Abstract:
A wire containment cap for reducing horizontal strain on a cable terminated at a communication jack. The wire containment cap is part of the communication jack and includes a strain relief clip that may be actuated to apply pressure to the cable. The applied pressure holds the cable in place and helps prevent wire pairs of the cable from pulling out of terminals in the communication jack.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/636,972, filed Dec. 17, 2004 and entitled “Wire Containment Cap With An Integral Strain Relief Clip,” the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors, and more particularly, to an improved wire containment cap for a modular communication jack design.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     A structured cabling system is a complete system of cabling and associated hardware, which provides a comprehensive telecommunications infrastructure. This infrastructure serves a wide range of uses, such as to provide telephone service or transmit data through a computer network. The structured cabling system may consist of horizontal cable, cabling connectors, and patch cords, among other things. Horizontal cable is typically routed in the ceiling, under the floor, or in the walls. In a typical application, one end of a horizontal cable run may be located in a telecommunications closet and the other end of the horizontal cable run may be located at an outlet. The telecommunications closet may be a room where telecommunications equipment, such as a hub or a switch, is located. The outlet may be a location where telecommunications equipment, such as a computer or a printer, may eventually be placed. Each end of the horizontal cable run may then be terminated to a cabling connector such as a modular jack. The modular jack is used to interface the horizontal cable with a patch cord and provides flexibility in the network. Once the horizontal cable is properly terminated, the modular jack is typically mounted in a faceplate or a patch panel. A patch cord may then be used to connect the mounted modular jack to telecommunications equipment.  
         [0004]     During the installation of a structured cabling system, strain may be applied to horizontal cable runs that are terminated to mounted modular jacks. One cause of strain on a horizontal cable run may be a technician pulling new horizontal cable runs in close proximity to the existing horizontal cable runs. Another cause of strain on a horizontal cable run may be a technician placing existing horizontal cable runs routed in similar locations into cable bundles. These cable bundles may increase the strain applied to each individual horizontal cable run. Yet another cause of strain on a horizontal cable run may be a technician installing a horizontal cable run with insufficient slack. The horizontal cable run may then need to be pulled taut to reach the mounting location of the modular jacks and this may introduce a constant strain onto the horizontal cable run.  
         [0005]     Strain may also be applied to horizontal cable runs that are terminated to mounted modular jacks after the structured cabling system has been installed. A major cause of this strain on a horizontal cable run may be a network administrator rearranging the location of particular modular jacks or cables in the structured cabling system. After removing a modular jack from its mounted position, the network administrator may apply strain on the horizontal cable run by pulling the modular jack and the terminated horizontal cable run to its new location. The network administrator may also place the modular jack in a new mounting location where the terminated horizontal cable run does not have sufficient slack, which may introduce a constant strain onto the horizontal cable run.  
         [0006]     Applying strain to a terminated horizontal cable run may introduce problems in the termination area of a modular jack. One problem with applying strain to a horizontal cable run is that the wire pairs of the cable may be partially or fully pulled out of the insulation displacement contact (“IDC”) terminals of the modular jack, which may result in wirecap failures or variability in modular jack performance. Another problem with applying strain to a horizontal cable run is that the strain may damage the IDC terminals of the modular jack. Yet another problem with applying strain to a horizontal cable run, and particularly constant strain, is that over time the strain may cause the horizontal cable insulation near the termination area of the modular jack to pull back, rip or tear apart and expose live wire pairs. Any exposure of live wire pairs may present a safety hazard, result in a short circuit, or change the electrical performance of the modular jack. Accordingly, a solution that addresses the problems that strain introduces at the termination area of the modular jack would be desirable.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  is a front upper right perspective view of a communication jack having a wire containment cap in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a front upper right partial-exploded view of the communication jack of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a rear upper left perspective view of the wire containment cap of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a rear upper left perspective view of a strain relief clip in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a rear upper left perspective view of the strain relief clip of  FIG. 4  assembled to the wire containment cap of  FIGS. 1-3  and securing a cable;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a rear upper left perspective view of an alternative strain relief clip and wire containment cap securing a cable;  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a rear upper left perspective view of an alternative strain relief clip and wire containment cap;  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a side cross-sectional view of an alternative strain relief clip and wire containment cap;  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is a close-up diagram of a portion of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  is a close-up diagram of a portion of  FIG. 6 ; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 11  shows two perspective views of an alternative strain relief clip.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  is a front upper right perspective view of a communication jack  100  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The communication jack  100  includes a jack housing  102  and a wire containment cap  104 . The jack housing  102  may include such components as plug interface contacts, a mechanism for coupling the jack to a plug, crosstalk compensation circuitry, and wire-displacement contacts to provide an electrical connection between the jack and a communication cable. Additional details on the wire containment cap  104  are described with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 5  below.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a front upper right partial-exploded view of the communication jack  100  of  FIG. 1 . In the embodiment shown, the wire containment cap  104  is slidably mountable within the jack housing  102 . A retention clip  105  on the jack housing  102  and a retention recess  108  on the wire containment cap  104  may be included to secure the wire containment cap  104  to the jack housing  102 . Other mounting and securing techniques may also be used.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a rear upper left perspective view of the wire containment cap  104  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In addition to the retention recess  108  described above with reference to  FIG. 2 , the wire containment cap  104  may include a wire cap divider  110 , a shoulder  112 , two strain relief guide slots  114 , and two sets of latch teeth  116 . In a preferred embodiment, the wire containment cap  104  is constructed of a plastic material, such as polycarbonate. Alternative materials, shapes, and subcomponents could be utilized instead of what is illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0021]     The wire cap divider  110  may include a spine, pair separators, a support rib, upper wire restraints, and lower wire restraints.  
         [0022]     The shoulder  112  may serve as a support and stopping mechanism to place the wire containment cap  104  in a correct physical position with respect to the jack housing  102  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Alternative support and/or stopping mechanisms could also be used, such as one located on the jack housing  102 , or on the wire containment cap  104  in such a position that it abuts an interior location in the jack housing  102 , rather than the exterior abutment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0023]     The strain relief guide slots  114  may serve as a support mechanism to place a strain relief clip  200  in a correct physical position with respect to the wire containment cap  104  and a cable. The strain relief guide slots  114  may be hollow channels molded into each side of the shoulder  112 . The strain relief guide slots  114  may be located where the shoulder  112  is connected to the rear portion of the wire cap divider  110 . The strain relief guide slots  114  may have an opening on the top side of the shoulder  112 . The dimensions of the strain relief guide slots  114  may be designed to match the dimensions of the strain relief clip  200 . Alternative methods for supporting the strain relief clip  200  in the wire containment cap  104  may also be used. Additional details on the strain relief clip  200  are described with reference to  FIG. 4  below.  
         [0024]     The latch teeth  116  may serve to lock the strain relief clip  200  into place. The latch teeth  116  may border the strain relief guide slots  114 . In the illustrated embodiment, the latch teeth  116  are positioned on the opposite side of the wire cap divider  110 . In an alternative embodiment, the latch teeth could be positioned on the same side as the wire cap divider  110 . The latch teeth  116  may be separate components molded to the rear inner edge of the shoulder  112  and two sets of latch teeth  116  may be used, one on each side. Alternatively, the latch teeth  116  may be molded as an integrated part of the shoulder  112 . Additional details on the latch teeth  116  are described with reference to  FIG. 5  below. Alternative methods for locking the strain relief clip  200  into the wire containment cap  104  may also be used.  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a rear upper left perspective view of the strain relief clip  200 . The strain relief clip  200  may include a strain relief base  202  with an arch  204  and two curved sections  206 , a latch release  208 , two latch release pivot points  210 , and two clip latches  212 . In a preferred embodiment, the strain relief clip  200  is constructed of a plastic material, such as polycarbonate. The strain relief clip  200  may be supplied as partially assembled to the wire containment cap  104 . Alternatively, the strain relief clip  200  may be molded together with the wire containment cap  104  at the top of the strain relief guide slots  114 . In this embodiment, the plastic connecting the strain relief clip  200  to the wire containment cap  104  may be broken off by a technician during field termination. Alternative materials, shapes, and subcomponents of the strain relief clip  200  could be utilized instead of what is illustrated in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0026]     The strain relief base  202  may serve as the part of the strain relief clip  200  that secures a cable  300  to the wire containment cap  104 . The strain relief base  202  may slide into the strain relief guide slots  114 . The arch  204  is a section at the bottom of the strain relief base  202  that curves inward towards the center of the strain relief base  202 . The strain relief base  202  may have an open center to allow the arch  204  to flex upwards when the strain relief base  202  begins to compress the cable  300 . The arch  204  may have an inner radius approximating that of the cable to be secured (e.g. 0.190″ to 0.250″) and a thickness sufficient to allow some flexibility without consistently breaking under normal operating conditions. The curved sections  206  may be located on either side of the arch  204  at the bottom of the strain relief base  202 . The curved sections  206  have a radius that may change as upward pressure is placed on the arch  204 . The strain relief base  202  may accommodate a range of twisted pair cable diameters. Typically, cables with a diameter ranging from 0.190″ to 0.250″ may fit into the arch  204  of the strain relief base  202 . Additional details on the strain relief base  202  are described with reference to  FIG. 5  below.  
         [0027]     The latch release  208  may serve as a lever to disengage the strain relief clip  200  from the wire containment cap  104 .The latch release  208  may be connected to the strain relief base  202  at two latch release pivot points  210 . The latch release  208  may border the rear side of the strain relief base  202 . Alternative shapes of the latch release  208  could be utilized instead of what is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Additional details on the latch release  208  are described with reference to  FIG. 5  below.  
         [0028]     The clip latches  212  may serve to engage the strain relief clip  200  to the wire containment cap  104 . The clip latches  212  may be separate components molded to the outer edge of the latch release  208  and two clip latches may be used, one on each side. Alternatively, the clip latches  212  may be molded as an integrated part of the latch release  208 . The clip latches  212  may be formed to fit into the latch teeth  116 . Additional details on the clip latches  212  are described with reference to  FIG. 5  below. Alternative methods for engaging the strain relief clip  200  to the wire containment cap  104  may also be used.  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  is a rear upper left perspective view of the strain relief clip  200  assembled to the wire containment cap  104  and securing a cable  300 . The strain relief base  202  may be inserted into the strain relief guide slots  114  by pressing down on the top edge of the strain relief base  202 . As the strain relief base  202  is pressed further into the strain relief guide slots  114 , the clip latches  212  may ratchet against the latch teeth  116 . Once the strain relief base  202  reaches the cable  300 , the arch  204  of the strain relief base  202  may then begin to compress the cable  300  and upward pressure from the cable  300  may push the arch  204  higher. As the cable  300  pushes the arch  204  higher, a pull may be created that changes the radius of the curved sections  206 . The change in radius of the curved sections  206  may then result in an outward rotation in the latch release pivot points  210 . This rotation in the latch release pivot points  210  may cause the clip latches  212  to rotate and dig deeper into the latch teeth  116 , creating a preload and locking the strain relief clip  200  into place. If further compression of the cable  300  is desired, the strain relief base  202  may then be pressed further into the strain relief guide slots  114 .  
         [0030]     The strain relief clip  200  may also be removed from the wire containment cap  104  after assembly by pressing the latch release  208  downward toward the cable  300 . The downward pressure on the latch release  208  may cause the clip latches  212  to pull inward and disengage from the latch teeth  116 . While holding the latch release  208  down, the cable  300  may then be lifted up to relieve the pressure. The strain relief clip  200  may then be removed entirely from the wire containment cap  104  if desired.  
         [0031]      FIGS. 6-11  illustrate an alternative wire containment cap  400  and an alternative strain relief clip  402  for use with the alternative wire containment cap  400  to secure a cable  300 .  
         [0032]     Wire containment cap  400  is similar to the wire containment cap  104  described in  FIGS. 1-5 , but includes some different features. In addition to guide slots  408  and cable saddle  410 , the wire containment cap  400  is configured to interface with the alternative strain relief clip  402  more intimately, as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 .  
         [0033]     The strain relief clip  402  is similar to the strain relief clip  200  described in  FIGS. 1-5 , but includes some different features. In addition to latch release tabs  404  and latch teeth  406 , the strain relief clip  402  includes cable jacket retention teeth  416 , a strain relief top stop  418 , a strain relief bottom stop  420 , a channel post  414 , a latch teeth hinge area  422 , and a cable clamp slot  412 .  
         [0034]     The latch release tabs  404  may be depressed together to allow a technician to easily move the strain relief clip  402  up in the guide slots  408 . Once inserted into the wire containment cap  400 , the strain relief clip is not easily removed (due to the strain relief top stop  418 ), resulting in improved retention of cable  300 . Each channel post  414  is slidably secured in respective guide slot  408  to provide guidance and retention of the strain relief clip  402 .  
         [0035]     The cable  300  is centered and held in place by the cable saddle  410  and the cable clamp slot  412 . In a shielded version of the wire containment cap  400 , the strain relief clip  402  could include flanges to contact the jacket (not shown) of the cable  300  on installation, thereby preventing the more rigid shielded cable from pulling out or moving within the wire containment cap  400 .  
         [0036]     The cable jacket retention teeth  416  help secure the cable  300  to the communication jack (not shown) comprising the wire containment cap  400 .  
         [0037]     For either of the embodiments disclosed herein, in a typical installation, a technician may first remove approximately 1″ of the cable  300  jacket and cut the excess divider if present. The technician may then separately route each twisted wire pair (blue, green, orange, and brown) through its respective quadrant pair channel of the wire cap divider  110  and push the cable  300  into the rear of the wire containment cap  104  until the edge of the cable  300  jacket reaches the wire cap divider  110 . Next, the technician may insert the strain relief clip  200  into the wire containment cap  104  and push downward until sufficient compression of the cable is achieved. This may secure the cable  300  to the wire containment cap  104 . Finally, the technician may route each conductor into the proper wire restraint slot and cut the conductors so that they are flush with the top and/or bottom face of the wire containment cap  104 .  
         [0038]     Securing the cable  300  to the wire containment cap  104  with the strain relief clip  200  may provide many benefits. First, securing the cable  300  prior to routing the conductors to the wire restraint slots may simplify conductor separation and seating because the cable  300  may no longer move during this process. Additionally, securing the cable  300  to the wire containment cap  104  may prevent the wire pairs of the cable  300  from being pulled out of the insulated IDC terminals of the communication jack  100 . Furthermore, securing the cable  300  to the wire containment cap  104  may prevent the cable  300  jacket from pulling back, ripping or tearing apart. Therefore, securing the cable  300  to the wire containment cap  104  with the strain relief clip  200  may provide additional stability in the termination area of the communication jack  100  and may also improve electrical performance.