Appeal No. 2006-1867
Application No. 10/820,259
jacketing said at least one electrical conductor with an
electrical insulating material to form a connector body,
said first plurality of ribs defining a first tortuous path
with said electrical insulating material for impeding the
passage of hydrocarbon based fuel components, said
connector body comprising a second plurality of ribs
comprising a substantially uniform series of ribs looping
around an exterior of the connector body; and,
molding said fuel flange around said connector body for
forming a second tortuous path, said second plurality of
ribs defining said second tortuous path for impeding
passage of hydrocarbon based fuel components between said
connector body and said fuel flange.
25. A method of forming a vehicle fuel tank combined fuel
flange and electrical connector comprising:
molding a pre-mold housing onto a plurality of
electrical conductors to form a pre-mold electrical
connector, wherein the electrical conductors
comprising ribs such that first tortuous joints are
formed between the pre-mold housing and the electrical
conductors; and
overmolding a flange member onto the pre-mold
electrical connector, wherein the pre-mold housing
comprises a series of circumferential ribs on an
exterior side which form a second tortuous joint
between the flange member and the pre-mold electrical
connector.
The examiner relies upon the following references as
evidence of obviousness:
Onoda 6,187,242 B1 Feb. 13, 2001
Bickford et al.(Bickford) 6,506,083 B1 Jun. 14, 2003
Appellants' claimed invention is directed to a method for
forming a fuel flange comprising forming a connector body by
-2-
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