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:
Jun. 05, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 09, 1999
Russell P. Smith, Georgetown, TX (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
An end seal assembly is adapted to seal the space between at least one cable and a closure to restrict fluid transfer through the seal. The end seal assembly includes an end seal having a body formed from an elastic, flexible material. The body includes a core portion and an extended tail portion. The core portion has an outer peripheral surface, spaced ends, and a wall forming at least one cylindrical opening through the core portion. The cylindrical opening extends between the spaced ends. The wall has two edges communicating with the outer peripheral surface of the core portion to define between the two edges an entrance slot to the at least one of the cylindrical openings. The extended tail portion is integral with and extends from the outer peripheral surface of the core portion. Moreover, the tail portion has a surface tangential to the wall forming the at least one opening. In addition, the tail portion has sufficient length to wrap about the outer peripheral surface of the core portion to form a wrapped end seal such that the tail portion covers the entrance slot of the at least one opening and a cable to be placed therein. The assembly further includes a rigid collar having first and second collar portions that are pivotably interconnected. The first and second portions have inner surfaces that conform to and enclose the wrapped end seal to form an inner cavity between the wrapped end seal and the first and second portions of the collar. The collar also has an outer surface adapted to sealingly abut an end of the closure. Furthermore, the assembly provides for injection of a sealant composition to fill the inner cavity and to bond together the wrapped end seal, the cable (which is placed in the opening), and the rigid collar.