Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a connector particularly suitable for use in a building entrance box and, more particularly, to such a connector having a sealing cover. 
     Where telephone wires enter a building, there is usually provided a building entrance box. The incoming wires, which are typically contained within one or more multi-wire cables, enter a splice chamber in the box, where they are connected to wires which go to a protector field, in a connector chamber of the box, providing protection against lightning, high voltage and high current, and then connections are made within the connector chamber to an output wire connector field. At the connector field, connections are made to wires which extend through the building to output jacks at various locations in the building. Accordingly, a connector is provided within the connector chamber. 
     When such a box is used in an outdoor application, moisture can enter the box through openings provided for the incoming cables. This moisture can pass from the splice chamber to the connector chamber and can condense on the underside of the connector field, where it can short out terminals. To prevent such problems, in the past the underside of the connector field has been potted. This is a time consuming and costly procedure, requiring a large amount of potting material. It would therefore be desirable to provide a connector which protects the connector field from condensation, without requiring potting. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, there is provided a plurality of elongated conductive terminals each having first and second wire-receiving ends along a longitudinal axis of each terminal and a substantially planar insulative base holding the plurality of terminals in a parallel spaced array. The axes of the terminals are orthogonal to the base with the first ends of all of the terminals extending outwardly from a first side of the base and the second ends of all of the terminals extending outwardly from a second side of the base. An insulative wall extends from the first side of the base and surrounds the first ends of all of the terminals. The wall terminates in a distal edge which is further from the first side of the base than the first ends of all of the terminals. A cover is secured to the wall to enclose the first ends of all of the terminals. The cover has an opening to allow the passage therethrough of wires secured to the first ends of the terminals and the opening is conformable to snugly surround the wires passing therethrough. 
     In accordance with an aspect of this invention, the wall includes four segments arranged to define a rectangular periphery around the first ends of the terminals and the cover is formed integrally with one of the wall segments and has a substantially planar rectangular configuration matching the rectangular periphery defined by the wall segments. 
     In accordance with another aspect of this invention, the cover is connected to that wall segment by a living hinge joining a first edge of the cover and the distal edge of the one wall segment. 
     In accordance with a further aspect of this invention, another edge of the cover is formed with an indentation to define the opening. 
     In accordance with yet a further aspect of this invention, the connector further includes a grommet formed of resilient insulative material installed in the indentation. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawings in which like elements in different figures thereof are identified by the same reference numeral and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view, partially sectioned, of an illustrative embodiment of a connector constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention with the cover in an open position; 
     FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the cover in its closed position; 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the connector shown in FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an illustrative grommet which may be utilized as part of the connector shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings, shown therein is a connector constructed according to the principles of this invention and designated generally by the reference numeral  10 . The connector  10  includes a plurality of elongated conductive terminals  12  each having a first wire receiving end  14  and a second wire receiving end  16 . As shown, the first wire receiving end  14  is adapted for a wire wrap termination and the second wire receiving end  16  is adapted for an insulation displacement connection, but it is not intended that these types of connections be limiting. The connector  10  includes a substantially planar insulative base  18  which holds the terminals  12  in a parallel spaced array. When so held, the axes of the terminals  12  are orthogonal to the base  18 , with all of the ends  14  extending outwardly from a first side  20  of the base  18  and all of the second ends  16  extending outwardly from a second side  22  of the base  18 . Preferably, the terminals  12  are all identical in size and configuration and their ends  14  all extend an equal distance from the side  20 . 
     An insulative wall  24  extends from the side  20  of the base  18  and surrounds the first ends  14  of all of the terminals  12 . The wall  24  terminates in a distal edge  26  which is further from the side  20  than the first ends  14  of all of the terminals  12 , as best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Illustratively, the wall  24  is formed integrally with the base  18  and is made up of four segments  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  which are arranged in a rectilinear pattern to define a rectangular periphery around the first ends  14  of the terminals  12 . Illustratively, the wall  24  extends orthogonally to the side  20  of the base  18 . 
     According to the present invention, the connector  10  includes a cover  36 . The cover  36  is preferably formed integrally with the wall segment  28  and is connected to the wall segment  28  by a living hinge  38  joining a first edge of the cover  36  to the distal edge of the wall segment  28 . The cover  36  has a substantially planar rectangular configuration matching the rectangular periphery defined by the wall segments  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 . Thus, the cover  36  is adapted to enclose the first ends  14  of all of the terminals  12 . To maintain the cover  36  in its closed position, as shown in FIG. 2, the cover  36  and the wall segment  32  include complementary features. Illustratively, the wall segment  32  extends beyond the distal edges of the adjacent wall segments  30 ,  34  and in that extension is formed with an indentation  40  on its side facing the cover  36 . Preferably, the indentation  40  is an elongated groove extending the length of the wall segment  32  and parallel to the side  20  of the base  18 . Along its edge opposite the living hinge  38 , the cover  36  is formed with a protrusion  42  which fits in the indentation  40 . Thus, the cover  36  is snap fit into the wall segment  32  when the cover  36  is moved to its closed position, as viewed in FIG.  2 . The cover  36  is further formed with a handle portion  44  adjacent the protrusion  42 . 
     In order to allow wires  46  connected to the ends  14  of the terminals  12  to exit the connector  10  after the cover  36  is in its closed position, the cover  36  is provided with an opening to allow the wires  46  to pass therethrough, and the opening is conformable to snugly surround the wires  46 . As shown, along its edge opposite the living hinge  38 , the cover  36  is formed with an indentation  48 . Illustratively, there are four such indentations, as shown in FIG.  3 . Fitted in each such indentation  48  is a grommet  50 , only three of which are shown in FIG.  3 . The grommet  50  is formed from resilient insulative material and includes an outer thickened region  52  and a central web  54 . The thickened region  52  of the grommet  50  is bifurcated along its periphery, as shown at  56 , so that it can be installed in the indentation  48 . The central web  54  is slit in a cross shape, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Accordingly, after the wires  46  are connected to the terminal ends  14 , the wires  46  may be moved laterally into the slit of the central web  54  and the cover  36  may then be moved to its closed position. The central web  54  of the grommet  50  provides a snug conformable fit around the wires  46 . Accordingly, a relatively tight seal is provided for the first side  20  of the base  18  of the connector  10 . 
     Accordingly, there has been disclosed an improved connector having a sealing cover. While an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed herein, it is understood that various adaptations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment are possible and it is intended that this invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Category: h