Cable interconnection
First Claim
1. A shielded cable connector comprising:
- a terminal block for receiving at least one terminal for intermating with a mating terminal;
a shield member for substantially surrounding side portions of the terminal block and having at least one aperture;
a separate strain relief member mountable on the shield member, the strain relief member comprising an end wall having an opening therein, a ferrule aligned with the opening, and a portion for electrically shielding said at least one aperture; and
a clamp for clamping a portion of the cable onto the ferrule.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cable connector having improved strain relief and cable retention qualities disclosed. A separate strain relief member includes a ferrule or anvil. This member is placed on a cable. The connector is then assembled and the shields are then attached to the connector parts, including the strain relief member. Latches are provided on a connector that mates with the cable connector. The latches engage the strain relief directly. In one embodiment, the latches engage lugs formed on the strain relief member. In another embodiment, the latches have a plurality of protrusions that engage openings in a facing side wall of the cable connector to aid in maintaining the connectors in mated condition, under forces imparted by the cable. The latches can be removed by inserting latch parts or tools into removal openings in side walls or at the top of the connector on which the latch is mounted. Alternatively, latches are mounted to the cable connector to engage latching elements on the mating connector. A mating connector housing is arranged to accommodate latches mounted thereon on the cable connector.
77 Citations
67 Claims
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1. A shielded cable connector comprising:
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a terminal block for receiving at least one terminal for intermating with a mating terminal;
a shield member for substantially surrounding side portions of the terminal block and having at least one aperture;
a separate strain relief member mountable on the shield member, the strain relief member comprising an end wall having an opening therein, a ferrule aligned with the opening, and a portion for electrically shielding said at least one aperture; and
a clamp for clamping a portion of the cable onto the ferrule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 40)
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8. A cable assembly comprising:
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a cable having a plurality of mutual insulated conductors and an electrically conducting sheath surrounding the conductors; and
a connector mounted on the cable, the connector comprising;
a terminal block for receiving at least one terminal for intermating with a mating terminal and for being electrically connected to at least one of said conductors;
a shield member generally surrounding at least a portion of the terminal block and engaging said cable;
a separate strain relief member engaging said cable, a portion of the strain relief member and a portion of said shield member having an overlap; and
a clamp for clamping the strain relief member and the shield member to the cable at said overlap. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 41, 43)
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12. A method for assembling a connector on a cable having a plurality of mutually insulated conductors and an electrically conductive sheath surrounding the conductors comprising the steps of:
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placing a clamp member over a portion of the sheath;
engaging the cable with a strain relief member;
mounting a body on the cable to receive the conductors and electrically associate the conductors to terminals carried by the body;
applying an electrical shield member on the body to generally surround at least a portion of the body and to engage the cable; and
placing the clamp over the strain relief member and the shield member; and
activating the clamp to clamp the strain relief member and the shield member to the cable. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 42)
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15. A housing for an electrical connector comprising:
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a base adapted to receive electrical contacts extending in a mating direction;
a first side wall extending from the base generally in the mating direction of the contacts;
a passageway in the side wall extending from a distal end of the side wall to a proximal end of the side wall;
a first latching detent in the passageway positioned toward the distal end of the passageway; and
a second latching detent in the passageway positioned toward the proximal end of the passageway;
wherein the first and second detents are formed by openings extending from a side surface of the wall into the passageway. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A housing for an electrical connector comprising:
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a base adapted to receive electrical contacts extending in a mating direction;
a side wall extending from the base, generally in the mating direction of the contacts and having a proximal end adjacent the base and a distal end spaced from the base;
a passageway in the side wall extending generally in said mating direction;
a latch member mountable on the side wall, the latch member having a mounting portion adapted to be received in the passageway and a latching arm adapted to extend beyond the distal end of the side wall;
a locking member on the mounting portion of the latch member and a detent in the passageway for cooperating with the locking member to hold the latch member on the side wall; and
a release space associated with the passageway for allowing passage of a release member for releasing the locking member from the detent. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An electrical cable interconnection comprising:
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a first connector;
a cable connector adapted to mate with the first connector;
a releasable latch member mounted on the first connector for holding the cable connector in mating relationship with the first connector, the latch member being positioned in facing relationship to a side surface of the cable connector;
a latch structure comprising at least two spaced protrusions formed on a portion of the latch member facing said side surface of the cable connector and at least two spaced openings in said side surface of cable connector positioned for receiving the protrusion when the connectors are mated. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A cable connector, comprising:
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a housing for receiving at least one terminal to engage a mating terminal;
a shield defining an enclosure generally surrounding at least a portion said housing and including;
an aperture for entry of the cable into said enclosure; and
a plurality of projections extending along the cable and away from said enclosure, wherein one of said projections is arranged transversely to another of said projections; and
a clamp for securing said plurality of projections to the cable externally of said enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A cable connector, comprising:
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a housing for receiving at least one terminal to engage a mating terminal;
a two-piece shield generally surrounding at least a portion of said housing, each shield piece having at least one projection generally conforming to a shape of the cable and two generally planar projections flanking said conforming projection;
a separate strain relief member; and
a clamp for securing said plurality of projections and said strain relief to the cable. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A cable connector, comprising:
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a housing for receiving at least one terminal to engage a mating terminal;
a shield generally surrounding at least a portion of said housing;
a separate strain relief member, having;
a first portion extending from said shield;
a wall within said shield and extending towards said housing; and
a plate between said first portion and said wall, said plate transverse to said wall; and
a clamp for securing said first portion of said shield and said strain relief to the cable. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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44. A shielded cable connector comprising:
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a terminal block for receiving at least one terminal for intermating with a mating terminal;
a shield member for substantially surrounding side portions of the terminal block;
a separate strain relief member mountable on the shield member, the strain relief member comprising an end wall having an opening therein and a ferrule aligned with the opening and having at least a portion extending away from the terminal block; and
a clamp for clamping a portion of the cable onto the portion of the ferrule extending away from the terminal block. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
a plurality of insulated conductors; and
an electrically conducting sheath surrounding the insulative conductors;
wherein the terminal block electrically connects to at least one of the insulated conductors, the opening in the strain relief member receives the insulative conductors, and the ferrule receives the conducting sheath.
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53. A method for assembling a connector on a cable having a plurality of mutually insulated conductors and an electrically conductive sheath surrounding the conductors comprising the steps of:
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placing a clamp member over a portion of the sheath;
positioning a strain relief member having a ferrule over the conductors and in a position to receive the sheath on an outer surface of the ferrule;
mounting a body on the cable to receive the conductors and electrically associate the conductors to terminals carried by the body;
applying a electrical shield member on the body to substantially surround the body and engage with the strain relief member; and
placing the clamp over the ferrule; and
activating the clamp to clamp the sheath on the ferrule;
wherein the clamp activating step occurs subsequent to the electrical shield member applying step. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55)
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56. A cable interconnection comprising:
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a header connector for mounting on a circuit substrate, the header connector including a latch member extending therefrom; and
a cable connector having a mating end intermateable with the header connector and a cable end for receiving a cable, the cable connector having a cable strain relief member associated therewith at the cable receiving ends and a shield member for providing electrical shielding;
wherein the cable strain relief member includes a latching portion having a mounting lug for mounting the strain relief member on the shield member, and the latch member includes a surface engaging said latching portion. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58)
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59. A cable connector comprising:
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a terminal block for receiving at least one terminal for intermating with a mating terminal;
a shield member surrounding at least a portion of the terminal block and having at least one opening; and
a latch member overlying the shield and having a projection extending into the opening in the shield member for mounting to the shield. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62)
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63. A cable connector comprising:
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a terminal block for receiving at least one terminal for intermating with a mating terminal;
a shield member surrounding at least a portion of the terminal block; and
a latch member overlying the shield and comprising at least one member for mounting the latch member on the terminal block. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67)
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Specification