US-12620756-B2 - Cable connector

US12620756B2US 12620756 B2US12620756 B2US 12620756B2US-12620756-B2

Abstract

A cable connector having a lock nut and a connector body can accommodate strain relief elements, such as grommets, for securing different types of cables. The connector body has two or more axially extending fingers axially coincident with the grommet. Each finger is connected to the connector body by at least two radially separated discrete tabs forming an axial separation between the connector body and the associated finger. Relative axial movement of the lock nut towards the connector body causes radial contraction of the axially extending fingers from the first rest position to a second contracted position where the axially extending fingers have translationally radially contracted to compress the grommet about the cable inserted in the cable connector. Different types of grommets, some with plastic inserts, can be interchangeably used with the same connector body to accommodate cables of different sizes and shapes.

Inventors

Tianyuan YANG

Assignees

IPEX TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240131
Priority Date: 20230829

Claims (20)

1 . A cable connector for receiving a cable, said cable connector comprising: a connector body having a connector bore extending therethrough from a receiving opening to an exiting opening; a lock nut for engaging the connector body and axially moveable relative to the connector body when engaged therewith; at least two axially extending fingers, each of said axially extending fingers extending axially from a connector end, proximate the connector body, to a distal end, distant from the connector body, and wherein the connector end of each axially extending finger is connected to the connector body by at least two radially separated discrete tabs, said discrete tabs forming an axial separation between the connector body and the connector end of the associated axially extending fingers; a grommet axially coincident with the axially extending fingers, said grommet having a grommet bore communicating with the connector bore of the connector body permitting a cable to pass through the grommet bore and be received by the receiving opening of the connector bore; and wherein relative axial movement of the lock nut toward the connector body causes radial contraction of the axially extended fingers relative to the connector body to compress the grommet located axially coincident with the at least two axially extending fingers.
2 . The cable connector as defined in claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two axially extending fingers have a radially inward facing surface corresponding to a radially outward facing surface of the grommet so as to engage the radially outward facing surface of the grommet and compress the grommet when the lock nut moves axially towards the connector body.
3 . The cable connector as defined in claim 2 , wherein the grommet has a substantially tubular radially outer surface and the axially extending fingers have a radially inward arc shaped surface corresponding to the substantially tubular outer surface of the grommet.
4 . The cable connector as defined in claim 3 , wherein the at least two axially extending fingers consist of two identical radially arc shaped axially extending fingers located on opposed ends of the receiving opening and symmetrical about an axis perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cable connector; and wherein the at least two axially extending fingers are radially separated from each other and are adapted to move independently of each other with respect to the connector body.
5 . The cable connector as defined in claim 2 , wherein said connector body further comprises a ridge extending about the receiving opening, and, the radially separated discrete tabs are radially separated along the ridge for connecting the associated axially extending fingers to the ridge of the connector body at radially separated locations about the receiving opening.
6 . The cable connector as defined in claim 2 , wherein the axially extending fingers are initially at a first rest position, permitting insertion of the cable into the grommet bore, and axial movement of the lock nut towards the connector body causes radial contraction of the axially extending fingers from the first rest position to a second contracted position, where the axially extending fingers have translationally radially contracted to compress the grommet about the cable inserted in the connector.
7 . The cable connector as defined in claim 6 , wherein said connector body further comprises a ridge extending about the receiving opening, and, the radially separated discrete tabs are radially separated along the ridge for connecting the associated axially extending fingers to the ridge of the connector body at radially separated locations about the receiving opening, wherein, at the rest position, the radial arc shaped extending fingers are radially aligned with the ridge, and, the connector end of each of the axially extending fingers are substantially opposed from the ridge with the axial separation between the connector body and the connector end of the associated axially extending fingers defining a curved rectangular opening bordered by the ridge associated with the connector body, inner edges of the connecting tabs, and the connector end of the associated axially extending finger.
8 . The connector cable as defined in claim 7 , wherein axial movement of the lock nut towards the connector body causes the discrete radially separated tabs to resiliently radially inwardly deform permitting radial contraction of the associated axial extending finger from the first rest position to the second contracted position, with the distal end and connector end of the associated axially extending fingers radially contracted and the axial separation becoming an axial and radial separation between the connector body and the connector end of the associated axially extending fingers.
9 . The cable connector as defined in claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the radial fingers have a nut engagement surface and, wherein the lock nut has a first inner finger engagement surface and a second inner finger compression surface, axially separated from the first inner finger engagement surface, and wherein said first inner engagement surface is sized and shaped to independently engage the nut engagement surface of all of the axially extending fingers, and, the second finger compression surface is sized and shaped to contract the axially extending fingers about the grommet to compress the grommet.
10 . The cable connector as defined in claim 9 , wherein the lock nut comprises an axial tubular portion near a cable opening, and, wherein the axial tubular portion receives displaced excess material resulting from compression of the grommet.
11 . The cable connector as defined in claim 1 wherein the grommet bore extends from a grommet cable opening for receiving a cable to a grommet exit opening and the grommet comprises a body engagement surface for engaging the connector body at a position axially coincident with the extending fingers, and, wherein the connector body comprises a grommet seat associated with the receiving opening for receiving the grommet at the position axially coincident with the axially extending fingers and with the grommet oriented with respect to the connector bore to permit a cable entering through the grommet cable opening to pass through the grommet bore, exit through the grommet exit opening and enter the receiving opening of the connector bore.
12 . The cable connector as defined in claim 1 , wherein the connector body, the at least two axially extending fingers and the at least two radially separate discrete tabs are integrally formed as part of a connector element.
13 . The cable connector as defined in claim 2 , wherein the grommet comprises a first flexible portion extending about the grommet bore for engaging an inserted cable.
14 . The cable connector as defined in claim 1 , wherein the grommet has a grommet bore for accommodating an inserted cable having a first size and shape, and, wherein the cable connector further comprises a second grommet having a second grommet bore, different from the grommet bore, said second grommet bore sized and shaped to accommodate a second inserted cable having a second size and shape different from the first size and shape of the inserted cable.
15 . The cable connector as defined in claim 13 , wherein the grommet comprises a second rigid portion radially remote from the grommet bore, wherein the first flexible portion has a first hardness for engaging the inserted cable and the second rigid portion has a second hardness, different from the first hardness, for engaging the axially extending fingers.
16 . The cable connector as defined in claim 3 , wherein the grommet comprises an integral grommet/insert combination having a first flexible portion about the grommet bore to engage the inserted cable, and, a second rigid portion forming the substantially tubular outer surface for engaging the axially extending fingers having a radial inward arc shaped surface; wherein the second rigid portion is integrally formed with the first flexible portion to create a single integral grommet/insert combination.
17 . A kit for a cable connector, said kit comprising: a connector element having a connector body defining a connector bore extending therethrough from a receiving opening to an exiting opening, and at least two axially extending fingers, each of said axially extending fingers extending axially from a connector end, proximate the connector body, to a distal end, distant from the connector body, and wherein the connector end of each axially extending finger is connected to the connector body by at least two radially separated discrete tabs, said discrete tabs forming an axial separation between the connector body and the connector end of the associated axially extending fingers; a lock nut for engaging the connector body and axially moveable relative to the connector body when engaged therewith; a grommet axially coincident with the axially extending fingers, said grommet having a grommet bore communicating with the connector bore of the connector body permitting a cable to pass through the grommet bore and be received by the receiving opening of the connector bore; and wherein relative axial movement of the lock nut toward the connector body causes radial contraction of the axially extended fingers relative to the connector body to compress the grommet located axially coincident with the at least two axially extending fingers.
18 . The kit as defined in claim 17 , wherein the grommet has a grommet bore for accommodating an inserted cable having a first size and shape, and, wherein the cable connector kit further comprises a second grommet having a second grommet bore, different from the grommet bore, said second grommet bore sized and shaped to accommodate a second inserted cable having a second size and shape different from the first size and shape of the inserted cable; and wherein the first and second grommets each comprise a first flexible portion about the respective grommet bore and second grommet bore, respectively, to engage the respective inserted cable and second inserted cable, and, a second rigid portion forming a substantially tubular outer surface for interchangeably engaging a radially inward shaped surface of the axially extending fingers; and wherein the second rigid portion of each of the grommet and second grommet is integrally formed with the corresponding first flexible portion of the respective grommet and second grommet to create corresponding single integral grommet/insert combinations for the grommet and second grommet which can be interchangeably used with the connector element and lock nut.
19 . The kit as defined in claim 17 , wherein the axially extending fingers are initially at a first rest position, permitting insertion of the cable into the grommet bore, and axial movement of the lock nut towards the connector body causes radial contraction of the axially extending fingers from the first rest position to a second contracted position, where the axially extending fingers have translationally radially contracted to compress the grommet about the cable inserted in the connector; and wherein axial movement of the lock nut towards the connector body causes the discrete radially separated tabs to resiliently radially inwardly deform permitting radial contraction of the associated axial extending finger from the first rest position to the second contracted position, with the connector end of the associated axially extending fingers radially contracted and the axial separation becoming an axial and radial separation between the connector body and the connector end of the associated axially extending fingers.
20 . The cable connector as defined in claim 1 , wherein the axially extending fingers are initially at a first rest position, permitting insertion of the cable into the grommet bore, and axial movement of the lock nut towards the connector body causes radial contraction of the axially extending fingers from the first rest position to a second contracted position, wherein the axially extending fingers have translationally radially contracted to compress the grommet about the cable inserted in the connector; and wherein axial movement of the lock nut towards the connector body causes the discrete radially separated tabs to resiliently radially inwardly deform permitting radial contraction of the associated axial extending finger from the first rest position to the second contracted position, with the connector end of the associated axially extending fingers radially contracted and the axial separation becoming an axial and radial separation between the connector body and the connector end of the associated axially extending fingers.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to cable connectors for receiving a cable. In particular, this invention relates to strain relief cable connectors which may be used with different types of grommets to resist or reduce axial movement of the inserted cable with respect to the connector. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the past, there have been many different types of cable connectors to connect or terminate a variety of cables, such as electrical power cables, communication signal cables, and other types of cables. Such connectors may include a strain relief element for facilitating securing the cables to the connectors. Such strain relief elements may comprise a number of components, including grommets, which in their simplest form prevent, or reduce, the likelihood of an insert cable passing therethrough from chafing or bending during use. Grommets may also resist, or reduce, the possibility of the cable being pulled out of the electrical connector. Some of the prior cable connectors and grommet combinations have suffered from the disadvantage that it is difficult to accommodate inserted cables of different sizes and shapes. This has restricted use of the cable connectors and grommets, or, required different cable connector and grommet combinations for each corresponding size or shape of cable, increasing the cost of manufacture, use and storage of such prior cable connector and grommet combinations. Other difficulties with prior art connectors is that, in many cases, the constricting mechanisms consist of prongs or tongues which move in unison, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,657 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,204 to Dieter Henniger. This results in a more intricate and delicate arrangement of tongues or prongs that may require interaction and may become easily damaged, or, dirty during use or storage which may inhibit their use. Furthermore, some prior art connectors generally have tongues or prongs that are pivotably mounted to a body. This pivoting action inherently decreases the surface contact area between the pivotally connected prongs or tongues with the corresponding sealing method. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to at least partially overcome some of the disadvantages of the prior art. Also, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved type of cable connector which is simple to assemble and prevents, or reduces, axial movement of the inserted cable with respect to the cable connector. Accordingly, in one of its aspects, this invention resides in a cable connector for receiving a cable, said cable connector comprising: connector body having a connector bore extending therethrough from a receiving opening to an exiting opening; a lock nut for engaging the connector body and axially moveable relative to the connector body when engaged therewith; at least two axially extending fingers, each of said axially extending fingers extending axially from a connector end, proximate the connector body, to a distal end, distant from the connector body, and wherein the connector end of each axially extending finger is connected to the connector body by at least two radially separated discrete tabs, said discrete tabs forming an axial separation between the connector body and the connector end of the associated axially extending fingers; a grommet axially coincident with the axially extending fingers, said grommet having a grommet bore communicating with the connector bore of the connector body permitting a cable to pass through the grommet bore and be received by the receiving opening of the connector bore; and wherein relative axial movement of the lock nut toward the connector body causes radial contraction of the axially extended fingers relative to the connector body to compress the grommet located axially coincident with the at least two axially extending fingers. In a further aspect, the present invention resides in a kit for a cable connector, said kit comprising: connector element having a connector body defining a connector bore extending therethrough from a receiving opening to an exiting opening, and at least two axially extending fingers, each of said axially extending fingers extending axially from a connector end, proximate the connector body, to a distal end, distant from the connector body, and wherein the connector end of each axially extending finger is connected to the connector body by at least two radially separated discrete tabs, said discrete tabs forming an axial separation between the connector body and the connector end of the associated axially extending fingers; a lock nut for engaging the connector body and axially moveable relative to the connector body when engaged therewith; a grommet axially coincident with the axially extending fingers, said grommet having a grommet bore communicating with the connector bore of the connector body permitting a cable to pass through the grommet bore and be received by the receiving opening of