US 4,358,177 AGranted

Strain relief clamp and assembly

AssigneeThe Bendix Corporation

InventorJames A. Badolato

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Abstract

Strain relief apparatus for a plurality of discrete side-by-side cables (60) terminating in a matable electrical connector (10) housing (11) disposing a like plurality of contacts in a generally linear array or parallel side-by-side relation with each terminated wire extending axially rearwardly therefrom. The strain relief apparatus includes a pair of U-shaped channels (30, 40) having confrontable medial bight portions for clasping plates (36, 46) provided with aligned sets of apertures (37, 47) and coated with a deformable plastic material (55), the medial bight portions when brought into confronting relation and compressed together about the rearwardly extending wires passing therebetween rigidly secures an axial portion of each of the wires and prevents forces from deflecting the wires. A pair of stand-off support brackets (20) securingly spaces each of the channels axially rearward from the connector entry face (14).

Claims2

Dependent claims

In combination with an electrical connector of the type including a housing having a mating face and a wire entry face, a plurality of mateable electrical contacts disposed in an array in the housing and a plurality of conductive wires terminating at respective contacts proximate the wire entry face, improved strain relief comprising:

restraining means for securing an axial portion of the terminated wires in a transverse spaced apart relationship to the connector housing, the restraining means comprising:
a generally cylindrical tube shaped member;
a pair of U-shaped channels, each of said channels including a medial bight portion and a pair of upstanding webs, said tube being captivated by said channels such that some of the wires are directed around one side of the tube and other of the wires are directed around the other side of the tube;
and
means for compressively mounting said tube within said U-shaped channels;
and
means for supporting said restraining means axially rearwardly of said wire entry face whereby axial and lateral loads placed on wire terminations are eliminated.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.