Patent ID: 8857049

Claim:
A method for environmentally protecting a terminal block, the terminal block including multiple integral connectors interconnecting multiple electrical cables on a front side of the terminal block, the method comprising: providing a sealing device including: a base substrate having an anchoring surface; and a gel sealant body having an engagement surface, wherein the gel sealant body is secured to the anchoring surface and extends forwardly from the anchoring surface to the engagement surface; applying the sealing device to the front side of the terminal block such that the gel sealant body is interposed between the terminal block and the base substrate and the engagement surface engages the connectors of the terminal block; and wrapping a retainer member around the terminal block and securing the sealing device to the terminal block using the retainer member; wherein: the engagement surface of the gel sealant body is located fully beyond the base substrate such that side and end faces of the gel sealant body are substantially unconstrained; the base substrate is a substantially flat plate having no upstanding side walls; the base substrate is semi-rigid and has a Young's Modulus in the range of from about 2.0 GPa to 3.0 GPa; and the method includes bending the base substrate to conform the sealing device to the terminal block.