GB2337372A

GB2337372A - Covering device of cable multi-tap

Info

Publication number: GB2337372A
Application number: GB9810455A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tzu-Yen Hsiang
Original assignee: Lantek Electronics Inc
Current assignee: Lantek Electronics Inc
Priority date: 1998-05-14
Filing date: 1998-05-14
Publication date: 1999-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 2018-05-14
Also published as: GB2337372B; GB9810455D0

Abstract

An improved cable multi-tap for integrated distribution systems includes a main body 20, a plurality of output holes 22, and a covering device 24. The covering device 24 is an eaves-like structure elongated from the main body 20. With the help of the covering device 24, the secondary wires and the inner electric circuitry of the cable multi-tap are protected from the damage of moisture, dust, insect, or external forces.

Description

1 COVERING DEVICE OF CABLE MULTI-TAP 2337372 The invention relates to a

cable multi-tap for integrated distfibution systems, 0 especially to a cable multi-tap with an eaves-like covering device.

As the cable television (TV) is more and more popular, almost each family has one cable TV terminal in their home. Through cable TV distribution systems, the television and communication signals can be immediately transmitted. Hence. the cable TV distribution system and the wire communication distribution system can be combined to an integrated distribution system. In cable TV, communication, or integrated distribution systems, it is typically necessary to tap off a television or communication signal from a main distribution cable for transmittina the television or communication signal into a customer's facility on a secondary cable. A well known device for accomplishing it is a multi-tap that permits connection to the main television or communication signal carrying cable and provides multiple outputs for individual connection to a number of customers, respectively. In general, cable multi-taps are located outside, and have to normally work tinde.r all-weather condition. Thus the configuration of a cable multi-tap is very important.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which is the perspective view of a cable multitap of the prior art. The cable multi-tap of the prior art for integrated distribution systems includes a television-signal-process unit 4 and a communication-signal-process unit 10. An input terminal 2 of the cable multi-tap is used for connecting a main cable which carries a main sianal includina television and communication signals. The main signal is then tapped off by an electric circuit of the cable multi-tap through the input terminal 2. With the electric circuit, the television and communication signals are then separated from the tapped signal, and are transported to the television-signalprocess unit 4 and the c ommuni cation-si anal -process unit 10, respectively. The television-signal- process unit 4 deals with the extracted television signal and transmits it to a secondary cable connected to a customer's facility through an output terminal (not shown))..F the cable multi-tap. Similarly, the communication-si anal -process unit 10 deals with the extracted communication signal and brings them into a plurality of secondary wires 14 (shown in FIG. 2) connected to customer's receivers through a

2 plurality of output holes 12 of the cable multi-tap.

Please refer to FIG. 2, which is the cross-section view (cutting by the II - E line) of the cable multi-tap shown in FIG. 1. As shown in the partially enlarged drawing (in the dash-line circle), there is a gap between each of the secondary wires 14 and the corresponding output hole of the output holes 12. This is caused by the unmatched 0 sizes of the secondary wires 14 and the output holes 12, and the dropping effect of the secondary wires 14 by the gravity.

A major problem of the cable multi-tap of the prior art is that since the cable multi-taps are usually located outdoor and dust, moisture, or insect goes easily into the inner part of the cable multi-tap through the gaps between the secondary wires 14 and the output holes 12, and this will damage the inner electric device of the cable multi-tap such as the communication-signal-process unit 10 and television- si gnalprocess unit 4. The present inventor recognized the necessity for providing an improved cable multi-tap which can prevent its internal electric device from being damaged by dust, moisture, or insect.

0 The objective of the invention. is to provide an improved cable multi-tap for integrated distribution systems, which can prevent its internal electric devices from being damaged by rain, dust, or insect.

With the problem of the prior art in mind, a cable multi-tap of the present invention includes a main body, a plurality of output holes, and a covering device.

0 The covering device is an eaves-like structure with a plurality of semicircular parts C> elon,,ated from the main body. These semi-circular parts locate upon the output holes and shelter them. One end of each semi-circular part is connected to the main body, and there is a salient at the other end. If secondary wires for communication are connected through the output holes, a plurality of belt can strongly tighten these wires to the semi-circular parts of the covering device with the stop of the salients at each end of the semi-circular parts. Consequently, the belts will not be removed by external forces and the secondary wires and the inner electric circuit of the cable multi-tap will be protected from the damage of moisture, dust. insect, or external forces with the help of the covering device and belts.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent 1 3 from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments.

The description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

1 FIG. 1 is the perspective view of a cable multi-tap of the prior art for integrated distribution systems;

FIG. 2 is the cross-section view (cutting by the II - II line) of the cable multi-tap sho,w-n in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is the perspective view of a cable multi-tap of the present invention for integrated distribution systems; FIG. 4 is the cross-section view (cutting by the IV-1V line) of the cable multi-tap shown in FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is the perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention for integrated distribution systems; and FIG. 6 is the cross-section view (cutting at the VI-ITI line) of the cable multi-tar) shown in FIG. 5.

Please refer to FIG. 33, which shows a cable multi-tap for integrated distribution systems. The cable multi-tap includes a main body 20, a plurality of output holes 22, and a covering device 24. The main body 20 is partitioned into a television-signalprocess unit 21 and a communication-signal-process unit 23. The output holes are located in the communication-signal -process unit 23. The covering device 24 is an eaves-like structure with a lurality of semi-circular parts 241 elongated from the p main body 20. These semi-circular parts 241 locate upon the output holes 22 and shelter the output holes 22. One end of each semi-circular part 241 is connected to the main body 20, and there is a salient 243 at the other end.

Please refer to FIG. 4, which is the cross-section view (cutting by the II - U line) of the cable multi-tap shown in FIG. 3. If at least one secondary wire 25 for transmitting communication signals is connected to the communication- signal-process unit 23) throuah the output holes 22, the secondary wire 25, the communication-signal- 0 0 process unit 23, and other inner electric circuitry of the cable multi- tap will be 4 protected from the damacye of moisture, dust, insect, or external forces with the help of the covering device 24.

Please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, which respectively show another cable multitap and the cross-section viw' (cutting by the VI-VI line) of the it. The only difference between both preferred embodiments of the invention is that there is at least one belt 26. If the secondary wire 25 is connected to the cable multi-tap through the output holes 22, the belt 26 is used to tighten strongly the secondary wire 25 to one of the semi- circular parts 241. With the help of the salient 243 of the semi-circular part 241 tightened with the secondary wire 25, the belt 26 is not easy to be removed by external forces and will be useful to protect the secondary wire 25, the communication-signal-process unit 23, and other inner electric circuitry of the cable multi-tap from the damage of moisture, dust, insect, or external forces.

c) It is noted that the cable multi-tap for integrated distribution systems described above are the preferred embodiments of the present invention for only the purposes of illustration, and are not intended as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed. Any modifications and variations that may be apparent to a person skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

A cable multi-tap for integrated distribution systems comprising:

a main body, a plurality of output holes, and a covering device with an eaves-like structure elongated from the main body located upon the output holes, sheltering the output holes.
2. The cable multi-tap for integrated distribution systems as claimed in claim 1 wherein the eaves-like structure is a plurality of semi-circular parts that have a salient at each of their ends, located upon the corresponding one of said output holes.
1 The cable rnulti-tap for integrated distribution systems as claimed in claim 1 finther comprises a belt with salient stop that a cable wire connecting the cable multi- z tap through the output holes will be tightened together with the covering device by the belt.
4. A cable multi-tap con-nected with at least one wire for integrated distribution systems comprising:

0 a main body; a plurality of output holes; a covering device including a plurality of semi-circular parts with a saliet at their ends, elongated from the main body, and located upon the output holes and sheltering 0 0 in the same time; and a belt with salient stop that a cable wire connecting the cable multi-tap through the output holes will be tightened together with the covering device by the belt.

Z> t) T A cable multi-tap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or substantially as illustrated in any one of or any combination of Figs. 3 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.