Strain relief mechanism for an insulation displacement connector

Abstract

A strain relief for an insulation displacement connector contains a cap section and a base section connected to the cap section at a pivot point. The cap section has at least one wire insertion channel and a first wall. The wire insertion channel has an entrance aperture which is in fluid communication with an exit aperture for passage therethrough in an insertion of an inserted wire. The exit aperture is contained in the first wall. The cap section is pivotally moveable between an open position which facilitates insertion of the wire into the cap section through the entrance aperture and out through the exit aperture, and a closed position. The base section has a side wall and a base hole or depression formed in the base section at the foot of the side wall. The base hole includes a wire stop portion at its bottom. The base hole is disposed such that passage of the inserted wire out through the exit aperture into the open portion of the base hole is limited by abutment against the wire stop portion at the bottom of the base hole. In this orientation, the wire is retained in the base hole at a first orientation which is substantially parallel to the insertion direction of the inserted wire. When the cap is moved into the closed position, the first wall of the cap section forces the wire into contact with the side wall so as to cause the wire to be bent and thus oriented at a wire bend angle in a second orientation. In this second orientation, the wire is restrained in the connector as a result of this forced bend and thereby is strain relieved.