MXPA98000463A - Member of sujec - Google Patents

Abstract

A wrapping for example for a cable splice closure, comprises: (a) first and second parts, each of which has a peripheral flange, and (b) a holding member in the form of a split ring which, in use, it is placed around the tabs of the first and second parts and therefore holds the parts together, at least part of the clamping member is formed as a simple flexible part that can be opened by bending to allow the clamping member is placed around the tabs of the first and second part

Description

MEMBER OF CLAMPING The present invention relates to an enclosure that includes a fastening member for fastening together two parts of the enclosure, particularly an enclosure of a cable splice closure, for example for enclosing telecommunications cables, especially fiber optic cables, or other cables. The invention also relates to a fastening member for fastening together two parts of a casing, for example for closing around a cable splice. Cable splice closures are known in which two parts of the sheath are held together by means of a clamping member in the form of a split ring. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5058748 discloses a retractable stop cable splice closure comprising a base and a dome cover. Each of the base and the cover have a circumferential flange and, when the cover is closed the two flanges are placed together and a fastening member in the form of a hinged split ring is placed around the flanges and therefore hold the flange. base and deck together. The clamping member comprises two semicircular parts that are hinged so that the member can be opened to be placed around the tabs, and a screw-type clamping device that holds the semicircular parts hinged together once the clamping member has been installed around the eyelashes.

International Patent Application No. WO 94/14095 (Raynet Corporation) discloses a pressure fastener for a telecommunications closure, which holds the attachable portions of the closure together to form a water-tight seal. The pressure fastener is in the form of a hinged split ring which may be hinged open and placed around the mating surfaces of the closure portions. The fastener includes a latch on the center that is rotatable between a first unsecured position and a second secured position, a clamping pressure generated by the latch that increases to a maximum value as the swivel latch moves from its first position to a latch. intermediate position and then decreases from its maximum value as the insurance moves from the intermediate position to a second position. An appropriate clamping pressure is generated when the latch is in the second (secured) position, to compress an O-ring placed between the engagable parts of the latch in an appropriate amount. Although such fastening members work very well, they are often an expensive part of the casing due to the fact that they are formed from three or more separate parts that have to be assembled together (the three parts being, for example, the two main parts). hinged semicircles of the fastener and, the device of subjection or insurance on the center). While the closure of a wrapper by means of a conventional split ring fastening member is a simple system, the fastening member itself is comparatively elaborate. Also, it can often be difficult to close the clamping member around the tabs, since, of necessity, the clamping member is a tight fitting and, consequently the installation engineer needs to use a tool to provide the lever action to force the hinged parts to close sufficiently together before the fastening device or the safety on the center can be used to hold them together. In addition, opening the fastening member after it has been installed, to gain access to the interior of the casing, can often be difficult, requiring the use of tools to leverage the hinged portions of the fastening member. An object of the present invention is to provide a fastening member, and an enclosure including such a fastening member, which overcomes the above disadvantages, that is, it is simpler and less expensive to manufacture, and it is easier to install and remove than conventional split ring fastening members, although it is as effective as it is reliable. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a fastening member for fastening two parts together, comprising a split ring having at least two axially spaced projections on the inner surface thereof to receive peripheral flanges therebetween. on the parts and therefore clamping the parts against axial movement away from each other, wherein at least part of the clamping member is formed as a single flexible part that can be flexed open to allow the clamping member to be placed around the parts. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an enclosure comprising: (a) first and second parts, each of which has a peripheral flange; and (b) a fastening member in the form of a split ring which, in use, is placed around the flanges of the first and second parts and therefore holds the parts together; wherein at least part of the clamping member is formed as a single flexible part that can be flexed open to allow the clamping member to be placed around the first and second parts. The flanges of the first and second parts preferably extend around substantially all the periphery of their respective part (for example, if the parts are circular in cross section, the flanges preferably extend about the entire circumference substantially of their part. respective). In the broader aspect of the invention, however, each flange may comprise one or more discrete projections on the periphery of its respective part, ie the flanges need not necessarily extend around the parts. The fastening of the first and second parts of the envelope preferably closes the envelope or at least part of the envelope. The wrapping preferably comprises a cable splice closure wrapper or other cable accessory wrapper, or a duct or feed for example. The invention has the advantage that because at least part of the fastening member is formed as an individual flexible part it is normally of simpler construction and consequently less expensive to manufacture, than the split ring fastening members which are hinged to Allow them to open up. It also has the advantage that because the clamping member is flexible and can be flexed open to allow it to be placed around the tabs of the first and second parts, it is usually easier to install them around and subsequently remove them from the tabs that are attached to them. conventional split ring fastening members. By the term "split ring" it is meant that the clamping member is closed in the cross section except for a partition that allows it to open and be placed around the tabs of the first and second parts.The partition can be very large forming, for example, a third or a quarter of the periphery or circumference of the clamping member, although preferably it is much smaller than it is, comprising for example a crack, groove or other narrow space in the clamping member. It is described as a split ring, in its broadest aspects it is not limited to the circular, oval or other curve shapes (although those shapes are preferred, since especially cable splice closure wraps are frequently, but not always, curved in the cross-section): the clamping member may, for example, be angular, for example in a polygonal shape, by the term "axially" is meant p or generally in the same direction as the direction in which the axis of the split ring of the clamping member extends. For fastening members having no axis as such and, in fact, for fastening members having an axis, this direction is generally substantially perpendicular to the plane of the split ring. The clamping member preferably has at least two axially spaced projections on the inner surface thereof, between which, in use, the tabs of the first and second parts are received, thereby holding the parts against axial movement in distancing one from the other. There may or may not be one or more seal members or sealing materials between the tabs of the first and second parts. The axially spaced projections preferably define at least one groove extending around the inner surface of the fastening member which, in use, receives the flanges of the first and second parts and consequently holds parts together. The axially spaced projections on the inner surface of the clamping member preferably therefore comprise the flanges or flanges that, more preferably they extend substantially around the entire internal surface of the fastening member. It was mentioned before that at least part of the clamping member is formed as a simple flexible part. For embodiments in which only part of the clamping member is formed as a simple flexible part, this part preferably extends around the entire clamping member. However, in the most preferred, that substantially complete clamping member is formed as a simple flexible part. This has the advantage of simplicity and, the fastening member is consequently easy and inexpensive to manufacture. The fastening member can be formed from two or more pieces that are joined such that the finished fastening member comprises a single piece. Preferably, however, the fastening member is formed in one piece, preferably from a single piece of material. The fastening member can, for example, be molded, preferably as a single piece. Because the member has a partition and is flexible, it can be advantageously molded without having to use mold slides to allow it to be removed from the mold, further reducing its manufacturing cost. Preferably the clamping member is elastically flexible. This has an advantage which can normally form a snap fit around the tabs of the first and second parts and preferably is held in place by its own elasticity. However, whether or not the clamping member is resilient, preferably it has securing means to secure it in place around the tabs of the first and second parts. The securing means may be integral with the fastening member or may be one or more separate articles. For example, they may comprise a retainer or the like to hold each side of the partition or, may comprise a tie cover or the like placed around the fastening member to prevent accidental opening. Such securing means are preferably simple and inexpensive and usually do not add significantly complexity or cost to the fastening member. To hold the first and second parts together, the clamping member is preferably placed around the eyelashes sequentially. For example, the fastening member can be placed around the eyelashes by pushing it sequentially over the eyelashes. This is in contrast to the conventional split ring fastening members that are placed around both flanges at the same time. Accordingly, a third aspect of the invention provides a method for securing together the first and second parts of a shell, the shell comprising a shell in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, the method comprising placing the grasping member around the shell. lashes sequentially.

The clamping member can advantageously be pre-installed around one of the flanges and in use can additionally be placed around the other flange to hold the first and second parts together. For this purpose, the clamping member can advantageously have a groove or the like in which sits the flange around which the clamping member is pre-installed, or the part of the housing on which the clamping member is pre-installed. it may have an additional flange against which the fastening member rests, thereby securing the pre-installed fastening member in place around the flange before fastening the first and second parts together. It is particularly preferred that, in use, the first and second parts are held together bringing their flanges together, thereby causing the fastening member to be pushed over the other flange. When used in this manner, the fastening member according to the invention provides a particularly easy way to hold the first and second parts together. An advantage is that, because the clamping member is pre-installed around one of the tabs, it can facilitate the correct alignment of the two parts and maintain this correct alignment as they are placed together, i.e. the clamping member can actuate as a means of alignment, placement and / or guidance for the parties. This is particularly useful in some casings in which the sealing member, for example an O-ring, is located between the first and second parts, since conventionally with such casings it has often been difficult for the installation engineer to place the first and second parts. Second parts and the O-ring correctly and maintain this correct positioning while forcing the first and second parts together (which usually allows compressing the O-ring between the first and second parts at the same time). This is explained and described in more detail below, with reference to the drawings. As already mentioned, the clamping member is preferably installed either by sequentially pushing it on the tabs or is pre-installed around one of the tabs and then the tabs of the first and second parts are brought together thereby causing the member to Hold is pushed over the other tab. These installation methods have the advantage that they are easy to carry out and also have the advantage that they avoid the need to make the fastening member sufficiently flexible that it can be fully opened to be wrapped around the wrapping in a similar manner to the members. conventional hinged fasteners. If any of these preferred installation methods are used, it is only necessary to make the clamping member flexible enough to allow the entire clamping member to increase in diameter by an amount equal to the height at which the eyelashes protrude from the wall. wrapping, instead of having to make it sufficiently flexible to allow the partition to be widened enough to accommodate the full width of the wrapping as the securing member is wrapped around the wrapping. Accordingly, in some preferred embodiments of the invention, the fastening member is only flexible enough to allow it to be pushed over the flanges of the first and second parts. Part of the clamping member and / or one or each peripheral flange of the casing preferably has a tapered surface which aids the clamping member to be flexed open as it is pushed onto the eyelash (s) in use. It is particularly preferred that the clamping member and one or each peripheral flange each have such a tapered surface, the tapered surfaces cooperating with each other to assist opening by the clamping member as it is pushed over the flange in use. The first and second portions are preferably substantially circular or oval in cross section, more preferably at least one of the parts being tubular. The parts are preferably axially joined together to hold in use, each peripheral flange preferably being circumferential. It is particularly preferred that a portion of one of the parts overlap a portion of the other part when they are held together in use. Preferably a sealing member seals between the overlapping portions of the first and second parts in use. For example, one part may slide on the peripheral surface of the other part, a sealing member, for example an O-ring, which preferably seals between this peripheral surface and the superposed inner surface of the other part. Advantageously, sliding one part of the envelope over the other part can cause the sealing member (eg, an O-ring) to rotate between the two parts, for example to rotate from an initial position to a final sealing position. For example, before sliding one part over the other part, the sealing member can be seated on the peripheral surface of the part of the envelope that will be superimposed, adjacent to the edge of that part, and sliding the other part over the part that can be rotated. the sealing member along the peripheral surface of the superposed part within a final sealing position. It is particularly preferred that the outer peripheral surface of the overlying part be tapered or staggered so that as the sealing member is turned towards its final sealing position it becomes increasingly compressed. Advantageously, the sealing member is compressed, preferably in the radial direction, between the superimposed portions of the first and second parts of the envelope. This has the advantage that the clamping member generally holds the first and second parts only against axial separation from one another (for example, preventing them from slipping off one another) instead of directly against the elasticity of a sealing member. (for example an O-ring) that is compressed between them (as is the case with the clamping pressure described in WO 94/14095). This is advantageous since it generally avoids having to make the clamping member and its clamping action around the peripheral flanges, strong enough to resist the forces exerted by a compressed sealing member which increase due to its elasticity (as is the case with the clamping pressure of WO 94/14095), and therefore usually allows the clamping member to be manufactured less expensively. The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows, in perspective, a fastening member according to the invention; Figure 2 shows, in perspective, another fastening member according to the invention; Figures 3a & 3b show, in cross section, a case in accordance with the invention, including the fastening member of Fig. 1; Figures 4a & 4b show, in cross section, another casing according to the invention, including the fastening member of Fig. 2. Figures 1 and 2 each show the fastening member 1 according to the invention, comprising a ring party formed in one piece. The fastening members 1 preferably comprise an elastic material, for example polypropylene, although they may comprise metal, for example. Each has a partition 3, to allow it to be placed around the tabs of the first and second parts of the wrapper or other article, to hold the parts together. Each clamping member 1 has a groove 5 on its radially internal circumferential surface (ie its internal surface) which is defined by two axially spaced projections 6 in the form of flanges or flanges and, in which, in use, it is receive the peripheral tabs of the first and second parts. In this way, the clamping members hold the first and second parts together. The fastening member 1 shown in Fig. 2 has a circumferential flange 7 which divides the slot 5 axially in two, each part of the slot 5 being adapted to receive one of the flanges. The lower part 9 of the slot 5 (as shown) is for receiving the flange of a part of the envelope on which the fastening member is pre-installed in use. The upper part 11 of the groove is for receiving the flange of the other part of the envelope. Figures 3a and 3b show, in cross section, a cable splice closure enclosure according to the invention, comprising a cover or first part 13, a base or second part 15, the fastening member 1 shown in Fig. .1 and an O-ring sealing member 17. The casing is for enclosing a stop splice, the cables extending, in use, through the base 15. Cable entry openings are not shown (which normally they would be present). Figure 3a shows the envelope before the first part 13 and the second part 15 have been held together. The clamping member 1 has been pre-installed on the second part 15, with the clamping member being positioned around the peripheral flange 19 of the second part. To hold the clamping member 1 in the correct axial position with respect to the second part 15 so that the first and second parts can be simply clamped by joining their flanges, the second part has a second peripheral flange 21 behind the first peripheral flange 19 The clamping member 1 is thus caught between the flanges 19 and 15 and consequently held in place. The peripheral flange 23 of the first part, and the fastening member 1, each have a tapered surface, indicated at 25 and 27 respectively, which, in figure 3a are connecting to each other, and a front section 29 of the first part 13 is shown extending between the part of the clamping member 1 and the pinch-sealing member 17 which is located around the peripheral flange 31 of the second part 15. In this way, the first part 13 is seated in the position correct to be fastened with the second part 15. Figure 3b shows the wrapping after the first and second parts have been fastened together. This has been achieved by simply moving the first and second parts towards each other, which has caused the resiliently flexible clamping member to open by bending, aided by the cooperating tapered surfaces 25 and 27, allowing the peripheral flange 23 of the first part 13 is received by the fastening member. Therefore the disengagement is allowed inwards but the disengagement is resisted to the outside. During this movement of the first part 13 with respect to the second part 15 and the holding member 1, the O-ring sealing member 17 has rotated between the peripheral surface 31 of the second part and the superposed inner surface 33 of the first part, and has formed a seal between those two surfaces. The anterior section 29 of the first part 13 has been located in a receiving groove 35 in the peripheral flange 19 of the second part. The movement of the first part 13 within the coupling fastened with the second part 15 has been guided by the fastening member 1, thereby aiding the installation engineer. Figures 4a and 4b illustrate the same clamping operation carried out using a different casing. Equivalent components are given the same reference numbers as those of Figures 3a and 3b. The difference between the casing of Figures 4a and 4b and the casing of Figures 3a and 3b is that, while in the latter the clamping member was pre-installed in the base or second part 15, in the first member The fastening member shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b is that shown in FIG. 2. The flange 23 is pre-installed in the part 9 of the groove 5 of the fastener member. and the clamping member is therefore held in the correct axial position with respect to the first part 13 to receive the second part 15, by the circumferential rim 7. The clamping member has a tapered surface 25, similar to that shown in Figures 3a and 3b, although it is the peripheral flange 19 of the second part 15 that has a cooperating tapered surface 37, instead of the flange 23 of the first part 13.

Claims (10)

1. An envelope comprising: (a) first and second parts, each of which has a peripheral flange; and (b) a fastening member in the form of a split ring which, in use, is placed around the flanges of the first and second parts and therefore holds the parts together; wherein at least part of the clamping member is formed as a simple flexible part that can be opened by bending to allow the clamping member to be placed around the tabs of the first and second parts.

An enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the clamping member has at least two axially spaced projections on the inner surface thereof, between which, in use, the tabs of the first and second parts are received. , thus holding the parts against axial movement away from each other.

An enclosure according to claim 2, wherein the axially spaced projections on the internal surface of the clamping member define at least one groove extending around the internal surface of the clamping member.

4. A wrapping according to claim 1, wherein substantially all of the fastening member is formed as a simple flexible part.

5. A wrapping according to any preceding claim, wherein the clamping member is elastically flexible.

6. A wrapping according to any preceding claim, wherein, in order to hold the first and second parts together in use, the clamping member is placed around the tabs sequentially.

7. An enclosure according to claim 6, wherein, in use, the fastening member is placed around the flanges by sequentially pushing it onto the flanges. An enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein the fastening member is pre-installed around one of the flanges and, in use is additionally placed around the other flange to hold the first and second parts together. A wrapping according to claim 8, wherein, in use, the first and second parts are held together bringing their flanges together, thereby causing the fastening member to be pushed onto the other flange. 10. A wrapping according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein part of the clamping member and / or one or each peripheral flange has a tapered surface that aids the clamping member to be opened by bending as it is pushed over the or the tabs in use 11 A wrapper according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second parts are substantially circular or oval in cross section, preferably at least one of the parts being tubular, the parts are brought together axially for clamping them together in use, and each peripheral flange is circumferential 12 A wrapping according to claim 11, wherein a portion of one of the parts overlaps a portion of the other of the parts when the first and second parts they are held together in use 13 A wrapper according to claim 12, further comprising a sealing member which l, in use, seals between the overlapping portions of the first and second parts 14 A wrapping according to claim 13, wherein, in use, a portion of one of the parts slides on a peripheral surface of a portion of the other part, causing the sealing member to be rotated between the two parts along the peripheral surface, from an initial position to a final sealing position. A wrapping according to claim 14, wherein the surface peripheral and / or an internal surface of the part that slides on the peripheral surface, this tapered and / or has a stage, which, in use, causes the sealing member to be increasingly compressed as it is rotated toward its final sealing position. 16. A wrapping according to any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein, in use, the holding member holds the first and second parts together preventing them from slipping off one another. 17. A wrapper according to any preceding claim, which is a cable splice closure wrap. 18. A fastening member for fastening together two parts, comprising a split ring having at least two axially spaced projections on the inner surface thereof to receive between them the peripheral flanges on the parts and thereby hold the parts against axial movement away from one another, wherein at least part of the clamping member is formed as a simple flexible part which can be opened by bending to allow the bending member to be placed around the parts. 19. A clamping member according to claim 18, wherein the axially spaced projections define at least one groove extending around the internal surface of the clamping member. 20. A method for attaching together first and second parts of a wrap, the wrap comprising a wrap according to any of claims 1 to 17, the method comprising placing the fastening member around the tabs sequentially. 21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the clamping member is placed around the eyelashes by sequentially pushing on the eyelashes. 22. A method according to claim 20 or claim 21, wherein the clamping member is pre-installed around one of the tabs and the first and second parts are subsequently clamped together by joining their tabs, causing this so that the clamping member is pushed on the other flange. 23. A method according to claim 22, the envelope further comprising a sealing member between the first and second parts, wherein, when the flanges are joined, a portion of one of the parts slides on a peripheral surface of a portion of the other part, causing the sealing member to be rotated between the two parts along the peripheral surface from an initial position to a final sealing position.