FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed an enclosure with an injected seal for use with an electrical component and method. In particular, the invention is directed to an enclosure with channels to accept the injected seal which is highly compliant and serviceable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sealed connectors or covers are used in many applications to protect the electrical terminals and electrical connections from undesirable or harsh environmental or occupational conditions. Many such connectors or covers use known silicone seals, of for example, 40-60 durometers, which are sensitive to positional and part tolerance variations. Consequently, manufacturing tolerances of the connector or covers must be precisely maintained, adding to the cost of production. In addition, if each connector or cover has multiple configurations, for example different points of exit for the wires or cable, different seals may need to be manufactured to accommodate a proper seal being made.

It would, therefore, be beneficial to provide an enclosure which has a channel design in which a highly compliant seal is injected to accommodate various different conductor configurations and positional irregularities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment is directed to an enclosure for an electrical component having a base portion and a cover portion. The base portion has a first channel which extends about at least a portion of a periphery of the base portion. The cover portion has a second channel which extends about at least a portion of a periphery of the cover portion. The second channel is aligned with the first channel to form a sealant receiving channel. A sealant is provided in the sealant receiving channel. The cover portion has at least one inlet opening, the inlet opening extends from a top surface of the cover portion to the second channel of the cover. The inlet opening is configured to receive the sealant as the sealant is injected into the sealant receiving channel. The cover portion has at least one outlet opening, the outlet opening is spaced from the inlet opening and extends from a top surface of the cover portion to the second channel of the cover portion. The outlet opening is configured to allow excess sealant of the sealant to escape from the sealant receiving channel as the sealant is injected into the sealant receiving channel.

An embodiment is directed to a method of providing a sealant to an enclosure. The method comprising: mating a base portion of the enclosure with a cover portion of the enclosure, the base portion having a first channel and the cover portion having a second channel, the first channel and the second channel forming a sealant receiving channel; injecting sealant through at least one inlet opening in the cover into the sealant receiving channel; flowing the sealant from the at least one inlet opening through the sealant receiving channel to at least one outlet opening; and flowing excess sealant from the at least one outlet opening.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

