Cable connector housing having strain relief system

A connector for terminating a multi-conductor cable and having a strain relief system to prevent undue stressing of the cable, which comprises:

• a multi-contact module having a conductor input end and an output side, said module capable of being mounted to a support;
• and
• a housing adapted to support said module, said housing having a module side and a cable-input side, and which includes;
• a first portion which includes a base having a plurality of posts each having a slotted enlarged free end upstanding therefrom in a predetermined pattern between said module and said cable-input side, said pattern providing a plurality of predetermined tortuous paths for cables within a range of cable sizes;
• and
• a second portion mateable with the first, which includes a cover having a plurality of apertures aligned with the posts and adapted to receive the posts, a cable of a size within said range being enclosed in the housing, extending into the cable-input side, then in a predetermined path in engagement with at least one of said posts and to said connector module, said engagement with at least one post providing suitable strain relief for said cable during use, said apertures in the cover being stepped with a ledge formed between a smaller portion of each aperture and a larger portion of each aperture, said larger portion opening to an external surface of the cover, the slotted end of each post being moved into an associated aligned aperture when the portions are mated together and compressed and as the slotted end of each post is moved into the larger portion of each aperture, it expands and snap-locks above the ledge to secure the portions together.

A connector cable assembly, which comprises:

• a multi-contact module having a conductor-input end and an output side;
• a housing which supports said module, said housing having a module end and a cable-input end, and which includes;
• a first portion which includes a base having a plurality of posts each having a slotted, enlarged free end and upstanding therefrom in a predetermined pattern between said module end and said cable-input end, said pattern providing a plurality of tortuous paths associated with cables within a range of cable sizes,;
• and
• a second portion mated with the first and which includes a cover having a plurality of apertures with an associated aligned post received in each, said apertures in the cover being stepped with a ledge formed between a smaller portion of such aperture and a larger portion of each aperture opening to an external surface of the cover, the slotted end of each post being moved into an associated aligned aperture when the portions are mated together and compressed, said slotted end of each post expanding as it is moved into the larger portion of each aperture to snap-lock above the ledge and secure the portions together;
• and
• a cable having a cross-sectional size within said range which comprises a plurality of individually insulated conductors which are enclosed in a common jacket and which extends into the the cable-input end, then in the associated path in engagement with at least one of said posts, and to said module, said engagement of the cable with said at least one post providing suitable strain relief for said cable during use.