The Whitaker Corporation

David R Radliff

James W Robertson

William J Garver

Scott A Keener

Leung Man Shiu

Harry M Capper

Sam Denovich

Michael Patrick Green

Robert E Stough

Kenneth C Hawk

Alan Jay Amazon

Todd Richard Okimoto

Michael Joseph Scully

This invention provides a seal retention member (21,66) for use in an electrical connector. The seal retention member (21,66) has a plurality of wire receiving passages (37) and a latch arm (90) which forms part of a peripheral surface (86) and part of at least one of the wire receiving passages (37).

Seal retention member

The present invention provides a pair of keyed secondary lock members (30,50) which are insertable into respective plug and receptacle housings (22,42). Each secondary lock member (30,50) features a plurality of locking projections (31) extending into the respective housing (22,42) for engaging terminal locking fingers (55). Latches (34,52) are provided for securing the secondary lock members (30,50) in both a pre-latched and a locked position. Each secondary lock member (30,50) also features a terminal shroud area (33,51) which are keyed to each other and provide shock protection when the connectors are in an unmated condition.

Secondary locking shroud for an electrical connector

A retaining nut for securing an electrical connector to the surface of a an electrical panel or bulkhead. It has an annular ring having an upper surface, a lower surface and a central bore defining an inner periphery around an inside diameter of the ring. Several flexible, spring fingers are positioned around the inner periphery of the ring and project into the central bore. Preferably the fingers are helically arranged around the inside of the ring. Several upright posts positioned around and projecting outwardly perpendicularly from the upper surface of the ring aid manual insertion and removal of the nut. In use a cylindrical shaft having external threading around an outer circumference thereof positioned through the opening of a flat sheet panel. The a retaining nut is seated on the flat sheet and attaches to the shaft by means of the fingers engaging the external threading.

Retaining nut

An enclosure (400,500) having a pair of covers fastenable together to close about and seal a cable splice between end portions of a pair of multiconductor cables. At least one routing channel (418 or 420;528) is provided at a first end (406,506) and a single routing channel (424;536) at the second end (408,508), with a splice-receiving region (454) provided adjacent inner ends of the routing channels. Axially- and laterally-staggered outermost and innermost embossments are associated with each routing channel to establish an interruption in a linear path between the cable exits and a grounding region for the multiconductor shielded cables, so that the cables must be substantially bent to course around the embossments in serpentine fashion, defining cable strain relief. A partitioned region (552) in enclosure (500) accommodates receipt of a spliced connection of a pair of single-conductor coaxial cables into a linear routing channel bypassing the grounding region for multiconductor shielded cables.

Enclosure for spliced multiconductor cable

An enclosure (10) having a pair of covers (12,14) fastenable together to close about and seal a cable splice (200,300) between end portions of a pair of multiconductor shielded cables (202,204;302,304) in either a butt-splice or in-line arrangement. A pair of routing channels (24,26) are provided at a first end (20) and a single routing channel (28) at the second end (22), with a splice-receiving region (90) provided adjacent inner ends (44,46,50) of the routing channels. A grounding region (100) between inner ends of the routing channels (24,26,28) includes a ground contact (102) having two pairs of cable-receiving slots (110,112;114,116) each pair being aligned with a respective routing channel for ends of respective cables to be received thereinto with at least one of the slots engaging an exposed shield portion of the cable.

Enclosure for spliced cable

A holder (30) for jacketed fiber optic cable (26) or ribbon cable (28) having channels (32) extending along a top surface (34), with constrictions (42) to hold jacketed fiber optic cable (26) therein upon insertion with nondeforming strain relief. Protrusions (40) between the channels (32) include narrow slots (44) thereinto to hold ribbon cable (28) therein with nondeforming strain relief.

Strain relieving holder for optical fiber cable

A cable splice enclosure (10) including a pair of cover members (12,14 ) joined along a flexible hinge (62,64) and rotatable together about the hinge to enclose a cable splice (150) and secure to each other with latches along both side edges (16,18;92,94 ). Sealant material (120) disposed within central regions (32,34) of both covers environmentally seals the surfaces of the splice connection (154,158,160) upon full closure. Embossments (44,46 ) on both sides of the cable-receiving channels (20,22) in associated pairs (40,42,48) proximate the cable exits include resilient flange portions (52,54) cooperate to press into the cable insulation upon full closure to define a strain relief. The enclosure (200) may be used to splice aerially suspended cable (202) by grooves (208) between the hinge (216) and the latches (218) proximate the hinge (216), receiving thereinto a length of suspension wire (206) spliced to suspension wire (204) thus securing enclosure (200) to cable (202).

Enclosure for spliced coaxial cables

A splice holder (24) having first channels (70) having upper and lower portions (80,82) separated by a constriction (76) with each portion adapted to hold a respective single-fiber splice coupling (84) . Second channels (90) have a large diameter adapted to hold a multi-fiber mass fusion splice coupling (94) used with ribbon cable. Both the first and second channels (70,90) having constrictions along their entrances of less width than a splice coupling (84,94) to be inserted thereinto. Splice holder (24) may be adhered to a bottom wall (14) of a splice tray (10).

Holding for optical fiber splice couplings

An electrical connector (10) including a housing (12) with a pair of housing sections (14) each containing a terminal (40) rotatable therewithin upon actuation to terminate an end of a wire (26,28) inserted into an aperture (22,24) thereof. For small diameter wires, a wiring indicator (60) of transparent material is affixed to the opposed side of the housing and includes a chamber (70) for each wire to be extended therethrough for termination, thus enabling visual verification that a wire end has been fully inserted. A wire retainer (90,100) is used to prevent inadvertent backout after full wire insertion but before termination. Wire retainer (100) can be a clip mountable outside the housing, and wire retainer (90) can be contained in the wiring indicator includes a spring arm (92) biasing against the wire free end (52) upon full insertion.

Electrical connector with wire indicator and wire retainer

A cable splice enclosure (10) including a pair of cover members (12,14) joined along a flexible hinge (62,64) and rotatable together about the hinge to enclose a cable splice (150) and secure to each other with latches along both side edges (16,18;92,94). Sealant material (120) disposed within central regions (32,34) of both covers environmentally seals the surfaces of the splice connection (154,158,160) upon full closure. Embossments (44,46) on both sides of the cable-receiving channels (20,22) in associated pairs (40,42,48) proximate the cable exits include resilient flange portions (52,54) cooperate to press into the cable insulation upon full closure to define a strain relief.

Growing community of inventors

Harrisburg, PA, United States of America

David R Radliff