The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 18, 2004
Filed:
Aug. 26, 2002
James L. Cairns, Ormond Beach, FL (US);
Stewart M. Barlow, Ormond Beach, FL (US);
Peter R. Baxter, Ormond Beach, FL (US);
Ocean Design, Inc., Ormond Beach, FL (US);
Abstract
An underwater connector has a plug unit and a receptacle unit each containing a bladder member having an internal, oil-filled chamber in which a respective contact module is located. Each contact module has an end face having both electrical and optical contacts for contact engagement with corresponding contacts on the other module when the units are releasably mated together in an underwater environment. The bladder members each have a resilient forward end portion with an opening communicating with the respective chamber, and opposing, pivoted jaws in each unit are closed to compress the forward end portion to close and seal the opening when the units are unmated. As the units are mated, the jaws are opened to permit each end portion to open and permit the contact module of one unit to pass through the openings, into the chamber of the bladder member in the other unit, and into engagement with the other contact module so that all electrical and optical contacts are engaged for electro-optical communication between the units.