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US 5,401,902 AGranted
Reentrable moisture barrier
AssigneeNone recorded
InventorsJohn S. Middlebrook, James P. Ryan
Life of this patent
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AssigneeNone recorded
InventorsJohn S. Middlebrook, James P. Ryan
Estimating the term…
A reentrable moisture barrier for use in enclosures for cables and or cable components to prevent entry of ground moisture is disclosed. The barrier is inexpensive and easy to install. One example of the invention is in conjunction with an enclosure or housing with a first cover portion removable from a second base portion. The improved reentrable moisture barrier is formed of an inexpensive flexible sheet which may be deformed and replaceably inserted in the enclosure to prevent ground moisture from migrating from the open bottom of the housing to the top of the first cover portion where it may condense and be deposited on the cables and cable components. The reentrable barrier is wrapped around and stuffed between the cables and the interior of the second base portion and the first cover portion is replaced. Ground moisture is thus prevented from reaching the interior of the first cover portion.
A reentrable moisture barrier in combination with an enclosure for cables and cable components, the enclosure comprising an enclosed first end, a second end, an inside surface, the second end being in contact with a ground surface, the cables entering the enclosure through the second end, and the reentrable moisture barrier comprising at least one flexible sheet being placed in the enclosure and in contact with the inside surface of the enclosure, the flexible sheet further being crumpled so as to be stuffed within the inside surface of the enclosure to prevent ground moisture from condensing on the inside surface of the enclosure.
A reentrable moisture barrier in combination with an enclosure for cables and or cable components, the enclosure having a removable first portion, a second portion, and support means for holding cables and or cable components within the enclosure, the removable first portion having an enclosed first end, an open second end, and an inside surface, the second portion being located at or near or below ground level and having an open first end, a second end, an inside surface, with a first cross sectional area which is matable with the open second end of the first portion, and an inside surface, and the support means being disposed within the first portion and second portion of the enclosure and being attached to the inside surface of the second portion, the reentrable moisture barrier comprising:
A method of preventing entry of ground moisture in an enclosure containing cables and or cable components, the enclosure having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having an enclosed first end, an open second end, and an inside surface, the second portion being located at or near or below ground level with an open first end with a cross sectional area and matable with the second end of the first portion, a second end, and an inside surface, wherein cables and or cable components are connected within the enclosure, comprising the steps of:
A method of installing additional cables and or cable components and protecting the additional cables and or cable components from ground moisture in an enclosure containing cables and or cable components having a first portion, a second portion, and a reentrable moisture barrier, the first portion having an enclosed first end, an open second end, and an inside surface, the second portion being located at or near or below ground level with an open first end with a cross sectional area and matable with the second end of the first portion, a second end, and an inside surface, wherein the cables and or cable components are connected within the enclosure, the reentrable moisture barrier having at least one flexible sheet having a greater cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of the open first end of the second portion, the at least one flexible sheet being crumpled so as to be stuffed between the cables and or cable components and the inside surface of the first and second portions to prevent moisture from condensing in the enclosed first end of the first portion, comprising the steps of:
An improved enclosure for connection of underground cables, the enclosure comprising in combination:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO
No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
Underground or underwater installation; Installation through tubing, conduits or ducts: underground installation of connection boxes
Installations of electric cables or lines in or on the ground or water: in cable chambers, e.g. in manhole or in handhole
Optical elements, systems or apparatus
Installation of electric cables or lines, or of combined optical and electric
Term ended 26 Jan 2013 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
This invention relates to barriers for preventing moisture from contacting cables and or cable components located in above ground enclosures. More specifically a reentrable moisture barrier having at least one flexible deformable sheet is stuffed between and around cables and or cable components and the inside of an enclosure to prevent ground moisture from reaching and then condensing in the enclosure.
The telephone, power, cable television, and other industries have long made use of enclosures or housings for protecting above ground connections between underground wires and cables and components attached to these cables and wires. These connections between cables and wires and the components often involve a valuable investment and must be protected from the outside environment by the protective enclosure or housing.
A cable is defined broadly and includes conventional metal cables used in telecommunications and power applications as well as fiber optics cables, cable television cables and the like. Cable components may encompass conventional telephone cable connectors or other items such as terminal blocks for power and telephone lines, fiber optics connectors, amplifiers, power supplies, distribution devices and many other cable related devices.
The invention may be better understood from the following detailed description when read with reference to the drawings in which:
FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a pedestal type enclosure provided with a reentrable moisture barrier in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a top view of the base of the pedestal shown in FIG. 1, with the reentrable moisture barrier of the present invention installed.
The present invention involves a reentrable moisture barrier for protective enclosures for cables and or cable components. These enclosures have an enclosed first end and a second end in contact with the ground or below the ground through which cables enter the enclosure. The barrier is formed of an inexpensive flexible sheet which is disposed between the cables below their connection to prevent ground moisture from reaching the cables and cable components.
One example of the present invention in use with one type of protective enclosure is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Turning to FIG. 1, a pedestal enclosure 2 is formed from a bottom or base portion 4 and a top or cover portion 6. The pedestal enclosure 2, as shown, is constructed of a heavy duty plastic. However, similar enclosures may be formed of any durable material such as fiberglass or metal. Additionally, different shapes of enclosures having more or less than two portions may advantageously utilize the present invention as will be explained below.
The cover portion 6 has a closed first or top end 10 and an open bottom or second end 12. A label area 14 may be located on a readily visible portion of the outside surface of the cover portion 6. The label area 14 may contain useful information, warning signs, or the like. Cover portion 6 may also be provided with ventilation slits 15 to provide ventilation to the interior of cover portion 6. However, the slits 15 are not provided if more complete environmental isolation of the interior of the housing is desired.