Patent ID: 7066754

Claim:
A connection system for electrically engaging an electrical cable with an electrical connector to a terminal of a printer, the connection system comprising: an electrical terminal having a plurality of electrical contacts, the electrical terminal being configured to communicate via the plurality of the electrical contacts using a communication protocol; an electrical connector including a plurality of electrical contacts corresponding to the electrical contacts of the electrical terminal such that the electrical connector can be engaged to the electrical terminal; an electrical cable including a plurality of conductive elements for electrical communication, the conductive elements being electrically connected to the electrical contacts of the electrical connector such that the plurality of conductive elements is electrically connected to the plurality of electrical contacts of the terminal, the electrical cable including a flexible support portion adjacent the electrical connector, the flexible support portion defining a cross-sectional size that is larger than a portion of the cable opposite the flexible support portion from the connector, wherein the electrical cable includes a tubular sheath, the conductive elements being disposed in the sheath, and a reinforcement member disposed in the sheath proximate to the connector and configured to support the cable proximate to the connector; and a collar extending in an axial direction from a first end to a second end and defining an orifice between the first and second ends, at least a portion of the orifice corresponding in size to the cross-sectional size of the flexible support portion and being smaller than a cross-sectional size of the electrical connector such that the collar is adapted for slidably receiving the cable and frictionally engaging the flexible support portion of the cable, wherein the collar defines a connection feature configured to engage the terminal with the cable extending through the orifice and the electrical connector disposed at least partially between the collar and the terminal such that the engagement of the collar with the terminal prevents disconnection of the electrical connector from the terminal.