Communication Plug Cable Manager with Hinged Retention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
As communication cable diameters decrease, maintaining mechanical retention of the cable jacket within the plug assembly becomes challenging, especially with smaller conductor diameters, which affects the continuity and strain reduction of the cable.
Innovation Solution
A communication plug with a cable manager having a load bar with through holes, hingedly connected to first and second cable management sections, featuring retention ribs and a bridge section, which compresses the cable jacket for secure retention without disturbing the twisted pairs, eliminating the need for a separate strain relief collar.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If smaller conductor diameters are used to reduce cable diameter, then cable flexibility and material resource conservation are improved, but mechanical retention of the cable jacket within the plug assembly deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cable manager incorporates movable cable management sections connected via hinges that can transition between open and closed positions. This dynamic structure allows the cable manager to adapt to different cable sizes and provide adjustable retention force, maintaining effective mechanical retention even with smaller diameter cables that offer less surface area for gripping.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable manager is divided into multiple cable management sections that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows each section to independently adapt to the cable's position and provide localized retention, improving overall retention effectiveness for smaller cables while maintaining flexibility.
2Reliability
If tighter conductor management is implemented to ensure continuity between IPCs and conductors, then electrical connection reliability is improved, but cable management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable manager integrates multiple functions into a single component: cable guidance, conductor alignment, and mechanical retention are combined in one structure. The cable management sections work together to simultaneously guide the cable and position the conductors for reliable connection to the insulation piercing contacts, reducing the need for separate alignment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge-connected cable management sections automatically adjust their positions based on the cable insertion, creating self-aligning features that guide conductors into proper contact with the IPCs without requiring complex external alignment mechanisms or manual adjustment.
3Strength
If separate strain relief collar is used to maintain cable retention, then mechanical retention is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The strain relief function traditionally provided by a separate collar is integrated directly into the cable manager structure. The cable management sections themselves provide the retention force through their hinge-connected arrangement, eliminating the need for a separate strain relief collar while maintaining effective cable retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable manager is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it manages cable positioning, provides mechanical retention, and offers strain relief all within a single integrated component, reducing the total number of parts needed in the connector assembly.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A communication plug is described. The communication plug has a communication cable with a plurality of conductors, a plug housing, and a cable manager partially enclosed within the plug housing. The cable manager has a load bar with a plurality of holes, a first cable management section connected to the load bar via a first hinge, and a second cable management section connected to the load bar via a second hinge. The first and second cable management sections are configured to fold together and partially enclose the cable before the cable manager is inserted into the plug housing.