U.S. patent number 3,571,782 [Application Number 04/802,762] was granted by the patent office on 1971-03-23 for moisture and dust proof cover for an electrical connector and tool for applying same.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Pulse Communications, Inc.. Invention is credited to Lee J. Colbert, Dolores B. Colbert, Executrix.
United States Patent |
3,571,782 |
Colbert , et al. |
March 23, 1971 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
MOISTURE AND DUST PROOF COVER FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND TOOL
FOR APPLYING SAME
Abstract
A cover for a two part electrical connector including a pair of
open ended elastic film sleeves each adapted to be stretch drawn
over one of the connector parts, such that when the connector parts
are assembled the sleeves may be overlapped to form a moisture and
dustproof sealing cover.
Inventors: |
Colbert; Lee J. (Williamsville,
NY), Dolores B. Colbert, Executrix (Williamsville, NY) |
Assignee: |
Pulse Communications, Inc.
(Falls Chruch, VA)
|
Family
ID: |
25184614 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/802,762 |
Filed: |
February 25, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/523; 439/367;
379/441; 174/91; 174/138F |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
13/5213 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/52 (20060101); H01r 003/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/26,60,116,211 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Purser; Ernest R.
Claims
I claim:
1. A moisture and dust cover for an assembly including a two part
electrical connector and cables attached one to each of the
connector parts, said cover being adapted to be applied to said
assembly while said cables are affixed to said connector parts,
said cover comprising,
a pair of open ended elastic sleeves adapted to be stretch-drawn
one over each of said connector parts and cables connected thereto,
each said sleeve having a large mouth end portion and a small mouth
neck end portion, said neck end portions being dimensioned so as to
snugly engage one about each of said cables to form a fluid seal
therebetween, said large mouth end portions being dimensioned such
that when applied to the assembled connector parts said end
portions are adapted to snugly engage thereabout, and said large
mouth portions when applied being adapted to be overlapped along
adjacent marginal edges thereof by folding to provide a five ply
tortuous path seal therebetween.
2. A moisture and dust cover for an assembly including a two part
electrical connector and cables connected thereto, said connector
being characterized by having when assembled, a generally
rhomboidal configuration with said cables being arranged in a
spaced parallel relationship and connected one into each of said
connector parts at opposite ends of said connector, and said
connector parts being assembled along mating surfaces extending
between said connector ends, said cover being adapted to be applied
to said assembly while said cables are connected to said connector
parts, said cover comprising;
a pair of open ended elastic sleeves adapted to be stretch-drawn
one over each of said connector parts and cables connector thereto,
each said sleeve having a large mouth end portion and a small mouth
neck end portion, neck portions being dimensioned so as to snugly
engage one about each of said cables to form a fluid seal
therebetween, said large mouth portions being dimensioned such that
when applied to the assembled connector parts said large mouth
portions are adapted to snugly engage thereabout, and said large
mouth portions when applied being adapted to be overlapped along
adjacent marginal edges thereof at a point intermediate said
connector ends to form a fluid seal therebetween.
3. A moisture and dust cover according to claim 2, wherein said
sleeves when in nonexpanded condition taper inwardly from one
sidewall thereof intermediate said end portions thereof, such that
said sleeves generally conform to said connector configuration.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is broadly directed to a moisture and
dustproof cover which may be applied to an electrical connector on
the job without requiring the respective parts of the connector to
be disconnected from previously attached cables, lead wires or the
like. More specifically, the cover of the present invention is
particularly adapted for use with amphenol connector-plug
assemblies associated with key telephone sets and call directors in
situations, where high moisture conditions adjacent the assembly,
such as would result from a floor mopping operation, would
otherwise render associated telephones vulnerable to an
out-of-service condition.
The cover includes a pair of open ended elastic film sleeves, which
when in a nonstretched condition, generally conform to the outer
configuration of parts of an electrical connector to which they are
to be applied. The individual sleeves are of sufficient length to
permit them when applied to overlap each other and to snugly grip
the cables attached to the respective parts of the connector.
The present invention is also directed to a special applicator tool
in the general form of a reverse opening pair of pliers, which is
adapted to be used to stretch the cover parts and assist in drawing
same over the connector parts.
DRAWING
The structure and mode of operation of the electrical connector
cover of the present invention will now be more fully described in
the following detailed description taken with the accompanying
drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a two part electrical connector
with parts separated;
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the cover parts in
various stages of application;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the cover applied to an
assembled connector;
FIGS. 4 and 5 are views illustrating use of the applicator tool in
various stages of cover application; and
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 of
FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In FIG. 1 there is illustrated an amphenol connector-plug assembly
1, of the type conventionally associated with key telephone sets
and call directors, not shown. It will be understood that the
specific construction of assembly 1 forms no part of the present
invention and that it is shown only for purposes of illustration as
including cooperation male part 2 and female part 3, which are
adapted to have their mating surfaces 2', 3' maintained in
assembled relationship by screw type fasteners 4. Connector parts 2
and 3 are formed with suitable clamps 6, 7, for the purposes of
securing to the parts, cables, lead wires or the like 8, 9,
respectively.
It will be noted in the construction illustrated, the ends of the
outside housings for parts 2 and 3 are tapered, as at 10, 11, so as
to provide unobstructed access to screws 4. Thus, when parts 2 and
3 are assembled, the connector becomes of a general rhomboidal
configuration, wherein cables 8 and 9 are arranged in a spaced,
parallel relationship and connected into opposite ends of the
connector.
In FIG. 3 connector assembly 1 is shown as having applied thereto a
cover 20 formed in accordance with the present invention. Cover 20
includes a pair of cover parts 22, 23, which are in the form of
open ended sleeves formed of a suitable elastic material, such as
latex. The cover parts may be fabricated in any desired manner,
such as by a dip-molding operation.
Preferably, the cover forming material is at least semitransparent,
so as to facilitate visual identification of the connector without
the need for removing the cover or providing markings thereon.
It is also preferable to form cover parts 22, 23 such that they, as
best shown in the case of part 22 in FIG. 2, generally conform to
the configuration of the assembly to be covered, when in
nonexpanded or stretched condition. This facilitates both
application of the cover parts and proper sealing thereof with
respect to each other and to cables 8 and 9 as will hereinafter be
described. Thus, cover parts 22, 23 are tapered inwardly from one
side thereof as at 24, 25 in order to generally conform to the
respective ends of assembly 1, and to define small mouth neck
portions 28, 29, which are aligned with cables 8, 9, respectively,
at their points of attachment to the connector.
The main body portions or large mouth ends of cover parts 22, 23
and neck portions 28, 29 are dimensioned so as to snugly grip
assembled connector parts 2, 3 and cables 8, 9, respectively, when
stretched thereover as shown in FIG. 3.
While in the embodiment illustrated, cover parts 22, 23 are of
identical construction, it will be understood that such parts may
be dissimilar, particularly in an instance wherein the assembly to
be protected is not symmetrical in design.
Cover 20 may be readily applied to assembly 1 by an applicator
tool, generally designated as 40. Tool 40 is in the general form of
a reverse opening pair of pliers and includes a pair of identically
configurated handle elements 41, 42 of generally V-shaped design,
which are pivotally connected adjacent the apexes thereof by pivot
pin 43. A pair of guide or expansion fingers 45, 46 are formed
integrally with or otherwise affixed to the upper ends of the
handle elements 41, 42 at an angle of 90.degree. thereto, such that
when the handle elements are in their inoperative or open position,
as shown in FIG. 4, the facing surfaces of the fingers are disposed
in abutting engagement. Preferably, the free ends of fingers 45',
46' are smoothly tapered or curved to facilitate entrance thereof
into either of cover part neck portions 28, 29.
Referring particularly to FIG. 5, it will be understood that for
proper functioning of applicator tool 40, it is necessary for
fingers 45, 46 to be of a width W, which is equal to or greater
than the thickness T of the individual connector parts, and for
handle elements 41, 42 to be shaped, such that when pivoted in the
direction indicated by arrows 51, 52 towards their operative or
closed position, the spacing between facing surfaces of fingers 45,
46 is equal to or greater than the depth D of the individual
connector parts. It will also be understood that handle elements
45, 46 are fully closed when the lowered ends thereof are disposed
in aligned overlying relationship.
The manner of applying cover 20 will be apparent by referring to
FIGS. 2--6; FIG. 4 illustrating the first or initial stage wherein
handle elements 41, 42 are arranged in their inoperative position
and positioned in alignment with the neck portion of one of the
cover parts, such as part 22. Thereafter, neck portion 28 is
stretch-drawn over fingers 45, 46 sufficiently to permit the free
ends of the fingers to extend inwardly of the large mouth end
portion of the cover part. Handle elements 41, 42 are then manually
squeezed together, as indicated by arrows 51, 52, in order to close
the handle elements and effect spreading of fingers 45, 46. When
fingers 45, 46 are in their spread condition, neck portion 28 is
stretched sufficiently to permit passage of connector part 2 freely
therethrough between fingers 45, 46, as indicated by arrows 53,
inwardly of the large mouth end portion. Then, by manually gripping
parts 2 and 22, the fingers may be pulled from neck portion 28 in
order to permit the latter to contract into snug fluid-sealing
engagement with cable 8. Preferably, before removing fingers 45, 46
care is taken to insure that connector part 2 is rotatably
positioned with respect to cover part 22, such that when the
connector parts are subsequently assembled, tapered portion 24 is
aligned with the tapered housing wall 11 of connector part 3.
Otherwise, the snug fit between neck portion 28 and cable 8 may
prevent readily rotatable adjustment of the parts with the result
that the cover 20 will be improperly fitted.
By referring to FIG. 2, it will be understood that the connector
parts may be passed fully through the cover parts, as indicated in
the case of part 2. Alternatively, as indicated in the case of
connector part 3, such parts need only be inserted through a
distance sufficient to permit neck portion 29 to grip cable 9
immediately adjacent clamp 7. The former practice is preferred,
since connector part 2 is uncovered and thus immediately ready for
assembly with part 3. In the latter practice, the applied cover
parts must be folded back upon themselves to permit fastening of
screws 4. connector and back folded upon itself as indicated at
The above procedure is repeated with cover part 23 and connector
part 3, whereafter the connector parts are assembled by screws 4.
After assembly, one of the cover parts, such as part 23 is
stretch-drawn over the assembled connector and back folded upon
itself as indicated at 23' in FIG. 2. Thereafter, cover part 22 is
stretch-drawn over the other end of the assembled connector, such
that its end is positioned in overlapping engagement with back
folded portion 23'. An effective moisture and dust seal may now be
obtained between the cover parts by back folding the overlapping
portions of cover parts 22, 23 to form the five ply tortous path
seal shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. Each time the cover parts are
overlapped, they are further expanded or stretched with a resultant
increase in the effectiveness of the seal formed therebetween.
However, it will be understood that in most installations, the mere
overlapping of adjacent marginal edges of the large mouth end
portions of the sleeves will, without back folding, provide a
satisfactory moisture and dust seal.
* * * * *