Boots for wire rope terminations

Claim 1

In the method of attaching a termination to the end section of a wire rope, wherein said section is inserted into the socket portion of said termination and secured within said socket, the improvement which comprises: a prior to insertion into the termination 1. passing a tube of heat shrinkable plastic over said end section a distance sufficiently removed from the terminus thereof; 2. inserting the end section into the head of a boot, said boot comprising (i) a tube-like portion having an inner diameter tightly fitting the circumferential surface of said end section and an effective outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said heat shrinkable tube, and (ii) a flange portion integral with and surrounding the trailing end of said tube-like portion, and (b) after securing the end section in the socket 3. connecting said boot flange portion and said socket so that the interface thereof is sealed 4. sliding said heat shrinkable tubing over the tube-like portion of said boot so that the interface of the lead end of the boot and wire rope is covered by said heat shrinkable tubing and 5. heating shrinking said heat shrinkable tubing so that the interface of said boot and said wire rope is sealed.