U.S. patent number 3,638,169 [Application Number 05/002,079] was granted by the patent office on 1972-01-25 for strain relief clamp and assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Panduit Corp.. Invention is credited to Jack E. Caveney, Roy A. Moody.
United States Patent |
3,638,169 |
Caveney , et al. |
January 25, 1972 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
STRAIN RELIEF CLAMP AND ASSEMBLY
Abstract
There is disclosed a strain relief clamp and assembly for
limiting relative movement between a generally cylindrical
connector having retaining structure thereon and a cable of
electrical conductors, the clamp assembly comprising a strain
relief clamp including at least two body members each having a
part-cylindrical connector body portion and a part-cylindrical
cable body portion and an interconnecting portion joining the
connector body portion and the cable body portion, a first binder
tie clamping the connector body portions about the connector to
provide engagement between locking structure on the connector body
portion and the retaining structure, a second binder tie clamping
the cable body portions about the cable at a predetermined position
therealong, hinges interconnecting the two body members, and binder
tie positioning structure provided on the connector body portions
and the cable body portions.
Inventors: |
Caveney; Jack E. (Chicago,
IL), Moody; Roy A. (Flossmoor, IL) |
Assignee: |
Panduit Corp. (Tinley Park,
IL)
|
Family
ID: |
21699169 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/002,079 |
Filed: |
January 12, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/471 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
13/5804 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/58 (20060101); H01r 013/58 () |
Field of
Search: |
;339/103,104,107,62,206,116,101,208 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Moore; Richard E.
Claims
We claim:
1. A strain relief clamp assembly for limiting the relative
movement between a generally cylindrical connector having retaining
structure thereon and a cable of electrical conductors coupled to
the connector, said clamp assembly comprising a strain relief clamp
including an essentially part-cylindrical connector body portion
and an essentially part-cylindrical cable body portion and an
interconnecting portion joining said connector body portion and
said cable body portion, said strain relief clamp in use being
arranged with said connector body portion clampingly engaging the
associated connector and said cable body portion clampingly
engaging the associated cable, locking structure on the inner
surface of said connector body portion for engagement with the
retaining structure on the associated connector, a first binder tie
disposed around and engaging the outer surface of said connector
body portion for clampingly holding said connector body portion
about the associated connector with said locking structure engaging
the retaining structure, first binder tie positioning structure on
the outer surface of said connector body portion for holding said
first binder tie in a predetermined longitudinal position with
respect to said connector body portion, said cable body portion
having an opening therein for receiving therethrough a binder tie,
and a second binder tie disposed around and engaging the outer
surface of said cable body portion and extending through said
opening in position to extend between the conductors of the
associated cable for clampingly holding said cable body portion
about the cable at a predetermined position therealong.
2. The strain relief clamp assembly set forth in claim 1, wherein
said opening in said cable body portion is in the form of an
elongated slot extending longitudinally of said strain relief
clamp.
3. The strain relief clamp assembly set forth in claim 2, and
further comprising a second binder tie positioning structure on the
outer surface of said cable body portion cooperating to hold said
second binder tie in a predetermined longitudinal position with
respect to said cable body portion.
4. A strain relief clamp assembly for limiting the relative
movement between a generally cylindrical connector having retaining
structure thereon and a cable of electrical conductors coupled to
the connector, said clamp assembly comprising a strain relief clamp
including at least two body members each having an essentially
part-cylindrical connector body portion and an essentially
part-cylindrical cable body portion and an interconnecting portion
joining said connector body portion and said cable body portion,
said strain relief clamp in use being arranged with said connector
body portion clampingly engaging the associated connector and said
cable body portion clampingly engaging the associated cable,
locking structure on the inner surface of each of said connector
body portions for engagement with the retaining structure on the
associated connector, a first binder tie disposed around and
engaging the outer surfaces of said connector body portions for
clampingly holding said connector body portions about the
associated connector with said locking structure engaging the
retaining structure, first binder tie positioning structure on the
outer surface of each of said connector body portions and
cooperating to hold said first binder tie in a predetermined
longitudinal position with respect to said connector body portions,
a second binder tie disposed around and engaging the outer surfaces
of said cable body portions for clampingly holding said cable body
portions about the cable at a predetermined position therealong,
and second binder tie positioning structure on the outer surface of
each of said cable body portions and cooperating to hold said
second binder tie in a predetermined longitudinal position with
respect to said cable body portions.
5. A strain relief clamp assembly for limiting the relative
movement between a generally cylindrical connector having retaining
structure thereon and a cable of electrical conductors coupled to
the connector, said clamp assembly comprising a strain relief clamp
including at least two body members each having an essentially
part-cylindrical connector body portion and an essentially
part-cylindrical cable body portion and an interconnecting portion
joining said connector body portion and said cable body portion,
hinge structure interconnecting said body members and accommodating
movement thereof into positions wherein said connector body
portions are arranged in generally cylindrical form and said cable
body portions are arranged on the surface of a cylinder, said
strain relief clamp in use being arranged with said connector body
portions clampingly engaging the associated connector and said
cable body portions clampingly engaging the associated cable,
locking structure on the inner surface of each of said connector
body portions for engagement with the retaining structure on the
associated connector, a first binder tie disposed around and
engaging the outer surfaces of said connector body portions for
clampingly holding said connector body portions about the
associated connector with said locking structure engaging the
retaining structure, first binder tie positioning structure on the
outer surface of each of said connector body portions and
cooperating to hold said first binder tie in a predetermined
longitudinal position with respect to said connector body portions,
a second binder tie disposed around and engaging the outer surfaces
of said cable body portions for clampingly holding said cable body
portions about the cable at a predetermined position therealong,
and second binder tie positioning structure on the outer surface of
each of said cable body portions and cooperating to hold said
second binder tie in a predetermined longitudinal position with
respect to said cable body portions.
6. The strain relief clamp assembly set forth in claim 5, wherein
said hinge structure interconnects said connector body
portions.
7. The strain relief clamp assembly set forth in claim 6, wherein
said hinge structure includes a pair of hinge members integral with
the associated connector body portions.
8. The strain relief clamp assembly set forth in claim 5, wherein
said strain relief clamp is molded of a synthetic organic plastic
resin with the free longitudinal edges of said body members
disposed in a common plane and interconnected by said hinge
structure.
9. A strain relief clamp assembly for limiting the relative
movement between a generally cylindrical connector having retaining
structure thereon and a cable of electrical conductors coupled to
the connector, said clamp assembly comprising a strain relief clamp
including at least two body members each having an essentially
part-cylindrical connector body portion and an essentially
part-cylindrical cable body portion and an interconnecting portion
joining said connector body portion and said cable body portion,
said strain relief clamp in use being arranged with said connector
body portions clampingly engaging the associated connector and said
cable body portions clampingly engaging the associated cable,
locking structure on the inner surface of each of said connector
body portions for engagement with the retaining structure on the
associated connector, a first binder tie disposed around and
engaging the outer surfaces of said connector body portions for
clampingly holding said connector body portions about the
associated connector with said locking structure engaging the
retaining structure, first binder tie positioning structure on the
outer surface of each of said connector body portions and
cooperating to hold said first binder tie in a predetermined
longitudinal position with respect to said connector body portions,
each of said cable body portions having an opening therein for
receiving therethrough a binder tie, and a second binder tie
disposed around and engaging the outer surfaces of said cable body
portions and extending through said openings in position to extend
between the conductors of the associated cable for clampingly
holding said cable body portions about the cable at a predetermined
positioned therealong.
10. The strain relief clamp assembly set forth in claim 9, wherein
said opening in each of said cable body portions is in the form of
an elongated slot extending longitudinally of said strain relief
clamp.
11. The strain relief clamp assembly set forth in claim 10, and
further comprising a second binder tie positioning structure on the
outer surface of each of said cable body portions cooperating to
hold said second binder tie in a predetermine longitudinal position
with respect to said cable body portions.
12. A strain relief clamp for use in a strain relief clamp assembly
to limit the relative movement between a generally cylindrical
connector having retaining structure thereon and a cable of
electrical conductors coupled to the connector wherein the strain
relief clamp is held in operative position by first and second
binder ties disposed thereabout, said strain relief clamp
comprising an essentially part-cylindrical connector body portion
and an essentially part-cylindrical cable body portion and an
interconnecting portion joining said connector body portion and
said cable body portion, said strain relief clamp in use being
arranged with said connector body portion disposed about the
associated connector and clampingly held thereon by the first
associated binder tie and with said cable body portion disposed
about the associated cable and clampingly held thereon by the
second associated binder tie, locking structure on the inner
surface of said connector body portion for engagement with the
retaining structure on the associated connector, and first binder
tie positioning structure on the outer surface of said connector
body portion for holding the first associated binder tie in a
predetermined longitudinal position with respect to said connector
body portion, said cable body portion having an opening therein for
receiving therethrough the associated second binder tie, the second
binder tie in use being disposed around and engaging the outer
surface of said cable body portion and extending through said
opening and between the conductors of the associated cable for
clampingly holding said cable body portion about the cable at a
predetermined position therealong.
13. The strain relief clamp set forth in claim 12, wherein said
opening in said cable body portion is in the form of an elongated
slot extending longitudinally of said strain relief clamp.
14. The strain relief clamp set forth in claim 13, and further
comprising a second binder tie positioning structure on the outer
surface of said cable body portion for holding the associated
second binder tie in a predetermined longitudinal position with
respect to said cable body portion.
15. A strain relief clamp for use in a strain relief clamp assembly
to limit the relative movement between a generally cylindrical
connector having retaining structure thereon and a cable of
electrical conductors coupled to the connector wherein the strain
relief clamp is held in operative position by first and second
binder ties disposed thereabout, said strain relief clamp
comprising at least two body members each having an essentially
part-cylindrical connector body portion and an essentially
part-cylindrical cable body portion and an interconnecting portion
joining said connector body portion and said cable body portion,
said strain relief clamp in use being arranged with said connector
body portion disposed about the associated connector and clampingly
held thereon by the first associated binder tie and with said cable
body portion disposed about the associated cable and clampingly
held thereon by the second associated binder tie, locking structure
on the inner surface of each of said connector body portions for
engagement with the retaining structure on the associated
connector, first binder tie positioning structure on the outer
surface of each of said connector body portions and cooperating to
hold the first associated binder tie in a predetermined
longitudinal position with respect to said connector body portions,
and second binder tie positioning structure on the outer surface of
each of said cable body portions and cooperating to hold the
associated second binder tie in a predetermined longitudinal
position with respect to said cable body portions.
16. A strain relief clamp for use in a strain relief clamp assembly
to limit the relative movement between a generally cylindrical
connector having retaining structure thereon and a cable of
electrical conductors coupled to the connector wherein the strain
relief clamp is held in operative position by first and second
binder ties disposed thereabout, said strain relief clamp
comprising at least two body members each having an essentially
part-cylindrical connector body portion and an essentially
part-cylindrical cable body portion and an interconnecting portion
joining said connector body portion and said cable body portion,
hinge structure interconnecting said body members and accommodating
movement thereof into positions wherein said connector body
portions are arranged in generally cylindrical form and said cable
body portions are arranged as on the surface of a cylinder, said
strain relief clamp in use being arranged with said connector body
portions disposed about the associated connector and clampingly
held thereon by the first associated binder tie and with said cable
body portions disposed about the associated cable and clampingly
held thereon by the second associated binder tie, locking structure
on the inner surface of each of said connector body portions for
engagement with the retaining structure on the associated
connector, first binder tie positioning structure on the outer
surface of each of said connector body portions and cooperating to
hold the first associated binder tie in a predetermined
longitudinal position with respect to said connector body portions,
and second binder tie positioning structure on the outer surface of
each of said cable body portions and cooperating to hold the
associated second binder tie in a predetermined longitudinal
position with respect to said cable body portions.
17. The strain relief clamp set forth in claim 16, wherein said
hinge structure interconnects said connector body portions.
18. The strain relief clamp set forth in claim 17, wherein said
hinge structure includes a pair of hinge members integral with the
associated connector body portions.
19. The strain relief clamp set forth in claim 18, wherein said
strain relief clamp is molded of a synthetic organic plastic resin
with the free longitudinal edges of said body members disposed in a
common plane and interconnected by said hinged structure.
20. A strain relief clamp for use in strain relief clamp assembly
to limit the relative movement between a generally cylindrical
connector having retaining structure thereon and a cable of
electrical conductors coupled to the connector wherein the strain
relief clamp is held in operative position by first and second
binder ties disposed thereabout, said strain relief clamp
comprising at least two body members each having an essentially
part-cylindrical connector body portion and an essentially
part-cylindrical cable body portion and an interconnecting portion
joining said connector body portion and said cable body portion,
said strain relief clamp in use being arranged with said connector
body portions disposed about the associated connector and
clampingly held thereon by the first associated binder tie and with
said cable body portions disposed about the associated cable and
clampingly held thereon by the second associated binder tie,
locking structure on the inner surface of each of said connector
body portions for engagement with the retaining structure on the
associated connector, and first binder tie positioning structure on
the outer surface of each of said connector body portions and
cooperating to hold the first associated binder tie in a
predetermined longitudinal position with respect to said connector
body portions, each of said cable body portions having an opening
therein for receiving therethrough the associated second binder
tie, the second binder tie in use being disposed around and
engaging the outer surfaces of said cable body portions and
extending through said openings and between the conductors of the
associated cable for clampingly holding said cable body portions
about the cable at a predetermined position therealong.
21. The strain relief clamp set forth in claim 20, wherein said
opening in each of said cable body portions is in the form of an
elongated slot extending longitudinally of said strain relief
clamp.
22. The strain relief clamp set forth in claim 21, and further
comprising a second binder tie positioning structure on the outer
surface of each of said cable body portions cooperating to hold the
associated second binder tie in a predetermined longitudinal
position with respect to said cable body portions.
23. A strain relief clamp assembly for limiting the relative
movement between a generally cylindrical connector having helical
grooves in the outer surface thereof and a cable of electrical
conductors coupled to the connector, said clamp assembly comprising
a strain relief clamp including an essentially part-cylindrical
connector body portion and an essentially part-cylindrical cable
body portion and an interconnecting portion joining said connector
body portion and said cable body portion, said strain relief clamp
in use being arranged with said connector body portion clampingly
engaging the associated connector and said cable body portion
clampingly engaging the associated cable, locking structure in the
form of interrupted helical ridges on the inner surface of said
connector body portion shaped complementary to the helical grooves
on the associated connector for engagement therewith, a first
binder tie disposed around and engaging the outer surface of said
connector body portion for clampingly holding said connector body
portion about the associated connector with said locking structure
engaging the retaining structure, first binder tie positioning
structure on the outer surface of said connector body portion for
holding said first binder tie in a predetermined longitudinal
position with respect to said connector body portion, a second
binder tie disposed around and engaging the outer surface of said
cable body portion for clampingly holding said cable body portion
about the cable at a predetermined position therealong, and second
binder tie positioning structure on the outer surface of said cable
body portion for holding said second binder tie in a predetermined
longitudinal position with respect to said cable body portion.
24. A strain relief clamp for use in a strain relief clamp assembly
to limit the relative movement between a generally cylindrical
connector having helical grooves in the outer surface thereof and a
cable of electrical conductors coupled to the connector wherein the
strain relief clamp is held in operative position by first and
second binder ties disposed thereabout, said strain relief clamp
comprising an essentially part-cylindrical connector body portion
and an essentially part-cylindrical cable body portion and an
interconnecting portion joining said connector body portion and
said cable body portion, said strain relief clamp in use being
arranged with said connector body portion disposed about the
associated connector and clampingly held thereon by the first
associated binder tie and with said cable body portion disposed
about the associated cable and clampingly held thereon by the
second associated binder tie, locking structure in the form of
interrupted helical ridges on the inner surface of said connector
body portion shaped complementary to the helical grooves on the
associated connector for engagement therewith, first binder tie
positioning structure on the outer surface of said connector body
portion for holding the first associated binder tie in a
predetermined longitudinal position with respect to said connector
body portion, and second binder tie positioning structure on the
outer surface of said cable body portion for holding the associated
second binder tie in a predetermined longitudinal position with
respect to said cable body portion.
Description
The present invention is directed to an improved strain relief
clamp and a strain relief clamp assembly incorporating the clamp,
the assembly serving to limit the relative movement between a
generally cylindrical connector and a cable of electrical
conductors.
It is an important object of the present invention to provide a
strain relief clamp for use in a strain relief clamp assembly to
limit the relative movement between a generally cylindrical
connector having retaining structure thereon and a cable of
electrical connectors wherein the strain relief clamp is held in
operative position by first and second binder ties disposed
thereabout, the strain relief clamp comprising an essentially
part-cylindrical connector body portion and an essentially
part-cylindrical cable body portion and an interconnecting portion
joining the connector body portion and the cable body portion, the
strain relief clamp in use being arranged with the connector body
portion disposed about the associated connector and clampingly held
thereon by the first associated binder tie and with the cable body
portion disposed about the associated cable and clampingly held
thereon by the second associated binder tie, locking structure on
the inner surface of the connector body portion for engagement with
the retaining structure on the associated connector, first binder
tie positioning structure on the outer surface of the connector
body portion and cooperating to hold the first associated binder
tie in a predetermined longitudinal position with respect to the
connector body portion, and a second binder tie positioning
structure on the outer surface of the cable body portion and
cooperating to hold the associated second binder tie in a
predetermined longitudinal position with respect to the cable body
portion.
Another object of the invention is to provide a strain relief clamp
of the type set forth formed of a synthetic organic plastic resin
and more particularly one molded of nylon resin.
Another object of the invention is to provide a strain relief clamp
of the type set forth wherein the connector body portion is
essentially semicylindrical in shape.
Another object of the invention is to provide a strain relief clamp
of the type set forth wherein the locking structure is in the form
of transversely arranged locking ridges, which ridges may be
helical in form or alternatively wherein the locking structure is
in the form of a transversely arranged projection along the inner
surface of the connector body portion.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved strain
relief clamp of the type set forth including at least two body
members each having an essentially part-cylindrical connector body
portion and an essentially part-cylindrical cable body portion and
an interconnecting portion joining the connector body portion and
the cable body portion, the several portions named having the
construction and functioning as set forth hereinabove.
In connection with the prior object, it is another object of the
invention to provide a strain relief clamp of the type set forth
and further including hinge structure interconnecting the body
members and accommodating movement thereof into positions wherein
the connector body portions are arranged in generally cylindrical
form and the cable body portions are arranged as on the surface of
a cylinder.
In connection with the foregoing object, it is another object of
the invention to provide a strain relief clamp of the type set
forth wherein the hinge structure interconnecting the connector
body portions is in the form of two longitudinally spaced-apart
hinge members, the strain relief clamp being molded of a synthetic
organic plastic resin with the free longitudinal edges of the body
members disposed in a common plane.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a strain relief
clamp of the type set forth wherein each of the cable body portions
has an opening therein for receiving therethrough the associated
second binder tie, the second binder tie in use being disposed
around and engaging the outer surfaces of the cable body portions
and extending through the openings and through the associated cable
for clampingly holding the cable body portions about the cable at a
predetermined position therealong.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved strain
relief clamp assembly incorporating therein an improved strain
relief clamp of the type set forth above.
Further features of the invention pertain to the particular
arrangement of the parts of the strain relief clamp and of the
assembly incorporating the strain relief clamp therein, whereby the
above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are
attained.
The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation
together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be
understood by reference to the following specification when taken
in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a view of a strain relief clamp assembly made in
accordance with and embodying the principles of the present
invention, the clamp assembly there illustrated incorporating
therein a first preferred embodiment of the strain relief clamp of
the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the strain relief clamp assembly of FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale in cross section through the
clamp assembly of FIG. 1 along the line 3--3 thereof;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the strain relief clamp illustrated
in FIGS. 1 to 3;
FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the strain relief clamp of
FIGS. 1 to 4;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the strain relief clamp of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is an end view of the strain relief clamp of FIG. 5 as seen
in the direction of the arrows along the line 7--7 thereof, one of
the body members of the strain relief clamp being shown in dashed
lines to illustrate the molded position thereof;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale of the strain
relief clamp of FIG. 6 along the line 8--8 thereof;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view in section through FIG. 8 along the
line 9--9 thereof; and
FIG. 10 is a view in section illustrating a second embodiment of
the strain relief clamp of the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a
strain relief clamp assembly 100 interconnecting a connector 50 and
a cable 60, the clamp assembly 100 including a strain relief clamp
110 and two binder ties 170 and 180 respectively holding the strain
relief clamp 100 about the connector 50 and the cable 60. As
illustrated, the connector 50 is of the type made in accordance
with military specification MIL-C-26500 and includes a generally
cylindrical body 51 carrying thereon a shoulder 52 adjacent to
which there are disposed a plurality of helically arranged
retaining grooves (not shown). The cable 60 is formed of a
plurality of insulated electrical conductors 61, the terminal ends
of which are disposed to the left in FIG. 1 and soldered, crimped
or otherwise connected to terminal pins sealingly received and
mounted in the connector 50. The clamp assembly 100 serves to
provide a mechanical connection directly from the body of the cable
60 to the connector 50 so as to prevent bending of the conductors
at the terminal pins and thus to relieve any strain upon the
electrical connections between the terminal ends of the conductors
61 and the terminal pins in the connector 50.
Referring specifically to FIGS. 4 to 9 of the drawings, the strain
relief clamp 110 of the present invention is illustrated and
comprises a pair of body members 120 and 140 which are
interconnected by hinge members 160 and 161. The body member 120 in
turn includes an essentially semicylindrical connector body portion
121 having an essentially semicylindrical outer surface 122 and an
essentially semicylindrical inner surface 123. Disposed on the
outer surface 122 and extending radially outwardly therefrom are
two longitudinally spaced-apart beads 124 and 125 which cooperate
with each other and with the intervening portion of the outer
surface 122 to define a groove which is useful to position the
associated binder tie 171 as will be explained more fully
hereinafter. Disposed on the inner surface 123 is a plurality of
locking ridges 126, the locking ridges actually being portions of a
helical thread which cooperate with the retaining grooves on the
connector 50 to increase the clamping connection therebetween. The
inner surface 123 terminates in a shoulder 127 disposed toward the
right in FIG. 8 and joins a generally semicylindrical surface
128.
The body member 120 further comprises a part-cylindrical cable body
portion 130 having a part-cylindrical outer surface 131 and a
part-cylindrical inner surface 132. Disposed on the outermost end
of the outer surface 131, i.e., the end disposed to the right in
FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, is a bead 134 which is useful in holding the
second binder tie 180 in the clamping position, all as will be
explained more fully hereinafter. Disposed in the cable body
portion 130 is a longitudinally extending slot 135 which also
receives the second binder tie 180 therethrough as will be
explained later.
Joining the connector body portion 121 and the cable body portion
130 is an interconnecting portion 136, the interconnecting portion
136 having an outer surface 137 shaped as the surface of a cone and
an inner surface 138 also shaped as the surface of a cone, the
surface 137 merging into the surface 122 and the surface 138
merging into the surface 128.
A second body member 140 is provided as a part of the strain relief
clamp 110, the body member 140 including an essentially
semicylindrical connector body portion 141 having an essentially
semicylindrical outer surface 142 and an essentially
semicylindrical inner surface 143. Disposed on the outer surface
122 and extending radially outwardly therefrom are two
longitudinally spaced-apart beads 144 and 145 which cooperate with
each other and with the intervening portion of the outer surface
142 to define a groove which is useful to position the associated
binder tie 171 as will be explained more fully hereinafter.
Disposed on the inner surface 143 is a plurality of locking ridges
146, the locking ridges actually being portions of a helical thread
which cooperate with the retaining grooves on the connector 50 to
increase the clamping connection therebetween. The inner surface
143 terminates in a shoulder 147 disposed toward the right in FIG.
8 and joins a generally semicylindrical surface 148.
The body member 140 further comprises a part-cylindrical cable body
portion 150 having a part-cylindrical outer surface 151 and a
part-cylindrical inner surface 152. Disposed on the outermost end
of the outer surface 151, i.e., the end disposed to the right in
FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, is a bead 154 which is useful in holding the
second binder tie 180 in the clamping position, all as will be
explained more fully hereinafter. Disposed in the cable body
portion 150 is a longitudinally extending slot 155 which also
receives the second binder tie 180 therethrough as will be
explained later.
Joining the connector body portion 141 and the cable body portion
150 is an interconnecting portion 156, the interconnecting portion
156 having an outer surface 157 shaped as the surface of a cone and
an inner surface 158 also shaped as the surface of a cone, the
surface 157 merging into the surface 142 and the surface 158
merging into the surface 148.
The body members 120 and 140 are interconnected by two
longitudinally spaced-apart hinge members 160 and 161, the hinge
member 160 being disposed to the left as viewed in FIGS. 8 and 9
and at the left-hand-most end of the strain relief clamp 110, while
the hinge member 161 is disposed essentially in alignment with the
bead 125. The hinge members 160 and 161 are essentially
semicylindrical in cross section as viewed in FIG. 9 and are formed
integral with the respective body members 120 and 140.
The strain relief clamp 110 is preferably formed of a synthetic
organic resin, the preferred resin being nylon resin, and is molded
integral and of one-piece construction. Referring to FIG. 7, the
position of the body members 120 and 140 as molded is illustrated
wherein the body member 120 is illustrated by dashed lines in the
as-molded position while the body member 140 is illustrated by
solid lines in the as-molded position. It will be appreciated that
the longitudinally extending free edges of the body members 120 and
140 all lie along a common plane in the as-molded position, i.e.,
more specifically, the longitudinal edges of the connector body
portions 121 and 141 are disposed in a common plane in the
as-molded positions thereof. Subsequent to molding, the body member
120 is pivoted with respect to the body member 140 through
substantially a 180.degree. arc about the hinge members 160 and 161
from the dashed line portion of FIG. 7 to the solid line portion of
FIG. 7.
Because of the material of construction of the strain relief clamp
110, i.e., a resilient organic plastic resin such as nylon resin,
the interconnecting portions 136 are essentially flexible and
deformable, whereby the cable body portions 130 and 150 can be
moved toward and away from each other and with respect to the
as-molded positions thereof, thereby to accommodate therebetween
cables 60 of widely different effective diameters.
The binder ties 170 and 180 may be of any suitable construction,
but one preferred construction is that illustrated in U.S. Pat. No.
3,197,829 granted Aug. 3, 1965 to Jack E. Caveney and Roy A. Moody
for BINDER STRAP and another preferred construction illustrated in
the copending U.S. Pat. application of Jack E. Caveney, Ser. No.
750,570 filed Aug. 6, 1968 for INTEGRAL ONE-PIECE CABLE TIE, now
U.S. Pat. No. 3,537,146. As illustrated, the binder tie 170 is
formed of nylon plastic and includes a strap 171 carrying on one
end thereof and integral therewith a locking head 172. The binder
tie 180 likewise is formed of nylon plastic and includes a strap
181 carrying on one end thereof and integral therewith a locking
head 182, the strap 181 for illustrative purposes having been shown
as comprising sections 183 through 186 in FIG. 3 as will be
explained more fully hereinafter.
The binder ties 170 and 180 may be manually applied, but preferably
are applied by a tool such as that illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. Re.
26,492 granted Nov. 12, 1968 to Jack E. Caveney and Roy A. Moody
for BINDER STRAP TOOL, or the tool illustrated in U.S. Pat. No.
3,254,680 granted June 7, 1966 to Jack E. Caveney and Roy A. Moody
for STRAP-TENSIONING TOOL, or that illustrated in the copending
U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 870,190, filed July 28, 1969 for
STRAP-TENSIONING AND SEVERING TOOL, which application is a
continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 772,441 now abandoned
In use, the strain relief clamp 110 may typically be received in
the as-molded position of the parts thereof, i.e., with the body
member 120 in the dashed position of FIG. 7 connected by the hinge
members 160 and 161 to the body member 140. The user folds the body
members 120 and 140 toward the solid line positions in FIG. 7 to
assemble the strain relief clamp 110 about the associated connector
50 and the associated cable 60. As a result, the connector body
portions 121 and 141 are assembled about the adjacent end of the
connector 50 thus to place the locking ridges 126 and 146 into the
complementarily shaped retaining grooves on the connector 50. The
cable body portions 130 and 150 are simultaneously assembled
adjacent to the outer periphery of the cable 60. The binder tie 170
is then placed around the connector body portions 121 and 141 in
the groove defined by the beads 124-144 and 125-145, the free end
of the strap 171 being passed through the locking head 172, after
which the binder tie 170 is drawn tight and the excess strap 171
typically severed at a point just beyond the clamping head 172.
The binder tie 180 is then applied, the strap 181 being fed through
and around the cable 60 so that the parts are then in the position
as illustrated in FIG. 3, i.e., the strap 181 extends from the
locking head 182 along a strap section 183 and over the outer
surfaces 131 and 151 to the opening 155. A strap section 184
extends through the opening 155 and through the center of the cable
60 and through the opening 135. The strap then continues along a
strap section 185 in a clockwise direction from the opening 135
completely around the cable 60 and the cable body portions 130 and
150 to the locking head 182, a portion 186 of the strap extending
through the head 182. It will be appreciated that in applying the
binder tie 180, the strap 181 is tightened, preferably mechanically
by a tool to press the cable body portions 130 and 150 firmly
against the cable 60, the free end of the strap section 186 being
severed after the binder tie 180 has been fully tightened. The
binder tie 180 is further held in position by the bead 134.
The resultant strain relief clamp assembly 100 serves to pass any
mechanical forces applied between the connector 50 and the cable 60
through the strain relief clamp 110, i.e., directly between the
position on the connector 50 at which the connector body portions
121 and 141 are clamped by the binder tie 170 to the position on
the cable 60 at which the cable body portions 130 and 150 are
clamped by the binder tie 180. More specifically, the strain relief
clamp 110 positively prevents bending motion between the terminal
ends of the conductors 61 and the terminal pins in the connector 50
to which the terminal ends of the conductors 61 are attached. As a
consequence, there is no tendency to cause failure at these
connections because of such bending motion, and likewise the
sealing connection between the terminal pins and the connector 50
is preserved in the sealed condition thereof. In fact, all
mechanical forces transmitted between the connector 50 and the
cable 60 are transmitted directly through the strain relief clamp
110 and around the connections between the terminal ends of the
conductors 61 and the terminal pins connected thereto and sealingly
mounted in the connector 50.
The strain relief clamp 110 can be applied to the cable 60 with the
terminal ends of the conductors 61 already soldered in place
without requiring that the individual conductors 61 be threaded
through the clamp prior to soldering. When it is necessary to
repair, replace, or add conductors 61 in the cable 60, the strain
relief clamp assembly 100 provides ready access, the binder ties
170 and 180 being formed of plastic can be readily severed to
permit removal of the strain relief clamp 110. Accordingly, access
can be readily gained to the pin receptacle of the connector 50 to
aid or remove individual pins and contacts without disturbing other
pins and contacts. This is true even if there is limited space
available such as in aircraft installations, since the strain
relief clamp 110 can be readily removed in all directions, and need
not be "backed off" as is the case with certain conventional strain
relief clamps known in the art heretofore.
The strain relief clamp 110 is useful in many installations wherein
steel and other metal clamps have been utilized heretofore. The
strain relief clamp 110 being made of plastic by high production
methods is substantially less expensive than steel clamps and other
metal clamps, and furthermore is substantially lighter in weight
than steel clamps of the same general utility, the strain relief
clamp 110 being only about one-quarter as heavy as a comparable
steel clamp. Accordingly, the strain relief clamp 110 can be
utilized in those applications, such as aircraft applications,
where weight is a significant factor. The fact that the strain
relief clamp assembly 100 is formed entirely of plastic further
makes the assembly 100 particularly useful in aircraft applications
since there are no metallic parts that could cause electrical
malfunctions if parts of the assembly 100 were lost during
installation and/or removal.
There is illustrated in FIG. 10 of the drawings the second
preferred embodiment of a strain relief clamp 210 made in
accordance with the present invention, a single-body member 220
having been illustrated, it being understood that the other body
member would be made essentially identical thereto. Since most of
the construction of the body member 220 is identical to that of the
body member 120, like reference numerals in the 200 series have
been applied to the parts in the body member 220 that correspond to
like parts at the body member 120. The fundamental difference
between the body member 120 and the body member 220 resides in the
locking structure on the inner surface of the connector body
portion 221, there being illustrated an inwardly directed rib or
projection 226 disposed transversely with respect to the
longitudinal axis of the strain relief clamp 210 and extending
around the inner surface 223. It will be appreciated that the rib
226, which is essentially rectangular in cross section, would be
received in a complementarily shaped groove in the associated
connector to which the strain relief clamp 210 would be applied. In
all other respects, the strain relief clamp 210 is constructed and
is utilized in the same manner as the strain relief clamp 110
described above.
While there have been described what are at present considered to
be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be
understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it
is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications
as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *