WO2024127237A1

WO2024127237A1 - Sealing grommet

Info

Publication number: WO2024127237A1
Application number: PCT/IB2023/062524
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jaschka SWART; David Paul STIEVENART
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-12-12
Filing date: 2023-12-12
Publication date: 2024-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 2025-06-12

Abstract

This invention relates to a sealing grommet (1) more particularly but not exclusively a sealing grommet (1) for creating a seal (2) around a fibre optic cable when the fibre optic cable is inserted into a cable enclosure (8). The grommet (1) creates a seal (2) around a cable to seal off the interior of the enclosure (8) from the outside world. The invention comprises a body made from a resiliently deformable material. The body is in a shape of a tube which has a first entry (4) having a first dimension into a first end of the tube and a second entry (5) having a second dimension into a second end tube. The dimension of the first entry (4) is different than the dimension of the second entry (5).

Description

SEALING GROMMET

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a sealing grommet more particularly but not exclusively a sealing grommet for creating a seal around a cable

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Optical fiber distribution enclosures, also known as fiber distribution panels or fiber distribution boxes, serve as key components in fiber optic communication networks. These enclosures are used for various purposes to facilitate splicing, the distribution, organization, and management of fiber optic cables.

United States patent number US9513451 B2 entitled ” Optical fibre distribution enclosure” describes an optical fiber distribution enclosure, comprising a housing base and a housing cover, engageable with each other to form a housing of the enclosure, a slack fiber storage device, arranged within the housing when the housing base and the housing cover are engaged with each other, a tray holder, arranged within the housing when the housing base and the housing cover are engaged with each other, on which tray holder one or more fiber-optic trays can be mounted, characterized in that the housing base, the slack fiber storage device and the tray holder are integrally formed as one piece.

Other examples include enclosures which may make use of access ports or doors which allow access to couplers inside of a fibre optic splice I distribution enclosure.

Optical fiber distribution enclosures provide physical protection to the fragile fiber optic cables and their connectors. This protection is essential to prevent damage from dust, moisture, and other environmental elements that can negatively impact the performance of the optical fibers, however these enclosures are not always completely water and weatherproof. Seals are used to seal around each cable which enters and exits the enclosure. Seals are specifically manufactured for specific cable diameters.

This can become problematic if an installer does not have a sealing member which is the correct size for the cable diameter. This may lead to the sealing member not providing a weatherproof seal around the cable.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a sealing grommet which, at least partially, alleviates some of the above-mentioned difficulties. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a sealing grommet for creating a seal around a cable comprising a body made from a resiliently deformable material the body defining a tube which has at a first end a first entry having a first dimension into the tube and at a second end a second entry having a second dimension into the tube wherein the dimension of the first entry is different than the dimension of the second entry.

A sealing grommet may further include a slit in a wall of the tube which allows access into an interior of the tube between the two entries.

The sealing grommet wherein the tube has a tapered or slanted or any other irregular shape, the invention is not limited in this regard.

The sealing grommet wherein a cable is inserted into the slit to have a first portion of the cable extends through the first entry and a second portion of the cable extends through a second entry.

The sealing grommet wherein the resiliently deformable material creates a seal around the cable when external pressure is applied to the grommet.

The sealing grommet wherein the slit is forced closed by sealing members which apply an external pressure on the grommet. The sealing grommet may form part of an enclosure which when closed has formations configured to engage with and apply pressure to the grommet.

There is further provided for a method of creating a seal around a cable the method including the steps of

- inserting part of a cable into a slit which leads into an interior of

- a tubular grommet made from a deformable material so that a first part of the cable is exposed from a first outlet from the grommet and a second part of the cable is exposed from a second outlet from the grommet

- applying an external clamping force onto the grommet to deform the grommet and cause a seal around the cable.

The invention further provides for a water-resistant container comprising a first portion and a second portion which defines an interior a sealing grommet for creating a seal around a cable, the sealing grommet made from a resiliently deformable material defining a tube which has an inlet with a first dimension at an external side of the enclosure and an outlet having a second dimension at an end leading into the interior

The container may further include a clamping formation on the first portion or on the second portion which, when the enclosure is closed will clamp and deform the grommet to cause a weatherproof seal around a cable when inserted through the grommet. The container may include a seal which runs throughout a perimeter of the interior of the container.

The seal may include part of the grommet and the seal and the grommet may be integrally formed.

The invention further provides for a method of creating a seal around a cable including the steps of providing a tubular grommet made from a deformable material which has at a first end a first dimension and at a second end a second dimension providing a slit in a wall of the grommet which allows access into an interior of the grommet between the two entries providing formations shaped to engage with and apply pressure to the grommet, the formations forming part of an enclosure.

These and other features of the invention are described in more detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows sealing grommet as part of collection of grommets which forms part of a seal member together with sectional views of the seal member; Figure 2 shows the sealing grommet as part of a different seal member;

Figure 3 shows a slit which forms part of the sealing grommet; and

Figure 4 shows the seal member as part of a cable enclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to the drawings, a sealing grommet is generally depicted by reference numeral 1 .

The sealing grommet 1 is used for creating a seal around a cable (not shown) and forms part of a seal 2 which is made from a resiliently deformable material. The resiliently deformable material is rubber or any other material which can create a waterproof and weatherproof seal.

The grommet 1 defines a tube 3 which has at a first end of the tube a first entry 4 and a at a second end of the tube second entry 5 into the tube 3.

The entries 4 and 5 have differing dimensions i.e. the dimeters of one of the entries is smaller or larger to that of the other entry. A slit 6 is found in a wall of the tube 3 which allows access into an interior 7 of the tube 3 between the two entries 4,5. The slit 7 can be made as part of the moulding of the grommet 1 or can be cut into the grommet after manufacturing.

A part of a cable which is to be sealed is inserted via the slit 6 into the interior 7 so that part of the cable exposed on both sides of the seal 2. The seal will then create a waterproof and weather proof seal between the first entry4 and the second entry 5 around the cable.

The tube 2 has a tapered or slanting shape when viewed in section (as seen in section B-B). this tapered shape ultimately causes the dimensions of the first entry 4 and second entry 5 to be different from one another.

The seal 2 forms part of a cable enclosure 8 used to join or connect any number of cables. Cables will enter the enclosure 8 via the seal 2 where, in an interior of the enclosure 8, the cables will be spliced and/or coupled to other cables.

Formations 9 on the enclosure 8 engages with, and applies pressure to, the deformable seal 2. When the seal 2 deforms under pressure a weatherproof seal is created around the cable inside the tube 2. This waterproof seal will ultimately seal off the interior of the enclosure 8 from the outside world. The tapered design of the tube 2 allows for cables with varying diameters to be inserted into the grommet and sealed off under pressure as the seal 2 will deform to fit any size diameter which is receivable by the dimensions of the entries 4,5.

In use the invention presents for the method of providing a tubular grommet made from a deformable material. The tubular grommet has at a first end a first dimension and at a second end a second dimension. Then also providing a slit in a wall of the grommet which allows access into an interior of the grommet between the two entries. Through this slit an object such as a cable may be inserted by a user. Then providing formations in an enclosure which are shaped to engage with and apply pressure to the grommet.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the precise details as described herein.

There is further provided for a water-resistant container or cable enclosure which has two portions which form an inner interior between them.

A sealing grommet may then be used as a sealable inlet into the interior from the outside world.

The container may further include a clamping formation on either of the two portions which, when the enclosure is closed will clamp and deform the grommet to cause a waterproof and weatherproof seal around a cable when inserted through the grommet. The clamping formations need not form part of the portions which forms the enclosure. The clamping formations need not form part of the two portions included in the enclosure. A separate mechanical component or clamp may be incorporated to perform the clamping action to deform the grommet to seal around a cable. The invention is not limited in this regard.

In another embodiment the seal may form part of a larger seal which runs throughout a perimeter of the interior of the container.

Many other embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1 . A sealing grommet for creating a seal around a cable comprising a body made from a resiliently deformable material the body defining a tube which has a first entry having a first dimension into a first end of the tube and a second entry having a second dimension into a second end tube wherein the dimension of the first entry is different than the dimension of the second entry.

2. The sealing grommet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the body includes a slit in a wall of the tube which allows access into an interior of the tube between the two entries.

3. The sealing grommet as claimed in claim or claim 2 wherein the tube has a tapered shape.

4. The sealing grommet as claimed in claim or claim 2 wherein the tube has a slanted shape.

5. The sealing grommet as claimed in claim or claim 2 wherein the tube has an irregular shape.

6. The sealing grommet as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein when a cable is inserted into the slit a first portion of the cable extends through the first entry and a second portion of the cable extends through a second entry. The sealing grommet as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the resiliently deformable material creates a seal around the cable. The sealing grommet as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the resiliently deformable material creates a seal around the cable when pressure is applied to the grommet. The sealing grommet as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the slit is forced closed by sealing members. The sealing grommet as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the slit is forced closed by sealing members which apply an external pressure on the body. The sealing grommet as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the body forms part of an enclosure. The sealing grommet as claimed in claim 11 wherein the enclosure has formations configured to engage with to the body.

13. The sealing grommet as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the enclosure when in a closed position has formations configured to engage with and apply pressure to the body.

14. A method of creating a seal around a cable including the steps of inserting part of a cable into a slit which leads into an interior of a tubular grommet made from a deformable material so that a first part of the cable is exposed from a first outlet from the grommet and a second part of the cable is exposed from a second outlet from the grommet applying an external clamping force onto the grommet to deform the grommet and cause a seal around the cable.

15. A method of creating a seal around a cable including the steps of providing a tubular grommet made from a deformable material which has at a first end a first dimension and at a second end a second dimension providing a slit in a wall of the grommet which allows access into an interior of the grommet between the two entries providing formations shaped to engage with and apply pressure to the grommet.

16. The method of claim 15 further including the step of the formations forming part of an enclosure. The invention further provides for a water-resistant container comprising a first portion and a second portion which defines an interior a sealing grommet for creating a seal around a cable, the sealing grommet made from a resiliently deformable material defining a tube which has an inlet which has a first dimension at an external side of the enclosure and an outlet having a second dimension at an end leading into the interior The container as claimed in claim 17 further includes a clamping formation on one of the portions. The container as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18 wherein the clamping formations will clamp and deform the grommet to cause a weatherproof seal around an object inserted into the grommet when the enclosure is closed. The container as claimed in any one of claim 17 to claim 19 wherein the container includes a seal which runs throughout a perimeter of the interior of the container The container as claimed in any one of claim 17 to claim 19 wherein the seal includes part of the grommet wherein the seal and the grommet are integrally formed.