Strain relief coupling

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 in which said rod means extend along said form in a direction opposite to said one direction and including the step of fixing said rod means extending in said opposite direction at an internal diameter corresponding to that of said form so that said rod means extending in said opposite direction retains an internal diameter equal to the diameter of said form upon withdrawal of said form therefrom.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 in which said helical rod means is comprised of a plurality of individual strands and in which said fixing step includes securing said strands together.

Claim 5

The method of claim 3 in which said fixing step comprises applying an epoxy type potting compound about at least a portion of said protuberance and about at least a portion of said helical rod means extending in said opposite direction.

Claim 6

The method of claim 4 in which said epoxy type potting compound is applied by placing a mold about said protuberance and said rod means extending in said opposite direction and pouring said epoxy type potting compound into said mold.

Claim 7

The method of claim 5 in which said form is a rod member lubricated with a mold release compound and in which said unwrapping step precedes the step of releasing said form.

Claim 10

The method of claim 7 in which said rod means extend along said form in a direction opposite to said one direction and including the step of fixing said rod means extending in said opposite direction at an internal diameter corresponding to that of said form so that said rod means extending in said opposite direction retains an internal diameter equal to the diameter of said form upon withdrawal of said form therefrom.

Claim 11

The method of claim 8 in which said helical rod means is comprised of a plurality of individual strands and in which said fixing step includes securing said strands together.

Claim 12

The method of claim 9 in which said fixing step comprises applying an epoxy type potting compound about at least a portion of said protuberance and about at least a portion of said helical rod means extending in said opposite direction.

Claim 13

The method of claim 10 in which said epoxy type potting compound is applied by placing a mold about said protuberance and said rod means extending in said opposite direction and pouring said epoxy type potting compound into said mold.

Claim 14

The method of claim 11 in which said form is a rod member lubricated with a mold release compound and in which said unwrapping step precedes the step of releasing said form.

Claim 15

The method of claim 8 in which said securing and fixing steps occur after installation of said subassembly in said housing and comprise pouring an epoxy type potting compound into the open end of said housing.

Claim 16

The method of claim 11 in which said mold surrounds the entirety of said protuberance and the full length of the helical rods extending in said opposite direction for covering a corresponding portion of said subassembly with said epoxy type potting compound.

Claim 17

The method of claim 11 in which said mold surrounds the full length of the helical rods extending in said opposite direction and a contiguous half-portion of said protuberance for covering a corresponding portion of said subassembly with said epoxy type potting compound.

Claim 18

A preassembled appliance for application to a linear body comprising: protuberance means have a central bore of a diameter for passing said linear body and having an enlarged body portion of a predetermined diameter; preformed helical rod means of a predetermined pitch length, said rod means being wrapped about said protuberance means and extending in one direction from said protuberance means in an unwrapped condition but adapted for wrapping about said linear body in tightly gripping relation therewith and extending in an opposite direction in a wrapped condition; retaining means for fixedly forming said oppositely extending portion of said resilient rod means at a preselected internal diameter intermediate that of said bodY portion and said linear body for securing said rod means against sliding movement over said protuberance means while permitting free passage of said linear body therethrough; housing means including an open end of a dimension for receiving said protuberance means, a hollow interior body portion seating said protuberance means and further having an aperture opposite said open end and coaxially aligned with the bore in said protuberance means and of a diameter intermediate that of said protuberance means and the exterior diameter of said helical rods when wrapped about said linear body for passing said unwrapped end portion of said helical appliance; and closure means received in the open end of said housing means for securing the assembly of said protuberance means, rod means and retaining means within said housing in condition for assembly on said linear body.

Claim 19

A preassembled appliance for application to a linear body comprising: protuberance means have a central bore of a diameter for passing said linear body and having an enlarged body portion of a predetermined diameter; preformed helical rod means of a predetermined pitch length, said rod means being wrapped about said protuberance means and extending in one direction from said protuberance means in an unwrapped condition but adapted for wrapping about said linear body in tightly gripping relation therewith and extending in an opposite direction in a wrapped condition; retaining means for fixedly forming said oppositely extending portion of said resilient rod means at a preselected internal diameter intermediate that of said bodY portion and said linear body for securing said rod means against sliding movement over said protuberance means while permitting free passage of said linear body therethrough; housing means including an open end of a dimension for receiving said protuberance means, a hollow interior body portion seating said protuberance means and further having an aperture opposite said open end and coaxially aligned with the bore in said protuberance means and of a diameter intermediate that of said protuberance means and the exterior diameter of said helical rods when wrapped about said linear body for passing said unwrapped end portion of said helical appliance; and closure means received in the open end of said housing means for securing the assembly of said protuberance means, rod means and retaining means within said housing in condition for assembly on said linear body.

Claim 20

The preassembled appliance of claim 16 in which said protuberance is ellipsoidal in contour and in which said housing is of a contour complementary to the half-section of said ellipsoidal protuberance means extending in said one direction and in which said closure means includes a first member of a contour complementary to the half-section of said protuberance means extending in said opposite direction.

Claim 21

The preassembled appliance of claim 17 in which said member of said closure means includes a central bore coaxially aligned with the bore of said protuberance means for passing said enlarged diameter portion of said helical rod means.

Claim 22

The preassembled appliance of claim 18 in which said retaining means comprises an epoxy type potting compound molded about at least said enlarged diameter portion of said helical rod means and the contiguous half-section of said protuberance means.

Claim 23

The preassembled appliance of claim 19 in which said closure means includes a second member threadably received in the open end of said housing means.

Claim 24

The preassembled appliance of claim 20 in which said housing means includes a clevis portion.