Test enabling terminal enclosure apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An enclosure for protecting an electrical contact member, the enclosure comprising:
- (a) an elongated enclosure body defining an enclosure cavity and having a contact member receiving end with a contact member receiving opening therein;
(b) contact member receiving means connected to the enclosure body and positioned within the enclosure cavity for receiving the contact member in a contact member receiving area and retaining the enclosure body in a contact member protecting position substantially covering the contact member;
(c) a self-healing encapsulant substantially filling the enclosure cavity; and
(d) enclosure opening means for providing an opening in the enclosure body through which an elongated probe may be inserted into the enclose cavity to make contact with the contact member when the contact member is received therein, the enclosure opening means being formed in the enclosure body in an area removed from the contact member receiving end and spaced from the contact member receiving area so that an interval of the encapsulant separates the enclosure opening means from the contact member receiving area.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A gel-filled enclosure for protecting an electrical contact member and connection includes an enclosure opening arrangement through which an elongated probe may be inserted into the gel-filled enclosure cavity. The enclosure opening allows a probe to be inserted into the enclosure cavity to make contact with the protected electrical contact member without having to remove and replace the enclosure. The gel within the enclosure is self-healing and fills in the opening made by the probe after the probe is withdrawn. The enclosure preferably includes a contact member receiving arrangement within the enclosure body that includes a contact member receiving tube and a plurality of thread-engaging ribs positioned in the tube. Each rib is formed from a self-threading plastic material and self-threads as the enclosure is screwed down over a threaded contact member.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An enclosure for protecting an electrical contact member, the enclosure comprising:
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(a) an elongated enclosure body defining an enclosure cavity and having a contact member receiving end with a contact member receiving opening therein; (b) contact member receiving means connected to the enclosure body and positioned within the enclosure cavity for receiving the contact member in a contact member receiving area and retaining the enclosure body in a contact member protecting position substantially covering the contact member; (c) a self-healing encapsulant substantially filling the enclosure cavity; and (d) enclosure opening means for providing an opening in the enclosure body through which an elongated probe may be inserted into the enclose cavity to make contact with the contact member when the contact member is received therein, the enclosure opening means being formed in the enclosure body in an area removed from the contact member receiving end and spaced from the contact member receiving area so that an interval of the encapsulant separates the enclosure opening means from the contact member receiving area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In an encapsulant-filled cap for use in protecting an exposed end of an electrical contact member, the cap having a cap body substantially filled with a self-healing dielectric encapsulant, a contact member receiving opening, and contact member receiving means mounted within the cap body for receiving the contact member in a contact member receiving area and securing the cap in a protecting position in which it substantially covers the contact member, the improvement comprising:
(a) cap opening means formed in the cap body separate from the contact member receiving opening so that a layer of the encapsulant is interposed between the cap opening means and the contact member receiving area, the cap opening means for enabling an elongated probe to be inserted therethrough to penetrate through the encapsulant and make electrical contact with the contact member when the contact member is received in the contact receiving means. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of providing an electrically insulated protecting enclosure for an elongated electrical contact member while allowing the enclosed electrical contact member to be contact tested without removing the enclosure, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) substantially filling an enclosure cavity of an elongated enclosure body with a self-healing silicone gel having a cone penetration value of under 90 10-1 mm, the enclosure body having a contact member receiving end with a contact member receiving opening formed therethrough and enclosure opening means formed separately from the contact member receiving opening; and (b) securing the gel-filled enclosure body over the contact member with the contact member extending through the contact member receiving opening and with a portion of the contact member separated from the enclosure opening means by only the self-healing silicone gel.
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Specification