Self-sealing telecommunications enclosure

Details Self-sealing telecommunications enclosure Self-sealing telecommunications enclosure

1999-07-29

2001-10-09

Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)

Electricity: conductors and insulators

Boxes and housings

C174S058000, C174S060000, C220S004020, C385S135000, C029S868000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06300562

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to telecommunications equipment generally, and more specifically to enclosures suitable for communications cables, such as optical fiber cables.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Optical fiber communication networks have gained wide acceptance in place of the use of electrical cable systems, due to the significantly enhanced bandwidth capabilities of optical fiber and its immunity to electromagnetic and radiomagnetic interference. Very significant advantages are achievable by the use of optical fiber rather than electrical conduction media. Nevertheless, a continuing problem with the deployment of optical fiber systems is providing a method to terminate optical fiber cables so as to make electrical or optical connections to fibers within the cables while providing adequate environmental protection and allowing for easy installation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,516 to Kohy et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,396,575 to Hayward et al. are expressly incorporated by reference herein in their entireties for their teachings on sealed fiber enclosures.
Fiber enclosures are required to be water tight, as they are subjected to a variety of environmental conditions. Such enclosures are frequently deployed underground, and it is important to ensure that water does not come in contact with the optical fiber cables or electronic equipment.
Because there is a need to access the equipment inside the enclosures to reconfigure the equipment following deployment, the enclosures cannot be permanently sealed. Rather, a seal is required that is easily released in order to perform work inside the enclosure, and easy to reseal when the work is completed. It is common to use an o-ring seal in fiber optic enclosures. For a good seal, the end cap must be seated properly in the enclosure. If the end cap is not seated properly, the o-ring may not be water-tight.
A fiber optic enclosure may be mounted on a pole, where it is difficult to visually inspect the enclosure closely to check whether the end cap is aligned precisely on the enclosure. In addition, if particles of dirt or grease are on the o-ring, the o-ring may not seal properly. It is particularly difficult to detect these impurities visually.
Thus, a seal is desired that is reliable, water-tight, and easy to verify.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a sealed telecommunications enclosure and a method for sealing the telecommunications enclosure. An end cap is placed on the telecommunications enclosure. The end cap has a pliable membrane depending therefrom. The membrane extends into a rim of the enclosure when the end cap is in place on the enclosure. The enclosure is pressurized, so as to force the membrane against the rim, thereby forming a seal between the membrane and the rim.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4913522 (1990-04-01), Nolf et al.
patent: 4983008 (1991-01-01), Campbell et al.
patent: 5059748 (1991-10-01), Allen et al.
patent: 5069516 (1991-12-01), Kohy et al.
patent: 5155794 (1992-10-01), Nolf et al.
patent: 5249253 (1993-09-01), Franckx et al.
patent: 5286919 (1994-02-01), Benson et al.
patent: 5308923 (1994-05-01), Puigcerver et al.
patent: 5315489 (1994-05-01), McCall et al.
patent: 5396575 (1995-03-01), Hayward et al.
patent: 5568362 (1996-10-01), Hansson
patent: 5574251 (1996-11-01), Sevier
patent: 5602954 (1997-02-01), Nolf et al.
patent: 5710804 (1998-01-01), Bhame et al.
patent: 5726385 (1998-03-01), Lowery et al.
patent: 5837933 (1998-11-01), Fligelman
patent: 5864091 (1999-01-01), Sumida
patent: 5911117 (1999-06-01), Bhame et al.
patent: 6005188 (1999-12-01), Teichler et al.
patent: 6078718 (2000-06-01), Merriken et al.
patent: 6097872 (2000-08-01), Kusuda et al.
patent: 6147304 (2000-11-01), Doherty
patent: 6157766 (2000-12-01), Laniepce et al.
patent: 6175079 (2001-01-01), Johnston et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Self-sealing telecommunications enclosure does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Self-sealing telecommunications enclosure, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Self-sealing telecommunications enclosure will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2606593