HOUSING TO HOUSING SPLICE

Abstract: Splice (10) comprises male body (20) and female body (30), each mounts to a respective CATV housing port at a first end. The second ends of the bodies fit together. Coupling nut (40) secures male body (20) to female body (30) and is held on male body (20) by retaining clip (70). Female body (30) includes lock nut (50) for securing female body (30) to the housing port in a predetermined alignment. A terminal extends through and beyond the male and female bodies. The terminal includes expanded section (62) to aid in impedance matching between splice (10) and the housings. Insulators (80, 90) are at the first ends of the bodies to isolate the terminal. O-rings (100, 110, 120, 130, 140) seal splice (10).

Description: TITLE OF THE INVENTION Housing To Housing Splice CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) to provisional patent application serial no. 60/029,175 filed October 28, 1996; the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference . BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A splice provides interconnection of one port of a housing to a second port of another housing. Typically a splice comprises several parts, is costly and fails to provide for impedance matching between the housings and the splice, resulting in degradation of the signal being spliced from one housing to another. A splice which has a reduced number of parts, is less costly and provides for impedance matching would be desirable. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A housing to housing splice is disclosed. The splice comprises a male body having a first end configured to mount to a port of a CATV housing. The splice also includes a female body having a first end configured to mount to a port of a CATV housing. The second end of the male body is configured to fit with the second end of the female body. A coupling nut is used to secure the male body to the female body. The male body includes a retaining clip for maintaining the coupling nut on the male body. The female body includes a lock nut, such that once the female body is mated with the port of the CATV housing, the female body can be secured at a predetermined alignment. The predetermined alignment is useful for allowing the female body to receive a portion of the male body therein and after which the male body is secured to the female body by the coupling nut. A terminal is disposed through the male and female bodies, and extends beyond the first end of each. The terminal includes an expanded section to aid in impedance matching between the splice and the housings. Insulators are included in the male and female body to mechanically and electrically isolate the terminal from the male and female body. O-rings are also provided for preventing moisture from entering the splice. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of the housing to housing splice of the present invention; Fig. 2A is a side view of a male body of the housing to housing splice; Fig. 2B is a cross-sectional side view of the male body of Fig. 2A; Fig. 2C is an end view of the male body of Fig. 2A; Fig. 3A is a side view of a female body of the housing to housing splice; Fig. 3B is a cross-sectional side view of the female body of Fig. 3A; Fig. 3C is an end view of the female body of Fig. 3A; Fig. 4A is a cross-sectional side view of a coupling nut of the housing to housing splice; Fig. 4B is and view of the coupling nut of Fig. 4A; Fig. 5A is a cross-sectional side view of a locking nut of the housing to housing splice; Fig. 5B is an end view of the locking nut of Fig. 5A; Fig. 6A is an end view of a retaining clip of the housing to housing splice; and Fig. 6B is a side view of the retaining clip of Fig. 6A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Fig. 1 shows a housing to housing splice 10. The splice 10 comprises a male body 20, a female body 30, a coupling nut 40, a locking nut 50, a terminal 60, a retaining clip 70, insulators 80 and 90 and o-rings 100, 110, 120, 130, and 140. The splice 10 provides for interconnection between a port of a first CATV (Cable Television) housing and a port of a second CATV housing with a minimal amount of signal loss between the ports. Figs. 2A-2C show male body 20. Male body 20 is comprised of aluminum or other corrosion resistant material . A central bore 29 extends through the male body 20 from a first end 21 to a second end 25. Adjacent the first end 21, along the exterior surface of the male body, is a race 23 for receiving an o-ring therein. A second end 25 of the male body 20 includes a threaded section 22 which is configured to mate with a cooperating CATV housing port (not shown) . A section 80 of the male body 20 is hexagonally shaped in order to provide a surface that allows for sufficient tightening of the second end 25 of the male body 20 to the cooperating CATV housing port. An annular shoulder 28 is provided about the external surface of the male body 20 and acts as a stop for a coupling nut, described below. A second annular race 27 is provided between the annular shoulder 28 and a center section 26 for receiving a second o-ring therein. A third annular race 24 is provided adjacent the center section 26 for receiving a retaining clip therein, described below. Referring now to Figs. 3A-3C, a female body 30 is shown. Female body 30 is comprised of aluminum or other corrosion resistant material. A central bore 39 extends through the female body from first end 31 to second end 35. A second end 35 of the female body 30 includes a first threaded section 32 which is configured to mate with a cooperating CATV housing port. A section 34 of the female body 30 is hexagonally shaped in order to provide a surface that allows for sufficient tightening of the second end 35 to the cooperating CATV housing port. A second threaded section 33 is provided for maintaining a lock nut, described below, thereon. Between the first threaded section and the second threaded a first annular race 81 is provided for receiving an o-ring therein. An annular shoulder 82 is provided about the external surface of the female body and defines one edge of a second annular race 35, also for receiving an o-ring therein. Between the second annular race 82 and the first end 31 is a third threaded section 36. Third threaded section 36 is provided for mating with a coupling nut, described below. A second annular bore 37 is provided a predetermined distance within the first end 31 of the female body 30. Second annular bore 37 is configured to receive the first end 21 of male body 20 therein. A third annular bore 38 is provided a predetermined distance within the first end of 31 of female body 30 and is configured to receive the hexagonal section 80 of male body 20 therein at a prescribed alignment. Once the hexagonal section 80 of male body 20 is received within the third annular bore 38, the male body 20 is no longer rotatable with respect to the female body 30. Figs. 4A and 4B show coupling nut 40. Coupling nut 40 is comprised of aluminum or other corrosion resistant material. Coupling nut 40 includes a first central bore 44 extending from a first end 41 to a second end 42. A second central bore 46 extends from first end 41 a predetermined distance within nut 40, and forms an annular shoulder 45 where second bore 46 meets first bore 44. First bore 44 is sized to surround the center section 25 of the male body 20, and second bore 46 is sized to surround the annular shoulder 28 of the male body 20 as well as the first end 31 of the female body 30. Within bore 44 is a threaded section 43 for mating with the third threaded section 36 of the female body 30 and for biasing the annular shoulder 45 of coupling nut 40 against annular shoulder 28 of male body 20 when the splice 10 is assembled. Figs. 5A and 5B show locking nut 50. Locking nut 50 is comprised of aluminum or other corrosion resistant material . Locking nut 50 includes a threaded bore 53 extending from a first end 51 to a second end 52. Threaded bore 53 is sized to mate with the second threaded section 33 of female body 30, and is movable relative to the female body 30. Referring now to Figs. 6A and 6B, a retaining clip 70 is shown. Clip 70 has a bore 71 disposed therethrough. A section of the clip 70 has an opening 72, thus allowing the clip to expand and to fit into race 24 of male body 20. Referring back to Fig. 1, a terminal 60 comprised of conductive material as shown extending from beyond the second end 35 of female body 30, through female body 30, through male body 20 and extending beyond the second end 25 of male body 20. The terminal 60 is supported within, and is electrically and mechanically isolated from, female body 30 by a first insulator 80. The terminal 60 is further supported within, and electrically and mechanically isolated from, male body 20 by a second insulator 90. The terminal 60 includes an expanded section 62 which, with the air within the male and female bodies as a dielectric, provides impedance matching of the splice 10 to the housing ports when the splice 10 is installed. The housing to housing splice is installed as follows. Male body 20 has already had coupling nut 40 installed and retaining clip 70 installed into race 24. As such, the retaining clip prevents the coupling nut from becoming separated from the male body 20. The terminal 60 and second insulator 90 have also been installed within male body 20, as have a plurality of o-rings 120, 130 and 140. O-ring 120 is received in race 23 to provide a moisture proof seal between the male body 20 and the female body 30 when the splice 10 is assembled. O-ring 130 is provided in race 27 to provide a moisture proof seal between the male body 20 and the coupling nut 130 when the splice 10 is assembled. O-ring 140 is received in race 83 to provide a moisture proof seal between the male body 20 and the housing when the male body 20 is installed onto the first port of the CATV housing. The male body 20 is installed onto the first port of a first housing by mating the threaded section 22 to a cooperating female port of the housing. Hexagonal section 85 provides a surface that is useful for tightening the male body 20 into the cooperating first port such that a secure mechanical and electrical connection is made between the male body and the housing. Female body 30 has been prepared by having lock nut 50 installed on the threaded section 33, first insulator 80 installed, o-ring 110 installed into race 35, and o-ring 100 installed into race 81. O-ring 110 provides a moisture proof seal between the female body 30 and the coupling nut 40. O- ring 100 provides a moisture proof seal between the female body 30 and the housing when the female body is installed onto a port of the housing. Female body 30 is installed onto a second port of a second housing by mating the threaded section 32 with the cooperating second port of the second housing. Hexagonal section 34 provides a surface that is useful for aligning the female body 30 with the second port at a predetermined alignment such that hexagonal section 85 of male body 20 is received into the bore 38 of female body 30. The lock nut 50 is then used to secure the female body 30 to the second port of the second housing so that the predetermined alignment is maintained. The first end of the male body 20 is brought together with the first end of the female body with the a portion of the terminal 60 extending through and beyond insulator 80. The coupling nut 40 which is rotatable about the first end of the male body 20, is mated with the threaded section 36 and tightened thereon to provide a secure mechanical connection between the female body and the male body. As such, a secure high quality electrical and mechanical connection is provided between the first port of the first housing and the second port of the second housing. The housing to housing splice utilizes a minimal amount of parts is lower in cost when compared to current splices. The housing to housing splice of the current invention also provides the interconnection between two ports with a minimal amount of signal loss. Having described preferred embodiments of the invention it will now become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments incorporating these concepts may be used. Accordingly, it is submitted that the invention should not be limited to the described embodiments but rather should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims: CLAIMS We claim: 1. A housing-to-housing splice comprising: a male body, open on each of two ends, said male body defining an interior space, a second end of said male body for mating with a first port of a first housing; a female body, open on each of two ends, said female body defining an interior space, a first end of said female body for mating with a second port of a second housing, a second end of said female body for receiving the first end of said male body; a terminal having a first end and a second end, said terminal extending through said interior space of said male body and through the interior space of said female body, said first end of said terminal extending beyond the first end of said female body, the second end of said terminal extending beyond the second end of said male body; and a coupling element, rotatably secured about said male body for coupling to said female body and securing said male body to said female body. 2. The housing-to-housing splice of claim 1 further comprising a first insulator disposed within the first end of said female body, said first insulator surrounding a section of said terminal, said first insulator mechanically and electrically isolating said terminal from said female body. 3. The housing-to-housing splice of claim 1 further comprising a second insulator disposed within the second end of said male body, said second insulator surrounding a section of said terminal, said second insulator mechanically and electrically isolating said terminal from said male body. 4. The housing-to-housing splice of claim 1 further comprising a locking nut adjustably disposed about the first end of said female body, said locking nut capable of securing said female body to the second port of the second housing at a predetermined angle. 5. The housing-to-housing splice of claim 1 further comprising a retaining clip disposed about an exterior surface of said male body, said retaining clip preventing said coupling nut from separating from said male body. 6. The housing to housing splice of claim 1 wherein said terminal further comprises an expanded central section. 7. The housing to housing splice of claim 1 further comprising a first o-ring disposed adjacent the first end of said female body. 8. The housing to housing splice of claim 1 further comprising a second o-ring disposed between said female body and said coupling nut. 9. The housing to housing splice of claim 1 further comprising a third o-ring disposed between said female body and said male body. 10. The housing to housing splice of claim 1 further comprising a fourth o-ring disposed between said female body and said coupling nut. 11. The housing to housing splice of claim 1 further comprising a fifth o-ring disposed adjacent the first end of 0 said male body. 12. The housing to housing splice of claim 1 wherein said female body, said male body, said coupling nut and said locking nut comprise corrosion resistant material. 13. A housing-to-housing splice comprising: a male body, open on each of two ends, said male body defining an interior space, a second end of said male body for mating with a first port of a first housing; a female body, open on each of two ends, said female body defining an interior space, a first end of said female body for mating with a second port of a second housing, a second end of said female body for receiving the first end of said male body; a terminal having a first end and a second end, said terminal extending through said interior space of said male body and through the interior space of said female body, said first end of said terminal extending beyond the first end of said female body, the second end of said terminal extending beyond the second end of said male body, said terminal having an expanded central section; a coupling element, rotatably secured about said male body for mating to said female body and securing said male body to said female body; a first insulator disposed within the first end of said female body, said first insulator surrounding a section of said terminal; a second insulator disposed within the second end of said male body, said second insulator surrounding a section of said terminal; a locking nut adjustably disposed about the first end of said female body, said locking nut capable of securing said female body to a housing at a predetermined orientation; a retaining clip disposed about an exterior surface of said male body, said retaining clip preventing said coupling nut from separating from said male body; 14. The housing to housing splice of claim 13 further comprising : a first o-ring disposed adjacent the first end of said female body; a second o-ring disposed between said female body and said coupling nut; a third o-ring disposed between said female body and said male body; a fourth o-ring disposed between said female body and said coupling nut; and a fifth o-ring disposed adjacent the first end of said male body. 15. The housing to housing splice of claim 13 wherein said female body, said male body, said coupling nut and said locking nut comprise corrosion resistant material .

Inventors: DEAN MICHAEL R, DUNHAM DAVID E, LOCATI RONALD P, PHILIPS ROGER C JR, RADZIK JOHN R, STABILE DAVID J, DEAN, MICHAEL, R., DUNHAM, DAVID, E., LOCATI, RONALD, P., PHILIPS, ROGER, C., JR., RADZIK, JOHN, R., STABILE, DAVID, J.
Applicants: THOMAS & BETTS INT, THOMAS & BETTS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: H01R9
IPC codes: H01R13