Versatile electrical connector housing

• US 5,277,617 A
• Filed: 11/16/1992
• Issued: 01/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Woven Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Woven Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Shasteen, Sam S.
• Primary Examiner(s): DESMOND, EUGENE
• Application Number:
  US07/977,094
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 439/456, 439/457, 439/459, 439/460, 439/465, 439/467, 439/499
• US Class Current: 439/465
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/00 Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures printed connections to, or between, printed circuits H05K1/11
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/772 Strain relieving means

Abstract

A versatile electrical connector housing 12 with strain relief, includes a first housing section 26 and a second housing section 30. First back ridge 44 being offset from and in combination with a second back ridge 48 provide a strain relief. A vertical passage 50 in combination with a horizontal passage 52 allows an electrical transmission cable 16 to enter into the electrical connector within the profile of the electrical connector.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly having a multi-position electrical connector for terminating an electrical transmission cable, said electrical connector assembly comprising:

a multi-position electrical connector having a plurality of connector positions;

a housing having first and second bases of general length and width and a front portion for carrying said multi-position electrical connector;

a back slot opening formed in a rear of said housing for receiving said electrical transmission cable;

said housing having an interior which receives said electrical transmission cable routed through said back slot opening;

said first base terminating in a first end wall, and said first end wall terminating in a first back ridge;

said first back ridge extending from and across a width of said first base;

said second base terminating in a second end wall, and said second end wall terminating in a second back ridge;

said second back ridge extending from and across a width of said second base in a direction towards said first base;

said first back ridge being longitudinally offset from said second back ridge to form a generally vertical passage having an entrance opening;

said second back ridge being spaced from said first base forming a generally horizontal passage;

said generally vertical and horizontal passages forming said back slot opening for receiving said electrical transmission cable and for leading into said interior;

said first back ridge in combination with said second back ridge being arranged for engaging said electrical transmission cable as it is routed through said vertical and horizontal passages to afford a strain relief for said electrical transmission cable when said cable is in longitudinal alignment with said electrical connector.

2. The housing of claim 1 wherein said first back ridge extends past said second back ridge providing increase resistance and a strain relief for said electrical transmission cable.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said first back ridge defines a generally vertical plane and said second base defines a generally horizontal plane delineating a profile of said housing, and said entrance opening is spaced below said generally horizontal plane.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said offset of said back ridges allows said electrical transmission cable to enter said back opening at various angles ranging from being generally parallel to said horizontal plane and generally parallel to said vertical plane with said electrical transmission cable being retained within said profile at either angle.

5. The assembly of claim 1 where said housing includes a first housing section and a second housing section which mate together.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein said first housing section can be interchanged with said second housing section such that said entrance opening of said vertical passage can be reversed and opened vertically upward or downward.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said multi-position electrical connector is carried exteriorly at said front portion of said housing, said housing having a first and second latching means respectively to interconnect with said multi-position electrical connector in an integral manner.

8. A connector housing apparatus for terminating an electrical transmission cable into a multi-position electrical connector having a plurality of connector positions, said connector housing apparatus comprising:

a first housing section having a first base of general length and width and a first front portion for carrying said multi-position electrical connector;

a second housing section having a second base of general length and width and a second front portion to accommodate said multi-position electrical connector;

said first housing section being disposed opposite from said second housing section;

said first housing section in combination with said second housing section forming an interior which receives said electrical transmission cable;

said first housing section terminating in a first end wall, and said first end wall terminating in a first back ridge;

said first back ridge extending generally perpendicular from and across a width of said first base;

said second housing section terminating in a second end wall, and said second end wall terminating in a second back ridge;

said second back ridge extending generally perpendicular from and across a width of said second base in a direction towards said first base;

said first back ridge being longitudinally offset from said second back ridge to form a generally vertical passage having an entrance opening;

said second back ridge being spaced from said first base forming a generally horizontal passage;

said generally vertical and horizontal passages forming a back slot opening for receiving said electrical transmission cable and for leading into said interior;

said first back ridge in combination with said second back ridge being arranged for engaging said electrical transmission cable as it is routed through said vertical and horizontal passages to afford a strain relief for said electrical transmission cable when said cable is in longitudinal alignment with said electrical connector.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first back ridge extends past said second back ridge providing increase resistance and a strain relief for said electrical transmission cable.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first back ridge defines a generally vertical plane and said second base defines a generally horizontal plane delineating a profile of said housing, and said entrance opening is spaced below said generally horizontal plane.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said offset of said back ridges allows said electrical transmission cable to enter said back opening at various angles ranging from being generally parallel to said horizontal plane and generally parallel to said vertical plane with said electrical transmission cable being retained within said profile at either angle.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said first housing section can be interchanged with said second housing section such that said entrance opening of said vertical passage can be reversed and opened vertically upward or downward.

13. A connector housing apparatus for terminating an electrical transmission cable into a multi-position electrical connector having a plurality of connector positions, said connector housing apparatus comprising:

a first housing section having a first front portion for adapting said mulit-position electrical connector;

a first latching means for interconnecting said first housing section to a first complimentary portion of said multi-position electrical connector;

a second housing section having a second front portion for adapting said multi-position electrical connector;

a second latching means for interconnecting said second housing member to a second complimentary portion of said multi-position electrical connector;

said first and second housing sections mating together in a superposed manner to form a back shell with said first and second latching means interconnected with said first and second complimentary portions;

said back shell having an interior which receives said electrical transmission cable;

a back slot opening formed in said back shell for receiving said electrical transmission cable;

said first housing section terminating in a first end wall, and said first end wall having a first back ridge and said second housing section terminating in a second end wall having a second back ridge;

said first end wall being longitudinally offset from said second end wall to form a generally vertical passage having an entrance opening for receiving said electrical transmission cable;

said second back ridge being spaced from said first housing section forming a generally horizontal passage; and

said generally vertical and horizontal passages forming said back slot opening for receiving said electrical transmission cable and for leading into said interior;

said first back ridge in combination with said second back ridge being arranged for engaging said electrical transmission cable as it is routed through said vertical and horizontal passages to afford a strain relief for said electrical transmission cable when said cable is in longitudinal alignment with said electrical connector.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said first and second latching means include a latch extension enjoining said first and second complimentary portions.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said latch extension allows said first and second housing sections to interconnect with either said first and second complimentary portions.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said latch extension terminates in a hook member enjoining said first and second complimentary portions.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said complimentary portions have grooves for receiving said hook member.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said first housing section can be interchanged with said second housing section such that said back opening formed by said vertical and horizontal passages can be opened vertically upward or vertically downward.