Sealed electrical connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023216235-A1
Application number	US-202318121105-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 14, 2023
Priority date	Jun 1, 2021
Publication date	Jul 6, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Devices and methods for a sealed electrical connector are described herein. Some embodiments include a spring connecting a first PCB to a second PCB, wherein the spring includes a first end portion in contact with the first PCB, a second end portion in contact with the second PCB, and a middle portion extending between the first end portion and the second end portion, a spacer surrounding the middle portion of the spring, a first seal seated in a first groove of the spacer and in contact with the first PCB, and a second seal seated in a second groove of the spacer and in contact with the second PCB.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . An electrical connector, comprising:
a spring having a plurality of coils and connecting a first printed circuit board (PCB) to a second PCB, wherein the spring includes:
a first portion in contact with the first PCB;
a second portion in contact with the second PCB; and
a third portion extending between the first portion and the second portion,
wherein the spring is sealed from outside air.

2 . The connector of claim 1 , further comprising a spacer surrounding the third portion of the spring.

3 . The connector of claim 2 , further comprising a seal seated in a groove of the spacer and in contact with the first PCB.

4 . The connector of claim 2 , further comprising a seal seated in a groove of the spacer and in contact with the second PCB.

5 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein third portion of the spring has a first diameter, and wherein the first and second portions each taper from the first diameter to a second diameter.

6 . The connector of claim 5 , wherein the spacer includes an annular projection defining a retaining diameter, and wherein:
the first diameter exceeds the retaining diameter; and the retaining diameter exceeds the second diameter.

7 . The connector of claim 5 , further comprising:
a spacer surrounding the third portion of the spring; and a seal seated in a groove of the spacer and in contact with the second PCB, wherein the seal includes a retaining lip defining a lip diameter, and wherein:
the first diameter exceeds the lip diameter; and
the lip diameter exceeds the second diameter.

8 . The connector of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first seal seated in a first groove of the spacer and in contact with the first PCB; and a second seal seated in a second groove of the spacer and in contact with the second PCB, wherein the spring is sealed from the outside air by the spacer, the first seal, the second seal, the first PCB, and the second PCB.

9 . The connector of claim 8 , wherein the second seal includes a plurality of fins, and wherein each of the plurality of fins is in contact with the second PCB.

10 . The connector of claim 1 , wherein the spring comprises a tinned phosphorous bronze material.

11 . A smoke detector device, comprising:
a first printed circuit board (PCB); a second PCB; and a double conic spring partially compressed and electrically connecting the first PCB to the second PCB, wherein the double conic spring includes:
a first portion in contact with the first PCB;
a second portion in contact with the second PCB; and
a third portion extending between the first portion and the second portion.

12 . The device of claim 11 , further comprising an additional double conic spring partially compressed and electrically connecting the first PCB to the second PCB, wherein the additional double conic spring includes:
a fourth portion in contact with the first PCB; a fifth portion in contact with the second PCB; and a sixth portion extending between the fourth portion and the fifth portion.

13 . The device of claim 11 , further comprising a spacer surrounding the third portion of the spring, wherein the spacer is a portion of a manifold of the device.

14 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the double conic spring is located in a lumen defined by an inner surface of a spacer between the first PCB and the second PCB.

15 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the first portion and the second portion each taper to a same diameter.

16 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the first portion tapers to a first diameter, and wherein the second portion tapers to a second diameter.

17 . A method of manufacturing a sealed electrical connector, comprising:
providing a spring configured to electrically connect a first printed circuit board (PCB) to a second PCB, wherein the spring includes:
a first portion configured to contact the first PCB;
a second portion configured to contact the second PCB; and
a third portion extending between the first portion and the second portion;
inserting the spring into a spacer such that the spacer surrounds the third portion of the spring; seating a first seal in a first groove of the spacer and a second seal in a second groove of the spacer; and bringing the first PCB nearer to the second PCB such that the first seal contacts first PCB and the second seal contacts the second PCB.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the method includes compressing the first seal and the second seal.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the spacer includes an annular projection defining a ledge, wherein the second seal includes a retaining lip.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the method includes fastening a snap clip to maintain contact between the first seal and the first PCB and between the second seal and the second PCB.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Piro Domenico
• Pace Gianluca
• Miheli Mauro

Classifications

• G08B17/107

  for detecting light-scattering due to smoke · CPC title

• H01R12/52

  connecting to other rigid printed circuits or like structures · CPC title

• H01R13/5202 Primary

  Sealing means between parts of housing or between housing part and a wall, e.g. sealing rings · CPC title

• H01R2201/20

  for testing or measuring purposes · CPC title

• H01R13/52 Primary

  Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof cases · CPC title