Electrical connectors – With or having flexible guard or support for cable or conductor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-25
2001-04-24
Vu, Hien (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With or having flexible guard or support for cable or conductor
C439S447000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220888
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to cable connector devices and, more particularly, is concerned with a quick disconnect cable connector device having an integral body and strain relief structure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Cables, such as coaxial cables and the like, are used in a variety of situations. Ends of these cables often must be connected to one another and to contact terminations on various equipment, such as television sets. Various cable connector devices have been developed over the years for this purpose. Quick disconnect cable connector devices, such as those designed, manufactured and marketed by Hubbell Incorporated, allow for easy connecting and disconnecting of the ends of cables. A typical quick disconnect cable connector device includes a coupling member which is mounted to an end of a cable. The coupling member includes contact terminations which are connected to the end of the cable. The coupling member and the contact terminations thereof have either mateable male or female configurations. The coupling member of one device in the male configuration is fastenable to the coupling member of another device in the female configuration. In such manner, the ends of the cables may be connected to and disconnected from one another and other contact terminations.
While the prior art quick disconnect cable connector devices appear to be generally satisfactory for use under the specific conditions for which they were designed, it is perceived by the inventors herein that improvements are still needed in the case of such devices in terms of their durability, ergonomics and ease of use. Consequently, a need remains for innovations in the design of quick disconnect cable connector devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a quick disconnect cable connector device which is designed to satisfy the aforementioned need. The quick disconnect cable connector device of the present invention has an integral body and strain relief structure. The body is substantially rigid for durability. The body has a conical-shaped or elbow-shaped configuration and ribs formed thereon for ease in gripping the body in the process of pushing together and pulling apart male and female coupling members. The strain relief structure has a framework with a configuration that gives support and flexibility to the merger of an end portion of a cable with the rigid body of the device so as to prevent any forces exerted on the cable at its connection with the body from producing a sharp angular bend of the cable relative to the body that could damage the cable and/or its connection with the body.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a cable connector device which comprises: (a) an elongated body made of a substantially rigid molded material and having opposite first and second ends, the body defining an interior chamber extending between and open at the first and second ends and receiving an end of a cable therethrough from the first end to the second end of the body such that the body provides an overmold encasing the end of the cable and supporting at the second end of the body a contact termination on the end of the cable; and (b) a strain relief structure integrally connected to the first end of the body and made of the same molded material as the body, the strain relief structure surrounding a portion of the cable extending from the first end of the body and having a configuration which distributes away from the first end of the body any bending forces imposed on the cable portion.
More particularly, in a first embodiment of the device, the body has a substantially conical-shaped configuration with the body tapering from the second end to the first end thereof. The body also has an exterior surface formed circumferentially thereon and extending between the first and second ends of the body. The exterior surface has gripping means thereon which includes a plurality of longitudinal ribs spaced apart circumferentially from one another and extending longitudinally between the first and second ends of the body. The gripping means also includes a pair of circumferential ribs at the second end of the body adjacent to the strain relief structure. In a second embodiment of the device, the body has a substantially elbow-shaped configuration and an exterior surface formed adjacent to the second end of the body. The exterior surface has gripping means thereon which includes a plurality of ribs extending transversely on the body.
The strain relief structure includes a framework having an annular shape defining a longitudinal axis and forming a passage extending along the longitudinal axis and aligned with the first end of the body. The framework receives the portion of the cable through the passage. The framework has a plurality of windows defined therethrough and spaced apart from each other which provide bending flexibility to the strain relief structure sufficient to aid in the distribution of bending forces away from the cable portion at the first end of the body. The windows have transverse dimensions extending circumferentially about the framework and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the framework and also have longitudinal dimensions extending along the longitudinal axis of the framework. The framework also includes a plurality of interconnected support elements defining the windows therebetween. The transverse dimensions of some of the windows differ from the transverse dimensions of other of the windows. Also, the windows are spaced at graduated distances from the first end of the body with the windows spaced farther from the first end of the body having longer longitudinal dimensions than the windows spaced closer to the first end of the body.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2869102 (1959-01-01), Hubbell, Jr.
patent: 3986765 (1976-10-01), Shaffer et al.
patent: 4255007 (1981-03-01), Michaels et al.
patent: 4857008 (1989-08-01), Kee et al.
patent: 5340330 (1994-08-01), Dolson et al.
patent: 5620335 (1997-04-01), Siemon
'Hubbell Incorporated
Presson Jerry M.
Swartz Michael R.
Vu Hien
LandOfFree
Quick disconnect cable connector device with integral body... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Quick disconnect cable connector device with integral body..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Quick disconnect cable connector device with integral body... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2441612