US5620333A — Electrical connector strain relief hood

Claim 1

Independent Claim 108 words

An electrical cable assembly comprising: a cable having a plurality of electrical wires; an electrical connector body connected to the cable by first ends of the electrical wires; and a strain relief hood connected to the connector body and the cable, the hood having a first section snap-lock connected to the connector body and a second section attached to the cable, the first section including an outwardly deflectable cantilevered side wall formed, at least partially, by two slots between the cantilevered side wall and two other side walls adjacent to the cantilevered side wall wherein the strain relief hood includes a first member and an interlocked second member.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 108 words

An electrical cable assembly comprising: a cable having a plurality of electrical wires; an electrical connector body connected to the cable by first ends of the electrical wires; and a strain relief hood connected to the connector body and the cable, the hood having a first section snap-lock connected to the connector body and a second section attached to the cable, the first section including an outwardly deflectable cantilevered side wall formed, at least partially, by two slots between the cantilevered side wall and two other side walls adjacent to the cantilevered side wall wherein the strain relief hood includes a first member and an interlocked second member.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

An assembly as in claim 1 further comprising a latch connected to the hood over the cantilevered side wall for substantially preventing the cantilevered side wall from being outwardly deflected.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 24 words

An assembly as in claim 2 wherein the latch is slid over the cantilevered side wall on rails extending from the adjacent side walls.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

An assembly as in claim 3 wherein the hood has a projection locking the latch in place on the hood.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

An assembly as in claim 1 wherein the cantilevered side wall and an opposite side wall have holes for receiving projections on the electrical connector body.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

An assembly as in claim 1 wherein the slots extend about two-thirds the length of the side walls adjacent the cantilevered side wall.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 42 words

An assembly as in claim 1 wherein the first member has rails extending towards each other from opposite sides and further comprising a latch mounted on the rails to fixedly retain the second member in its interlocked position with the first member.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

An assembly as in claim 7 wherein the second member has rails that are aligned with the rails of the first member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 125 words

A strain relief for an electrical cable and an electrical connector, the strain relief comprising: a main body having a first end with a snap-lock section adapted to snap-lock connect to the electrical connector, a second end with a cable support surface, and a cable channel between the first and second ends; a latch adapted to mount to the main body over the snap-lock section, the latch substantially preventing the snap-lock section from being outwardly deflected; and a fastener adapted to mount to the second end of the main body for holding the cable against the cable support surface, wherein the snap-lock section includes a cantilevered side wall formed, at least partially, by two slots along the cantilevered side wall and two adjacent side walls.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 125 words

A strain relief for an electrical cable and an electrical connector, the strain relief comprising: a main body having a first end with a snap-lock section adapted to snap-lock connect to the electrical connector, a second end with a cable support surface, and a cable channel between the first and second ends; a latch adapted to mount to the main body over the snap-lock section, the latch substantially preventing the snap-lock section from being outwardly deflected; and a fastener adapted to mount to the second end of the main body for holding the cable against the cable support surface, wherein the snap-lock section includes a cantilevered side wall formed, at least partially, by two slots along the cantilevered side wall and two adjacent side walls.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

A strain relief as in claim 9 wherein the slots extend about two-thirds the length of the side walls adjacent the cantilevered side wall.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 31 words

A strain relief as in claim 9 wherein the main body has rails extending from the two side walls adjacent the cantilevered side wall that the latch is slidingly mounted on.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 31 words

A strain relief as in claim 9 wherein the cantilevered side wall extends past ends of the two adjacent side walls and has holes for receiving projections on the electrical connector.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 21 words

A strain relief as in claim 9 wherein the main body has means for locking the latch on the main body.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 20 words

A strain relief as in claim 9 wherein the main body has a first member and an interlocked second member.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 41 words

A strain relief as in claim 14 wherein the first member has notches in sides adjacent a substantially open side and the second member has portions that are located in the notches with the second member substantially closing the open side.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

A strain relief as in claim 14 wherein the snap-lock section is located on the second member.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 36 words

A strain relief as in claim 16 wherein the sides of the first member adjacent the substantially open side have guide rails which the latch is mounted on to hold the first and second members together.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 112 words

A method of assembling an electrical cable assembly comprising steps of: connecting an electrical connector to wires of an electrical cable; snap-lock mounting a snap-lock section of a strain relief main body to the connector; and attaching a latch to the main body over the snap-lock section to prevent the snap-lock section from being substantially moved relative to the rest of the main body while the latch is attached to the main body, wherein the step of attaching the latch comprises sliding the latch along side rails of the main body over a cantilevered side wall of the main body to thereby substantially prevent the cantilevered side wall from being outwardly deflected.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 112 words

A method of assembling an electrical cable assembly comprising steps of: connecting an electrical connector to wires of an electrical cable; snap-lock mounting a snap-lock section of a strain relief main body to the connector; and attaching a latch to the main body over the snap-lock section to prevent the snap-lock section from being substantially moved relative to the rest of the main body while the latch is attached to the main body, wherein the step of attaching the latch comprises sliding the latch along side rails of the main body over a cantilevered side wall of the main body to thereby substantially prevent the cantilevered side wall from being outwardly deflected.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 23 words

A method as in claim 18 further comprising connecting the cable to a portion of the main body by means of a fastener.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 98 words

A strain relief for an electrical cable and an electrical connector, the strain relief comprising: a first member having a channel with lateral sides adjacent a substantially open side, the lateral sides each having a notch and latch mounting rails; a second member mounted on the first member at the substantially open side with lateral projections located in the notches; and a latch for connecting the strain relief to an electrical connector, the latch being connected to the first member over the second member on the latch mounting rails to retain the second member with the first member.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 98 words

A strain relief for an electrical cable and an electrical connector, the strain relief comprising: a first member having a channel with lateral sides adjacent a substantially open side, the lateral sides each having a notch and latch mounting rails; a second member mounted on the first member at the substantially open side with lateral projections located in the notches; and a latch for connecting the strain relief to an electrical connector, the latch being connected to the first member over the second member on the latch mounting rails to retain the second member with the first member.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 114 words

An electrical cable assembly comprising: a cable having a plurality of electrical wires; an electrical connector body connected to the cable at first ends of the electrical wires; and a strain relief hood connected to the connector body and the cable, the hood having a first section snap-lock connected to the connector body and a second section attached to the cable, the first section including an outwardly deflectable cantilevered side wall formed, at least partially, by two slots between the cantilevered side wall and two other side walls adjacent to the cantilevered side wall, wherein the cantilevered side wall and an opposite side wall have holes for receiving projections on the electrical connector body.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 114 words

An electrical cable assembly comprising: a cable having a plurality of electrical wires; an electrical connector body connected to the cable at first ends of the electrical wires; and a strain relief hood connected to the connector body and the cable, the hood having a first section snap-lock connected to the connector body and a second section attached to the cable, the first section including an outwardly deflectable cantilevered side wall formed, at least partially, by two slots between the cantilevered side wall and two other side walls adjacent to the cantilevered side wall, wherein the cantilevered side wall and an opposite side wall have holes for receiving projections on the electrical connector body.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2000-04-14	2000-10-14	2001-04-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2004-04-14	2004-10-14	2005-04-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2008-04-14	2008-10-14	2009-04-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Electrical connector strain relief hood

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