Electrical connector for fuel pump
View Patent ↗An electrical connector including a plurality of electrical contacts; and a housing. The housing includes a pre-mold housing member which has been overmolded onto the electrical contacts; and an overmold housing member which has been overmolded onto the electrical contacts and the pre-mold housing member. The pre-mold housing member comprises an exterior sealing surface which is not covered by the overmold housing member. The exterior sealing surface of the pre-mold housing member loops around an exterior lateral side of the housing which is between front and rear ends of the housing.
1. A device comprising:
at least one electrical contact; and
a housing sub-assembly having the electrical contact connected thereto, wherein the housing sub-assembly comprises:
a one-piece pre-mold housing member which has been overmolded onto the electrical contact; and
a one-piece overmold housing member which has been overmolded onto the electrical contact and onto the pre-mold housing member, wherein the overmold housing member is located at opposite ends of the pre-mold housing member,
wherein the pre-mold housing member comprises an exterior sealing surface between the opposite ends which is not covered by the overmold housing member, wherein the exterior sealing surface loops around the housing sub-assembly, and wherein the exterior sealing surface comprises a smooth surface without mold parting lines between the pre-mold housing member and the overmold housing member.
2. A device as in claim 1 wherein the electrical contact comprises a first end, an opposite second end and a bent section between the first and second ends, wherein the first end comprises a female connection area, and wherein the overmold housing member is overmolded onto the bent section.
3. A device as in claim 2 wherein the pre-mold housing member is overmolded onto the female connection areas as separate tubes.
4. A device as in claim 3 wherein the overmold housing member comprises a tube section which is spaced from and surrounds the separate tubes.
5. A device as in claim 1 wherein the opposite ends comprise a first end on the electrical contacts and a second end covered by the overmold housing member, and wherein a middle section of the pre-mold housing member forms the exterior sealing surface.
6. A device as in claim 5 wherein the middle section comprises an outwardly projecting annular flange.
7. A device as in claim 6 wherein the overmold housing member forms an outward extending ledge facing the exterior sealing surface such that the exterior sealing surface is located in a recess between the ledge and the flange.
8. A device as in claim 1 wherein the overmold housing member comprises a middle section entirely contained within the pre-mold housing member between the opposite ends.
9. A device as in claim 8 wherein the pre-mold housing member comprises interior holes which are only open to the opposite ends of the pre-mold housing member, and wherein the middle section of the overmold housing member is located in the holes.
10. A device as in claim 1 wherein the device comprises a fuel pump assembly comprising:
a fuel pump;
a can member connected to the fuel pump and having a front end of the housing subassembly extending through the can member into connection with the fuel pump; and
an O-ring seal directly compressed between the exterior sealing surface of the pre-mold housing member and the can member.
11. A fuel pump assembly as in claim 10 wherein the can member comprises an end with a flange adapted to mate with a flange of the exterior sealing surface of the pre-mold housing member.
12. A fuel system electrical connector comprising:
at least one electrical contact having a first end and an opposite second end; and
a housing connected to the electrical contact, wherein the housing comprises:
a one-piece pre-mold housing member which has been overmolded onto the electrical contact; and
a one-piece overmold housing member which has been overmolded onto the pre-mold housing member, wherein the overmold housing member is located at a front end and a rear end of the pre-mold housing member,
wherein the pre-mold housing member comprises an exterior sealing surface which is not covered by the overmold housing member, wherein the exterior sealing surface of the pre-mold housing member loops around an outer lateral side of the housing, and wherein areas of contact between the overmold housing member, the electrical contacts and the pre-mold housing member form tortuous paths to prevent flow of fuel vapor along the paths through the connector.
13. A fuel system electrical connector as in claim 12 wherein the overmold housing member comprises a tube section which is spaced from and surrounds separate tubes of the pre-mold housing member.
14. A fuel system electrical connector as in claim 12 wherein the pre-mold housing member has been insert molded onto the electrical contact such that the exterior sealing surface of the pre-mold housing member comprises a smooth surface without mold parting lines.
15. A fuel system electrical connector as in claim 12 wherein the first end of the pre-mold housing member is on the electrical contacts, the second end is covered by the overmold housing member, and a middle section forms the exterior sealing surface.
16. A fuel system electrical connector as in claim 15 wherein the middle section comprises an outwardly projecting annular flange.
17. A fuel system electrical connector as in claim 16 wherein the overmold housing member forms an outward extending ledge facing the exterior sealing surface such that the exterior sealing surface is located in a recess between the ledge and the flange.
18. A fuel system electrical connector as in claim 12 wherein the overmold housing member comprises a middle section entirely contained within the pre-mold housing member between the front and rear ends of the pre-mold housing member.
19. A fuel system electrical connector as in claim 18 wherein the pre-mold housing member comprises interior holes which are only open to the front and rear ends of the pre-mold housing member, and wherein the middle section of the overmold housing member is located in the holes.
20. An electrical connector comprising:
at least one electrical contact; and
a housing comprising:
a one-piece pre-mold housing member which has been overmolded onto the electrical contact; and
a one-piece overmold housing member which has been overmolded onto the pre-mold housing member, wherein the overmold housing member is located on opposite ends of the pre-mold housing member and extends though an internal passageway through the pre-mold housing member,
wherein the pre-mold housing member comprises a sealing surface at an exterior of the pre-mold housing member between the opposite ends which is not covered by the overmold housing member and without mold parting lines between the pre-mold housing member and the overmold housing member.
21. An electrical connector comprising:
at least one electrical contact; and
a housing subassembly comprising:
a one-piece first housing which has been overmolded onto the electrical contact; and
a second housing which has been overmolded onto the first housing and onto the electrical contact,
wherein the first housing comprises a sealing surface configured to have a seal form a sealing engagement thereagainst, wherein the sealing surface is not covered by the second housing and loops around an exterior side of the first housing,
wherein the second housing has portions located on the first housing past opposite ends of the sealing surface such that the sealing surface does not comprise mold parting lines between the pre-mold housing and the overmold housing.