System, method and seal for pressure-sensitive wire and interface sealing of electrical connector assemblies and associated contacts

Claim 1

A system having improved sealing and insulation characteristics for electrical connectors under constant and changing pressure environments comprising: a single piece pin body of dielectric material having a front face and a rear face and provided with a plurality of pin contact aperture means extending from said rear face to said front face, each one of said pin contract aperture means comprising smooth bore means and a latching detent positioned adjacent said pin body front face, said smooth bore means having a specific bore diameter; a single piece socket body of dielectric material having a front face and a rear face and provided with a plurality of socket contact aperture means extending from said rear face to said front face, each one of said socket contact aperture means comprising smooth bore means and a latching detent positioned adjacent said socket body front face, said smooth bore means of said socket body having a bore diameter equal to the bore diameter of said pin body bore means; said aperture means of said pin and socket bodies being respectively alignable when said front faces of said pin and socket bodies are positioned in a face-to-face arrangement; a plurality of cylindrical pin contacts equal in number to said plurality of pin contact aperture means, each of said pin contacts comprising a wire-receiving end, a pin end and latching means cooperable with said pin body latching detent, said pin contact wire-receiving end comprising an internal wire-receiving portion and an external seal-receiving portion, said pin contact internal wire-receiving portion including bore means provided with opening means opposed to said pin end, and said pin contact external seal-receiving portion including a shank having a first dimensioned diameter, an annular latching collar at said pin contact bore opening means and having a second dimensioned diameter greater than said first dimensioned diameter of said pin contact shank, and on annular abutment collar terminating said pin contact shank and having a third dimensioned diameter greater than said second dimensioned diameter of said pin contact bore opening means and substantially equal to said pin body bore diameter; a plurality of cylindrical socket contacts equal in number to said plurality of socket contact aperture means, each of said socket contacts comprising a wire-receiving end, a socket end And latching means cooperable with said socket body latching detent, said socket contact wire-receiving end comprising an internal wire-receiving portion and an external seal-receiving portion, said socket contact internal wire-receiving portion including bore means provided with opening means opposed to said socket end, and said socket contact external sealreceiving portion including a shank having a first dimensioned diameter, an annular latching collar at said socket contact bore opening means and having a second dimensioned diameter greater than said first dimensioned diameter of said socket contact shank, and an annular abutment collar terminating said socket contact shank and having a third dimensioned diameter greater than said second dimensioned diameter of said socket contact bore opening means and substantially equal to said socket body bore diameter; said pin contacts and said socket contacts respectively insertable within said pin contact aperture means and said socket contact aperture means and retainable therein by respective cooperation between said latching means and said latching detents, said pin ends extending beyond said pin body front face and engageable within said socket ends when said pin and socket bodies are positioned in the face-to-face arrangement; a plurality of insulated electrical conductors equal in number to said plurality of pin contacts and said plurality of socket contacts, each of said electrical conductors comprising a conductor wire and insulation means surrounding said conductor wire, said insulation means being stripped from one end of sid electrical conductor to provide a short termination of bare conductor wire, each of said bare conductor wires being inserted into and secured to and within each of said bore means of said wire-receiving portions of both said plurality of said pin contacts and said plurality of said socket contacts, and each of said insulation means at said bare conductor wires abutting against each of said annular latching collars at said opening means of both said plurality of said pin contacts and said plurality of said socket contacts, said electrical conductors respectively extending from said aperture means at said rear faces of said pin and socket bodies when said pin and socket contacts are respectively inserted and retained within said aperture means, each of said aperture means having a length of said smooth bore means sufficient to enclose respectively said pin and socket contacts and a portion of said electrical conductor respectively secured thereto; a plurality of pressure-sensitive wire seals of resilient insulation material equal in number to said plurality of pin contacts and said plurality of socket contacts, each of said pressure-sensitive wire seals having a front end and a rear end and comprising a first tubular portion at said rear end, a second tubular portion at said front end and meeting said first tubular portion at an intermediate portion, and a thin flexible radially extending annular land at said intermediate portion, said first tubular portion having a smooth internal tubular surface sealingly engageable under tension with said insulation means along a length thereof sufficient to be enclosed by a portion of the length of said smooth bore means of said body, said second tubular portion having a cylindrical external periphery and a cylindrical internal surface, said cylindrical external periphery including an annular wiping land provided with a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said smooth bore means of said body, and said cylindrical internal surface including an annular recess engageable with said annular latching collar of one of said pin and socket contacts and an inwardly directed annular flange at said front end and engageable on said shank of one of said pin and socket contacts to provide securement of each of said pressure-sensitive wire seals on each of said plurality of pin and socket contacts, and said thin flexible radially extending annular land having A diameter substantially greater than the diameter of said smooth bore means of said body, whereby, when each of said pressure-sensitive wire seals is secured to each of said pin and socket contacts and when each of said pin and socket contacts is respectively inserted within each of said pin and socket contact aperture means of said pin and socket bodies, each of said wiping lands of each of said pressure-sensitive wire seals compresses against and cleans each of said smooth bore means prior to contact of each of said thin flexible radially extending annular lands with each of said smooth bore means and each of said thin flexible radially extending annular lands deforms into a cup-shaped element within each of said smooth bore means and opens towards said rear faces of said pin and socket bodies; and a plurality of tubular pressure-sensitive interface seals of resilient insulation material equal in number to said plurality of pin contacts, each of said interface seals including a smooth internal surface provided with a diameter substantially equal to that of said pin ends and slidable and sealable thereon, and an external periphery provided with a pair of thin flexible radially extending annular lands positioned adjacent the ends of each of said interface seals, said interface seal annular lands having a diameter substantially greater than that of said smooth bore means of said body, whereby, when each of said interface seals is slidably engaged with each of said pin ends and when

Claim 2

A system having improved sealing and insulation characteristics for electrical connectors under constant and changing pressure environments comprising: a single piece pin body of dielectric material having a front face and a rear face and provided with a plurality of pin contact aperture means extending from said rear face to said front face, each one of said pin contract aperture means comprising smooth bore means and a latching detent positioned adjacent said pin body front face, said smooth bore means having a specific bore diameter; a single piece socket body of dielectric material having a front face and a rear face and provided with a plurality of socket contact aperture means extending from said rear face to said front face, each one of said socket contact aperture means comprising smooth bore means and a latching detent positioned adjacent said socket body front face, said smooth bore means of said socket body having a bore diameter equal to the bore diameter of said pin body bore means; said aperture means of said pin and socket bodies being respectively alignable when said front faces of said pin and socket bodies are positioned in a face-to-face arrangement; a plurality of cylindrical pin contacts equal in number to said plurality of pin contact aperture means, each of said pin contacts comprising a wire-receiving end, a pin end and latching means cooperable with said pin body latching detent, said pin contact wire-receiving end comprising an internal wire-receiving portion and an external seal-receiving portion, said pin contact internal wire-receiving portion including bore means provided with opening means opposed to said pin end, and said pin contact external seal-receiving portion including a shank having a first dimensioned diameter, an annular latching collar at said pin contact bore opening means and having a second dimensioned diameter greater than said first dimensioned diameter of said pin contact shank, and on annular abutment collar terminating said pin contact shank and having a third dimensioned diameter greater than said second dimensioned diameter of said pin contact bore opening means and substantially equal to said pin body bore diameter; a plurality of cylindrical socket contacts equal in number to said plurality of socket contact aperture means, each of said socket contacts comprising a wire-receiving end, a socket end And latching means cooperable with said socket body latching detent, said socket contact wire-receiving end comprising an internal wire-receiving portion and an external seal-receiving portion, said socket contact internal wire-receiving portion including bore means provided with opening means opposed to said socket end, and said socket contact external sealreceiving portion including a shank having a first dimensioned diameter, an annular latching collar at said socket contact bore opening means and having a second dimensioned diameter greater than said first dimensioned diameter of said socket contact shank, and an annular abutment collar terminating said socket contact shank and having a third dimensioned diameter greater than said second dimensioned diameter of said socket contact bore opening means and substantially equal to said socket body bore diameter; said pin contacts and said socket contacts respectively insertable within said pin contact aperture means and said socket contact aperture means and retainable therein by respective cooperation between said latching means and said latching detents, said pin ends extending beyond said pin body front face and engageable within said socket ends when said pin and socket bodies are positioned in the face-to-face arrangement; a plurality of insulated electrical conductors equal in number to said plurality of pin contacts and said plurality of socket contacts, each of said electrical conductors comprising a conductor wire and insulation means surrounding said conductor wire, said insulation means being stripped from one end of sid electrical conductor to provide a short termination of bare conductor wire, each of said bare conductor wires being inserted into and secured to and within each of said bore means of said wire-receiving portions of both said plurality of said pin contacts and said plurality of said socket contacts, and each of said insulation means at said bare conductor wires abutting against each of said annular latching collars at said opening means of both said plurality of said pin contacts and said plurality of said socket contacts, said electrical conductors respectively extending from said aperture means at said rear faces of said pin and socket bodies when said pin and socket contacts are respectively inserted and retained within said aperture means, each of said aperture means having a length of said smooth bore means sufficient to enclose respectively said pin and socket contacts and a portion of said electrical conductor respectively secured thereto; a plurality of pressure-sensitive wire seals of resilient insulation material equal in number to said plurality of pin contacts and said plurality of socket contacts, each of said pressure-sensitive wire seals having a front end and a rear end and comprising a first tubular portion at said rear end, a second tubular portion at said front end and meeting said first tubular portion at an intermediate portion, and a thin flexible radially extending annular land at said intermediate portion, said first tubular portion having a smooth internal tubular surface sealingly engageable under tension with said insulation means along a length thereof sufficient to be enclosed by a portion of the length of said smooth bore means of said body, said second tubular portion having a cylindrical external periphery and a cylindrical internal surface, said cylindrical external periphery including an annular wiping land provided with a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said smooth bore means of said body, and said cylindrical internal surface including an annular recess engageable with said annular latching collar of one of said pin and socket contacts and an inwardly directed annular flange at said front end and engageable on said shank of one of said pin and socket contacts to provide securement of each of said pressure-sensitive wire seals on each of said plurality of pin and socket contacts, and said thin flexible radially extending annular land having A diameter substantially greater than the diameter of said smooth bore means of said body, whereby, when each of said pressure-sensitive wire seals is secured to each of said pin and socket contacts and when each of said pin and socket contacts is respectively inserted within each of said pin and socket contact aperture means of said pin and socket bodies, each of said wiping lands of each of said pressure-sensitive wire seals compresses against and cleans each of said smooth bore means prior to contact of each of said thin flexible radially extending annular lands with each of said smooth bore means and each of said thin flexible radially extending annular lands deforms into a cup-shaped element within each of said smooth bore means and opens towards said rear faces of said pin and socket bodies; and a plurality of tubular pressure-sensitive interface seals of resilient insulation material equal in number to said plurality of pin contacts, each of said interface seals including a smooth internal surface provided with a diameter substantially equal to that of said pin ends and slidable and sealable thereon, and an external periphery provided with a pair of thin flexible radially extending annular lands positioned adjacent the ends of each of said interface seals, said interface seal annular lands having a diameter substantially greater than that of said smooth bore means of said body, whereby, when each of said interface seals is slidably engaged with each of said pin ends and when

Claim 3

A system having improved sealing and insulation characteristics for electrical connectors comprising: a first connector body having at least one through bore means; a second connector body having at least one through bore means; first electrical termination means positioned in said bore means of said first connector body; second electrical termination means positioned in said bore means of said second connector body; and individual resilient elastomeric sealing means positioned in said bore means of both said first and second connector bodies and in individual sealing engagement with each of said bore means and with each of said electrical termination means, each said individual resilient sealing means provided with pressure-sensitive means having greater capability means of resisting flow of fluid into each of said bore means past the sealing engagement than of resisting flow of fluid out of each of said bore means past the sealing engagement.

Claim 4

A system having improved sealing and insulation characteristics for electrical connectors comprising: a first connector body having at least one through bore means; a second connector body having at least one through bore means; first electrical termination means positioned in said bore means of said first connector body; second electrical termination means positioned in said bore means of said second connector body; and individual resilient elastomeric sealing means positioned in said bore means of both said first and second connector bodies and in individual sealing engagement with each of said bore means and with each of said electrical termination means, each said individual resilient sealing means provided with pressure-sensitive means having greater capability means of resisting flow of fluid into each of said bore means past the sealing engagement than of resisting flow of fluid out of each of said bore means past the sealing engagement.

Claim 16

A system for improved sealing and insulation characteristics of electrical connectors comprising: a connector body having a front face and a rear face, and having at least one through bore means extending from said front face to said rear face; electrical termination means having front end means and rear end means, and substantially positioned in said bore means; and individual first and second resilient sealing means positioned in said bore meaNs, said first sealing means sealingly engaged at a front position between said front end means and said bore means adjacent to and spaced from said front face and otherwise independent of contact with said front face, and said second sealing means engaged at a rear position between said rear end means and said bore means adjacent said rear face.

Claim 17

A system for improved sealing and insulation characteristics of electrical connectors comprising: a connector body having a front face and a rear face, and having at least one through bore means extending from said front face to said rear face; electrical termination means having front end means and rear end means, and substantially positioned in said bore means; and individual first and second resilient sealing means positioned in said bore meaNs, said first sealing means sealingly engaged at a front position between said front end means and said bore means adjacent to and spaced from said front face and otherwise independent of contact with said front face, and said second sealing means engaged at a rear position between said rear end means and said bore means adjacent said rear face.

Claim 39

A method for sealing electrical contacts with insulated conductors electrically coupled thereto within a termination body having a plurality of bore means without loss of integrity of the sealing regardless of changing pressure differentials between the interior and the exterior of the body comprising the steps of: providing individual seals having unidirectional fluid flow means; attaching each of the seals to each of the contacts; and sealing each of the electrical contacts with the seals attached thereto within respective ones of the bore means to engage the unidirectional fluid flow means with the bore means and thereby to permit fluid flow only to the exterior of the bore means.

Claim 40

A method for sealing electrical contacts with insulated conductors electrically coupled thereto within a termination body having a plurality of bore means without loss of integrity of the sealing regardless of changing pressure differentials between the interior and the exterior of the body comprising the steps of: providing individual seals having unidirectional fluid flow means; attaching each of the seals to each of the contacts; and sealing each of the electrical contacts with the seals attached thereto within respective ones of the bore means to engage the unidirectional fluid flow means with the bore means and thereby to permit fluid flow only to the exterior of the bore means.

Claim 43

A system having improved sealing and insulation characteristics for electrical connectors comprising: a first connector body having at least one through bore means; a second connector body having at least one through bore means; said first and second connector bodies having respective front and rear faces at right angles to said respective bore means, said front faces of said connector bodies being in a face-to-face arrangement to provide alignment of said respective bore means; first electrical termination means positioned in said bore means of said first connector body aNd including an end extending into said bore means of said second connector body; second electrical termination means positioned in said bore means of said second connector body and electrically coupled to said end of said first electrical termination means; and individual resilient sealing means positioned in said bore means of both said first and second connector bodies and in individual sealing engagement with each of said bore means and with each of said electrical termination means, said individual resilient sealing means having pressure-sensitive means capable of resisting flow of fluid into each of said bore means past the sealing engagement; said pressure-sensitive means of said resilient sealing means including first, second and third pressure-sensitive members; said first pressure-sensitive member including a first cup-shaped element and sealed between said first electrical termination means and said first connector body bore means adjacent said rear face of said first connector body; said second pressure-sensitive member including a second cup-shaped element and sealed between said second electrical termination means and said second connector body bore means adjacent said rear face of said second connector body; and said third pressure-sensitive member including a pair of cup-shaped elements and sealed between said end and both said bores adjacent said aligned front faces of said first and second connector bodies; said first and second cup-shaped elements facing respectively towards said rear faces, and said third pressure-sensitive member pair of cup-shaped elements facing respectively towards said front faces, whereby said cup-shaped elements inhibit flow of the fluid into said respective bore means and increase the sealing engagement therewith upon increase of pressure external to said respective bore means.

Claim 44

A system having improved sealing and insulation characteristics for electrical connectors comprising: a first connector body having at least one through bore means; a second connector body having at least one through bore means; said first and second connector bodies having respective front and rear faces at right angles to said respective bore means, said front faces of said connector bodies being in a face-to-face arrangement to provide alignment of said respective bore means; first electrical termination means positioned in said bore means of said first connector body aNd including an end extending into said bore means of said second connector body; second electrical termination means positioned in said bore means of said second connector body and electrically coupled to said end of said first electrical termination means; and individual resilient sealing means positioned in said bore means of both said first and second connector bodies and in individual sealing engagement with each of said bore means and with each of said electrical termination means, said individual resilient sealing means having pressure-sensitive means capable of resisting flow of fluid into each of said bore means past the sealing engagement; said pressure-sensitive means of said resilient sealing means including first, second and third pressure-sensitive members; said first pressure-sensitive member including a first cup-shaped element and sealed between said first electrical termination means and said first connector body bore means adjacent said rear face of said first connector body; said second pressure-sensitive member including a second cup-shaped element and sealed between said second electrical termination means and said second connector body bore means adjacent said rear face of said second connector body; and said third pressure-sensitive member including a pair of cup-shaped elements and sealed between said end and both said bores adjacent said aligned front faces of said first and second connector bodies; said first and second cup-shaped elements facing respectively towards said rear faces, and said third pressure-sensitive member pair of cup-shaped elements facing respectively towards said front faces, whereby said cup-shaped elements inhibit flow of the fluid into said respective bore means and increase the sealing engagement therewith upon increase of pressure external to said respective bore means.

Claim 46

A system for improved sealing and insulation characteristics of electrical connectors comprising: a connector body having a front face and a rear face and having at least one through bore means extending from said front face to said rear face; electrical termination means having front and rear end means and positioned in said bore means; and resilient sealing means positioned in said bore means and sealingly engaged respectively at a front position between said front end means and said bore means adjacent said front face and at a rear position between said rear end means and said bore means adjacent said rear face; said resilient sealing means including a pair of individual front and rear pressure-sensitive members respectively sealingly engaged at the front and rear positions, said rear pressure-sensitive member comprising a forward portion sealingly secured to said electrical termination means and an intermediate portion sealingly engaged against said bore means adjacent said rear face; said intermediate portion including a flange having a first section extending generally at right angles with respect to said bore means and a second section secured to said first section and resiliently engaged against said bore means and extending towards said rear face.

Claim 47

A system for improved sealing and insulation characteristics of electrical connectors comprising: a connector body having a front face and a rear face and having at least one through bore means extending from said front face to said rear face; electrical termination means having front and rear end means and positioned in said bore means; and resilient sealing means positioned in said bore means and sealingly engaged respectively at a front position between said front end means and said bore means adjacent said front face and at a rear position between said rear end means and said bore means adjacent said rear face; said resilient sealing means including a pair of individual front and rear pressure-sensitive members respectively sealingly engaged at the front and rear positions, said rear pressure-sensitive member comprising a forward portion sealingly secured to said electrical termination means and an intermediate portion sealingly engaged against said bore means adjacent said rear face; said intermediate portion including a flange having a first section extending generally at right angles with respect to said bore means and a second section secured to said first section and resiliently engaged against said bore means and extending towards said rear face.

Claim 48

A system for improved sealing and insulation characteristics of electrical connectors comprising: a connector body having a front face and a rear face and having at least one through bore means extending from said front face to said rear face; electrical termination means having front and rear end means and positioned in said bore means and including a contact having a front end adjacent said front face, a rear end adjacent said rear face, a latching collar terminating said contact rear end and a recess means adjacent said latching collar; and resilient sealing means positioned in said bore means and sealingly Engaged respectively at a front position between said front end means and said bore means adjacent said front face and at a rear position between said rear end means and said bore means adjacent said rear face, said resilient sealing means including a pair of individual front and rear pressure-sensitive members respectively sealingly engaged at the front and rear positions, said rear pressure-sensitive member comprising a forward portion provided with internal recess means engaging said latching collar and internal flange means engaging said contact recess means and sealingly secured to said electrical termination means, and an intermediate portion sealingly engaged against said bore means adjacent said rear face.

Claim 49

A system for improved sealing and insulation characteristics of electrical connectors comprising: a connector body having a front face and a rear face and having at least one through bore means extending from said front face to said rear face; electrical termination means having front and rear end means and positioned in said bore means and including a contact having a front end adjacent said front face, a rear end adjacent said rear face, a latching collar terminating said contact rear end and a recess means adjacent said latching collar; and resilient sealing means positioned in said bore means and sealingly Engaged respectively at a front position between said front end means and said bore means adjacent said front face and at a rear position between said rear end means and said bore means adjacent said rear face, said resilient sealing means including a pair of individual front and rear pressure-sensitive members respectively sealingly engaged at the front and rear positions, said rear pressure-sensitive member comprising a forward portion provided with internal recess means engaging said latching collar and internal flange means engaging said contact recess means and sealingly secured to said electrical termination means, and an intermediate portion sealingly engaged against said bore means adjacent said rear face.

Claim 61

A method for sealing electrical pin and socket contacts each with insulated conductors electrically coupled thereto within first and second termination bodies, each of the termination bodies having a plurality of double-ended bore means, the socket contacts connectable to the pin contacts when the two termination bodies are aligned to provide an alignment of the two bore means in such a manner that the bore means are positioned with facing bore ends and opposing bore ends, under changing pressure differentials between the interior and the exterior of the bodies comprising the steps of: individually sealing respective ones of the electrical pin and socket contacts within respective ones of the bore means at the opposing ends thereof with seals having cup-shaped elements facing towards the exterior of the bore means at their opposing bore ends and with individual seals having cup-shaped elements facing one another so as to permit fluid flow only to the exterior of the bore means, said sealing step including the step of individually sealing the bore means at both ends with the seals and individually sealing the bore means to the electrical contacts with the seals.

Claim 62

A method for sealing electrical pin and socket contacts each with insulated conductors electrically coupled thereto within first and second termination bodies, each of the termination bodies having a plurality of double-ended bore means, the socket contacts connectable to the pin contacts when the two termination bodies are aligned to provide an alignment of the two bore means in such a manner that the bore means are positioned with facing bore ends and opposing bore ends, under changing pressure differentials between the interior and the exterior of the bodies comprising the steps of: individually sealing respective ones of the electrical pin and socket contacts within respective ones of the bore means at the opposing ends thereof with seals having cup-shaped elements facing towards the exterior of the bore means at their opposing bore ends and with individual seals having cup-shaped elements facing one another so as to permit fluid flow only to the exterior of the bore means, said sealing step including the step of individually sealing the bore means at both ends with the seals and individually sealing the bore means to the electrical contacts with the seals.

Claim 63

A system having improved sealing and insulation characteristics for electrical connectors comprising: a first connector body having at least one through first bore means and front and rear faces substantially at right angles to said first bore means; a second connector body having at least one through second bore means and front and rear faces substantially at right angles to second bore means; said front faces of said connector bodies being in a face-to-face arrangement to provide alignment of said respective bore means; first electrical termination means positioned in said first bore means of said first connector body; second electrical termination means positioned in said second bore means of said second connector body and in electrical contact with said first termination means when said connector bodies are in the face-to-face arrangement; and individual resilient sealing means positioned in said bore means of both said first and second connector bodies and in individual sealing engagement with each of said bore means and with each of said electrical termination means, said individual resilient sealing means having fluid pressure-sensitive means capable of resisting flow of fluid into each of said bore means past the sealing engagement, said fluid pressure-sensitive means including a first fluid pressure-sensitive member in sealing engagement between said first electrical termination means and said first connector body bore means adjacent said rear face of said first connector body, a second fluid pressure-sensitive member in sealing engagement between said second electrical termination means and said second connector body bore means adjacent said rear face of said second connector body, and a third fluid pressure-sensitive member in sealing engagement between at least one of said electrical termination means and both said bores adjacent and spaced from said aligned front faces of said first and second connector bodies And otherwise independent of contact with said front faces.

Claim 64

A system having improved sealing and insulation characteristics for electrical connectors comprising: a first connector body having at least one through first bore means and front and rear faces substantially at right angles to said first bore means; a second connector body having at least one through second bore means and front and rear faces substantially at right angles to second bore means; said front faces of said connector bodies being in a face-to-face arrangement to provide alignment of said respective bore means; first electrical termination means positioned in said first bore means of said first connector body; second electrical termination means positioned in said second bore means of said second connector body and in electrical contact with said first termination means when said connector bodies are in the face-to-face arrangement; and individual resilient sealing means positioned in said bore means of both said first and second connector bodies and in individual sealing engagement with each of said bore means and with each of said electrical termination means, said individual resilient sealing means having fluid pressure-sensitive means capable of resisting flow of fluid into each of said bore means past the sealing engagement, said fluid pressure-sensitive means including a first fluid pressure-sensitive member in sealing engagement between said first electrical termination means and said first connector body bore means adjacent said rear face of said first connector body, a second fluid pressure-sensitive member in sealing engagement between said second electrical termination means and said second connector body bore means adjacent said rear face of said second connector body, and a third fluid pressure-sensitive member in sealing engagement between at least one of said electrical termination means and both said bores adjacent and spaced from said aligned front faces of said first and second connector bodies And otherwise independent of contact with said front faces.

Claim 65

A system for improved sealing and insulation characteristics of electrical connectors comprising: a connector body having a front face and a rear face and having at least one through bore means extending from said front face to said rear face; electrical termination means having front and rear end means and positioned in said bore means; and resilient sealing means including front and rear pressure-sensitive members positioned in said bore means, said front pressure-sensitive member sealingly engaged at a front position between said front end means and said bore means adjacent said front face, said front pressure-sensitive member including a flange substantially disposed within and contacting said bore means in sealing engagement therewith and bent and extending generally towards said front face, and said rear pressure-sensitive member sealingly engaged at a rear position between said rear end means and said bore means adjacent said rear face, said rear pressure-sensitive member including a flange substantially disposed within and contacting said bore means in sealing engagement therewith and bent and extending generally towards said rear face, said flanges of said front and rear pressure-sensitive members defining chamber means within said bore means and cooperating with each other to prevent fluid movement into said chamber means regardless of pressure differentials internal and external to said chamber means.

Claim 66

A system for improved sealing and insulation characteristics of electrical connectors comprising: a connector body having a front face and a rear face and having at least one through bore means extending from said front face to said rear face; electrical termination means having front and rear end means and positioned in said bore means; and resilient sealing means including front and rear pressure-sensitive members positioned in said bore means, said front pressure-sensitive member sealingly engaged at a front position between said front end means and said bore means adjacent said front face, said front pressure-sensitive member including a flange substantially disposed within and contacting said bore means in sealing engagement therewith and bent and extending generally towards said front face, and said rear pressure-sensitive member sealingly engaged at a rear position between said rear end means and said bore means adjacent said rear face, said rear pressure-sensitive member including a flange substantially disposed within and contacting said bore means in sealing engagement therewith and bent and extending generally towards said rear face, said flanges of said front and rear pressure-sensitive members defining chamber means within said bore means and cooperating with each other to prevent fluid movement into said chamber means regardless of pressure differentials internal and external to said chamber means.

Claim 67

A method for sealing electrical contact means with electrical cable means attached thereto within bore means of an insulation body comprising the steps of: providing seal means with first and second axially spaced annular sealing means; coupling the seal means to the electrical contact means; inserting the contact means with the seal means coupled thereto into the bore means, thereby first engaging and wiping the bore means clean with the first annular sealing means and thereafter engaging the second annular sealing means with the bore means.

Claim 68

A method for sealing electrical contact means with electrical cable means attached thereto within bore means of an insulation body comprising the steps of: providing seal means with first and second axially spaced annular sealing means; coupling the seal means to the electrical contact means; inserting the contact means with the seal means coupled thereto into the bore means, thereby first engaging and wiping the bore means clean with the first annular sealing means and thereafter engaging the second annular sealing means with the bore means.

Claim 70

A method for sealing electrical termination means within bore means of an insulation body comprising the steps of: providing the electrical termination means with seal means having annular flange means; and inserting the electrical termination means and the seal means into the bore means to bend the annular flange means into sealing engagement with the bore means and to permit unidirectional fluid flow from the bore means when the annular flange means is engaged therewith.

Claim 71

A method for sealing electrical termination means within bore means of an insulation body comprising the steps of: providing the electrical termination means with seal means having annular flange means; and inserting the electrical termination means and the seal means into the bore means to bend the annular flange means into sealing engagement with the bore means and to permit unidirectional fluid flow from the bore means when the annular flange means is engaged therewith.