Abstract:
A cable connector is provided which includes an insulating body including a frame which defines a region therein; a plurality of electrical terminals fixed to the insulating body and extended into the region; and a plurality of cables electrically connected to the electrical terminals respectively in the region. The region is filled with an insulator to embed the electrical terminals and the cables. The cable connector has a relatively high reliability.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This non-provisional patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) from Patent Application No. 102015000089212 filed in Italy on Dec. 30, 2015, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a cable connector, in particular an integrated cable connector. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The cable connector is widely used in many technical fields, such as motor vehicles. Usually, the cable connector includes an insulating body with a plurality of electrical terminals, and a plurality of cables respectively welded to corresponding electrical terminals. Such cable connector is liable to be subject to short circuits. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Hence there is a desire for cable connector which makes it possible to remedy this problem. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, the present invention provides a cable connector which includes an insulating body comprising a frame which defines a region therein; a plurality of electrical terminals fixed to the insulating body and extending into the region; and a plurality of cables electrically connected to the electrical terminals respectively in the region. The region is filled with an insulator to embed the electrical terminals and the cables. 
         [0006]    In the above cable connector, the insulator can achieve an effective and stable electrical insulation between the terminals and the cables embedded therein, and effective protect against the infiltration of water, therefore to reduce the occurrence of short circuits. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to figures of the accompanying drawings. In the figures, identical structures, elements or parts that appear in more than one figure are generally labeled with a same reference numeral in all the figures in which they appear. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are generally chosen for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale. The figures are listed below. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is an assembly view of an cable connector in the preferred embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates the connection between the cables and the electrical terminals from a top of the cable connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates the connection between the cables and the electrical terminals from a bottom of the cable connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  illustrates the cable connector of  FIG. 1  with a top cover thereof removed to show an interior of the cable connector. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the cable connector of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0013]    The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described as follows with reference to the accompanying drawings. Apparently, the embodiments as described below are merely part of, rather than all, embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present disclosure, any other embodiment obtained by a person skilled in the art without paying any creative effort shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention. 
         [0014]    It is noted that, when a component is described to be “fixed” to another component, it can be directly fixed to the another component or there may be an intermediate component. When a component is described to be “connected” to another component, it can be directly connected to the another component or there may be an intermediate component. When a component is described to be “disposed” on another component, it can be directly disposed on the another component or there may be an intermediate component. The directional phraseologies such as “perpendicular”, “horizontal”, “left”, “right” or similar expressions are for the purposes of illustration only. 
         [0015]    Unless otherwise specified, all technical and scientific terms have the ordinary meaning as understood by people skilled in the art. The terms used in this disclosure are illustrative rather than limiting. The term “and/or” as used in this disclosure means that each and every combination of one or more associated items listed are included. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a cable connector  10  includes an electrically insulating body  11 , a plurality of electrical terminals  14 ,  15 , and a plurality of cables  1 ,  2 . The electrical terminals  14 ,  15  are respectively fixed to the insulating body  11 . The insulating body  11  includes a housing  12  for coupling with a corresponding connector, and a frame  13 . Each electrical terminal is located in the housing  12  and extends into a region  131  surrounded by the frame  13 . The electrical terminals  14 ,  15  and the corresponding cables  1 ,  2  are connected in the region  131 , respectively. The region  131  is filled with an insulator  18  which is formed by injection molding and solidified into the region  131  to embed the electrical terminals  14 ,  15  and the cables  1 ,  2 . The material of the insulator  18  can be synthetic resin. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the insulating body  11  is made of moulded plastic material. The electrical terminals  14 ,  15  are provided in the insulating body  11  in a moulding operation. The electrical terminals  14 ,  15  and the corresponding cables  1 ,  2  are connected by welding. 
         [0018]    The cable connector  10  further includes at least one electromagnetic shielding element  17  disposed in the region  131  surrounded by the frame  13 . The electromagnetic shielding element  17  can be a capacitor, inductor, ferrite or other components which is able to reduce electromagnetic interference. The terminals of the electromagnetic shielding element  17  are embedded in the insulator  18 , and respectively connected to the corresponding electrical terminals  14 . Preferably, a holder  171  extends from the frame  13  into the region  131 , to carry the at least one electromagnetic shielding element  17 . The terminals of the electromagnetic shielding element  17  and the corresponding electrical terminals  14  are connected by welding. 
         [0019]    Advantageously, the insulator  18  can achieve an effective and stable electrical insulation between the terminals and the cables embedded therein, and effective protect against the infiltration of water, thus reducing the occurrence of short circuits. 
         [0020]    Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the ends of the cables  1 ,  2  are welded to the corresponding electrical terminals  14 ,  15  from the top side of the frame  13 . Referring again to  FIG. 3 , the terminals of the electromagnetic shielding element  17  are welded to the corresponding electrical terminals  14  from the bottom side of the frame  13 . 
         [0021]    In the embodiment, the frame  13  is a hollow frame, substantially rectangular, and preferably made integral with the housing  12 . A portion of each electrical terminal is embedded in the housing  12 , insulated from each other by the housing  12 . The cable connector  10  further includes two opposite covers  20  respectively fixed to the top side and the bottom side of the frame  13 . The covers  20  can be made of plastic material, to cover and protect the insulator  18 . 
         [0022]    The frame  13  includes a first sidewall  13   a  and a second sidewall  13   b  which are perpendicular to the extension direction of the cables  1 ,  2 , a third sidewall  13   c  and a fourth sidewall  13   d  along the extension direction of the cables  1 ,  2 . The covers have engagement formations  21  coupled with corresponding retaining formations  22  arranged on the outer surfaces of the third sidewall  13   c  and the fourth sidewall  13   d.  The electrical terminals  14 ,  15  extend through first sidewall  13   a.    
         [0023]    Preferably, the middle electrical terminals  15  are overlapped in height direction of frame  13  from top cover  20  to bottom cover  20 , so the size of the housing can be reduced. 
         [0024]    In the embodiment, the insulating body  11  further includes a mounting plate  132  with a plurality of passages or holes through which the cables  1 ,  2  can pass. The second sidewall  13   b  has a notch fitted for the mounting plate  132 . In alternative embodiments, the mounting plate  132  also can be made integrally with the second sidewall  13   b.    
         [0025]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1-4 , the symbol H indicates a plurality of electrical cables  1  and  2 . In the exemplary illustrated embodiment, the number of the cables H is four, two power cables and two signal cables, but the number of the cables H is not limited to four cables in other embodiments. 
         [0026]    It should be understood that the frame  13  shall not be limited to hollow frame, rectangular or made integral with the housing  12 . For example, the frame can be other shape. The frame  13  can has a bottom and the cable connector  10  only includes one cover fixed to the top side of the frame  13 . The housing  12  can be made separately and mounted to the frame  13 . 
         [0027]    In the description and claims of the present application, each of the verbs “comprise”, “include”, “contain” and “have”, and variations thereof, are used in an inclusive sense, to specify the presence of the stated item but not to exclude the presence of additional items. 
         [0028]    Although the invention is described with reference to one or more preferred embodiments, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications are possible. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be determined by reference to the claims that follow.