The invention relates to an electrical connector housing comprising a positioning element for arranging a clamping collar which is intended to retain a strand of cables on the electrical connector housing.

Electrical connector housings, in particular in the automotive sector, may be subjected to vibrations and shocks which are often repetitive and have a high intensity which may result in disengagement of the electrical terminals or the different types of electrical cables which are connected thereto. In addition to comprising securing devices for the terminals or ends of the electrical cables strictly speaking themselves, the electrical connector housings therefore also generally comprise elements which are intended to retain or support the electrical cables upstream of the end portions in order to reduce the strains applied to the end portions during shocks and vibrations.

Most often, the cables are retained by means of clamping collars which are arranged on an element of the housing so as to retain the cables in a desired position. Conventional clamping collars comprise a head, from which there extends a flexible strap which most often comprises at least one portion which is partially toothed or notched. The most conventional clamping collars known from the prior art may be of plastics material, or the like, such as Serflex collars (registered mark), or of metal for cases in which a high level of strength is necessary, and have dimensions which may vary in accordance with the applications (retaining data-processing cables, automotive cables, or the like). The head of a conventional clamping collar is most often of substantially cubic form or at least has a substantially square or rectangular base and further comprises a hole or a notched orifice, through which the strap extends, the notched portion of the head of the collar being configured to allow the toothed or notched portion of the strap to pass only in one direction in order to bring about effective clamping and to prevent opening or release of the collar. Therefore, the electrical connector housings most often comprise one or more elements which are intended to support the cables and which comprise an orifice which is suitable for the passage of the strap of the clamping collar. The collar is then closed around a strand of cables which are connected to the housing, then clamped in order to retain the strand of cables against the housing. The use of clamping collars is therefore advantageous in that it allows the length of the strap to be adjusted, and therefore the diameter of the collar to be adjusted, thereby allowing great flexibility with regard to the quantity of cables to be retained. Therefore, the clamping collars can retain a single cable when they are clamped to the maximum or a strand comprising a plurality of cables or a bundle of cables. The user can therefore select a clamping collar which comprises a strap having a length which is adapted to the size of the cable(s) which has/have to be retained, and may optionally cut the end of the strap once the clamping operation has been carried out.

However, several problems exist with the connector housings known from the prior art in the context of the automotive sector, in particular in terms of the housing elements which are intended to retain the strands of electrical cables and on which a user or a machine must position then adjust a clamping collar or, in the case of control automation of the clamping of the cables.

The housing elements which are intended to retain the strands of cables by means of clamping collars as known in the prior art often comprise recesses and elements which form an abutment for the clamping collar and for which the clamping of large strands of cables does not in principle present a problem, but which prevent, owing to their geometry which is unsuitable, the clamping of the strap which is required in the case of small strands, in particular for cases in which only one or two cables have to be retained. Therefore, there are cases in which the cables cannot be sufficiently clamped owing to the unsuitable geometry of the housings in relation to the particular partial rigidity and curvature of the standard clamping collars. In the case of clamping a small strand, or a single cable, the cable may be floating freely in the recess of the loop formed by the strap of the clamping collar. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a connector housing which comprises a retention element for strands of electrical cables which may at the same time be used for the effective clamping of large strands of cables and for the clamping of small strands, in particular comprising only one or two cables, and taking into consideration the particular geometry and flexibility of the conventional clamping collars.

In the context of the assembly line, it is sometimes necessary to automate the control of the position of the head of the clamping collar on the housing. Again, known housings in the prior art comprise elements which are intended to allow the strap of a clamping collar to pass but whose shape and angles are not advantageous for retaining the head of the collar in a well-defined position which can readily be identified. The head of a clamping collar can therefore be placed initially at a preferred position near the orifice through which the strap has to pass for the clamping operation of the cables but nothing ensures that it will remain there. In particular, it may be the case that the head slides and pivots into another position, making its detection or the identification of effective clamping difficult, or even impossible, by automatic control tools. Automatic control may take place during the assembly, for example, at the tool for clamping the collar, in the step for clamping the cables, but also after the assembly line, for example, in order to automate verification of the correct clamping of the cables in which a correct position of the head would indicate correct clamping, and an incorrect position of the head would indicate incorrect clamping or a lack of clamping. Therefore, there is a need to provide a connector housing comprising an element for positioning the clamping collar in order to facilitate the identification of the position of the head of the collar.

The elements being used for positioning the clamping collars on the housings for retaining the cable strands known in the prior art also involve problems of durability. The known geometry of those elements comprises orifices through which the strap extends and which narrow and therefore weaken the structure of the housing. In that manner, in the case of powerful vibrations, those elements may become fractured and the retention of the cables is no longer effective at all. Therefore, there is also a need to provide positioning and retention elements with a geometry which allows an improvement in terms of the durability of the structure.

In order to simplify the operations, standard clamping collars are used most often, in which the insertion of the strap in the orifice is carried out at an angle of approximately 90° relative to the initial portion of strap fixed to the head. The loop defined by the collar is nevertheless not symmetrical owing to the partial rigidity of the clamping collar and the strap portion fixed to the head of the collar. The asymmetry of the shape of the loop introduces difficulties in terms of optimising the clamping of small strands of cables but also more generally as soon as the head of the clamping collar moves or slides on the element for retaining the housing. Therefore, there is also a need to provide a structure taking into account the asymmetry of the loop of standard clamping collars.

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an electrical connector housing comprising at least one element which prevents uncontrolled movements of the head of a clamping collar whilst taking into consideration the problems mentioned above.

This object is achieved with an electrical connector housing comprising at least one positioning element for a clamping collar which is intended to retain at least one cable on the electrical connector housing, the at least one positioning element comprising a support surface which is intended to receive the head of a clamping collar adjacent to a wall of the electrical connector housing. According to the invention, the positioning element further comprises at least one abutment adjacent to the support surface and/or the wall of the electrical connector housing, the at least one abutment being suitable for positioning the head of the clamping collar in a predetermined position on the support surface.

In that manner, the invention advantageously defines at least two reference surfaces, that is to say, the support surface and the at least one abutment with which the head of the clamping collar must be in contact in order to be in a desired predetermined position. It is not necessary to completely block the head of the clamping collar but an abutment placed either in a manner adjacent to a wall of the housing or in a manner adjacent to the support surface which is intended to receive the head of the clamping collar may prevent or at least limit the occurrences of sliding and any movement of the head of the clamping collar on the housing, and may thereby improve any step involving detection of the position of the head of the collar. The support surface and the at least one abutment thereby define a position for the positioning of the head of a clamping collar. According to the construction of the housing, it is possible to adapt the position of the positioning element on the housing, for example, above cable input/output regions.

The invention further allows the use of more than one abutment for the positioning of the head of a clamping collar which allows more control of the assembly. For example, a system using two or more abutments allows the stability and positioning of the head of the clamping collar to be improved. Advantageously, therefore, an abutment may be adjacent to the support surface and another abutment may be adjacent to the wall of the housing in order to at least partially surround a face of the substantially cubic head of the collar.

Since the position of the head of a clamping collar is well defined in relation to the housing, and in particular in relation to the positioning element of the housing, an improvement in terms of the clamping of strands of cables is possible because the sliding of the clamping collar is prevented or at least controlled. In that manner, a strand which is well retained by a clamped collar cannot be released inadvertently because the displacement of the position of the collar and therefore of the geometry of the curvature of the loop of the collar is prevented by the geometry of the positioning element.

Advantageously, the at least one abutment may be a protuberance or an indentation of the support surface and/or the wall of the electrical connector housing. In that manner, the head of the clamping collar may be blocked or at least arranged against or partially on the wall of the housing. The fact that the at least one abutment is a protuberance or an indentation of a portion of the housing has the advantage of avoiding movable portions or requiring bonding or welding operations, which contributes to the reinforcement of the structure of the housing. In that manner, the housing and the positioning element can be produced in a single step and, optionally, moulded in the same step.

Advantageously, the at least one abutment may be parallel with the wall of the electrical connector housing. An advantage may thus be gained from the geometry of the head of a clamping collar, in particular in the case of standard clamping collars having a substantially cubic head. If the at least one abutment is parallel with a wall of the housing, it is possible to arrange the positioning element so that the head is positioned, or blocked, between the wall of the housing and an abutment which is advantageously positioned on the support surface and/or the wall of the housing.

Advantageously, the at least one abutment may comprise an abutment surface for the head of a clamping collar, which may be perpendicular to the support surface. A further advantage may thus be gained from the geometry of a clamping collar head which is substantially cubic or which has a substantially square or rectangular base. One or more abutments perpendicular to the support surface can then constitute a simple and effective means for positioning the head of a clamping collar in a predetermined position, in particular by conforming to the right-angled geometry of the edges of the head of the clamping collar.

Preferably, the at least one abutment may be spaced by a predetermined distance from the wall of the electrical connector housing, in particular by a distance which is at least equal to the width of the strap of the clamping collar. If the at least one abutment is not an integral part of the wall of the housing but instead a protuberance from the support surface, the provision of the at least one abutment may be used for positioning the head of a clamping collar on the positioning element of the housing whilst leaving the space necessary for the passage of the strap of the clamping collar, which must be closed and surrounds at the same time a strand comprising at least one cable and at least the support surface.

Preferably, the at least one positioning element may further comprise a base surface and/or a second support surface adjacent to the support surface, the wall of the electrical connector housing and/or the at least one abutment, and in which the section of the positioning element defined by the support surface, the base surface and the second support surface has a substantially triangular geometry, in particular in which the support surface and the second support surface form a right angle.

A base surface is thereby defined which may also be defined as a contact surface, with which at least one cable or a strand of cables moves into abutment when the clamping collar is closed. The triangular geometry defined in the advantageous case of an element which comprises a base surface and a second support surface may be adapted to the partial rigidity of a clamping collar, in particular the particular curvature and the asymmetry of the loop defined by the strap of the clamping collar in order to facilitate closure of the collar and effective retention of the cables clamped against the base surface. For example, the start of the strap, that is to say, the projecting portion of the head of the clamping collar has a given rigidity and the small radii of curvature can thus be achieved with difficulty by closing a collar, even to the maximum extent. The triangular shape, in particular comprising a right angle between the support surface and the second support surface, therefore allows the positioning element to be adapted to the specific curvature of the loop of the clamping collar and the play or the space between the completely clamped collar and the base surface to be minimised. In particular, the right angle between the support surface and the second support surface corresponds to the manner in which the strap is introduced into the head of the clamping collar. A strand of cables can therefore be completely clamped and retained against the base surface, reducing the play and the possibilities for releasing the clamping collar. Preferably, the support surface and/or the second support surface may further define at least one indentation, in particular having a width at least equal to the width of the strap of the clamping collar, forming an abutment for the strap of the clamping collar. Therefore, the invention allows the use of a plurality of types of abutment, in particular an abutment which also prevents the strap from sliding or being displaced, which therefore also contributes to the stability of the positioning of the clamping collar, in particular of the head of the collar.

Advantageously, the at least one positioning element may further comprise a recess or a weight-reduction means. Since the majority of the connector housings is of plastics material or the like, it has been confirmed that a cavity or a recess in the positioning element did not impair the durability thereof whilst having the advantageous effect of preventing agglomerations of plastics material on or around the positioning element.

Preferably, the edge formed by the base surface and the support surface and/or the edge formed by the base surface and the second support surface may form a rounded surface. Those edges define locations against which the strap of the clamping collar is in abutment, in particular once the clamping collar is closed. In the case of a positioning element having a section of substantially triangular shape, it has been found that softened or rounded edges were more suitable than the straight edges for the curvature of the loop formed by the insertion of the strap into the head of the clamping collar. In particular, the rounded edges prevent or reduce the loads which are high in the cases of small radii of curvature for which the clamping of the collar is less effective.

Advantageously, the base surface may be rounded. A planar base surface does not really present any problem in terms of retaining large strands of cables, for example, when the strands are composed of so many cables that the cables are clamped against a substantial portion of the base surface. On the other hand, it is still possible, for the case of small strands which comprise a small number of cables, for example, a single cable, for the curvature of the clamping collar to leave play for the cable for it to be displaced along the base surface. By the base surface being rounded, therefore, it is possible to reduce the play relative to a planar base surface.

The rounded shape of the base surface may further be convex or concave and thus be adapted to specific cases as soon as the housing is constructed. For example, a convex shape may be more suitable for small strands whereas a concave shape may be more suitable for large strands of cables. In the case of industrial production of housings comprising positioning elements which have to be adapted equally to large and small cable strands, the convex shape may be preferred because it offers a good compromise between different variants of the embodiments of the invention in terms of curvature of the clamping collar, rigidity of the shape of the positioning element and good retention for all sizes of cable strands. In particular, for small cable strands which comprise only a very small number of cables, or a single cable, a base surface which is rounded has an advantage in that the rounded shape of the base surface can be adapted to the curvature connected with the partial rigidity of the clamping collar and can thereby fix in position the strand with the play at the position of the strand being minimised. An advantage of the rounded shape of the base surface is therefore being able to prevent very small radii of curvature of the clamping collar whilst still being effective in terms of fixing a small strand in place, or a single cable, but also strands comprising a plurality of cables.

Advantageously, the base surface may be notched or toothed. A base surface having a pattern may increase the efficiency of the system by preventing any sliding of the cables along the base surface.

Advantageously, the at least one positioning element may further comprise a hole or an orifice, in particular under the base surface opposite the support surface, which is suitable for the passage of the strap of the clamping collar, in particular having a width at least equal to the width of the strap of the clamping collar. With the housing according to the invention, it is still possible to use an orifice, through which the strap of the clamping collar extends. An orifice provided below the base surface may be adapted to positions or geometries which are different from the case in which no orifice is used.

Advantageously, the electrical connector housing may further comprise at least one cable and at least one clamping collar which are mounted so that, in the closed position of the clamping collar, the at least one cable is clamped against the base surface.

The geometry may be such that the positioning element is provided above an input hole of the cabling into the housing. The insertion direction is defined by the input direction into the hole of the housing which is the direction according to which the end of a cable is connected to the terminal of the housing. It is therefore possible to construct a housing in which the positioning element is positioned above the input hole of the cables so that the clamping collar is positioned in a transverse manner relative to the cables. Thus, when the clamping collar is closed and clamps the cable(s) against a contact surface of the positioning element, for example, the base surface, the clamping collar retains the cables in their simplest position, that is to say, in their position in the insertion direction into the housing.

In another configuration, it is also possible to bend the cables at the output of the input hole into the housing, for example, at a right angle, in order to cause them to leave at the side of the input hole of the cables. This may be necessary, for example, for reasons of space or if other elements of the housing or the system in which the housing is mounted impede the passage of cables in the region of the input hole of the cables. Therefore, the invention advantageously allows clamping of the cables in a plurality of directions. For example, for reasons of space required, it may be advantageous to provide at least two positioning elements on the same housing, one allowing the cables to be fixed in the insertion direction and the other allowing fixing in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. It should be noted that the different embodiments of the invention explained above may be combined with each other in order to form additional advantageous embodiments. In particular, an electrical connector housing which is intended to receive strands or bundles which comprise a plurality of electrical cables may thus comprise a plurality of positioning elements for a clamping collar so that the cables which are connected to the connector housing can be retained in a plurality of directions simultaneously so as to improve the arrangement of the cabling relative to the housing or the environment of the housing.

The invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to advantageous embodiments which are described with reference to the following Figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic, three-dimensional view of part of an electrical connector housing comprising a positioning element for a clamping collar in accordance with a first illustrative example of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a detail of the positioning element for a clamping collar of the electrical connector housing of the first illustrative example, when viewed from a different angle;

Figure 3 is a schematic top view of the housing and the positioning element of the first illustrative example;

Figure 4 is a schematic view of the housing comprising the positioning element of the first illustrative example, with a clamping collar positioned on the positioning element;

Figure 5 is a schematic view of Figure 4 from a different angle;

Figure 6 is a schematic, three-dimensional view of part of an electrical connector housing similar to the one of Figure 1 , but further comprising a second positioning element for a clamping collar in accordance with a second illustrative example of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 shows a detail of the second positioning element of the electrical connector housing of the second illustrative example, from a different angle;

Figure 8 is another view of the assembly of Figure 6; Figure 9 is a schematic view of the housing of the second illustrative example, with clamping collars positioned on the first and second positioning elements;

Figure 10 is a schematic view of Figure 9 from a different angle;

Figure 1 1 is a schematic, three-dimensional view of an electrical connector housing comprising positioning elements for a clamping collar according to the first and second illustrative examples of an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 12 is a schematic view illustrating a variant of the first positioning element of the first and second illustrative examples in a third illustrative example of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 13 shows a detail of the variant of the first positioning element of the third illustrative example.

Hereinafter, identical elements will be referred to using the same reference numerals or symbols and the elements which fulfil similar functions in the different illustrative examples of embodiments of the invention will be referred to using the same reference numerals or the same reference symbols followed by an apostrophe

A first example of an electrical connector housing 1 according to an embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

Figure 1 is a schematic, three-dimensional view of part or a cross-section of an electrical connector housing 1 comprising a positioning element 2 for a clamping collar 3 in accordance with a first illustrative example of an embodiment of the invention. The housing 1 may be an electrical connector housing such as the ones used in the context of electronics intended for the automotive sector, such as, for example, the housing described below with reference to Figure 1 1 but could also be more broadly an electrical connector housing which is intended for other electronic applications in which it is necessary to fix or retain a strand of cables which are connected to the housing. Figure 2 shows a detail of the positioning element 2 for a clamping collar 3 of the electrical connector housing 1 of the first illustrative example, but when viewed from a different angle, and Figure 3 is a top view of the housing 1 comprising the positioning element 2. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a clamping collar 3 positioned on the positioning element 2, from different angles, with different levels of clamping of the collar 3. Figure 4 corresponds to a clamping collar 3 which is only slightly clamped and is therefore capable of retaining large strands of cables. Figure 5 corresponds to a clamping collar 3 whose strap 9 is clamped almost to the maximum and which is therefore suitable for clamping small strands of cables.

The housing 1 comprises a housing member 21 which may be of plastics material or metal depending on the use. The member 21 of the housing 1 comprises a plurality of horizontal walls 31 or vertical walls 6, 32 and particularly comprises a hole 23, through which cables or electrical terminals which have to be connected to the connector 1 can be introduced in the direction of insertion D which is illustrated throughout the Figures and which is defined below as being the longitudinal direction in which the cables are inserted into the housing in order to be connected therein to electrical terminals which are not illustrated in the Figures but which may be located under the member 21 of the housing 1 and which are directed in the direction of the hole 23. Above the hole 23, the housing 1 comprises a wall 6 which, in the cross-section illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, is adjacent to a horizontal surface 31 of the housing 1 , which surface is itself adjacent to another wall 32 of the housing 1 .

Figures 1 to 3 show a positioning element 2 which projects from the wall 6 of the housing 1 slightly above the hole 23. The positioning element 2 comprises a surface 4 which is a support surface or a surface on which the head 5 of a clamping collar 3 must be positioned, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, in order to retain one or more electrical cables which are inserted in the housing 1 , in particular through the hole 23, in the insertion direction D. The support surface 4 is adjacent to the wall 6 of the housing 1 and, in this example, has a substantially square shape which corresponds to the base shape of the head 5 of the clamping collar 3 which is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. According to an aspect of the invention, the positioning element 2 further comprises at least one abutment 8 which is adjacent to the support surface 4 and the wall 6 of the housing 1 . As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, that abutment is suitable for positioning the head 5 of a clamping collar 3 on the housing 1 in a predetermined position on the support surface 4. According to another aspect of the invention, the positioning element 2 further comprises a second abutment 7 which is also adjacent to the support surface 4 and which fulfils a similar function to the abutment 8 for positioning the head 5 of a clamping collar 3 and which is spaced apart from the wall 6 of the housing 1 by a distance di which is at least equal to the width I of the strap 9 of the clamping collar 3 so as to allow the clamping collar to pass in order to surround the electrical cables (not illustrated) which have to be clamped against the positioning element 2. In this example, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the predetermined position of the head 5 of a clamping collar 3 is the position in which the head 5 moves into abutment against the abutments 7, 8 in such a manner that the portion of the strap 9 of the collar 3 which projects from the head 5 extends through the space having a width di between the two abutments 7, 8.

According to another aspect of the invention, the two abutments 7, 8 are protuberances which project, on the one hand, from the support surface 4 and, on the other hand, from the wall 6, respectively. According to still another aspect of the invention, the two abutments 7, 8 are mutually parallel. In particular, the abutment 7 is parallel with the abutment 8 which forms an integral part of the wall 6 of the housing. Therefore, the abutment is parallel with the wall 6 of the housing 1 . Still according to the invention, the abutments 7, 8 project perpendicularly relative to the support surface 4 which allows them to conform to the cubic shape of the head 5 of the clamping collar 3. In particular the abutments 7, 8 each comprise an abutment surface 7a, 8a which is perpendicular to the support surface 4, and against which the head 5 of a clamping collar 3 moves into abutment, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. However, it is not necessary for the abutments 7, 8 or the abutment surfaces 7a, 8a to be perpendicular to the support surface 4 but it is nevertheless preferable for them to form an angle with the support surface 4 which allows them to conform to the geometry of the head 5 of a clamping collar 3. In the present instance, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the head 5 has a substantially cubic shape and, in that case, two abutments 7, 8 which are substantially perpendicular to the support surface 4 are more advantageous than abutments which project at a different angle from the support surface 4. It should also be noted that the first illustrative example uses the two abutments 7, 8 in order to illustrate a system which is more practical than the solution using a single abutment, but it must not be interpreted in a limiting manner. According to the invention, at least one abutment is necessary for carrying out positioning of the head 5 of the clamping collar 3 on the support surface 4. Thus, another illustrative example of an embodiment of the invention could use only the abutment 7 or the abutment 8.

According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the positioning element 2 further comprises a base surface 10 which defines a contact surface with which cables connected to the housing 1 move into abutment when they are kept clamped by a clamping collar 3 which is placed in the positioning element 2. In the first illustrative example, the base surface 10 as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 is planar but, according to a variant of an embodiment of the invention, the base surface 10 could be notched or toothed so as to prevent the cables from sliding during the clamping. The positioning element 2 also comprises a second support surface 1 1 which can be seen in Figure 2 and which the strap 9 of the collar 3 abuts when it closes the loop which surrounds a strand of cables, extending through the orifice 34 of the head 5 of the clamping collar 3. The positioning of the strap 9 on the support surface 1 1 is illustrated in Figure 5. The support surface 4, the base surface 10 and the second support surface 1 1 together form acute angles so that the section defined by those three surfaces is triangular in shape. The support surface 4 and the second support surface 1 1 particularly form a right angle. In particular, with the exception of the abutment 7, the outer face 17 of the positioning element 2 has a substantially triangular geometry. According to still another advantageous aspect of the invention, the support surface 4 and the second support surface 1 1 define the indentation 12 which can be seen in Figures 1 to 3, having a width d ₂ which is at least equal to the width I of the strap 9 of a clamping collar 3, thereby forming the abutment 13. Similarly to the indentation defined between the abutments 7 and 8, the abutment 13 therefore has the advantage of preventing the strap 9 of a clamping collar 3 from sliding, and therefore allows the collar 3 to be retained, in particular the heads of the clamping collar 3 when it is clamped around a strand of cables. The indentations defined by the abutments 7 and 8 and by the abutment 13 and the wall 6, respectively, can be seen in Figure 3 which is a plan view of the assembly. Thus, Figure 3 shows that the positioning element 2 is substantially of T-like form when viewed from above, projecting from the wall 6 of the connector housing 1 .

The connector housing 1 and the positioning element 2 of the first illustrative example of an embodiment of the invention can be constructed in the same manner. In particular, they can be moulded in a single step and form only a single unit. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the positioning element 2 has a recess or a weight-reduction member 14 which advantageously prevents the accumulation of an excess of material during the moulding of the connector housing 1 . Therefore, the weight-reduction member 14 allows a less massive structure to be obtained, whilst conserving the durability of the substantially triangular structure of the positioning element 2 which is adapted to the tension loads applied by the clamping of a clamping collar 3.

According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, in the illustrative example of Figures 1 to 5, the edges 15, 16 formed by the base surface 10 and the support surface 4 and by the base surface 10 and the second support surface 1 1 , respectively, are rounded. Therefore, they form rounded surfaces 15, 16 on which the strap 9 of the clamping collar 3 is bent when it is closed as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. The rounded surfaces 15, 16 have the advantage of limiting the tension applied to the clamping collar 3, in particular to the strap 9, more particularly in the case of very pronounced clamping corresponding to small strands as in the case of Figure 5.

Figure 2 also illustrates a slight vertical spacing 30 which indicates a displacement on the wall 6 of the housing 1 between the height of the inner ceiling 34 of the hole 23 and the base surface 10 of the positioning element 2. This offset of the level of the base surface 10 relative to the inner ceiling 34 of the insertion hole 23 of the cables forces cables which have to be clamped to form a slight elbow on the stop formed by the wall 6 and the ceiling 34 and has the advantage of allowing better retention of the cables (not illustrated) once the clamping collar 3 moves them against the base surface 10.

Figures 4 and 5 illustrate a clamping collar 3 in position on the positioning element 2. The head 5 of the collar 3 is fixed in position on the support surface 4 by means of the presence of at least one abutment 7, 8. The indentation defined by the abutments 7 and 8 and the indentation 12 defined by the abutment 13 allow the strap 9 to pass and, at the same time, form abutments which prevent the strap from sliding once the collar 3 is closed. Figure 4 illustrates a collar 3 with a strap 9 having a width I, one end of which projects from the head 5 of the collar 3, and the rear end of which is inserted into the orifice 34 of the clamping collar 3. The strap 9 is thereby blocked by a notch 35 which is located inside the orifice 34 of the clamping collar 3 which allows it to advance only in the clamping direction of the loop. Figure 4 illustrates a strap 9 which forms a loop which is wide enough to serve to clamp large strands of cables, whereas Figure 5 illustrates a clamping collar 3 for which the strap 9 has been adjusted in order to clamp a strand of cables either having a very small diameter or composed of very few cables, or a single cable.

According to an aspect of the invention, the connector housing 1 described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 for the first illustrative example of an embodiment of the invention comprises a positioning element 2 which is arranged in such a manner that a clamping collar 3 can keep at least one cable clamped against the housing 1 , in particular against the base surface 10, in a direction parallel with the insertion direction D defined above.

In the two cases illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, but in particular in Figure 5 for the cases of small strands, the geometry of the positioning element 2 is such that the head 5 cannot, so to speak, move from its position on the support surface 4 and in abutment against at least one abutment, in particular the two abutments 7, 8.

A second example of an electrical connector housing 1 according to another embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 6 to 10.

Figure 6 is a schematic three-dimensional view of part of an electrical connector housing 1 and a first positioning element 2 which are similar to those of Figures 1 to 5, but further comprising a second positioning element 2' for a clamping collar 3' according to a second illustrative example of another embodiment of the invention. Figure 7 shows the positioning elements 2 and 2' from another angle, and Figure 8 is a top view of the housing 1 comprising the two positioning elements 2 and 2'. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate clamping collars 3, 3' in position on the positioning elements 2 and 2' from different angles, with different levels of clamping of the collars 3, 3' around strands of cables 28, 29.

The housing 1 of the second illustrative example may be in all respects similar to the one described with reference to the example illustrated in Figures 1 to 5. Similarly, the first positioning element 2 is identical to the one described in the first illustrative example of an embodiment of the invention. Therefore, reference may be made to the preceding description for more details. In particular, the insertion direction D of the cables is the same as for the preceding illustrative example.

Figures 6 to 8 show a second positioning element 2' which projects from the wall 6' of the housing 1 , the wall 6' serving a purpose similar to the wall 6 of the first illustrative example in the case of the second positioning element 2' of the second illustrative example of an embodiment of the invention. In the second illustrative example, the wall 6' is adjacent and in particular perpendicular to the wall 6. The second positioning element 2' therefore projects from the wall 6' in a direction perpendicular to that of the first positioning element 2 of the first illustrative example. As in the first example, the positioning element 2' comprises a surface 4' which is a support surface or surface on which the head 5' of a clamping collar 3' must be positioned, as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, in order to keep one or more electrical cables inserted in the housing 1 , in particular through the hole 23, the retention this time being carried out at the side of the hole 23. The support surface 4' is adjacent to the wall 6' of the housing 1 and, also in this example, is of substantially square shape which corresponds to the shape of the base of the head 5' of the clamping collars 3, 3' illustrated in Figures 9 and 10.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the positioning element 2' further comprises at least one abutment 8' adjacent to the support surface 4' and the wall 6' of the housing 1 . As illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, this abutment 8' is suitable for positioning the head 5' of a clamping collar 3' on the housing 1 in a predetermined position on the support surface 4'. According to another aspect of the invention, the positioning element 2' further comprises a second abutment 7', which is also adjacent to the support surface 4' and which serves a purpose similar to the abutment 7 of the first illustrative example, and which is therefore also a protuberance from the support surface 4' parallel with the wall 6' and spaced apart from the wall 6' of the housing 1 by a distance di which is at least equal to the width of the strap 9' of the clamping collar 3'. In the second illustrative example, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, the predetermined position of the head 5' of a clamping collar 3' is the position in which the head 5' moves into abutment against the abutments 7', 8' in such a manner that the portion of the strap 9' of the collar 3' which projects from the head 5' extends through the space having a width di between the two abutments 7', 8'.

According to another aspect of the invention, the abutment 8' is an indentation of the support surface 4' in the wall 6'. As in the first illustrative example, the abutment 7' is parallel with the abutment 8' which is therefore an integral part of the wall 6' of the housing. The abutment 7 is therefore parallel with the wall 6 of the housing 1 . Still according to the invention, and as in the first illustrative example, the abutments 7', 8' are perpendicular to the support surface 4' and comprise abutment surfaces 7'a, 8'a which are perpendicular to the support surface 4' which therefore allows them to conform to the cubic shape of the head 5' of the clamping collar 3', as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. As in the first illustrative example, however, it is not necessary for the abutments 7', 8' to be perpendicular to the support surface 4' but it is preferable, however, for them to conform to the geometry of the head 5 of the clamping collar 3', also resulting in the right angle in the second illustrative example. Similarly to the positioning element 2 of the first illustrative example, the second positioning element 2' uses two abutments 7', 8' rather than a single abutment in order to illustrate an advantageous system, but must not be interpreted in a limiting manner either. According to the invention, at least one abutment is necessary in order to carry out positioning of the head 5' of the clamping collar 3' on the support surface 4'. In that manner, a variant of the second illustrative example of an embodiment of the invention could use only the abutment T or the abutment 8'.

According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, similarly to the positioning element 2 of the first illustrative example, the positioning element 2' further comprises a base surface 10' which can be seen in Figure 7 and a second support surface 1 1 ' which can be seen in Figure 8, and which serves a similar purpose to the second support surface 1 1 of the first illustrative example. Therefore, reference may be made to the description above for more details. The support surface 4', the base surface 10' and the second support surface 1 1 ' together form acute angles so that the section defined by those three surfaces is substantially triangular in shape. The outer face 17' of the positioning element 2' begins with a substantially triangular geometry and subsequently continues with a pillar-like form parallel with the wall 6' of the housing 1 . In a similar manner to the first illustrative example described above, the connector housing 1 and the positioning elements 2, 2' of the second illustrative example of an embodiment of the invention can be constructed from the same material and can be moulded in a single step and form only a single unit.

According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, in the illustrative example of Figures 6 to 10, the edge formed by the base surface 10' and the support surface 4' is rounded and thereby forms the rounded surface 15', on which the strap 9' of the clamping collar 3' is bent when it is closed as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. The rounded surface 15' has the same advantages as the rounded surfaces 15, 16 of the first illustrative example and therefore reference may be made to the above description.

According to a variant of the invention, a difference between the second positioning element 2' and the first positioning element 2 is that the second element 2' further comprises a hole or an orifice 18' under the base surface 10, which is intended for the passage of the strap 9' of the clamping collar 3', as illustrated in particular in Figures 9 and 10. The orifice 18' can be seen without any clamping collar 3' in Figures 6 to 8 and is delimited by the base surface 10, the wall 6' of the housing 1 , the pillar-like portion of the outer face 17' of the second positioning element 2', and by the lower abutment 20 which also terminates in a surface 19 which is at least partially rounded. The spacing between the wall 6' and the pillar-like portion of the face 17' has a width d ₃ which is at least equal to the width of the strap 9' and therefore allows the strap to pass.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate clamping collars 3, 3' which are positioned on the positioning elements 2, 2' and which surround a small strand of cables 28 and a large strand of cables 29, respectively, which are inserted in the housing in the insertion direction D. For the description of the clamping of the collar 3 on the first positioning element 2, reference may be made to the description above of the first illustrative example. In a similar manner, the head 5' of the collar 3' is fixed in position on the support surface 4' by means of the presence of at least one abutment 7', 8'. The hole or orifice 18 which is arranged under the base surface 10' allows the strap 9' to pass and, at the same time, forms an abutment which prevents the strap from sliding once the collar 3' is closed, and which generally retains the collar 3' and in particular the head 5' in its position on the support surface 4' and against the abutments 7', 8'. The clamping collar 3' is similar to the clamping collar 3 described for the first illustrative example and reference may therefore be made to the description above.

Figures 9 and 10 show that the first positioning element 2, acts as a clamping collar 3 retaining a small strand 28 as described for the first illustrative example. In particular, the strand 28 follows the insertion direction D and forms a slight elbow owing to the presence of the vertical spacing 30 which was visible in Figure 2. According to an aspect of the invention, as in the first illustrative example, the connector housing 1 of the second illustrative example of an embodiment of the invention comprises a first positioning element 2 which is arranged in such a manner that a clamping collar 3 can keep at least one cable 28 clamped against the housing 1 , in particular against the base surface 10 of the first positioning element 2, in a direction parallel with the insertion direction D.

The same Figures 9 and 10 show that the second positioning element 2' is arranged to allow the fixing of a strand of cables 29 which laterally extend out of the insertion hole 23 of the housing 1 . In particular, the second positioning element 2' projects from the wall 6' in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction D. Consequently, according to a variant of an aspect of the invention, the connector housing 1 of the second illustrative example also comprises a second positioning element 2' which is arranged in such a manner that a clamping collar 3' can keep at least one cable 29 clamped against the housing 1 in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction D.

In a manner similar to the first illustrative example, Figures 9 and 10 illustrate that the geometry of the positioning element 2' is such that the head 5' of the clamping collar 3' cannot so to speak move from its position on the support surface 4' and is in abutment against at least one abutment, in particular the two abutments 7', 8'. Figure 1 1 illustrates an example of a connector housing 1 which can be used in the automotive sector and which comprises at least one positioning element 2 in an illustrative example of an embodiment of the invention. The housing 1 comprises a housing member 21 , a positioning fixing or securing lever 22, a floor 25 and a plurality of partition walls 24 which define a plurality of spaces forming connection holes 23 of terminals or electrical cables. The housing 1 further comprises all the elements described in the first and second illustrative examples. In particular, the housing 1 of the example illustrated by Figure 1 1 further comprises at least a first positioning element 2 and at least a second positioning element 2' such as those which have been described in the first and second illustrative examples of embodiments of the invention. Figure 1 1 shows a clamping collar 3 in position on the first positioning element 2. In a manner similar to the second illustrative example of an embodiment of the invention, the housing 1 illustrated in Figure 1 1 allows positioning of the clamping collars 3, 3' on the at least two positioning elements 2, 2' in order to clamp cables extending out of a hole 23 and to retain them either in a direction parallel with the insertion direction D or in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction D.

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate a variant 2" of the first positioning element 2 of the first and second illustrative examples in a third illustrative example of another embodiment of the invention.

The housing 1 illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 may be in all respects similar to what has been described in the context of the first and second illustrative examples and with reference to Figures 1 to 1 1 . Similarly, the second positioning element 2' which can be seen in Figure 12 is in all respects identical to the second positioning element 2' described in the second illustrative example and with reference to Figures 6 to 10, then 1 1 . Therefore, reference may be made to the above description for further details, and for the advantages of those elements.

The first positioning element 2" of the third illustrative example is almost identical to the above description in the case of the first illustrative example with reference to Figures 1 to 5. Therefore, reference may be made to the description of the positioning element 2 of the first illustrative example for further details. However, one difference involves the shape of the base surface 10 which is rounded in this instance in accordance with a variant of a possible embodiment of the invention. Figure 13 is a cross-section of the positioning element 2" in which the shape of the section 27 of the positioning element 2" can be seen. As in the first illustrative example, the positioning element 2" of the third illustrative example has a section 27 which is substantially triangular, with edges 15, 16 which are rounded in the region of the base surface 10, but in the third illustrative example the base surface 10 itself is rounded.

Figures 12 and 13 also illustrate two rounded indentations 26 at each side of the outer face 17 of the positioning element 2". The rounded shape of the base surface 10 has an improvement in relation to the first illustrative example in that it has the advantage of allowing better securing of small strands of cables comprising cables of small diameters, or a single cable. Unlike a planar base surface similar to those of the first and second illustrative examples described above, the rounded base surface 10 prevents cables clamped by a clamping collar 3 from sliding. The indentations 26 at each side of the face 17 also allow blocking of the strands of cables and further limitation of the movement and degrees of freedom of the cables which are retained by a clamping collar 3. It must be noted that the base surface 10 illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 is smooth. However, according to another variant of an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the base surface 10 could be notched or toothed in order to further improve the retention of cables clamped against the base surface 10 by means of a clamping collar 3.

In addition to the improvement in terms of the base surface 10 and the indentations 26 present on the outer face 17, the

positioning element 2" of the third illustrative example of an embodiment of the invention has the same advantages as the positioning element 2 described in the context of the first illustrative example. Therefore, reference may again be made to the description above for further details.

It should be noted that the different examples above constitute only possible illustrations of various embodiments of the present invention and must therefore not be perceived to be limiting. For example, the variant of the positioning element 2 of the third example of an embodiment as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 could very well be combined with the positioning element 2' of the second illustrative example in order to form a fourth illustrative example of another possible variant of an embodiment of the invention.