Strain relief device for electrical connectors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12444879-B2
Application number	US-202217989039-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2022
Priority date	Dec 17, 2021
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

A terminal assembly includes a connector housing having an opening at a first end for receiving a cable and a strain relief device. The opening of the connector housing is defined by an inner surface. The strain relief device includes an annular base and a cylindrical portion extending from the annular base, wherein the cylindrical portion has an inner surface having a diameter selected to surround the cable and an outer surface having an outer diameter configured to fit within the opening of the connector housing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A terminal assembly comprising:
a connector housing having an opening at a first end for receiving a cable, the opening having an inner surface defined by a housing inner diameter; and
a strain relief device having an annular base and a cylindrical portion extending from the annular base, the cylindrical portion having an inner surface having a diameter selected to surround the cable and an outer surface having an outer diameter configured to fit within the opening of the connector housing, the fit between the cylindrical portion of the strain relief device and the inner surface of the connector housing generating a clamping force between the strain relief device and the cable, the strain relief device including a plurality of ribs extending axially along the outer surface of the cylindrical portion, the plurality of ribs configured to deform due to exertion of force by the inner surface of the connector housing on the plurality of ribs generated by inserting the cylindrical portion within the opening of the connector housing.

2. The terminal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the strain relief device further includes first and second arms extending from the annular base, wherein the first and second arms extend over an outer surface of the connector housing and engage with locking features located on the outer surface of the connector housing.

3. The terminal assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first and second arms including locking hoops configured to slide over and engage locking nips provided on the outer surface of the connector housing.

4. The terminal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the strain relief device includes a plurality of axial rails extending axially along the inner surface of the cylindrical portion.

5. The terminal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the strain relief device includes a plurality of radial rails extending around the inner surface of the cylindrical portion.

6. The terminal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the strain relief device includes an axial hinge located along an axial length of the strain relief device, wherein the strain relief device is divided into a first portion and a second portion connected by the axial hinge.

7. The terminal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the strain relief device is a two-part device divided along an axial length of the cylindrical portion, wherein a first part includes a first arm configured to extend over an outer surface of the connector housing and engage with a first locking feature located on the outer surface of the connector housing, and wherein a second part includes a second arm configured to extend over the outer surface of the connector housing and engage with a second locking feature.

8. A strain relief device comprising:
a first portion comprising:
a first semi-annular base;
a first semi-cylindrical portion extending away from the first semi-annular base, the first semi-cylindrical portion having an inner surface having a diameter selected to surround a cable and an outer surface having an outer diameter configured to fit within a connector housing; and
a first arm extending from the first semi-annular base, wherein the first arm is configured to extend over an outer surface of the connector housing and engage with a first locking feature located on the outer surface of the connector housing;

a second portion comprising:
a second semi-annular base;
a second semi-cylindrical portion extending away from the second semi-annular base, the second semi-cylindrical portion having an inner surface having a diameter selected to surround the cable and an outer surface having an outer diameter configured to fit within the connector housing; and
a second arm extending from the second semi-annular base, wherein the second arm is configured to extend over the outer surface of the connecting housing and engage with a second locking feature located on the outer surface of the connector housing,
the first and second portions each including a plurality of ribs extending axially along the outer surfaces of the first and second semi-cylindrical portions, the plurality of ribs configured to deform due to exertion of force by the inner surface of the connector housing on the plurality of ribs generated by inserting the first and second semi-cylindrical portions within the connector housing.

9. The strain relief device of claim 8 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are connected by a hinge.

10. The strain relief device of claim 9 , wherein the hinge extends between a first axial length of the first semi-cylindrical portion and a second axial length of the second semi-cylindrical portion.

11. The strain relief device of claim 8 , wherein the strain relief device includes a plurality of axial rails extending axially along the inner surfaces of the first and second semi-cylindrical portions.

12. A method of installing a strain relief device, the method comprising:
placing the strain relief device in a position at least approximately surrounding a cable connected to a terminal assembly, wherein the cable enters the terminal assembly via an opening defined by an inner surface of a connector housing; and
inserting a cylindrical portion of the strain relief device into the opening defined by the inner surface of the connector housing, wherein insertion of the strain relief device provides clamping force between the strain relief device and the cable, wherein the strain relief device including a plurality of ribs extending axially along the outer surface of the cylindrical portion; and
deforming the plurality of ribs due to an exertion of force by the inner surface of the connector housing on the plurality of ribs generated during the previous step.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein inserting the cylindrical portion of the strain relief device into the opening includes inserting first and second arms along an outer surface of the connector housing to engage the first and second arms with locking features located along the outer surface of the connector housing.

Assignees

• Aptiv Technologies AG

Inventors

• Morello John
• Rainey James M

Classifications

• H01R13/501

  comprising an integral hinge or a frangible part · CPC title

• H01R13/40

  Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members · CPC title

• H01R13/5825 Primary

  the means comprising additional parts captured between housing parts and cable · CPC title

• H01R13/5812 Primary

  the cable clamping being achieved by mounting the separate part on the housing of the coupling device · CPC title

• H01R13/502 Primary

  composed of different pieces (H01R13/514 takes precedence) · CPC title