EP4523020A1 - Enclosure with perimeter sealing - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to perimeter seals for enclosures that include mating male and female cross-sectional shapes. The perimeter seals can be co-molded with housings of the enclosures. The present disclosure also relates to an enclosure having a cable seal adapted to accommodate a range of cable sizes.

Description

ENCLOSURE WITH PERIMETER SEALING

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is being filed on May 11, 2023, as a PCT International application and claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/340,713 filed May 11, 2022, and claims the benefit of India Provisional Application No. 202321031643 filed May 3, 2023, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to enclosures such as telecommunication enclosures.

BACKGROUND

Fiber optic telecommunication technology is becoming more prevalent as service providers strive to deliver higher bandwidth communication capabilities to customers/subscribers. As data transmissions increase, the fiber optic network is being extended closer to the end user which can be a premise, business, or a private residence.

In a fiber optic network, enclosures can be provided throughout the network for providing environmentally sealed locations. In some applications, enclosures are used to seal about portions of cables where jackets of the cables have been cut to allow for optical fibers to be accessed. In some applications, cables can be routed into the enclosures and the enclosures can contain and protect components such as optical splices, fiber management trays, fiber optic adapters, passive optical power splitters and wavelength division multiplexers. Some enclosures are intended to be re-enterable while others are not.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to enclosure perimeter seals that include mating male and female cross-sectional shapes. In some examples, the perimeter seals can be co-molded with housings of the enclosures. In some examples, the perimeter seals can be co-molded within channels of the enclosures. Aspects of the present disclosure also relate to enclosure perimeter seals that have overlapping transverse cross-sectional contact profiles. In some examples, the perimeter seals can be co-molded with housings of the enclosures. In some examples, the perimeter seals can be co-molded within channels of the enclosures.

Aspects of the present disclosure further relate to enclosure perimeter seals which contact each other along a non-linear contact profiles. In some examples, the perimeter seals can be co-molded with housings of the enclosures. In some examples, the perimeter seals can be co-molded within channels of the enclosures.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a cable sealing enclosure adapted to be mounted over a cable. The cable sealing enclosure includes a sealing housing having an in-line configuration. The sealing housing defines a cable passage that extends through an interior of the sealing housing along a longitudinal axis of the sealing housing between first and second opposite ends of the sealing housing. Each of the first and second ends of the housing defines a cable pass-through opening. The sealing housing including first and second housing pieces that fit together to enclose the interior of the sealing housing. The first and second housing pieces meet at a housing seam having first and second housing seam portions that extend between the first and second ends of the sealing housing and that are positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis. The cable sealing enclosure also includes housing side seal segments for sealing the first and second housing seam portions; and cable seals positioned at the first and second ends of the sealing housing. Each of the cable seals includes a base portion that surrounds the longitudinal axis when the first and second housing pieces are fit together; and a plurality of cable sealing ribs unitarily formed with the base portion. The cable sealing ribs surround the longitudinal axis and projecting radially inwardly from the base portion toward the longitudinal axis when the first and second housing pieces are fit together. The cable sealing ribs are axially spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis and include inner diameters and outer diameters. Each of the cable sealing ribs includes first and second rib surfaces that extend radially between the first and second diameters and converge toward each other as the first and second rib surfaces extend from the outer diameter toward the inner diameter. The inner diameters of at least some of the cable sealing ribs having different magnitudes such that the cable seals can accommodate cables having a range of outer diameters. The base portion defines a compensation pocket located axially between two of the cable sealing ribs. The compensation pocket is recessed into the base portion by a radial pocket depth that extends radially outwardly from the outer diameters of the cable sealing ribs.

A variety of additional aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 depicts an enclosure in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, the enclosure includes two mating housing pieces connected by a hinge;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along cross-section line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along cross-section line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along cross-section line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along cross-section line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view depicting side seal segments corresponding to opposite sides of the enclosure of Figure 1 arranged in a mated configuration that would occur when the enclosure is closed;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view depicting an alternative seal contact profile for the side seal segments of the enclosure of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view depicting another alternative seal contact profile for the side seal segments of the enclosure of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view depicting a further alternative seal contact profile for the side seal segments of the enclosure of Figure 1;

Figure 10 depicts another enclosure in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, the enclosure includes two mating housing pieces each having an identical configuration;

Figure 11 depicts another cable sealing enclosure in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, the cable sealing enclosure is shown in an open configuration with a cable positioned within one half of the enclosure;

Figure 12 depicts the cable sealing enclosure of Figure 11 in a closed configuration in which the cable sealing enclosure is latched and sealed about the cable;

Figure 13 is a first top perspective view depicting the cable sealing enclosure of Figure 11 in the open configuration with the cable removed; Figure 14 is a second top perspective view depicting the cable sealing enclosure of Figure 11 in the open configuration with the cable removed;

Figure 15 is a bottom perspective view depicting the cable sealing enclosure of Figure 11 in the open configuration with the cable removed;

Figure 16 is a top plan view depicting the cable sealing enclosure of Figure 11 in the open configuration with the cable removed;

Figure 17 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cable sealing enclosure of Figure 16 taken along cross-section line 17-17;

Figure 18 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 17;

Figure 19 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the cable sealing enclosure of Figure 16 taken along cross-section line 19-19;

Figure 20 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 19;

Figure 21 A is a cross-sectional view taken longitudinally through a cable seam interface of the cable sealing enclosure of Figure 12 along section line 21-21 of Figure 12 showing an example rounded undulating configuration of the cable seam interface;

Figure 2 IB is a cross-sectional view taken longitudinally through a cable seam interface of the cable sealing enclosure of Figure 12 along section line 21-21 of Figure 12 showing an alternative stepped undulating configuration of the cable seam interface;

Figure 21C is a cross-sectional view taken longitudinally through a cable seam interface of the cable sealing enclosure of Figure 12 along section line 21-21 of Figure 12 showing an example stepped undulating configuration of the cable seam interface; and

Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view taken along section line 22-22 of Figure 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the present disclosure that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

Figure 1 depicts an enclosure 20 in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The enclosure 20 includes a housing 22 including a first housing piece 24 and the second housing piece 26 that fit together to enclose an interior 28 of the housing 22. The housing 22 includes a length L that extends between first and second ends 30, 32 of the housing 22. The housing 22 includes first and second opposite sides 34, 36 (see Figure 6) that extend between the first and second ends 30, 32. Each of the first and second sides 34, 36 is defined in part by the first housing piece 24 and the second housing piece 26. The depicted enclosure 20 has an in-line pass-through configuration for allowing cables to enter the enclosure 20 through opposite ends of the enclosure 20. Hence, housing 22 defines cable pass-through locations 40 at the opposite first and second ends 30, 32.

The first and second housing pieces 24, 26 are movable relative to one another between an open configuration (see figure 1) and a closed configuration (see figure 6). In the depicted example of figure 1, a hinge 38 such as a living hinge is provided between the first and second housing pieces 24, 26 at the first side 34 for allowing the first and second housing pieces 24, 26 to be pivoted relative to one another between the open configuration and the closed configuration. It will be appreciated that the first and second housing pieces 24, 26 fit together and enclose the interior 28 of the housing 22 when in the closed configuration. The second side 36 includes latches 23 that engage catches 25 for securing the housing 22 in the closed configuration.

In certain examples, each of the first and second housing pieces 24, 26 has a molded plastic construction. In the depicted example, the first and second housing pieces 24, 26 along with the hinge 38 can be concurrently molded within a mold by a molding process such as an injection molding process. In this way, the living hinge can be unitarily formed with the first and second housing pieces to provide a monolithic molded construction. Example plastic materials for constructing the first and second housing pieces 24, 26 include polypropylene and glass-filled polypropylene. In certain examples, the first and second housing pieces 24, 26 can each have a Shore D hardness of at least 40.

The enclosure 20 also includes a perimeter sealing arrangement 42 for providing sealing between the first and second housing pieces 24, 26 about a perimeter of the housing 22. The perimeter sealing arrangement 42 includes cable sealing sections 44 at the cable pass-through locations 44 sealing about one or more cables routed into the interior 28 of the housing 22 through the cable pass-through locations 40. In the depicted example, the cable sealing sections 44 can include sealing ribs 46 for sealing about the cables. The perimeter sealing arrangement 42 also includes first and second side sealing portions 46, 48 (see figure 6) that extend respectively along the first and second sides 34, 36 of the housing 22 between the first and second ends 30, 32 of the housing 22. The first side sealing portion 46 includes a first side seal segment 50 positioned within a channel 52 of the first housing piece 24 and a second side seal segment 54 positioned within a channel 56 of the second housing piece 26. The second side sealing portion 48 includes a first side seal segment 58 positioned within a channel 60 of the first housing piece 24 and a second side seal segment 62 positioned within a channel 64 of the second housing piece 26. It will be appreciated that the first side seal segments 50, 58 can be co-molded with the first housing piece 24 and carried with the first housing piece 24 within their respective channels 52, 60. Similarly, it will be appreciated that the second side seal segments 54, 62 can be co-molded with the second housing piece 26 and carried with the second housing piece 26 within their respective channels 56, 64. The side seal segment 58 carried with the first housing piece 24 and the side seal segment 54 carried with the second housing piece 26 each have a male transverse cross-sectional shape. The side seal segment 50 carried with the first housing piece 24 and the side seal segment 62 carried with the second housing piece 26 each have a female transverse cross-sectional shape. When the first and second housing pieces 24, 26 are fit together in the closed configuration, the male transverse cross- sectional profile of the side seal segment 58 mates with the female transverse cross- sectional profile of the side seal segment 62 and the male transverse cross-sectional profile of the side seal segment 54 mates with the female transverse cross-sectional profile of the side seal segment 50 (see figure 6).

In the depicted example of Figures 2-6, the transverse male cross-sectional profiles include triangular projections 66 and the transverse female cross-sectional profiles include triangular receptacles 68. When mated, the mated first and second side seal segments 50, 54 and the mated first and second side seal segments 58, 62 overlap one another along an overlap region having an overlap dimension d measured along a closing orientation C of the housing 22. The closing orientation C is the orientation along which the housing pieces 24, 26 move when the housing 22 is closed. The closing orientation C can also be referred to as a seal compression orientation since it is the orientation along which the seal segments are compressed during closing of the housing 22.

When the first and second side seal segments 50, 54 are mated, the projection 66 of the second side seal segment 54 extends into the channel 52 containing the first side seal segment 50. When the first and second side seal segments 58, 62 are mated, the projection 66 of the first side seal segment 58 extends into the channel 64 containing the second side seal segment 62. The projections 66 each extend across a housing interface line 71 defined between the first and second housing pieces 24, 26.

In other examples, the male and female features can have alternative transverse cross-sectional shapes to those previously depicted. For example, Figure 7 shows mating side seal segments including a male feature formed as a rounded projection 70 that fits within a female feature formed as a rounded receptacle 72. Figure 8 shows mating first and second side seal segments 80, 81 in which at least one projection 83 (two projections are shown) of the first seal segment 80 extends across the housing interface line 71 into the channel carrying the second seal segment 81, and at least one projection 85 (a single projection is shown) of the second seal segment 81 extends across the housing interface line 71 into the channel carrying the first seal segment 80. Figure 9 shows mating first and second seal segments 90, 91 in which a single projection 93 of the first seal segment 90 extends across the housing interface line 71 into the channel carrying the second seal segment 91, and a single projection 95 of the second seal segment 91 extends across the housing interface line 71 into the channel carrying the first seal segment 90.

FIG. 18 depicts alternative mating side seal segments 80a, 81a (e.g., first and second mating side seal segments) in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. The side seal segments 80a each include a female transverse cross-sectional shape/profile including a receptacle 200 defined between inner and outer projections 202. The side seal segments 81a each include a male cross-sectional shape/profile including a projection 204 adapted to fit within the receptacle 200 during sealing. It will be appreciated that the projection 204 has a different cross-sectional shape than the mating receptacle 200 and that the transverse cross-sectional shape of the projection 204 is larger than the transverse cross-sectional shape of the receptacle 200 prior to mating/sealing. In certain examples, the male projection 204 has a transverse cross- sectional area that is at least 1.5, 1.75, 2.0 or 3.0 times larger than a corresponding transverse cross-sectional area of the female receptacle 200 prior to mating. As depicted, the male cross-sectional profile of the male projection 204 has a rounded end and straight, parallel sides. When the enclosure is closed and the side seals 80a, 81a mate together, the projection 204 of the side seal segment 81a extends across the housing interface line 71 into the channel carrying the side seal segment 80a, and the projections 202 of the side seal segment 80a extend across the housing interface line 71 into the channel carrying the side seal segment 81a. Prior to mating, the male projection 204 extends across the housing interface line 71, the projections 202 can be flush with respect to the housing interface line 71 and the female receptacle 200 can be recessed relative to the housing interface line 71. Because the male projection 204 is larger in cross-sectional area than the female receptacle 200, mating of the male projection 204 and the female receptacle 200 causes expansion of the female receptacle 200 resulting in deformation and extension of the inner and outer projections 202 across the housing interface line 71 and into the channel containing the side seal segment 81a. For example, the projections 202 can deform into inner and outer open spaces located on inner and outer sides of the male projection 204 within the channel containing the side seal segment 81a.

In the depicted example of Figure 1, male and female side seal segments are provided on each of the first and second housing pieces 24, 26. This type of configuration can be particularly advantageous for designs in which it is desirable to have first and second housing pieces 124, 126 that are identical to one another. As shown at Figure 10, the housing pieces 124, 126 are identical to one another with each including a male side seal segment 127 and a female side seal segment 129. Each of the first and second housing pieces 124, 126 include latches 131 positioned on opposite sides of the housing pieces and on opposite sides of a midline 133 of the housing pieces. Similarly, catches 135 four interlocking with the latches 133 are positioned opposite from the latches 133 on each housing piece 124, 126.

In other examples, both of the side seal segments on the first housing piece 24 can be male and can be adapted to mate with female side seal segments on the second housing piece 26. In still another examples, both of the side seal segments on the first housing piece 24 can be female and can be adapted to mate with male side seal segments on the second housing piece 26.

In certain examples, a given pair of side seal segments in accordance with the present disclosure contact each other along a non-linear contact profile (e.g., see contact profiles 99a-99d at Figures 6-9) when the first and second housing pieces are fit together. It will be appreciated that each non-linear contact profile extends from an inside to an outside of the housing.

Figures 11-16 depict a cable sealing enclosure 300 in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure adapted to be mounted over (e.g., around, on, etc.) a cable 302 to provide sealing around the cable 302. For example, the cable sealing closure 300 can have a sealing housing 304 having an in-line configuration and can be configured to seal an access location (e.g., a window cut, a stripped region) where the cable jacket is cut to allow access one or more optical fibers or metal wires of the cable 302. The sealing housing 304 defines a cable passage 306 that extends through an interior of the sealing housing 304 along a longitudinal axis 308 of the sealing housing 304. The longitudinal axis 308 extends between first and second opposite ends 310, 312 of the sealing housing 304. Each of the first and second ends 310, 312 of the sealing housing 304 defines a cable pass-through opening 314.

The sealing housing 304 can include a molded plastic construction and is depicted including first and second housing pieces 304a, 304b (e.g., half-pieces) that fit together (e.g., snap together or are otherwise secured together) to enclose the interior of the sealing housing 304. The first and second housing pieces 304a, 304b meet at a housing seam having first and second housing seam portions 320, 322 (see Figure 22) that extend between the first and second ends 310, 312 of the sealing housing 304 and that are positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis 308 when the sealing housing 304 is closed. The cable sealing enclosure 300 includes mating side seal segments 80a, 81a (e.g., female and male side seal segments) at each of the first and second housing seam portions 320, 322 for sealing the first and second housing seam portions 320, 322. The housing seam portions 320, 322 each include a seam surface 305a of the first housing piece 304a and a seam surface 305b of the second housing piece 304b. The seam surfaces 305a, 305b of each of the housing seam portions 320, 322 oppose each other when the sealing housing 304 is closed.

The cable sealing enclosure 300 includes cable seals 330 positioned at the first and second ends 310, 312 of the sealing housing 304 for sealing circumferentially about the outer jacket of the cable 302. Each of the cable seals 330 includes a base portion 332 (see Figures 17 and 18) that surrounds the longitudinal axis 308 when the first and second housing pieces 304a, 304b are fit together. The cable seals 330 each include a plurality of cable sealing ribs 334 unitarily formed with the base portion 332. The sealing ribs 334 surround the longitudinal axis 308 and project radially inwardly from the base portion 332 toward the longitudinal axis 308 when the first and second housing pieces 304a, 304b are fit together. The cable sealing ribs 334 are axially spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis 308. The cable sealing ribs 334 include inner diameters ID and outer diameters OD (see FIG. 16 where the ID and OD are labeled for one of the cable sealing ribs 334). In the depicted example, all of the cable sealing ribs 334 have outer diameters OD of the same magnitude, but in other examples the magnitudes of the outer diameters could vary from cable sealing rib to cable sealing rib.

Referring to Figure 19, each of the cable sealing ribs 334 includes first and second rib surfaces 335a, 335b that extend radially between the first and second diameters ID, OD and converge toward each other as the first and second rib surfaces 335a, 335b extend from the outer diameter OD toward the inner diameter ID. In the depicted example, the first and second rib surfaces 335a, 335b are frustoconical in shape. In certain examples, the first and second rib surfaces 335a, 335b define an angle A in the range of 40-70 degrees.

The inner diameters ID of at least some of the cable sealing ribs 334 have different magnitudes from each other such that the cable seals 330 can accommodate cables having a range of outer diameters (e.g., a range of 8-12 millimeters in diameter). The base portion 332 defines at least one compensation pocket between at least two of the cable sealing ribs 334, and preferably includes a plurality of compensation pockets 336 located axially between at least some of the cable sealing ribs 334. The compensation pocket 336 are recessed into the base portion 332 by a radial pocket depth PD that extends radially outwardly from the outer diameters OD of the cable sealing ribs 334. In certain examples, the radial pocket depth PD can extend fully through a total thickness of the base portion 332, but in preferred examples the radial pocket depth PD extends only partially through the total thickness of the base portion 332.

In certain examples, the radial pocket depth PD is at least 50 percent, or 100 percent, or 150 percent as large as a difference in magnitude between inner and outer radii IR, OR of at least one of the sealing ribs 334. In certain examples, the radial pocket depth PD is 50-300 percent as large as a difference in magnitude between the inner and outer radii IR, OR of at least one of the sealing ribs 334. In certain examples, the one of the sealing ribs 334 has a rib base axial dimension RAD measured at the outer diameter OD of the at least one sealing rib 334, and a pocket axial dimension PAD of at least one of the compensation pockets 336 is in the range of 20% to 90% of the rib base axial dimension RAD. In certain examples, a cross-dimension CD of at least one of the compensation pockets 336 is in the range of 40% to 90% of the inner diameter ID of at least one of the sealing ribs 334. In one example, the at least one sealing rib 334 is a largest one of the sealing ribs 334 (i.e., the cable sealing rib 334 with the smallest inner diameter ID). In one example, the at least one sealing rib 334 is a smallest one of the sealing ribs 334 (i.e., the cable sealing rib 334 with the largest inner diameter ID).

Referring to Figures 13, 14 and 22, each of the cable seals 330 includes a first cable seal portion 330a that mounts in the first housing piece 304a and a second cable seal portion 330b that mounts in the second housing piece 304b. The first and second cable seal portions 330a, 330b meet at first and second cable seal seam portions 340, 342 when the first and second housing pieces 304a, 304b are fit together. The first and second cable seal seam portions 340, 342 are positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis 308 of the housing 304 when the first and second housing pieces 304a, 304b are fit together. The first cable seal portion 330a including seal seam contact surfaces 331a that contact corresponding seal contact surfaces 33 lb of the second cable seal portion 330b to define the first and second cable seal seam portions 340, 342 when the first and second housing pieces 304a, 304b are fit together.

As shown at Figure 19, the seam seal contact surfaces 331a, 331b are raised relative to their corresponding seam surfaces 305a, 305b of the first and second cable seal seam portions 320, 322 of the housing 304 prior to fitting of the first and second housing pieces 304a, 304b together. The first and second seam portions 320, 322 of the housing define housing seam channels 343a, 343b respectively within the seam surfaces 305a, 305b of the first and second housing pieces 304a, 304b. The housing side seal segments 80a, 81a are positioned within the housing seam channels 343a, 343b. The housing side seal segments 80a, 81a have ends that are unitarily formed with the cable seals 330. The cable seals 330 and the housing side seal segments 80a, 81a can have the same material composition, and in certain examples can be co-molded with the housing 304. As depicted at Figure 19, the male cross-sectional profiles of the housing side seal segments 81a are raised relative to the seal contact surfaces seam seal contact surface 331a, 331b of the cable seals 330 and the female cross-sectional profiles of the housing side seal segments 80a are recessed relative to the seal contact surfaces 331a, 33 lb of the cable seals 330 prior to fitting of the first and second housing pieces 304a, 304b together. As shown at Figures 13, 14 and 16, the first and second cable seal portions 330a, 330b further include compensation openings 350 defined through the seam seal contact surfaces 331a, 33 lb in alignment with at least one of the cable sealing ribs 334, and preferably in alignment with a plurality of the cable sealing ribs 334. The compensation openings 350 as well as the compensation pockets 336 provide open space within the cable seals 330 for the material of the cable seals 330 to flow as the cable seals are deformed during closing of the cable sealing enclosure 300 about the cable 302. As the cable sealing enclosure 300 is closed about the cable 302, material of the cable seals 330 is displaced by the cable and flows into the compensation openings 350 and pockets 336 to enable the enclosure 300 to be physically closed. It will be appreciated that larger cables displace more of the material of the cable seals 330, and that the compensation opening 350 and pockets 336 are sized to allow accommodation of material displaced by the largest cable that the cable sealing enclosure 300 is designed to receive and seal.

Referring to Figures 21 A-21C, each of the first and second cable seal seam portions 340, 342 has a labyrinth-type configuration for preventing water from migrating longitudinally along the first and second cable seal seam portions 340, 342. In the example of Figure 21C, a single step 355 (e.g., jog) is provided between the opposing seam seal contact surfaces 331a, 33 lb adjacent the outer ends of each of the first and second cable seal seam portions 340, 342. In the example of Figure 2 IB, multiple steps 355 are defined between the opposing seam seal contact surfaces 331a, 331b longitudinally along the first and second cable seal seam portions 340, 342. In the example of Figure 21 A, an undulating shape 352 is defined between the opposing seam seal contact surfaces 331a, 331b longitudinally along the first and second cable seal seam portions 340, 342.

Referring to Figures 16-18, the cable sealing ribs 334 include consecutively positioned first, second, third, fourth and fifth cable sealing ribs 334a-334e. In the depicted example, the second cable sealing rib 334b is axially outwardly spaced from the first cable sealing rib 334a, the third cable sealing rib 334c is axially outwardly spaced from the second cable sealing rib 334b, the fourth cable sealing rib 334d is axially outwardly spaced from the third cable sealing rib 334c and the fifth cable sealing rib 334e is axially outwardly spaced from the fourth cable sealing rib 334d. The cable compensation pockets 336 are defined in each of the first and second cable seal portions 330a, 330b and include first cable compensation pockets 336a defined between the first and second cable sealing ribs 334a, 333b; second cable compensation pockets 336b defined between the second and third cable sealing ribs 334b, 334c; and third cable compensation pockets 336c defined between the third cable sealing ribs 334c and the fourth cable sealing ribs 334d. The first and second cable sealing ribs 334a, 334b are depicted as having the same size (i.e., the same inner diameter ID). The third cable sealing rib 334c is depicted as having a smaller size (e.g., a larger inner diameter ID) than the second cable sealing rib 334b, the fourth cable sealing rib 334d is depicted as having a smaller size (i.e., a larger inner diameter ID) than the third cable sealing rib 334c, and the fifth cable sealing rib 334e is depicted having a larger size (i.e., a smaller inner diameter ID) than the fourth cable sealing rib 334d. In certain examples, least three of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth cable sealing ribs 334a- 334e have different inner diameters ID from each other.

Referring to Figure 13, the first and second housing pieces 304a, 304b are connected by a living hinge 360 adjacent the first housing seam portion 320 and include snap-fit latches 362 adjacent the second housing seam portion 322 for retaining housing 304 in a closed configuration in which the first and second housing pieces 304a, 304b are fit together (see Figure 22). The first and second housing pieces 304a, 304b further include tool engagement projections 370 (e.g., shoulders, lips, flats, etc.) defined by the first and second housing pieces 304a, 304b adjacent the snap-fit latches 362 for using a tool (e.g., a plyers) to latch the snap-fit latches closed.

In certain implementations, sealant material for use in perimeter sealing arrangements of the type disclosed herein can include a hydrosilation cured vinyl- terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) gel. Additional information on such a gel can be found in U.S. Patent No. 8,642,891 and PCT International Publication No. WO 2021/113109, the disclosures of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In one example, the gel can be made by reacting a cross-linker, a chain extender and a vinyl-terminated poly dimethyl siloxane (PDMS). In other implementations, sealant material for use in applications of the type disclosed herein include peroxide or heat cured vinyl -terminated PDMS gel. In other implementations, sealant material for use in applications of the type disclosed herein includes moisture (and/or UV) cured PDMS gel (various terminations possible, including silanol). In other implementations, sealant material for use in applications of the type disclosed herein includes moisture (and/or UV) cured, silylated polyether (commonly “MS polymer”) gel. In certain implementations, the gel material includes poly ether or polyester based polyurethane gel. In other implementations, sealant material for use in applications of the type disclosed herein includes chemically crosslinked polyacrylate (acrylic or methacrylic) e.g., n-butyl acrylate or ethyl-hexyl acrylate with triethylene glycol dimethacrylate. In other implementations, sealant material for use in applications of the type disclosed herein includes ionically crosslinked rubber gel. In other implementations, sealant material for use in applications of the type disclosed herein includes chemically crosslinked styrene-butadiene- styrene (SBS) family thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) gel (crosslinks in polystyrene phase only). In other implementations, sealant material for use in applications of the type disclosed herein includes physically crosslinked triblock polyacrylate gel (e.g., Kurarity®). In other implementations, sealant material for use in applications of the type disclosed herein includes physically crosslinked triblock olefin gel (e.g., Infuse). In other implementations, sealant material for use in applications of the type disclosed herein includes hybrids and/or multiple combinations of above chemistries.

In other examples, the sealant material of the perimeter sealing arrangement can include a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) gel (sometimes referred to as a thermoplastic rubber) such as an extended (e.g., oil extended) co-polymer gel such as a gel having a composition that includes di -block and/or tri-block co-polymers (e.g., hard-elastomer- hard block co-polymers such as styrene-(ethylene/propylene)-styrene (SEBS) and/or styrene-(ethylene/butylene)-styrene (SEBS) block co-polymers). Example sealant having extended co-polymer gels are disclosed in US. Patent Nos. 5,618,882; 5,442,004; 5,541,250; 5,994,446; and PCT International Patent Publication Nos. W088/00603; WO94/18273; and WO93/23472, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

In certain examples, the sealing material forming the various portion of the perimeter sealing arrangement (e.g., the cable sealing sections and the side sealing sections) can have a Shore A hardness less than or equal to 35, 30, 25 or 20. In certain examples, the sealing material forming the various portion of the perimeter sealing arrangement (e.g., the cable sealing sections and the side sealing sections) can be comolded with the first and second housing pieces, which can have a plastic construction that in certain examples can have a material composition that includes polypropylene.

From the forgoing detailed description, it will be evident that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An enclosure comprising: a housing including a first housing piece and a second housing piece that fit together to enclose an interior of the housing, the first and second housing pieces each having a molded plastic construction, the housing including a length that extends between first and second ends of the housing, the housing defining a cable pass-through location at least at the first end of the housing, the housing including first and second opposite sides that extend between the first and second ends, each of the first and second sides being defined in part by the first housing piece and the second housing piece; a perimeter sealing arrangement for providing sealing between the first and second housing pieces around a perimeter of the housing, the perimeter sealing arrangement including a cable sealing section at the cable pass-through location for sealing about one or more cables routed into the interior of the housing through the cable pass-through location, the perimeter sealing arrangement including first and second side sealing portions that extend respectively along the first and second sides of the housing between the first and second ends of the housing, the first and second side sealing portions each including a first side seal segment retained within a channel of the first housing piece and a second side seal segment retained with a channel of the second housing piece, wherein for each of the first and second side sealing portions one of the first and second side seal segments has a male cross-sectional shape and the other of the first and second side seal segment has a female cross-sectional shape configured to mate with the male-cross-sectional shape when the first and second housing pieces are fit together.

2. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second side seal segments has a Shore A hardness less than or equal to 35, 30, 25 or 20.

3. The enclosure of claim 1 or 2, wherein the molded plastic construction of the first and second housing pieces includes polypropylene.

4. The enclosure of any of claims 1-3, wherein the perimeter sealing arrangement is molded within the first and second housing pieces.

5. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the first side seal segment of the first side sealing portion has the male cross-sectional shape, wherein the second side seal segment of the first side sealing portion has the female cross-sectional shape, wherein the first side seal segment of the second side sealing portion has the female cross- sectional shape, and wherein the second side seal segment of the second side sealing portion has the male cross-sectional shape.

6. The enclosure of any of claims 1-5, wherein the first and second housing pieces are connected by a hinge for allowing he first and second housing pieces to be pivotally moved relative to one another between an open housing configuration and a closed housing configuration, and wherein the first and second housing pieces fit together when in the closed configuration.

7. The enclosure of claim 6, wherein the hinge is a living hinge unitarily formed with the first and second housing pieces.

8. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising a latching arrangement unitarily formed with the first and second housing pieces.

9. The enclosure of claim 1, further comprising another cable pass-through location and cable sealing section at the second end of the housing.

10. The enclosure of claim 1, wherein the male cross-sectional shape has a cross- sectional area that is at least 1.5, 1.75, 2.0 or 3.0 times larger than a corresponding cross-sectional area of the female cross-sectional shape prior to mating.

11. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 10, wherein the male cross-sectional shape has a rounded end and straight, parallel sides.

12. An enclosure comprising: a housing including a first housing piece and a second housing piece that fit together to enclose an interior of the housing, the first and second housing pieces each having a molded plastic construction, the housing including a length that extends between first and second ends of the housing, the housing defining a cable pass-through location at the first end of the housing, the housing including first and second opposite sides that extend between the first and second ends, each of the first and second sides being defined in part by the first housing piece and the second housing piece; a perimeter sealing arrangement for providing sealing between the first and second housing pieces around a perimeter of the housing, the perimeter sealing arrangement including a cable sealing section at the cable pass-through location for sealing about one or more cables routed into the interior of the housing through the cable pass-through location, the perimeter sealing arrangement including first and second side sealing portions that extend respectively along the first and second sides of the housing between the first and second ends of the housing, the first and second side sealing portions each including a first side seal segment retained within a channel of the first housing piece and a second side seal segment retained with a channel of the second housing piece, wherein for each of the first and second side sealing portions at least one of the first and second side seal segments includes a projection that projects into the channel containing the other of the first and second sealing portions to provide a seal overlap when the first and second housing pieces are fit together.

13. The enclosure of claim 12, wherein each of the first and second side seal segments has a Shore A hardness less than or equal to 35, 30, 25 or 20.

14. The enclosure of claim 12 or 13, wherein the molded plastic construction of the first and second housing pieces includes polypropylene.

15. The enclosure of any of claims 12-14, wherein the perimeter sealing arrangement is molded within the first and second housing pieces.

16. An enclosure comprising: a housing including a first housing piece and a second housing piece that fit together to enclose an interior of the housing, the first and second housing pieces each having a molded plastic construction, the housing including a length that extends between first and second ends of the housing, the housing defining a cable pass-through location at the first end of the housing, the housing including first and second opposite sides that extend between the first and second ends, each of the first and second sides being defined in part by the first housing piece and the second housing piece; a perimeter sealing arrangement for providing sealing between the first and second housing pieces around a perimeter of the housing, the perimeter sealing arrangement including a cable sealing section at the cable pass-through location for sealing about one or more cables routed into the interior of the housing through the cable pass-through location, the perimeter sealing arrangement including first and second side sealing portions that extend respectively along the first and second sides of the housing between the first and second ends of the housing, the first and second side sealing portions each including a first side seal segment retained within a channel of the first housing piece and a second side seal segment retained with a channel of the second housing piece, wherein the first and second side sealing portions contact each other along a non-linear contact profile when the first and second housing pieces are fit together, wherein the non-linear contact profile extends from an inside toward an outside of the housing.

17. The enclosure of claim 16, wherein each of the first and second side seal segments has a Shore A hardness less than or equal to 35, 30, 25 or 20.

18. The enclosure of claim 16 or 17, wherein the molded plastic construction of the first and second housing pieces includes polypropylene.

19. The enclosure of any of claims 16-18, wherein the perimeter sealing arrangement is molded within the first and second housing pieces.

20. The enclosure of any of claims 16-19, wherein the non-linear contact profile includes at least one jog as the contact profile extends from an inside toward an outside of the housing.

21. A cable sealing enclosure adapted to be mounted over a cable, the cable sealing enclosure comprising: a sealing housing having an in-line configuration, the sealing housing defining a cable passage that extends through an interior of the sealing housing along a longitudinal axis of the sealing housing between first and second opposite ends of the sealing housing, each of the first and second ends of the housing defining a cable pass- through opening, the sealing housing including first and second housing pieces that fit together to enclose the interior of the sealing housing, the first and second housing pieces meeting at a housing seam having first and second housing seam portions that extend between the first and second ends of the sealing housing and that are positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis; housing side seal segments for sealing the first and second housing seam portions; cable seals positioned at the first and second ends of the sealing housing, each of the cable seals including: a base portion that surrounds the longitudinal axis when the first and second housing pieces are fit together; and a plurality of cable sealing ribs unitarily formed with the base portion, the sealing ribs surrounding the longitudinal axis and projecting radially inwardly from the base portion toward the longitudinal axis when the first and second housing pieces are fit together, the cable sealing ribs being axially spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal axis, the cable sealing ribs including inner diameters and outer diameters, each of the cable sealing ribs including first and second rib surfaces that extend radially between the first and second diameters and converge toward each other as the first and second rib surfaces extend from the outer diameter toward the inner diameter, the inner diameters of at least some of the cable sealing ribs having different magnitudes such that the cable seals can accommodate cables having a range of outer diameters, the base portion defining a compensation pocket located axially between two of the cable sealing ribs, the compensation pocket being recessed into the base portion by a radial pocket depth that extends radially outwardly from the outer diameters of the cable sealing ribs.

22. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 21, wherein the radial pocket depth is at least 50 percent as large as a difference in magnitude between the inner and outer diameters of at least one of the sealing ribs.

23. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 21, wherein the radial pocket depth is at least 100 percent as large as a difference in magnitude between the inner and outer radii of at least one of the sealing ribs.

24. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 21, wherein the radial pocket depth is at least 150 percent as large as a difference in magnitude between the inner and outer radii of at least one of the sealing ribs.

25. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 21, wherein the radial pocket depth is SO- SOO percent as large as a difference in magnitude between the inner and outer radii of at least one of the sealing ribs.

26. The cable sealing enclosure of any of claims 22-25, wherein the at least one sealing rib is a largest one of the sealing ribs.

27. The cable sealing enclosure of any of claims 22-25, wherein the at least one sealing rib is a smallest one of the sealing ribs.

28. The cable sealing enclosure of any of claims 22-25, wherein the at least one sealing rib has a rib base axial dimension measured at the outer diameter of the at least one sealing rib, and wherein a pocket axial dimension of the compensation pocket is in the range of 20% to 90% of the rib base axial dimension.

29. The cable sealing enclosure of any of claims 22-25, wherein a cross-dimension of the compensation pocket is in the range of 40% to 90% of the inner diameter of the at least one sealing rib.

30. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 21, wherein the first and second rib surfaces are frustoconical in shape.

31. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 30, wherein the first and second rib surfaces define an angle in the range of 40-70 degrees.

32. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 21, wherein each of the cable seals includes a first cable seal portion that mounts in the first housing piece and a second cable seal portion that mounts in the second housing piece, the first and second cable seal portions meeting at first and second cable seal seam portions when the first and second housing pieces are fit together, the first and second cable seal seam portions being positioned on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the housing when the first and second housing pieces are fit together, the first cable seal portion including seal seam contact surfaces that contact corresponding seal contact surfaces of the second cable seal portion to define the first and second cable seal seam portions when the first and second housing pieces are fit together.

33. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 32, wherein the seam seal contact surfaces are raised relative to seam surfaces of the first and second seam portions of the housing prior to fitting of the first and second housing pieces together, and wherein the first and second seam portions of the housing define housing seam grooves in which housing side seal segments are positioned.

34. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 33, wherein the housing side seal segments have ends that are unitarily formed with the cable seals, and wherein the cable seals and the housing side seal segments have the same material composition.

35. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 34, wherein the housing side seal segments have mating male and female cross-sectional profiles, and wherein the male cross- sectional profile has a male projection that is received within a female receptacle of the female cross-sectional profile, and wherein the male projection has a cross-sectional area that is at least 1.5, 1.75, 2.0 or 3.0 times larger than a corresponding cross- sectional area of the female receptacle prior to mating.

36. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 35, wherein the male cross-sectional profile of the male projection has a rounded end and straight, parallel sides.

37. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 35, wherein the male cross-sectional profile is raised relative to the seal contact surfaces of the cable seals and the female cross-sectional profile is recessed relative to the seal contact surfaces of the cable seals prior to fitting of the first and second housing pieces together.

38. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 32, wherein at least one of the first and second cable seal portions defines compensation openings defined through the seam seal contact surfaces in alignment with at least one of the sealing ribs.

39. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 32, the first and second cable seal portions define compensation openings defined through the seam seal contact surfaces in alignment with at least one of the sealing ribs.

40. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 32, the first and second cable seal portions define compensation openings defined through the seam seal contact surfaces in alignment with a plurality of the sealing ribs.

41. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 32, wherein each of the first and second cable seal seam portions has a stepped configuration for preventing water from migrating longitudinally along the first and second cable seal seam portions.

42. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 21, wherein the cable sealing ribs include consecutively positioned first, second, third and fourth cable sealing ribs, wherein the cable compensation pocket is one of a plurality of cable compensation pockets recessed into the base portion by radial pocket depths that extend radially outwardly from the outer diameters of the cable sealing ribs, the cable compensation pockets including a first compensation pocket between the first cable sealing rib and the second cable sealing rib, and a second compensation pocket between the second cable sealing rib and the third cable sealing rib.

43. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 42, further comprising a third compensation pocket between the third cable sealing rib and the fourth cable sealing rib.

44. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 43, wherein the cable seals can accommodate cables having outer diameters ranging from 8-12 millimeters.

45. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 43, wherein the second cable sealing rib is outwardly axially spaced from the first cable sealing rib, wherein the third cable sealing rib is outwardly axially spaced from the second cable sealing rib, and wherein the fourth cable sealing rib is outwardly axially spaced from the third cable sealing rib.

46. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 45, wherein at least three of the first, second, third and fourth cable sealing ribs have different inner diameters from each other.

47. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 46, wherein the third cable sealing rib is larger than the fourth cable sealing rib, and wherein the second cable sealing rib is larger than the third cable sealing rib.

48. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 47, wherein the first and second cable sealing ribs are the same size.

49. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 47, further comprising a fifth cable sealing rib outwardly axially spaced form the fourth cable sealing rib, the fifth cable sealing rib being larger than the fourth cable sealing rib.

50. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 21, wherein the first and second housing pieces are connected by a living hinge adjacent the first housing seam portion and include snap-fit latches adjacent the second housing seam portion for retaining housing in a closed configuration in which the first and second housing pieces are fit together.

51. The cable sealing enclosure of claim 50, further comprising tool engagement projections defined by the first and second housing piece adjacent the snap-fit latches for using a tool to latch the snap-fit latches.