Patent ID: 9419370
Filing Date: 2016-08-16
CPC Classification: H01R

Claim Text:
1. A connector assembly comprising: (a) a resiliently deformable wire grommet having a substantially cylindrical outer surface and one or more axial wire passages therethrough, wherein each wire passage includes two or more wire-sealing segments and each wire-sealing segment is sized and shaped so as to (i) enable a corresponding wire to be inserted through the corresponding wire passage and (ii) form a seal around the corresponding inserted wire; (b) a substantially rigid front connector body having a front axial passage, wherein (i) a rearward portion of the front connector body includes external threads and a set of multiple rearward-extending teeth; (ii) a forward portion of the front connector body is structurally arranged so as to hold one or more electrical contacts that are each connected to a corresponding wire passing through the corresponding wire passage of the grommet, and (iii) one or more portions, including a rearward portion, of the front axial passage are structurally arranged so as to receive therein the grommet without substantial radial compression of the grommet; (c) a substantially rigid rear connector body having a rear axial passage therethrough, wherein (i) a front end of the rear axial passage is large enough to receive therein a rearward portion of the grommet without substantial radial compression of the grommet, (ii) a rearward-tapered segment of the rear axial passage is structurally arranged so as to receive therein the rearward portion of the grommet, engage the outer surface of the rearward portion of the grommet, and compress radially the rearward portion of the grommet and one or more of the two or more wire-sealing segments of each wire passage, (iii) the rear connector body includes a set of multiple forward-extending teeth, and (iv) a forward portion of the rear connector body that extends forward beyond the set of multiple forward-extending teeth, including at least a portion of the tapered segment of the rear axial passage, is structurally arranged to extend into and fit within the rearward portion of the front axial passage, interposed between the rearward portion of the grommet and an inner surface of the rearward portion of the front axial passage; and (d) a nut with a central opening and internal threads, wherein the nut is structurally arranged so as to (i) receive through the central opening a rearward portion of the rear connector body, (ii) obstruct rearward movement of the forward portion of the rear connector body through the central opening, and (iii) engage with the internal threads the external threads of the front connector body, wherein: (e) the set of multiple forward-extending teeth of the rear connector body and the set of multiple rearward-extending teeth of the front connector body are structurally arranged so as to effect non-rotatable engagement of the front and rear connector bodies; and (f) the connector assembly is structurally arranged so that tightening of the nut threadedly engaged on the rearward portion of the front connector body results in (i) forward movement of the nut and the rear connector body toward the front connector body, (ii) forward movement of the forward portion of the rear connector body into the rearward portion of the front axial passage, (iii) rearward movement of the rearward portion of the grommet into the tapered segment of the rear axial passage, (iv) radial compression, by the tapered segment of the rear axial passage, of the rearward portion of the grommet and one or more of the two or more wire-sealing segments of each wire passage therein, and (v) engagement of the set of multiple forward-extending teeth with the set of multiple rearward-extending teeth so as to effect non-rotatable engagement of the front and rear connector bodies.