The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 17, 2001
Filed:
May. 19, 1999
John M. Michel, Coatesville, PA (US);
Other;
Abstract
An elongated waterproof enclosure for spliced telephone cables is provided by a two-part molded resinous housing that provides openings for one or more cables at opposite ends. A one piece resilient sealing gasket includes longitudinally slitted tubular gaskets at the ends to snugly receive individual cables side by side. The grommets at each end are formed integrally and connected by flat connecting pieces arranged to be transverse to opposed narrow edges of the mating opposed housing portions. The narrow edges when clamped together pinch and seal the flat pieces. Housing ends conforming to the grommets also have opposed narrow edges which, when clamped together, pinch the grommets and provide a seal. The housing pieces are preferably connected along one side by an integral molded hinge offset from the opposed longitudinal edges to give the seal clearance. At the opposite side of the housing, offset from the edges, are rigid flanges molded integrally with the housing parts. The flanges lie generally parallel to one another when the housing is closed. Urged together by suitable clamping device, the flanges apply pressure to urge the opposed narrow edges together and into the gasket. A preferred clamping device is a channel-like member having cam elements on the opposed inside walls of the channel cooperating with cam elements on the flanges. A tubular port is provided through one of the housing parts and preferably provided with a closure which is piston-like and seals against the sidewalls of the cylindrical tubular port. Structure to draw the piston into the housing is connected between the piston and the housing. As the piston is drawn into the port against the insulating fluid filling the housing parts, the piston imposes pressure on the fluid to fill small spaces within the housing. A thinner part of the housing wall provides a pressure gauge designed to be forced outwardly as a protruding bubble when the pressure is sufficient to fill the voids as desired.