Patent Publication Number: US-10790613-B2

Title: Waterproof apparatus for pre-terminated cables

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional utility patent application is a continuation application of, and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/246,118, filed on Aug. 26, 2016 and issued Oct. 9, 2018 as U.S. Pat. No. 10,096,933, entitled “Waterproof Apparatus for Cables and Cable Interfaces”, which is a continuation application of, and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/802,829, filed on Jul. 17, 2015 and issued Dec. 27, 2016 as U.S. Pat. No. 9,531,114, entitled “Waterproof Apparatus for Cables and Cable Interfaces”, which is a continuation application of, and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/925,566, filed on Jun. 24, 2013 and issued Sep. 8, 2015 as U.S. Pat. No. 9,130,305, entitled “Waterproof Apparatus for Cables and Cable Interfaces”, which claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/773,636, filed on Mar. 6, 2013, entitled “Plastic Gland for Weatherproof Ethernet Connectivity”. All of the aforementioned disclosures are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties including all references and appendices cited therein. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present technology relates to systems and methods for coupling cables. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, the present technology relates to waterproof apparatuses for cables and cable interfaces. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In general, the installation of a data transmission cable requires the use of connectors that are coupled with terminal ends of the transmission cable. The cable and connectors cooperate to couple two or more data transmission terminals together. Due to cable size variability and connector interface type, technicians fabricate or “re-terminate” cables with connectors in the field. Exemplary cables include Category (CAT) 5E, Category 6, Category 7, Category 7 Direct Burial, and so forth. Exemplary connector interfaces include RJ45 through GG45. Connector housings that hold the cable and the connector interface may interface with a connector bulkhead, which typically includes a male or female connector interface that is complimentary to the connector interfaces that are coupled with the cable. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to some embodiments, the present technology is directed to an apparatus, comprising a coupler body that includes a first end configured to releaseably couple with a connector bulkhead and a second end having an opening that is sized to receive a sealing gland, a cavity for receiving the sealing gland, the sealing gland comprising an outer peripheral surface configured to sealingly engage with an inner surface of the cavity, the sealing gland comprising an aperture that is configured to receive a cable. 
     According to some embodiments, the present technology is directed to a method for waterproofing a pre-terminated cable and connector. The method comprises: (a) threading the pre-terminated cable and connector through a coupler cap having an angled inner sidewall; (b) placing a sealing gland around the pre-terminated cable in such a way that the sealing gland encircles a section of the pre-terminated cable to form a waterproof seal between the sealing gland and the cable; (c) threading the pre-terminated cable and connector into a coupler body that includes a first end configured to releaseably couple with a connector bulkhead and a second end having a plurality of tabs that form a recess; (d) disposing the sealing gland within the recess; and (e) engaging the coupler cap with the second end of the coupler body such that the plurality of tabs are compressed against the sealing gland by the angled inner sidewall of the coupler cap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Certain embodiments of the present technology are illustrated by the accompanying figures. It will be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that details not necessary for an understanding of the technology or that render other details difficult to perceive may be omitted. It will be understood that the technology is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a waterproof apparatus for a cable and a cable interface, constructed in accordance with the present technology; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the waterproof apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     While this technology is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the technology and is not intended to limit the technology to the embodiments illustrated. 
     It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings with like reference characters. It will be further understood that several of the figures are merely schematic representations of the present technology. As such, some of the components may have been distorted from their actual scale for pictorial clarity. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     In particular, the present system and method provides a secure method for waterproof coupling of connectors of different sizes that provides strain relief. The present technology provides a plastic gland that weatherizes and provides strain relief to a pre-terminated Ethernet cable attached to a bulkhead connector. 
     Conventional waterproof couplers often require parts that are specific to the type of cable being connected. This may create a large increase in the number of parts required on-hand by an installing technician. Additionally, waterproof connections often require re-termination of the cable. Re-terminating a cable in the field can cause contamination of the cable leading to reduced transmission capabilities, as well as being time-consuming and tedious. High speed data connections require bigger cables, which leads to even a greater number of parts using conventional waterproof connectors specifically adapted to a specific cable size. A larger range for waterproof connectors is advantageous for accommodating the current wide range of cable sizes, as well as future cables having larger sizes. For example, RJ45 is not a weatherproof connector, and may require waterproofing in various installations. The RJ45 connector, while ubiquitous for data communications applications, is not designed for extended outdoor use. 
     The present technology provides a waterproof cover that attaches over the top of the RJ45 connection and makes it waterproof. The present technology accommodates pre-terminated cables, thereby avoiding re-termination of cables in the field. Additionally, the present technology works with various cable sizes including CAT 5E, CAT 6, CAT 7, CAT 7 Direct Burial, and various connector and coupler sizes including RJ45 through GG45. 
     Prior art cable connectors require sliding cable through a rubber grommet, which typically do not have a large dynamic range. The present technology provides a split grommet having a large dynamic range, for instance closed cell foam. The split grommet is put over the cable, and then a piece on the back is screwed to tighten and seal the coupling between the grommet and the cable. Pressure is applied to and carried by the housing over the seal. The split enables the plastic gland provided herein to be used with a pre-terminated cable, since the connector need not fit through the grommet, but instead the grommet is slid over the cable using the split. 
     A lock is formed using a bayonet arrangement that does not need to be waterproof. The lock is thereby reduced to two pieces, compared with a three piece lock in prior art, since there is no requirement of weather proofing on the lock. The lock bayonet thereby reduces the number of parts. A hole in the side of the enclosure for accessing the lock does not impair the weather proofing of the cable connection. 
     An advantage of the present technology includes a reduced part count, as well as a bulkhead enclosure that provides secure weather proofing. One grommet may be used, which may be split and made of closed cell foam (having a durometer, for example, of approximately 40), rather than hard rubber (which may have a durometer, for example, of approximately 80). The exemplary grommet provided herein may therefore accommodate a wide dynamic range, including CAT 5E, CAT 6, CAT 7, CAT 7 Direct Burial. 
     The waterproof plastic gland provided herein may also reduce strain on the connector by carrying the load from one cable to the next without relying on the strength of the connector. Strain relief of the connector is a significant additional benefit when the cable is hanging, for instance hanging off the side of a building or house. 
     Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1-3 , which collectively illustrate an exemplary apparatus  100 . Generally, the apparatus  100  comprises a coupler body  105 , a sealing gland  110 , and a coupler cap  115 . The coupler body  105  is configured to couple with a connector bulkhead  120 , as will be described in greater detail below. 
     According to some embodiments, the coupler body  105  comprises a first end  125  and a second end  130  that are spaced apart from one another to define a tubular passage. The first end  125  may comprise an interface, such as a bayonet lock  135  that is configured to lockingly engage with a complementary groove of the connector bulkhead  120 . Although a bayonet lock has been described, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other mechanisms for coupling and/or locking the first end  125  and the connector bulkhead  120  are likewise contemplated for use in accordance with the present technology. 
     To create a waterproof seal between the first end  125  and the connector bulkhead  120 , a sealing gasket  140  (see  FIG. 3 ) is disposed there between. Thus, when the first end  125  and the connector bulkhead  120  are coupled together using the bayonet lock  135 , a waterproof seal is formed there between. As is shown in  FIG. 3 , the connector bulkhead  120  is shown as comprising a bulkhead connector interface that receives a connector  145  that is coupled to a cable  150 . That is, the cable  150  is pre-terminated with a connector  145 . 
     The second end  130  of the coupler body  105  may comprise a plurality of tabs  155  that extend from the second end  130 . In some embodiments, the plurality of tabs  155  are each substantially arcuate in shape and collectively form a ring that extends from the second end  130 . This ring comprised of the plurality of tabs  155  forms a cavity or recess  160  that is configured to receive the sealing gland  110 . In some embodiments, the second end  130  may not include the plurality of tabs  155 , such that the sealing gland  110  is inserted directly into a cavity of the second end  130 . 
     According to some embodiments, the coupler cap  115  is configured to couple with the second end  130  and enclose the second end  130  to retain the sealing gland  110  therein. In some instances, the coupler cap  115  is configured to engage with the plurality of tabs  155  of the second end  130  to secure the sealing gland  110 . More specifically, the coupler cap  115  may be substantially dome-shaped, having an angled inner sidewall  165 . In some embodiments, the inner sidewall  165  is substantially frusto-conical shaped. When the coupler cap  115  is threadably engaged with the second end  130 , the plurality of tabs  155  engage with the inner sidewall  165  of the coupler cap  115  and are compressed by the inner sidewall  165 , against the sealing gland  110 . This compression of the sealing gland  110  by the plurality of tabs  155  creates a waterproof seal between the sealing gland  110  and an inner surface  170  of the second end  130 . As will be discussed in greater detail below, the compression of the sealing gland  110  by the plurality of tabs  155  also causes the sealing gland  110  to compress an outer peripheral surface  175  of a section of the cable  150  that has been associated with the sealing gland  110 . 
     In some embodiments, the sealing gland  110  comprises a section of compressible, foam-like material that is fabricated from a waterproof, water resistant, or water repellant material. The sealing gland  110  may be advantageously fabricated from a closed cell foam, although one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the sealing gland may be fabricated from any number of materials, so long as the material is compressible and capable of forming a waterproof seal between the inner sidewall of a coupler body and the outer sidewall of a cable. 
     In accordance with the present disclosure, the sealing gland  110  may comprise an annular ring of a closed cell foam, where the sealing gland  110  comprises a given thickness that varies according to design requirements. The sealing gland  110  includes a hole or aperture  185  that is sized to receive a section of a cable, such as the pre-terminated cable  150 . The sealing gland  110  also includes a slit  190  that allows the sealing gland  110  to be pressed over the cable  150 , where the cable  150  travels through the slit  190  such that the cable  150  is received within the aperture  185 . The sealing gland  110  comprises a first surface  190 A and a second surface  190 B formed by the slit  190 . 
     Advantageously, the sealing gland  110  encircles the section of the cable  150  and forms a waterproof interface therebetween. Because the sealing gland  110  is made from a foam material that is waterproof, the aperture  185  of the sealing gland  110  is capable of receiving cables of varying diameter. Cables of larger diameter are readily compressed by the sealing gland  110 , while cables of relatively smaller diameter may require compression of the sealing gland  110  by the coupler cap  115 . 
     Additionally, because the sealing gland  110  is fabricated from a resilient material, the first and second surfaces  190 A and  190 B are contiguous (e.g., touching) after the cable  150  to passes through the slit  190 . 
     Moreover, sealing gland  110  is free to slide along the cable  150 , which is advantageous when assembling the apparatus  100 , as will be described in greater detail below. 
     In some embodiments, the coupler cap  115  may comprise an open end  195  that is sized to receive a pre-terminated cable  150 . That is, the open end  195  may be sized to receive not only the cable  150 , but also the connector  145  that has been associated with the cable  150 . Even though the coupler cap  115  includes the open end  195 , the sealing gland  110  prevents water or other contaminates from contaminating the coupler body  105 , the connector  145 , or the connector bulkhead  120 . 
     In operation, the pre-terminated cable  150  is threaded through the open end  195  of the coupler cap  115 . The sealing gland  110  is associated with a section of the cable  150  by aligning the slit  190  of the sealing gland  110  with the section and pressing the sealing gland  110  onto the cable  150  until the cable  150  is received within the aperture  185  of the sealing gland  110 . Next, the connector  145  may be joined with the connector bulkhead  120 . It is noteworthy that in some instances, a sealing gasket  140  may be disposed between the first end  125  the connector bulkhead  120 , before the first end  125  of the coupler body  105  is coupled to the connector bulkhead  120 . 
     The sealing gland  110  is positioned within the cavity  160  formed by the plurality of tabs  155 . To secure the sealing gland  110  and create a waterproof seal between the second end  130 , the sealing gland  110 , and the cable  150 , the coupler cap  115  is coupled with the second end  130 . Again, coupling the coupler cap  115  with the second end  130  causes the angled inner sidewall  165  of the coupler cap  115  to engage with the ends of the plurality of tabs  155 , compressing the plurality of tabs  155  inwardly towards the cable  150 , while also compressing the sealing gland  110  against the cable  150 . 
     Other methods for compressing the sealing gland  110  may include a band or clip that is configured to cinch down against the plurality of tabs  155 . As mentioned above, the sealing gland  110  may not include the plurality of tabs  155 . The sealing gland  110  may be deformed or compressed by the user and inserted into the second end  130 . The resiliency of the material of the sealing gland  110  will cause the sealing gland  110  to expand and fill the second end  130 , creating the waterproof interface. 
     While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. The descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the technology to the particular forms set forth herein. Thus, the breadth and scope of a preferred embodiment should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that the above description is illustrative and not restrictive. To the contrary, the present descriptions are intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the technology as defined by the appended claims and otherwise appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. The scope of the technology should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but instead should be determined with reference to the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.