Cable connector and method of assembling the same

A cable connector and method of assembling the same is disclosed. The cable connector comprises a conductive body including an insulative housing and a plurality of terminals, a mating port being defined in the front of the conductive body, and the mating connector being plugged into the mating port; a front shell surrounding the conductive body; a cover being fastened with the front shell, wherein, a cable assembly including a plurality of wires and a rear insulative housing, the wires being electrically connecting with the terminals, the rear insulative housing being insert-molded in a cavity formed by the cover. The rear insulative housing is insert-molded in the cavity formed by the cover, thus the cable connector has a simpler structure. Besides, the cover is fastened with the front shell, with no need to be soldered with each other, which results a simplified manufacturing process to reduce the cost.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to Chinese patent application Ser. No. 201620040758.2 entitled “CABLE CONNECTOR”, filed Jan. 14, 2016, which is also incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to a cable connector and method of assembling the same, and particularly relates to a cable connector for electrically connecting to a mating connector thereof.

2. Description of Related Art

USB (Universal Serial Bus) connectors are widely used in different electric devices. USB TYPE C with new specification is issued by USB 3.0 Promoter Group to meet the development of miniaturization and multi-function of the electric devices. Chinese Pat. No. 201420690153.9 shows a USB TYPE C connector, the structure of the cable connector is so complicated that it is not easily manufactured.

Therefore, there is a desire to invent an improved cable connector to offer advantages over the related art.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a cable connector having simple structure to be easily manufactured and method of assembling the same.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, a cable connector for electrically connecting with a mating connector is provided. The cable connector comprise a conductive body including an insulative housing and a plurality of terminals, a mating port being defined in the front of the conductive body, and the mating connector being plugged into the mating port; a front shell surrounding the conductive body; a cover being fastened with the front shell, wherein, a cable assembly including a plurality of wires and a rear insulative housing, the wires being electrically connecting with the terminals, the rear insulative housing being insert-molded in a cavity formed by the cover.

The rear insulative housing is insert-molded in the cavity formed by the cover, thus the cable connector has a simpler structure. Besides, the cover is fastened with the front shell, with no need to be soldered with each other, which results a simplified manufacturing process to reduce the cost.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In order to better appreciate and understand the present invention, reference is first made toFIGS. 1-2, which are assembled perspective views and exploded views, respectively, of a cable connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. The cable connector of the present invention is electrically connecting with a mating connector (not shown). The cable connector includes a conductive body1, a front shell2which is surrounded around the conductive body1, a cover3which is positioned with the front shell2, a cable assembly4which is electrically connecting with the conductive body1, an outer shell5which is surrounded around the cover3, and a printed circuit board6which is respectively connecting with the conductive body1and the cable assembly4.

FIG. 3shows another exploded view of the cable connector. The conductive body1includes an insulative housing11and a plurality of terminals (not figured) disposed in the insulative housing11. A block113is extended from the top surface and the bottom surface of the insulative housing11as inFIG. 2. Each of the terminals (not figured) has a contacting portion (not figured) for contacting with the mating connector (not shown). Each of the terminals (not figured) has a tailing portion (not figured) for contacting with the printed circuit board6.

The front shell2is surrounded around the conductive body1, a mating port20is defined in the front of the conductive body1, a tongue of the mating connector (not shown) is plugged into the mating port20. The front shell2includes a front portion21and a fastening portion22, a slope (not figured) is defined between the front portion21and the fastening portion22. A pair of buckling portions221are respectively defined on the top surface and the bottom surface of the fastening portion22, a limiting portion222is respectively defined on the top surface and the bottom surface of the fastening portion22, and the limiting portion222is nearer to the mating port20. A fixing hole223is located between the two buckling portions221, the block113matches with the fixing hole223.

The front of the cover3is positioned with the end of the front shell2. The cover3includes a main body31, two side portions32, a neck portion33and a rear portion34. Two side portions32extend backwards from both sides of the main body31, the neck portion33extends backwards from the middle of the main body31, the neck portion33is in the shape of circular tube. The neck potion33is defined between two side portions32, the rear portion34connects two side portions32and is substantially vertical to the neck portion33. A pair of buckling holes311are respectively defined on the top surface and the bottom surface of the main body31of the cover3, the buckling portion221cooperates with the buckling holes311to be positioned.

In this embodiment, referring toFIGS. 4-5, the cable assembly4is insert-molded with the cover, the cable assembly4includes a plurality of wires42and a rear insulative housing41. The wires42pass through the neck portion33and a hole (not figured) defined on the rear portion34to be soldered on the printed circuit board6. The wires42indirectly connect with the terminals (not figured) via the printed circuit board6. The rear insulative housing41is insert-molded in the cavity formed by the cover3, the cavity includes but not limited to the space between the main body31and the rear portion34. The rear insulative housing41encircles the wires42to form a strain relief. The rear insulative housing41includes a head portion411and a tail portion412which are attached to the wires. The tail portion412extends backwards from the head portion411to pass through the hole (not figured) of the rear portion34. The head portion411is insert-molded in the space defined by the main body31, the side portion32and the rear portion. The top surface of the head portion411and the top surface of the main body31of the cover3is substantially on the same level, same as the bottom surface. The rear contacts (not figured) of the printed circuit board6are respectively connecting with the wires42.

It is worthwhile mentioning that, in this embodiment, the cavity further includes an inner chamber defined by the main body31, the rear insulative housing41is insert-molded in the inner chamber.

The outer shell5made of zinc alloy is made by die-casting or metal injection. A receiving space50is defined by the outer shell5from the front to backwards. A covering portion51is extended inwardly from the front of the outer shell5. The inner shape of the covering portion51conforms with the outer shape of the front shell2. No slit is formed between the outer shell5and the front shell2after the outer shell5is assembled.

The front shell2and the cover3made of zinc alloy is made by die-casting or metal injection. The buckling portion221and the limiting portion222are insert-molded with the front shell2, the buckling holes311is inert molded with the cover3.

The printed circuit board is surrounded by the cover3. A plurality of front contacts (not figured) and the rear contacts (not figured) are arranged on the printed circuit board6. The front contacts (not figured) and the rear contacts (not figured) are respectively connecting with the terminals (not figured) and the wires42.

Please refer toFIGS. 3 to 5, a method of assembling the cable connector above comprises the steps of:

1. Providing the conductive body1, the cover3, the front shell2, the outer shell5, the cable assembly4and the printed circuit board6.

2. Electrically connecting the cable assembly4with the rear contacts (not shown) of the printed circuit board6, electrically connecting the front contacts (not shown) of the printed circuit board6with the conductive body1.

3. Assembling the front shell2around the periphery of the conductive body1, the block113matches with the fixing hole223.

4. Fastening the cover3to the front shell2, the front of the cover3leans against the limiting portion22, the buckling portion221is fastened into the buckling holes311.

5. The rear insulative housing41is insert-molded between the main body31and the rear portion34of the cover3, so that it is matched seamless.

6. Assembling the outer shell5onto the periphery of the cover3from the direction of the mating port20, eventually, the assembling of the cable connector is finished.

Above all, the rear insulative housing41is insert-molded in the cavity formed by the cover3, thus the cable connector has a simpler structure. Besides, the cover3is fastened with the front shell2, with no need to be soldered with each other, which results a simplified manufacturing process to reduce the cost.