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. 11, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 16, 2001
John R. Toth, Clermont, FL (US);
Ronald Gerald Wayne, Ormond Beach, FL (US);
Ocean Design, Inc., Ormond Beach, FL (US);
Abstract
A cable branching apparatus for installation underwater has a circuit distribution unit with first and second ports connected to respective cables, and at least two additional, third and fourth ports. A switch assembly in the circuit distribution unit selectively connects the first port to the second port in a straight through arrangement, or the first and second ports to the third and fourth ports, respectively, in a branching configuration. At least two wet mateable underwater connectors each comprise a dummy unit and an active unit releasably secured to the dummy and connected to a respective one of the third and fourth ports. Branch cables can be selectively connected to one or both cables underwater simply by separating one or both dummy units from the active units, and connecting the active units to mating connector units at the end of branch cables, using an ROV.