015] Figure 7 It is a perspective view of the housing portion where the grounding plate and seal are fully inserted and held in the grounding plate receiving area and the seal receiving opening.

[0016] Figure 8 It is along Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of the housing section where the grounding plate and seal are fully inserted, taken from line 8-8. Detailed Implementation

[0017] like Figure 1 and 2 As shown, the electrical contact 10 has a first mating portion 12, a transition portion 14, a fixing section 16, and a second mating portion 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the first mating portion 12 extends in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the fixing section 16, and the transition portion 14 extends in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the second mating portion 18. However, other configurations of the electrical contact may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. In the illustrated illustrative embodiment, the electrical contact 10 is a grounding piece made of a conductive material, such as a copper-tin alloy, but the invention is not limited thereto.

[0018] The first mating portion 12 has a first mating contact engagement portion 20 and a seal receiving portion 22. The first mating portion 12 has a circular opening 24 located near the free end 26 of the first mating portion 12. In an alternative embodiment, the opening 24 may have a different construction, or it may be replaced by a mating protrusion. The first mating portion 12 and the opening 24 are configured to physically and electrically engage a mating contact (not shown).

[0019] The seal receiving portion 22 extends from the fixed end 28. A portion of the fixed end 28 is integrally attached to the transition portion 14. The seal retaining protrusion 30 also extends from the fixed end 28. The seal retaining protrusion 30 extends from the first mating portion 12 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first mating portion 12.

[0020] The transition portion 14 extends from the first mating portion 12 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first mating portion 12. The transition portion 14 extends from the first mating portion 12 in a direction substantially opposite to that of the sealing retaining protrusion 30. The protrusion receiving opening 32 extends through the transition portion 14.

[0021] The fixing section 16 extends from the transition section 14 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the transition section 14. A retaining protrusion or barb 34 extends from the sidewall 36 of the fixing section 16. The retaining protrusion 34 has an inclined or guide surface 38 and a locking shoulder 40.

[0022] The second mating portion 18 extends from the fixed section 16 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the fixed section 16. The second mating contact engagement portion 42 extends from the free end 44 of the second mating portion 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the second mating contact engagement portion 42 is a compliant pin. However, other types of contact engagement portions 42 may be used.

[0023] like Figure 1 As shown, a peripheral seal 50 is disposed on the electrical contact 10. The peripheral seal 50 is made of a compliant material that prevents water from entering through it, such as, but not limited to, liquid silicone rubber with a hardness of 50 or higher. Figure 2 and 3As shown, the peripheral seal 50 has a first surface 52 and an opposing second surface 54. A top surface 56, a bottom surface 58, and a side surface 60 extend between the first surface 52 and the second surface 54. The top surface 56, bottom surface 58, and side surface 60 have a plurality of sealing protrusions 62 extending around the periphery of the peripheral seal 50. The free ends of the protrusions 62 form ridges 64. The ridges extend around the periphery of the peripheral seal 50 and are located on the top surface 56, bottom surface 58, and side surface 60. Recesses 66 are provided between adjacent protrusions 62. Protrusions 68 extend outward from the first surface 52 and the second surface 54. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the protrusions 68 are circular and periodically spaced around the first surface 52 and the second surface 54, although other configurations and spacing of the protrusions 68 may be used.

[0024] A slot or opening 70 extends from the first surface 52 to the second surface 54. The slot 70 is equidistant from the top surface 56 and the bottom surface 58. The slot 70 is equidistant from the side surface 60.

[0025] In use, the peripheral seal 50 is initially positioned on the first mating portion 12 of the electrical contact 10. When this occurs, the first mating contact engagement portion 20 of the first mating portion 12 is inserted into the slot 70 of the peripheral seal 50. Figure 1 and 8 As shown, the peripheral seal 50 then moves to the fully inserted position. In the fully inserted position, the peripheral seal 50 is located on the seal receiving portion 22 of the first mating portion 12. In this position, the protrusion 68 of the first surface 52 engages with the seal retaining protrusion 30 and the transition portion 14.

[0026] The slot 70 is smaller than the periphery of the first mating contact engagement portion 20 of the first mating portion 12. However, since the peripheral seal 50 is made of a compliant material, the top surface 56, bottom surface 58, and side surface 60 deform to allow the slot 70 to expand and conform to the shape of the seal receiving portion 22 of the first mating portion 12, resulting in the peripheral seal 50 applying force on the seal receiving portion 22 to create a seal between them, thereby providing a watertight connection between the peripheral seal 50 and the seal receiving portion 22 of the first mating portion 12 of the electrical contact 10.

[0027] refer to Figure 4 and 5 A portion of housing 100 is shown. Housing 100 has a contact receiving region 102 and a connector mating region 104. The contact receiving region 102 is configured to receive an electrical contact 10 therein, which will be described more fully. Housing 100 is made of a dielectric material. In the illustrative embodiment shown, housing 100 is manufactured using an overmolding process. However, housing 100 can be manufactured using other processes.

[0028] A wall or partition 106 is disposed between the contact receiving area 102 and the connector mating area 104. The wall 106 has a contact receiving opening 108 extending therethrough. The opening 108 has a top wall 110, a bottom wall 112, and a side wall 114. The distance L1 between the top wall 110 and the bottom wall 112 is... Figure 4 The distance L2 is less than the distance between the ridges 64 extending from the top surface 56 and the bottom surface 58 of the outer seal 50. Figure 3 The spacing L3 between sidewalls 114 Figure 4 The distance L4 between the ridges 64 extending from the opposite side surfaces 60 of the outer seal 50 is less than that between the ridges 64. Figure 3 ).

[0029] A positioning protrusion 116 extends from the wall 106 into the contact receiving region 102. In the illustrative embodiment, the positioning protrusion 116 has a generally cylindrical construction; however, other constructions may also be used. The positioning protrusion 116 is located between the opening 108 and the fixed portion 118 of the contact receiving region 102.

[0030] The fixing portion 118 has a bottom wall 120 and a side wall 122. The bottom wall 120 and the side wall 122 extend from the wall 106. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom wall 120 and the side wall 122 extend from the wall 106 at substantially right angles. A protrusion 124 extends from the side wall 122. The protrusion 124 is spaced apart from the bottom wall 120, thereby forming a fixing recess 126 between the protrusion 124 and the bottom wall 120.

[0031] The connector mating area 104 has a flange 130 with a contact positioning surface 132. An opening 134 extends through the flange 130 to the contact positioning surface 132.

[0032] As described above, when the outer seal 50 is correctly installed onto the electrical contact 10, the assembled electrical contact 10 moves into the contact receiving area 102, such as... Figure 6 As shown. In this position, the electrical contact 10 is aligned with the opening 108. Then, the electrical contact 10 is inserted or moved in the direction of arrow 150, as... Figure 6 As shown.

[0033] As the electrical contact 10 moves in the direction of arrow 150, the free end 26 of the first mating portion 12 moves into the opening 108. As insertion continues, the retaining section 16 of the electrical contact 10 is received in the retaining portion 118 of the housing 100. When this occurs, the protrusion 124 guides the sidewall 36 of the retaining section 16 into the retaining recess 126 to facilitate proper positioning of the electrical contact 10. The protrusion 124 engages with the sidewall 36 to prevent movement of the retaining section 16 and the electrical contact 10 in a direction perpendicular to the insertion of the electrical contact 10.

[0034] As insertion continues, the barb 34 protruding from the sidewall 36 of the retaining section 16 is moved or slid into the retaining recess 126. When this occurs, the guide surface 38 of the barb 34 inserts into or moves the material in the sidewall 122 of the retaining section 118. When fully inserted, the locking shoulder 40 engages the sidewall 122 to prevent the electrical contact 10 from undesirably disengaging from the fully inserted position.

[0035] As the electrical contact moves in the direction of arrow 150, the protruding receiving opening 32 of the transition portion 14 moves into engagement with the positioning protrusion 116 extending from the wall 106 of the housing 100. When the positioning protrusion 116 is received in the protruding receiving opening 32, the positioning protrusion 116 guides the electrical contact 10 when it is inserted, thereby facilitating the correct final position of the electrical contact 10 relative to the housing 100.

[0036] As the electrical contact moves in the direction of arrow 150, the peripheral seal 50 moves into the opening 108. As the electrical contact 10 moves in the direction of arrow 150, the engagement of the protrusion 68 of the first surface 52 with the transition portion 14 and the seal holding protrusion 30 causes the peripheral seal 50 to move together with the electrical contact 10.

[0037] When the outer seal 50 enters the opening 108, the ridges 64 of the protrusions 60 of the outer seal 50 are deformed or compressed by the walls 110, 112, and 114 of the housing 110. The compression of the ridges 64 causes them to exert force on the walls 110, 112, and 114, thereby forming a seal between the outer seal 50 and the opening 108 of the housing 100, as... Figure 8 As shown.

[0038] The insertion of the electrical contact 10 continues until the transition wall 14 of the electrical contact 10 engages with the wall 106 of the housing 100. As the transition wall 14 contacts the wall 106, the electrical contact 10 is fully inserted into the housing 100, as... Figure 7 and 8 As shown.

[0039] As the electrical contact 10 is fully inserted into the housing 100, as Figure 7 and 8As shown, the first mating contact engagement portion 20 of the electrical contact 10 is positioned near or engages with the contact positioning surface 132 of the flange 130 of the housing 100. In this position, the opening 24 of the first mating contact engagement portion 20 is aligned with the opening 134 of the flange 130. The sealing receiving portion 22 and the peripheral seal 50 of the first mating portion 12 are located in the opening 108. As previously described, the peripheral seal 50 applies force to the opening 108 of the housing 110 to form a seal therebetween. Furthermore, the peripheral seal 50 applies force to the sealing receiving portion 22 to form a seal therebetween. Thus, a waterproof seal is provided to prevent moisture or other contaminants from entering the contact receiving area 102 and other internal portions of the housing 100 from the outside of the housing 100.

[0040] In the fully inserted position, the protruding receiving opening 32 of the transition portion 14 engages the positioning protrusion 116 extending from the wall 106 of the housing 100 to prevent the electrical contact 10 from moving in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the positioning protrusion 116. Furthermore, the locking shoulder 40 of the barb 34 engages the side wall 122 of the retaining portion 118 of the housing 100 to prevent undesirable disengagement of the electrical contact 10 from the fully inserted position.

[0041] The use of electrical contacts, contact assemblies, and housings allows electrical contacts (such as, but not limited to, grounding plates) to be positioned within and sealed in the housing without the need for expensive machining machines and processes. This can be particularly advantageous when the housing is overmolded.

Claims

1. A connector assembly, comprising: Housing (100), comprising: Contact receiving area (102); Connector mating area (104); A wall (106) is disposed between the contact receiving area (102) and the connector mating area (104); The contact receiving opening (108) extends through the wall (106); The fixing part (118) has a fixing recess (126); Electrical contact (10), comprising: The system comprises a first mating portion (12), a transition portion (14), a fixing section (16), and a second mating portion (18), wherein the transition portion (14) extends between the first mating portion (12) and the fixing section (16) and connects the first mating portion (12) to the fixing section (16), and the second mating portion (18) extends from the fixing section (16). The first mating portion (12) extends in a plane that is different from but substantially parallel to the plane of the fixed section (16), and the transition portion (14) extends in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first mating portion (12). The first mating portion (12) has a mating first contact engagement portion (20) and a sealing receiving portion (22), wherein a sealing retaining protrusion (30) extends from the sealing receiving portion (22); and An outer seal (50) is provided on the seal receiving portion (22) of the first mating portion (12) of the electrical contact (10); The fixing section (16) of the electrical contact (10) is fixed in the fixing recess (126) of the fixing portion (118) of the housing (100), and the first mating portion (12) of the electrical contact (10) extends through the contact receiving opening (108) in the wall (106) and enters the connector mating area (104) of the housing (100).

2. The connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The electrical contact (10) is a grounding piece made of conductive material.

3. The connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The first mating portion (12) has an opening (24) located near the free end (26) of the first mating portion (12).

4. The connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein, The sealing retaining protrusion (30) extends from the first mating portion (12) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first mating portion (12).

5. The connector assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein, A protruding receiving opening (32) extends through the transition portion (14) of the electrical contact (10), wherein the housing (100) includes a positioning protrusion (116) extending from the wall (106) into the contact receiving region (102) of the housing (100), wherein the positioning protrusion (116) is received in the protruding receiving opening (32) of the electrical contact (10).

6. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein, The fixing section (16) has a retaining protrusion (34) extending from the sidewall (36) of the fixing section (16).

7. The connector assembly of claim 6, wherein, The retaining protrusion has an introduction surface (38) and a locking shoulder (40).

8. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein, The second mating portion (18) extends from the fixed section (16) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the fixed section (16).

9. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein, The second mating contact engagement portion (42) extends from the free end (44) of the second mating portion (18), and the second mating contact engagement portion (42) is a compliant pin.

10. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein, The peripheral seal (50) is made of a compliant material with a hardness of 50 or higher.

11. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein: The peripheral seal (50) has a first surface (52) and an opposing second surface (54); The top surface, bottom surface (58), and side surface (60) extend between the first surface (52) and the second surface (54); Multiple sealing protrusions (62) extend from the top surface (56), bottom surface (58) and side surface (60), with the free end of the sealing protrusion (62) forming a ridge (64) and a recess (66) provided between adjacent sealing protrusions (62).

12. The connector assembly of claim 11, wherein, The second protrusion (68) extends outward from the first surface (52) and the second surface (54).

13. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein, The sealing receiving portion (22) of the first mating portion (12) and the peripheral seal (50) are located in the contact receiving opening (108), wherein the peripheral seal (50) applies force to the sealing receiving portion (22) and the contact receiving opening (108) of the first mating portion (12) to provide a waterproof seal, thereby preventing moisture or other contaminants from entering the contact receiving area (102) of the housing (100).

Images