Abstract:
A strain relief member is disclosed for selective and removable mounting in a connector housing. The strain relief member includes means to receive a bundle tie for securing conductors to the strain relief member. The connector housing includes an elongated, centrally disposed slot which receives the strain relief member therein.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. The Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an improved strain relief for electrical connectors and in particular to a strain relief member which can be snapped into place in a centrally disposed, elongated slot in an electrical connector housing. 
     2. The Prior Art 
     The previously utilized strain relief members have generally been of two types. The first is a strain relief which forms an integral part of the housing as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,787. This can make the housing quite cumbersome and bulky as well as expensive for instances when a strain relief is not necessary. The second type of strain relief is one which is added to an existing housing. Most of these are either permanently fixed to the housing, for example as shown by U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,035 or detachably secured to a housing as shown by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,671,921 and 3,904,265. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is intended to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art by providing an electrical connector strain relief member to be used in combination with an electrical connector housing having two parallel spaced terminal carrying portions defining at least one elongated slot therebetween. The strain relief member itself is formed of a plate of rigid material having an overall rectangular profile with an integral pair of legs extending from one side thereof. Each leg has a free end adapted for mating in the connector in a latching engagement and a patterned array of apertures or notches for receiving a bundle tie to secure conductors of the connector to the strain relief member. The strain relief member can further include a profiled surface portion adapted to center the conductors. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to produce an improved strain relief member for electrical connectors which member can be detachably secured to the connector as necessary. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to produce a detachable strain relief member which can be readily and economically produced. 
     The means for accomplishing the foregoing objects and other advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the subject strain relief and an electrical connector; 
     FIG. 2 is a transverse section view through the connector of FIG. 1 showing first and second alternate embodiments of the subject strain relief member mounted therein; and 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a further alternate embodiment of the subject strain relief. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The subject invention is used in combination with an electrical connector 10 which has a housing of rigid insulative material forming at least two rows 12, 14 of connector terminal receptacles defining an elongated slot 16 between adjacent pairs of rows. The slot 16 is subdivided into a plurality of passages by integral bars or ribs 18 joining the rows together. The strain relief member 20 is formed from a planar piece of rigid plastics material and has an overall rectangular profile with a pair of integral legs 22, 24 extending from one side edge thereof. Each leg has a profiled free end with a forwardly directed slope 26, 28, a rearwardly directed shoulder 30, 32, and includes a notch or step 34, 36 where the legs join the body of the member. The side edge can be provided with a notch 38 as necessary if the member is to straddle one or more bars 18. The strain relief member is provided with a plurality of apertures 40 in a patterned array. The member can also be provided with a centrally disposed aperture 42. 
     The legs 22, 24 of the strain relief member 20 are slipped into the slot 16. The sloped surfaces 26, 28 engage bars 16 and drive the legs together allowing passage to the position shown in FIG. 2 with the shoulders 30, 32 engaging one end of the bars 18 while the shoulders 34, 36 engage the opposite end. A strain relief member of sufficient width to span more than one of the passages in the slot 16 is provided with a notch 38 which receives an intervening bar 18 therein. 
     A smaller alternate embodiment of the strain relief member 44 is also shown in FIG. 2. The primary difference between the strain relief member 44 and the strain relief member 20 is one of dimensions and positioning of the apertures 40, 46 which receive a bundle tie 48 securing conductors 50 to the member. 
     It should be here noted that the bundle tie 48 is of any of the well known configurations, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,562,870 and 3,694,863, and applied by tools such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,830,263 and 3,891,012, the disclosures of which are all incorporated herein by reference. 
     Another alternate embodiment of the subject strain relief member is shown in FIG. 3. This strain relief member 52 has an overall rectangular profile with integral generally V-shaped projections 54, 56 aligned to extend from opposite surfaces thereof. Notches 58, 60 are formed in opposite edges of the member 52 in alignment with the ends of the projections 54, 56. The strain relief member 52 also has integral legs 62, 64 extending from one edge in opposition to the projections 54, 56. Each leg 62, 64 has a rearwardly directed shoulder 66, 68, formed by a forwardly directed incline 70, 72, and a rearwardly spaced shoulder 74, 76, respectively. 
     The embodiment of the strain relief member shown in FIG. 3 would be mounted on the connector in a similar fashion to the previously discussed embodiments. The only difference is in the manner in which the conductors would be secured to the strain relief member. For this embodiment the conductors (not shown) are placed in the notch of the projections 54, 56 and secured therein by passing a bundle tie (not shown) around the conductors and the strain relief member and engaging in the notches 58, 60. 
     The present invention may be subject to many modifications and changes without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive of the scope of the invention.