GB2320140A - Branched cable for telephone test set - Google Patents

Abstract

A multiconductor telephone test set line cord contains multiconductor cable (300) a first end of which may be terminated by a first RJ45 style modular plug (241) that plugs into an RJ 45 style modular jack within the test set, and a second end of which is provided with multiple cable segments (311,312,320) that extend from a cable splice (302) external to the test set. One of the multiple cable segments extending from the cable splice is a multiconductor cable section (320) which may be terminated at a second RJ45 plug (243). A remaining pair of wires (311,312) of the multiple cable section-containing line cord, duplicating tip and ring lead associated wires thereof, may be terminated by means of set of alligator clips. Between this cable splice and the first end of the line cord a strain relief test set attachment is provided for securely attaching the multiconductor line cord to the test set. This line cord strain relief attachment is configured to provide a tight weatherproof seal with the test set, and to facilitate replacement of the line cord.

Description

MULTICONNECTOR-TERMINATED MULTI-SEGMENT LINE CORD WITH STRAIN RELIEF ATTACHMENT FOR TELEPHONE TEST SET The present invention relates to portable telecommunication devices, such as telephone test sets, and is directed to a multiconductor telephone test set line cord, a first, internal end of which is terminated by a single multipin (RJ45) connector, and a second, external end of which is expanded via a cable splice into multiple line cord sections terminated by separate types of connectors. In addition, the multiple connector, 'spliced' line cord configuration of the invention is provided with a strain relief attachment that facilitates replacement of the line cord, when necessary, and provides a secure strain-relieving, weatherproof seal at the external juncture of the line cord with the body of the test set.

Telephone craftsperson's test sets, are customarily equipped with a multiconductor line cord, opposite ends of which are terminated by respective connectors, one of which is interfaced with internal circuitry of the device set and the other of which is configured for connection with a network installation. In the case of a craftsperson's telephone test set, two types of multiconductor line cords may be used. Where an external RJ45 jack is available, opposite ends of the multiconductor (e.g., eight lead) cable are terminated by a pair of multipin (e.g., eight pin) RJ45 connectors, one of which is plugged into an RJ45 jack within the test set proper, and the other end of which (external to the test set) is plugged into an RJ45 jack associated with the network installation to which test access is afforded.

On the other hand, if such an RJ45 jack is not readily available at the network site under test, thereby making it necessary to effect a bridge directly to (tip and ring) leads of the line circuit, the craftsperson must plug the line cord's external RJ45 connector into the RJ45 jack of an intermediate 'banjo' terminal interface. The pins of the banjo unit's RJ45 jack extend to respective ones of an array of (eight) terminals, which are configured to be engaged by alligator clip-type connectors of a respective pair of auxiliary leads. The opposite ends of these auxiliary leads are also terminated by an associated pair of alligator clip-type connectors, so as to allow the craftsperson to use both the 'banjo' and the auxiliary pair of leads to connect the line cord to the line.

Alternatively, if a banjo is not available, the craftsperson may open the test set and replace the test set's dual RJ45 connector-terminated line cord with a line cord that has only a pair of single lead cable segments, containing individual wires associated with respective ones of the tip and ring pins of the eight pin internal RJ45 connector, and which are terminated by associated alligator clip-type connectors. Since either the use of a banjo and associated alligator clip leads or the need to perform a line cord replacement is time consuming and mandates additional service equipment inventory, each is a less than desirable artifice for providing a connection between the craftsperson's test set and a line under test.

An object of the invention is a 'spliced' telephone test set line cord configuration. Pursuant to the spliced configuration, the line cord is comprised of a multiconductor cable, a first end of which is terminated by a first RJ45 style modular plug that plugs into an RJ 45 style modular jack within the test set, and a second end of which is provided with multiple cable segments that extend from a cable splice, external to the test set. One of the multiple cable segments extending from the line cord splice is a multiconductor cable section which contains each of the conductors of the multiconductor cable, and is terminated at a second RJ45 plug, so as to facilitate network access where an external RJ45 jack is readily available.

To accommodate the situation where an RJ45 jack is not readily available, making it necessary to effect a bridge directly to (tip and ring) leads of the line circuit under test, an auxiliary pair of cable segments extends from the cable splice. This auxiliary pair of cable segments contains individual wires joined with the tip and ring-associated ones of the wires of the multiple cable cord. These auxiliary (tip and ring lead-duplicating) cable segments are terminated by respective ones of a set of alligator clip type connectors, so as to allow the craftsperson to directly bridge the test set to any accessible tip and ring lead location of a telephone network, without having to resort to the use of a banjo and another, separate pair of alligator clip-terminated leads.

The present invention includes a multiconductor line cord for a utility device, said utility device having an aperture in a body thereof, said multiconductor line cord passing through said aperture for engagement with an electrical receptacle within said utility device, said multiconductor line cord comprising a first multiconductor cable section containing a plurality of conductors, being insertable into said utility device through said aperture, having a first end thereof terminated by means of a first multiconductor connector for engagement with an associated multiconductor receptacle within said utility device, and having a second end thereof terminated at a splice; respective single wire cable sections extending from said splice, containing selected conductors of said first multiconductor cable section and being individually terminated by respective electrical connectors; and a multiconductor cable section extending from said splice, containing plural conductors of said first multiconductor cable section and being terminated by means of a second multiconductor connector for engagement with an associated multiconductor receptacle external of said utility device.

The invention also includes a multiconductor line cord for a telephone test set, said test set device having an aperture in a body thereof, said multiconductor line cord passing through said aperture for engagement with a modular multiconductor electrical receptacle within said test set, device, said multiconductor line cord comprising a first multiconductor cable section containing a plurality of conductors, being insertable into said test set device through said aperture, having a first end thereof terminated by means of a first multiconductor modular type connector for engagement with said multiconductor receptacle, and having a second end thereof terminated at a splice external to said test set; plural conductors of said first multiconductor cable section extending from said splice as respective single wire cable sections which are individually terminated by respective electrical connectors for selective engagement with a telephone circuit under test; and a plurality of conductors of said first multiconductor cable section contained in a second, multiconductor cable section extending from said splice and being terminated by means of a second multiconductor modular connector for engagement with an associated multiconductor modular type receptacle external of said test set, and said respective electrical connectors comprise alligator clips, and wherein said first and multiconductor modular connectors comprise RJ 45 modular connectors.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the keypad face of a telephone craftsperson's test set; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the battery cover portion of the test set of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the battery compartment portion of a main housing section of the test set of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the battery door of the test set of Figures 1 - 3; Figure 5 is partial perspective view showing the battery compartment portion of a main housing section of the test set of Figures 1 - 4; Figure 6 is an enlarged partial perspective view of Figure 3; Figure 7 is enlarged partial perspective view of a line cord strain relief attachment; and Figure 8 diagrammatically shows a multiconductor 'spliced' line cord configured in accordance with the present invention, being terminated at one end with an RJ45 style modular plug and at a second end thereof with both an RJ45 style modular plug and a pair of alligator clips.

Figures 1 - 7 illustrate a telephone craftsperson's test set having a battery compartment that is configured to incorporate the multi-segment line cord configuration.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the keypad face of the test set, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the battery cover portion of the test set, Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the battery compartment portion of a main housing section of the test set, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the battery door, Figure 5 is partial perspective view showing the battery compartment portion of a main housing section of the test set, Figure 6 is an enlarged partial perspective view of Figure 3, and Figure 7 is enlarged partial perspective view of a line cord strain relief attachment for use with the line cord of the present invention shown in detail in Figure 8.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a craftsperson's test configured and illustrated as comprising a multi-section rear housing portion 20 and a front housing portion 30.

The rear housing portion 20 has a first top end 21, to which a craftsperson's belt clip 22 is attached, and a second or bottom end 23 having a communication line cord access port 24. The front housing portion 30 has a front face 31 containing a keypad 32, a receiver grill 33 and a microphone grill 34, and an end portion containing a speaker grille 35.

The multi-section rear housing portion 20 has a main housing section 25, and a battery compartment cover section or door 26, which is conformal with and completes the exterior housing surface of the rear housing portion. The main housing section 25 is configured to mate with the front housing portion 30, and has a battery compartment 40. The battery compartment 40 is closed along a peripheral portion 41 of the battery door 26, by means of respective ridge regions 27 and 28 of the battery door 26 which are removably engageable with respective grooves 47 and 48 of the main housing section.

The battery compartment 40 is sized to accommodate a plurality of batteries 50 (e.g., four, as a non-limiting number) at a first portion 60 thereof, and a printed wiring board 70 at a second portion 80 adjacent to the first portion 60. For this purpose, the first portion 60 of battery compartment 40 contains a fixed battery contact wall 61 disposed adjacent to a pair of land portions 62 and 63 at a first end 64 of the battery compartment 40. Land portions 62 and 63 have respective circular recesses 65 and 66, which are configured to mate with cylindrical standoffs molded into interior surface of the battery door 26. Similarly, a sloped land portion 67 adjacent to the second portion 80 of the battery compartment has circular recesses 68 and 69, which are configured to mate with respective cylindrical stand-offs molded into the interior surface of the battery door.

The fixed battery contact wall 61 has a plurality of battery contacts (four in the example shown, at 81, 82, 83 and 84) that are arranged to engage first terminals 101, 102, 103 and 104 of respective batteries 111, 112, 113 and 114.

Although the Figures show batteries 111 and 112 being longer than batteries 113 and 11 4, in reality, it is to be understood that each of the four installed batteries is of the same length. As a non-limiting example, the longer batteries 111 and 112 may correspond to rechargeable (1-1/2 AA NiCad) batteries, while the shorter batteries 11 3 and 114 may correspond to (AA alkaline) non-rechargeable batteries.

Batteries of different lengths are shown simply for purposes of using the same figure to illustrate two alternative battery types in the variable geometry battery compartment.

The battery compartment 40 further includes a moveable battery contact wall 120, which is positionable at different locations 117, 118 spaced apart from the fixed wall 61 by respectively different distances associated with dimensions of the batteries 111/112 and 113/114. Like the fixed battery contact wall 61, the moveable battery contact wall 1 20 contains a plurality of battery contacts 121, 122, 1 23 and 1 24 that engage second terminals 131, 132, 1 33 and 124 of the batteries 111, 112, 11 3 and 11 4. A plurality of wall-retention receptacles 141, 142, 143 and 144 are disposed at the spaced apart locations of the battery compartment 40. The receptacles 141 - 144 are configured as standoffs molded into the main housing section 25, and have respective slots 1 51, 1 52, 153 and 154 which capture opposite ends 1 25 and 126 of the moveable battery contact wall 1 20. A power connection to the internal circuitry of the test set is provided by way of a flexible battery cable 150, which is connected between the battery contacts 1 21 - 1 24 of the moveable battery contact wall and a power supply terminal pad 151 on the printed wiring board 70. The use of a flexible battery cable 150 serves to accommodate the different locations at which the moveable wall 1 20 is positionable.

To securely retain the moveable contact wall 1 20 in either of its two installed positions (between receptacle pair 141/142 or between receptacle pair 143/144), the interior surface of the battery door 26 has a pair of molded channels which receive a top edge portion 135 of the moveable contact wall 120. The interior surface of the battery door 26 also contains a plurality of circularly grooved ribs which are sized and located to retain the batteries in their installed positions between the fixed battery contact wall 61 and the moveable battery contact wall 120.

The moveable battery contact wall 120 further includes a generally inverted U-shaped recess 1 28 at a lower portion thereof facing the floor 42 of the battery compartment, which provides a path for a line cord 220 (shown in detail in Figure 8, to be described) from a line cord strain relief attachment 200 to a selected one of a pair of RJ 45 style modular jacks 75 and 76 on the printed wiring board 70.

This line cord path further includes the gap 71 in the fixed battery contact wall 61 and the battery compartment floor 42 under adjacent ones of the batteries.

Figure 7 shows the line cord strain relief attachment 200 comprises a line cord strain relief engagement cavity 202 formed between a pair of generally flat sidewalls 203 and 205 of the spaced apart land portions 62 and 63 of the battery compartment 40. The geometry of cavity 202 is further defined by a rear wall 211 and a pair of spaced apart front walls 213 and 21 5 of projections 217 and 21 9 of the land portions 62 and 63, respectively. The front walls 213 and 215 of the cavity 202 have a slot 221 through which the line cord extends onto the battery compartment floor 42 under the batteries. Similarly, the fixed battery contact wall 61 has a gap 71 corresponding to the slot 221 between the land portions 62 and 63. The gap 71 in the fixed battery contact wall 61 allows the line cord 220 to pass through the fixed battery contact wall 61 to a second portion 80 of the battery compartment containing printed wiring board 70.

The line cord strain relief engagement cavity 202 communicates with an exterior surface 230 of the test set body by means of a tunnel 236, having a generally rectangular cross section to prevent rotation of and sized to snugly receive a generally rectangular solid-shaped line cord strain relief element 240. Strain relief element 240 is comprised of a flexible and waterproof material, such as silicon rubber, as a non-limiting example. A first end 242 of the line cord strain relief element 240 has a notched or grooved neck 244 that is insertable into the cavity 202. The surface of the grooved neck 244 of the strain relief element 240 is nonparallel with the planar surface of the rear wall of the cavity 202, so that the application of a force along the grooved neck by way of a wedge-shaped line cord retention plug 260, to be described, will cause the line cord strain relief element 240 to be drawn into the body of the test set, thereby urging a surface 256 of a flange or lip 254 of the line cord strain relief element 240, which is configured to generally conform with the exterior surface 230 of the test set body, against exterior surface 230 of the test set, providing a tight weatherproof seal around the tunnel 236.

Namely, the distance between flange 254 and the grooved neck 244 of the strain relief element 240 is defined such that insertion of retention plug 260, as it engages the grooved neck 244 of the strain relief element 240, into the cavity 202, will cause the line cord strain relief element 240 to be drawn or urged into the tunnel 236, and bring the flange 254 tight against the exterior surface 230.

Projecting from flange 254 is a generally cylindrically shaped shroud section 270.

Strain relief element 240 also has a longitudinal bore 245 which is sized to snugly receive the line cord 220, so that the shroud section 270 provides weatherproof seal around the line cord at its entry point into the test set.

In order to releasably secure the strain relief element 240 to the test set, the generally wedge-shaped line cord retention plug 260 is preferably made of a hard plastic material, and has a generally rectangular T-shaped slot 262 therethrough, which conforms with the grooved neck 244 of the line cord strain relief element 240. These mutually conforming shapes of the T-shaped slot 262 within retention plug 260 and the grooved neck 244 of the strain relief element 240 enable the retention plug 260 to capture the strain relief element 240, as retention plug 260 is inserted into the line cord strain relief engagement cavity 202.

With the battery door 26 removed, access is provided to the battery compartment 40 and the line cord strain relief engagement cavity 202. Further, the batteries are removed and the moveable wall 120 is lifted out of the way. The grooved neck end 244 of the strain relief element 240, from which the first, modular plug-terminated end of the line cord 220 extends, is then inserted from outside of the test set body through the tunnel 236 and into the line cord strain relief engagement cavity 202, as shown by arrow 265 in Figure 7. The first end of the line cord 220 is fed through the slot 71 in the fixed battery wall 61 across the battery floor and the moveable wall is placed in one of the receptacle pairs 141/142 and 143/144, so that the line cord is accommodated with the recess 1 28 of the moveable battery contact wall 120. This allows an RJ45 style modular plug to be plugged into a selected one of a pair of RJ 45 style modular jacks.

The cord retention plug 260 is then inserted into the cavity 202, as shown by arrow 267, so that the grooved neck 244 of the strain relief element 240 is captured within the T-shaped neck of the cord retention plug 260. Because of the wedge shapes of the cavity 202 and the cord retention plug 260, pushing the retention plug 260 deeper into the cavity 202 will cause the line cord strain relief element 240 to be drawn or urged into the body of the test set, thereby tightening the surface 256 of the flange 254 of the line cord strain relief element 240 against the exterior surface 230 of the test set, and providing a weatherproof around the tunnel 236.

To replace the line cord 220, the cord retention plug 260 is readily removed from the cavity 202, by means of a screwdriver or the like, so that the retention plug becomes detached from the grooved neck 244 of the strain relief element 240, and removed from the cavity 202. This frees the neck end 242 of the strain relief element 240, so that it may be pulled out of the tunnel 236, thereby allowing the line cord 220 to be fully removed from the test set.

The multi-segment, 'spliced' multiconductor line cord 220 of the present invention is shown in detail in Figure 8 as having a first multiconductor, cable section 300, containing a plurality of (e.g., eight) conductors, preferably encased in a flexible (e.g., braided nylon) insulation-jacket. Multiconductor cable section 300 is insertable into the interior of the test set and is terminated at a first end 301 by means of a first RJ45 style modular plug 241. Within the test set, the first RJ45 style modular plug 241 of the multiconductor cable section 300 plugs into a selected one of the RJ 45 style modular jacks 75 and 76 of the test set.

A second end 302 of multiconductor cable section 300 terminates at a splice 310. At splice 310, an auxiliary pair of two of the conductors of the line cord 220 (e.g., those respectively associated with the tip and ring pin assignments of RJ45 modulator plug 241) are provided as respective (braided) insulation-jacketed, single wire cable sections 311 and 312. These single wire cable sections 311 and 312 are individually terminated by respective alligator clips 244 and 245 (preferably provided with a protective rubber boot 246, 247), so as to enable a craftsperson to directly bridge the test set to any accessible location of a telephone network, where an RJ45 connection is not available to the circuit of interest.

The second, multiconductor cable section 320 extending from splice 310 contains each of the (eight) conductors of the multiconductor cable section 300 and is terminated by an additional RJ 45 style modular plug 243. Since the second, multi conductor cable section 320 is effectively an extension of the first multiconductor cable section 320 and is terminated in an RJ45 jack, it allows the test set to be readily plugged into an external RJ45 jack of the network installation and thereby afford test set access to the circuit of interest.

Figure 8 shows the line cord strain relief element 240 described above with reference to Figure 7 is installed around the 'spliced' multiconductor line cord 220 at a location 303 between the cable splice 310 and the first end 301 of the first multiconductor cable section 300. As described above, in addition to attaching the multiconductor line cord 220 to the test set, the strain relief element 240 is configured to provide a tight weatherproof seal with the test set and facilitate replacement of the line cord. The strain relief element 240 is preferably located at a position along the line cord such that the length of the first multiconductor cable section 300 upstream of the strain relief element 240 may readily pass through the battery compartment of the test set and engage one of the jacks 75 and 76, without crowding the interior of the test set or imparting a tensile stress to the line cord.

The multiconductor, multiconnector line cord is configured to facilitate its engagement with internal circuitry of the test set (by means of a simple RJ45 plugin connection), one the one hand, and to allow the test set to be connected to a telephone circuit under test by either a similar RJ45 plug-in connection or, if such a connection is not readily available, to be bridged to conductors of a line under test, by means of alligator type clips that terminate respective cable segments extending from a cable splice external to the test set. The strain relief attachment upstream of the cable splice both facilitates replacement of the line cord and provides a secure strain-relieving, weatherproof seal at the external juncture of the line cord with the body of the test set.

A multiconductor telephone test set line cord contains multiconductor cable, a first end of which is terminated by a first RJ45 style modular plug that plugs into an RJ 45 style modular jack within the test set, and a second end of which is provided with multiple cable segments that extend from a cable splice, external to the test set. Between this cable splice and the first end of the line cord a strain relief test set attachment is provided for securely attaching the multiconductor line cord to the test set. This line cord strain relief attachment is configured to provide a tight weatherproof seal with the test set, and to facilitate replacement of the line cord. One of the multiple cable segments extending from the cable splice is a multiconductor cable section which is terminated at a second RJ45 plug. A remaining pair of wires of the multiple cable section-containing line cord, duplicating tip and ring lead associated wires thereof, is terminated by means of set of alligator clips.

Claims (11)

CLAIMS:

1. A multiconductor line cord for a utility device, said utility device having an aperture in a body thereof, said multiconductor line cord passing through said aperture for engagement with an electrical receptacle within said utility device, said multiconductor line cord comprising a first multiconductor cable section containing a plurality of conductors, being insertable into said utility device through said aperture, having a first end thereof terminated by means of a first multiconductor connector for engagement with an associated multiconductor receptacle within said utility device, and having a second end thereof terminated at a splice; respective single wire cable sections extending from said splice, containing selected conductors of said first multiconductor cable section and being individually terminated by respective electrical connectors; and a multiconductor cable section extending from said splice, containing plural conductors of said first multiconductor cable section and being terminated by means of a second multiconductor connector for engagement with an associated multi conductor receptacle external of said utility device.

2. A multiconductor line cord as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plural conductors of said second, multiconductor cable section correspond to respective ones of said plurality of conductors of said first multiconductor cable section, and said utility device comprises a telephone test set.

3. A multiconductor line cord as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein said selected conductors of said respective single wire cable sections correspond to tip and ring leads of said first multiconductor cable section including a strain relief element installed around said line cord at a location between said splice and said first end of said first multiconductor cable section, said strain relief element being configured to be insertable through said aperture and provide a tight weatherproof seal with the body of said utility device.

4. A multiconductor line cord as claimed in claim 3, wherein said line cord strain relief element has a neck that is insertable through said aperture in said body of said utility device, said strain relief element including a passageway through which said line cord extends, and a lip which is configured to substantially conform with an external surface of said body of said utility device adjacent to said aperture, and said utility device includes a strain relief element engagement cavity, and said strain relief element further includes a line cord retention plug inserted into said strain relief engagement cavity and engaging said neck of said line cord strain relief element, so as to draw said line cord strain relief element into said body of said utility device and urge said lip of said line cord strain relief element into sealing engagement with said external surface of said body of said utility device in which said neck of said line cord strain relief element and said line cord retention plug have complementarily configured, mutually engaging surfaces.

5. A multiconductor line cord as claimed in claim 4, wherein said line cord retention plug has a slot configured to engage said neck and a surface which engages a wall of said strain relief engagement cavity, such that as said line cord retention plug is inserted into said strain relief element engagement cavity, engaging said neck of said line cord and said wall of said strain relief engagement cavity, said line cord strain relief element is drawn into said body of said utility device, thereby urging said lip of said line cord strain relief element into sealing engagement with said external surface of said body of said utility device in which said line cord strain relief element is generally rectangular-configured, and wherein said aperture through said utility device comprises a rectangular-configured tunnel sized to snugly receive said rectangular solid-shaped line cord strain relief element, and said neck of the strain relief element is tapered relative to the rear wall of said cavity, so that insertion of said line cord retention plug causes said line cord strain relief element to be drawn into said utility device.

6. A multiconductor line cord as claimed in claim 5, wherein said strain relief engagement cavity is formed within a battery compartment of said utility device, and said battery compartment has walls between which batteries for powering said utility device are installed, said walls having openings for said line cord as said line cord passes under said batteries to said first multiconductor connector.

7. A multiconductor line cord as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said line cord strain relief element includes a shroud having a longitudinal bore sized to snugly receive said line cord, so that said shroud section provides weatherproof seal around the line cord as it extends through said strain relief element and into said utility device, and respective electrical connectors comprise alligator clips, said first and said second multiconductor connectors comprise an RJ 45 modular connector.

8. A multiconductor line cord for a telephone test set, said test set device having an aperture in a body thereof, said multiconductor line cord passing through said aperture for engagement with a modular multiconductor electrical receptacle within said test set, device, said multiconductor line cord comprising a first multiconductor cable section containing a plurality of conductors, being insertable into said test set device through said aperture, having a first end thereof terminated by means of a first multiconductor modular type connector for engagement with said multiconductor receptacle, and having a second end thereof terminated at a splice external to said test set; plural conductors of said first multiconductor cable section extending from said splice as respective single wire cable sections which are individually terminated by respective electrical connectors for selective engagement with a telephone circuit under test; and a plurality of conductors of said first multiconductor cable section contained in a second, multiconductor cable section extending from said splice and being terminated by means of a second multiconductor modular connector for engagement with an associated multiconductor modular type receptacle external of said test set and said respective electrical connectors comprise alligator clips, and wherein said first and multiconductor modular connectors comprise RJ 45 modular connectors.

9. A multiconductor line cord as claimed in claim 8, including a strain relief element installed around said line cord at a location between said splice and said first end of said first multiconductor cable section, said strain relief element being configured to be insertable through said aperture and provide a tight weatherproof seal with body of said test set.

10. A multi conductor line cord as claimed in claim 9, wherein said line cord strain relief element has a neck that is insertable through said aperture in said body of said test set, said strain relief element including a passageway through which said line cord extends, and a lip which is configured to generally conform with an external surface of said body of said test set adjacent to said aperture, and said test set includes a strain relief element engagement cavity, and said strain relief element further includes a line cord retention plug inserted into said strain relief engagement cavity and engaging said neck of said line cord strain relief element, so as to draw said line cord strain relief element into said body of said test set and thereby urge said lip of said line cord strain relief element into sealing engagement with said external surface of said body of said test set.

11. A multiconductor line cord as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said line cord strain relief element is substantially rectangular-configured, and said aperture through said test set comprises a corresponding rectangularconfigured tunnel sized to snugly receive said corresponding rectangular solidshaped line cord strain relief element, and said neck of the strain relief element is tapered relative to the rear wall of said cavity, so that insertion of said line cord retention plug causes said line cord strain relief element to be drawn into said test set.

1 2. A multiconductor line cord as claimed in claim 11, wherein said line cord strain relief element further includes a shroud having a longitudinal bore sized to snugly receive said line cord, so that said shroud section provides weatherproof seal around the line cord as it extends through said strain relief element and into said test set in which said selected conductors of said respective single wire cable sections correspond to tip and ring leads of said first multiconductor cable section.