Abstract:
A cable connector assembly ( 100 ) for mating with a complementary connector along a front-to-back direction includes a housing ( 1 ) defining a receiving space ( 15 ) and a top surface, a number of contacts ( 21, 22 ) received in the receiving space of the housing, a cable ( 6 ) electrically connecting with the contacts, a pulling member ( 3 ) assembled to the top surface of the housing and a conductive shell ( 4 ) assembled to the housing. The conductive shell includes a body portion ( 40 ) essentially vertically shielding the pulling member and a latch member ( 5 ) integrally extending from the body portion of the conductive shell. The latch member is capable of being actuated by the pulling member for being deflected in a vertical direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction, so as to latch or unlatch with regard to the complementary connector.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/201,521 filed on Aug. 11, 2005 and entitled “CABLE CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY WITH LATCHING MECHANISM”, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/201,461 filed on Aug. 11, 2005 and entitled “CABLE CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY WITH LATCHING MECHANISM”, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/213,048 filed on Aug. 26, 2005 and entitled “CABLE CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY WITH EMI GASKET”, all of which have the same applicant and assignee as the present invention. The disclosure of these related applications is incorporated herein by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to a cable connector assembly, and more particularly to a cable connector assembly used for high-speed signal transmission. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   A committee called SFF is an ad hoc group formed to address storage industry needs in a prompt manner. When formed in 1990, the original goals were limited to define de facto mechanical envelopes within disk drives can be developed to fit compact computer and other small products. Specification SFF-8088 defines matable Compact Multilane Shielded connectors adopted for being used in laptop portable computer to connect small-size disk drives to a printed circuit board. The connectors comprise a cable connector assembly connecting with the small-size drive and a header mounted on the printed circuit board. The cable connector assembly defined in the specification comprises a pair of engageable metal housings together defining a receiving space therebetween, a PCB received in the receiving space, a cable comprising a plurality of conductors electrically connecting with the PCB, and a latching mechanism assembled to a top surface of the upper metal housing. The latching mechanism comprises an elongated T-shape latch member for latching with the header mentioned above and a pulling member cooperating with the latch member for actuating the latch member to separate from the header. The latch member is assembled to a rear portion of a base of the upper housing with latch portion exposed beyond a front portion of the base of the upper housing to locate above a tongue portion of the upper housing. However, such elongated latch member is hard to be actuated by the pulling member, otherwise the latch member must have enough thickness or made by high-quality material having enough rigidity to achieve the goal of latching reliably and unlatching easily. 
   Hence, an improved cable connector assembly is provided in the present invention to address the problems mentioned above and meet the current trend. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cable connector assembly which can latch with a complementary connector reliably and unlatch from the complementary connector easily. 
   In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a cable connector assembly in accordance with the present invention which mates with a complementary connector along a front-to-back direction comprises a housing defining a receiving space and a top surface, a plurality of contacts received in the receiving space of the housing, a cable electrically connecting with the contacts, a pulling member assembled to the top surface of the housing and a conductive shell assembled to the housing. The conductive shell comprises a body portion essentially vertically shielding the pulling member and a latch member integrally extending from the body portion of the conductive shell. The latch member is capable of being actuated by the pulling member for being deflected in a vertical direction perpendicular to the front-to-back direction, so as to latch or unlatch with regard to the complementary connector. 
   Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of a cable connector assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from a different angle; 
       FIG. 3  is a partially assembled view of the cable connector assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from a different angle; 
       FIG. 5  is an assembled view of the cable connector assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 5  along line  6 — 6 ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 5  along line  7 — 7 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–2 , a cable connector assembly  100  in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing  1 , a printed circuit board (PCB)  2  located in the housing  1 , a cable  6  electrically connecting with the PCB  2 , a conductive shell  4  assembled to the housing  1 , a latch member  5  integrally formed with the metal shell  4 , and a pulling member  3  cooperating with the latch member  5 . The latch member  5  and the pulling member  3  together form a latch mechanism (not labeled) used for latching/unlatching with a complementary connector (not shown). 
   Please refer to  FIGS. 1–2  again, the housing  1  is made of metal material and comprises a base  11 , a cover  12  engageable with the base  11  and a receiving space  15  formed between the base and the cover  11 ,  12 . The metal housing  1  also comprises a rectangular base portion  13  and an elongated tongue portion  14  extending forwardly from the base portion  13 . 
   The base  11  comprises a first base section  11   a  and a first tongue section  11   b  extending forwardly from the first base section  11   a . The first base section  11   a  comprises a first flat portion  110 , a pair of first flanges  112  and a first rear wall  113  extending upwardly from opposite side edges and rear edge of the first flat portion  110 . The front portions of the first flanges  112  are cut to present the first flanges  112  L-shaped. A first substantially semicircular opening  1130  is defined in the first rear wall  113  and a pair of first screw holes  1312  are defined in the first rear wall  113  and located at opposite sides of the first semicircular opening  1130 . A first slit  1120  extends downwardly from a top surface of the first base section  11   a  and into the first flanges  112  and a front portion of the first rear wall  113 . The first tongue section  11   b  comprises a first panel  118  formed with a pair of ribs  114  located at opposite sides thereof. Each rib  114  forms a tip end  1140  extending beyond a front edge of the first panel  118 . The first panel  118  also forms two pairs of first standoffs  115  spaced arranged thereon, and each first standoff  115  defines a first positioning hole  1150  therein. A pair of U-shape cutouts  117  extend rearward from the front edge of the first panel  118  and respectively locate adjacent to corresponding ribs  1140 . 
   The cover  12  comprises a second base section  12   a  and a second tongue section  12   b  extending forwardly from the second base section  12   a . The second base section  12   a  comprises a second flat portion  120 , a pair of second flanges  122  and a second rear wall  123  extending downwardly from opposite side edges and a rear edge of the second flat portion  120 . The rear portions of the second flanges  122  and the second rear wall  123  are cut to present the second flanges  122  L-shaped. A second substantially semicircular opening  1230  is defined in the second rear wall  123 . A pair of second screw holes  1232  are defined through the second rear wall  123  and locate at opposite sides of the second semicircular opening  1230 . A cutout  1233  is further defined on top side of the second rear wall  123  between the pair of second screw holes  1232 . Corresponding to the first slit  1120  of the base  11 , a continuous protruding ridge  1220  integrally extend downwardly from inner edges of the second flanges  122  and the second rear wall  123 . A pair of first channels  121  are respectively defined in opposite sides of the second base portion  12   a  extending from a front edge of the second flat portion  120  to the second rear wall  123 . The second flat portion  120  defines a first recess section  127  designated to engage with the pulling member  3 . The first recess section  127  is in communication with the cutout  1233  and consists of different-size first and second recesses  1270 ,  1272 , and a deeper and narrower second recess section  128  formed in a front portion of the second flat portion  120  to communicate with a front surface of the second flat portion  120 . A deeper slit  1280  is defined in the front portion of the second flat portion  120  and extends in a direction perpendicular to that of the second recess section  128  to communicate with the second recess section  128 . A transversely-extending bar  1284  is formed at a front end of the second recess section  128  with a pair of projections  1285  arranged thereon. As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 7 , the second recess section  128  has a bottom surface (not labeled) formed with a first flat surface  1281  adjacent to the first recess section  127 , a second flat surface  1282  near the bar  1284  and a rearwardly inclined actuating surface  1283  connecting with the first and second flat surface  1281 ,  1282 . A pair of snapping pit  129  are defined in the top surface of the second base portion  12   a  and locate at opposite sides of the second recess section  128 . 
   The second tongue section  12   b  comprises a second panel  124  formed with a long keyway  1244  in a middle thereof and a pair of side walls  125  extending downwardly from opposite sides of the second panel  124 . A pair of second channels  1250  are defined in corresponding side walls  125  opened toward outside for guiding an insertion of a complementary connector (not shown). A pair of protrusions  126  extend rearward from a front surface of the second tongue section  12   b  and respectively locate below the side walls  125  to form a pair of gaps  1260  therebetween. The second panel  124  forms an enhancing portion (not labeled) on a bottom surface thereof for enhancing the strength thereof and three pairs of second standoffs  1240  are symmetrically arranged on the enhancing portion with two pairs of second standoffs  1240  formed with posts  1242  extending downwardly therefrom. The first and second standoffs  115 ,  1240  with the first positioning holes  1150  and the posts  1242  are served as first engaging means of the housing  1 . The first engaging means is not limited to the structures described above, it also can be protrusions protruding from the first and second tongue sections  11   b ,  12   b , or recesses recessed from the first and second tongue sections  11   b ,  12   b.    
   The PCB  2  is formed with a plurality of first conductive pads  21  aligned at a front end thereof and a plurality of second conductive pads  22  aligned at an opposite rear end thereof with different amount from that of the first conductive pads  21 . The first and second conductive pads  21 ,  22  electrically connect with one another through inner traces disposed in the PCB  2 . Two pairs of holes  23  are symmetrically arranged on the PCB  2  adjacent to the first conductive pads  21 . The holes  23  are served as second engaging means of the PCB  2 . The second engaging means is also not limited to the structures described above, it can be standoffs with holes to receive the respective protrusions of the first engaging means of the housing  1 , or different-shape projections formed on opposite surfaces of the PCB to be received in the recesses of the first engaging means of the housing  1 . 
   The pulling member  3  is made by insulative material and comprises a cooperating portion  30  with an enlarged head, a sloped connecting portion  31 , an elongated intermediate portion  33  extending rearward form the connecting portion  31  and formed with interference portion  32 , and a ring-shape operating portion  34  formed at a rear end of the intermediate portion  33 . The interference portion  32  comprises a pair of stop sections  320  formed at opposite sides of the intermediate portion  33  and located adjacent to the connecting portion  31  and two pairs of elastic sections  321  formed at middle portion of the intermediate portion  33 . The cooperating portion  30  in the preferred embodiment of the present invention is configured to be vertically, fittingly disposed in the deeper slit  1280  of the cover  12 . 
   The conductive shell  4  comprises a body portion  40  formed with a plurality of bars  45  on a top surface for increasing friction and a pair of L-shape lateral walls  42  extending downwardly from opposite sides of the body portion  40 . A retention portion  43  is defined at front portion of the body portion  40 . In the preferred embodiment, the retention portion  43  is formed with a pair of spaced downwardly protruding spring tabs  430 . The conductive shell  4  comprises a positioning tab  44  rearwardly extending from a rear edge of the body portion  40 . 
   The latch member  5  is a cantilever-type member integrally formed with the conductive shell  4 . The front portion of the conductive shell  4  is interrupted by a pair of narrow slit  46  and thus forms a deflecting portion  50  providing biasing force to the latch member  5 . The latch member  5  further comprises a connecting portion  51  downwardly bent from the deflecting portion  50  and a flat engaging portion  52  latching with the complementary connector. The engaging portion  52  defines a pair of rectangular holes  520  at a rear portion thereof adjacent to the connecting portion  51  and a pair of latches  521  bending downwardly from opposite sides of the front edge thereof. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–4  and  6 , in assembly, conductors  60  of the cable  6  are respectively soldered to the second conductive pads  22  of the PCB  2 . The PCB  2  with the cable  6  is located on the first standoffs  115  of the base  11  with the holes  23  aligned with the first positioning holes  1150  and the cable  6  is located in the first semicircular opening  1130  of the base  11 . The cable connector assembly  100  of the present invention may have a cable holder (not shown) grasping a metal braiding area exposed outside of the cable  6  to provide strain relief to the cable  6 . The cover  12  is assembled to the base  11  and the PCB  2  with the posts  1242  protruding through the holes  23  and the first positioning holes  1150  to position the PCB  2  in the receiving space  15  of the housing  1 . The PCB  2  is sandwiched between the base  1  and the cover  12  by the first and second engaging means engaging with each other. The protruding ridge  1220  of the cover  12  is received in the first slit  1120  of the base  11  and the pair of tip ends  1140  received in the gaps  1260 , thus, the base  11  and the cover  12  are also securely assembled together. The first and second screw holes  1132 ,  1232  combine into a screw receiving space (not labeled). 
   Referring to  FIG. 7  in conjunction with  FIGS. 1–6 , the pulling member  3  is firstly pressed to the cover  12 . The cooperating portion  30  of the pulling member  32  is received in the deeper slit  1280  of the cover  12 , and the intermediate portion  33  with the interference portion  32  are received in the first recess section  127 . The stop sections  321  and the elastic sections  320  are respectively received in the different-size first and second recesses  1270 ,  1272 . The conductive shell  4  is finally assembled to the second base section  12   a  of the cover  12  with the L-shape lateral walls  42  slideably received in the first channels  121  of the cover  12  along a front-to-back direction until the rear edge of the conductive shell  4  abuts against the second rear wall  123 . The positioning tab  44  of the shell  4  is positioned in the cutout  1233 . The spring tabs  430  respectively snap into the corresponding snapping pits  129  of the cover  12  for preventing forward movement of the conductive shell  4 . The projections  1285  of the cover  12  are respectively received in the rectangular holes  520  and the latches  521  exposed above the second tongue section  12   b.    
   When the complementary connector mates with the cable connector assembly  100  of the present invention, contacts of the complementary connector may electrically connect with the first conductive pads  21  of the PCB  2  with corresponding structure thereof latches with the latches  512  of the latch member  5 . When the cable connector assembly  100  disengages from the complementary connector, a rearward pulling force exerts to the operating portion  34  of the pulling member  3  to actuate the pulling member  3  rearward move with the elastic sections  320  and the stop sections  322  sliding in the second and first recesses  1272 ,  1270 . The cooperating portion  30  also rearward moves along the sloped actuating surface  1281  of the cover  12 , thus upwardly deflecting the deflecting portion  50  of the latch member  5 , consequently, the latches  521  of the latch member  5  moved upwardly to unlatch from the complementary connector. After the rearward pulling force is removed, restore force of the elastic sections  320  actuates the pulling member  3  to move forwardly to its original position, and thus, the latch member  5  also reverts to its original position. 
   A pair of screws  7  are screwed through the second screw holes  1232  of the cover  12  and the first screw holes  1132  of the base  11  to secure the base  11  and the cover  12  together. 
   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.