Method of applying an insulating connector
AssigneeJ. L. Clark Manufacturing Co.
InventorsPatrick V. Loyd, Samuel M. Mills
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laminated tubular connector for splicing or terminating electric conductors, comprising an outer layer of a heat shrinkable dielectric material, e.g., polyethylene terephthalate, and an inner layer of a relatively soft, self-adhesive, low temperature flowable thermoplastic material, preferably a polyvinyl acetate composition. When heat is applied to the connector, the outer layer shrinks and the inner layer functions as a sealant and a cushioning agent. The adhesiveness of the inner layer may be used to hold the connector in place during subsequent operations by pinching the connector so that the depressed portions of the tube adhere to each other prior to heating the connector to shrink the outer layer.
Claims6
A method for insulating an electrical joint having at least one conductive wire, comprising the steps of inserting the joint into a laminated tubular connector having a relatively rigid, heat-shrinkable dielectric outer layer comprising a plurality of spirally wound strips and having an [adhesive] inner layer comprising an adhesive which is pressure sensitive at ambient temperatures , pinching a portion of said connector together without heating the connector to seal portions of said inner layer to itself whereby a desired relative positioning of said joint and said connector may be maintained during assembly operations, and subsequently heating said connector to shrink said outer layer and to cause said inner layer to flow about said joint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.