Strain relief means in an electrical connector assembly for ribbon cable

Abstract

A cable strain relief system is provided for an electrical connector assembly which terminates a multi-conductor ribbon cable. A pair of interengageable elongated strain relief members clamp the ribbon cable therebetween. A flexible latch arm with a latch hook is provided on at least one of the strain relief members. A latch passage and a latch shoulder is provided on at least the other of the strain relief members for receiving the latch arm and latchingly engaging the latch hook of the one strain relief member. A rigid alignment element is provided on at least one of the strain relief members, and an alignment opening is provided on at least the other of the strain relief members for receiving the rigid alignment element. The latch passage is sized to receive the latch arm and latch hook freely thereinto with the pair of strain relief members offset relative to each other, and with the latch arm in an initial unflexed condition. The rigid alignment element is adapted to be inserted into the alignment opening after the latch arm has been inserted into the latch passage to draw the offset strain relief members laterally into alignment and to guide the members into fully engaged and latched condition with the latch arm flexed and the latch hook engaged with the latch shoulder.