US3836696A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cable terminal
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1973-11-23
•
Granted: 1974-09-17
•
Expires: 1993-11-23
Abstract
Abstract A cable terminal unit includes a housing having a door or cover hinged thereto by an integral hinge. A one-piece terminal panel mounts within the housing and divides it into a plurality of chambers including a cable splicing chamber which is covered by the panel and inaccessible when the panel is installed even when the door is open. Conductors of a stub cable are spliced to selected ones of the cable conductors within this chamber and are fastened to terminals which have one end extending from the panel into an accessible chamber. Thereafter service wires can be connected to the terminals without requiring access to the splicing chamber. Cable shield continuity across the terminal is provided by a flexible bonding system which allows substantial pullback of the cable sheath and shield within the terminal unit.
Inventors
- 👤 T Gressitt
- 👤 P Koliss
- 👤 R Ramsey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:29
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G15/00; H02G15/08; H02G15/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
A cable terminal unit providing for connections of external conductors to selected conductors within a multiconductor cable having an electrical shield therein without direct access to said cable after the installation of said terminal unit comprising, in combination: a housing adapted for installation about said cable and including a cover integrally formed with said housing and providing access thereto; and a panel member mounted in said housing and dividing said housing into at least two compartments one of which is accessible and the other of which is inaccessible when said cover is in an open position, said other compartment being adapted to receive said cable therein, said panel member including a first wall having terminals with first and second ends mounted therein with said first ends extending into said one compartment so that said external conductors can be mounted thereon, a stub cable having conductors therein forming connections with said second ends and adapted to connect said second ends with said selected conductors in said other compartment, flexible sleeves on respective ends of said panel member adapted to fit about said cable and provide entry means therefor into said other compartment, and cable shield connector means on respective ends of said panel member adapted to connect to said cable shield to provide continuity of said shield through said unit, said connector means including a flexible conductor for allowing movement of said shield with respect to said unit without degradation of the connection thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
A cable terminal unit providing for connections of external conductors to selected conductors within a multiconductor cable having an electrical shield therein without direct access to said cable after the installation of said terminal unit comprising, in combination: a housing adapted for installation about said cable and including a cover integrally formed with said housing and providing access thereto; and a panel member mounted in said housing and dividing said housing into at least two compartments one of which is accessible and the other of which is inaccessible when said cover is in an open position, said other compartment being adapted to receive said cable therein, said panel member including a first wall having terminals with first and second ends mounted therein with said first ends extending into said one compartment so that said external conductors can be mounted thereon, a stub cable having conductors therein forming connections with said second ends and adapted to connect said second ends with said selected conductors in said other compartment, flexible sleeves on respective ends of said panel member adapted to fit about said cable and provide entry means therefor into said other compartment, and cable shield connector means on respective ends of said panel member adapted to connect to said cable shield to provide continuity of said shield through said unit, said connector means including a flexible conductor for allowing movement of said shield with respect to said unit without degradation of the connection thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said panel member divides said housing into three compartments comprising a first compartment having said first ends of said terminals extending therein, a second compartment adapted to receive said cable, and a third compartment having said second ends of said terminals extending therein, said third compartment being inaccessible when said cover is in said open position, so that said connections between said stub cable and said second ends are protected, said stub cable extending from said third compartment into said second compartment for connection to said selected conductors in said second compartment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 including a layer of potting material covering said connections between said stub cable and said second ends of said terminals in said third compartment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said housing includes a cutout in the bottom surface thereof, and said panel member includes a flange covering and closing said cutout, said flange includes a plurality of grommeted openings therethrough for providing entry of said external conductors into said first compartment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
137 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said panel member divides said housing into four compartments comprising a first compartment having said first ends of said terminals extending therein, a second compartment adapted to receive said cable, a third compartment having said second ends of said terminals extending therein, and a fourth compartment adapted to receive said selected conductors, said second compartment being adapted to have said selected conductors separated from said cable therein and routed to said fourth compartment, said stub cable extending from said third compartment into said fourth compartment for connection to said selected conductors therein, said first and fourth compartments being accessible and said second and third compartments being inaccessible when said cover is in said open position whereby said connections can be made to said selected conductors without access to said cable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including clamp means for suspending said terminal unit from the support strand of an aerial cable, a bracket within said housing which is connected to said clamp means, said panel member being mounted to said bracket, and said cable shield connector means is connected to said bracket whereby contInuity of said shield is provided to said support strand.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said panel member comprises a substantially I-shaped member having a first vertical wall and top and bottom horizontal walls disposed along the top and bottom edges, respectively, of said first vertical wall, and a second vertical wall extending upward from said top horizontal wall, each of said walls having a length extending substantially the full length of said housing, said first and second vertical walls having a combined height extending substantially the full height of said housing, said terminals are mounted in said first vertical wall to extend from both major surfaces thereof, and said bottom horizontal wall includes a plurality of grommeted openings therein through which said external conductors can enter said unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said top horizontal wall has a width extending substantially the full depth of said housing, said first vertical wall contacts said top horizontal wall along substantially the center of a major surface thereof, and said second vertical wall extends upward from the front edge of said top horizontal wall so that said housing is divided into three compartments, one of said compartments containing said first ends of said terminals being accessible and the other two of said compartments respectively adapted to receive said cable and containing said second ends of said terminals being inaccessible when said cover is in said open position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said top horizontal wall has a width extending substantially the full depth of said housing and said first and second vertical walls contact said top horizontal wall substantially along the centers of major surfaces thereof so that said housing is divided into four compartments, first and fourth ones of said compartments containing said first ends of said terminals and adapted to receive said selected conductors, respectively, second and third ones of said compartments adapted to receive said cable and containing said second ends of said terminals, respectively, said first and fourth ones of said compartments being accessible and said second and third ones of said compartments being inaccessible when said cover is in said open position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-16 | 1978-03-18 | 1978-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-16 | 1982-03-18 | 1982-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-16 | 1986-03-18 | 1986-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |