Cover for cable connectors

• US 8,764,480 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates, Llc
• Original Assignee: John Mezzalingua Associates Incorporated
• Inventors: Montena, Noah, Natoli, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US13/913,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20130273762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 439/488, 439/125, 439/521, 439/523, 439/447
• US Class Current: 439/523
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5213 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/70 Insulation of connections end caps H01R4/22

Abstract

A cover and a system of covers for placement in sealed relation over a connector or a pair of connectors that is or are adapted to terminate a cable or splice together a pair of cables. The covers include a cable end that sealingly receives a cable therein, an elongated body that provides secure cover to a cable connector, and an end that abuts a bulkhead or sealingly engages with a second cover when used in a splicing application.

Claims

1. A sealing system for covering a connector configured to terminate a cable, comprising:

a unitary elongated body comprising a first end, a second end, an interior surface, and

an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface includes;

a first region adapted to cover and seal against at least a portion of the cable, the first region having a first internal cross-sectional diameter and,

a second region adapted to cover at least a portion of the connector, the second region having a second internal cross-sectional diameter, wherein the second cross-sectional diameter is greater than the first internal cross-sectional diameter; and

a collar cooperating with the unitary elongated body to form at least one environmental seal against the unitary elongated body, the collar having an axial opening, the axial opening including an internal protrusion, wherein the collar is configured to be disposed over the connector, so that the internal protrusion is located so as to seal against a reduced-diameter portion of the connector.

2. The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the collar is an elastomeric annular member.

3. The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the collar is configured to seal against an angled surface of the connector.

4. The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the internal protrusion of the collar includes an angled tip configured to seal against a portion of the connector.

5. The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the collar includes one or more annular grooves on an internal surface of the axial opening.

6. The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the collar is configured to seal against a portion of a second connector.

7. The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the collar is configured to seal against a portion of a bulkhead connector port.

8. The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the collar is constrained by sealing engagement against the angled surface and against the reduced-diameter portion of the connector.

9. The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the connector is an N type connector.