Abstract:
A cable assembly ( 100 ) includes an insulative cover defining at least one groove ( 13 ) with a front opening ( 14 ); a connector ( 2 ) accommodated in the at least one groove, the connector ( 2 ) having a terminal module ( 21 ) enclosed in a metallic shell ( 22 ); a cable ( 5 ) electrically coupled to the terminal module of the connector; a printed circuit board ( 3 ) erectly disposed in the insulative cover and behind the connector; and a conductive member ( 4 ) arranged inside the insulative cover and electrically connected to the metallic shell via the printed circuit board, the conductive member defining a cavity aligning a through hole in the insulative cover.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a cable assembly, more particularly to a cable assembly with improved grounding means. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Nowadays, an electronic device is lower profile and multifunctional. So accessories are attached to the electronic device, such as cable assembly should be transmitting fast, smaller contour, simplified and friendly usage. USB and Audio jack are commonly input/output interfaces for a computer or other consumer device, and those interfaces are commonly mounted to a cage of a computer or other electronic devices and to link with other peripheral devices. CN Pat. No. 00115329 issued on Mar. 31, 2004 to Ko et al. discloses a cable assembly adapted for mounting to a cage of a computer. The cable assembly includes an external cover and two USB connector enclosed in the external cover. Two bolts are assembled to lateral sides of a front side of the external cover, and a conductive pad with a hole therein is threaded and assembled to each bolt and further contacts a metallic shell of the corresponding USB connector to achieve better grounding function. However, relation between the conductive pad and the metallic shell may loose, after the USB connector mates again and again with its counterpart. 
         [0005]    Hence, a cable assembly with improved grounding device is desired. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cable assembly which has reliable grounding means. 
         [0007]    In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a cable assembly in accordance with present invention comprises an insulative cover defining at least one groove with a front opening; a connector accommodated in the at least one groove, the connector having a terminal module enclosed in a metallic shell; a cable electrically coupled to the terminal module of the connector; a printed circuit board erectly disposed in the insulative cover and behind the connector; and a conductive member arranged inside the insulative cover and electrically connected to the metallic shell via the printed circuit board, the conductive member defining a cavity aligning a through hole in the insulative cover. 
         [0008]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is an assembled, perspective view of a cable assembly; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , with a top cover is removed upwardly. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but viewed from other direction; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is an exploded, perspective view of the cable assembly; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is top side view of  FIG. 2 , after the top cover is removed away; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the top cover. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. 
         [0017]    Reference will be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail, wherein depicted elements are not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by same or similar reference numeral through the several views and same or similar terminology. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , a cable assembly  100  in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative cover  1 , a number of connectors  2 , a printed circuit board  3 , two conductive members  4  and a number of cables  5 . Detail description of these elements and their relationship and other elements formed thereon will be detailed below. 
         [0019]    The insulative cover  1  includes a top cover  11  and a bottom cover  12 . The top cover  11  and the bottom cover  12  together to form four grooves  13  in front segment thereof and every two adjacent grooves  13  is separated by a spacer  16 . Each of the grooves  13  has a front opening  14  which is defined in a front side of the insulative cover  1 , and a cable outlet  15  is defined in a back side of the insulative cover  1 . A plurality of holes  120  are defined in side walls of the bottom cover  12 , and a plurality of posts  110  are formed on side walls of the top cover  11  and inserted into the holes  120 . Two protrusions  123  are formed on outer sides of the side walls of the bottom cover  12 , and corresponding clasps  112  are formed on the top cover  11  and latch with the protrusions  123 , while the top cover  11  and the bottom cover  12  are combined together. Two first columns  122  are formed on a middle segment of a lower side  121  of the bottom cover  12 . A first through hole  1220  is defined in the first column  122  and the bottom cover  12 . Two second columns  114  are formed on an upper side  113  of the top cover  11 , and a second through hole  1130  is defined in the second column  114  and the upper side  113 . The first through hole  1220  aligns with the second through hole  1130 . A cutout  1221  is defined in a tip of the first column  122 , and three ribs  1222  are located in the cutout  1221 . 
         [0020]    The connectors  2  are accommodated in the grooves  13 . The connectors  2  includes two audio jacks  26  disposed in juxtaposed manner and two USB connectors  20  respectively arranged at lateral sides of the two audio jacks  26 . Each USB connector  2  includes a terminal module  21  and a metallic shell  22  enclosing the terminal module  21 . The terminal module  21  and the metallic shell  22  together define a mating port  25  exposed outside of the insulative cover  1  via the front opening  14 . The metallic shell  22  has an expanded front end  220  and two rearwardly extended legs  221  apart from each other along a vertical direction. The terminal module  21  has a dielectric body  211  and a plurality of terminals  212  supported by the dielectric body  211 . 
         [0021]    The printed circuit board  3  has a plurality of holes  31  to allow tail portions  2121  of the terminals  212  and legs  221  of the metallic shells  22  passing through. The printed circuit board  3  is erectly disposed and sandwiched between the spacers  16  and some blocks  17  located behind the spacers  16 . Two metal foils  32  are formed on a top section of a front side of the printed circuit board  3 . A conductive trace  311  connects the metal foils  32  and to the two holes  31  located at each lateral side of the printed circuit board  3 . The two legs  221  of the metallic shell  22  are inserted into the two holes  31  and soldered to the conductive trace  311 . A notch  34  is defined in a top side of printed circuit board  3  and located above the corresponding metal foil  32 . 
         [0022]    Each of the two conductive members  4  is made of metal sheet and includes a main body  41  and a neck  42  with a hook (not numbered) formed at a front end thereof. A cavity  410  is defined in a middle segment of the main body  41 , and three holes  411  are located around the cavity  410  to receive ribs  1221  of the first column  122  while the main body  41  of the conductive member  4  is arranged in the cutout  1221  and supported by the first column  122 . The neck  42  passes through the notch  34 , with the hook disposed in front end thereof and soldered to the metal foil  32 . The cavity  410  is smaller than the first through hole  1220  of the first column  122 . Further more, the cavity  410  aligns the first through hole  1220  along the vertical direction. The main body  41  is parallel to the lower side  121  of the bottom cover  12  and perpendicular to the printed circuit board  3 . Thus, the metallic shell  22 , the printed circuit board  3  and the metal member  4  are electrically and mechanically linked together to form an inner grounding line. 
         [0023]    Each cable  5  has a number of wires and are respectively soldered to the tail portions  2121  of the terminals  212 . The cables  5  exit the insulative cover  5  via the cable outlet  15 . 
         [0024]    The top cover  11  is assembled to the bottom cover  12 , with the second columns  114  standing on the first columns  122 . Thus, the metal member  4  is sandwiched between the first columns  122  and the second columns  114 . 
         [0025]    The cable assembly  100  is mounted to a cage of a computer, with a corresponding bolt (not shown) threaded the first through hole  1220 , the cavity  410  and the second through hole  1130 . Thus, the cable assembly  100  and the cage of the computer forms a grounding line, by the bolt contacting the metal member  4  which is inside the insulative cover  1 . 
         [0026]    In addition, a grounding terminal  212  of the USB connector  20  can be electrically connected to the metal member  3  via the printed circuit board  3  by similar manner as the metallic shell  22  connected with the metal member  3 . 
         [0027]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. For example, the tongue portion is extended in its length or is arranged on a reverse side thereof opposite to the supporting side with other contacts but still holding the contacts with an arrangement indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.