Printer cable and associated strain relief collar for creating a ruggedized connection for an electrical terminal of a printer and associated methods therefor

A connection system for communicating between an electrical device and a portable printer comprising a print head assembly, a media drive assembly, and a media support assembly, the connection system comprising:

• the printer defining a first electrical terminal having a plurality of electrical contacts, the first electrical terminal being configured to communicate via the plurality of the electrical contacts using at least one communication protocol;
• the electrical device defining a second electrical terminal having a plurality of electrical contacts, the second electrical terminal being configured to communicate via the plurality of the electrical contacts using the communication protocol;
• and
• an electrical cable apparatus electrically connecting the first and second terminals, the electrical cable apparatus comprising:
• an electrical cable extending between first and second ends, the electrical cable including a plurality of conductive elements for electrical communication;
• a first electrical connector connected to the cable at the first end of the cable, the first electrical connector defining a plurality of electrical contacts corresponding to the electrical contacts of the first electrical terminal such that the first electrical connector can be engaged to the first electrical terminal;
• a second electrical connector connected to the cable at the second end of the cable, the second electrical connector defining a plurality of electrical contacts corresponding to the electrical contacts of the second electrical terminal such that the second electrical connector can be engaged to the second electrical terminal;
• and
• a collar extending in an axial direction from a first end to a second end and defining an orifice between the first and second ends with the cable disposed through the orifice and the orifice corresponding in size to a cross-sectional size of at least a portion of the cable adjacent the first electrical connector and being smaller than a cross-sectional size of the first electrical connector such that the collar is slidably mounted on the cable and adapted to frictionally engage the cable adjacent the first electrical connector,
• wherein the collar defines a connection feature configured to engage the first terminal with the first electrical connector disposed at least partially between the collar and the first terminal such that the engagement of the collar with the first terminal prevents disconnection of the first electrical connector from the first terminal, and wherein the electrical cable includes a tubular sheath the conductive elements disposed in the sheath, and a reinforcement member disposed in the sheath proximate to the first electrical connector and configured to support the cable proximate to the connector.

A collar for reinforcing the connection of an electrical cable with an electrical connector to a terminal of a printer, the collar comprising:

• a body extending in an axial direction from a first end to a second end and defining an orifice between the first and second ends, at least a portion of the orifice correspond in size to a cross-sectional size of the cable adjacent the electrical connector and being smaller a cross-sectional size of the electrical connector such that the body is adapted for slidably receiving the cable, frictionally engaging the cable adjacent the electrical connector, and engaging the electrical connector;
• a connection feature configured to engage the terminal with the cable extending through the orifice and the electrical connector disposed at least partially between the body and the terminal such that the engagement of the collar with the terminal prevents disconnection of the electrical connector from the terminal;
• and
• an electrical cable connected to the electrical connector the electrical cable including a tubular sheath, conductive elements disposed in the sheath, and a reinforcement member disposed in the sheath proximate to the electrical connector and configured to support the cable proximate to the electrical connector.

A method for connecting an electrical cable with a first electrical connector to a terminal of a printer, the method comprising:

• providing the electrical cable connected to the connector, the cable having a tubular sheath, at least one electrical conductor disposed in the sheath, and a reinforcement member disposed in the sheath proximate to the connector and configured to support the cable proximate to the connector the reinforcement member extending partially along the cable to thereby define an end in the sheath between the ends of the cable;
• disposing the electrical cable through an orifice defined by a collar;
• advancing the connector toward the terminal of the printer in an axial direction and thereby electrically engaging the connector with the terminal of the printer;
• advancing a first end of the collar toward the connector and the terminal and thereby frictionally engaging the collar with a portion of the cable adjacent the connector;
• and
• engaging a connection feature of the collar to the terminal of the printer with the connector disposed at least partially between the collar and the terminal, and the collar disposed against the connector such that the engagement of the collar with the terminal prevents disengagement of the electrical connector from the terminal.

An electrical connection for communicating between first and second electrical terminals, comprising:

• a first electrical terminal capable of communicating data in at least two different select protocols, said first terminal having first and second pluralities of electrical contacts, the first electrical terminal being configured to communicate via the first plurality of the electrical contacts using a USB protocol, and the first electrical terminal being configured to communicate via the second plurality of the electrical contacts using a protocol other than a USB protocol;
• a first electrical connector being a modular connector and including a plurality of electrical contacts corresponding to the electrical contacts of the first electrical terminal such that the first electrical connector can be engaged to the first electrical terminal;
• an electrical cable extending from a first end to a second end, the electrical cable including first and second pluralities of conductive elements for electrical communication between the first and second ends, the conductive elements being electrically connected to the electrical contacts of the first electrical connector at the first end of the cable such that the first plurality of conductive elements is electrically connected to the first plurality of electrical contacts of the first terminal and the second plurality of conductive elements is electrically connected to the second plurality of electrical contacts of the first terminal;
• and
• a second electrical connector connected to the second end of the cable, the second connector including a plurality of electrical contacts corresponding to the electrical contacts of the second electrical terminal, the electrical contacts being selectively electrically connected to a single one of the first and second pluralities of the conductive elements of the cable such that the first terminal is configured to communicate via the second electrical connector using a select one of the protocols of the first terminal.

A method for connecting an electrical cable with a first electrical connector to a terminal of a printer, the method comprising:

• providing an electrical cable connected to a connector, the cable having a tubular sheath, at least one electrical conductor disposed in the sheath, and a reinforcement member disposed in the sheath proximate to the connector and configured to support the cable proximate to the connector, the reinforcement member extending partially along the cable to thereby define an end in the sheath between the ends of the cable;
• disposing the electrical cable through an orifice defined by a collar;
• advancing the connector toward the terminal of the printer in an axial direction and thereby electrically engaging the connector with the terminal of the printer;
• advancing a first end of the collar toward the connector and the terminal;
• and
• engaging a connection feature of the collar to the terminal of the printer with the connector disposed at least partially between the collar and the terminal, and the collar disposed against the connector such that the engagement of the collar with the terminal prevents disengagement of the electrical connector from the terminal.

A connection system for electrically engaging an electrical cable with an electrical connector to a terminal of a printer, the connection system comprising:

• an electrical connector including a plurality of electrical contacts corresponding to the electrical contacts of the electrical terminal such that the electrical connector can be engaged to the electrical terminal;
• an electrical cable including a tubular sheath and a plurality of conductive elements disposed in the sheath for electrical communication, the conductive elements being electrically connected to the electrical contacts of the electrical connector such that the plurality of conductive elements is electrically connected to the plurality of electrical contacts of the terminal, the electrical cable including a reinforcement member disposed in the sheath proximate to the connector and configured to support the cable proximate to the connector, the reinforcement member extending partially along the cable to thereby define an end in the sheath between the ends of the cable;
• and
• a collar extending in an axial direction from a first end to a second end and defining an orifice between the first and second ends with the cable disposed through the orifice and the orifice being smaller than a cross-sectional size of the electrical connector such that the collar is slidably mounted on the cable,
• wherein the collar defines a connection feature configured to engage the terminal with the cable extending through the orifice and the electrical connector disposed at least partially between the collar and the terminal such that the engagement of the collar with the terminal prevents disconnection of the electrical connector from the terminal.