Abstract:
An electrical connector assembly ( 1, 1 ′) includes an electrical connector ( 3, 3 ′), a dielectric cover ( 5, 5 ′) coupled to the electrical connector and a pull mechanism ( 7, 7 ′). The pull mechanism includes a locking mechanism locked with both the electrical connector and the dielectric cover and a pull leash ( 70, 70 ′) assembled to the locking mechanism. The pull leash is rotatable on the locking mechanism.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an electrical connector assembly, and particularly to an electrical cable connector assembly having a pull mechanism to facilitate disengaging the electrical cable connector assembly from a mating complementary electrical connector. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional electrical cable connector assembly for a flat cable usually comprises an electrical connector including electrical contacts, each having an engaging end for engaging with a corresponding conductor of a flat cable by Insulation Displacement Connection (IDC) and a mating end for mating with electrical contacts of a complementary electrical connector. A dielectric cover presses the flat cable to a top of the electrical connector. In addition, a pull mechanism is usually provided for users to disengage the electrical cable connector assembly from a mating complementary electrical connector where a low profile electrical cable connector assembly is concerned. The low profile electrical connectors comply with miniaturization trends in the electronic field but access for users to disengage a low profile electrical cable connector assembly from a mating complementary electrical connector is often difficult. 
     The pull mechanism usually stands along a vertical direction above a top of the dielectric cover and the electrical connector of the electrical cable connector assembly, which inevitably increases the total height of the mated electrical cable connector assembly and complementary electrical connector and which runs counter to the initial design vision of low profile electrical connectors. 
     Therefore, an electrical cable connector assembly having an improved pull mechanism is required to overcome the disadvantages described above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A major object of the present invention is to provide an electrical cable connector assembly having a pull mechanism, which facilitates users to disengage the electrical cable connector assembly from a mating complementary electrical connector without increasing the total height of the mating electrical cable connector assembly and complementary electrical connector. 
     To fulfill the above object, an electrical cable connector assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises an electrical connector, a dielectric cover and a pull mechanism. The electrical connector comprises an elongated insulative housing comprising a pair of opposite ends and a plurality of electrical contacts mounted between the opposite ends of the insulative housing. 
     The dielectric cover comprises a pair of cover ends and defines a lower surface having a configuration corresponding to a flat cable to tightly press the flat cable to the electrical connector and to reliably position electrical conductors of the flat cable for ensuring a reliable electrical Insulation Displacement Connection (IDC) between the electrical conductors and the electrical contacts. 
     The pull mechanism comprises a locking mechanism and a pull leash assembled to the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is assembled to both the cover ends of the dielectric cover and the opposite ends of the insulative housing. The pull leash is rotatable on the locking mechanism from a first position where a leash body thereof stands above an upper surface of the dielectric cover to a second position where the leash body is positioned flush with or lower than the upper surface of the dielectric cover. 
     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 a partially exploded view of an electrical cable connector assembly for a flat cable in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of FIG. 1 with the flat cable being omitted herefrom for clarity and a pull leash of the electrical cable connector assembly being positioned at an operating position; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 2, but the pull leash is positioned at a resting position; 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevation view of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 5, but the electrical cable connector assembly is mated with a complementary electrical connector; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged side elevation view of the mated electrical cable connector assembly and complementary electrical connector of FIG. 7 with the pull leash being further rotated downwardly from the resting position; 
     FIG. 9 is a partially exploded view of an electrical cable connector assembly in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 9 but viewed from another perspective with a flat cable shown herein; 
     FIG. 11 is an assembled view of FIG. 9 with the a pull leash thereof being positioned in the operating position; 
     FIG. 12 is a front view of FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. 11 but the electrical cable connector assembly is mated with a complementary electrical connector and the pull leash thereof is positioned at the resting position; and 
     FIG. 14 is an enlarged side elevation view of the electrical cable connector assembly with the pull leash being positioned at the resting position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, an electrical cable connector assembly  1  in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention comprises an electrical connector  3 , a dielectric cover  5  securing a flat cable  9  to the electrical connector  3 , and a pull mechanism  7 . 
     The electrical connector  3  comprises an elongated insulative housing  30  and a plurality of electrical contacts  32  (not shown). The insulative housing  30  comprises a pair of opposite ends  300 , each of which defines a slot  302  extending from an upper section into a lower section thereof. An inner wall  303  of each slot  302  forms a pair of barbs  304  and an inverted wedge-shaped projection  306  below the barbs  304  thereon. An outer wall  301  of each slot  302  exposes outwardly the slots  302  at lower sections thereof, whereby the barbs  304  and the projection  306  on the inner wall  303  are positioned therebelow in a vertical direction and are viewable from outside thereof. A block  308  protrudes outwardly from midway a lower portion of a longitudinal side of the insulative housing  30  to provide a fool-proof mating function to the electrical cable connector assembly  1 . The electrical contacts  32  are mounted in the insulative housing  30  between the opposite ends  300  in a manner known to persons skilled in the Insulation Displacement Connection electrical connector art. 
     The dielectric cover  5  comprises a pair of cover ends  52  and an elongated plate shaped main body  50  therebetween. The main body  50  defines an upper surface  54  and a lower surface  56  opposite to the upper surface  54 . The lower surface  56  defines a plurality of recesses  561  configured corresponding to the shape of electrical conductors  90  of the flat cable  9  to properly position the electrical conductors  90 . The pair of cover ends  52  each comprise a pair of shoulders  522  positioned at opposite ends of the main body  50 , a pair of bars  524  depending respectively from the shoulders  522  and a bottom bar  526  extending between and connecting bottoms of the bars  524 . 
     The pull mechanism  7  comprises an arch pull leash  70  and a locking mechanism comprising a pair of generally T-shaped locking tabs  72 . The pull leash  70  is made of high performance plastic material, such as Nylon, and comprises a longitudinal leash body  701  and a pair of extensions  702  formed at two opposite ends of the leash body  701 . The extensions  702  each define a circular hole  704  therein. The locking tabs  72  each comprise a rib  720 , a leg  722  depending downwardly from midway of the rib  720 , and a head  724  protruding outwardly from an upper section  728  of the leg  722  proximate to the rib  720 . The legs  722  each form a hook section  726  at bottom sections thereof. A recess  723  is defined between the upper section  728  and the hook section  726  of each leg  722 . The head  724  is generally cylindrical and comprises a neck section  727  perpendicularly extending from the upper section  728  and an enlarged section  725  extending from the neck section  727  and having a diameter larger than the neck section  727  and the holes  704  of the extensions  702  of the pull leash  70 . The diameters of the neck sections  727  are a little smaller than the diameters of the holes  704  and the lengths of the neck sections  727  are substantially equal to the thicknesses of the extensions  702  of the pull leash  70 . 
     In assembly, the flat cable  9  is put on the insulative housing  30 . The dielectric cover  5  is then pressed to the insulative housing  30  to cause the electrical contacts  32  to have an Insulation Displacement Connection (IDC) with the electrical conductors  91  of the flat cable  9 , wherein the electrical contacts  32  and the electrical conductors  91  are respectively received in the recesses  561 . The bars  524  and the bottom bars  526  of the cover ends  52  are inserted into the slots  302  of the insulative housing  30  until the bottom bars  526  slide over the wedge-shaped projections  306 . The shoulders  522  of each cover end  52  are partially supported by the outer walls  301  of the slots  302  and define a cavity  528  therebetween communicating with the slots  302  of the insulative housing  30 . Thus, the electrical connector  3  and the dielectric cover  5  are fixedly connected together with the projections  306  of the insulative housing  30  preventing the upward movement of the dielectric cover  5 . 
     The legs  722  of the locking tabs  72  are inserted through the cavities  528  between the shoulders  522  of the cover ends  52  of the cover  5  into the slots  302  of the insulative housing  30  until the ribs  720  abut against the shoulders  522 . The upper sections  728  of the legs  722  are located in the cavities  528  with the head  724  protruding laterally beyond the shoulders  522  of the cover ends  52  and the outer walls  301  of the ends  300  of the insulative housing  30 . The outer walls  301  of the insulative housing  30  are fitted in the recesses  723  of the legs  722 , thereby restraining the locking tabs  72  from moving in vertical direction by the outer walls  301  of the insulative housing  30  and the shoulders  522  of the cover ends  52 . The barbs  304  enforce a reliable interferential retention therebetween by providing an outward pressing force to lower sections of the legs  722 . 
     The holes  704  of the extensions  702  of the pull leash  70  receive the neck sections  727  of the heads  724  and the pull leash  70  is restrained from escaping from the locking tabs  72  due to the larger diameters of the enlarged sections  725  than the neck sections  727  and the holes  704 . The pull leash  70  is rotatable on the neck sections  727  of the locking tabs  72 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, an electrical cable connector assembly  1 ′ in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention comprises an electrical connector  3 ′, a dielectric cover  5 ′ for coupling an electrical flat cable  9 ′ (FIG. 10) to the electrical connector  3 ′ and a pull mechanism  7 ′. The electrical connector  3 ′ comprises an elongated insulative housing  30 ′ and a plurality of electrical contacts  32 ′. The insulative housing  30 ′ comprises a pair of opposite ends  300 ′, each of which defines a slot  302 ′ extending therethrough and a cutout  303 ′ recessed from an upper and outer face thereof. The electrical contacts  32 ′ are mounted in the insulative housing  30 ′ between the opposite ends  300 ′. Each electrical contact  32 ′ comprises a mating end  321 ′ and an engaging end  322 ′ (not shown). 
     The dielectric cover  5 ′ comprises a pair of cover ends  52 ′ and a main body  50 ′ therebetween. The main body  50 ′ comprises an upper surface  54 ′ and a lower surface  56 ′ opposite to the upper surface  54 ′. The lower surface  56 ′ defines a plurality of recesses  561 ′ configured to correspond to the shape of electrical conductors  90 ′ of the flat cable  9 ′ to properly position the electrical conductors  90 ′. The pair of cover ends  52 ′ each comprise a cavity  522 ′ extending therethrough and a cover lid  520 ′ depending downwardly from distal edges thereof. 
     The pull mechanism  7 ′ comprises a pull leash  70 ′ and a locking mechanism comprising a locking element  72 ′. The pull leash  70 ′ is made of high performance plastic material, such as Nylon, and comprises a leash body  701 ′ and a pair of extensions  702 ′ formed at two opposite ends of the leash body  701 ′. The extensions  702 ′ each define a circular hole  704 ′ therein. The locking element  72 ′ comprises a rib  720 ′, a pair of arms  721 ′ extending at opposite ends of the rib  720 ′, a pair of legs  722 ′ extending downwardly from a lower surface of opposite ends of the rib  720 ′ and a pair of heads  724 ′ protruding outwardly from an upper section of each arm  721 ′. The legs  722 ′ are positioned adjacent to and spaced from the arms  721 ′, respectively, and each form a hook section  726 ′ at lower sections thereof. The heads  724 ′ are generally cylindrical and each comprise an enlarged section  725 ′ and a neck section  727 ′ extending between the enlarged section  725 ′ and the arm  721 ′. The neck sections  727 ′ have diameters substantially equal to the holes  704 ′ of the pull leash  70 ′ and smaller than the enlarged section  725 ′. 
     In assembly, the flat cable  9 ′ is put on the insulative housing  30 ′. The cover  5 ′ is then pressed to the insulative housing  30 ′ to cause the engaging ends  322 ′ of the electrical contacts  32 ′ to have an IDC with electrical conductors  91 ′ of the flat cable  9 ′, wherein the engaging ends  322 ′ and electrical conductors  91 ′ are respectively received by the recesses  561 ′. The cover lids  520 ′ of the cover  5 ′ are inserted into the cutouts  303 ′ of the insulative housing  30 ′ and are retained thereto in ordinary ways known to persons skilled in the pertinent art. The cavities  522 ′ of the cover ends  52 ′ are in communication with the slots  302 ′ of the insulative housing  30 ′. Thus, the electrical connector  3 ′ and the dielectric cover  5 ′ are connected together. 
     The legs  722 ′ of the locking element  72 ′ are inserted through the cavities  522 ′ of the cover ends  52 ′ of the dielectric cover  5 ′ into the slots  302 ′ of the insulative housing  30 . The hook sections  726 ′ provide an interferential retention between the locking element  72 ′, the cover  5 ′ and the insulative housing  30 ′. The arms  721 ′ abut against outside faces of the cover ends  52 ′ of the cover  5 ′ and the opposite ends  300 ′ of the insulative housing  30 ′ and extend beyond a bottom of the insulative housing  30 ′. The holes  704 ′ of the extensions  702 ′ of the pull leash  70 ′ receive the neck sections  727 ′ of the heads  724 ′ and the pull leash  70 ′ is restrained from escaping due to the larger dimensions of the enlarged section  725 ′ than the necksections  727 ′. The pull leash  70 ′ is pivotable about the neck sections  727 ′ of the heads  724 ′. 
     In use, the pull leash  70 ,  70 ′ of the electrical connector assembly  1 ,  1 ′ is rotatable from an operating position as shown in FIGS. 2-4 and  11 - 12  where the leash body  701 ,  701 ′ is located in line with the dielectric cover  5 ,  5 ′ and the electrical connector  3 ,  3 ′ and above the upper surface  54 ,  54 ′ of the dielectric cover  5 ,  5 ′ to a resting position as shown in FIGS. 5,  6  and  14  where the leash body  701 ,  701 ′ is perpendicular to the dielectric cover  5 ,  5 ′ and the electrical connector  3 ,  3 ′ and is substantially flush with the upper surface  54 ,  54 ′ of the dielectric cover  5 ,  5 ′. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 13, when the electrical connector assembly  1 ,  1 ′ is mating with a complementary electrical connector  2 ,  2 ′ and the electrical contacts  32 ,  32 ′ electrically contact with electrical contacts of the complementary electrical connector  2 ,  2 ′, the pull leash  70 ,  70 ′ is positioned at the resting position as desired whereby a vertical height of the mated electrical cable connector assembly  1 ,  1 ′ and the complementary electrical connector  2 ,  2 ′ is reduced. 
     Referring to FIG. 8, the pull leash  70  is as desired moved further downwardly from the resting position until it is stopped by the complementary electrical connector  2  and the leash body  701  is located lower than the upper surface  54  of the dielectric cover  5 . 
     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.