Housing for inductive coupler for power line communications

1. An inductive coupler, comprising:

(a) a housing having:

an aperture that extends lengthwise through said housing;

a gap that extends lengthwise along a side of said housing; and

a flexible region that enables said gap to be opened or closed,

wherein said housing is configured as a uni-body device, and said flexible region is an integral component thereof, and

wherein said gap, when opened, permits said inductive coupler to be installed on a conductor by having said conductor routed through said aperture;

(b) a magnetic core; and

(c) a winding wound around a portion of said magnetic core,

wherein said magnetic core and said winding are secured to said housing such that a position of said magnetic core and a position of said winding are maintained relative to one another, and

wherein said inductive coupler, when installed on said conductor, couples a signal between said conductor and said winding via said magnetic core.

2. The inductive coupler of claim 1 , wherein said housing is made of an elastic material.

3. The inductive coupler of claim 1 ,

wherein said housing is made of a resilient material, and

wherein said gap, when said housing is at rest, assumes a substantially closed position.

4. The inductive coupler of claim 1 , wherein said housing also maintains a position of said conductor relative to a position of said magnetic core, when said inductive coupler is installed on said conductor.

5. The inductive coupler of claim 1 , further comprising a fastener that secures said gap in a closed position.

6. The inductive coupler of claim 5 ,

wherein said housing includes a protrusion, and

wherein said fastener is configured as a strap having a notch that engages said protrusion.

7. The inductive coupler of claim 6 , wherein said fastener is a strap that is an integral component of said housing.

8. The inductive coupler of claim 1 ,

wherein said housing includes an end face having a first flange and a second flange, and

wherein said inductive coupler further comprises a band that encompasses said first and second flanges within a perimeter of said band, such that when said perimeter is reduced, said first and second flanges are drawn toward one another.

9. The inductive coupler of claim 8 , wherein said band is selected from the group consisting of a cable tie and a rubber band.

10. The inductive coupler of claim 1 ,

wherein said housing includes an end face having a flange,

wherein said inductive coupler further comprises a cable tie, and

wherein, when said inductive coupler is installed on said conductor, said cable tie encompasses said flange and a portion of said conductor within a perimeter of said cable tie, such that when said perimeter is reduced, said flange and said conductor are drawn toward one another.

11. The inductive coupler of claim 1 ,

further comprising a band that bridges said gap,

wherein, when said inductive coupler is installed on said conductor, said conductor contacts said band at a point and exerts a force that moves said point away from said gap, and causes said gap to close.

12. The inductive coupler of claim 11 , wherein said band is an integral component of said housing.

13. The inductive coupler of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first member on a first side of said flexible region; and

a second member on a second side of said flexible region,

wherein said gap is opened when said first and second members are moved toward one another.

14. The inductive coupler of claim 13 , wherein said first member is a strap that is an integral component of said housing.

15. The inductive coupler of claim 1 , wherein said magnetic core and said winding are embedded in said housing.

16. The inductive coupler of claim 1 , wherein said magnetic core has an exposed surface facing said aperture.

17. The inductive coupler of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator that applies a force on said flexible region, to close said gap.