Electricity: conductors and insulators – Conduits – cables or conductors – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-30
2001-07-24
Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)
Electricity: conductors and insulators
Conduits, cables or conductors
Combined
C174S0720TR, C174S07000A
Reexamination Certificate
active
06265665
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to environmental sealing and protection devices, and, more particularly, to a moisture resistant casing for connected electrical cables or wires.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When a cable is connected to another cable, it is customary to strip back the insulation from each cable to expose the respective underlying conductors to make the connection. It is also desirable to thereafter environmentally protect the connection, particularly against moisture.
A number of approaches have been developed to environmentally protect an electrical connection. One advantageous way is to use a gel-filled casing, wherein the gel surrounds the exposed connection for preventing contact with water. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,763,835 and 5,828,005 both to Huynh-Ba et al. disclose a gel-filled casing having generally rectangularly shaped lower and upper housing portions joined along side edges by a living hinge. First and second bodies of sealing gel are in respective interiors of the lower and upper housing portions. The gel-filled casing includes closure members for securing the lower and upper housing portions in a fully closed position with the first and second bodies of sealing gel being brought together and surrounding an electrical connection positioned within the gel-filled casing.
Another gel-filled casing is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,347,084 and 5,525,073 both to Roney et al. The casing also includes lower and upper housing portions connected by a hinge. The casing further includes end seals which break away upon the filling of the interior of the lower and upper housing portions with a sealing gel. Closure members secure the lower and upper housing portions in a fully closed position with the sealing gel being brought together and surrounding an electrical connection positioned within the gel-filled casing.
Similar gel-filled casings are further disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,397,859 and 5,561,269 to Robertson et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,594,210 to Yabe, U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,882 to Yokoyama et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,674,089 to Sampson.
The gel-filled casings disclosed in the above referenced patents are either opened or fully closed. This may cause difficulty in shipping. If the gel-filled casing is shipped in the fully closed position, there may be problems separating the gel-filled bodies after they contact one another. If the gel-filled casing is shipped in the fully open position, the exposed gel-filled bodies may have to be protected from contacting the packaging material. Consequently, there is a need for a gel-filled casing that avoids these difficulties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a gel-filled casing for an electrical connection that avoids the packaging and shipping difficulties described above.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a gel-filled casing for an electrical connection that ensures the gel seals around the electrical connection when closed, and an associated method for using the gel-filled casing.
These and other objects, advantages, and features in accordance with the present invention are provided by a gel-filled casing for an electrical connection preferably comprising lower and upper housing portions, and a hinge connecting the lower and upper housing portions along respective edges thereof, and wherein a partially closed position is provided. First and second bodies of sealing gel are preferably in respective interiors of the lower and upper housing portions. Moreover, at least one partial closure member preferably secures the lower and upper housing portions in the partially closed position with the first and second bodies of sealing gel being separated from one another. The gel-filled casing preferably further includes at least one full closure member for securing the lower and upper housing portions in a fully closed position with the first and second bodies of sealing gel being brought together and surrounding an electrical connection positioned within the gel-filled casing.
The hinge preferably urges the lower and upper housing portions toward an open position to thereby cooperate with the at least one partial closure member to secure the lower and upper housing portions in the partially closed position. Partially closing the gel-filled casing provides advantages for shipping. In other words, the difficulty associated with separating the gel-filled bodies if shipped in the fully closed position is avoided, and the difficulty of protecting the gel-filled bodies if shipped in the fully open position is also avoided.
The gel-filled casing preferably further comprises lower and upper flanges extending outwardly from respective edges of the lower and upper housing portions opposite the hinge. The partial closure member preferably comprises a plurality of partial closure tabs extending generally perpendicularly outwardly from the lower flange. The upper flange may have a plurality of corresponding partial closure tab receiving notches in an outer edge thereof.
The full closure member preferably comprises a plurality of full closure tabs extending generally perpendicularly outwardly from the lower flange. Similarly, the upper flange may have a plurality of corresponding full closure tab receiving notches in an outer edge thereof. Each of the partial closure tabs preferably has a greater length than each of the full closure tabs.
The lower and upper housing portions each preferably comprises opposing flexible end walls conforming to cables passing therethrough. Each of the lower and upper housing portions preferably comprises an outer wall opposite the hinge. The outer wall of the lower housing portion preferably has a recess therein, and the outer wall of the upper housing portion preferably comprises a barrier lip extending downwardly therefrom for mating with the recess and for confining the sealing gel as the lower and upper housing portions are moved to the closed position with the electrical connection therein. When the gel-filled casing is in the partially closed position, the barrier lip also preferably partially engages the recess.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method for using a gel-filled casing comprising lower and upper housing portions joined along respective edges by a hinge, with first and second bodies of sealing gel in respective interiors of the lower and upper housing portions. The gel-filled casing preferably has a partially closed position with the first and second bodies of sealing gel being separated from one another, and a fully closed position with the first and second bodies of sealing gel being brought together. The method preferably comprises the steps of assembling and shipping the gel-filled casing in the partially closed position, opening the gel-filed casing and placing the electrical connection therein, and bringing the lower and upper housing portions together about the electrical connection to the fully closed position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3804971 (1974-04-01), Bazille, Jr.
patent: 5347084 (1994-09-01), Roney et al.
patent: 5397859 (1995-03-01), Robertson et al.
patent: 5525073 (1996-06-01), Sampson
patent: 5561269 (1996-10-01), Robertson et al.
patent: 5569882 (1996-10-01), Yokoyama et al.
patent: 5594210 (1997-01-01), Yabe
patent: 5674089 (1997-10-01), Sampson
patent: 5763835 (1998-06-01), Huynh-Ba et al.
patent: 5828005 (1998-10-01), Huynh-Ba et al.
patent: 6111121 (2000-08-01), Drane et al.
Allen Dyer Doppelt Milbrath & Gilchrist, P.A.
Homac Manufacturing Company
Mayo, III William H
Reichard Dean A.
LandOfFree
Gel-filled casing for an electrical connection and... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Gel-filled casing for an electrical connection and..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Gel-filled casing for an electrical connection and... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2508715