Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6558180?dq=7125605
Timestamp: 2014-08-02 05:20:50
Document Index: 27318757

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62', 'art 62']

Patent US6558180 - Waterproof electrical connector - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsVarious electrically controlled devices of a bicycle are electrically coupled together by multi-conductor electrical cords. The ends of the electrical cords have an electrical connector that mates with a corresponding electrical connector provided in one of the electrically controlled devices. Each electrical...http://www.google.com/patents/US6558180?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6558180 - Waterproof electrical connectorAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6558180 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/859,678Publication dateMay 6, 2003Filing dateMay 18, 2001Priority dateMay 18, 2001Fee statusPaidAlso published asCN1196609C, CN1387285A, EP1258953A2, EP1258953A3, US20020173193Publication number09859678, 859678, US 6558180 B2, US 6558180B2, US-B2-6558180, US6558180 B2, US6558180B2InventorsNaohiro NishimotoOriginal AssigneeShimano Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (7), Referenced by (16), Classifications (11), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetWaterproof electrical connectorUS 6558180 B2Abstract Various electrically controlled devices of a bicycle are electrically coupled together by multi-conductor electrical cords. The ends of the electrical cords have an electrical connector that mates with a corresponding electrical connector provided in one of the electrically controlled devices. Each electrical connector of the electrical cords has an electrical contact housing with electrical contacts, an outer casing molded about the electrical contact housing, and an annular sealing member formed of a resilient and compressible material. The outer casing has an attachment portion fixed to one end of the electrical contact housing and a tubular portion radially spaced from the other end of the electrical contact housing. The annular sealing member is located in an annular space formed between the tubular portion and the electrical contact housing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector that is used with a mating electrical connector to provide a rigid connection therebetween as well as a watertight connection therebetween.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the female and male electrical connectors a taken along section 5�5 of FIG. 4;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a front portion of an electronically controlled bicycle 10 is illustrated to explain the present invention. The present invention relates to the electrical connections between the electronically controlled components of the bicycle 10. Therefore, the bicycle 10 and its various components are well known in the prior art, except for the electrical connection between the electronically controlled components. Thus, the bicycle 10 and its various components will not be discussed or illustrated in detail herein, except for the components that relate to the present invention. Moreover, various conventional bicycle parts such as brakes, or drive trains, etc., which are not illustrated and/or discussed in detail herein, can be used in conjunction with the present invention. Furthermore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the bicycle electrical cord 28 could be utilized to connect various other electrical devices of the bicycle 10 as needed and/or desired.
SECOND EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 18, a female electrical connector 30 a′ is illustrated in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. In view of the similarity between the first and second embodiments, the parts of the second embodiment that are identical to the parts of the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals as the parts of the first embodiment. Moreover, the descriptions of the parts of the second embodiment that are identical to the parts of the first embodiment may be omitted for the sake of brevity. The parts of the second embodiment that differ from the parts of the first embodiment will be indicated with a prime (′).
In this embodiment, the annular sealing member 46′ has been modified to form a tubular member that engages the external cylindrical surface of the electrical contact housing 40 with the outer casing 44′ being molded about one end of the annular sealing member 46′. Accordingly, the outer cylindrical surface of the annular sealing member 46′ in this embodiment is radially spaced from the cylindrical inner surface of the tubular portion 62′ of the outer casing 44′. Accordingly, the free end of the tubular portion 86 of the male electrical connector 32 a can be positioned between the inner cylindrical surface of the tubular portion 62′ of the outer casing 44′ and the annular sealing member 46′. In other words, the tubular portion 62′ of the male electrical connector 32 a compresses the annular sealing member 46′ radially inwardly to form a watertight connection between the interfaces of the surfaces of the annular sealing member 46′ and the inner cylindrical surface of the tubular portion 62′ of the male electrical connector 32 a. THIRD EMBODIMENT. Referring now to FIG. 19, a female electrical connector 30 a″ is illustrated in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. In view of the similarity between the first and third embodiments, the parts of the third embodiment that are identical to the parts of the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals as the parts of the first embodiment. Moreover, the descriptions of the parts of the third embodiment that are identical to the parts of the first embodiment may be omitted for the sake of brevity. The parts of the third embodiment that differ from the parts of the first embodiment will be indicated with a double prime (″).
When the male electrical connector 32 a is mated with the female electrical connector 30 a″, the free end of the tubular portion 86 of the male electrical connector 32 a axially compresses the annular sealing member 46″ to create a watertight connection between the female and male electrical connectors 30 a″ and 32 a. FOURTH EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 20, a female electrical connector 30 a′″ is illustrated in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In view of the similarity between the first and fourth embodiments, the parts of the fourth embodiment that are identical to the parts of the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals as the parts of the first embodiment. Moreover, the descriptions of the parts of the fourth embodiment that are identical to the parts of the first embodiment may be omitted for the sake of brevity. The parts of the fourth embodiment that differ from the parts of the first embodiment will be indicated with a triple prime (′″).
In this embodiment, the outer casing 44′″ is constructed of two pieces. More specifically, the outer casing 44′″ includes a rigid sleeve 45′″ that overlies a resilient compressible member or inner tubular part 62′″. Preferably, the sleeve 45′″ is constructed of a rigid, non-compressible material. For example, the sleeve 45′″ can be constructed of metal or a very hard plastic material with relatively no flexibility or resiliency. In this embodiment, the annular sealing member 46′″ is integrally formed with the compressible material of the inner part 62′″ of the outer casing 44′″. Preferably, the inner tubular part 62′″ is formed of an elastomeric material such as an acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (SPBR) or any other suitable resilient and compressible material that can be utilized to carry out the present invention. More specifically, the inner cylindrical surface of the tubular part 62′″ of the outer casing 44′″ is attached at one end to the electrical cord 28 a, and has an annular protrusion 62 b′″ that extends radially inwardly from the cylindrical inner surface of the other end of the tubular part 62′″. Thus, when the male electrical connector 32 a is mated with the female electrical connector 30 a′″, the tubular portion 86 of the male electrical connector 32 a will radially compress the annular sealing member 46′″ in an outward direction to create a water tight seal therebetween. Also, when the female and male electrical connectors 30 a′″ and 32 a are coupled together, the annular protrusions 62 b′″ and 86 b of the female and male electrical connectors 30 a′″ and 32 a will engage each other via a snap-fit. Since the inner tubular part 62′″ of the outer casing 44′″ is constructed of a compressible resilient material, the inner tubular part 62′″ of the outer casing 44′″ is to flexible to provide a strong connection between the mating annular protrusions 62 b′″ and 86 b. The hard rigid sleeve 45′″ overlies the inner tubular part 62′″ of the outer casing 44′″ to prevent radial outward movement of the inner tubular part 62′″ of the outer casing 44′″. In other words, it is necessary to slide the sleeve 45′″ over the mating annular protrusions 62 b′″ and 86 b such that radial movement of the annular protrusion 62 b′″ of the inner part 62′″of the outer casing 44′″ is prevented. Thus, under normal use, this snap-fit connection will prevent separation of the female and male electrical connectors 30 a′″ and 32 a. Of course, the inner tubular part 62′″ is sufficiently compressible such the female and male electrical connectors 30 a′″ and 32 a will release, if a sufficiently high axial force is applied between the female and male electrical connectors 30 a′″ and 32 a. For example, if the electrical cord 28 a gets caught on a branch or another obstruction, this snap-fit connection will separate the female and male electrical connectors 30 a′″ and 32 a to avoid serious damage to the electrical cord 28 a and to prevent the rider from losing control over the bicycle 10. More specifically, when the electrical cord 28 a gets caught on a branch or another obstruction, the annular protrusion 62 b′″ of the inner tubular part 62′″ will compress in a radial direction even though the sleeve 45′″ overlies the inner tubular part 62′″. However, under normal riding conditions, this snap-fit connection will prevent separation of the female and male electrical connectors 30 a′″ and 32 a. FIFTH EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 21, a female electrical connector 30 a″″ is illustrated in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In view of the similarity between the first and fifth embodiments, the parts of the fifth embodiment that are identical to the parts of the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals as the parts of the first embodiment. Moreover, the descriptions of the parts of the fifth embodiment that are identical to the parts of the first embodiment may be omitted for the sake of brevity. The parts of the fifth embodiment that differ from the parts of the first embodiment will be indicated with four primes (″″).
This fifth embodiment is also similar to the fourth embodiment, except that the annular sealing member 46″″ is constructed similar to the second embodiment such that the annular sealing member 46″″ is compressed radially inwardly by the tubular portion 86 of the male electrical connector 32 a during the coupling of the female and male electrical connectors 30 a″″ and 32 a. In this embodiment, the outer casing 44″″ is constructed of two pieces. More specifically, the outer casing 44″″ includes a rigid sleeve 45″″ that overlies a resilient compressible member or inner part 62′″. Preferably, the sleeve 45″″ is constructed of a rigid, non-compressible material. For example, the sleeve 45″″ can be constructed of metal or a very hard plastic material with relatively no flexibility or resiliency. In this embodiment, the annular sealing member 46″″ is integrally formed with the compressible material of the inner part 62″″ of the outer casing 44″″. Preferably, the inner tubular part 62″″ is formed of an elastomeric material such as an acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (BR) or any other suitable resilient and compressible material that can be utilized to carry out the present invention. More specifically, the inner cylindrical surface of the tubular part 62″″ of the outer casing 44″″ is attached at one end to the electrical cord 28 a, and has an annular protrusion 62 b″″ that extends radially inwardly from the cylindrical inner surface of the other end of the tubular part 62″″. Thus, when the male electrical connector 32 a is mated with the female electrical connector 30 a″″, the tubular portion 86 of the male electrical connector 32 a will radially compress the annular sealing member 46″″ in an inward direction to create a water tight seal therebetween. Also, when the female and male electrical connectors 30 a″″ and 32 a are coupled together, the annular protrusions 62 b″″ and 86 b of the female and male electrical connectors 30 a″″ and 32 a will engage each other via a snap-fit. Since the inner tubular part 62″″ of the outer casing 44″″ is constructed of a compressible resilient material, the inner tubular part 62″″ of the outer casing 44″″ is to flexible to provide a strong connection between the mating annular protrusions 62 b″″ and 86 b. The hard rigid sleeve 45″″ overlies the inner tubular part 62″″ of the outer casing 44″″ to prevent radial outward movement of the inner tubular part 62″″ of the outer casing 44″″. In other words, it is necessary to slide the sleeve 45″″ over the mating annular protrusions 62 b″″ and 86 b such that radial movement of the annular protrusion 62 b″″ of the inner part 62″″ of the outer casing 44″″ is prevented. Thus, under normal use, this snap-fit connection will prevent separation of the female and male electrical connectors 30 a″″ and 32 a. Of course, the inner tubular part 62″″ is sufficiently compressible such the female and male electrical connectors 30 a″″ and 32 a will release, if a sufficiently high axial force is applied between the female and male electrical connectors 30 a″″ and 32 a. For example, if the electrical cord 28 a gets caught on a branch or another obstruction, this snap-fit connection will separate the female and male electrical connectors 30 a″″ and 32 a to avoid serious damage to the electrical cord 28 a and to prevent the rider from losing control over the bicycle 10. More specifically, when the electrical cord 28 a gets caught on a branch or another obstruction, the annular protrusion 62 b″″ of the inner tubular part 62″″ will compress in a radial direction even though the sleeve 45″″ overlies the inner tubular part 62″″. However, under normal riding conditions, this snap-fit connection will prevent separation of the female and male electrical connectors 30 a″″ and 32 a. The terms of degree such as �substantially�, �about� and �approximately� as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. These terms should be construed as including a deviation of at least �5% of the modified term if this deviation would not negate the meaning of the word it modifies.
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