US 12,230,914 B2
Universal load bearing cable connector
Michael Ix, Fort Collins, CO (US); Aaron Beese, Fort Collins, CO (US); and Elijah Lyle Scott, Fort Collins, CO (US)
Assigned to IN-SITU, INC., Fort Collins, CO (US)
Appl. No. 17/799,785
Filed by IN-SITU, INC., Fort Collins, CO (US)
PCT Filed Feb. 25, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/019609
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 15, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/173799, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 2, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/981,388, filed on Feb. 25, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0079652 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. H01R 4/48 (2006.01); H01R 13/52 (2006.01); H01R 13/58 (2006.01); H01R 31/06 (2006.01); H01R 13/523 (2006.01)
CPC H01R 13/5219 (2013.01) [H01R 4/489 (2013.01); H01R 13/58 (2013.01); H01R 31/06 (2013.01); H01R 13/523 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A load-bearing universal cable adaptor comprising:
a cable seal housing for removably securing an electrical cable;
a wedge housing having a wedge cavity defined by a tapered inner surface of the wedge housing, wherein the wedge cavity is configured to removably receive at least a portion of the cable seal housing;
a wedge having an outer surface in physical contact with the wedge housing tapered inner surface;
one or more wedge springs in operable connection with the wedge, wherein the one or more wedge springs are configured to generate an axially-directed force to bias the wedge in an axial direction toward a distal end of the wedge cavity, wherein the distal end has a smaller dimension than a proximal end dimension at a wedge cavity proximal end;
the cable seal housing having a proximal end;
a connector positioned at the cable seal housing proximal end for removably connecting the cable seal housing proximal end to an object;
wherein the wedge comprises a wedge grip base, the one or more wedge springs, and a plurality of axially-movable wedge grips extending from the wedge grip base, wherein the one or more wedge springs is positioned adjacent to the wedge grip base;
wherein the plurality of axially-movable wedge grips comprise a wedge grip inner surface having a pattern of relief and recess features configured to increase friction between the wedge grip inner surface and the electrical cable;
wherein under an applied load generated by the electrical cable operably connected to the wedge, the wedge is configured to transfer the applied load to the wedge housing tapered inner surface;
wherein the object is a terminal block removably connected to the cable seal housing proximal end;
wherein the terminal block has a first surface and a second surface;
wherein the adaptor further comprises: a first and a second integrated wedge system, wherein the first and second integrated wedge systems each comprise an integrated assembly corresponding to the cable seal housing, the wedge housing, the wedge, and the one or more wedge springs, wherein:
the first integrated wedge system is removably connected to the terminal block first surface; and
the second integrated wedge system is removably connected to the terminal block second surface.