Abstract:
A connector assembly includes an insulative housing adapted for mating with a complementary connector, a conductive shell shrouding the insulative housing and comprising a front opening adapted for receiving the complementary connector and a flange adjacent to said front opening and extending outwards to be away from the front opening, and a conductive bracket comprising an opening communicating with the front opening of the conductive shell in the center thereof, a wing plate located in the periphery and a fixation plate connecting the opening and the wing plate. The fixation plate abuts against and is soldered with said flange of the conductive shell. When the connector assembly is mounted on the panel, said wing plate abuts against the panel.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention generally relates to a connector assembly, and more particularly, to a connector assembly mounted to a panel. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Auxiliary fastening devices, such as screws, are normally used to mount an electrical connector to a panel, but these make the assembly or disassembly process troublesome. 
   An electrical connector which has a fastening attachment is desired to meet the requirements of mass production. Such an electrical connector is shown in  FIG. 7 . The electrical connector  50  comprises an elongated insulative housing  501  and a fastening portion  502  projecting rearwardly from the insulative housing  501 . A pair of fixing wings  503  respectively depends from opposite top and bottom edges of the fastening portion  502 . A retaining portion  504  outwardly extends from a distal end of each fixing wing  503 , forming a pair of spaces  505  within the acute angles defined by the fixing wings  503  and the retaining portions  504 . A projection  507  extends outwardly from an inward edge of each slit  506 . In assembly, an upper edge  512  and a lower edge  513  of a slot  511  in a conductive panel  51  are respectively secured in the angle spaces  504  between the fixing wings  503  and the retaining portions  504 . However, the fixing wings  503  and the projections  507  are complex in structure and difficult to be manufactured, so the design of the electrical connector is not appropriate for inexpensive mass production. Furthermore, the electrical connector can not be conveniently assembled or dissembled, and the projections  507  are easily abraded over time, so that a reliable attachment between the electrical connector and the panel can not be attained. Additionally, the projections  507  are vulnerable to being damaged by strong insertion forces. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,217 discloses an electrical connector system (shown in  FIG. 8 ) which comprises an insulative housing, a shell  102  enclosing the insulative housing, and a conductive panel  15  defining a mating slot  151  therein. After the rear end of both the insulative housing and the shell  102  pass through the mating slot  151 , a plurality of flanges  105  integral with and locating in the front of the shell  102  engage with inner edges  154 ,  155  of the front side of the panel  15 . At the same time, a spring finger  107  formed in the rear end of the shell  102  abuts against the rear side of the panel  15 , thereby mounting the shell  102  onto the panel  15 . Structures fitting in with the panel  15  are integrally formed with the shell  102 , so they are excrescent when the connector system isn&#39;t used to connect a panel. 
   Hence, an improved connector assembly is desired to overcome the above problems and meet the increasing demand. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a connector assembly with a bracket for connecting a panel. 
   In order to attain the object above, a connector assembly according to the present invention comprises an insulative housing adapted for mating with a complementary connector, a conductive shell shrouding the insulative housing and comprising a front opening adapted for receiving the complementary connector and a flange adjacent to said front opening and extending outwards to be away from the front opening, and a conductive bracket comprising an opening communicating with the front opening of the conductive shell in the center thereof, a wing plate located in the periphery and a fixation plate connecting the opening and the wing plate. The fixation plate abuts against and is soldered with said flange of the conductive shell. When the connector assembly is mounted on the panel, said wing plate abuts against the panel. 
   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 
     The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the figures and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an assembled view of a connector assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
       FIG. 3  is a partially, exploded view of the connector assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , but with a different bracket and viewed from another aspect; 
       FIG. 5  is an adequately exploded view of the connector assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5 , but viewed from another aspect; 
       FIG. 7  is an assembly view of a conventional electrical connector; 
       FIG. 8  is an assembly view of another conventional electrical connector system. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , a connector assembly  1000  according to the present invention comprises a connector module  2  and a bracket  3  mounted on the connector module  2 . The connector module  2  comprises a connector  20 , a cable set  23  electrically connecting the connector  20  and covers  21 ,  22  shrouding both the connector  20  and the cable set  23 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 5-6 , the connector  20  has an insulative housing  200 , a plurality of conductive terminals  201  held in the housing  200 , a first shell  202  shielding the housing  200  and a second shell  203  surrounding the first shell  202 . The covers  21 ,  22  have an inner insulator  21  and an outer cover  22 . 
   The housing  200  has a base  7  and a tongue portion  6  forwards extending from the base  7 . A pair of recesses  71  are formed on lateral sides of the base  7 . Four flanges  72  are formed on the rear surface of the base  7  and extend outwards therefrom. A plurality of bars  73  are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the base  7 . The tongue portion  6  defines a plurality of slots  62  thereon. A plurality of conductive terminals  201  are held in the slots  62 . 
   The first shell  202  is preferably stamped and pressed from a metal sheet and has a left wall  202   a , a right wall  202   b , a top wall  202   c  and a bottom wall  202   d  connected together and defining a front opening  2024  and a rear opening  2025  therebetween. A pair of resilient anus  2021  are formed in each left and right wall  202   a ,  202   b . Each and  2021  defines an innermost contacting apex  20211  extending towards the tongue portion  6  and a free distal end  20212  extending outwardly from the innermost contacting apex  20211 . An outwards protruding flange  2022  extends from each wall  202   a ,  202   b ,  202   c ,  202   d  from a periphery of the front opening  2024 . 
   The second shell  203  is preferably stamped and pressed from a metal sheet and has a base  2030 , a front opening (not labeled) and a rear opening (not labeled). A pair of window portions  2031  are formed in each left and right wall and extend outwards therefrom, thereby receiving the resilient arms  2021  of the first shell  202 . A pair of spring pieces  2032  extend rearwards from the rear ends of the left and right wall of the base  2030 . 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , in assembly, the housing  200  receiving the terminals  201  is inserted into the first shell  202  along the back-to-front direction till the flanges  72  of the housing  200  abut against the rear surface of the first shell  202 . At the same time, the bars  73  of the base  7  abut against the inner surface of the first shell  202  to increase the retention force between the housing  200  and the first shell  202 . Secondly, the first shell  202  holding the housing  200  therein is inserted into the second shell  203  along a front-to-back direction with the flanges  2022  of the first shell  202  engaging with the front surface of the second shell  203 . Now the connector  20  is completed. 
   The bracket  3  is made of metal and flat in principle. The bracket  3  comprises an opening  32  in the middle, two pairs of wing plates  31  in the peripheries and a fixation plate  33  thinner than the wing plates  31  and connecting the opening  32  and wing plates  31 . The opening  32  is shaped similar to the front opening  2024  of the first shell  202  and wide enough to receive the whole connector  20  excluding the outer protruding flanges  2022 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the wing plates  31  are spaced from each other by four spaces  311 . Of course, the spaces  311  can be removed and all the wing plates  31  will become a continuous plate (shown in  FIG. 4 ). 
   In assembly, the connector  20  is inserted into the bracket  3  along a front-to-back direction and the outwards protruding flanges  2022  of the first shell  202  abut against and are soldered with the fixation plates  33 . Secondly, core wires (not shown) of the cable set  23  are soldered with the rear end of the conductive terminals  201  held in the connector  20 . Thirdly, an inner insulator  21  is over-molded on both the connector  20  and the front end of the cable set  23 . The inner insulator  21  comprises a base  210  receiving the rear end of the connector  20  and a wire receiving portion  211  extending rearwards from the base  210  and shrouding the cable set  23 . 
   Fourthly, an outer cover  22  is over-molded to shroud the connector  20 , the inner insulator  21  and the cable set  23 . The edges  2202  of the front surface of the outer cover  22  abut against the rear surface of the bracket  3  in order to fasten the bracket  3 . Two pairs of bars  2203  are projected on the top and bottom walls of the outer cover  22  and extend along a front-to-back direction from the front surface of the outer cover  22 , thereby abutting against the rear surface of the bracket  3  and engaging with inner sides of a panel (not shown, but similar to the panel  51  in  FIG. 7 ) when the connector assembly  1000  is mounted onto the panel. A larger bar  2204  is located between the pair of bars  2203  on the bottom wall of the outer cover  22 , thereby preventing the connector assembly  1000  from a mistake engaging with the panel (not shown). 
   The outer cover  22  further comprises a pair of movable locking members  222  on the left and right walls. Each movable locking member  2222  comprises a connecting portion  2221  connecting the left or right wall of the outer cover  22  and a rotating portion  2222  rotatable around on the connecting portion  2221 . The front surface of the rotating portion  2222  is an inclined surface  2223 . In an original status, the front portion of the inclined surface  2223  abuts against the rear surface of the bracket  3 . When the connector assembly  1000  is needed to mounted onto a panel, rotate inwards the rotating portions  2222 , and the front portion of the inclined surface  2223  get away from the bracket  3 . At the same time, a space (not shown) is formed therebetween to receive the panel (not shown) which engages with the connector assembly  1000  along a back-to-front direction. Additionally, the rotating portions  2222  being rotated inwards can decrease the width of the connector assembly  1000  to make the assembly  1000  to pass through the panel. When the panel is in said space between the bracket  3  and the movable locking members  222 , release the movable locking member  222  and the movable locking member  222  can automatically come back to the original status to fasten the panel. 
   When the connector assembly  1000  isn&#39;t applied to be mounted onto a panel, you just need to remember not to mount the bracket  3  onto the connector assembly  1000  and the connector assembly  1000  can also do a good work. 
   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 number, 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.