John A Massey

US Patent:

45581746, Dec 10, 1985

Filed:

Apr 6, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/597679

Inventors:

John R. Massey - Lawrenceville GA

Assignee:

AT&T Bell Laboratories - Murray Hill NJ

International Classification:

H02G 15113

US Classification:

174 92

Abstract:

A closure (20) for a cable splice includes two mating covers (23, 24) and two end plate assemblies (30--30). Longitudinally extending joints between the covers are filled with sealing gaskets (141--141). Also a peripheral channel (45) in each end plate is filled with a circumferential gasket (147). The covers are assembled together to enclose the end plate assemblies with the gaskets in the joints therebetween. Then, the covers are moved toward each other and secured together by moving a continuous wire latch support frame (121) which is disposed on each side of the closure and which has a plurality of latching fingers (126--126) mounted pivotally therealong to cause each latching finger to snap past a center bistable position into locking engagement with an aligned seat along the closure. As the covers become secured together, the longitudinal and circumferential gaskets are caused to seal their associated joints. Also, at each confluence of the covers and each end plate assembly, the longitudinal gaskets which span across weakened longitudinally extending portions of the circumferential gaskets become disposed in compliant engagement therewith to form seals.