Jacket sleeve with grippable tabs for a cable connector

• US 7,909,635 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• 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, Gebhard, Michael John Sr., Hughes, David Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US12/644,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20100095524A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 439/181, 439/445, 439/921, 174/84.R, 174/DIG.8
• 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. A method of manufacturing an electrical connector comprising the steps of:

molding a connector body, wherein the connector body comprises;

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;

molding a jacket sleeve, wherein the jacket sleeve comprises;

a pliable, elongated, elastomeric housing comprising a first end, a second end; and

a hollow tubular body having an interior portion and an outer periphery; and

coupling a first end of the jacket sleeve to the insulated housing of the connector body along a position adjacent to the aperture of the first end of the channel,

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

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the jacket sleeve further comprises at least a pair of pull tabs coupled to the second end of the elastomeric housing, wherein each of the slots is positioned along a periphery of one of the pull tabs and extends therethrough.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein an adhesive couples the first end of the jacket sleeve to the insulated housing.

4. The method of claim 1, where each of the slots has a substantially oval shape.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the jacket sleeve further comprises at least one rib integral to and extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal length of the hollow tubular body.

6. The method of claim 1,

wherein the through hole of each of the slots is sized to receive an adult finger inserted therein.

7. A method of manufacturing an electrical connector comprising the steps of:

molding a connector body, wherein the connector body comprises;

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;

curing the connector body;

placing the cured connector body into a second mold; and

overmolding a jacket sleeve onto a portion of the connector body, wherein the jacket sleeve comprises a pliable, elongated, elastomeric housing comprising a first end, a second end, and a hollow tubular body having an interior portion and an outer periphery, and

wherein the jacket sleeve further comprises at least a pair of slots, each of the slots positioned along the outer periphery of the hollow tubular body and adjacent to the one of the ends of the elastomeric housing, wherein each of the slots provides an access point for grasping the jacket sleeve, wherein each of the slots comprises a through hole.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the jacket sleeve further comprises at least a pair of pull tabs coupled to one of the ends of the elastomeric housing, wherein each of the slots is positioned along a periphery of one of the pull tabs and extends therethrough.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein a first end of the jacket sleeve is overmolded onto the insulated housing of the connector body along a position adjacent to the aperture of the first end of the channel.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the jacket sleeve further comprises at least a pair of pull tabs coupled to the first end of the elastomeric housing, wherein each of the slots of the jacket sleeve is positioned along a periphery of one of the pull tabs and extends therethrough.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein each of the tabs is integrally molded to the tubular body.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein each of the tabs extends in the longitudinal direction of the tubular body.

13. A method of manufacturing an electrical connector through co-injection molding comprising the steps of:

preparing a mold for the creation of an electrical connector;

injecting a first material into a first portion of the mold;

injecting a second material into a second portion of the mold;

wherein the first portion of the mold comprises a connector body comprising;

an insulated housing;

a channel in the insulated housing defining a space for receiving a conducting electrical cable therein, wherein the connector body is comprised substantially of the first material; 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; and

wherein the second portion of the mold comprises a pliable, elongated, elastomeric jacket sleeve comprising a first end, a second end, and a hollow tubular body having an interior portion and an outer periphery,

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 of the first end of the channel, and wherein the jacket sleeve is comprised substantially of the second material, and

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

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the jacket sleeve further comprises at least a pair of pull tabs coupled to the second end of the jacket sleeve, wherein each of the slots is positioned along a periphery of one of the pull tabs and extends therethrough.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the second material is more pliable than the first material.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the second material has a lower durometer than the first material.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the slots is capable of receiving an adult finger inserted therein.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the jacket sleeve further comprises a hollow tubular neck comprising a first end and a second end, each end comprising an aperture adjacent thereto, wherein the first end of the neck is coupled to the second end of the tubular body creating a tubular pathway and wherein the neck has an inner diameter different from the inner diameter of the tubular body.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the neck is integrally molded into the tubular body.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the jacket sleeve comprises Ethylene-Diene-Propylene-Monomer.