Shroud with ties for inline plug

• US 5,273,454 A
• Filed: 10/16/1992
• Issued: 12/28/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Shotey
• Inventors: Shotey, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, Paula A.
• Application Number:
  US07/962,606
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 439/367, 439/369, 439/371, 439/521, 439/892, 174/138 F
• US Class Current: 439/367
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6392 for extension cord

Abstract

A flexible water resistant cylindrical sheath encircles an in-line electrical connector to protect it against liquid and particulate contaminants which might create an electrical hazard. Opposed ends of the sheath are closed about respective electrical conductors extending from the in-line connector to enclose the in-line connector. A shroud having flapped ends and of abrasion resistant material envelopes the sheath to protect the sheath and enclosed electrical connector against abrasion.

Claims

1. Apparatus for protecting an electrical connector having electrical conductors extending therefrom, said apparatus comprising in combination:

a) a sheath of flexible water resistant material for encircling the electrical connector and for accommodating protrusion of the electrical conductors extending from the electrical connector;

b) first means for closing one end of said sheath, said first closing means comprising a cord and a strap and means for securing said strap to itself about the one end of said sheath;

c) second means for closing the other end of said sheath to enclose the electrical connector within said sheath;

d) a shroud of abrasion resistant material for enclosing said sheath while accommodating protrusion of the electrical conductors extending from the electrical connector;

e) third means for closing one end of said shroud; and

f) fourth means for closing the other end of said shroud.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second closing means comprises a further cord and a further strap and further means for securing said further strap to itself about the other end of said sheath.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said securing means and said further securing means comprises hook and loop fastening means.

4. Apparatus for protecting an electrical connector having electrical conductors extending therefrom, said apparatus comprising in combination:

a) a sheath of flexible water resistant material for encircling the electrical connector and for accommodating protrusion of the electrical conductors extending from the electrical connector;

b) first means for closing one ned of said sheath;

c) second means for closing the other end of said sheath to enclose the electrical connector within said sheath;

d) a shroud of abrasion resistant material for enclosing said sheath while accommodating protrusion of the electrical conductors extending from the electrical connector said shroud including opposed ends and wherein each of said ends of said shroud includes a pair of opposed flaps;

e) third means for closing one end of said shroud; and

f) fourth means for closing the other end of said shroud.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said third closing means includes means for engaging the opposed flaps of the respective one of said pair of flaps with one another.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said fourth closing means includes means for engaging the opposed flaps of the respective one of said pair of flaps with one another.

7. A method for protecting an electrical connector having electrical conductors extending therefrom, said method comprising the steps of:

a) encircling the electrical connector with a sheath of flexible water resistant material while accommodating extension of electrical conductors from the electrical connector through respective opposed openings of the sheath;

b) closing one opening of the sheath about the electrical conductor extending therefrom;

c) further closing the other opening of the sheath about the electrical conductor extending therefrom to enclose the electrical connector within the sheath;

d) enclosing the sheath with a shroud of abrasion resistant material while accommodating protrusion of the electrical conductors extending from the electrical connector;

e) yet further closing one end of the shroud about the electrical conductor extending therefrom, said yet further step of closing including the step of attaching a pair of opposed flaps to each other at the one end of the shroud; and

f) still further closing the other end of the shroud about the electrical conductor extending therefrom.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the still further step of further closing includes the further step of attaching a further pair of opposed flaps to each other at the other end of the shroud.

9. Apparatus for protecting an electrical connector having electrical conductors extending therefrom, said apparatus comprising in combination:

a) a sheath of flexible water resistant material for encircling the electrical connector, said sheath including first and second ends for accommodating protrusion of the electrical conductors extending from the electrical connector;

b) a shroud of abrasion resistant material for enclosing said sheath, said shroud including third and fourth ends for accommodating protrusion of the electrical conductors extending rom the electrical connector, each of said third and fourth ends comprising a pair of opposed flaps; and

c) means for closing said third and fourth ends to enclose said sheath while accommodating protrusion of the electrical conductors.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said shroud comprises two opposed sides, each of said sides including longitudinal edges and means for securing the central section of each longitudinal edge of one of said sides to the corresponding central section of each longitudinal edge of the other of said sides.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 including means for attaching the flaps of each pair with one another.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said attaching means comprises hook and loop fastening means.

13. A shroud of abrasion resistant material for enclosing an element to be protected, said shroud comprising in combination:

a) a pair of opposed sides, each of said sides including longitudinal edges;

b) means for securing the central sections of each edge of said longitudinal edges of one of said sides with a corresponding central section of an edge of said longitudinal edges of the other of said sides;

c) a first pair of flaps disposed of one end of said shroud and defined by a first pair of ends of said pair of sides;

d) a second pair of flaps disposed at the other end of said shroud and defined by a second pair of ends of said pair of sides;

e) first attachment means for attaching said first pair of flaps to one another; and

f) second attachment means for attaching said second pair of flaps to one another.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein each of said sides is essentially rectangular in planform.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first attachment means comprises hook and loop fastening means.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said second attachment means comprises hook and loop fastening means.

17. A shroud for enclosing an element to be protected, said shroud comprising in combination:

a) a central portion for enveloping the element to be protected;

b) a first pair of flaps disposed at one end of said central portion;

c) a second pair of flaps disposed at the other end of said central portion;

d) first means for fastening the flaps of said first pair of flaps with one another; and

e) second means for fastening the flaps of said second pair of flaps with one another.

18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said shroud is essentially rectangular in planform prior to envelopment of the element.

19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein the element includes an appendage extending in each direction from the element and wherein said first fastening means accommodates protrusion of one of the appendages from said first pair of flaps and said second fastening means accommodates protrusion of the other of the appendages from said second pair of flaps.

20. An apparatus for protecting an in-line electrical connector including electrical conductors comprising:

a sheath of flexible water-resistant material for encircling the electrical connector, said sheath including first and second ends;

a fist closing device fixedly secured to said first end of said sheath for closing said first ned of said sheath, said first closing device comprising a first flexible cord attached to a first strap; and

a second closing device fixedly attached to said second end of said sheath for closing said second end of said sheath, said second closing device comprising a second flexible cord and a second strap.

21. The apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein said first second straps comprise an elongated flexible strap material and means for securing said strap material to itself.

22. An apparatus for protecting an electrical connector having electrical conductors extending therefrom, said apparatus comprising:

a flexible sheath having a cylindrical configuration, said sheath being positioned to encircle the electrical connector and for accommodating protrusion of the electrical conductors extending from said electrical connector, said sheath having first and second opposing ends;

a first closing device suitably positioned about said first end of said sheath, said device comprising a first strap secured to said sheath by a first flexible connector; and

a second closing device suitably configured for placement about said second end of said sheath, said device comprising a second strap secured to said sheath by a second flexible connector.

23. The apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein said first and second flexible connectors comprise cords.