Strain relief

Details Strain relief Strain relief

2000-02-09

2001-09-04

Reichard, Dean A. (Department: 2831)

Electricity: conductors and insulators

Conduits, cables or conductors

Single duct conduits

C174S068300, C285S104000, C285S322000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06284973

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a device for providing strain relief to jacketed cables. In particular, the invention is directed to a strain relief device for securing jacketed cables of variable diameters carrying tip ring wire pairs to telephone junction boxes for distribution to telephone equipment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Telephone lines, which are carried by electrical conductors known as tip ring wire pairs, are generally aggregated at a particular point in a building prior to being distributed and connected to various types of telephone equipment, such as, for example, telephones, fax machines, modems etc. As the tip ring pairs enter the building as part of a multi-conductor cable, the individual tip ring wire pairs must first be broken out from the cable into individual wire pairs. This is normally accomplished in a junction box known as, for example, a building entrance protector (BEP), or network interface unit (NIU).
The multi-conductor cables are generally enclosed in stiff insulation jackets halving variable diameters depending upon the particular application. Because these multi-conductor cables carry the tip ring wire pairs that will be connected to various types of telephone equipment, it is necessary to provide strain relief to the cable to insure that the tip ring wire pairs do not become disconnected or loose. Loose or disconnected wires in a junction box can cause serious and hard to find malfunctions in telephone service, which requires costly repair and maintenance service.
Presently, however, there are no efficient means for securing multi-conductor cables of variable diameters or shapes in the BIP or NIU. Thus, there is a need for a strain relief device capable of securing multi-conductor cables of variable diameters.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed at overcoming shortcomings in the prior art. The present invention comprises a base mountable to a fixed object (not shown), such as a BEP or NIU. A tubular extension extends longitudinally from the base and has a compressible portion for constricting around and, thereby, securing a cable. A nut is mountable over the tubular extension and has an inner channel provided with a tapered region for constricting the compressible portion of the tubular extension.
The operation of mounting the nut over the tubular extension causes the tapered region of the nut to exert a compression force on the compressible portion, which deflects the compressible portion inward. In use, a cable to be strain relieved is passed through the tubular extension, and the nut is mounted onto the tubular extension to provide strain relief. As the compressible end portion is constricted an inner surface of the compressible portion contacts the cable and grippingly secures the cable in place. Because the compressible portion can be gradually compressed by the nut to a desired compression, a range of variable diameter cables can be secured by the present invention. Thus, the need to use cable fastening devices constructed for specific cable diameters is eliminated, thereby improving efficiency and reliability in cable connections.
In a preferred embodiment, the compressible portion is comprised of a plurality of deflectable arms having gripping ends. Under a compression force, the gripping ends radially converge and secure the cable.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3476412 (1969-11-01), Demler
patent: 4145075 (1979-03-01), Holzmann
patent: 4250348 (1981-02-01), Kitagawa
patent: 4358079 (1982-11-01), Navarro
patent: 4375011 (1983-02-01), Grunau
patent: 4600803 (1986-07-01), Holzmann
patent: 4739126 (1988-04-01), Gutter et al.
patent: 4767135 (1988-08-01), Holzmann
patent: 4787657 (1988-11-01), Henniger
patent: 5048872 (1991-09-01), Gehring
patent: 5679926 (1997-10-01), Maloney et al.
patent: 5927892 (1999-07-01), Teh-Tsung
patent: 6162995 (2000-12-01), Bachle et al.

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