Coaxial cable connector seal

• US 4,998,894 A
• Filed: 10/06/1988
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Raychem Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Gronvall, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US07/254,336
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 174/76, 174/138 F, 439/199, 439/204, 439/271, 439/272, 439/273, 439/274, 439/275, 439/276, 439/277, 439/519, 439/521, 439/577, 439/578, 439/936, 439/133
• US Class Current: 439/521
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4447 with divided shells G02B6/4448 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5216 characterised by the sealing material, e.g. gels or resins
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/40 specially adapted for high frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/70 Insulation of connections end caps H01R4/22
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/936 Potting material or coating, e.g. grease, insulative coating, sealant or, adhesive

Abstract

An environmental sealing connector housing which includes means for retaining the housing on the terminator and the connector both in the associated but unconnected state, and in the connected state is described and illustrated. More specifically, the sealing connector housing includes compartments within the housing which are sized to accept the tap port and connector combination as well as separate compartments which can retain the housing on the tap while providing a compartment for the connector when the connector is not connected to the tap. In addition, the housing is designed so that a 180° rotation of the housing permits the same housing to be used on both connected and unconnected connector/tap combinations to serve as a means of avoiding tampering with or stealing of the signal emanating from the tap.

Claims

1. A cable connector housing for surrounding and sealing the male and female portions of respective coaxial cable connectors or a coaxial connector to a radio frequency source, said housing comprising:

a base member and a top member capable of fitting together to form a surrounding housing for the male and female portions of a connector or a connector and a radio frequency source; and

compartment means defined by separation members within said base member for accepting the male and female portions both in the male to female connected position and in the nonconnected position where the male and female portions are disconnected but still sealed within the housing and are located in different compartments; and

environmental sealing means contained within each of the compartments.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the environmental sealing means is a gel maintained under compression by the housing when the housing base member and top member are together, said gel having a cone penetration of from about 50 to 350 (10^-1 mm) and an ultimate elongation of at least about 100%.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising indicator means to indicate whether or not the termination connector and termination source are connected.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the base member and top member are hinged together.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising locking means for locking the housing around the terminator source and the cable termination connector.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising tethering means to maintain the base member in association with the top member.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a conductive cap for the terminator source.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising a shield for the conductive core of a cable.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the compartment means are different sized compartments.

10. A kit of parts for environmentally protecting the male and female portions of a connector or a radio frequency source terminator and a coaxial cable connector comprising:

a housing consisting of at least two or a plurality of parts having regions therein defined by separation members capable of containing the male and female portions of the terminator and the connector wherein one of the regions can contain the terminator and the connector in the connected form and a different one of said regions to contain the terminator when disconnected from the connector; and

environmental sealing means contained within each of the regions within the housing.

11. The kit according to claim 10 further comprising locking means for locking the housing and a key to lock and unlock the locking means.

12. The kit according to claim 11 wherein the housing comprises a base member and a top member.

13. The kit according to claim 12 wherein the base and top members are associated together.

14. The kit according to claim 13 wherein the base and top member are hinged together.

15. The kit according to claim 14 wherein the environmental sealing means is a gel maintained under compression within the housing, the gel having a cone penetration of from about 50 to 350 (10^-1 mm)and an and an ultimate elongation of at least about 100%.

16. The kit according to claim 10 wherein the plurality of regions are different sized regions.