Patent ID: 7241165

Claim:
An electrical connector arrangement including plug and socket components, comprising: (a) a sectional generally rectangular connector housing ( 37 ; 38 ; 39 ) including: (1) a lower housing section ( 9 ; 10 ) having a first end portion ( 6 ; 8 ) containing a longitudinal recess ( 11 ; 12 ), said lower section having a second end portion having a horizontal upper surface that contains groove means ( 25 ) that communicate with said longitudinal recess; and (2) an upper housing section ( 24 ; 24 ′; 44 ) mounted on said lower housing section; (3) said upper and lower housing sections being formed from a relatively hard synthetic plastic insulating material; (b) a plurality of electrically conductive contact means (C), each of said contact means including: (1) a horizontal bus bar portion ( 13 ) mounted in said groove means; (2) a first contact portion ( 5 ; 7 ) extending longitudinally from one end of said bus bar portion into said recess; and (3) at least one second contact portion ( 17 ; 41 ) extending orthogonally upwardly from said bus bar portion beyond said lower section horizontal upper surface; (c) an electrical component ( 19 ; 42 ) arranged above said groove means, said component being electrically connected with said second contact portion; and (d) seal means ( 31 ; 33 ; 34 ; 46 ) arranged on at least one of said lower and upper housings for at least partially sealing the space surrounding said second contact portion, said seal means being formed from a relatively soft synthetic plastic material.