Electrical connector assembly and wire protector

• US 20030199193A1
• Filed: 04/17/2003
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Japan GK (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Original Assignee: TYCO ELECTRONICS AMP K.K. (TE Connectivity Ltd. (United Kingdom))
• Inventors: Amemiya, Shinji
• Granted Patent: US 6,878,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/470
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/501 comprising an integral hinge or a frangible part
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5812 the cable clamping being achieved by mounting the separate part on the housing of the coupling device
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6273 comprising two latching arms

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly and a wire protector used therefore for protecting wires led out of said electrical connector from damage. Said electrical connector has an insulative housing provided with contacts. Said contacts are connected to said wires that are led out of said electrical connector. Said wire protector has a connector mounting portion mounted on an outer wall of said electrical connector. A wire holding portion is integrally formed with said connector mounting portion. Said wire holding portion loosely holds said wires that are led out from said electrical connector at a position remote from said electrical connector while maintaining a direction thereof to reduce stress thereon.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly, comprising:

an electrical connector having an insulative housing provided with contacts, said contacts connected to wires that are led out of said electrical connector; and

a wire protector having a connector mounting portion mounted on an outer wall of said electrical connector and a wire holding portion integrally formed with said connector mounting portion, said wire holding portion loosely holds said wires that are led out from said electrical connector at a position remote from said electrical connector while maintaining a direction thereof to reduce stress thereon.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said wire protector is detachable from said electrical connector.

3. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising arcuate surfaces formed on an exterior surface of said wire holding portion at a position where said wires exit said wire holding portion such that said wires can be bent about said arcuate surfaces.

4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising latch arms that fix said wire protector to said electrical connector.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said outer wall of said electrical connector is received within an interior of said connector mounting portion.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said connector mounting portion includes an access space to allow access to a lock arm provided on said electrical connector.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said wire holding portion includes leg portions that are received in openings of an engagement portion to form a path that loosely holds said wires.

8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said engagement portion extends from said wire holding portion via a web and said engagement portion is rotated into engagement with said leg portions by flexing said web.

9. The assembly of claim 7, wherein said path is substantially rectangular in cross-section.

10. A wire protector, for protecting a portion of wires which are led out from an electrical connector, comprising:

a connector mounting portion for mounting on an outer wall of said electrical connector; and

a wire holding portion integrally formed with said connector mounting portion, said wire holding portion loosely holds said wires that are led out from said electrical connector at a position remote from said electrical connector while maintaining a direction thereof to reduce stress thereon.

11. The wire protector of claim 10, further comprising arcuate surfaces formed on an exterior surface of said wire holding portion at a position where said wires exit said wire holding portion such that said wires can be bent about said arcuate surfaces.

12. The wire protector of claim 10, further comprising latch arms for fixing said wire protector to said electrical connector.

13. The wire protector of claim 10, wherein said connector mounting portion includes an access space to allow access to a lock arm provided on said electrical connector.

14. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said wire holding portion includes leg portions that are received in openings of an engagement portion to form a path that loosely holds said wires.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said engagement portion extends from said wire holding portion via a web and said engagement portion is rotated into engagement with said leg portions by flexing said web.

16. The assembly of claim 14, wherein said path is substantially rectangular in cross-section.