Field-terminable traceable cables, components, kits, and methods

• US 10,050,389 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2014
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mertek Industries, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mertek Industries, LLC
• Inventors: Scherer, Christopher B., Sholtis, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): Warmflash, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/761,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20150340818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,671 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/22 for supplying energising current for relay coil
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6461 Means for preventing cross-talk
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6463 using twisted pairs of wires
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/65912 for shielded multiconductor cable coaxial cables with one conductor surrounded by shield H01R9/05; flat shielded cables H01R12/594
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/70 with built-in switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/64 for high frequency, e.g. RJ 45
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/048 Crimping apparatus or processes H01R43/042 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/26 for engaging or disengaging the two parts of a coupling device structural association with two-part coupling device H01R13/629
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4921 with bonding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5193 Electrical connector or terminal

Abstract

Disclosed are field-terminable traceable (e.g., networking) cables and cable components (e.g., field-applicable connection hoods), as well as related kits and methods. For example, in one embodiment of a field-applicable connection hood for a networking cable, the connection hood comprises: a connector or plug configured to be coupled to a port or outlet; two conductive tabs each configured to be coupled without, soldering to a tracer wire to enable electrical communication between the tracer wire and the conductive tab; an electrically activated telltale; and a switch configured to be actuated to enable electrical communication between the two conductive tabs and the telltale.

Claims

1. A field-applicable connection hood for a cable, the connection hood comprising:

a connector or plug configured to be coupled to a port or outlet;

two conductive members each configured to be coupled without soldering to a tracer wire to enable electrical communication between the tracer wire and the conductive member, where the two conductive members each comprises a conductive tab with a slot configured to cut through an insulating layer of the tracer wire to contact a conductive core of the tracer wire such that the tracer wire can be coupled to the conductive tab without first stripping the insulating layer from the tracer wire;

an electrically activated telltale; and

a switch configured to be actuated to enable electrical communication between the two conductive members and the telltale.

2. The connection hood of claim 1, where the switch is further configured to be actuated to disable electrical communication between the two conductive members and the telltale if the telltale is active.

3. The connection hood of claim 1, where the telltale is configured to emit an audio or visual signal if activated.

4. The connection hood of claim 3, where the telltale comprises one or more items selected from the group consisting of:

a light emitting diode, an incandescent light bulb, and a liquid crystal visual indicator.

5. The connection hood of claim 1, further comprising:

a boot carrying the conductive members, the telltale, and the switch, the boot configured to be coupled to the plug or connector.

6. The connection hood of claim 1, further comprising:

a separator mechanism configured to separate at the plug or connector at least one of a plurality of conductors in a cable from at least one other of the plurality of conducts to prevent crosstalk between the separated conductors.

7. The connection hood of claim 1, further comprising:

an electric circuit element configured to electrically couple the two conductive members and the telltale responsive to the switch being operated.

8. The connection hood of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller configured to enable electrical communication between the two conductive members responsive to the switch being operated.

9. The connection hood of claim 8, where the controller is configured to periodically enable electrical communication between to the two conductive members.

10. The connection hood of claim 8, where the controller is configured to be powered through the tracer wires.

11. The connection hood of claim 10, further comprising:

a battery coupled to the controller;

where the controller is configured to electrically couple the two conductive members to the battery.

12. The connection hood of claim 11, where the controller is configured to:

enable electrical communication between the two conductive members through the battery responsive to the switch being operated if electrical communication is not already enabled; and

interrupt electrical communication between the two conductive members through the battery responsive to the switch being operated if electrical communication is already enabled.

13. The connection hood of claim 11, where the controller is configured to interrupt communication through the battery between the two conductive members if a separate circuit between the two conductive members is interrupted.

14. The connection hood of claim 1, further comprising:

a boot carrying the conductive members, the telltale, and the switch, where each of the two conductive members extends beyond an end of the boot.

15. A cable comprising:

a cable having a plurality of conductors and two tracer wires;

a first connection hood coupled to a first end of the cable, the first connection hood comprising;

a connector or plug configured to be coupled to a port or outlet;

two conductive members each coupled without soldering to one of the tracer wires to enable electrical communication between the tracer wire and the conductive member;

an electrically activated telltale;

a switch configured to be actuated to enable electrical communication between the two conductive members of the first connection hood and the telltale of the first connection hood;

a second connection hood coupled to a second end of the cable, the second connection hood comprising;

a connector or plug configured to be coupled to a port or outlet;

two conductive members each coupled without soldering to one of the tracer wires to enable electrical communication between the tracer wire and the conductive member;

an electrically activated telltale;

a switch configured to be actuated to enable electrical communication between the two conductive members of the second connection hood and the telltale of the second connection hood; and

a controller configured to enable electrical communication between the two conductive members of the second connection hood responsive to the switch being operated,

where the two conductive members of the first connection hood or the two conductive members of the second connection hood each comprises a conductive tab with a slot configured to cut through an insulating layer of the tracer wire to contact a conductive core of the tracer wire such that the tracer wire can be coupled to the conductive tab without first stripping the insulating layer from the tracer wire.

16. A kit comprising:

a plurality of first connection hoods each comprising;

a connector or plug configured to be coupled to a port or outlet;

two conductive members each configured to be coupled without soldering to a tracer wire to enable electrical communication between the tracer wire and the conductive member;

an electrically activated telltale; and

a switch configured to be actuated to enable electrical communication between the two conductive members and the telltale;

a plurality of second connection hoods each comprising;

a connector or plug configured to be coupled to a port or outlet;

two conductive members each configured to be coupled without soldering to a tracer wire to enable electrical communication between the tracer wire and the conductive member;

an electrically activated telltale;

a switch configured to be actuated to enable electrical communication between the two conductive members and the telltale; and

a controller configured to enable electrical communication between the two conductive members responsive to the switch being operated; and

a length of cable without connection hoods, the cable having a plurality of conductors and two tracer wires,

where the two conductive members of each of the plurality of first connection hoods or the two conductive members of each of the plurality of second connection hoods each comprises a conductive tab with a slot configured to cut through an insulating layer of the tracer wire to contact a conductive core of the tracer wire such that the tracer wire can be coupled to the conductive tab without first stripping the insulating layer from the tracer wire.

17. The kit of claim 16, further comprising:

a crimper configured to crimp at least a portion of the plug or connector onto the plurality of conductors.

18. A method comprising:

coupling without soldering two tracer wires of a cable to two conductive members of a first connection hood comprising;

a connector or plug configured to be coupled to a port or outlet;

the two conductive members each configured to be coupled without soldering to a tracer wire to enable electrical communication between the tracer wire and the conductive member;

an electrically activated telltale; and

a switch configured to be actuated to enable electrical communication between the two conductive members and the electrically activated telltale; and

coupling without soldering the two tracer wires to two conductive members of a second connection hood comprising;

a connector or plug configured to be coupled to a port or outlet;

the two conductive members each configured to be coupled without soldering to a tracer wire to enable electrical communication between the tracer wire and the conductive member;

an electrically activated telltale;

a switch configured to be actuated to enable electrical communication between the two conductive members and the telltale; and

a controller configured to enable electrical communication between the two conductive members responsive to the switch being operated;

where the two conductive members of the first connection hood or the two conductive members of the second connection hood each comprises a conductive tab with a slot configured to cut through an insulating layer of the tracer wire to contact a conductive core of the tracer wire such that the tracer wire can be coupled to the conductive tab without first stripping the insulating layer from the tracer wire.

19. The method of claim 18, where the tracer wires each includes a conductive core and an outer insulating layer, and the insulating layer is not removed prior to coupling the two tracer wires to the conductive members of the respective first and second connection hoods.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

disposing a plurality of conductors of the cable in the plug or connector; and

crimping at least a portion of the plug or connector onto the plurality of conductors.