Splice case

Claim 2

A splice case for cables or the like comprising: a pair of splice case members reversely positioned in cooperating relationship to define a hollow splice case; each said splice case member having outwardly extending opposite flanges along the length thereof; said splice case members being positioned with said flanges thereon opposed to one another to define a pair of cooperating flanges on each of opposite sides of said splice case; a pair of elongated fastener strips extending along opposite sides of each said pair of cooperating flanges; fastener assemblies for clamping each said pair of fastener strips together to thereby compress the pair of flanges received therebetween; each said fastener strip having at least one longitudinal leg projecting therefrom; each said pair of fastener strips being positioned with said at least one longitudinal leg on each said strip extending toward one another in opposed relationship; and, each said flange having a longitudinal groove, said groove contiguous with the longitudinal groove in its cooperating flange and receiving in said groove the at least one longitudinal leg on an associated one of said fastener strips to faciliate said cooperating flanges being securely clamped together by said fastener assemblies.

Claim 3

The splice case as defined in claim 1 wherein said fastener assemblies include bolts attached adjacent one end portion of each bolt to one of said fastener strips in each said pair of strips and each said bolt having an enlargement in the form of a nut or bolt head on the opposite end portion of each bolt; said flanges having holes for passage of said enlargements therethrough; and, the other of said fastener strips in each said pair of strips having generally keyhole-shaped openings therethrough including a large area portion for free passage of a said enlargement therethrough and a narrow area portion through which a said enlargement will not pass.

Claim 4

The splice case as defined in claim 1 wherein each said fastener strip is generally channel-shaped in cross-section and includes a pair of longitudinal legs projecting therefrom in the same direction at opposite sides thereof; one said leg of each pair of legs being substantially longer than the other to define short and long legs; and, said fastener strips in each said pair of strips being positioned with the long legs thereof extending toward one another in opposed relationship and with the short legs thereof extending toward one another in opposed relationship.

Claim 5

The splice case as defined in claim 3 wherein said fastener assemblies comprise bolt and nut assemblies positioned substantially closer to said short legs than to said long legs.

Claim 6

The splice case as defined in claim 3 wherein said fastener assemblies comprise bolts attached adjacent one end portion of each bolt to one strip of each said pair of fastener strips and each said bolt having an enlargement in the form of a nut or bolt head adjacent the opposite end portion of each bolt; each said pair of flanges having holes therethrough for free passage of said enlargements therethrough; and, the other strip of each said pair having generally keyhole-shaped openings therein including a large opening portion for free passage of a said enlargement therethrough and a narrow opening portion through which a said enlargement will not pass.

Claim 7

The splice case as defined in claim 5 wherein said bolts are attached to said one strip substantially closer to said short leg than said long leg; and, at least said narrow opening portion of each said keyhole-shaped opening in each said other strip being located substantially closer to said short leg than said long leg.

Claim 8

The splice case as defined in claim 3 wherein said fastener strips are positioned with said long legs thereof closer to free end portions of said flanges than said short legs.

Claim 9

The splice case as defined in claim 1 wherein each said case member has elastomeric material on the inner surface thereof including said flanges; and, the thickness of said elastomeric material on said flanges adjacent the intersections thereof with main body portions of said splice case members being greater than the thickness thereof along the remainder of said flanges whereby a sealing area is defined between each pair of flanges adjacent the intersections thereof with the main portions of said splice case members.

Claim 10

The splice case as defined in claim 1 wherein each said flange has a free outer end portion and an inner end portion adjacent the intersection thereof with the main portion of each splice case member; and, said groove being positioned at said outer end portion of each said flange.

Claim 11

The splice case as defined in claim 9 wherein the inner surface of each said splice case member including said flanges is coated with elastomeric material; and, the thickness of said elastomeric material on said flanges being greater at said inner end portions of said flanges than along the remainder of said flanges to define sealing area.

Claim 12

The splice case as defined in claim 10 wherein said fastener assemblies include bolts and said flanges have holes therethrough for receiving said bolts; and, each said hole in said flanges being positioned with only a portion thereof extending through said sealing area.

Claim 13

The splice case as defined in claim 10 wherein said fastener strips are positioned with said long legs thereof received in said longitudinal grooves in said flanges and with said short legs thereof in opposed relationship in alignment with said sealing areas.

Claim 14

The splice case as defined in claim 12 wherein said fastener assemblies comprise bolt and nut assemblies and include bolts extending through said fastener strips substantially closer to said short legs than to said long legs.

Claim 15

The splice case as defined in claim 12 wherein said flanges have holes through which said bolts extend; and, each said hole in said flanges having a portion thereof extending through said sealing area and the remainder thereof extending through the flange outwardly of the sealing area.

Claim 16

A joint comprising: a pair of members having outwardly extending elongated flanges cooperatively positioned in opposed relationship to be clamped together; fastener strips positioned on opposite sides of said cooperatively positioned flanges; each of said pair of members having a main body portion and said flanges having inner end portions adjacent said main body portions and free outer end portions, said strips being channel-shaped in cross-section and including longitudinal legs projecting from opposite sides thereof in the same direction, said strips being positioned with said legs thereon in aligned opposed relationship with one opposed pair of legs extending along said inner end portions of said flanges to define inner legs and another opposed pair of legs extending along said outer end portions of said flanges to define outer legs; bolt and nut assemblies clamping said fastener strips together with said cooperatively positioned flanges clamped therebetween; said bolt and nut assemblies including bolts attached at one end portion of the bolts to one of said strips and each having an enlargement in the form of a nut or bolt head on the opposite end portion of the bolts; holes through said cooperatively positioned flanges for passage of said enlargements therethrough; the other of said fastener strips having generally keyhole-shaped openings therethrough including a large area portion for free passage of a said enlargement therethrough and a narrow area portion through which a said enlargement will not pass; and, said bolts being positioned substantially closer to said inner legs than to said outer legs.

Claim 17

A joint comprising: a pair of members having outwardly extending elongated flanges cooperatively positioned in opposed relationship to be clamped together; fastener strips positioned on opposite sides of said cooperatively positioned flanges; each of said pair of members having a main body portion and said flanges having inner end portions adjacent said main body portions and free outer end portions, said strips being channel-shaped in cross-section and including longitudinal legs projecting from opposite sides thereof in the same direction, said strips being positioned with said legs thereon in aligned opposed relationship with one opposed pair of legs extending along said inner end portions of said flanges to define inner legs and another opposed pair of legs extending along said outer end portions of said flanges to define outer legs; bolt and nut assemblies clamping said fastener strips together with said cooperatively positioned flanges clamped therebetween; said bolt and nut assemblies including bolts attached at one end portion of the bolts to one of said strips and each having an enlargement in the form of a nut or bolt head on the opposite end portion of the bolts; holes through said cooperatively positioned flanges for passage of said enlargements therethrough; the other of said fastener strips having generally keyhole-shaped openings therethrough including a large area portion for free passage of a said enlargement therethrough and a narrow area portion through which a said enlargement will not pass; and, said bolts being positioned substantially closer to said inner legs than to said outer legs.

Claim 18

A joint comprising: a pair of members having main body portions with flanges extending outwardly therefrom and cooperatively positioned in opposed relationship to be clamped together; said flanges having inner end portions adjacent said main body portion and having free outer end portions; said flanges having longitudinal grooves in the outer surfaces thereof along said outer free end portions; fastener strips extending along opposite sides of said cooperatively positioned flanges; said fastener strips having generally channel-shaped cross-sectional shapes incuding webs having legs projecting from opposite side edges thereof in the same direction; said fastener strips being positioned with said legs extending toward one another in aligned opposed relationship; one pair of opposed legs extending along said inner end portions of said flanges to define inner legs and the other pair of opposed legs extending along said outer end portions of said flanges to define outer legs; said outer legs being longer than said inner legs and being received in said grooves; and, fastener assemblies clamping said fastener strips together with said cooperatively positioned flanges clamped therebetween.

Claim 19

A joint comprising: a pair of members having main body portions with flanges extending outwardly therefrom and cooperatively positioned in opposed relationship to be clamped together; said flanges having inner end portions adjacent said main body portion and having free outer end portions; said flanges having longitudinal grooves in the outer surfaces thereof along said outer free end portions; fastener strips extending along opposite sides of said cooperatively positioned flanges; said fastener strips having generally channel-shaped cross-sectional shapes incuding webs having legs projecting from opposite side edges thereof in the same direction; said fastener strips being positioned with said legs extending toward one another in aligned opposed relationship; one pair of opposed legs extending along said inner end portions of said flanges to define inner legs and the other pair of opposed legs extending along said outer end portions of said flanges to define outer legs; said outer legs being longer than said inner legs and being received in said grooves; and, fastener assemblies clamping said fastener strips together with said cooperatively positioned flanges clamped therebetween.

Claim 20

The joint as defined in claim 16 including a coating of elastomeric material on the inner surfaces of said main body portions and said flanges; the thickness of said coating being greater along said inner end portions of said flanges than along the remainder of said flanges to define a sealing area; and, said inner legs being aligned with said sealing area.

Claim 21

The joint as defined in claim 16 wherein said fastener assemblies comprise bolt and nut assemblies and include bolts positioned substantially closer to said inner legs than said outer legs.

Claim 22

A joint comprising: a pair of members having main body portions with flanges extending outwardly therefrom and cooperatively positoned in opposed relationship to be clamped together; said flanges having inner end portions adjacent said main body portions and having free outer end portions; the inner surfaces of said main body portions and flanges having a coating of elastomeric material thereon; said coating being substantially thicker along said inner end portions than along the remainder of said flanges to define sealing areas; fastener strips positioned on opposite sides of said cooperatively positioned flanges and having at least portions thereof aligned with said sealing areas; and, fastener assemblies clamping said fastener strips together with said cooperatively positioned flanges clamped therebetween.

Claim 23

A joint comprising: a pair of members having main body portions with flanges extending outwardly therefrom and cooperatively positoned in opposed relationship to be clamped together; said flanges having inner end portions adjacent said main body portions and having free outer end portions; the inner surfaces of said main body portions and flanges having a coating of elastomeric material thereon; said coating being substantially thicker along said inner end portions than along the remainder of said flanges to define sealing areas; fastener strips positioned on opposite sides of said cooperatively positioned flanges and having at least portions thereof aligned with said sealing areas; and, fastener assemblies clamping said fastener strips together with said cooperatively positioned flanges clamped therebetween.

Claim 24

The joint as defined in claim 19 wherein said fastener strips are generally channel-shaped in cross-section and include webs having legs projecting from opposite side edges thereof in the same direction; and, said fastener strips being positioned with said legs extending toward one another in aligned opposed relationship, one opposed pair of legs extending along said inner portions of said flanges in alignment with said sealing areas to define inner legs and the other pair of legs extending along said outer end portions of said flanges to define outer legs.

Claim 25

The joint as defined in claim 20 wherein said outer legs are substantially longer than said inner legs and said flanges have longitudinal grooves in the outer surfaces of said outer end portions thereof receiving said outer legs.