Abstract:
An electrical connector assembly comprises a first connector unit adapted for mating with a complement connector along a front-to-rear direction, a second connector unit adapted for mating with another complement connector along the front-to-rear direction and electrically connected with the first connector unit, and an insulative casing covering the first and second connector units and consisting of an upper half and a lower half engaged with each other. The casing forms a plurality of slices extending along the up-to-down direction and a plurality of slots adapted for receiving said slices to joint the upper and lower halves together. The upper half, one of the first and second connector units and the lower half each respectively form at least one through-hole, and the through-holes array in a line along the front-to-rear direction to receive at least one bolt for holding the upper half, said one of the first and second connector units and the lower half.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly, and more particularly to an electrical connector assembly having a fastening member to hold upper and lower covers thereof together steadily. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,889 discloses a connector assembly whose insulative casing includes a lower half and an upper half engaged with each other. A plurality of upright slices extend beyond the side walls of the lower half, and a plurality of slots are defined along the side walls of the upper half corresponding to the configuration of the slices such that the slices are received in the slots to joint the lower and upper halves together. These slices and slots don&#39;t have enough stability in the lock function so can&#39;t be applied in some high-security occasions. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A main object of the present invention is to provide an improved electrical connector assembly having a fastening member to hold upper and lower covers thereof together steadily. 
   To fulfill the above-mentioned objects, an electrical connector assembly according to the present invention comprises a first connector unit adapted for mating with a complement connector along a front-to-rear direction, a second connector unit adapted for mating with another complement connector along the front-to-rear direction and electrically connected with the first connector unit, and an insulative casing covering the first and second connector units and consisting of an upper half and a lower half engaged with each other. The casing forms a plurality of slices extending along the up-to-down direction and a plurality of slots adapted for receiving said slices to joint the upper and lower halves together. The upper half, one of the first and second connector units and the lower half each respectively form at least one through-hole, and the through-holes array in a line along the front-to-rear direction to receive at least one bolt for holding the upper half, said one of the first and second connector units and the lower half. 
   Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. As should be understood, however, the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an electrical connector assembly according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded, perspective view of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from another aspect; 
       FIG. 5  is a partially, exploded view of the electrical connector of  FIG. 1 , wherein an upper and lower halves are farther taken away for explicitly showing internal structure of the upper and lower covers; and 
       FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5 , but viewed from another aspect. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , an electrical connector assembly  100  according to the present invention comprises an insulative casing, a first connector unit  1 , a second connector unit  2 , a printed circuit board A and a pair of interlocking members. In the preferred embodiment, the electrical connector assembly  100  is an electrical adapter adapted for realizing electrical connection between a Notebook and a docking station. Furthermore, the insulative casing is a rectangular contour and includes a lower half  4  and an upper half  3  engaged with each other which together define a receiving space (not labeled) therebetween. The receiving space is provided with a first opening (not labeled) occupied by the first connector unit  1  and a second opening (not labeled) occupied by the second connector unit  2 . The detail description will be discussed hereinafter. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , the first connector unit  1  is of male type and includes a first insulative housing  11 , a first metal shielding  12  and a first conductive terminal set  13 . The first insulative housing  11  has a longitudinal base  110  which defines a mating surface (not shown, hidden by the first metal shielding  12 ), a joint surface  111  opposite to the mating surface and a pair of top and bottom surfaces  112  opposite to each other and interconnected with the mating surface and the joint surface  111 . The top and bottom surfaces  112  define a plurality of recesses  113  through the mating surface and the joint surface  111 . The mating surface forms a generally D-shaped protrusion (not shown, hidden by the first metal shielding  12  and similar to D-shaped protrusion  114  in U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,889) forwardly extending from a middle region thereof, in sequence, a mating tongue  115  forwardly extends from a middle region of the protrusion  114 . A plurality of passageways (not labeled) are defined through the mating tongue  115  to receive the first conductive terminal set  13 . A pair of spaced L-shaped arms  117  rearwardly and outwardly extend from opposite sides of the joint surface wherein a space between the arms  117  is equal to the width of front edge of the print circuit board A. The first metal shielding  12  is affixed to the insulative housing  11  and includes a flat plate  120  attaching to the mating surface, a D-shaped mating frame  121  forwardly extending from the flat plate  120  to enclose the protrusion and the mating tongue  115 , and a plurality of tail plates  122  rearwardly extending from top and bottom surfaces of the mating frame  121  corresponding to the recesses  113  for engagement therewith. The first terminal set  13  is arranged in upper and lower rows to be received in corresponding passageways of the mating tongue  115  and includes a plurality of signal terminals  131  spaced from each other at middle region thereof for signal transmission and a plurality of power terminals  132  distributed at outmost thereof for power transmission, wherein there are two pairs of the power terminals  132  and the power terminals  132  have larger width than that of the signal terminals  131  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Each of the first terminal set  13  is generally straight in shape and has a contacting portion (not labeled) adapted for electrically connection with a corresponding contact of a mating connector (not shown) and a tail portion (not labeled) adapted for electrical connection with the printed circuit board A by known process such as soldering etc. 
   The second connector unit  2  is of female type and includes a second insulative housing  21 , a second metal shielding  22 , a second conductive terminal set  23  and a pair of fastening members. The second insulative housing  21  has a longitudinal body  210  defining upper and bottom surfaces  211  opposite to each other, a front surface (not shown, hidden by the second metal shielding  22 ), a rear surface  212  and a pair of side surfaces  213 . A D-shaped nose portion (not shown, hidden by the second metal shielding  22 ) forwardly extends from middle region of the front surface of the second insulative housing  21  and defines a plurality of grooves (not labeled) at upper and lower inner walls thereof for receiving the second terminal set  23  therein. A pair of body holes  215  spaced by the nose portion are defined adjacent to opposite side surfaces  213  and respectively extend through the front surface and the rear surface  212 . The second metal shielding  22  is affixed to the second insulative housing  21  and includes a blade plate  220  covering the front surface of the insulative housing  21 , a mating skeleton  221  forwardly extending from the blade plate  220  to enclose the nose portion  214 , and a pair of blade holes  222  aligning with the body holes  215  for uniformities therewith. The second terminal set  23  is arranged in upper and lower rows to be received in the grooves and includes a plurality of signal terminals  231  spaced from each other at middle region thereof and a plurality of power terminals  232  distributed at outmost thereof. Each of the second terminal set  23  has a mating portion (not labeled) adapted for electrically connection with a corresponding contact of a mating connector (not shown) and a solder portion adapted for electrically connection with the printed circuit board A. The fastening members are respectively assembled to opposite sides of the second connector unit  2  and include a cylindrical tube (not shown, received in the body holes  215  and affixed to inner sides of the body holes  215 ) defining a screw hole therein and a bolt or locking member  252  having an enlarged locking head thereon adapted for screwing into the screw hole. 
   The printed circuit board (PCB) A has a plurality of conductive pads (not shown) located at the opposite ends thereof and electrically communicated with the first terminal set  13  and the second terminal set  23 . The PCB A comprises a main portion A 2  in the middle thereof, an expanding portion A 1  at a front end thereof and a narrow portion A 3  at a rear end thereof. The pair of L-shaped arms  117  of the first connector unit  1  defines at middle region thereof a groove  1171  to receive and hold the expanding portion A 1  of the PCB A. The narrow portion A 3  is received in a space (not labeled) between the pair of body holes  215 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , the upper and lower halves  3  and  4  are made of insulative material and respectively have a main wall  31 ,  41  and a pair of side walls  32 ,  42  extending from opposite sides of the main wall  31 ,  41 . The main walls  31 ,  41  respectively protrude a pair of shoulder portions  311 ,  411  adjacent to the side walls  32 ,  42  for commonly securing the base  110  of the first connector unit  1 , and a pair of elongated partitions  34 ,  44  along the side walls  32 ,  42  for commonly securing the printed circuit board A in position. Each of the partitions  34 ,  44  has a stepped mounting edge  341 ,  441  at front edge thereof for abutting against the arm  117  of the first connector unit  1  and the expanding portion A 2  of the printed circuit board A. The lower and upper halves  3 ,  4  respectively define a pair of notches  321 ,  421  at opposite side walls  32 ,  42  for being assembled with the interlocking members. A plurality of upright slices  322  each including a hook  3221  at a free end thereof extend beyond the side walls  32  of the upper half  3 , and a plurality of slots  422  are defined along the side walls  42  of the lower half  4  corresponding to the configuration of the slices  322  such that the slices  322  are received in the slots  422  to joint the upper and lower halves  3  and  4  together. Furthermore, the lower half  4  forms two pairs of protrusions  442  in lengthwise direction along outside of corresponding partitions  44  and a pair of dowel posts  412  in lateral direction near the partitions  44 , wherein a distance between the pair of protrusions  442  in lengthwise direction is generally equal to length of corresponding notch  421 . A distance between the pair of partitions  44  of the lower half  4  is larger than that of the pair of partitions  34  of the upper half  3 , and the main portion A 2  of the printed circuit board A is received between the pair of partitions  44  and locate on a top surface of the pair of partitions  34 . 
   In addition, the main wall  31  of the upper half  3  extends upwards to form a first vertical wall  33 . The first vertical wall  33  comprises in the middle thereof a D-shaped opening  331  to accommodate the second connector unit  2  and a pair of through-holes  332  located on both sides thereof and aligning with the body holes  215  of the second connector unit  2 . A second vertical wall  48  of the lower half  4  is formed parallel to the first vertical wall  33  and in connection with the partitions  44 , and comprises in the middle thereof a rectangular opening  481  to accommodate the narrow portion A 3  of the PCB A and a pair of through-holes  482  located on both sides thereof and aligning with the body holes  215  of the second connector unit  2 . When assembled, the through-holes  332  of the upper half  3 , the body holes  215  of the second connector unit  2  and the through-holes  482  of the lower half  4  stay in a line to insert the bolt  252  into. 
   The interlocking members are assembled to the upper and lower halves  3 ,  4  and each includes a latch member  5 , a press member  6  and an enforcement plate  7 . The latch member  5  is an elongated metal plate and includes a hook portion  51  at one end thereof for engagement with appropriate latch means of the complementary mating connector (not shown), a middle portion  52  defining a dowel slot  57  corresponding to the dowel post  412  of the upper half  3 , a retention portion  53  formed with a plurality of stators  58  on opposite sides thereof, and a resilient portion  54  obliquely and inwardly extending from the retention portion  53 . Furthermore, the retention portion  53  has an outward spring  59  opposite to the resilient portion  54 . The press member  6  includes a main portion  61 , a pair of opposite sides  62  extending from the main portion  61 , a plurality of flanges  63  formed on the sides  62 , a plurality of wedged slits  65  defined between the flanges  63  and the sides  62  to interferely fit with the stators  58  of the latch member  5 , and an operating portion  64  coving the main portion  61  to define a generally cartouche shaped surface for engagement by an operator&#39;s thumb or finger. Furthermore, the main portion  61  and the opposite sides  62  commonly define a channel  67  therebetween. An inclined projection (not shown) is formed along the channel  67  to support the spring  59  of the latch member  5 . A pair of elongated stoppers  68  go over edges of the main portion  61  for preventing the interlocking members from been overpressed. The enforcement plates  7  are inserted into gaps defined between the lengthwise protrusions  442  and the partitions  44 , wherein the length of the enforcement plate  7  is generally equal to the distance between the lengthwise protrusions  442 . 
   When the interlocking members are assembled in position, the press members  6  are exposed out of the notches  321 ,  421 , and the latch members  5  extend into inner sides of the casing and the hook portions  51  exposed out of the upper and lower halves  3 ,  4 . The resilient arms  54  of the latch members  5  bias against the enforcement plate  7 , the springs  59  opposite to the resilient arms  54  are supported by the inclined projections. When the first connector unit  1  is going to mate/unmate the mating connector, the operating portions  64  are pressed and the main portions  61  inwardly deflect the retention portion  53 , thereby rendering the hook portion  51  to enter into/withdraw from the mating connector and allowing the mating/unmating occurs. 
   It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous, characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set fourth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosed 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.