EP0328386A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Environmental protection closure for wire splices
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1989-02-09
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-02-09
Abstract
Abstract An environmental closure and method are provided, for use in generating an environmental seal about wire splices or the like. The preferred closure comprises a unitary construction having an outer, openable, shell with an internal biasing mechanism. In use, viscous sealant material is positioned within the closure such that the biasing mechanism generally forces sealant material around a junction to be sealed and, in particular, between adjacent wires in such junctions. In one application relatively highly viscous sealant material is utilized in association with junctions in a manner according to the present invention. In another general application, a relatively low viscosity sealant is used; the low viscosity sealant being generally bordered by high viscosity sealant, to inhibit leakage outwardly from a closure during use.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald F. Minnesota Mining And Reuter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:10
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G15/00; H02G15/08; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/52; H01R13/5216; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/44; G02B6/4439; G02B6/444; G02B6/4441; G02B6/4446; G02B6/4447; H01R4/00; H01R4/70; H02G15/18; G02B6/24; G02B6/255; G02B6/2558
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A closure for use in providing an environmental seal about a wire junction or the like; said closure comprising: (a) an openable shell having first and second elongate shell sections oriented adjacent one another, along a hinge; said first and second shell sections being selectively movable about said hinge between open and closed orientations; said shell, when in said closed orientation, defining an elongate, longitudinal, internal junction-receiving chamber having opposite end portions; (i) said first shell section having a first longitudinal surface; and, (ii) said second shell section having a second longitudinal surface; said first and second longitudinal surfaces, when said shell is in said closed orientation, being positioned substantially opposed to one another; (b) an internal biasing mechanism comprising an elongate, longitudinal, convex spring plate oriented with a convex side thereof projecting generally outwardly from said first shell section first surface; said spring plate extending substantially between said chamber first and second opposite end portions; and, (c) latch means constructed and arranged to selectively retain said shell in said closed orientation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A closure for use in providing an environmental seal about a wire junction or the like; said closure comprising: (a) an openable shell having first and second elongate shell sections oriented adjacent one another, along a hinge; said first and second shell sections being selectively movable about said hinge between open and closed orientations; said shell, when in said closed orientation, defining an elongate, longitudinal, internal junction-receiving chamber having opposite end portions; (i) said first shell section having a first longitudinal surface; and, (ii) said second shell section having a second longitudinal surface; said first and second longitudinal surfaces, when said shell is in said closed orientation, being positioned substantially opposed to one another; (b) an internal biasing mechanism comprising an elongate, longitudinal, convex spring plate oriented with a convex side thereof projecting generally outwardly from said first shell section first surface; said spring plate extending substantially between said chamber first and second opposite end portions; and, (c) latch means constructed and arranged to selectively retain said shell in said closed orientation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A closure according to claim 1 wherein: (a) said second internal surface includes an elongate, longitudinal, concave trough therein aligned longitudinally with, and substantially parallel to, said longitudinal convex spring plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A closure according to claim 1 including: (a) viscous sealant material disposed within said shell; said sealant material being oriented in first and second, opposed, sealant fields; (i) said first sealant field being positioned on said convex spring plate convex side; and (ii) said second sealant field being positioned on said second shell section longitudinal surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A combination according to claim 3 wherein: (a) said second internal surface includes an elongate, longitudinal, concave trough therein aligned longitudinally with, and substantially parallel to, said longitudinal convex spring plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination according to claim 3 wherein: (a) said viscous sealant material has a cone penetration value of no greater than about 70 at 25°C.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
99 words
A combination according to claim 3 wherein: (a) said first sealant field has first and second end portions; and, said second sealant field has first and second end portions; said first and second sealant fields comprising a first viscous sealant having a first viscosity; and, (b) said combination includes second sealant border portions oriented along end portions of said first and second sealant fields to substantially inhibit flow of said first viscous sealant outwardly from said shell; said second sealant border portions comprising flowable sealant material having a second viscosity; said first viscosity being lower then said second viscosity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A combination according to claim 6 wherein: (a) said first viscous sealant has a cone penetration value of at least about 180 at 25°C; and, (b) said second sealant material has a cone penetration value of no greater then about 70 at 25°C.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A combination according to claim 7 wherein: (a) said second internal surface includes an elongate, longitudinal, concave trough therein aligned longitudinally with, and substantially parallel to, said longitudinal convex spring plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A combination according to claim 6 wherein: (a) said second internal surface includes an elongate, longitudinal, concave trough therein aligned longitudinally with, and substantially parallel to, said longitudinal convex spring plate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method of providing an environmental seal about a wire junction, through application of a closure according to claim 1; said method including the steps of: (a) providing said closure; (b) closing said shell about a junction in a manner engulfing the junction in said viscous sealant; and, (c) retaining said shell closed about the junction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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