This invention generally relates to electrical connectors and, more particularly, to electrical connectors with multi-position, strain relief, cable clamp systems and methods thereof.
A variety of different types of applications require electrical connectors to be connected and disconnected on a regular basis. During this use, the conductive cables which are coupled to these connectors are exposed to a substantial amount of stress and wear and tear. This stress is particularly high adjacent the connection point between the conductive cable and the electrical connector. If the connection point between the conductive cable and the electrical connector becomes loose or frayed, it can effect the performance of the system or device coupled to the electrical connector and can pose a safety hazard.
An electrical connector system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention includes a connector housing with at least one conductive member disposed in at least one passage in the connector housing, two or more clamps which are detachably connected together to the connector housing about the passage, and at least one insert device detachably connected in a pocket in each of the clamps. The detachably connected clamps define at least one first opening to the passage in the connector housing and each of the insert devices extend from the pocket in each of the clamps into the first opening to define at least one second opening.
A method of making an electrical connector system in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention includes disposing at least one conductive member in at least one passage in a connector housing, detachable connecting at least one insert device in a pocket in each of two or more clamps, and detachably connecting two or more clamps together to the connector housing about the passage. The detachably connected clamps define at least one first opening to the passage in the connector housing and each of the insert devices extend from the pocket in each of the clamps into the first opening to define at least one second opening.
A strain relief, cable clamp system for an electrical connector in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention includes two or more clamps which are detachably connected together and define at least one first opening and at least one insert device detachably connected in a pocket in each of the clamps. Each of the insert devices extend from the pocket in each of the clamps into the first opening to define at least one second opening.
A method for making a strain relief, cable clamp system for an electrical connector in accordance with other embodiments of the present invention includes detachable connecting at least one insert device in a pocket in each of two or more clamps and detachable connecting the two or more clamps together to define at least one first opening. Each of the insert devices extend from the pocket in each of the clamps into the first opening to define at least one second opening.
The present invention provides a multi-position, strain relief, cable clamp systems for electrical connectors which can be easily assembled and adapted to a variety of different sizes of cables and types of electrical connectors, such as female and male single pole connectors, right angle connectors, and double pole connectors. With the present invention, the life of the electrical connector systems is extended because strain relief is provided at one of the highest regions of wear and tear. As a result, with the present invention there are fewer, if any, frayed or broken connections adjacent the electrical connector. The present invention also provides a secure connection between the strain relief, cable clamps and the electrical connector by altering at least a portion of the connecting structure to occupy more than one plane to provide a tighter fit when connected.
An electrical connector 10 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention is illustrated in
Referring to
The latching assembly 18 includes a projection 28, an actuation member 30, legs 32, and a beam 34, although the latching assembly 18 can have other numbers and types of components and elements in other configurations, other types of detachable locking systems can be used, and the electrical connector may not have a latching assembly. The legs 32 of the latching assembly 18 are seated in the passage 26 and around the front end of the socket contact 14 and in the rear the legs 32 are secured to the connector housing 12, although the latching assembly 18 can have other numbers and types of legs and can be secured in other manners. The beam 34 of the latching assembly 18 extends along and is spaced from the connector housing 12 and the projection 28 and actuation member 30 extend away from the beam 34, although the other types and numbers of protrusion in other locations could be used. The projection 28 has an oval shape and is designed to detachably mate with an aperture in another connector, although the projection could have other shapes and sizes. The actuation member 30 can be used to disengage the projection 30 from the aperture.
The sleeve 20 has an opening 36 for the actuation member 30 and an opening 46 to the passage 26 in connector housing 12, although the sleeve 20 could have other shapes and configurations with other numbers of openings. The sleeve 20 is fitted over the connector housing 12 and the beam 34 of the latching assembly 18, although the sleeve 20 can be mounted in other manners.
Referring to
Referring to
One insert device 24(1) is sized and shaped to fit within the pocket 50 in each of the strain relief clamp sections 22(1) and 22(2). When the strain relief clamp sections 22(1) and 22(2) are detachably mated together, the insert devices 24(1) and 24(2) in the strain relief clamp sections 22(1) and 22(2) define another opening 56 which has a roughly diamond shape and which is in and is smaller than the opening 48, although the opening 56 defined by the devices 24(1) and 24(2) can have other shapes and sizes.
The insert device 24(1) in each of the strain relief clamp sections 22(1) and 22(2) has pads 54(1)–54(3) which extend out from a surface 58 of the insert device 24(1), although the insert device 24(1) could have other numbers and types of projections in other shapes and configurations. The pads 54(1)–54(3) are sized and shaped to mate with recessed portions 52(1)–52(3). When the pads 54(1)–54(3) of the insert device 24(1) are aligned with and mate with recessed portions 52(1)–52(3) in the strain relief clamp section 22(1) as shown in
Although the insert device 24(1) is disclosed in the examples described herein, other numbers and types of insert devices can be used, such as insert device 24(2). The insert device 24(2) is the same as the insert device 24(1), except the insert device 24(1) defines an initial opening with a width of about ⅜ of an inch and the insert device defines an initial opening sized and shaped to mate with sized and shaped to mate with a width of about ⅜ of an inch, although the insert devices 24(1) and 24(2) can have other dimensions.
A method of making an electrical connector system with a multi-position, strain relief, cable clamp system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to
Once the measured diameter for the cable 60 is measured, then an insert device 24(1) or 24(2) for each of the strain relief cable clamp sections 22(1) and 22(2) can be selected. By way of example only, once the measured diameter for the cable 60 is obtained the type of insert device 24(1) or 24(2) and alignment for each insert device 24(1) or 24(2) in the each of the strain relief cable sections 22(1) and 22(2) can be determined from the table below:
In this example, the insert devices 24(1) and 24(2) and strain relief clamp sections 22(1) and 22(2) can provide five different sized openings for the cable 60 ranging from sizes A–E with the smallest at A and largest at E. Next, the selected insert devices 24(1) and/or 24(2) are lined up with the recessed portions 52(1)–52(3) and/or non-recessed portions 53(1)–53(3) in each of the strain relief cable clamp sections 22(1) and 22(2) as indicated in the table. Again, when the pads 54(1)–54(3) of the insert device 24(1) are aligned with and mate with recessed portions 52(1)–52(3) in the strain relief clamp section 22(1) as shown in
Once the insert device 24(1) or 24(2) is detachably secured in the pocket 50 in each of the strain relief clamp sections 22(1) and 22(2), groove 49 of strain relief clamp section 22(2) is detachably secured together around portions of the flange 42 adjacent the end 44 of the housing 12 as shown in
Next, the strain relief clamp section 22(1) is detachably mated to the strain relief clamp section 22(2) about the cable 60 with the projections 45(1)–45(2) which are detachably mated in grooves 47(1)–47(2) as shown in
Accordingly, as described and illustrated herein the present invention provides a multi-position, strain relief, cable clamp systems which can be easily assembled and adapted to a variety of different sized of cables and types of electrical connectors, such as single pole connectors, right angle connectors, and double pole connectors. With the present invention, the life of the electrical connector systems is extended because strain relief is provided at one of the highest regions of wear and tear. As a result, with the present invention there are fewer, if any, frayed or broken connections adjacent the electrical connector. The present invention also provides a secure connection between the strain relief, cable clamps and the electrical connector by altering at least a portion of the connecting structure to occupy more than one plane to provide a tighter fit when connected.
Having thus described the basic concept of the invention, it will be rather apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing detailed disclosure is intended to be presented by way of example only, and is not limiting. Various alterations, improvements, and modifications will occur and are intended to those skilled in the art, though not expressly stated herein. These alterations, improvements, and modifications are intended to be suggested hereby, and are within the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the recited order of processing elements or sequences, or the use of numbers, letters, or other designations therefore, is not intended to limit the claimed processes to any order except as may be specified in the claims. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereto.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/610,394, filed Sep. 16, 2004, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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60610394 | Sep 2004 | US |