# US 11,444,411 B2 · Weather protecting (WP) boot for coaxial cable connectors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,444,411 B2 - Document ID: US11444411B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/622,667 - Filed: 2018-06-15 - Published: 2021-05-20 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-16 - Assignees: John Mezzalingua Associates, Inc. - Applicants: John Mezzalingua Associates, LLC - Inventors: Brandon M. Stevens, Jr.; Cody Anderson; Christopher P. Natoli - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11444411B2 ## CPC - H01R 13/5205: {Sealing means between cable and housing, e.g. grommet (H01R13/5221 takes precedence)} - H01R 13/5213: {Covers} - H01R 24/40: specially adapted for high frequency - H01R 43/005: {for making dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof connection, coupling, or casing} - H02G 15/046: {with bores or protruding portions allowing passage of cable conductors} - H01R 13/5221: {having cable sealing means} - H01R 13/623: Casing or ring with helicoidal groove - H01R 2103/00: Two poles - H01R 2201/02: for antennas - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES ## Abstract A weather protection system for a coaxial cable connector comprising: (i) an over-mold cap disposed over a prepared end of a coaxial cable, (ii) a compliant Weather Protecting (WP) boot circumscribing the over-mold cap, and a mating interface disposed between an outer surface of the over-mold cap and an inner surface of the compliant WP boot. The mating interface is configured to provide tactile feedback to an assembler/technician when assembling the WP boot in combination with the over-mold cap. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A protection system for a coaxial cable connector, comprising: an over-mold cap disposed over a prepared end of a coaxial cable, the over-mold cap defining an interface surface; and a compliant boot circumscribing the over-mold cap to cover and protect at least a portion of the coaxial cable connector, wherein the compliant boot comprises a lip configured to engage the interface surface, wherein the lip and interface surface produce a mating interface which provides tactile feedback to an assembler/technician that the compliant boot is properly seated against the over-mold cap, wherein the over-mold cap comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion circumscribing the prepared end of the coaxial cable connector and the second portion enveloping an end of an interface port, and wherein the compliant boot defines an inner sleeve, an outer sleeve, a resilient wall orthogonal to an elongate axis of the compliant boot, and a plurality of non-radial spokes integral with the resilient wall and the inner and outer sleeves, the resilient wall providing a sealing surface between the inner and outer sleeves and the non-radial spokes to augment sealing along the mating interface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The protection system of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the over-mold cap comprises a material which, when exposed to heat, shrinks over the prepared end of the coaxial cable. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The protection system of claim 1 wherein the interface surface includes a raised edge which is substantially normal to an elongate axis of the coaxial cable such that as the lip engages the raised edge of the interface surface, the compliant boot is axially displaced toward the interface port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The protection system of claim 3 wherein the axial displacement of the compliant boot produces a seal between a surface of the interface port and the compliant boot. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The protection system of claim 1 wherein the compliant boot is formed from a material having a Shore A hardness of greater than about 70A. ### Claim 6 A method for protecting a coaxial cable comprising the steps of: configuring an over-mold cap to be disposed over a prepared end of the coaxial cable, the over-mold cap having a conical portion defining an interface surface and a raised edge; configuring a compliant boot with an inner sleeve, an outer sleeve, a resilient wall orthogonal to an elongate axis of the compliant boot, and a plurality of non-radial spokes integral with the resilient wall and the inner and outer sleeves, the resilient wall providing a sealing surface between the inner and outer sleeves and the non-radial spokes augmenting a seal along a mating interface, the inner sleeve of the compliant boot defining a radial lip which is supported by the non-radial spokes and projects inwardly toward the over-mold cap; and sliding the compliant boot axially toward an interface port such that the radial lip engages the interface surface, rotates forwardly, and engages the raised edge of the interface surface; wherein forward rotation of the radial lip provides tactile feedback to an operator that the compliant boot has been properly mounted; and wherein the non-radial spokes of the compliant boot biases the radial lip against the interface surface of the over-mold cap to augment the seal between the compliant boot and the over-mold cap. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of biasing the compliant boot against a planar surface of the interface port. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of shrink wrapping the prepared end of the coaxial cable to envelop the over-mold cap. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of molding the compliant boot with an compliant elastomer having a Shore A hardness of greater than about 70A. ### Claim 10 A weather protecting boot for use in combination with an over-mold cap of a coaxial cable, comprising: a compliant boot configured to engage an interface surface of the over-mold cap, the compliant boot defining an inner sleeve, an outer sleeve, and a plurality of resilient spokes connecting the inner and outer sleeves, the resilient spokes being non-radial and integrally formed along a resilient wall connecting the inner and outer sleeves; the inner sleeve defining a radial lip configured to engage the interface surface of the over-mold cap, wherein a planar surface of an interface port defines a first axial dimension, wherein the radial lip of the compliant boot defines a second axial dimension, and wherein the first axial dimension is larger than the second axial dimension to produce a biasing force between the compliant boot and the planar surface of the interface port to augment a seal therebetween, and wherein the radial lip engages a raised edge of the interface surface as the compliant boot slides over the over-mold cap to provide tactile feedback to an operator that the compliant boot has been properly seated with the over-mold cap during assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The weather protecting boot of claim 10 wherein the compliant boot is formed from a material having a Shore A hardness of greater than about 70A.