Sealable communication cable connection assemblies

• US 9,494,745 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2015
• Issued: 11/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SENKO Advanced Components, Inc. (SENKO Group Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: SENKO Advanced Components, Inc. (SENKO Group Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Iizumi, Kenji, Wong, Albert
• Primary Examiner(s): RAHLL, JERRY T
• Application Number:
  US14/599,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20160209601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3816 for use under water, high pressure connectors provisionally see G02B6/4428
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/38875 Protection from bending or twisting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44384 the means comprising water blocking or hydrophobic materials G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4444 Seals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44765 with means for strain-relieving to exterior cable layers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44775 Cable seals e.g. feed-through cable seals integrated to the box seals G02B6/4444; pulling eyes G02B6/44465
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/506 Underwater installation
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5205 Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet H01R13/5221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/58 Means for relieving strain on wire connection, e.g. cord grip , for avoiding loosening of connections between wires and terminals within a coupling device terminating a cable for flat or ribbon cables H01R12/771
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5825 the means comprising additional parts captured between housing parts and cable

Abstract

Communication device connection assemblies are described. The sealable connection assemblies are configured to provide water-tight connections for various data transmission elements, including cables, network devices, and computing devices. The connection assemblies may be used for various data transmission protocols, such as fiber optic connections. A compression element of the connection assembly may be configured to engage and compress a sealing element against a communication cable extending through the sealable connection assembly when a tension element is coupled to the inner body, thereby forming a seal between the sealable element and the communication cable. The connection assemblies may include a retainer body configured to form a grip or retention force with a communication cable sufficient to reduce and/or eliminate any forces on the communication cable (i.e., bending and/or straight pull forces) from being transferred to and/or otherwise effecting other components of the connection assembly, such as sealing elements thereof.

Claims

1. A sealable connection assembly, comprising:

an inner body having a first connection end configured to engage an adapter and a second connection end arranged opposite the first connection end and being configured to engage a tension element;

a sealing element arranged at least partially between the inner body and the tension element, the sealing element being arranged around at least one communication cable extending through the sealable connection assembly;

a compression element configured to engage the sealing element and being arranged at least partially between the sealing element and the tension element; and

a retainer body configured to be engaged by the tension element when the tension element engages the second connection end, wherein engagement of the retainer body by the tension element forces a contact end of the retainer body to engage and compress at least a portion of the compression element around the sealing element, thereby compressing the sealing element against the at least one communication cable to form a sealing element seal therebetween,

wherein the retainer body comprises a gripping end arranged opposite the contact end, the gripping end being configured to be engaged and compressed by the tension element when the tension element engages the second connection end, thereby forcing the gripping end against the at least one communication cable such that the retainer body forms a grip with the at least one communication cable such that the sealable connection assembly can withstand about 50 pounds to about 400 pounds while maintaining the sealing element seal.

2. The sealable connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the tension element is configured to engage the second connection end to couple the tension element to the inner body via at least one of a threaded connection, a friction fit connection, a bayonet-type connection.

3. The sealable connection assembly of claim 1, further comprising an outer shell arranged around the inner body and configured to couple the sealable connection assembly to the adapter.

4. The sealable connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the sealable connection assembly is configured as a fiber optic connection assembly.

5. The sealable connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the grip between the gripping end and the at least one communication cable substantially prevents a cable bending force from effecting the sealing element seal.

6. The sealable connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the grip between the gripping end and the at least one communication cable substantially prevents a straight pull force on the communication cable from effecting the sealing element seal.

7. A connection assembly, comprising:

an inner body having a first connection end configured to engage an adapter and a second connection end arranged opposite the first connection end and being configured to engage a tension element; and

a retainer body configured to be engaged by the tension element when the tension element engages the second connection end, wherein the retainer body comprises a contact end and a gripping end opposite the contact end, each being configured to be engaged and compressed by the tension element when the tension element engages the second connection end, thereby forcing the gripping end against at least one communication cable extending through the connection assembly such that the retainer body forms a grip with the at least one communication cable, the contact end being pushed axially so as to cause formation of a seal with the at least one communication cable.

8. The connection assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

a sealing element arranged at least partially between the inner body and the tension element, the sealing element being arranged around the at least one communication cable; and

a compression element configured to engage the sealing element and being arranged at least partially between the sealing element and the tension element,

wherein the retainer body is configured to be engaged by the tension element when the tension element engages the second connection end, wherein engagement of the retainer body by the tension element forces the contact end of the retainer body to engage and compress at least a portion of the compression element around the sealing element, thereby compressing the sealing element against the at least one communication cable to form a sealing element seal therebetween.

9. The connection assembly of claim 8, wherein the grip between the gripping end and the at least one communication cable substantially prevents a cable bending force from effecting the sealing element seal.

10. The connection assembly of claim 8, wherein the grip between the gripping end and the at least one communication cable substantially prevents a straight pull force on the communication cable from effecting the sealing element seal.

11. A sealable connection assembly, comprising:

an inner body having a threaded end and a connection end configured to engage an adapter, the threaded end being configured to rotatably engage a threaded element;

a sealing element arranged at least partially between the inner body and the threaded element, the sealing element being arranged around at least one communication cable extending through the sealable connection assembly;

a compression element configured to engage the sealing element and being arranged at least partially between the sealing element and the threaded element; and

a retainer body configured to be engaged by the threaded element when the threaded element rotatably engages the threaded end, wherein engagement of the retainer body by the threaded element forces a contact end of the retainer body to engage and compress at least a portion of the compression element around the sealing element, thereby compressing the sealing element against the at least one communication cable to form a sealing element seal therebetween,

wherein the retainer body comprises a gripping end arranged opposite the contact end and configured to form a grip with the at least one communication cable such that the sealable connection assembly can withstand about 50 pounds to about 400 pounds while maintaining the sealing element seal.

12. The sealable connection assembly of claim 11, further comprising an outer shell arranged around the inner body and configured to couple the sealable connection assembly to the adapter.

13. The sealable connection assembly of claim 11, wherein the sealable connection assembly is configured as a fiber optic connection assembly.

14. The sealable connection assembly of claim 13, wherein the fiber optic connection assembly is configured as an LC-type connection assembly.

15. The sealable connection assembly of claim 13, wherein the adapter comprises a small form-factor pluggable device.

16. The sealable connection assembly of claim 11, wherein the compression element comprises a compression end formed from a plurality of fingers.

17. The sealable connection assembly of claim 11, the gripping end being configured to be engaged and compressed by the threaded element when the threaded element rotatably engages the threaded end, thereby forcing the gripping end against the at least one communication cable such that the retainer body forms a grip with the at least one communication cable.

18. The sealable connection assembly of claim 17, wherein the gripping end is formed from a plurality of gripping elements configured to press into and grip the at least one communication cable when the threaded element rotatably engages the threaded end.

19. The sealable connection assembly of claim 17, wherein the grip between the gripping end and the at least one communication cable substantially prevents a cable bending force from effecting the sealing element seal.

20. The sealable connection assembly of claim 17, wherein the grip between the gripping end and the at least one communication cable substantially prevents a straight pull force on the communication cable from effecting the sealing element seal.