Appeal 2006-1326
Application 09/919,326
INTRODUCTION
The claims are directed to a device for sealing a cavity and a method
of using the device. The device is disclosed as a high pressure sealing
assembly used in electrical connectors (Specification 1, ll. 6-9; Figure 2).
The high pressure sealing assembly prevents electrical wiring from short
circuiting due to exposure to conductive fluids, such as salt laden air
(Specification 1, ll. 13-16). The method includes inserting the high pressure
sealing assembly, with the electrical wiring coaxially extending through the
sealing assembly, into a cavity of an electrical connector such that the
sealing surface (50) contacts the cavity’s interior surface to provide a liquid
and gas tight seal (Specification 7, ll. 11-22; Figure 3A and 3B). Claims 5
and 9 are illustrative:
5. A device for sealing a cavity comprising an interior surface, the
device comprising:
a sleeve comprising a longitudinal axis and an insertion end;
a molded skirt integrally formed on the sleeve;
wherein the skirt comprises a first integral section extending in
a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
and
wherein the skirt comprises a second integral section comprising
an interior surface and a sealing surface that extends along the length of the
sleeve in a direction opposite to the insertion end such that there is a gap
between the interior surface and the sleeve;
wherein the sealing surface has substantially the same shape as
the interior surface of the cavity prior to the insertion into the cavity
so that the skirt deforms only a small amount to form a seal between
2
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Last modified: September 9, 2013