Strain relief

Claim 2

In an electrical termination system having a termination means for receiving and maintaining a wire in electrical contact; a strain relief as an integral part of the termination system comprising, spaced apart facing sides defining a wire receiving channel rearward of the termination means; a wire passing means extending from the upper portion of at least one of the sides, defining a wire passing space effective to resiliently permit passage through it by movement transverse to its axis, of a wire having a diameter greater than the wire passing space and the wire passing means also defining a wire restraining space below it in the channel for restraining movement out of the channel of a wire inserted in the wire restraining space.

Claim 3

The electrical termination system of claim 1 wherein the wire passing means is a tab extending from the upper edge of at least one side angularly downward into the wire receiving space and toward the other side and terminating to define the wire passing space.

Claim 4

The electrical termination system of claim 2 wherein a tab as defined extends from each side substantially oppositely and convergently defining the wire passing space between them.

Claim 5

The electrical termination system of claim 3 further comprising protuberance means in each of the sides extending into the wire receiving channel adjacently behind and toward the tabs to limit their outward movement relative to their respective channel sides.

Claim 6

The electrical termination system of claim 2 further comprising a protuberance in the side from which the tab extends into the wire receiving space adjacently behind and toward the tab to limit its outward movement.

Claim 7

In an electrical connector of the type having an insulating housing adapted to receive a plurality of contact elements for mating connection with a mating connector and a plurality of contact elements mounted in the housing, each element having a contact portion for mating with a mating connector and a termination means for receiving and maintaining a wire in electrical contact, a strain relief means as an integral part of the contact element comprising; spaced apart facing sides defining a wire receiving channel rearward of the termination portion, tab means extending from the upper edge of each side oppositely and convergently into the wire receiving channel at an angle downward and away from their respective sides and terminating to define a wire restraining space below them and a narrowed wire passing space between them; the tab means being effective to resiliently permit passage through the wire passing space of a wire having a diameter greater than the wire passing space, moved transversely of its axis, and to restrain movement out of the channel of a wire inserted into the wire restraining space.

Claim 8

In an electrical connector of the type having an insulating housing adapted to receive a plurality of contact elements for mating connection with a mating connector and a plurality of contact elements mounted in the housing, each element having a contact portion for mating with a mating connector and a termination means for receiving and maintaining a wire in electrical contact, a strain relief means as an integral part of the contact element comprising; spaced apart facing sides defining a wire receiving channel rearward of the termination portion, tab means extending from the upper edge of each side oppositely and convergently into the wire receiving channel at an angle downward and away from their respective sides and terminating to define a wire restraining space below them and a narrowed wire passing space between them; the tab means being effective to resiliently permit passage through the wire passing space of a wire having a diameter greater than the wire passing space, moved transversely of its axis, and to restrain movement out of the channel of a wire inserted into the wire restraining space.

Claim 9

The electrical connector of claim 6 further comprising means permitting limited resilient outward movement of the terminal ends of the tab means when a wire is passed downward past them into the wire restraining space.

Claim 10

The electrical connector of claim 6 further comprising protuberances in each of the sides extending into the wire receiving channel adjacent and toward the tab means in order to limit their outward movement relative to the sides.

Claim 11

The electrical connector of claim 7 wherein the insulating housing has integral walls adjacent the sides of each contact for locating the contact elements and which walls are spaced slightly away from the contact elements at the area of the sides of the strain relief means in order to permit slight movement of the sides and thereby at least in part the resilient movement of the terminal ends of the tab means.

Claim 12

The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein the insulating housing has integral walls adjacent the sides of each contact for locating the contact elements and which walls are spaced slightly away from the contact elements at the area of the sides of the strain relief means in order to permit slight flexing of the sides and thereby at least in part the resilient movement of the terminal ends of the tab means.

Claim 13

The electrical connector of claim 10 wherein the contact elements are arranged in at least one row and the walls are defined by ribs separating the contact elements in the row.

Claim 14

A ribbon type electrical contact element formed from thin sheet comprising; a contact portion for mating with a mating member; a termination portion comprising a termination means and a strain relief means and spaced apart facing sides defining a wire receiving channel; the termination means comprising at least one pair of wire contacting jaws, the jaws being oppositely positioned and formed-in from the sides and extending into the wire receiving channel; and the strain relief means comprising; tab means extending oppositely from the upper edge of each side angularly downward and convergently into the wire receiving channel and terminating to define a wire passing space between them and a wire restraining space below them; the tab means being effective to resiliently permit passage through the wire passing space of a wire having a diameter greater than the wire passing space, moved transversely of its axis, and to restrain movement out of the channel of a wire inserted into the wire restraining space; protuberances in each of the sides extending into the wire receiving channel adjacently behind and toward the tab means in order to limit their outward movement relative to the sides.

Claim 15

A ribbon type electrical contact element formed from thin sheet comprising; a contact portion for mating with a mating member; a termination portion comprising a termination means and a strain relief means and spaced apart facing sides defining a wire receiving channel; the termination means comprising at least one pair of wire contacting jaws, the jaws being oppositely positioned and formed-in from the sides and extending into the wire receiving channel; and the strain relief means comprising; tab means extending oppositely from the upper edge of each side angularly downward and convergently into the wire receiving channel and terminating to define a wire passing space between them and a wire restraining space below them; the tab means being effective to resiliently permit passage through the wire passing space of a wire having a diameter greater than the wire passing space, moved transversely of its axis, and to restrain movement out of the channel of a wire inserted into the wire restraining space; protuberances in each of the sides extending into the wire receiving channel adjacently behind and toward the tab means in order to limit their outward movement relative to the sides.

Claim 16

The contact element of claim 12 further comprising slots in the sides separating the strain relief means from the termination means.