Cross-Reference to Related Application(s)

This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 61/821,324 filed on 09 May 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Background of the Invention

In telecommunications applications often a box or enclosure is used to house telecommunications equipment. It is necessary to feed fiber optic cables through a wall of the box or enclosure. The fiber optic cables are preferably sealed relative to an exterior of the box or enclosure. Similar arrangements are also possible for electric cables.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention includes a seal block assembly including a housing which defines one or more slots. Each slot receives one or more seal block elements which seal against cables passing through the seal block assembly. The seal block assembly can be positioned at a port of a box or enclosure.

The seal block element may include a seal block body having first and second mating portions which surround first and second seal portions. The cable or cables are positioned between the first and second portions of the seal block body, and between the first and second seal portions.

The seal block elements are stackable in the one or more slots. Mating elements are provided for sealing between the seal block elements and the housing, and for sealing between each of the seal block elements.

A method of use for sealing a cable is disclosed. Brief Description of the Figures

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a seal block assembly in accordance with the disclosure of the present invention, with one of the slots being filled with seal block elements, and one of the slots shown prior to being filled with seal block elements;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a seal block element;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first portion of a seal block element including a first seal portion, the second portion and the second seal portion of the seal block element being identical;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the seal block assembly of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an enclosure with the seal block assembly shown in FIG. 1.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, a seal block assembly 10 is shown. Seal block assembly 10 is used with a telecommunications box or enclosure 100 at a cable entry or exit port 102. Seal block assembly 10 is useful for sealing the interior of the box or enclosure from the external environment, such as to protect interior

telecommunications equipment. Seal block assembly 10 includes a housing 12 which holds a plurality of seal block elements 32. Seal block assembly 10 is used to seal cables 104 entering or exiting enclosure 100.

Housing 12 includes one or more slots 14 which define a U-shape. A top 26 of the U-shape is closed off by a cover 106 of the telecommunications box or enclosure.

Slot 14 includes a front tab 16, a middle tab 18, and a rear tab 20 on each side of slot 14. Each side of slot 14 includes a first slot 22 and a second slot 24. The various tabs and slots mate with features on seal block elements 32 to seal and hold the seal block elements in position.

Housing 12 includes end slots 28 which are useful for mounting seal block assembly 10 to a box or enclosure having a mating structure.

Seal block element 32 includes a seal block body 34 which includes first and second body portions 36, 38 which are mated together to enclose an inner seal. Preferably, first and second body portions 36, 38 are identical in configuration.

Contained within each of first body portion 36 and second body portion 38 is a first seal portion 40 and a second seal portion 42, respectively. Each of first and second body portions 36, 38 includes a recess 44 for receiving one of the first and second seal portions 40, 42. First and second seal portions 40, 42 are made from a soft material such as foam or gel to seal between each other and around each cable.

Seal block element 32 includes one or more ports in the form of front ports 46 and rear ports 48. Cables pass through seal block element 32 in a direction of cable axis 50 between front and rear ports 46, 48. During use, seal block element 32 compresses first and second seal portions 40, 42 to seal any cables positioned there between. If desired, seal block element 32 can be utilized without any cables.

Alternatively, seal block element 32 can be used with fewer cables than there are ports 46, 48.

Positioned between first and second body portions 36, 38 is a pin 52 and a hole 54 for an interlocking arrangement for alignment and securement of the two elements together. The pin 52 and the hole 54 of one body portion 36, 38 mates with the respective hole 54 and pin 52 of the other body portion 36, 38.

Each of the first and second body portions 36, 38 includes a middle slot 60, a first end slot 62, and a second end slot 64. The first and second body portions 36, 38 also include a first tab 66 and a second tab 68. The slots 60, 62, 64 and the tabs 66, 68 mate with the slots 22, 24 and tabs 16, 18, 20 of slot 14. Such engagement between the various elements provide a sealing effect for sealing between the seal block elements 32 and housing 12. Each of the first and second body portions 36, 38 includes an end surface 76 defining both an end slot 78 and an end tab 80 which extend in a cross- direction relative to cable axis 50. Such arrangement facilitates sealing between the seal block elements 32 in a stacked arrangement within slot 14.

Each of first and second body portions 36, 38 includes a side tab 86 useful for lifting or positioning seal block element 32 in slot 14. Side tab 86 is also useful for moving first body portion 36 relative to second body portion 38 so as to expose an interior of a seal block body 34 for receipt of a cable, or removal of a cable. Seal block body 34 includes a plurality of recesses 92 which engage bumps 90 on slot 14 to allow for positioning of the seal block elements 32 in a more secure stack. Bumps 90 and recesses 92 form a registration system.

Parts List

10 Seal block assembly

12 Housing

14 Slot

16 Front tab

18 Middle tab

20 Rear tab

22 First slot

24 Second slot

26 Top

28 End slots

32 Seal block element

34 Seal block body

36 First body portion

38 Second body portion

40 First seal portion

42 Second seal portion

44 Recess

46 Front port

48 Rear port

50 Cable axis

52 Pin

54 Hole

60 Middle slot

62 First end slot

64 Second end slot

66 First tab

68 Second tab

76 End surface

78 End slot

80 End tab 86 Side tab

90 Bumps

92 Recesses

100 Enclosure

102 Port

104 Cable

106 Cover