PROTECTIVE CAP

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective cap (1 or 1a) for arranging on a cable, a corrugated pipe, or the like. The protective cap (1 or 1a) consists of two parts (4 or 4a, 5 or 5a), in particular two identical halves, wherein the two parts (4 or 4a, 5 or 5a) are connected together via a film hinge (6 or 6a), and at least one latch geometry (7 or 7a) is provided which connects the two parts (4 or 4a, 5 or 5a) together after folding. The at least one latch geometry (7 or 7a) is integrated into the interior of the protective cap (1 or 1a) and does not protrude beyond the outer surface thereof.

Claims

1. A protective cap for mounting on cable, flexible conduit, or the like, the protective cap comprising: two parts; a film hinge connecting the parts to each other so that they can fold together, and at least one latch formation provided connects the two parts to one another after folding together, the at least one latch formation being integrated with into the interior of the protective cap so as not to project beyond the outer surface thereof, the film hinge being formed as a strap fixed to both parts of the protective cap beneath an outer surface thereof and having such a shape and length that the strap, after folding together of the parts is recessed beneath the outer surface of the protective cap or a when the parts are folded together.

2. The protective cap according to claim 1, further comprising: recesses and projections that are complementary one another on mutually confronting faces of the parts of the protective cap in the form of pins or recesses that engage into one another after the parts have been folded together.

3. The protective cap according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one gripping formation on at least one outer surface.

4. The protective cap according to claim 3, wherein the at least one gripping formation is provided on a protective cap with straight through feed between the plug end and the cable end at a transition between a plug end and a cable end.

5. The protective cap according to claim 4, wherein the grip formations are provided on all outer surfaces of the protective cap.

6. The protective cap according to claim 1, wherein, in the case of angular alignment between the plug end and the cable end, the grip formations are provided on the face side of the protective cap.

7. The protective cap according to characterized claim 1, wherein the two parts are formed as two identical halves.

Description

[0017] FIG. 1 is a side view of a protective cap with axial feedthrough between the plug and the cable,

[0018] FIG. 2 is a side view of the protective cap according to FIG. 1,

[0019] FIG. 3 is a side view of a protective cap with nonstraight through feed between the plug connector and the cable end,

[0020] FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of a straight feed-through protective cap;

[0021] FIG. 6 shows a view of the protective cap according to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5 opened up at a film hinge,

[0022] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a protective cap with nonstraight through feed between the plug and the cable,

[0023] FIG. 8 is an angle view of a protective cap according to FIG. 7, and

[0024] FIGS. 9 to 11 are end and side views of the protective cap according to FIGS. 3, 7 and 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 11, reference 1 designates a protective cap made according to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 to 6 with straight feedthrough between a receptacle for a plug connector and cable, flexible conduit, or the like. A flexible conduit inside of which cable or flexible conduit runs to the plug-in connector, can also be provided on the connection opening designated by the reference number 2. Instead, the cable or its jacket can also be fitted directly into the connection opening 2.

[0026] The protective cap 1 has grip formations 3 on at least one outer surface, or on two outer surfaces (preferably two outer surfaces situated opposite one another) or, as shown in this embodiment, on all outer surfaces, which are formed by ridges 10 and grooves 11 or constrictions provided therebetween. As a result, the force is transferred from the hand without difficulty to the protective cap 1 and the plug (not shown). The protective cap 1 consists of two parts or halves 4 and 4a that can be joined together after insertion of the plug connector and of the flexible conduit or cable jacket or the like. The parts or halves 4 and 4a are connected to one another via a film hinge 6 and have latch formations 7 that, after joining the parts, lock the two halves 4 and 4a to each other.

[0027] For better fixation, pins 8 in part or half 4 fit into recesses 9 in the other half 4a, so that the two parts or halves 4 and 4a are fitted exactly together in the region of the grip formations 3 such that no edges or formations that could injure a user's hand project in the region of the grip formations 3.

[0028] FIGS. 4 and 5 show, for example, that the protective cap 1 has a substantially rectangular cross-section, and the grip formations 3 are provided in sections (two sections that are present opposite one another on the shorter sides of the rectangle, and two further sections that are also opposite to the longer sides of the rectangle).

[0029] The grip formations provided at the sides when viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5 are used for optimum transmission of force during the plug-in process in which the protective cap 1 is used. The grip formations provided at the top and bottom when viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5 are optimized for handling the protective cap 1, not only during the plugging process, but also otherwise. In addition, the upper handle shape can optionally have a clearance (opening, recess or the like) for a securing element (also called CPA [connector position assurance]) that forms a plug connection consisting of plug connector and mating plug connector after being plugged together by actuating the securing element in order to prevent subsequent disassembly. In addition, in particular with reference to FIG. 5, it is once again pointed out that the film hinge 6 is recessed after its actuation, so that it no longer projects beyond the outer surface of the protective cap 1. The same applies to the latch formations 7 that, when viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5, is present as a whole exactly three times. Each of these latch formations is integrated (recessed) within the protective cap 1, so that they also do not project here. Of course, more or less than three latch formations 7 can also be used.

[0030] In FIGS. 3 and 7 to 11, the protective cap is shown at 1a and is designed such that an angle, in the present case a right angle, is formed between the receptacle for a plug and the connection opening 2. The grip formation 3a with the assigned ridges 10 and grooves 11 is provided on the side of the protective cap 1 facing away from the receptacle for the plug connector in order to be able to apply a rectilinear pressure to the plug connector during assembly. This protective cap 1a also has a film hinge 6a and latch formations 7a, so that the two parts 5, 5a or halves of this protective cap 1a can be easily fixed together.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0031] 1 Protective cap [0032] 2 Terminal opening [0033] 3, 3a Grip formations [0034] 4, 4a, 5, 5a Parts/halves [0035] 6, 6a Film hinges [0036] 10 7, 7a Latch formations [0037] 8 Pins [0038] 9 Recesses [0039] 10 Ridges [0040] 11 Grooves