Cable assembly and seal
A connector assembly includes a first-housing, a second-housing, and a seal. The second-housing is configured to mate with the first-housing. The second-housing has a seal-support surface having a first-surface and a second-surface perpendicular to the first-surface and generally forming an L-shape. The seal-support surface includes a plurality of seal-hangers projecting laterally from the first-surface. The seal is in direct contact with the seal-support surface. The seal defines a wall and a lip extending laterally from the wall. The wall defines an inner-surface that engages the first-surface and an outer-surface that engages the first-housing. The wall further defines a plurality of apertures configured to receive the plurality of seal-hangers. The lip defines a base that engages the second-surface and a top that engages a leading-edge of the first-housing. The plurality of seal-hangers are configured to inhibit bunching or rolling of the wall when the first-housing is mated with the second-housing.
1. A connector assembly, comprising:
a first-housing;
a second-housing configured to mate with the first-housing;
a seal configured to inhibit a contaminant from entering the connector assembly; and
a plurality of seal-hangers configured to inhibit bunching or rolling of the seal when the first-housing is mated with the second-housing;
wherein the second-housing is configured to mate with the first-housing along a mating-axis;
wherein the second-housing includes an outer-perimeter disposed within the first-housing;
wherein the outer-perimeter includes a seal-support surface having a first-surface aligned parallel with the mating-axis and a second-surface extending outwardly from the first-surface in a lateral-direction and perpendicular to the first-surface;
wherein each seal-hanger in the plurality of seal-hangers includes a retention-lip configured to retain a wall of the seal to the first-surface; and
wherein the retention-lip extends beyond a top-surface of each seal-hanger along the mating-axis.
2. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal-support surface includes the plurality of seal-hangers projecting outward from the first-surface in the lateral-direction.
3. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a continuous compliant seal in direct contact with the seal-support surface.
4. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of seal-hangers are distributed evenly around the seal-support surface.
5. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of seal-hangers further project upwardly from the second-surface along the mating-axis.
6. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of seal-hangers project outwardly from a portion of the first-surface.
7. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of seal-hangers have equivalent dimensions.
8. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the retention-lip extends 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm beyond the top-surface.
9. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the retention-lip extends beyond the top-surface from a first-side to a second-side of each seal-hanger.
10. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of apertures in a wall of the seal are distributed evenly around a perimeter of the seal.
11. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein a lip of the seal extends beyond a leading-edge of the first-housing.
12. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second-housing further includes a seal-retainer attached to a tip of the seal-support surface of the second-housing configured to inhibit bunching or rolling of a wall of the seal when the first-housing and the second-housing are un-mated.
13. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the plurality of apertures are located at an intersection between the wall and a lip of the seal.
14. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the plurality of apertures define a top-wall that is in direct contact with each seal-hanger.
15. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the plurality of apertures extend through the wall from an inner-surface to an outer-surface of the seal.
16. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein a wall of the seal defines a plurality of horizontal-ribs extending beyond an outer-surface of the seal in the lateral-direction.
17. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 16 , wherein the wall includes two horizontal-ribs.
18. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 16 , wherein the wall includes three horizontal-ribs.
19. The connector assembly in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the seal-retainer is characterized by a continuous band of material encircling the tip of the seal-support surface.
20. The connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein a lip of the seal defines a base that engages the second-surface and a top that engages a leading-edge of the first-housing.
21. A method comprising:
mating a first-housing of a connector assembly to a second-housing of the connector assembly;
the second-housing configured to mate with the first-housing and includes an outer-perimeter disposed within the first-housing;
wherein the second-housing comprises a seal configured to inhibit a contaminant from entering the connector assembly; and
wherein the second-housing further comprises a plurality of seal-hangers configured to inhibit bunching or rolling of the seal when the first-housing is mated with the second-housing;
wherein the second-housing is configured to mate with the first-housing along a mating-axis;
wherein the second-housing includes an outer-perimeter disposed within the first housing;
wherein the outer-perimeter includes a seal-support surface having a first-surface aligned parallel with the mating-axis and a second-surface extending outwardly from the first-surface in a lateral-direction and perpendicular to the first-surface;
wherein each seal-hanger in the plurality of seal-hangers includes a retention-lip configured to retain a wall of the seal to the first-surface; and
wherein the retention-lip extends beyond a top-surface of each seal-hanger along the mating-axis.