Cover assemblies for cables and electrical connections and methods for making and using the same

A method for forming a connection assembly, the method comprising:

• forming an electrical connection between first and second electrical cables, the first and second cables each including a primary conductor and at least one neutral conductor;
• providing an integral, unitary cover assembly including:
• an inner elastomeric sleeve defining a cable passage;
• an outer elastomeric sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve;
• and
• a collapsible duct assembly interposed radially between the inner and outer sleeves, the duct assembly including:
• an outer duct sleeve member defining a first passage;
• and
• an inner retention member disposed in the first passage, the retention member defining a second passage configured to receive at least one of the neutral conductors therethrough;
• wherein:
• the duct sleeve member is flexible;
• the retention member maintains the duct sleeve member in an open configuration when the retention member is disposed in the first passage;
• and
• the duct sleeve member is selectively collapsible about the at least one neutral conductor from the open configuration to a collapsed configuration by withdrawing the retention member from the first passage;
• mounting the cover assembly on the cables such that the electrical connection and the primary conductors of the first and second cables extend through the cable passage;
• with the duct sleeve member in the open configuration, inserting the at least one neutral conductor of the first cable through the second passage of the retention member;
• with the at least one neutral conductor disposed in the second passage, withdrawing the retention member from the first passage to collapse the duct sleeve member from the open position to the collapsed position;
• and
• coupling the at least one neutral conductor of the first cable with the at least one neutral conductor of the second cable.

A method for forming an integral, unitary cover assembly for covering an electrical connection between first and second electrical cables each having a primary conductor and a neutral conductor, the method comprising:

• forming an inner elastomeric sleeve defining a cable passage to receive the electrical connection and the primary conductors of the first and second cables;
• forming an outer elastomeric sleeve surrounding the inner sleeve;
• and
• interposing a collapsible duct assembly radially between the inner and outer sleeves, the duct assembly including:
• an outer duct sleeve member defining a first passage;
• and
• an inner retention member disposed in the first passage, the retention member defining a second passage configured to receive at least one of the neutral conductors therethrough;
• wherein:
• the duct sleeve member is flexible;
• the retention member maintains the duct sleeve member in an open configuration when the retention member is disposed in the first passage;
• and
• the duct sleeve member is selectively collapsible about the at least one neutral conductor from the open configuration to a collapsed configuration by withdrawing the retention member from the first passage.