Insulating connector

Abstract

A laminated tubular connector for splicing or terminating electric conductors, comprising an outer layer of a heat shrinkable dielectric material, e.g., polyethylene terephthalate, and an inner layer of relatively soft, self-adhesive, low temperature flowable thermoplastic material, preferably a polyvinyl acetate composition. When heat is applied to the connector, the outer layer shrinks and the inner layer functions as a sealant and a cushioning agent. In some applications, the adhesiveness of the inner layer may be used to hold the connector in place during subsequent operations by pinching the connector so that the depressed portions of the tube adhere to each other prior to heating the connector to shrink the outer layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrical connector comprising a laminated tubular member, said tubular member having a squeezable spirally wound heat-shrinkable dielectric outer layer, and a relatively soft innermost layer bonded directly to said outer layer, said innermost layer consisting essentially of a synthetic polymeric pressure-sensitive adhesive at ambient temperatures and having a flow temperature lower than the temperature required to heat shrink said outer layer whereby opposed portions of said innermost layer may be adhesively secured to each other and to a conductor disposed therein by squeezing the connector prior to heat shrinking said outer layer. 
     
     
       2. An electrical connector comprising a laminated tubular member, said tubular member having a squeezable, heat-shrinkable dielectric outer layer comprised of spirally wound polyethylene terephthalate, and a relatively soft innermost layer bonded to said outer layer, said innermost layer being a pressure-sensitive adhesive at ambient temperatures and having a flow temperature lower than the temperature required to heat shrink said outer layer whereby opposed portions of said innermost layer may be adhesively secured to each other and to a conductor disposed therein by squeezing the connector prior to heat shrinking said outer layer. 
     
     
       3. An electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein said innermost layer is primarily a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl alcohol. 
     
     
       4. An electrical connector comprising a laminated tubular member, said tubular member having a squeezable .Iadd.spirally wound .Iaddend.heat-shrinkable dielectric outer layer, and a relatively soft innermost layer bonded to said outer layer, said innermost layer being a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl alcohol, said innermost layer being a pressure-sensitive adhesive at ambient temperatures and having a flow temperature lower than the temperature required to heat shrink said outer layer whereby opposed portions of said innermost layer may be adhesively secured to each other and to a conductor disposed therein by squeezing the connector prior to heat shrinking said outer layer. 
     
     
       5. An electrical connector according to claim 4, wherein said innermost layer is a continuous layer of polyvinyl acetate coextensive in length with the length of said outer layer. 
     
     
       6. An electrical connector according to claim 4, wherein said innermost layer is polyvinyl alcohol. .Iadd. 7. An electrical connector comprising a laminated tubular member, said tubular member having a squeezable heat-shrinkable dielectric outer layer formed by a plurality of spirally wound strips, and a relatively soft innermost layer bonded directly to said outer layer, said innermost layer consisting essentially of a synthetic polymeric pressure-sensitive adhesive at ambient temperatures and having a flow temperature lower than the temperature required to heat shrink said outer layer whereby opposed portions of said innermost layer may be adhesively secured to each other and to a conductor disposed therein by squeezing the connector prior to heat shrinking said outer layer. .Iaddend..Iadd. 8. An electrical connector according to claim 7 wherein said innermost layer is continuous and is co-extensive in length with the length of said outer layer. .Iaddend.