Strain relief clamp assembly

• US 6,123,573 A
• Filed: 07/20/1999
• Issued: 09/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pass & Seymour Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Pass & Seymour Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Savicki, Gerald R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, Paula
• Assistant Examiner(s): Leon, Edwin A.
• Application Number:
  US09/357,470
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 439/466, 439/469, 439/472, 439/473, 439/468, 439/801, 439/810, 439/814, 439/815
• US Class Current: 439/469
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5812 the cable clamping being achieved by mounting the separate part on the housing of the coupling device

Abstract

A strain relief assembly is readily adaptable to clamp electrical cords of various sizes and/or shapes. The assembly is provided with differently configured clamping surfaces that may accommodate a variety of cords without compromising the ability of the clamp assembly to secure the various cords, and a user of the assembly may easily select a desired clamping surface. The assembly includes a base clamp member with a clamping surface, a securing member that may also include a clamping surface, and an insert that includes a clamping surface.

Claims

1. A strain relief assembly comprising:

a base clamp member comprising a clamping surface and a second clamp member comprising a clamping surface, the base and second clamp members being securable to one another; and

an insert that is insertable into the second clamping member, the insert comprising a clamping surface; and

a second clamping surface, the second clamp member clamping surface, the first insert clamping surface, and the second insert clamping surface have different configurations adapted to accommodate differently sized electrical cords;

wherein when the insert is inserted in the second clamp member, an electrical cord is clamped between the base clamp member and the insert clamping surface, and when the insert is not inserted in the securing member, an electrical cord is clamped between the base clamp member and the second clamp member clamping surface.

2. A strain relief clamp assembly comprising:

a base clamp member and a securing member, the base clamp member and the securing member being securable to one another; and

an insert comprising a first clamping surface and a second clamping surface, the insert being insertable into the securing member to assume a first orientation wherein the first clamping surface is opposed to the base clamp member for clamping an electrical cord therebetween, and the insert being insertable into the securing member to assume a second orientation different from the first orientation wherein the second clamping surface is opposed to the base clamp member for clamping an electrical cord therebetween.

3. The strain relief assembly of claim 2, wherein the base clamp member is integrally formed with an electrical plug.

4. The strain relief assembly of claim 2, wherein the first and second clamping surfaces of the insert have different configurations adapted to accommodate differently sized electrical cords.

5. The assembly of claim 2, wherein one of the base clamp member and second clamp member is securably attachable to a support adjacent a wiring connection.

6. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the securing member comprises a clamping surface for contacting the electrical cord when the securing member is secured to the base clamp member and the insert is removed from the securing member.

7. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the base clamp member comprises a recessed clamping surface that is adjacent two substantially planar surfaces.

8. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the base and securing members are secured together with a fastener.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the securing member comprises two apertures therethrough, and the base clamp member comprises two cooperating apertures therethrough, and the assembly comprises fasteners for insertion in the two sets of apertures and securing the base and securing members together.

10. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the securing member comprises a shell, and the insert is slidably received in the shell.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the insert is insertable through an opening in the shell.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein an interior of the shell includes opposed side grooves, and side edges of the insert are slidingly received in the grooves.

13. The assembly of claim 11, where the securing member includes a stop for limiting the degree to which the insert may be slidingly received in the shell.

14. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the base clamp member clamping surface includes parallel arcuate ridges.

15. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the first clamping surface of the insert includes parallel arcuate edges.

16. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the second clamping surface of the insert includes parallel edges with corresponding arcuate recesses therein.