Racetrack grommet for optical fiber cable splice closure

• US 5,907,653 A
• Filed: 05/01/1997
• Issued: 05/25/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fitel USA Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Burek, Denis Edward, Jones, Marc Duane, Small, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, HUNG NHAT
• Application Number:
  US08/848,788
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 385/135
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3801 Permanent connections, i.e. wherein fibres are kept aligned by mechanical means splices by bonding G02B6/255; fusion splices G02B6/2551
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4446 Cable boxes, e.g. splicing boxes with two or more multi fibre cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4455 characterised by the way of extraction or insertion of the cassette in the distribution frame, e.g. pivoting, sliding, rotating or gliding

Abstract

A racetrack grommet of resilient material for use in providing a seal between two flanged closure members has first and second spaced sides thereon adapted to be positioned between the flanges, and transverse end sections having insert receiving members having bores therein. Insert members are configured to fit within the bores in end to end butting relationship to provide a seal between a cable entering or leaving the assembled closure and the insert receiving members which, in turn, provide seals for end openings in the assembled closure. The bores in the insert receiving members have holding and sealing means therein and each insert has mating means thereon for mating with the holding means to provide a seal between each of the insert members and the insert receiving member. One or more port plugs seal the unused bores in the insert receiving members. Each insert has a split thereon to facilitate insertion of a cable within the insert, and each insert receiving member has a split therein for facilitating insertion of an insert therein.

Claims

1. A racetrack grommet for providing a seal between first and second flanged closure portions wherein the closure portions define at least one opening in the end which, when the portions are assembled, allow ingress and egress of at least one cable, said racetrack grommet comprising:

a member having first and second longitudinal sides spaced apart a distance such that they fit between the flanges on the first and second flanged closure portions;

each of said longitudinal sides having a first end and a second end, and transverse sections extending between said first ends and said second ends;

at least one insert receiving member in at least one of said transverse sections and having a bore extending therethrough;

first and second insert members for insertion into said bore of said one insert receiving member in abutting relationship;

each of said first and second insert members having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough for containing a cable; and

holding means within said bore of said insert receiving member for holding in place said first and second insert members in butting end-to-end relationship.

2. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 1 wherein said insert receiving member is cylindrical in shape and has an outer surface adapted to be clamped between said first and second closure portions.

3. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 2 wherein said insert receiving member has a longitudinal slit therein extending from said outer surface to said bore thereof.

4. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second insert members is cylindrical in shape and has an outer surface adapted to fit within said bore of said insert receiving member.

5. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said first and second insert members has a longitudinal split therein extending from its outer surface to said longitudinal bore.

6. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 1 wherein said grommet is made of a flexible resilient material.

7. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 6 wherein said material is polyurethane.

8. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second inserts are made of a flexible resilient material.

9. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 8 wherein said material is polyurethane.

10. A racetrack grommet for providing a seal between first and second flanged closure portions wherein the closure portions define at least one opening in the end which, when the portions are assembled, allow ingress and egress of at least one cable, said racetrack grommet comprising:

a member having first and second longitudinal sides spaced apart a distance such that they fit between the flanges on the first and second flanged closure portions;

each of said longitudinal sides having a first end and a second end, and transverse sections extending between said first ends and said second ends;

at least one insert receiving member in at least one of said transverse sections and having a bore extending therethrough;

first and second insert members for insertion into said bore of said insert receiving member;

each of said insert members being cylindrical in shape and having an outer surface adapted to fit within said bore of said insert receiving member; and

having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough for containing a cable;

holding means within said bore of said insert receiving member for holding in place said first and second insert members in butting end-to-end relationship, said holding means comprising a first V-shaped groove in the wall of said bore and a second V-shaped groove in the wall of said bore spaced from said first V-shaped groove.

11. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 10 wherein the spacing between said first and second V-shaped grooves is approximately equal to the length of one of said inserts.

12. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 10 wherein each of said first and second inserts has a V-shaped ridge on said outer surface thereof.

13. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 12 wherein said V-shaped ridge is dimensioned to fit within one of said V-shaped grooves in said bore of said insert receiving member.

14. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 12 wherein each of said first and second inserts has first and second ends, and said V-shaped ridge is approximately centrally located between the said first and second ends.

15. A racetrack grommet for providing a seal between first and second flanged closure portions wherein the closure portions define first and second spaced openings in one end thereof and third and fourth openings in the other end thereof and an end compartment adjacent each opening which, when the portions are assembled, allow ingress and egress of cables, said racetrack grommet comprising:

a substantially rectangularly shaped member having first and second longitudinal sides spaced apart a distance such that they fit between the flanges of the first and second flanged closure portions;

each of said longitudinal sides having a first end and a second end;

a first transverse section extending between said first ends and a second transverse section extending between said second ends;

first and second laterally spaced insert receiving members in said first transverse section and third and fourth laterally spaced insert receiving members in said second transverse section;

each of said insert receiving members having an axial bore extending therethrough;

first and second insert members each having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough for containing a cable;

holding means within said bore of each of said insert receiving members for holding in place said first and second insert members in butting end-to-end relationship within said axial bore of each of said insert receiving members; and

mating means on each of said insert members for cooperating with said holding means to retain said first and second insert members in place, said mating means and said holding means creating a substantially moisture proof seal between said insert receiving member and said inserts.

16. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 15 wherein each of said insert receiving members is cylindrical in shape and has an outer configuration adapted to fit within an end compartment of the closure when assembled and to be clamped between the first and second closure portions.

17. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 16 wherein each of said insert receiving members has a longitudinal slit therein extending from said outer surface to said bore thereof.

18. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 16 wherein each of said first and second insert members is cylindrical in shape and has an outer surface adapted to fit within said axial bore of said insert receiving member into which said insert members are to be inserted.

19. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 18 wherein each of said first and second insert members has a longitudinal slit therein extending from its outer surface to said longitudinal bore therein.

20. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 15 wherein said first and second spaced insert receiving members have a web extending therebetween and said third and fourth insert receiving members have a web extending therebetween, said webs being adapted to be clamped between the ends of the first and second closure portions to produce a seal therebetween.

21. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 15 wherein said grommet and said insert members are made of a flexible resilient material.

22. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 21 wherein said material is polyurethane.

23. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 15 and further including at least one port plug member having a cylindrical outer surface for insertion into one of said insert receiving members,

said port plug member having an outer surface having mating means thereon for mating with said holding means in said insert receiving member.

24. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 23 wherein said mating means is a circumferential V-shaped ridge.

25. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 23 wherein said port plug is a substantially hollow cylindrical having at least one closed end.

26. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 25 wherein said port plug is made of a rigid plastic material.

30. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 24 wherein each of said insert members has first and second ends, and said V-shaped ridge is approximately centrally located between said first and second ends.

31. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 30 wherein the spacing between said first and second V-shaped grooves is approximately equal to the length of one of said insert members.

27. A racetrack grommet for providing a seal between first and second flanged closure portions wherein the closure portions define first and second spaced openings in one end thereof and third and fourth openings in the other end thereof and an end compartment adjacent each opening which, when the portions are assembled, allow ingress and egress of cables, said racetrack grommet comprising:

a substantially rectangularly shaped member having first and second longitudinal sides spaced apart a distance such that they fit between the flanges of the first and second flanged closure portions;

each of said longitudinal sides having a first end and a second end;

a first transverse section extending between said first ends and a second transverse section extending between said second ends;

first and second spaced insert receiving members ins aid first transverse section and third and fourth spaced insert receiving members in said second transverse section;

each of said insert receiving members being cylindrical in shape having an axial bore extending therethrough and having an outer configuration adapted to fit within an end compartment of the closure when assembled and to be clamped between the first and second closure portions;

first and second insert members having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough for containing a cable;

each of said first and second insert members being cylindrical in shape and having an outer surface adapted to fit within said axial bore of said insert receiving member into which said insert members are to be inserted;

holding means within said bore of each of said insert receiving members for holding in place said first and second insert members in butting end-to-end relationship, said means comprising first and second V-shaped grooves in the wall of said axial bore, said grooves being longitudinally spaced from each other; and

mating means on each of said insert members for cooperating with said holding means to retain said first and second insert members in place, said mating means and said holding means creating a substantially moisture proof seal between said insert receiving members and said inserts.

28. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 27 wherein said mating means on each of said insert members comprises a circumferential V-shaped ridge on the outer surface thereof.

29. The racetrack grommet as claimed in claim 28 wherein said V-shaped ridge is dimensioned to fit within one of said V-shaped grooves and mate therewith.