Appeal No. 96-0733
Application 08/173,805
invention comprises a terminal including a plurality of paired
electrical contacts, at least one end of which is sealed in a gel
sealing material, and a separate pair of electrical contacts
mateable and demateable therewith which is surrounded by an
elastomeric member filled with a gel sealing material. The
elastomeric member compensates for the excess of gel sealing
material which occurs when the separate contacts are mated with
the terminal board contacts. The claim further requires that
"the pair of mateable/demateable electrical contacts" (which we
interpret in view of the remainder of the claim to mean those
contacts located on the terminal board) "remains sealed before,
during, and after connection to the separate pair electrical
contacts."
All of the claims stand rejected as being unpatentable over
the combined teachings of seven references. The examiner has
looked to the various references for the following teachings:
Chan - the basic structure claimed, except for the
elastomeric material surrounding the separate pair of
electrical connectors and placing gel sealing material in
both the terminal and the separate pair structure.
Cairns - elastomeric material in a structure surrounding
electrical connectors.
Witek - elastomeric material in a structure surrounding
electrical connectors, individual apertures for plural
electrical contacts, and keyed openings.
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