Electrically-conductive gasket
View Patent ↗A gasket made of an electrically-conductive elastomer is revealed that functions as both a water-tight seal and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) seal when mounting an electrical connector receptacle to an electrical panel or electrical box. This gasket is produced in a manner both unique and functional.
1. An electrical receptacle comprising:
a receptacle housing that includes a base and a receptacle receiver protruding from the base, the receptacle receiver configured to receive therein an electrical connector that is mated with the receptacle receiver; and
an electrically-conductive gasket molded onto the receptacle housing;
wherein the electrically-conductive gasket extends both inside and outside of the receptacle receiver.
2. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive gasket includes:
an inner member that is inside of the receptacle receiver;
an outer member that is outside of the receptacle receiver; and
pillars that are in holes in the receptacle receiver, wherein the pillars link the inner member and the outer member.
3. The electrical receptacle of claim 2 , wherein the outer member of the electrically-conductive gasket is molded onto a front face of the housing.
4. The electrical receptacle of claim 3 , wherein the outer member is in a recess defined by the receptacle receiver, the front face, and a lip of the housing that is along a periphery of the face.
5. The electrical receptacle of claim 3 ,
wherein the front face has holes therein that pass through the base; and
wherein the electrically-conductive gasket fills the holes through the base, and include retention heads at the holes, on a back side of the base.
6. The electrical receptacle of claim 5 , wherein the holes have a smaller diameter than diameters of the retention heads.
7. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive gasket is a single-piece continuous unitary gasket.
8. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive gasket is made of an electrically-conductive elastomer.
9. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 ,
wherein the base has a pair of threaded holes on opposite sides of the receptacle receiver; and
wherein the electrically-conductive gasket has holes around the threaded holes.
10. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 , wherein the electrically-conductive gasket has a peripheral lip extending away from the face around a perimeter of the electrically-conductive gasket.
11. The electrical receptacle of claim 10 , wherein the electrically-conductive gasket also has an inner lip extending around an outside of the receptacle receiver.
12. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 , in combination with an electrical connector that is coupled to the receptacle.
13. The electrical receptacle of claim 1 , in combination with an electrical enclosure, wherein the receptacle is mechanically coupled to a wall of the electrical enclosure.