IP Library Granted Patent US 11,374,351
Granted Patent B2
US 11,374,351 · App. 17/045,385 · Granted Jun 28, 2022

Multipolar connector

Inventors: Savino Storione (Saint-Prex, CH); Nicolas Convert (Saint-Prex, CH); Jean-Marie Buchilly (Saint-Prex, CH)
Assignee: FISCHER CONNECTORS HOLDING S.A.
H01R13/521H01R12/714H01R13/2407H01R13/502
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,374,351
App. No.
17/045,385
Granted
Jun 28, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A connector comprising a substantially cylindrical base and a plug connectable to the base in a detachable manner, in which connector a plurality of contacts are mounted in a contact block, wherein the contact block includes a flexible membrane through which the contacts extend, the compression of the membrane allowing the sealing at the interface between the membrane and the contacts to be ensured.

Claims (33)

1. A contact block for a connector, the contact block comprising:

a first insulating part;

a second insulating part;

a flexible membrane having traversing holes;

a plurality of electric contacts, the flexible membrane is traversed by the plurality of contacts at respective ones of the traversing holes,

wherein side walls of the plurality of electric contacts are in direct contact with side walls of the corresponding traversing holes of the flexible membrane to provide for a seal between the plurality of contacts and the flexible membrane.

2. The contact block according to claim 1 , wherein the first insulating part and the second insulating part are arranged to compress the flexible membrane therebetween such that the flexible membrane is deformed in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of compression, to provide for the seal between the plurality of electric contacts and the flexible membrane.

3. The contact block according to claim 1 , wherein the seal includes a physicochemical bond provided between the flexible membrane and the plurality of electric contacts.

4. The contact block according to claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of electric contacts is configured to provide for a degree of freedom allowing to both exert a force on a counter-part positioned opposite the contact block and provide an independence of movement between different electric contacts.

5. The contact block according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of electric contacts includes a piston-type contact.

6. The contact block according to claim 1 , the contact block configured to be connected to a printed circuit board (PCB).

7. The contact block according to claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of electric contacts is configured for a free axial movement that is independent of an axial movement of the other contacts.

8. The contact block according to claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of electric contacts are asymmetrically distributed or not in the flexible membrane.

9. The contact block according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second insulating parts form a container, a second seal provided between the first and second insulating parts to seal the container, the container having the flexible membrane located therein.

10. The contact block according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of contacts also traverse the first insulating part, a second seal provided between the first and the second insulating parts.

11. A connector part having a contact block, the contact block comprising:

a first insulating part;

a second insulating part;

a flexible membrane having traversing holes; and

a plurality of electric contacts, the flexible membrane is traversed by the plurality of contacts at respective ones of the traversing holes,

wherein side walls of the plurality of electric contacts are in direct contact with side walls of the corresponding traversing holes of the flexible membrane to provide for a seal between the plurality of contacts and the flexible membrane.

12. The connector part according to claim 11 , wherein the contact block includes a plug or a socket.

13. The connector part according to claim 12 , wherein the contact block includes an angled plug.

14. A connector comprising a plug and a socket, the plug or the socket having a connector part as claimed in claim 11 .

15. The connector according to claim 14 , wherein the plug and the socket are configured to allow for a rotation relative to each other.

16. The connector according to claim 14 , wherein the plug is configured to be connected according to a limited number of orientations relative to the socket.

17. The connector according to claim 14 , wherein each on the plurality of electric contacts of the plug or the socket includes a concentrically arranged circular conductive track.

18. The connector according to claim 14 , wherein each on the plurality of electric contacts of the socket or the plug includes an electrically conductive pin.

19. The connector according to claim 14 , further comprising:

a locking system configured to allow a rotation of the plug to be blocked or limited relative to the socket.

20. The connector part according to claim 11 , wherein the first insulating part and the second insulating part are arranged to compress the flexible membrane therebetween such that the flexible membrane is deformed in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of compression, to provide for the seal between the plurality of electric contacts and the flexible membrane.

21. The connector part according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second insulating parts form a container, a second seal provided between the first and second insulating parts to seal the container, the container having the flexible membrane located therein.

22. The connector part according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of contacts also traverse the first insulating part, a second seal provided between the first and the second insulating parts.

Assignments (3)
MERGER Recorded Sep 2, 2022
From: FISCHER CONNECTORS HOLDING SA
To: FC GROUP MANAGEMENT SA
Reel/Frame 060983/0588 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 2, 2022
From: FC GROUP MANAGEMENT SA
To: CONEXTIVITY GROUP SA
Reel/Frame 060984/0192 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2020
From: STORIONE, SAVINO; CONVERT, NICOLAS; BUCHILLY, JEAN-MARIE
To: FISCHER CONNECTORS HOLDING S.A.
Reel/Frame 054125/0711 →
Priority Claims (1)
WO PCT/IB2019/052390 · Apr 6, 2018 · international
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210159633A1 · May 27, 2021