IP Library › Granted Patent US 12683324

Granted Patent B2

US 12683324 · App. 18/563,621 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Connector system and safety sleeve for such a system

Inventors: Johan Assow (Saltsjö-Boo, SE); Johan Svedendahl (Vällingby, SE); Göran Johansson (Järfälla, SE)

Assignee: MICROPOWER GROUP AB

H01R13/5219 H01R13/627 H01R13/639

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12683324
App. No.: 18/563,621
Granted: Jul 14, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

Connector system ( 1 ) comprising a first connector ( 2 ), a second connector ( 3 ) and a safely sleeve ( 4 ), where the safety sleeve ( 4 ) locks the first connector ( 2 ) to the second connector ( 3 ), where the connectors ( 2, 3 ) comprise protruding catches ( 109, 110, 201, 202 ) and the safety sleeve ( 4 ) comprises openings ( 306, 308, 310, 312 ) arranged on resilient tabs ( 307, 309, 311, 313 ), such that the resilient tabs ( 307, 309, 311, 313 ) can lock to the protruding catches, ( 109, 110, 201, 202 ) and where the connector system ( 1 ) comprises a seal ( 111 ). The advantage of the invention is that a reliable and waterproof connection is provided.

Claims (47)

1 . Safety sleeve ( 4 ) for a connector system ( 1 ) comprising a first connector ( 2 ) and a second connector ( 3 ), the safety sleeve ( 4 ) being adapted to lock the first connector ( 2 ) to the second connector ( 3 ) and comprising:

a circumferential body ( 314 ) having a first rim ( 304 ) arranged in a first plane and a second rim ( 305 ) arranged in a second plane,

a first opening ( 306 ) arranged on a first resilient tab ( 307 ),

a second opening ( 308 ) arranged on a second resilient tab ( 309 ),

a third opening ( 310 ) arranged on a third resilient tab ( 311 ), and

a fourth opening ( 312 ) arranged on a fourth resilient tab ( 313 ), wherein:

the first opening ( 306 ) is adapted to cooperate with a first protruding catch ( 201 ) of the second connector ( 3 ) and the third opening ( 310 ) is adapted to cooperate with a second protruding catch ( 202 ) of the second connector ( 3 ),

the second opening ( 308 ) is adapted to cooperate with a first protruding catch ( 109 ) of the first connector ( 2 ) and the fourth opening ( 312 ) is adapted to cooperate with a second protruding catch ( 110 ) of the first connector ( 2 ),

the first opening ( 306 ) and the third opening ( 310 ) are arranged at the first rim ( 304 ) and the second opening ( 308 ) and the fourth opening ( 312 ) are arranged at the second rim ( 305 ),

the resilient tabs ( 307 , 309 , 311 , 313 ) are positioned between the first rim ( 304 ) and the second rim ( 305 ),

the first resilient tab ( 307 ) and the third resilient tab ( 311 ) extend from the second rim ( 305 ), and

the second resilient tab ( 309 ) and the fourth resilient tab ( 313 ) extend from the first rim ( 304 ).

2 . Safety sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the openings ( 306 , 308 , 310 , 312 ) are rectangular.

3 . Safety sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the body ( 314 ) is inclined from the first rim ( 304 ) to the second rim ( 305 ), where the outer circumference of the first rim ( 304 ) is larger than the outer circumference of the second rim ( 305 ).

4 . Safety sleeve according to claim 3 , wherein the wall thickness of the body ( 314 ) at the first rim ( 304 ) is thicker than the wall thickness of the body ( 314 ) at the second rim ( 305 ).

5 . Safety sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the resilience of the second resilient tab ( 309 ) and the fourth resilient tab ( 313 ) is greater than the resilience of the first resilient tab ( 307 ) and the third resilient tab ( 311 ).

6 . Safety sleeve according to claim 1 , wherein the safety sleeve ( 4 ) is made from a single plastic material.

7 . Connector system ( 1 ) comprising a first connector ( 2 ), a second connector ( 3 ) and the safety sleeve ( 4 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first connector ( 2 ) comprises a first protruding catch ( 109 ) and a second protruding catch ( 110 ) and that the second connector ( 3 ) comprises a first protruding catch ( 201 ) and a second protruding catch ( 202 ), where the first opening ( 306 ) and the third opening ( 310 ) of the safety sleeve ( 4 ) locks the first protruding catch ( 201 ) and the second protruding catch ( 202 ) of the second connector ( 3 ), and the second opening ( 308 ) and the fourth opening ( 312 ) of the safety sleeve ( 4 ) locks the first protruding catch ( 109 ) and the second protruding catch ( 110 ) of the first connector ( 2 ), such that the first connector ( 2 ) and the second connector ( 3 ) are securely locked to each other, and that the connector system ( 1 ) further comprises a sealing ( 111 ) arranged between a front surface ( 203 ) of the second connector ( 3 ) and a front surface ( 108 ) of an extending flange ( 107 ) of the first connector ( 2 ).

8 . Connector system according to claim 7 , wherein the second connector ( 3 ) comprises an outwardly extending wall ( 200 ) on which the first protruding catch ( 201 ) and a second protruding catch ( 202 ) are arranged.

9 . Connector system according to claim 7 , wherein the connector system ( 1 ) conforms to an Ingress Protection Code according to IEC standard 60529 of at least IP54.

10 . Connector system according to claim 7 , wherein the connector system ( 1 ) conforms to an Ingress Protection Code according to IEC standard 60529 of at least IP65.

11 . Connector system according to claim 7 , wherein the first connector ( 2 ) is a plug and the second connector ( 3 ) is an inlet.

12 . Connector system according to claim 7 , wherein the first connector ( 2 ) is a plug and the second connector ( 3 ) is a socket.

13 . Connector system according to claim 7 , wherein the first protruding catch ( 109 ) and the second protruding catch ( 110 ) of the first connector ( 2 ) are arranged at short sides ( 101 , 103 ) of the first connector ( 2 ), and that the first protruding catch ( 201 ) and the second protruding catch ( 202 ) of the second connector ( 3 ) are arranged at long sides ( 204 , 206 ) of the second connector ( 3 ).

14 . Safety sleeve ( 4 ) for a connector system ( 1 ) comprising a first connector ( 2 ) and a second connector ( 3 ), the safety sleeve ( 4 ) being adapted to lock the first connector ( 2 ) to the second connector ( 3 ) and comprising:

a circumferential body ( 314 ) having a first rim ( 304 ) arranged in a first plane and a second rim ( 305 ) arranged in a second plane,

a first opening ( 306 ) arranged on a first resilient tab ( 307 ),

a second opening ( 308 ) arranged on a second resilient tab ( 309 ),

a third opening ( 310 ) arranged on a third resilient tab ( 311 ), and

a fourth opening ( 312 ) arranged on a fourth resilient tab ( 313 ), wherein:

the first opening ( 306 ) and the third opening ( 310 ) are arranged at the first rim ( 304 ) and the second opening ( 308 ) and the fourth opening ( 312 ) are arranged at the second rim ( 305 ),

the resilient tabs ( 307 , 309 , 311 , 313 ) are positioned between the first rim ( 304 ) and the second rim ( 305 ),

the body ( 314 ) is inclined from the first rim ( 304 ) to the second rim ( 305 ), and

the outer circumference of the first rim ( 304 ) is larger than the outer circumference of the second rim ( 305 ).

15 . Safety sleeve ( 4 ) for a connector system ( 1 ) comprising a first connector ( 2 ) and a second connector ( 3 ), the safety sleeve ( 4 ) being adapted to lock the first connector ( 2 ) to the second connector ( 3 ) and comprising:

a circumferential body ( 314 ) having a first rim ( 304 ) arranged in a first plane and a second rim ( 305 ) arranged in a second plane,

a first opening ( 306 ) arranged on a first resilient tab ( 307 ),

a second opening ( 308 ) arranged on a second resilient tab ( 309 ),

a third opening ( 310 ) arranged on a third resilient tab ( 311 ), and

a fourth opening ( 312 ) arranged on a fourth resilient tab ( 313 ), wherein:

the first opening ( 306 ) and the third opening ( 310 ) are arranged at the first rim ( 304 ) and the second opening ( 308 ) and the fourth opening ( 312 ) are arranged at the second rim ( 305 ).

the resilient tabs ( 307 , 309 , 311 , 313 ) are positioned between the first rim ( 304 ) and the second rim ( 305 ), and

the resilience of the second resilient tab ( 309 ) and the fourth resilient tab ( 313 ) is greater than the resilience of the first resilient tab ( 307 ) and the third resilient tab ( 311 ).