Method of making a plug connector and sealing a cable therein

Abstract

An injection-molded support has a contact chamber adapted to receive a contact partner, a fixed seal part, a movable seal part shiftable relative to the fixed seal between an open position spaced therefrom and a closed position closely juxtaposed therewith, and a break point holding the movable seal part in the open position and frangible for movement of the movable seal part into the closed position. A cable end fitted between the seal parts into the chamber is clamped when the movable seal part is then moved from the open into the closed position with rupturing of the break element and is held in form-fitting clamping engagement of the cable end between the seal parts. Finally the cable end is overmolded with molding compound to the contact body outside the contact chamber while blocking entry of the compound by the seal parts into the contact chamber.

Claims

1. A method of making a plug connector and sealing a cable therein comprising the steps of sequentially: injection molding of one piece a contact support formed unitarily with a contact chamber adapted to receive a contact partner, a fixed part, a latching part shiftable relative to the fixed seal between an open position spaced therefrom and a closed position closely juxtaposed therewith, and a break point holding the latching part in the open position and frangible to allow movement of the latching part into the closed position; fitting a cable end between the fixed and latching parts into the chamber in the open position of the latching part; moving the latching part from the open position into the closed position with rupturing of the break element so as to clamp the cable end in a form fit between the fixed and latching parts; latching the latching part in the closed position with form-fitting clamping engagement of the cable end between the fixed and latching parts; and overmolding the cable end with molding compound to the contact body outside the contact chamber while blocking entry of the compound by the fixed and latching parts into the contact chamber.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the latching part has lateral tabs that movable transversely in grooves on the fixed part.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein latching hooks and latching eyes are arranged formed by the injection molding on the tabs and in the region of the grooves and serve for latching the movable seal element in the closed position.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: forming projections by the injection molding on the fixed part and the latching part and that serve as guide elements for a sealing cap encapsulated by injection molding or as latching bodies for openings on the sealing cap.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the projections have encircling sealing lips.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein two predetermined break points are provided on opposite sides of the contact support between the fixed part and the latching part.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined break points are aligned in a longitudinal direction with respect to the contact support and the latching part can be displaced by a transverse movement with respect to the contact support for the purpose of sealing around the cable end.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) A single embodiment of the invention is illustrated in a simplified manner in the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1A-1C show three views of a contact support, a latching part being fixed via predetermined break points in FIG. 1A, the latching part being connected to a fixed part of the sealing element in FIG. 1B, and the contact support being shown in enlarged scale, corresponding to the central view from the top, in the FIG. 1C,

(3) FIGS. 2 and 3 show the left-hand view of FIG. 1B and the central view of FIG. 1B of FIG. 1 in enlarged scale,

(4) FIG. 4 shows a contact support with two connected cables and a protective sleeve,

(5) FIG. 5 shows a wired contact support with protective sleeve and additional sealing cap, and

(6) FIG. 6 shows a view of the contact support from above as per FIG. 1A in enlarged scale.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) Referenced by the reference numeral 1 in FIGS. 1 to 6, to the extent to which it is shown specifically, is a contact support having a sealing element 2. The sealing element 2 contains, inter alia, a fixed part 3 fixed to the sealing element and a latching part 4 that is fixed by predetermined break points 10 to the fixed part 3 and/or to the sealing element 2. Grooves 12 are incorporated on the fixed part 3 of the sealing element 2 adjacent the predetermined break points 10. The latching part 4 has tabs 11 that are aligned with the grooves 12. If the latching part 4 is displaced in the direction of the fixed part 3 as per FIG. 2 in the view as per FIG. 3, first the predetermined break points 10 are detached and the latching part 4, while being guided by the tabs 11 and the grooves 12, is moved toward the fixed part 3 and is connected in a form-fitting manner to this fixed part.

(8) If, as illustrated in FIG. 4, cables 5 are inserted beforehand into the contact support 1 and/or the sealing element 2, the outer jacket of the cable 5 is clamped in between the fixed part 3 and the latching part 4 and sealed.

(9) An additional sealing of the region of the plug connector 1, sealing element 2 and cable(s) 5 is brought about by a sealing cap 9 that can be injection molded on or latched in by openings on projections 7. Sealing lips 13 on the projections 7 improve the sealing. The projections 7 are arranged in the region of the sealing element 2 on the outer walls of the fixed part 3 and of the latching part 4.