Importance

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Abstract

A connector assembly (10) is provided including a first connector (12) and a second connector (14) configured to mateably engage the first connector (12). The first connector (12) includes a housing (16), a conductor assembly (18) positioned within the housing and projecting from housing, and a resilient seal member (30) enclosing an interface between the housing (16) and the portion of the conductor assembly projecting from the housing. The second connector (14) includes an outer contact (60), an inner contact (62) nested within a portion of the outer contact (60), and a housing (64) containing the inner and outer contacts. Conductors of the conductor assembly (18) of the first connector (12) engage the outer (60) and inner (62) contacts of the second connector (14). Another resilient seal member (45) includes a flexible skirt (50) formed at an end portion thereof. The flexible skirt (50) forms a shroud covering a mating interface between a first conductor (20) of the first connector (12) and the inner contact (62) of the second connector (14) when the first and second connectors are mated. Design features incorporated into the second connector housing (64), inner contact (62), and outer contact (60) act to retard undesirable unmating of the connectors. The connector assembly (10) of the present invention may be used in applications requiring a dual wire or coaxial connector resistant to adverse environmental conditions, such as exposure to high-pressure gases or liquids, elevated temperatures, vibration, salt spray, etc.

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First Claim