Flexible Boot Sealing Cable Connector in Compact Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable connector boots are unable to fit within the limited space between a connector interface and a device panel due to their rigid design, leading to incomplete sealing and increased dimensions when using additional sealing rings.
Innovation Solution
A boot with a through hole and a body enclosing it, featuring a neck sealing portion with constant inner diameter, a frustoconical gap passing portion, and a guide portion that gradually increases in thickness, allowing for flexible installation and sealing without increasing the boot's outer dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid housing construction boot is used, then sealing reliability is improved, but adaptability to compact layouts deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The boot transitions from a rigid structure to a flexible elastomeric structure that can dynamically adapt its shape and size. The flexible material allows the boot to be compressed during installation to fit through narrow gaps, then expands to provide full sealing coverage, resolving the contradiction between sealing reliability and adaptability to compact layouts.
Solution Approach 2:
The boot's physical parameters (shape, volume, cross-sectional area) are changed during the installation process. By compressing the boot to reduce its cross-sectional area, it can pass through limited spaces. Once installed, the boot returns to its original parameters to provide effective sealing, thus achieving both adaptability and sealing reliability.
2Reliability
If the neck sealing portion fully projects into the gap, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the boot outer dimension increases
Solution Approach 1:
The boot utilizes dynamic compression and expansion to achieve full sealing coverage without increasing its installed outer dimension. During installation, the boot is compressed to fit through the gap; once in position, it expands to have its neck sealing portion fully project into the gap for effective sealing, while maintaining the same external footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The boot is designed to nest within its own compressed form during installation, allowing the neck sealing portion to be contained within the boot body during transport and installation. Once installed, the boot expands outward to provide full sealing projection without increasing the overall boot dimension envelope.
3Reliability
If a sealing ring is added around the neck section, then sealing is achieved, but the number of members and mounting steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function previously requiring a separate sealing ring is merged into the boot structure itself. The boot is designed with an integrated neck sealing portion that provides sealing capability directly, eliminating the need for additional sealing rings and reducing the number of mounting steps while maintaining sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The boot is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides protection, sealing, and guiding functions. The neck sealing portion is integrated into the boot body, allowing the single component to perform multiple functions that previously required separate parts, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining sealing capability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a boot and connector assembly. The boot has a through hole passing therethrough and a boot body enclosing the through hole, the boot body comprising: a neck sealing portion presenting a substantially cylindrical shape, wherein the neck sealing portion has an inner diameter maintained substantially constant; a body portion located at the proximal side of the neck sealing portion and presenting a generally cylindrical shape, wherein the body portion has an inner diameter and an outer diameter that are both greater than the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the neck sealing portion; and a gap passing portion connecting the neck sealing portion to the body portion and having a substantially frustoconical shape, wherein the gap passing portion has an inner diameter gradually increasing from the inner diameter of the neck sealing portion to the inner diameter of the body portion, and an outer diameter gradually increasing from the outer diameter of the neck sealing portion to the outer diameter of the body portion. The boot of the present disclosure effectively solves the problem that the boot interferes with other components so that the boot is unable to extend to the antenna panel when the mounting space is small, and also has the advantages of simple to manufacture, convenient to mount and high efficiency.