Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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The present invention relates to apparatuses for
protecting substrates against corrosion, electrical currents, and
other adverse environmental effects.
Various methods have been proposed in the prior art for
pro-tecting a substrate from adverse environmental e~fects. A
typical method used in the prior art is to dispose a vlscous
grease around the suhstrate in an attempt tn keep adverse
environmental contaminants, such as water, ~rom corroding the
substrate being protected or providing an electrical path
thereto. Another common method used in the prior art has been to
apply paint to the substrate. Both of these methods are
disadvantageous in that insu~ficient corrosion protection is
a~forded, re-entry is dif~icult, the protection lasts for a
relatively short period of time, they are labor intensive, and
~5 relatively expensive.
debbaut, U.S. patents 4,600,261 and 4,634r207 and EPC
patents 0,108,518 all assigned to the assignee of the present
invention, disclose various containers which are substantially
filled with gel material, the container subsequently being
disposed in contact wi-th a substrate su~sequent to curing the
gel. Though these containers are quite ef~ective in protecting
substrates, a problem still exists in the art in providing
adequate environmental protection to a substrate having a recess
therein since condensation oftentimes can still occur within a
void surrounded by the recess. Furthermore, some substrates are
disposed in installations wherein very little room is available
~or disposing a relatively large gel filled container
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thereat so as to completely enclose the substrate to be protected
with gel.
Accordingly, the invention eliminates the above-noted
drawbacks and provides an article for protecting a substrate
which is relatively inexpensive to produce, is easy to install
; over the substrate, lasts a relatively long period of time, and
can be made easily re-enterable, if desired.
The apparatus of the present invention includes a
reservoir filled with a gel, the gel comprising a three
l.U dimensional open cell network, the gel being elastic, and having
finite elongation characteristics, preferably in excess of 200%,
and having a cone penetration between 100 and 350 (1o~l mm), more
preferably bstween 200 and 300 ~lo-l mm), and most preferably
between 250 and 280 (lo~1 mm). The reservoir ls collapsible and
L~ has an open face through which gel can be disposed outward
therefrom when a portion of the reservoir is collapsed such that
upon collapsing the reservoir, the gel is dispensed through the
open side of the reservoir and into a recess of a substrate to be
protected such that the gel can completely fill the recess.
According to an alternative embodiment of the
invention, a plurality of reservoirs, either collapsible or non-
collapsible, are interconnected by flexible bridging members
which allows the use of relatively small reservoirs to be
incorporated in an apparatus for protecting a plurality of
contact areas on a substrate such that a major portion of the
apparatus does not contain gel so as to allow the apparatus to be
disposed in installations where very little room is available for
protecting the substrate.
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Thus in one aspect thereof the present invention
provides an apparatus for protecting a substrate, comprising: a
first reservoir; and an elastic gel having a cone penetration
value between 100 and 350 (10~1 mm) and an ultimate elongation o~
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at least 200%, the gel being contained with the reservoir prior
to contacting the substrate; means for pumping at least some of
the gel out of th~ reservoir and in contact with the substrate so
as not to exceed the ultimate elongation of the gel and so as to
at least partially collapse the reservoir.
In one embodiment of the present invention the
reservoir having an open side through which the gel is dispensed
outward therefrom when a portion of the reservoir collapsed.
Desirably the reservoir having a telescopic profile extending
from the open side thereoE such that a cross-sectional are of the
reservoir in a vicinity of the open side is larger than a cross
sectional area of the area of the reservoir in a vicinity remote
from the open side thereof. Suitably the reservoir having a
structural strength such that when sub;ect to an axial force the
reservoir first collapses in a region remots from the open side,
L~ the reservoir collapsing in a piston-like manner~ Preferably a
cross-sectional are of the open side being substantially smaller
than a cross-sectional area of the reservoir.
n another embodiment of the present invention a
substrate having a recess therein, the reservoir having the gel
therein being disposed on the substrate such that the open side
of the reservoir faces the recess. Suitabl~ the substrate
comprising a modular telephone ~ack, the reservoir being disposed
on a wall side of the jack confronting an end of a contact screw
2~ and mounting means therefore. Desirably the apparatus further
comprises second, third and fourth reservoirs filled with the
gel, the reservoirs being interconnected by flexible bridging
member and each having an open side, the pumping means pumping at
least some o the gel out of the second, third and fourth
3U reser~oirs and ln contact with the substrate so as not to exceed
the ultimate elongation of the gel and so as to l~as~ partially
collapse the second, third and fourth reservoirs, the second,
third and fourth reservoirs each being disposed over the wall
side of the ~ack.
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In a further embodiment of the present invention the
apparatus ~urther comprises second, third and fourth reservoirs
filled with the gel, the reservoirs being interconnected by
flexible bridging members, and each having an open side.
Suitably the pumping means pumping at least some of the gel out
of and in contact with the substrate so as not to exceed the
ultimate elongation of the gel and so as to at least partially
collapse the second, khird and fourth reservoirs. Desirably the
second reservoir being collapsible, the bridging members being
flexible enough to allow the third and fourth reservolrs to be
moved from a first position whereat their respective open
~J surfaces lie ln a substantially common plane with the open
surfaces of the first and second reservoirs to a second position
whereat the open sides of the third and fourth reservoirs
confront the open sides of the first and second reservoirs.
Preferably the substrate comprising a modular telephone ~ack, the
1~ first and second reservoirs being disposed on a wall side of the
jack such that the open sides of the reservoirs confront recesses
on the wall side of the ~ack, and further comprising force means
for at least partially collapsing the flrst and second reservoirs
so as to pump gel through the open sides thereof and into the
2l1 recesses, the third and fourth reservoirs being disposed opposite
the flrst and second reservoirs on a front side of the ~ack.
Suitably the apparatus further comprises fifth, sixth, seventh
and eighth reservoirs and mean for interconnecting the fifth,
sixth, seventh and eighth reservoirs to the first, second, third
and fourth reservolrs, at least four of the reservoirs being
collapsible. Preferably the interconnecting mean including means
for aligning the reservoirs with the recesses.
The present invention also provides an apparatus for
3U protecking a substrate, comprising: first, second, third and
fourth reservoirs; an elaskic gel having a cone penetration
between lO0 and 350 (lo~l mm) and an ultimake elongation of at
least 200~, the gel belng contained within the reservoir; means
for flexibly interconnectin~ the reservoirs such that khe third
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and fourth reservoirs can be moved from a first position whareat
an open side of each of the reservoirs lies in substantially a
common plane to a second position whereat the open sides of the
third and fourth reservoirs confront the open sides of the first
and second reservoirs. Suitably the apparatus further comprises
fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth reservoirs filled wlth gel,
means for interconnscting the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth
reservoirs to the first, second, third and fourth reservoirs such
that the seventh and eighth reservoirs can be moved from a third
position whereat their respective open sides lie in substantially
a common plane with open side of the fifth and sixth reservoir to
u a fourth position wherein the open sides of the seventh and
eighth reservoirs confront the open sides of the fi~th and sixth
reservoirs. Desirably the apparatus comprises means for aligning
the reservoir with contact area on the substrate to be protected.
Preferably the substrate comprising a modular telephone jack
1~ having four recesses on a wall side thereof into which contact
screw extend from the front side of the phone jack.
The present invention aga~n provides an apparatus for
protecting a modular telephone ~ack, comprlsing: a first member
7.U first having first, second, third and fourth reservoir therein,
an elastic gel having a cone penetration between 100 and 350 (10-
1 mm) and an ultimate elongation of at least 200~, the gel being
contained within the reservoirs; and a pressure sensitive
adhesive located on a face of the first member which bonds the
2~ first member to a modular telephone ~ack such that the gel is
deformed and held in close and conforming contact with contact
surfaces on the ~ack.
The present invention wlll be further illustrated by
3U way of the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1-4 illustrate various alternative embodiments
of collapsible reservolr constructions;
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Figure 5 is a plan view, and Figure 6 is a side view,
of a plurality of collapsible reservoirs disposed on an apparatus
for protecting a plurality of contact areas of a substrate;
Figure 7 is a plan view, and Figure 8 is an end view of
one preferred embodiment of the invention this embodiment being
particularly useful for protecting contact areas on a modular
telephone jack;
Figures 9 and 10 illustrake an alternative embodiment
for protecting contact areas on a modular phone ~ack;
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Figure 11 illustrates yet a furkher embodlment for
protecting contact areas on a modular phone ~ack, wlth Figur0s
12-15 illustrating various installation steps of the embodiment
of Figure 11.
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Figures 1-~ illustrate various embodiments of a
collapsible reservoir 2 constructed in accordance with the
teachings of the present invention,
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Each of the reservoirs 2 includes a gel 3 therein. The
gel is preferably one of the types described in
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Debbaut, U.S. patents 4,600,261 and 4,634,207 and EPC patent
0,108,518, and chang EPC publication no. 0,193,581 published on
Sept. 10, 1986, all assigned to the asslgnee o~ the present
inven-tion. In particular, the gel can comprise a urethane, a
silicone, or a non-silicone liquid rubber with low or no
unsaturation whlch has been cross- linked, with urethenes and
silicones being preferred embodiments. The gel is a material
having an open loop three-dimensional network such that it is
elastic and has a finite amount of elongation, and ls relatlvely
soft. A preferred embodiment is to use a gel having a cone
penetration between 100 and 350 (10~1 mm), and an ultlmake
elongation of at least 100~, as measured in accordance with
American National Standard Designation ASTM-D217 and ASTM-D638,
respectively. Preferably, the cone penetration is between 200
and 300 (lo~l mm)~ and more preferably between 250 and 280 (10~
mm). In addition, the ultimate elongation is also more pre-
ferably in excess of 200%, and more preferably in excess of 500%.
In addition, the gel is also preferably elastic such that it
tends to resist deformation and genera$es a restoration force
upon being deformed.
The reservoir 2 is collapsible such that when sub-
jected to a force indicated by arrow 10, the gel 3 within the
reservoir 2 is displaced out of the reservoir through an open
side 4 thereof as illustrated in Figures 1-4. In Figure 2, an
open side 7 having a tunnel cross-sectional configuration is
formed on a side of the collapsible reservoir 2, this embodiment
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allowing a substrate to be protected to be inserted
and/or removed from the reservoir from its side. In
addition, it is preferable that the gel have an ulti
mate elongation sufficiently large such that the gel
does not tear when the reservoir collapses.
Preferably, the collapsible container 2 is made of
a material, or has an internal construction such that,
the gel 3 has an adhesion strength thereto greater than
the gels cohesive strength, with the adhesive strength
of the gel to the substrate contact area it is intended
to protect being preferably less than its cohesive
strength and its adhesive strength to the substrate
member, to facilitate re-entry.
In the embodiment of Figure 1, the open side 4 is
substantially circular in configuration, though ellip-
tical, rectangular, or other shapes can be used where
the substrate contact area to be protected is similarly
shaped. In the embodiment oE Figure 3, the open side 4
has a tapered skirt construction which has the advan-
tage of enlarging a substrate contact area which can be
surrounded and protected while minimizing a volume of
the gel 3 re~uired to fill the collapsible reservoir 2.
Each of the embodiments of Figure~ 1-4 utilizes a
collapsible reservoir 2 which collapse~ downward, with
the embodiment of Figure 1 having a telescopic profile
having a large~t cross-sectional area thereoE forming
the open ~ide through which the gel is dispensed, with
a next smaller cross-sectional area 7 being adjacent
thereto, with the sm~llest cross-sectional area 15
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being on an opposite end of the reservoir than is the
open side 4, as illustrated. ~ccordingly, if subjected
to a force 10, the reservoir collapses such that the
section 15 can be received within the section 7 which
can be received within the section 17, if total collap-
sibility is a design criterion. Alternatively, the
reservoir can be constructed such that only the section
15 collapses within the section 7. ~pon collapsing,
this section 15 acts substantially like a piston, this
being the mode of collapsing in the embodiments of
Figures 2 and 3 wherein piston section 8 collapses
within larger section 17 formed so as to define the
open side 4, 7. In the embodiment of Figure 4, the
collapsible reservoir 2 has a corrugated outer surface
24 which allows an accordian-type compression to occur
when subjected to a force 10 so as to dispense gel out
of the open qide 4. Each of the embodiments of Figures
1-4 functionally allows a gel to be dispensed from the
reservoir 2 upon being subjected to a force 10 such
that the gel is available for filling a recess on a
substrate having a contact area incorporating a recess
to be protected.
The remaining figures illustrate practical embodi-
ments of the invention, with Figure 5 illustrating a
plurality of collapsible reservoirs 2 disposed in line
on a strip 11, with the strip 11 having a pressure sen-
sitive adhesive 12 on a surface thereof. In use, the
strip 11 is disposed in contact with a substrate having
a plurality of contact areas thereon to be protected
such that khe collapsible reservoirs 2 respectively
line up with respective contact areas to be protected,
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and then the collapsible reservoir is subjected to a
force causing the reservoirs to at least partially
collapse so as to partially dispense gel therefrom so
as to totally incapsulate the contact areas to be
protected.
A practical embodiment of the invention will next
be described with reference to a substrate
corresponding to a telephone modular jack 5,
illustrated in Figures 11-16. Referring to Figure 11,
the apparatus 1 includes first and second collapsible
reservoirs 2 and third and fourth reservoirs 14, the
reservoirs 14 being either collapsible or non--
collapsible, though in the embodiment shown the reser-
voirs 14 do not need to be collapsible. The reservoirs
2 each have a substantially rectangular cross-sectional
profile 13, since a recess 40 on a back side 26 of the
jack 5 also has a rectangular cross-sectional profile.
The recess on the back side 26 of the jack 5
corresponds to a cavity through which contact screw~ or
bolts 28 extend, the screws 28 being held in place by a
metallic mounting bracket 43, shown in Figure 16. To
environmentally protect the contents of the jack 5, the
screws 28 and brackets 43 must all be protected.
The apparatus 1 further includes flexible briding
members 19 interconnecting each of the reservoirs 2,
14. To install the apparatus 1 on the phone jack 5 so
as to protect contact bolts 28 and brackets 43 and
areas therearound from corrosion and various enviro~-
mental contaminants, the jack i9 first loosened from
its mounting surface, such as a wall, as illustrated in
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Figure ll. Subsequently, the collapsible reservoirs 2
are slid behind the jack 5 as illustrated in Figure 12
such that the rectangular cross-sectional profiles 13
of the collapsible reservoirs 2 are disposed over
recess contact areas 40 on the back side 26 of the jack
5, as illustrated in Figures 12 and 16, and sub-
sequently the phone jack is re-secured to its mounting
surface. Thereafter, the additional reservoirs 14 are
wrapped around the jack 5 as illustrated by arrow 30 in
Figure 14 and disposed over ends of the contact screws
or bolts 28. In this embodiment, it is not necessary to
completely remove the jack 5 from its mounting surface
to install the collapsible reservoirs around the
recesses, though the jack can be so removed if desired.
Rather, all that is required is that the jack be
loosened enough so that the reservoirs 2 can be slid
behind the jack. Re-securing the jack 5 tightly to its
mounting surface by tightening screws 44 as illustrated
in Figure 13 provides the force means 10 for collapsing
the reservoirs 2.
Since the screws or bolts 28 protrude from a front
surface of the jack 5, the gel 3 is readily elastically
displaced around ends of the screws or bolts 28 and
maintained in close and conforming contact therewith so
long as held under some force by some additional force
means lO', this force means being provided by jack
cover 22 which is screwed over the phone jack 5, as
illustrated in Figure 15. Preferably, the gel has a
tacky surface so as to facilitate adhesion of the gel
to the contact area of the substrate to be protected
while being held under compression.
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The embodiment of Figures 11-16 is further advan-
tageous in that a plurality of the reservoirs 2, 14 are
interconnected by flexible bridging members 19 which
allows a plurality of substrate contact areas to be
protected utilizing a minimum amount of gel with the
apparatus 1 occupying a minimum amount of room, as com-
pared to other prior art constructions wherein relati-
vely large reservoirs 2 are provided for enclosing
entire substrates so as to protect various contact
areas thereon.
Figures 7-10 illustrate further alternative embodi-
ments of the invention. In the embodiment of Figures 7
and 8, the apparatus 31 includes flexible bridging mem-
bers l9 arranged such that eight reservoirs in total
are included with the apparatus. In use, the jack 5 is
removed from its mounting surface rather than simply
loosened as in the embodiment of Figures 11-16, and the
apparatus 31 is disposed on the mounting surface such
that the reservoirs 2 are disposed at a location such
that they will come in contact with substrate recess
contact areas 40 to be protected when the jack 5 is
replaced on the mounting surface, with holes 16 being
provided on the flexible bridging member for providing
a means of properly orienting the apparatus 31, and in
particular the rectangular shaped open sides 13 of the
collapsible reservoirs 2. The holes 16 will line up
with attachment holes 21 (Figure 11) through which
screws extend for attaching the phone jack 5 to its
mounting surface and providing a force means 10. The
force means 10 causes the reservoirs to collapse, as
previously explained. Subsequent to re-attaching the
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phone jack to its mounting surface, reservoirs 14 are
pivoted about a 180 semicircle in a manner similar to
tha~ illustrated by arrow 30 in Figure 14 so as to
cover all the exposed and protruding contact screws or
bolts 28. The embodiment of Figure 31 is particularly
advantayeous in that it comprises only a single
article, is easily installable, and provides an indica-
tion means 16 confirming proper orientation of the
apparatus. In the apparatus of Figures 11-14, orien-
tation indication means is provided by the shape of the
rectangular shaped open sides 13 of the reservoirs 2
which corresponds to the rectangular shape of the con-
tact areas 40.
The embodiment of Figures 9 and 10 comprises first
and second pieces 32, 33, with the first piece 32 con-
taining a plurality of collapsible reservoirs 2 having
the gel 3 disposed therein, the piece 32 being adapted
for being located on the back side 26 of the phone jack
5 after its removal such that upon re-attachment of the
phone jack 5 each of the reservoirs 2 is collapsed so
as to exert gel therefrom into contact area recesses 40
on the back side of the phone jack 5. Subsequenkly,
the piece 33 is disposed over the front side of the
phone jack so as to encapsulate each of the bolts or
screws 28, with the force means to the piece 33 being
preferably provided by pressure sensitive adhesive 45
located on a side of the piece 33 in contact with the
jack 5. Additional force means can also be provided by
re-attaching the cover 22, as illustrated in Figure 15.
The embodiment Oe Figures 9 and 10 is advantageous
in that relatively few pieces are required to ade-
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quately protect a phone jack, indication means is pro-
vided to facilitate proper installation thereof, and a
plurality of reservoirs are interconnected with
flexible bridging members thus reducing the component
parts required to adequately protect the phone jack 5.
It is to be understood that the inventions of pro-
viding collapsible reservoirs are useful in a wide
variety of applications, and not specifically limited
to the particular application of protecting a phone
jack, as described herein, and that the invention of
providing a plurality of small reservoirs intercon-
nected by flexible bridging members so as to allow
encapsulation of opposite surfaces of a substrate 5 in
a fast and efficient manner is also not limited only
to the embodiment cf the protection of phone jack 5.
The invention is particularly applicable to any appli-
cation where a substrate has a contact area which has a
recess which requires protection, or in any application
where it is desired that gel be pumped into a location
relatively remote from a surface of the substrate to
which the reservoir is attached, the invention also
being useful in any application where opposite sides of
a substrate need to be protected in a East and effi-
cient manner. Accordingly, the invention is to be
limited only by the appended claims.
