# US 2014/0154914 A1 · Enclosure assembly for a connector, strain relief element, and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0154914 A1 - Document ID: US20140154914A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/175,656 - Filed: 2014-02-07 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-02-01 - Assignees: TE Connectivity Nederland BV - Applicants: TE Connectivity Nederland B.V. - Inventors: Paul Schneider - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154914A1 ## CPC - G02B 6/3888: {Protection from over-extension or over-compression} - H01R 13/5816: {for cables passing through an aperture in a housing wall, the separate part being captured between cable and contour of aperture} - H01R 13/631: for engagement only - G02B 6/38875: {Protection from bending or twisting} - G02B 6/3891: {Bayonet type} - Y10T 29/49208: by assembling plural parts - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The invention relates to a mating enclosure having a flange, wherein the flange has a forward face, a rearward face, and a first outer perimeter, a central opening, wherein the central opening has a second outer perimeter contained within the first outer perimeter, at least one protrusion protruding substantially perpendicularly from the forward face of the flange, wherein the protrusion has an inner surface facing the central opening, an outer surface facing away from the central opening, and a forward surface facing in the same direction as the forward face of the flange, and at least one locking element positioned on the outer surface of the protrusion, wherein the locking element is at rest such that a distance between the outer perimeter of the flange and the locking element is less than a distance between the outer perimeter of the flange and the outer surface of the protrusion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mating enclosure comprising: a flange having a forward face, a rearward face, an outer perimeter, and a central opening, wherein the central opening is contained within the outer perimeter, at least one protrusion protruding substantially perpendicularly from the forward face of the flange, wherein the protrusion has an inner surface facing the central opening, an outer surface facing away from the central opening, and a forward surface facing in the same direction as the forward face of the flange, and at least one locking element positioned on the outer surface of the protrusion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mating enclosure according to claim 1, wherein two substantially equivalent protrusions protruding from the forward face of the flange are oppositely positioned about the central opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mating enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the central opening defines a substantially cylindrical inner surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The mating enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the forward surface of the protrusion substantially aligns with a forward surface of the locking element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The mating enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the flange has mounting means located outside of the central opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The mating enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the rearward face of the flange comprises a rearward gasket. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The mating enclosure according to claim 3, wherein the inner surface of the protrusion aligns with the substantially cylindrical inner surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The mating enclosure according to claim 3, wherein an annular collar rests in a first position, said first position being defined as between the forward face of the flange and the forward surface of the protrusion, and enclosing the central opening alternatingly with the inner surface of the protrusion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The mating enclosure according to claim 8, wherein a forward gasket rests in a second position, said second position being defined as an outer circumference formed by the outer surface of the protrusion and an outer surface of the annular collar. ### Claim 10 A connection system comprising: a mating enclosure including, a flange, at least one protrusion protruding substantially perpendicularly from the flange and at least one locking element positioned on an outer surface of the protrusion, an outer body adapted to connectingly mate with the mating enclosure, and an inner body adapted to connectingly mate with the mating enclosure, wherein the inner body is substantially enclosed by the outer body when the system is in a mated state. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein the flange has a forward face, a rearward face, an outer perimeter, and a central opening, wherein the central opening is contained within the outer perimeter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein the outer surface is facing away from the central opening. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein two substantially equivalent protrusions protruding from the forward face of the flange are oppositely positioned about the central opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein the central opening defines a substantially cylindrical inner surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The mating enclosure according to claim 14, wherein the inner surface of the protrusion aligns with the substantially cylindrical inner surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14, wherein the inner body further comprises a sealing member at a front end facing the forward face of the flange, and wherein the sealing member is adapted to be in sealing contact with the substantially cylindrical inner surface when the system is in the mated state. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein the protrusion has an inner surface facing the central opening, and a forward surface facing in the same direction as the forward face of the flange. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system according to claim 17, wherein an annular collar rests in a first position, said first position being defined as between the forward face of the flange and the forward surface of the protrusion, and enclosing the central opening alternatingly with the inner surface of the protrusion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system according to claim 18, wherein a forward gasket rests in a second position, said second position being defined as an outer circumference formed by the outer surface of the protrusion and an outer surface of the annular collar. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system according to claim 19, wherein the forward gasket is adapted to sealingly abut against a front sealing surface of the outer body when the system is in the mated state. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The system according to claim 17, wherein the inner body has at least one stop surface which abuts the forward surface of at least one protrusion when the system is in the mated state. ### Claim 22 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein the inner body further comprises at least one positive locking element which substantially aligns and locks with the protrusion when the system is in the mated state. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The system according to claim 22, wherein the outer body is rotatable relative to the flange and inner body. ### Claim 24 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein the outer body has at least one complementary locking element, and wherein the complementary locking element connectingly mates with the locking element positioned on the outer surface of the protrusion. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The system according to claim 24, wherein the complementary locking element is selected from the group consisting of a bayonet-type locking element and a threaded locking element. ### Claim 26 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein the flange has mounting means located outside of the central opening. ### Claim 27 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein the rearward face of the flange comprises a rearward gasket. ### Claim 28 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein the outer body further comprises a front sealing surface, wherein said sealing surface faces the forward face of the flange and surrounds the inner body when the system is in a mated state. ### Claim 29 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein the outer body connectingly mates with the locking element positioned on the outer surface of the protrusion when the outer body slidingly engages the mating enclosure. ### Claim 30 (depends on 10) The system according to claim 10, wherein the outer body connectingly mates with the locking element positioned on the outer surface of the protrusion when the outer body slidingly engages the mating enclosure and is rotated in a radial direction.