COVER FOR CABLE CONNECTORS
A cover and a system of covers for placement in sealed relation over a connector or a pair of connectors that is or are adapted to terminate a cable or splice together a pair of cables. The covers include a cable end that sealingly receives a cable therein, an elongated body that provides secure cover to a cable connector, and an end that abuts a bulkhead or sealingly engages with a second cover when used in a splicing application.
1 . A sealing system for covering a connector configured to terminate a cable, comprising:
a unitary elongated body comprising a first end, a second end, an interior surface, and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface includes:
a first region adapted to cover at least a portion of the cable and extending from the first end to a first shoulder, the first region having a first internal cross-sectional diameter and including a plurality of grooves formed therein to sealingly engage the cable, the first region being repositionable with respect to the cable and the connector when in an assembled state, the first shoulder positioned adjacent a terminating end of the connector when in the assembled state,
a second region extending from the first shoulder to cover a first portion of the connector, the second region having a second internal cross-sectional diameter, wherein the second cross-sectional diameter is greater than the first internal cross-sectional diameter, and
a third region configured to cover a second portion of the connector, the third region extending from the second region; and
a collar cooperating with the unitary elongated body to form at least one environmental seal, the collar disposed at an interface of a shank portion and a neck of a bulkhead and configured to sealingly engage the interior surface of the unitary elongated body cover, wherein the elastomeric annular member fills a radial opening between a surface of the shank portion and the interior surface of the unitary elongated body to form the at least one seal.
2 . The sealing system of claim 1 , wherein the collar is an elastomeric annular member.
3 . The sealing system of claim 1 , wherein the collar is a rubber gasket.
4 . The sealing system of claim 1 , wherein the collar is in sealing relation with the shank portion of the bulkhead and a coupling element, the collar filling an axial opening between the shank portion and the coupling element.
5 . The sealing system of claim 1 , wherein the collar includes one or more annular grooves on an outer surface.
6 . The sealing system of claim 1 , wherein the unitary elongated body is composed of silicone rubber.
7 . The sealing system of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the connector is a connector body portion.
8 . The sealing system of claim 1 , wherein the first end is a cable end.
9 . The sealing system of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the connector is a coupling interface.