Fiber Optic Cable Strain Relief With Deflected Fiber Clamping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing strain relief solutions for fiber optic cables, such as cable ties and prior art strain relief devices, either fail to provide adequate protection against mechanical stress or risk damaging the optical fibers due to excessive tightness or insufficient tightness, and lack universal applicability.

Innovation Solution

A cable strain relief element with a base body and fixing element featuring projections that clamp deflected fiber material, utilizing a tapered design and structured surfaces for secure fixation, allowing attachment to standardized mounting devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cable tie is used for strain relief, then the cable is secured to the housing, but excessive tightness can lead to fiber breakage due to crushing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrain relief effectivenessVSAvoidfiber damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a cable tie with a flexible body that can be inserted into a receptacle and locked in place. The flexible nature of the cable tie allows it to conform to the cable and provide even pressure distribution, preventing localized crushing that could damage fibers while still providing adequate strain relief.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The cable tie system allows for adjustable tightness by selecting different cable tie sizes or materials with varying flexibility parameters. This enables optimization of the clamping force to provide sufficient strain relief without exceeding the threshold that would cause fiber damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a cable tie is used for strain relief, then the cable is secured to the housing, but insufficient tightness does not provide adequate strain relief

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiber protectionVSAvoidstrain relief effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cable tie system is designed to be self-adjusting through its locking mechanism. Once inserted into the receptacle, the cable tie automatically locks in place, maintaining consistent tension without requiring external adjustment. This ensures reliable strain relief while protecting fibers from both excessive and insufficient tightening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The cable tie is pre-formed with specific dimensional parameters and flexibility characteristics that are optimized before installation. This preliminary design ensures that when installed, the cable tie provides the correct amount of tension to protect fibers while maintaining adequate strain relief effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If a strain relief device with winding area is used, then the cable is held securely, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable fixation securityVSAvoidstrain relief device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The strain relief device is divided into separate functional components: a cable tie for securing the cable, a receptacle for receiving and locking the cable tie, and a fixing element for additional stabilization. This segmentation allows each component to be simple in design while collectively providing secure cable fixation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a complex winding mechanism to secure the cable, the invention inverts the approach by using a simple insertable cable tie that locks into a receptacle. This reverses the traditional winding-based strain relief design, achieving secure fixation with significantly reduced device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Reliability

If multiple parts are used for strain relief, then the cable is secured more reliably, but the ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrain relief effectivenessVSAvoidinstallation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cable tie, receptacle, and fixing element are designed to work together as an integrated system. The cable tie is inserted into the receptacle and locked in place in a single continuous motion, combining multiple fixation functions into one simple installation operation. This merging of functions maintains reliable strain relief while preserving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3255472B1Cable retention element

Publication Date: 2026.02.18 HAUFF TECH GRIDCOM GMBH

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AI summary

The invention relates to a cable strain relief element (1) for fiber optic cables (2) comprising: a base body (3) for mounting the cable strain relief element (1) in a mounting device (5), wherein the base body (3) has at least one receptacle (7) for inserting a fiber optic cable (2) and at least one guide means (8) for deflecting a fiber material (2.2); at least one receiving element (9) for inserting a fiber optic cable (2.4); and at least one fixing element (10) which can be connected to the base body (3) for inserting the fiber optic cable (2), wherein the fixing element (10) has projections (10.1) which are designed such that, when the fixing element (10) is connected to the base body (3), the projections (10.1) extend into the receptacle (7) in order to fix a fiber optic cable (2) received in the base body (3) by clamping the deflected fiber material (2.2).