Patent Publication Number: US-9407032-B1

Title: Waterproof device for connector joint

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2015-0108291, filed on Jul. 30, 2015, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The following description generally relates to a waterproof device for a connector joint, and more particularly to a waterproof device for a connector joint, which seals a joint of a modular jack and a connector. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     When closed-circuit (CC) TV cameras are installed, an RJ45 modular jack and an RJ45 connector are generally connected for data transmission. However, when the CCTV cameras are installed in an outdoor environment, the joint of an RJ45 modular jack and an RJ45 connector is exposed to the outside such that a failure in the CCTV camera may occur due to moisture from rain and the like. Accordingly, a waterproof device is used to waterproof the connector joint. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of such waterproof device for a connector joint. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the waterproof device for a connector joint includes a connector protective cover  1 , a back cover  2 , and a cable waterproofing gasket  3 . The waterproof device for a connector joint is operated in such a manner that: a cable C is sequentially inserted into the back cover  2 , the cable waterproofing gasket  3 , and the connector protective cover  1 , and then the cable C is connected with the connector  4 ; after joining the connector  4  connected to the cable C to the module jack  5 , the connector protective cover  1  is turned clockwise to be connected to the modular jack  5 ; and the back cover  2  is similarly turned clockwise to be connected to the connector protective cover  1 . In this manner, when the back cover  2  is connected, the cable waterproofing gasket  3  is pressed to the cable, thereby enabling waterproofing. 
     However, such general waterproof device for a connector joint, as disclosed in Korea Patent No. 10-1152933 (May 29, 2012), has drawbacks in that various components are required, which increases the cost of parts, and an assembly process becomes complicated, thereby reducing productivity. Further, since the cable C is connected to the connector after being inserted into all the components of a waterproof device for a connector joint, a process of connecting the cable with the connector may not be performed in advance but should be performed on the spot of installation, such that equipment for installation should be carried all the time. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed is a waterproof device for a connector joint, which has a simple structure and can be installed even after a cable and a connector are connected in advance. 
     In one general aspect, there is provided a waterproof device for a connector joint, the device sealing a joint of a modular jack and a connector to waterproof the joint and including: a body portion having a hollow inner portion, and a connection groove which is formed on an inner circumference of one end of the body portion, and is shaped corresponding to the modular jack so that the modular jack is coupled and fixed to the body portion; and an elastic member formed to surround an outer circumference of the body portion and to have an insertion portion having a connector inserting hole which is formed on a side opposite to a side where the modular jack is coupled, and through which the connector passes, wherein after the connector passes therethrough, the cable of the connector is pressed against the connector inserting hole to seal an inside of the body portion. 
     The insertion portion may be concavely formed toward the modular jack. 
     The elastic member may be made of a silicone rubber. 
     The body portion and the elastic member may be integrally formed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a general waterproof device for a connector joint. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an example of using a waterproof device for a connector joint according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the waterproof device for a connector joint illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of using the waterproof device for a connector joint illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a method of using a waterproof device for a connector joint according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a tool to insert a modular jack into a housing of a waterproof device for a connector joint according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwise described, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures. The relative size and depiction of these elements may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein. Accordingly, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein will be suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for increased clarity and conciseness. 
     Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the example embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. 
     The waterproof device for a connector joint is a device for sealing a joint of a modular jack, which is a female connector, and a connector, which is a male connector, so that the joint may be waterproofed. The modular jack may be an RJ45 modular jack, and the connector corresponding to the modular jack may be an R45 connector. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an example of using a waterproof device for a connector joint according to an exemplary embodiment,  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the waterproof device for a connector joint illustrated in  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of using the waterproof device for a connector joint illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the waterproof device for a connector joint includes a body portion  10  and an elastic member  20 . 
     The body portion  10  has a hollow inner portion. A connection groove  10   a  is formed on the inner circumference of one end of the body portion  10 , and is shaped corresponding to the modular jack, so that the modular jack may be coupled and fixed to the body portion  10 . The body portion  10  may have a cylindrical shape with a circular inner and outer circumferences. However, the body portion  10  is not limited thereto, and may have other shapes according to the outer shape of a connector. The body portion  10  may be injection-molded or extrusion-molded. 
     The elastic member  20  is formed to surround the outer circumference of the body portion  10 . An insertion portion  21  has a connector inserting hole  21   a  which is formed on a side opposite to the side where the modular jack  5  is coupled, and through which the connector  4  may pass, in which after the connector  4  passes therethrough, the cable C of the connector  4  is pressed against the connector inserting hole  21   a  such that the inside of the body portion may be sealed. Since the connector inserting hole  21   a  presses the cable C after the connector  4  is inserted into the connector inserting hole  21   a , the connector inserting hole  21   a  may be formed to have a diameter identical to or smaller than the diameter of the cable C. Further, the connector inserting hole  21   a  may have a circular shape, but is not limited thereto, and may have a square shape or a triangle shape. 
     As described above, the waterproof device for a connector joint may have a simple structure to waterproof a joint of the modular jack  5  and the connector  4 , such that the cost of parts may be reduced, and an assembly process may be easily performed, thereby improving productivity. Further, a waterproofing process may be performed even when a cable and a connector are connected in advance, thereby facilitating the process. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the insertion portion  21  may be concavely formed toward the modular jack  4 . In the case where the insertion portion  21  is concavely formed toward the modular jack  4 , the connector  4  may be easily inserted into the connector inserting hole  21   a , and the cable C may be pressed against the connector inserting hole  21   a  after the connector  4  is inserted thereinto, such that the inside of the body portion may be tightly sealed. 
     Further, the body portion  10  may be integrally formed with the elastic member  20 . The body portion  10  and the elastic member  20  may be integrally formed by double injection molding, or the body portion  10  formed in advance may be inserted into a mold, and then the elastic member  20  may be injection molded. In the case where the body portion  10  and the elastic member  20  are integrally formed, there is no need to put together the body portion  10  and the elastic member  20 , thereby facilitating installation. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a method of using a waterproof device for a connector joint according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the method of using the aforementioned waterproof device for a connector joint will be described below. 
     First, the modular jack  5  is inserted into the housing  10  of the waterproof device for a connector joint in S 10 . A tool is necessary to easily insert the modular jack  5  into the housing  10 , since the size of the modular jack  5  and the size of the opening of the hollow housing  10  are similar, such that it is not easy to insert the modular jack  5  into the housing  10  without using a tool, and when the modular jack  5  is inserted, the edges of the housing  10  may be damaged. As an example of such tool,  FIG. 6  illustrates a jig  6 . After the modular jack  5  is connected to one side of the jig  6 , the jig  6  is inserted into the housing  10 , starting from the other side that has a pointed portion. After the modular jack  5  is inserted into the housing  10 , the jig  6  is discharged through the connector inserting hole  21   a . The jig  6  may be made of a soft material. 
     Separately from the above process, the connector  4  is connected to the cable C in S 20 , in which the cable C may be a LAN cable, and the connector  4  may be an RJ45 connector. The connector and the cable C may be connected by using a LAN tool. 
     Then, the connector  4  connected with the cable C is inserted into the connector inserting hole  21   a  of the elastic member  20  in S 30 . Since the cable C is pressed against the connector inserting hole  21   a  after the connector  4  is inserted thereinto, the connector inserting hole  21   a  may be formed to have a diameter identical to or smaller than the diameter of the cable C. That is, the connector inserting hole  21   a  is formed to be smaller than the connector  4 . However, the connector inserting hole  21   a  of the elastic member  20  is elastic, such that the connector  4  may be pressed into the connector inserting hole  21   a.    
     Subsequently, the connector  4  is joined to the modular jack  5  in S 40 . In order to join the connector  4  and the modular jack  5 , a user needs to check the inserting hole of the modular jack. Accordingly, the modular jack is required to be pressed as closest as possible to the connector inserting hole  21   a  to enable a user to check the inserting hole of the modular jack  5 . Then, by holding the connector  4  with a right hand, and by pressing the connector  4  toward the modular jack  5 , the connector  4  may be joined to the modular jack  5 . 
     Next, the modular jack  5  is coupled and fixed to the body portion  20 . By pulling the cable C of the modular jack  5  to move the modular jack  5  to the opposite side of the connector inserting hole  21   a , the modular jack  5  may be coupled and fixed to the body portion  20 . With the connection groove  10   a  which is formed on the inner circumference of one end of the body portion  10 , and is shaped corresponding to the modular jack so that the modular jack may be coupled and fixed to the body portion  20 , the modular jack  5  may be turned to be coupled and fixed to the body portion  20 . 
     As described above, by using the waterproof device for a connector joint, an installation process may be easily performed even when a cable and a connector are connected in advance. 
     According to the present disclosure, as the waterproof device for a connector joint has a simple structure, such that the cost of parts may be reduced, and an assembly process may be easily performed, thereby improving productivity. 
     Further, the device may be easily installed even when a cable and a connector are connected in advance. 
     A number of examples have been described above. Nevertheless, it should be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. Further, the above-described examples are for illustrative explanation of the present invention, and thus, the present invention is not limited thereto.