Continuous protective sheat for electrical cables

Abstract

 A continuous protective sheath for wiring electrical cable bundles comprises an end sheath portion coupled to a handle element housing an electrical contact bearing block, which is embedded, together with the corresponding portion of the handle, in a sealing structural element which is made of a foamed plastic material and includes therein a handle inlet union so as to firmly restrain the latter to the cable sheath which, in particular, can be either of the smooth or of the corrugated type.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a continuous protective sheath for wiring electric cable including, at a handle element thereof comprising an electrical contact bearing block, a sealing structural element.

[0002] As is known, an electric system of a motor vehicle usually comprises a plurality of electric and electronic components, either of the active or of the passive type, which are power supplied by means of a plurality of insulated electrical cables.

[0003] The power supply of the mentioned components is controlled by a suitable central control unit, which is provided with a plurality of male blade contact elements, to which there are electrically coupled corresponding female blade contact elements.

[0004] The latter are advantageously embedded in a contact or terminal block which, in turn, is housed in a so-called "handle" having any suitable constructions.

[0005] Prior coupling systems for coupling the electric cable sheat and the mentioned handle do not assure, however, a perfectly sealed connection of the several component portions of the system.

[0006] Moreover, in conventional coupling systems, between the end portions of the electric cables and the related electric contact bearing blocks there are formed discontinuous regions.

[0007] Accordingly, water can leak through the electric cables which is susceptible to hinder a proper operation of the blade contact elements of the central control unit or enter the latter so as to cause it to malfunction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a continuous protective sheath, for coating electric wiring cable bundles, which is so designed and arranged as to provide a perfect sealing with the contact block or handle.

[0009] Within the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such a continuous protective sheath, for coating wiring electric cable bundles, in which the handle element is safely insulated from its encompassing environment.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a continuous protective sheath, for coating electric cable bundles, which allows to provide very reliable electric connections.

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a continuous protective sheath for electric cables, characterized in that said sheath comprises an end sheath portion, connected to a handle element housing an electric contact bearing block, said sheath end portion being embedded, together with a corresponding portion of said handle element, in a sealing structural element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0012] Further characteristics and advantages of the continuous protective sheath for electric cables according to the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment thereof, which is illustrated, by way of an indicative but not limitative example in the accompanying drawing, where:

[0013] Figure 1 is a schematic view showing a sealing structural element applied to an end portion of the sheat according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] With reference to the Figure of the accompanying drawing, the continuous protective sheath for wiring electric cables, which has been generally indicated at the reference number 1, is provided, at one portion thereof connected to the handle element 2, with a foamed region 3, which is made of any suitable plastic materials.

[0015] This plastic foamed region substantially defines a waterproof continuous contruction, which is perfectly bound both to the end portion of the coating 4 of the electrical cable bundle 5, and to the corresponding portion of the handle element which houses, in a perfectly sealed way, the electric contact bearing block 6.

[0016] As shown, the above mentioned foamed region further comprises extended portions 3′ which are suitably extended to possible branchings of the coating 4 which, in turn, can be of a smooth type, as shown in the figure, or, if desired, of a suitably corrugated type.

[0017] In this connection it should be apparent that the mentioned foamed region, or sealing structural element, can be formed as an insert element or, preferably, it can be formed directly during the protective sheath making method.

[0018] From the above disclosure and the figure of the accompanying drawing it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects.

[0019] While the invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the disclosed embodiment is susceptible to several modifications and variations all of which will come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A continuous protective sheath for electric cables, characterized in that said sheath comprises an end sheath portion, connected to a handle element housing an electric contact bearing block, said sheath end portion being embedded, together with a corresponding portion of said handle element, in a sealing structural element.

2. A continuous protective sheath, according to Claim 1, wherein said sealing structural element is made of a foamed plastic material and comprises therein an inlet union of said handle element for firmly restraining said handle element to a coating of said electric cables.

3. A continuous protective sheath, according to Claim 1, wherein said sealing structural element is formed as an insert element.

4. A continuous protective sheath, according to Claim 1, wherein said sealing structural element is formed in a single piece with said protective sheath.

5. A continuous protective sheath, according to Claim 2, wherein said foamed plastic material sealing element is provided with at least an extended portion extending to branching means of said protective sheath.

Drawing