Positioning device for cable accessories and methods and assemblies including same

A method for installing a cover sleeve on an electrical cable, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing:
• a cold-shrinkable, tubular, elastomeric cover sleeve defining a cover sleeve through passage configured to receive the electrical cable;
• a removable holdout mounted within the cover sleeve through passage and configured to be withdrawn therefrom, wherein the holdout maintains the cover sleeve in an expanded state in which the cover sleeve is elastically expanded and, when withdrawn from the cover sleeve through passage, permits the cover sleeve to radially contract to a contracted state about the electrical cable;
• and
• a positioning device secured to the cover sleeve and including a cable clamp;
• securing the positioning device to the electrical cable using the cable clamp;
• and
• withdrawing the holdout from the cover sleeve, wherein the positioning device axially constrains the cover sleeve relative to the cable to axially align the contracted cover sleeve with the electrical cable.

A cover system for an electrical cable, the cover system comprising:

• a cold-shrinkable, tubular, elastomeric cover sleeve defining a cover sleeve through passage configured to receive the electrical cable;
• a removable holdout mounted within the cover sleeve through passage and configured to be withdrawn therefrom, wherein the holdout maintains the cover sleeve in an expanded state in which the cover sleeve is elastically expanded and, when withdrawn from the cover sleeve through passage, permits the cover sleeve to radially contract to a contracted state about the electrical cable;
• and
• a positioning device configured to be secured to the cover sleeve and including a cable clamp;
• wherein the cable clamp is configured to secure the positioning device to the electrical cable such that, when the positioning device is secured to the cover sleeve and the holdout is withdrawn from the cover sleeve, the positioning device axially constrains the cover sleeve relative to the cable to axially align the contracted cover sleeve with the electrical cable.