Electrical connector having an improved connector shield and a multi-purpose strain relief

An electrical connector for terminating discrete conductors of a multi-conductor cable comprising:

• a connector housing having a conductor termination end and a connection end, said termination end of said housing defining a first bounded opening for passage of said cable therethrough;
• and
• a cable strain relief device positioned adjacent said bounded opening of said housing, said cable strain relief device including first and second strain relief members, each strain relief member having a pair of legs positioned along opposed edges thereof, each of said legs including at least one engagement member thereon, said first and second strain relief members defining a second bounded opening therebetween and being moveable with respect to each other to reduce the size of said second bounded opening for securingly engaging the cable thereat,
• wherein said housing includes engagement elements along at least two opposed side walls for cooperation with the engagement members of said strain relief members to thereby lockingly engage said first and second strain relief members to said contact shield housing.

An electrical connector for terminating discrete conductors of a multi-conductor cable which includes a ground, the connector comprising:

• an electrically conductive shield housing having a connection end and a cable termination end;
• an insulative contact support member supported within the shield housing;
• a plurality of contacts provided on the contact support member wherein each contact includes a conductor termination end and a connector end;
• and
• a cable strain relief device positioned adjacent said termination end of said shield housing for securing the cable thereat, said cable strain relief device comprising an electrically conductive material and being in electrical communication with said shield housing and the cable ground for providing electrical continuity therebetween.

An electrical connector for terminating discrete conductors of a multi-conductor cable comprising:

• at least one electrically insulative contact support member having a connection end and a cable termination end;
• a plurality of electrical contacts each having a connection end and a conductor termination end portion for electrical connection with the conductors, said contacts being supported on said at least one contact support member, said contact support member including a conductor support portion extending from the termination end portions of the contacts to the cable termination end of the contact support member;
• and
• an electrically conductive shield member including a contiguous cross member having a horizontal extent and a vertical extent for shielding both horizontally and vertically between the conductor connection end portions of at least two contacts separated by an extent of said cross member, said cross member extending rearwardly beyond said conductor connection end portions to provide shielding between at least two of the discrete conductors of the multi-conductor cable.

A method for terminating discrete conductors of a multi-conductor cable comprising the steps of:

• providing at least one electrically insulative contact support member;
• supporting plural electrical contacts on said at least one contact support member, said contacts having conductor connection end portions;
• connecting discrete conductors of said multi-conductor cable to said conductor connection end portions;
• and
• inserting said at least one contact support member along a longitudinal axis into an electrically conductive shield member, said shield member including a contiguous cross member having a horizontal extent and a vertical extent for shielding both horizontally and vertically between the conductor connection end portions of at least two contacts separated by an extent of said cross member, said cross member extending rearwardly beyond said conductor connection end portions to provide shielding between at least two of the discrete conductors of the multi-conductor cable.