Strain-relief device for use with cable-plug assemblies

A strain-relief device for use with a cable-plug assembly, the cable-plug assembly being a cable having wires connected to a plug, the device comprising:

• a first half-housing for receiving the cable-plug assembly, the first half-housing having a plug end wall defining an opening for receiving the plug, a cable end wall defining an opening for receiving the cable, and first and second spaced side walls extending between the plug end wall and the cable end wall;
• a second half-housing having a plug end wall defining an opening for receiving the plug, a cable end wall defining an opening for receiving the cable, and first and second spaced side walls extending between the plug end wall and the cable end wall, the second half-housing fitting over the first half-housing thereby forming an enclosure that receives the cable-plug assembly between the side walls of the first and second half-housings;
• a first cable end latch associated with both cable end walls of the first and second half-housings for holding the half-housings together when the first cable end latch is engaged;
• a first side latch associated with both of the first side walls of the first and second half-housings for holding the half-housings together when the first side latch is engaged;
• wherein each of the first cable end latch and the first side latch comprises a moveable first member attached to one of the first half-housing and the second half-housing, and a stationary second member attached to the other of the first half-housing and the second half-housing, the members having engagement surfaces, the engagement surface of the first member being moveable with respect to the engagement surface of the second member, the latch becoming engaged when the engagement surface of the first member is moved into a position opposing the engagement surface of the second member;
• wherein each first member is a resilient arm attached to said one of said half-housings at one end and having a transverse projection at the other free end and wherein each second member is a portion of said other of said half-housings shaped to receive the transverse projection of the resilient arm when said latches are engaged;
• wherein the resilient arm of the first cable end latch is inside the second member during assembly of the latch and deflects toward the interior of the enclosure, then away from the interior of the enclosure to engage the first cable end latch;
• and
• wherein the resilient arm of the first side latch is outside the second member during assembly of the latch and deflects away from the interior of the enclosure, then toward the interior of the enclosure to engage the first side latch.