Patent ID: 7845990

Claim:
An enclosed connection system for connecting first and second elongate electrical conductors, the enclosed connection system comprising: a) a transverse wedge connector including: an electrically conductive first connector member including: a first body having inner and outer opposed ends; a first hook portion on the outer end of the first body, the first hook portion defining a first channel to receive the first conductor; and a first abutment portion on the inner end of the first body; an electrically conductive second connector member including: a second body having inner and outer opposed ends; a second hook portion on the outer end of the second body, the second hook portion defining a second channel to receive the second conductor; and a second abutment portion on the inner end of the second body; and a clamping mechanism selectively operable to displace the first and second connector members relative to one another from an open position to a clamping position to clamp the first conductor in the first channel and between the first hook portion and the second abutment portion and to clamp the second conductor in the second channel and between the second hook portion and the first abutment portion to thereby form a connection; and b) an enclosure having a lengthwise axis and configured to receive and cover the connection and to protect the transverse wedge connector, the enclosure comprising: a first cover member having a first main section and a first port extension extending longitudinally from the first main section; a second cover member having a second main section and a second port extension extending longitudinally from the second main section; and a port latch mechanism including an integral first port latch feature on the first port extension and an integral second port latch feature on the second port extension; wherein the first and second cover members are relatively movable between an open position to receive the connection and a closed position wherein the first and second main sections collectively define a main cavity to contain the transverse wedge connector and the first and second port extensions collectively define a first conductor tube and a first conductor port, the first conductor tube defining a first conductor passage extending longitudinally from the main cavity to the first conductor port; and wherein, when the first and second cover members are in the closed position, the first and second port latch features interlock to secure the first and second port extensions together.