US3662319A - Electrical connector assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly having a male connector and a ring-shaped female connector interconnected by a flexible cable wherein the connector assembly is constructed in a one piece completely molded unit. The female connector has a plurality of sockets and guide holes formed in one surface of the ring.

Description

O United States Patent 1 3,662,3 1 9 Culver May 9, 1972 [54] ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor; Pau] Culver, Ellicott City 588,376 5/1947 Great Britain ..339/176 M 588,027 5/1947 Great Britain ..339/29 B [73] Asslgnee: The United States of America as represented by the secretary of the Navy Primary E.\aminerMarvin A. Champion [22] Filed: May 28, 1970 Assistant Examiner-Terrell P. Lewis pp 41237 A!t0rneyR. S. Sciascia and J. A. Cooke [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..339/Z8, 339/192 R. 339/193 VS, I

339/194 N An electrical connector assembly having a male connector [5]] 1m. Cl h H H0" 11/00 HOlr 13/50 and a ring-shaped female connector interconnected by a flexi- [58] Field of 359/28 29 R B 31 33 ble cable wherein the connector assembly is constructed in 11 339/59 R, 65 66, 176 R, 176 M 184, 19] one piece completely molded unit. The female connector has 9 191 My 2 R, 92 RL, 92 T 193 R, 93 a plurality of sockets and guide holes formed in one surface of N, 193 S, 193 US, 277 R the ring- [56] References Cited 3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures P'A'TE'N'TEBMAY 9 m2 SHLET 1 [1F 2 INVI'JN'I'UR Paul L. Culver ATTORNEY ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to electrical connector assemblies and more particularly to a one-piece, completely molded electrical connector assembly.

In some applications, electrical apparatus must be located deeply within its associated equipment thereby making electrical connection thereto difficult. This is particularly true where access to the electrical apparatus can only be had through an extended restricted area, such for example as a well in the casing of a torpedo, mine or depth charge. In these situations mating between male connectors positioned in one apparatus and female connectors integral within a well in the mating apparatus can only be effected by a blind trial and error technique which sometimes results in damage to the connectors, such for example as impairment of the female contact members. In the past such damage could be repaired only by tediously chipping out and replacing the old female contact with a new one, rewiring the contact, and finally repotting the entire connection. Problems disclosed hereinabove are com plicated by the rough handling of apparatus in which the connector is maintained.

Separate connector assemblies in lieu of integral arrangements have not proven practical since protuberances projecting from the electrical apparatus have rendered the use of standard connector assemblies physically impossible. Furthermore, when the application of the electrical equipment is in an underwater environment, short circuits may develop when separate connector assemblies are employed and water enters the assemblies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an integrally formed electrical connector assembly.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece, completely molded, waterproof electrical connector assembly.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector assembly connectable to an electrical connector having a centrally disposed protuberance.

Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, these and other objects are obtained by providing a connector assembly having a flexible connector cable with male and female connector members integrally molded at either end thereto. A protuberance receiving aperture is fonried in one of the connector members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the overall electrical connector assembly;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side view partially in cross-section, illustrating an application of the electrical connector assembly of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate identical parts throughout the several views and more particularly to FIG. 1, the electrical connector assembly generally designated as is shown as including a flexible,multiple conductor cable 14 having at opposite ends thereof afemale connector 12 and amale connector 16 connected thereto.

Thefemale connector 12 is composed of an annular or ring shapedbody 18 formed of polyurethane and having a centralcircular aperture 19. Molded within and circumferentially spaced around the ring-shapedportion 18 are a plurality ofpin receptacles 20 which are preferably positioned equidistantly from each other. These may be of any conventional type, such for example as the standard tube type socket contacts shown in FIG. 2. Included intermittently among thesockets 20 and similarly molded within thering portion 18 are a series of guide members such asholes 22, which may be equidistantly spaced apart, to position and guide associated apparatus during the coupling operation by means of corresponding projections formed on the apparatus in mating positions. Theguide members 22 are composed of tube portions having a bore 24 opening into thelower surface 27 of thering 18, and a cooperating counterbore 26 opening into theupper surface 28, the bores 24 and 26 both being of greater diameter than that of thereceptacles 20.

Eachreceptacle 20 is suitable fastened to an end of aconductor 30 which extends from theflexible cable 14 by any conventional means such as soldering or crimping. The end portions ofconductors 30 ofcable 14 are fed into and lie within the lowermost portions of thering 18 substantially adjacent to thelower surface 27 and may be molded into a fixed position therein. Theinner surface 32 of thering 18 is downwardly beveled as shown in FIG. 2 thereby providing greater space in order to accommodate theconductors 30.

Thecable 14 is molded to thefemale connector 12 at aprotuberance 34 which extends radially from thering 18 and is integral therewith.

Similarly attached to the opposite end ofcable 14 and integrally molded thereto ismale connector 16 which may be one of a number of standard devices including a plurality ofstraight connector pins 36 projecting from acylindrical casing 38. Theconnector pins 36 are to be slideably mated by means of an interference fit into a corresponding plurality of receptacles of a female connector (not shown). It is to be understood that eachindividual connector pin 36 is attached to a second lead end (not shown) of aconductor 30 in a conventional manner thereby associating with such connector pin 36 acorresponding socket 20.

By virtue of the integral relationship of thecable 14 and thefemale connector 12 and the subsequent encapsulation of theconductors 30 in themolded polyurethane ring 18 plus the unitary nature of themale connector 16 andcable 14, theconductors 30 are effectively sealed and thereby maintained water resistant.

Referring now to FIG. 3, theelectrical connector assembly 10 is illustrated as providing a connection between twoelectrical devices 40 and 42. Thedevice 40 is seated within awell 43 in ahousing 45 and includesmale contacts 44 positioned on ashoulder 46. Extending below theshoulder 46 is acentral protuberance 48 which physically prohibited the utilization of socket members of prior electrical connector assemblies. Theprotuberance 48 passes through theaperture 19 thereby allowing the mating of themale contacts 44 andsockets 20. It can also be seen from FIG. 3 that the diameter ofaperture 19 is determined by the size of theprotuberance 48, having to be at least a small amount greater to allow the protuberance to pass therethrough.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings such for example as replacing thesockets 30 with male pin contacts for mating with a female connector. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A one-piece watertight electrical connector assembly comprising:

a flexible cable containing a plurality of electrical conductors;

a first electrical connector integrally molded to one end of said cable, and including a plurality of straight connector into a first surface of said second electrical connector and a cooperating counterbore opening into a second surface of said second electrical connector opposite said first surface, said bore and said counterbore being of greater diameter than said sockets.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner face of said aperture is beveled.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of sockets are equidistantly spaced around said aperture.

Claims (3)

1. A one-piece watertight electrical connector assembly comprising: a flexible cable containing a plurality of electrical conductors; a first electrical connector integrally molded to one end of said cable, and including a plurality of straight connector pins, each pin fastened to one end of a corresponding one of said plurality of electrical conductors; a second electrical connector integrally molded to the other end of said cable and having a circular aperture centrally formed therein; a plurality of sockets formed in said second connector and circumferentially spaced around said aperture, each socket fastened to the other end of a corresponding one of said plurality of electrical conductors; and a plurality of guide members formed in said second connector, each comprising a tube portion having a bore opening into a first surface of said second electrical connector and a cooperating counterbore opening into a second surface of said second electrical connector opposite said first surface, said bore and said counterbore being of greater diameter than said sockets.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner face of said aperture is beveled.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of sockets are equidistantly spaced around said aperture.

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