Field-terminable traceable cables, components, kits, and methods
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A field-applicable connection hood for a cable, the connection hood comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A cable comprising:
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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.
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16. A kit comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification