Jacket sleeve with grippable tabs for a cable connector

• US 20080299818A1
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Roscizewski, Paul Michael, Makal, John Mitchell, Hughes, David Charles, Gebhard, Michael John SR.
• Granted Patent: US 7,661,979 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/445
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/53 Bases or cases for heavy duty; Bases or cases for high voltage with means for preventing corona or arcing
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6335 comprising a handle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49208 by assembling plural parts

Abstract

A jacket sleeve with grippable tabs provides protection to exposed portions of cable that are connected to an electrical connection. The jacket sleeve can be made as part of the electrical connector or may be connected subsequent to its creation through the use of glues or other adhesives. The jacket sleeve can be made of a material that is more pliable than the electrical connector, making it easier for a lineperson to place the sleeve over an exposed portion of cable. The jacket sleeve can include holes or slots either in the sleeve or in tabs that are attached to the sleeve. A lineperson can place one or more fingers into each hole or slot in order to get a better grip on the sleeve and pull the sleeve over the exposed portion of cable with less slippage and effort on the part of the lineperson.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. An electrical connector, comprising:

a connector body comprising;

an insulated housing;

a channel in the insulated housing defining a space for receiving a conducting electrical cable therein; and

an aperture in a first end of the channel, wherein the aperture provides an entry point for positioning the conducting electrical cable into the channel;

a pliable, elongated, elastomeric jacket sleeve comprising a first end, a second end, and a hollow tubular body, wherein the first end of the jacket sleeve is coupled to the insulated housing of the connector body along a position adjacent to the aperture; and

at least a pair of slots, each slot positioned along an outer periphery of the hollow tubular body and adjacent to the second end of the jacket sleeve, wherein each slot provides an access point for grasping the jacket sleeve.

13. The electrical connector of claim 12, further comprising at least a pair of pull tabs coupled to the second end of the jacket sleeve, wherein each slot is positioned along a periphery of one of the pull tabs and extends therethrough.

14. The electrical connector of claim 13, wherein the jacket sleeve is integral with the insulated housing and the pull tabs are integral with the jacket sleeve.

15. The electrical connector of claim 13, wherein the jacket sleeve and pull tabs are configured to be initially folded back upon themselves over the first end of the channel so as to limit engagement of the jacket sleeve with a cable until after a portion of the cable is inserted into the channel.

16. The electrical connector of claim 13, wherein the connector body comprises a first material and the jacket seal and pull tabs comprise a second material, said second material being more pliable that the first material.

17. The electrical connector of claim 16, wherein each of the first material and the second material comprises rubber, said second material having a lower durometer than the first material.

18. The electrical connector of claim 13, further comprising at least one rib integral to and extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal length of at least one of the pull tabs.

19. The electrical connector of claim 12, wherein the jacket sleeve forms a barrier to the ingress of moisture into a cable inserted into the channel of the insulated housing.

20. The electrical connector of claim 12, further comprising a molded contact tube assembly disposed at least partially within the insulated housing, wherein the molded contact tube assembly has a first end and a second end, said first end being positioned proximate a rim of the insulated housing, said second end being positioned substantially proximate a middle of the insulated housing.

21. The electrical connector of claim 12, wherein the insulated housing comprises a conductive material.

22. The electrical connector of claim 12, wherein the shape of each slot comprises an oval.

23. The electrical connector of claim 12, further comprising at least one rib integral to and extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal length of the jacket sleeve.

24. The jacket sleeve of claim 12, wherein each slot comprises an opening configured to receive an adult finger inserted therein.

25-37. -37. (canceled)

38. An electrical connector, comprising:

a connector body comprising an insulated housing defining a channel configured to receive a conducting electrical cable at least partially therein;

a pliable, elongated, elastomeric jacket sleeve comprising a first end, a second end, and a tubular body, the first end being coupled to the insulated housing, at least partially around a portion of the channel;

at least a pair of slots, each slot positioned along an outer periphery of the tubular body, adjacent to the second end of the jacket sleeve, each slot providing an access point for grasping the jacket sleeve; and

at least two pull tabs coupled to the second end of the jacket sleeve,

wherein each slot is positioned along a periphery of one of the pull tabs and extends therethrough.

39. The electrical connector of claim 38, wherein the jacket sleeve is integral with the insulated housing, and the pull tabs are integral with the jacket sleeve.

40. The electrical connector of claim 38, wherein the jacket sleeve and pull tabs are configured to be initially folded back upon themselves over a first end of the channel so as to limit engagement of the jacket sleeve with a cable until after a portion of the cable is inserted into the channel.

41. The electrical connector of claim 38, wherein the connector body comprises a first material and the jacket seal and pull tabs comprise a second material, said second material being more pliable that the first material.

42. The electrical connector of claim 41, wherein each of the first material and the second material comprises rubber, said second material having a lower durometer than the first material.

43. The electrical connector of claim 38, further comprising at least one rib integral to and extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal length of at least one of the pull tabs.

44. The electrical connector of claim 38, wherein the jacket sleeve forms a barrier to the ingress of moisture into a cable inserted into the channel of the insulated housing.

45. The electrical connector of claim 38, further comprising a molded contact tube assembly disposed within the insulated housing, the molded contact tube assembly having a first end and a second end, said first end being positioned proximate a rim of the insulated housing, said second end being positioned substantially proximate a middle of the insulated housing.

46. The electrical connector of claim 38, wherein the insulated housing comprises a conductive material.

47. The electrical connector of claim 38, wherein the shape of each slot comprises an oval.

48. The electrical connector of claim 38, further comprising at least one rib integral to and extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal length of the jacket sleeve.

49. The jacket sleeve of claim 38, wherein each slot comprises an opening configured to receive an adult finger inserted therein.