Patent ID: 6048224
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: H01R

Abstract:
An environmentally protected connector member for substantially sealed attachment to a cable having a plurality of electrical conductors which are terminated at an end thereof with a contact, said connector member comprising one of a pair of releasably interconnectable coupling components and including:a housing having a floor, said floor having a plurality of apertures therethrough arranged in a predetermined pattern;a backshell extending from said floor of said housing and encompassing the extended axes of said apertures, said backshell having at least one bead portion protruding from an outer surface of said backshell and extending at least partially therearound;a plurality of electrical contacts within said housing, each of said electrical contacts adapted to releasably engage a corresponding electrical contact of another of said coupling components releasably interconnected to said connector member and having a portion extending through one of said apertures which is adapted to slidably mate with the said contact terminating one of said electrical conductors;a locking member for retaining said electrical contacts in a fixed relationship to said floor;an outer sheath of diametrically shrinkable material extending from and shrunk annularly tightly about an exterior of said backshell, to fixedly secure the sheath and backshell together, a portion of said sheath extending over and engaging at least portions of said bead in fixed and interlocking relationship to augment the connection between said sheath and said backshell, said sheath adapted to encompass an exterior of said cable of electrical conductors; andan adhesive having a flowable state disposed within said sheath to coat at least portions of said backshell exterior, said cable, and said electrical contacts of said cable of conductors when said sheath is shrunk annularly about said backshell, to thereby join said backshell and cable together in a substantially sealed manner and also cover and protect said coated portions of said contacts from the environment.