Connector housings, use of, and method therefor

Abstract

A method of making a connector assembly includes attaching two stamped housing sections together to form a connector housing having a housing groove with a groove bottom and two side walls and providing the connector housings with a spring used as a mechanical connector and/or as an electrical connector for numerous applications and across numerous industries. The groove geometries can easily be altered using different stamping dies.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for making a connector housing, the method comprising:
 forming by stamping a first housing section or forming by plastic injection molding a first housing section, said first housing section comprising an upper flange with an outer perimeter, a lower flange, and a skirt section located between the upper flange and the lower flange, and said lower flange having a perimeter defining an opening;   forming by stamping a second housing section or forming by plastic injection molding a second housing section, said second housing section comprising an upper flange with an outer perimeter, a lower flange, and a skirt section located between the upper flange and the lower flange, and said lower flange having a perimeter defining an opening;   attaching said first housing section to said second housing section by abutting said two upper flanges to form a connector housing comprising a bore with the opening of the first housing section at a first end of the bore and the opening of the second housing section at a second end of the bore, and a housing groove comprising a groove bottom formed by the first housing section and the second housing section; and   placing spring inside the housing groove.   
     
     
         2 . A connector assembly comprising:
 a first housing section comprising a flange having an outer perimeter with an outer diameter and a skirt depending from the flange attached to a second housing section comprising a flange having an outer perimeter with an outer diameter and a skirt depending from the flange to form a connector housing having a housing groove with a groove bottom and two sidewalls;   a canted coil spring located in the housing groove and abutting the groove bottom;   wherein a seam defines a plane that passes through the groove bottom of the housing groove; and   wherein the skirt of the first housing section and the skirt of the second housing section are generally symmetrical about the plane.   
     
     
         3 . The connector assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second housing section is formed from a blank in a stamping process. 
     
     
         4 . The connector assembly of  claim 2 , wherein first housing section comprises a bore located adjacent the skirt and the second housing section comprises a bore located adjacent the skirt. 
     
     
         5 . The connector assembly of  claim 2 , wherein outer perimeter of the first housing section is located on a first side of the plane and the outer perimeter of the second housing is located on a second side of the plane. 
     
     
         6 . The connector assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the housing groove is an exterior groove located outwardly of a housing bore. 
     
     
         7 . The connector assembly of  claim 2 , wherein a projection on the flange of the first housing section projects through an opening on the flange of the second housing section. 
     
     
         8 . The connector assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the canted coil spring has an outer diameter and an inner diameter, which is oriented against the groove bottom. 
     
     
         9 . The connector assembly of  claim 2 , further comprising a pin inserted into a bore of the connector housing and contacting the canted coil spring. 
     
     
         10 . A connector assembly comprising:
 a first housing section comprising a flange having an outer perimeter with an outer diameter and a skirt depending from the flange attached to a second housing section comprising a flange having an outer perimeter with an outer diameter and a skirt depending from the flange to form a connector housing having a housing groove with a groove bottom and two sidewalls;   a canted coil spring located in the housing groove and abutting the groove bottom;   wherein a seam defines a plane that passes through the groove bottom of the housing groove; and   wherein the outer perimeter and the skirt of the first housing section is located on a first side of the plane, and the outer diameter and the skirt of the second housing section are located on a second side of the plane.   
     
     
         11 . The connector assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the flange of the first housing section comprises a tab projecting through an opening on the flange of the second housing section. 
     
     
         12 . The connector assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first housing section and the second housing section are welded together along the seam. 
     
     
         13 . The connector assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the skirt of the first housing section and the skirt of the second housing section are generally symmetrical about the plane. 
     
     
         14 . The connector assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a pin in contact with the canted coil spring. 
     
     
         15 . The connector assembly of  claim 10 , further a seal element in contact with the connector housing. 
     
     
         16 . The connector assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said first housing section and said second housing section are identical.