Patent ID: 7674121

Claim:
A protective endcap for use with a first cable connector and a second cable connector, the first and second cable connectors including mating ends and positioned within protective boots, the mating ends of the cable connectors adapted to electrically and physically mate with each other, the mating end of the first cable connector defining a first gender and the mating end of the second cable connector defining a second gender, the mating ends of the first and second cable connectors accessible through connector ends of the boot of each cable connector, the endcap comprising: a body with a first end and an opposing second end, the first end adapted to mate with the mating end of the first cable connector and the second end adapted to mate with the mating end of the second cable connector; the first end of the body including a first axial opening extending into the body, the first opening including a first intermediate wall sized to receive and engage the mating end of the first cable connector; the second end of the body including a second axial opening extending into the body, the second opening including a second intermediate wall sized to receive and engage the mating end of the second cable connector; the first end of the body including a first interlock arrangement for selectively engaging and forming a junction with the boot of the first cable connector and the second end of the body including a second interlock arrangement for selectively engaging and forming a junction with the boot of the second cable connector; wherein the first and second intermediate walls define an inner bulkhead within the body, the inner bulkhead closing off each of the axial openings, the inner bulkhead defining a first inner face exposed to the first axial opening and a second inner face exposed to the second axial opening, the first and second inner faces each defining circumferential recesses.