Abstract:
A cable assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises an electrical connector including an insulative housing defining a mating portion and a pair of positioning portions extending rearwardly from the mating portion, a plurality of terminals received in the insulative housing and at least one metal shell surrounded the insulative housing; a cable electrically terminated to the terminals; and a rear cover substantially enveloping the insulative housing and snugly supported by the positioning portions.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a cable assembly, and more particularly to a cable assembly with an outer cover robustly supported by portions of a housing of a connector thereof thereby preventing the outer cover from being swayed with respect to the housing. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
       [0002]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,210,965 B1 issued to Zhong etc. (hereinafter referred to as Zhong &#39;965 patent) on May 1, 2007 discloses a cable connector assembly 1, it includes an electrical connector 100, a cable 200, an inner cover 300 and an outer cover 400 covering the outer portion of the electrical connector 100 and the cable 200, the inner cover 300 is received in one end of the outer cover 400 and covers the electrical connector 100. Two lateral sides of the outer cover 400 are general semicircle shape and defines a plurality of bulges 420 in the laterals of the inner of the outer cover 400 for forming a plurality of notches 430. The connector 100 defines an upper shelter 15 and a lower shelter 16 therein, the upper shelter 15 and lower shelter 16 respectively has a pair of upper clasping slices 151 and a pair of lower clasping slices 152 which can be inserted into the notches 430 of the outer cover 400, thus, the outer cover 400 can be assembled to the electrical connector 100. 
         [0003]    Please referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the Zhong &#39;965 patent, the upper shelter 15 and lower shelter 16 are covered by the outer cover 400, however, there are a pair of gaps respectively formed between the outer cover 400, the upper shelter 15 and the lower shelter 16 so that the outer cover 400 are not tightly fitting around the upper shelter 15 and lower shelter 16 tightly, and the plug portion of the cable connector assembly 1 will be deflected relative to the outer cover 400 when the cable connector assembly 1 in the process of plugging into and pulling out from the complementary connector due to the upward or downward force exerted on the outer cover 400 of the cable connector assembly 1. In addition, in the process of manual assembling of the cable connector assembly 1, the positioning error between the outer cover 400, upper shelter 15 and lower shelter 16 are generated so that the central axes of the outer cover 400 and the housing 11 are misaligned, in other words, the parallelism therebetween are not well. 
         [0004]    As discussed above, an improved cable assembly overcoming the shortages of existing technology is needed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cable assembly with the insulative housing and the cover thereof positioned well and attached tightly making the central axis of the insulative is aligned with the central axis of the cover. 
         [0006]    In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, a cable assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises an electrical connector including an insulative housing defining a mating portion and a pair of positioning portions extending rearwardly from the mating portion, a plurality of terminals received in the insulative housing and at least one metal shell surrounded the insulative housing; a cable electrically terminated to the terminals; and a rear cover substantially enveloping the insulative housing and snugly supported by the positioning portions. 
         [0007]    Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cable assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a partial exploded, perspective view of the cable assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an exploded, perspective view of an electrical connector of the cable assembly; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from another aspect; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a housing of the cable assembly; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a is a perspective view of a front cover of the cable assembly; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a cross section view of the cable assembly of  FIG. 1  taken along line  7 - 7 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]    Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 2 , a cable assembly  1  in accordance with the present invention includes an electrical connector  2 , a cable  3  electrically connected to the electrical connector  2 , a front cover  4  and a rear cover  5  assembled to the electrical connector  2 . 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the electrical connector  2  includes an insulative housing  21 , a plurality of the terminals  22  received in the insulative housing  21 , a printed circuit board  23  soldered to the terminals  22  and a front metal shell  24 , an upper rear metal shell  25  and a lower rear metal shell  26  surrounding the insulative housing  21 . 
         [0018]    The insulative housing  21  includes a mating portion  211  and a pair of positioning portions  212  extending rearwardly from two sides of the mating portion  21 . The mating portion  211  is generally of a flat rectangular shape defining a receiving space  2111  recessed from a front surface thereof. The receiving space  2111  is enclosed by a bottom wall, a top wall and two side walls of the mating portion  211 . A plurality of terminal receiving passageways  2112  are defined in an inner surface of the bottom wall, extending in a longitudinal direction and arranged in a transverse direction. A plurality of openings  2113  are defined in a rear wall of the insulative housing  21  and communicated with the receiving space  2111 . A pair of slots  2114  are formed on the two opposite sides of the insulative housing  21 , and a pair of ribs  2115  are protruded from the front and top surface and disposed on the opposite edges of the insulative housing  21 , and two notches  2116  are formed on the top surface of insulative housing  21  and disposed between the receiving space  2111  and rib  2115  in the transverse direction, and a pair of ribs  2117  are also formed on two lateral sides of the bottom surface of the insulative housing  21 . 
         [0019]    The pair of positioning portions  212  extends rearwardly from two sides of the mating portion  211  of the insulative housing  21  are symmetrically arranged at lateral sides thereof. The positioning portion  212  defines a base section  2121  extending rearwardly from rear surface of the mating portion  211 . The base section  2121  defines a horizontal through slot  2122  communicated with the corresponding slot  2114  formed on the side of the insulative housing  21 . A pair of projections  2123  are formed on the top surface of the base section  2121 . A U-shaped rear positioning block  2124  protruding outwardly from the top and bottom surfaces of the base section  2121 . The rear positioning block  2124  includes a pair of horizontal sections  2125  respectively protruding outward from the top and bottom surfaces of the base section  2121  and a curve section  2126  connected with the two horizontal section  2125 . The outer surface of the curve section  2126  is substantially of semicircular-shaped and the inner surface of the curve section  2126  is a vertical plane. The inner surface of the curve section  2126  is parallel to an outer side surface of the base section  2121 , and a passageway  2127  extending in a longitudinal direction is formed therebetween. The passageway  2127  is communicated with the slot  2114  formed on the two sides of the mating portion  211  and the horizontal through slot  2122 . A path is formed along the horizontal through slot  2122 , the passageway  2127  and the slot  2122 . The base section  2121  further defines a front positioning block  2128  which is similar to the rear positioning block  2124  and located in the front of the rear position block  2124 . A pair of ribs  2129  are protruded outward from inclined lateral sides of the front positioning block  2128  respectively. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 4  and  7 , the terminals  22  are received in the insulative housing  2  and each terminal  22  defines a contacting section  221 , a soldering section  222  and an engaging section  223  connected with the contacting section  221  and the soldering section  222 . 
         [0021]    The printed circuit board  23  can be soldered to the soldering sections  222  of the terminals  22 . 
         [0022]    The front metal shell  24  can be stamped from a metal plate, it includes a front wall  241 , a top wall  242  and a bottom wall  243  extending rearwardly from upper and lower sides of the front wall  241 . The top wall  242  defines a pair of holes  244  at the rear end thereof engaged with the projections  2123  formed on the base section  2121  of the positioning portion  212 , and further defines a pair of slits  245  at two sides thereof corresponding to the notches  2116  formed on the top surface of the mating portion  211 . The front wall  241  defines an opening  246  corresponding to the receiving space  2111  of the mating portion  211 . 
         [0023]    The upper rear metal shell  25  includes a top wall  251 , a pair of side walls  252  and a rear wall  253  extending downwardly respectively from two sides and rear end of the top wall  251 . The top wall  251  and two side walls  252  each defines a cutout. The two side walls  252  each defines a protrusion  254  thereon. 
         [0024]    The lower rear metal shell  26  includes a rear wall  261 , a bottom wall  262  extending forwardly from lower end of rear wall  261 , a pair of latch arms  263  extending upwardly and forwardly from two sides of the bottom wall  261  in turn. The pair of latch arms  263  each has a locking barb  264  extending outward from the free end thereof. A pair of engaging arms  265  extending forwardly from two sides of the rear wall  261 , and each engaging arm  265  has a plurality of barbs  266  on its upper and lower surfaces. 
         [0025]    The upper and lower rear metal shell  25 ,  26  enclose the rear portion of the insulative housing  21 . A hollow termination nest (not figured) are enclosed by the between the two positioning portions  212  and the upper and lower rear metal shell  25 ,  26 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 7 , a metal ring  31  is crimped to the cable  3 . A strain relief block  32  is formed on the front end of the cable  3  and disposed out of the metal ring  31 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7 , the rear cover  5  is generally pedrail-shaped defining a rear side and a peripheral side. A receiving room  51  is enclosed by the rear side and the peripheral side, and a hole (not figed) is defined in the rear side. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  6  and  7 , the shape of the front cover  4  is similar to that of the rear cover  5 , but the size of the front cover  4  is smaller than the rear cover  5 . The front cover  4  includes a guiding portion  41  and a positioning portion  42  extending rearwardly from the guiding portion  41 . The guiding portion  41  has a slot  411  corresponding to the interface of the electrical connector  2  and allowing the front end of the electrical connector  2  to pass through. The outer diameter of the positioning portion  42  is smaller than the guiding portion  41 . A pair of paralleled ribs  421  are respectively formed on the two inner sides of the positioning portion  42 . A receiving slot  422  is formed between the paralleled ribs  421 . The outer surface of the front cover  4  can be attached to the inner surface of the rear cover  5 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 7 , the assembling process of the cable assembly  1  in according to the present invention starts from assembling the terminals  22  into the insulative housing  21  in a rear to front direction. The terminals  22  are passed through the openings  2113  and the terminal receiving passageways  2112  in turn. The contacting section  221  of the terminal  22  is received into the terminal receiving passageways  2112 , the engaging section  223  engages with the openings  2113  making the terminal  22  positioned in the insulative housing  2  and the soldering section  222  extends out of the rear end of the mating portion  211  of the insulative housing  21 . 
         [0030]    After the terminals  22  are assembled to the insulative housing  21 , then soldering the printed circuit board  3  to soldering section  222  of the terminals  22  when the printed circuit board  23  is supported by the supporting apparatus (not figured) or other accessorial device. And then soldering the cable  3  assembled with the metal ring  31  to the printed circuit board  23 . 
         [0031]    After the printed circuit board  23  and the cable  3  are together assembled to the insulative housing  21  with the terminals  22  therein, then assembling the lower rear metal shell  26  to the insulative housing  21 , the latch arm  263  of the rear metal shell  26  is received into the space comprised by the horizontal through slot  2122 , the passageway  2127  and the slot  2114 , the locking barb  264  is exposed out of the slot  2114 , the engaging arms  265  is received and engaged with the passageway  2127  by the barbs  266  thereon interfering with the inner surface of the passageway  2127 . 
         [0032]    After the lower rear metal shell  26  assembled to the insulative housing  21 , then assembling the upper rear metal shell  25  to the insulative housing  21 . The protrusion  254  disposed on the side wall  252  is received into the he horizontal through slot  2122  making the lower rear metal shell  26  positioned on the insulative housing  21 . So the printed circuit board  23  is enclosed by the upper and lower metal shell  25 ,  26 . 
         [0033]    Then, assembling the front metal shell  24  to the insulative housing  21  in a front to rear direction. The front wall  241  and the front section of the top wall  242  disposed between the pair of ribs  2115  are fitting to the front and top surface of the mating portion  211  of the insulative housing  21 . The front section of the bottom wall  243  disposed between the pair of ribs  2117  is fitting to the bottom surface of the mating portion  211 . The pair of holes  244  at the rear end of the top wall  242  engages with the projections  2123  formed on insulative housing  21 . 
         [0034]    After the front metal shell  24 , the upper rear metal shell  25  and the lower rear metal mell  26  are all assembled to the insulative housing  21 , the printed circuit board  23  are surrounded by the above metal shells  24 ,  25 ,  26 . Then the strain relief block  32  is formed in the room surrounded by the metal shells  24 ,  25 ,  26  through the insert molding method. 
         [0035]    Then, assembling the rear cover  5  to the electrical connector  2  in a rear to front direction, the cable  3  passes through the hole of the rear wall of the rear cover  5 . The pair of rear positioning blocks  2124  of the positioning portions  212  of the insulative housing  21  are received into the receiving room  51 , the outer surface of the positioning block  2124  is attached to the inner surface of the rear cover  5 . The rear cover  5  and the positioning block  2124  are stuck with each other by the gluewater so that the insulative housing  21  and the rear cover  5  are positioned tightly and at a lower angle therebetween in the horizontal and vertical direction. 
         [0036]    At last, assembling the front cover  4  into the receiving room  51  of the rear cover  5  and out of the insulative housing  21 . The pair of ribs  2129  of the front positioning block  2124  are received into the receiving slot  422  of the front cover  4 . The front cover  4  can be stuck to the front positioning block  2128  and the rear cover  5  by the gluewater. The front cover  4 , the rear cover  5  and the insulative housing  21  are assembled together tightly and positioned in high precision. 
         [0037]    After the above assembling steps, the entire process of assembling the cable assembly  1  is finished. 
         [0038]    It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.