CABLE STRAIN RELIEF APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED CABLE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A cable strain relief apparatus for a cable attached to a connector includes at least one multi-section member. The member includes a first section configured to partially surround a portion of the connector and a second section aligned with the first section along a central longitudinal axis and configured to partially surround a portion of the cable. Where the apparatus includes two members, each member may include similar first and second sections, but one member may include a protrusion extending from an exposed face of a wall of the member's second section and the other member may include a protrusion receptacle integrated into an exposed face of a wall of such member's second section, wherein when the two members are joined together, the protrusion mates with the protrusion receptacle. A binder may be optionally included to secure the member to the cable or to retain the mated members together.

Claims

1. A cable strain relief apparatus comprising: at least a first section sized and shaped to partially surround a portion of a cable connector; and a second section aligned with the first section along a central longitudinal axis, the second section being sized and shaped to partially surround a portion of a cable to which the cable connector is attached.

2. The cable strain relief apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a binder sized and shaped to surround and secure the first section and the second section to the cable.

3. The cable strain relief apparatus of claim 2, wherein the binder is heat shrink tubing.

4. The cable strain relief apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first section and the second section are rigid and non-conductive.

5. A cable strain relief apparatus comprising: a first elongated member including: a first section sized and shaped to partially surround a portion of a cable connector; a second section sized and shaped to partially surround a portion of a cable to which the cable connector is attached, the second section being aligned with the first section along a central longitudinal axis; and a protrusion extending from an exposed face of a wall of the second section of the first member; and a second elongated member including: a first section sized and shaped to partially surround the portion of the cable connector; a second section sized and shaped to partially surround the portion of the cable to which the cable connector is attached; and a protrusion receptacle integrated into at least an exposed face of a wall of the second section of the second member; wherein when the first member and the second member are mated together, the first section of the first member and the first section of the second member define a first compartment sized and shaped to snugly surround the portion of the cable connector, the second section of the first member and the second section of the second member define a second compartment sized and shaped to snugly surround the portion of the cable to which the cable connector is attached, and the protrusion of the first member mates with the protrusion receptacle of the second member.

6. The cable strain relief apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second member is curved and further includes a protrusion extending from a second exposed face of the wall of the second section of the second member.

7. The cable strain relief apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first member is curved and further includes a protrusion receptacle integrated into at least a second exposed face of the wall of the second section of the first member, and wherein when the first member and the second member are mated together, the protrusion of the second member mates with the protrusion receptacle of the first member.

8. The cable strain relief apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first member and the second member are substantially identical.

9. The cable strain relief apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: a binder sized and shaped to surround and retain the first member and the second member in a mated relationship when the first member and the second member are mated together.

10. The cable strain relief apparatus of claim 9, wherein the binder includes heat shrink tubing.

11. The cable strain relief apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cable is a coaxial cable.

12. The cable strain relief apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of the first member and the second member is a single molded component.

13. The cable strain relief apparatus of claim 5, wherein the wall of the second section of the first member is common to the first member entirely and wherein a width of an inside surface of the wall varies between the first section of the first member and the second section of the first member.

14. A cable assembly comprising: a cable; a connector attached to a first portion of the cable; and a cable strain relief apparatus providing strain relief at the first portion of the cable, the cable strain relief apparatus including: a first elongated member that includes: a first section sized and shaped to receive and partially surround a portion of the connector; a second section sized and shaped to receive and partially surround a second portion of the cable; and a protrusion extending from an exposed face of a wall of the second section of the first member; and a second elongated member mated with the first member, the second member including: a first section sized and shaped to receive and partially surround the portion of the connector; a second section sized and shaped to receive and partially surround the second portion of the cable; and a protrusion receptacle integrated into an exposed face of a wall of the second section of the second member; wherein the protrusion of the first member mates with the protrusion receptacle of the second member, the first section of the first member and the first section of the second member snugly surround the portion of the connector, and the second section of the first member and the second section of the second member snugly surround the second portion of the cable.

15. The cable assembly of claim 14, wherein the second member of the cable strain relief apparatus is curved and further includes a protrusion extending from a second exposed face of the wall of the second section of the second member.

16. The cable assembly of claim 15, wherein the first member of the cable strain relief apparatus is curved and further includes a protrusion receptacle integrated into a second exposed face of the wall of the second section of the first member, and wherein the protrusion of the second member mates with the protrusion receptacle of the first member.

17. The cable assembly of claim 14, wherein the first member and the second member are substantially identical.

18. The cable assembly of claim 14, further comprising: a binder sized and shaped to surround and retain the first member and the second member of the cable strain relief apparatus in a mated relationship.

19. The cable assembly of claim 18, wherein the binder includes heat shrunk tubing.

20. The cable assembly of claim 14, wherein the protrusion of the first member of the cable strain relief apparatus is a partially cylindrical tongue, and wherein the protrusion receptacle of the second member of the cable strain relief apparatus is a complementary, partially cylindrical groove.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an exemplary cable strain relief member, which forms part of a multi-member cable strain relief apparatus, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 1B is a top plan view of the exemplary cable strain relief member of FIG. 1A.

[0032] FIG. 2A is a right end elevational view of the exemplary cable strain relief member of FIG. 1B.

[0033] FIG. 2B is a left end elevational view of the exemplary cable strain relief member of FIG. 1B.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the exemplary cable strain relief member of FIG. 1B.

[0035] FIG. 4 illustrates a first assembly step for assembling a multi-member cable strain relief apparatus around a connector-terminated cable, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0036] FIG. 5 shows a second assembly step for assembling a multi-member cable strain relief apparatus around a connector-terminated cable, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0037] FIG. 6 shows an assembled cable strain relief apparatus with an optional supportive sheath, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0038] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an exemplary small cell access device in which multiple cable strain relief apparatuses are used on connector-terminated antenna cables where the connecters of the cables are arranged for securing to mating connectors of one or more radio units or modules (not shown), in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, and 3, several views are shown of an exemplary cable strain relief member 100, which may form part of an exemplary, multi-member cable strain relief apparatus 500 as shown in FIG. 5, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The member 100 is an elongated and generally curved article having multiple sections 114, 120, 124 (three shown for illustration purposes only) sized and shaped to accommodate connector portions and cable portions of different diameters or widths. Where the connector and cable to be snugly surrounded and supported by the strain relief apparatus 500 have longitudinal symmetry, the member 100 may likewise be substantially symmetric about a central, longitudinal axis 102. Otherwise, each section 114, 120, 124 of the member 100 may be sized and shaped to partially surround a portion of a cable connector or a portion of a cable for which strain relief is to be provided. The longitudinal axis 102 shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is for reference purposes only and does not form a physical part of the member 100 or structure of any kind. As used herein and in the appended claims, the term curved includes semi or otherwise partially cylindrical, tubular, arched, spherical, U-shaped in any fashion (including, but not limited to, segmented or boxed), conical, or the like.

[0040] The member 100 has a first end 104 and a second end 106 that is opposite the first end 104 in the elongated, longitudinal, or lengthwise direction of the member 100. The member 100 includes a wall 112 that defines a channel 108 from the first longitudinal end 104 to the second longitudinal end 106. The channel 108 is generally curved in a widthwise direction perpendicular or orthogonal to the axis 102 and varies in radial distance from a center, longitudinal axis 201 of the channel 108 to the inside surface 110 of the wall 112 along the channel 108. The wall 112 includes opposing ends or faces 113, 115 on opposite widthwise sides of the member 100. The ends or faces 113, 115 are the flat, coplanar tops of the wall 112 on each widthwise side of the member 100.

[0041] The radius of the inside surface of the wall 112 can vary from section to section of the member 100 along the length of the member 100. As shown in FIG. 2A, the member 100 is curved when viewed from an end view and, in one exemplary embodiment, has a semicircular appearance from an end view. A second member can be placed, inverted, over the member 100 shown, wherein the channels 108 of each of the members 100 would be contiguous and create a fully enclosed bore along the channel 108. The channel 108 is configured to accommodate a cable and a portion of a coaxial cable connector to which the cable is connected.

[0042] Along a central longitudinal axis 201 of the joined or mated members 100, 401, the distance from the axis to the outside of the wall 112, in a direction perpendicular to the axis 201, can vary along the axis 201. For example, in a first or cable section 114, between the first end 104 and the entrance to a second or intermediate section 120, there can be a first distance 140 (e.g., radial distance) from the axis 201 to the outside surface of the wall 112. Along the cable section 114, there can be a second distance 142 from the axis 201 to the outside surface of the wall 112. Along an intermediate section 120 the distance to the outside surface of the wall 112 can be equal to the first distance 140. Between the intermediate section 120 and the second end is a terminal section 124 that is configured to enclose a radial shoulder at an end of a coaxial cable connector, as will be shown. Along the terminal section 124 the outside surface of the wall 112 follows a semicircular profile along the axis 201 and can extend outward to a maximum distance 144 from the axis 201 at about the middle of the terminal section 124 between the second end 106 and the intermediate section 120 along the axis 201. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the distance to the outside of the wall 112 can be a radius, if the outside surface of the wall 112 has a semicircular cross section relative to the axis 201. However, the outside surface of the wall 112 can have other shapes that are equivalent. For example, the outside of the wall 112 can have a square, rectangular, smooth, or segmented cross section, in a direction perpendicular to the axis 201.

[0043] Along the member 100 is a channel 108 that is configured to accommodate a coaxial cable along a portion thereof, and an end of a coaxial cable connector where the coaxial cable connector receives the end of the coaxial cable. The channel 108 is defined by the inside surface 110 of the wall 112. The channel 108 extends completely along the length of the member 100 from the first end 104 to the second end 106. In the first section 114 of the member 100, the width of the channel 108 is a first distance 132. The first distance 132 may be selected to be about the same size as the diameter of the coaxial cable that will reside in this section 114 of the channel 108. The width of the channel 108 may be enlarged in the intermediate section 120 of the member 100 to form an enlarged portion 122 and have a second distance 134 that is greater than the first distance 132. The second distance 134 may be selected to accommodate a section of the coaxial cable where the coaxial cable is soldered or otherwise connected to the coaxial cable connector. In the terminal section 124, the inside surface 110 of the wall 112 may form a trough 128 to capture a shoulder of the coaxial cable connector. The trough 128 may have a radial distance 145 from the bottom of the trough 128 to the central longitudinal axis 201 that is substantially consistent along the trough 128. The width of the trough 128 may be greater than the width of the enlarged portion 122 of the channel 108, where the diameter of the connector collar is greater than the diameter of the enlarged portion 122 of the channel 108. The trough 128 is bounded by sides 129, 131 at the inner surface 110 of the wall 112. Side 129 is where the trough 128 meets the enlarged portion 122 of the channel 108, and side 131 is where the trough 128 meets interior portion 130. The inside surface 110 of the wall 112 in the trough 128 is at a distance 144 from the axis 201 which may be half the distance 136 (e.g., diameter) across the trough 128 at the faces 113, 115. And between the trough 128 at side 131 and the second end 106 the inner surface 110 of the wall 112 is at a distance from the axis 201 to the inner surface 110 of the wall 112 that is less than that of the trough 128 but can be more than that of the intermediate section to encircle a shank portion of the coaxial connector.

[0044] Along the top of the wall 112, on either side of the axis 201, are interfacing features, such as a protrusion (e.g., a tongue 116) that extends upward from the top of the wall 112 at face 115, perpendicular to the plane 117 of the face 115, and a protrusion receptacle (e.g., a groove 118) formed into the top of the wall 112 at face 113, opposite the tongue 116. The groove 118 is formed to have a size that is substantially a negative of the tongue 116. Thus, when two identical members are arranged around a coaxial cable and connector, the faces 113, 115 mate with the opposite face of the other member. That is face 113 of a first member mates with a face 115 of a second member, and vice versa. Since the faces 113, 115 are coplanar, the interface between two members is also in the plane 117 of the faces 113, 115. The tongue 116 of a first member fits into the groove 118 of the second member, and the groove 118 of the first member receives the tongue 116 of the second member. The interfacing of tongue 116 into the groove 118 of another member prevents the two members from moving relative to each other either along the axis 201 or in any direction in the plane 117 defined by the top of the wall 112 on either side of the axis 201, and which also passes through the axis 201. The interfacing features can take other shapes than those shown here, and in general there is a protrusion of some sort extending from the top of the wall on one side of the member 100, and a negative recess into the top of the wall on the other side, opposite the axis 201. The protrusion and the recess are symmetric about the axis so that members can be assembled together such that the protrusion of one member nests into the recess of the other member, and vice versa.

[0045] Assembly of the cable connector apparatus is illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, in sequential order. FIG. 4 shows a first assembly step 400A for assembling a cable strain relief apparatus, FIG. 5 shows a second assembly step 400B, and FIG. 6 shows a cable assembly 400C containing the assembled cable strain relief apparatus 500. In FIG. 4, there is shown a coaxial cable connector 402 that terminates a coaxial cable 416. The coaxial cable 416 is connected to the connector 402 such that the center conductor (not shown) of the coaxial cable 416 is crimped onto or soldered to the center conductor (not shown) of the connector 402 and an elongated collar of the connector 402 (residing under the heat shrink tubing 412 shown in FIG. 4) is crimped onto the shielding of the coaxial cable 416. The connector 402 includes an interfacing end 404 that can be connected to a corresponding connector mount. The cable connector 402 may be a male subminiature version A (SMA) coaxial radio frequency (RF) connector or any other connector appropriate for the particular use application. A rotatable body of the connector 402 can have flat sections 406 to facilitate connecting and disconnecting the connector 402 to and from a mating connector of an electronic or RF module or another cable. The end where the cable is coupled to the connector 402 forms a collar or shoulder 410 that extends outward radially relative to a shank portion 408, forming an annular structure around the axis of connector 402 and which extends outward by a distance greater than either distance 133 or 135, but less than distance 145 so that the shoulder 410 can be captured in the trough 128 of the first member 401 and the second member 100. Furthermore, the length of the trough 128 in a direction along the axis 201, should be just slightly larger than that of the shoulder 410 so that that the shoulder 410 is held snugly in the troughs of the two members 100, 401.

[0046] A binder may be optionally used to hold the joined strain relief members 100, 401 together. For example, a length of heat shrink tubing 412 may be placed over the cable 416 prior to assembly of the cable strain relief apparatus and shrunk to hold one or more sections 114, 120, 124 of the joined or mated members 100, 401 of the apparatus together. The heat shrink tubing 412 can extend over a portion of the cable 416 to also bind the mated members 100, 401 of the apparatus to the cable 416. First cable strain relief member 401 and second cable strain relief member 100 are shown, ready to be assembled together about the connector 402 and cable 416. Member 100 is shown placed on the connector 402 and cable 416 such that the shoulder 410 sits in the trough 128 of member 100. The cable 416 then runs from the connector 402 at the shoulder 410 along the channel 108 of the member 100, the cable 416 including the shrink wrap segment 412 around the cable 416. The interior portion 130 between the trough 128 and the second end 106 of the member 100 has a radial distance 135 from the axis 201 and will be against the shank 408 of the connector 402. Thus, the shoulder 410 is captured in the trough 128. Member 401 can then be inverted and placed over member 100 such that the tongue 116 of member 401 nests into groove 118 of member 100, and the tongue 116 of member 100 nests into the groove 118 of member 401, as shown in FIG. 5, to form one exemplary embodiment of a cable strain relief apparatus 500. The top of the wall 112, when the interfacing members 100, 401 are interfaced or mated together, faces the top of the wall of the other interface member. Thus, the top of the wall 112 can be considered a face or end and placing these faces or ends of the members 100, 401 together results in an interface.

[0047] In FIG. 6, the previously unshrunk section of heat shrink tubing 418 is slid over the two mated members 100, 401 and then shrunk over them by application of hot air. The heat shrink tubing section 418 can have a length, after being shrunk, that is greater than the length of the interface section 418, and cover the two members 100, 401 of the cable strain relief apparatus 500 from the first end 104 to the terminal section 124, including the intermediate section 120. Because the interface section 114 extends outward farther than the section between the interface section 114 and the first end 104, and the intermediate section 120, there are shoulders created between these sections that, when the heat shrink tubing 418 is then shrunk over, help to hold the shrunken heat shrink tubing 418 in place. Likewise, the shrunken heat shrink tubing 418 holds the two members 100, 401 together around the cable 416 and connector 402. As a result, the cable 416 is held in place relative to the connector 402. The heat shrink tubing 418 acts as a binder to bind the mated members 100, 401 together. Other types of binders can be used, including, for example, tape, cable ties, and so on. The heat shrink tubing 418 can have a length that, after being shrunk fully covers all by the terminal section 124 of the mated members 100, 401. The members 100, 401 may be electrically non-conductive and rigid, and can be made of a polymeric material. Where the cable 416 is an antenna cable, the position of the cable can affect radio frequency operation of the device in which it is used. Thus, the impedance matching of radio signals transmitted through the cable 416 from a radio unit can be affected by bends/kinks in the cable 416 and produce intermodulation products. The cable strain relief apparatus disclosed herein ensures the cable 416 maintains a desired shape relative to the connector 402 and prevents the cable from being inadvertently bent out of place when installed in a radio device.

[0048] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an exemplary small cell access device 700 in which a plurality of cable connectors 702A-D are used on antenna cables 704A-D, respectively, which join to a radio unit (not shown) that gets mounted in space 708, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Each of the connectors 702A-D include a cable strain relief apparatus as shown, for example, in FIG. 6, which includes a plurality of interfacing members (e.g., 100, 401) that are held together by a section of shrunken heat shrink tubing (e.g., 418) or an equivalent, such as tape. Each of the cables 704A-D connect their respective connectors 702A-D to a respective antenna 706A-D. Each one of the cables 704A-D are routed along particular path and held in place by various brackets and guides to ensure that each cable 704A-D follows the particular shape for its route, and therefore results in consistent radio frequency performance from unit to unit. The routes of each cable 704A-D can also be selected to minimize interference or pickup from any of the other elements. The antennas 706A-D can be vertically oriented planar antennas for operation in the range of 24-54 GHz and are located on the sides of the housing 710 of the small cell access node device. A power and control unit 712 is housed in the housing 710 and provides power to the radio unit. Thus, some embodiments can include both a cabling system for a radio device using cables having the disclosed cable strain relief apparatus, and a radio device using the cabling system including the disclosed cable assembly.

[0049] A cable strain relief apparatus has been disclosed that includes a plurality of interfacing members that surround a coaxial cable and a portion of a coaxial connector coupled to the end of the coaxial cable. The interfacing members may be substantially identical and have interfacing features to mate and nest with the interfacing features of the interfacing member(s). The interfacing members cover the end of the cable where it connects to the connector and form an annular trough that captures an annular shoulder around the connector. A portion of heat shrink tubing, after being shrunk, can hold the interfacing members together. When so placed on a coaxial cable and connector, the cable strain relief apparatus holds the cable in place relative to the connector to prevent bending of the cable near the connector and assure that the cable will hold a particular shape within a radio device to prevent undesirable radio effects such as intermodulation products. One of the benefits of configuring the member 100 as shown is that only one component (member 401) needs to be manufactured. Two identical members can be used to create the desired strain relief apparatus. That means only one mold design is needed, only one inventory item needs to be tracked, and only one type of packaging is needed.

[0050] According to another exemplary embodiment, a single member cable strain relief apparatus 100 includes at least a first section 120, 124 sized and shaped to partially surround a portion 408, 410 of a cable connector (e.g., a coaxial cable connector 402) and a second section 114 aligned with the first section 120 along a central longitudinal axis 102, 201, wherein the second section 114 is sized and shaped to partially surround a portion (e.g., the portion under heat shrink tubing 412) of a cable (e.g., a coaxial cable 416) to which the cable connector 402 is attached. In such an embodiment, the first and second sections 114, 120 may be rigid to prevent or at least mitigate bending or pinching in the area where the connector 402 is attached (e.g., soldered, crimped, or otherwise secured) to the cable 416. The first and second sections 114, 120 may also be non-conductive to reduce cost and minimize any electrical effects of the cable strain relief apparatus 100 on the performance of a cable assembly that includes the connector 402, the cable 416, and the cable strain relief apparatus 100. The first and second sections 114, 120 may be fabricated as a single, injection molded component or may be fabricated as separate components. The cable strain relief apparatus 100 may also include an optional binder, such as tape, adhesive, or heat shrink tubing 418, sized and shaped to surround and secure the first section 120 and the second section 114 to the cable 416. In the single member embodiment, the cable strain relief apparatus 100 may exclude the protrusion 116 and the protrusion receptacle 118, thereby including flat exposed wall faces 113, 115.

[0051] According to an alternative exemplary embodiment, a cable strain relief apparatus 500 includes a pair of elongated members 100, 401. A first member 100 of the pair includes a first section 120 sized and shaped to partially surround a portion 408, 410 of a cable connector 402, a second section 114 sized and shaped to partially surround a portion (e.g., the portion under heat shrink tubing 412) of a cable 416 to which the cable connector 402 is attached, and a protrusion 116 extending from an exposed face 115 of a wall 112 of the second section 114 of the first member 100. The two sections 114, 120 of the first member 100 are aligned along a central longitudinal axis 102, 201.

[0052] The second member 401 of the pair includes a first section 120 sized and shaped to partially surround the portion 408, 410 of the cable connector 402, a second section 114 sized and shaped to partially surround the portion (e.g., the portion under heat shrink tubing 412) of the cable 416 to which the cable connector 402 is attached, and a protrusion receptacle 118 integrated into at least an exposed face 113 of a wall 112 of the second section 114 of the second member 401. When the first member 100 and the second member 401 are mated together, the first section 120 of the first member 100 and the first section 120 of the second member 401 define a first compartment sized and shaped to snugly surround the portion 408, 410 of the cable connector 402, the second section 114 of the first member 100 and the second section 114 of the second member 401 define a second compartment sized and shaped to snugly surround the portion of the cable 416 to which the cable connector 402 is attached, and the protrusion 116 of the first member 100 mates with the protrusion receptacle 118 of the second member 401.

[0053] According to another alternative embodiment, each member 100, 401 of the multi-member cable strain relief apparatus 500 may be curved and include both a protrusion 116 extending from one exposed face 115 of its wall 112 and a protrusion receptacle 118 integrated into the opposite exposed face 113 of its wall 112 such that when the two members 100, 401 are mated together, each member's protrusion 116 mates with the other member's protrusion receptacle 118. According to one exemplary embodiment, the two members 100, 401 of the apparatus 500 may be identical or substantially identical such that when one member 100, 401 is placed atop the other 100, 401 with the cable connector portion 408, 410 and the cable portion in between, the two members 100, 401 mate together and surround the portion 408, 410 of the cable connector 402 and the portion of the cable 416 for which the members 100, 401 were sized and shaped (e.g., configured). According to another exemplary embodiment, each member 100, 401 of the multi-member cable strain relief apparatus 500 may be a single molded component.

[0054] According to a further exemplary embodiment, the wall 112 of the second section 114 of a particular member 100, 401 may be common to the member 100, 401 entirely (especially where the member 100, 401 is a single molded component) and a width 132, 134, 136 of an inside surface 110 of the wall 112 may vary between the first section 120, 124 of the member 100, 401 and the second section 114 of the member 100, 401. For example, the width or inner diameter 132, 134, 136 of the wall 112 may be greater in the first section 124, 120 (e.g., to accommodate the cable connector portion 408, 410) than it is in the second section 114 (e.g., to accommodate the cable 416).

[0055] In another exemplary embodiment, the protrusion 116 of the first member 100 of the cable strain relief apparatus 500 may be a partially cylindrical tongue. In such a case, the protrusion receptacle 118 of the second member 401 of the cable strain relief apparatus 500 may be a complementary, partially cylindrical groove.

[0056] In a further exemplary embodiment, the cable strain relief apparatus 500 may also include an optional binder sized and shaped to surround and retain the first member 100 and the second member 401 in a mated relationship when the first member 100 and the second member 401 are mated together. The binder may be or include heat shrink tubing 418 that has been shrunk around all or part of the apparatus members 100, 401. Alternatively, the binder may be or include tape (e.g., electrical tape), liquid adhesive, or a clamp. The binder may also overlap the members 100, 401 of the strain relief apparatus 500 and the cable 416 for which relief is being provided by the strain relief apparatus 500.

[0057] According to a further exemplary embodiment, a cable assembly 400C includes a cable 416, a connector 402 attached to a first portion (e.g., a terminal portion) of the cable 416, and a cable strain relief apparatus 100, 500 providing strain relief at the first portion of the cable 416. The cable strain relief apparatus may be the single member apparatus 100 or the multi-member apparatus 500 described above. The cable 416 may be a coaxial cable or other signal-carrying cable. In one exemplary embodiment, the cable strain relief apparatus 500 of the cable assembly 400C is a multi-member apparatus that includes a pair of elongated members 100, 401, which mate together to snugly surround a portion 408, 410 of the connector 402 and a second portion of the cable 416 (e.g., the portion of the cable 416 under heat shrink tubing 412). The second portion of the cable 416 may be adjacent or proximate to the first portion of the cable 416.

[0058] In this exemplary embodiment, the first member 100 may include a first section 120, 124 sized and shaped to receive and partially surround the portion 408, 410 of the connector 402, a second section 114 sized and shaped to receive and partially surround the second portion of the cable 416, and a protrusion 116 extending from an exposed face 115 of a wall 112 of the second section 114 of the first member 100. The second member 401 may include a first section 120, 124 sized and shaped to receive and partially surround the portion 408, 410 of the connector 402, a second section 114 sized and shaped to receive and partially surround the second portion of the cable 416, and a protrusion receptacle 118 integrated into an exposed face 113 of a wall 112 of the second section 114 of the second member 401. In this case, the protrusion 116 of the first member 100 mates with the protrusion receptacle 118 of the second member 401, the first section 120, 124 of the first member 100 and the first section 120, 124 of the second member 401 snugly surround the portion 408, 410 of the connector 402, and the second section 114 of the first member 100 and the second section 114 of the second member 401 snugly surround the second portion of the cable 416. In one exemplary embodiment, the protrusion 116 of the first member 100 of the cable strain relief apparatus 500 may be a partially cylindrical tongue. In such a case, the protrusion receptacle 118 of the second member 401 of the cable strain relief apparatus 500 may be a complementary, partially cylindrical groove.

[0059] In various alternative embodiments of the cable assembly 400C, the members 100, 401 of the cable strain relief apparatus 500 may be curved and include both a protrusion 116 extending from one exposed face 115 of its wall 112 and a protrusion receptacle 118 integrated into the opposite exposed face 113 of its wall 112 such that when the two members 100, 401 are mated together, each member's protrusion 116 mates with the other member's protrusion receptacle 118. According to one exemplary embodiment, the two members 100, 401 of the cable strain relief apparatus 500 may be identical or substantially identical such that when one member 100, 401 is placed atop the other 100, 401 with the connector portion 408, 410 and the cable portion in between, the two members 100, 401 mate together and surround the portion 408, 410 of the connector 402 and the portion of the cable 416 for which the members 100, 401 were sized and shaped (e.g., configured).

[0060] In a further exemplary embodiment, the cable assembly 400C may also include an optional binder sized and shaped to surround and retain the first member 100 and the second member 401 of the cable strain relief apparatus 500 in a mated relationship. The binder may be or include, for example, heat shrunk tubing 418, tape, adhesive, or a clamp.

[0061] The claims appended hereto are meant to cover all modifications and changes within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.