Cable connector assembly with improved structure strength thereof

A cable connector assembly (100) includes a top cover (11) defining at least one first positioning post (118) extending downwardly, a bottom cover (12) being assembled to the top cover (11) in an upper-to-lower direction thereof, an electrical connector (4) including an insulative housing (40) having a plurality of terminals (41) received therein; and at least one insulator (3) cooperates with the top cover (11) and the bottom cover (12) to define a retaining space (10) to retain the electrical connector (4) therein.

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 with improved structure strength.

2. Description of Related Art

Nowadays, cable connector assemblies are widely used for connecting two electronic devices with different interfaces. The cable connector assembly usually comprises a cover, an electrical connector, and a cable connected to the electrical connector. The cover includes a top cover, a bottom cover, and a retaining space located therebetween to retain the electrical connector. The electrical connector has a mating port protruding forwardly beyond the cover for mating with a mating connector. The top cover defines a plurality of first positioning posts extending downwardly toward the bottom cover. The bottom cover defines a plurality of second positioning posts corresponding to the first positioning post of the top cover. The second positioning posts each defines a positioning hole adapted to retain the first positioning post therein to ensure the top cover and the bottom cover assembled together. However, the structure strength between the top cover and the bottom cover is weak.

Correspondingly, it is desired to have a cable connector assembly with improved structure strength to address the problems stated above.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a cable connector assembly comprises a top cover defining at least one first positioning post extending downwardly therefrom, a bottom cover being assembled to the top cover in an upper-to-lower direction thereof, an electrical connector including an insulative housing having and a plurality of terminals retained in the housing, at least one insulator cooperating with the top cover and the bottom cover to commonly define a retaining space to retain the electrical connector, and a cable connected to the terminals and extending beyond the top cover and the bottom cover. The first positioning post has a positioning hole. The bottom cover has at least one second positioning post extending upwardly toward the top cover and retained into the positioning hole of the positioning post of the top cover. The insulator defines a retaining slot passing therethrough along the upper-to-lower direction to retain the first positioning post of the top cover therein;

According to one aspect of the present invention, a cable connector assembly comprises a metal top cover defining at least one first position post extending downwardly, a metal bottom cover being assembled to the top cover in an upper-to-lower direction thereof, an electrical connector including an insulative housing and a plurality of terminals received in the housing, at least one insulator sandwiched between the top cover and the bottom cover along the upper-to-lower direction, and a cable connected to the terminals and extending beyond the top cover and the bottom cover. The bottom cover has at least one second positioning post extending toward the top cover and retained into the positioning hole of the top cover. The insulator cooperates with the top cover and the bottom cover to define a retaining space to retain the electrical connector therein. The insulator defining a retaining slot to retain the first positioning post and the second positioning post therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1-5, a cable connector assembly100in accordance with the present invention comprises a cover1, a pair of metal screws2, a pair of insulators3, an electrical connector4, a cable5connected to the electrical connector4, and an insulative block6. The cover1is made of metallic material, and comprises a top cover11and a bottom cover12assembled to the top cover11along an upper-to-lower direction thereof.

The electrical connector4is compatible with Digital Visual Interface (DVI) transmitting protocol, and includes an insulative housing40, a plurality of terminals41retained in the insulative housing40, and a metal shell42covering the insulative housing40. The insulative housing40is sandwiched between the pair of insulators3in a laterally direction perpendicular to the upper-to-lower direction. The pair of insulators3press forwardly against the insulative housing40for preventing the electrical connector4from moving rearwardly. The shell42includes a base421, a mating portion422protruding forwardly from the base421, and two opposite flanges423protruding laterally from the base421respectively. The mating portion422forms a font mating port424for receiving a mating connector(not shown). The flanges423each defines a through securing hole425locking with the screw2. The terminals41each defines a soldering tail411soldered to the cable5.

A retaining space10is surrounded by the cover1and the pair of insulators3to retain the electrical connector4and the cable5therein. The top cover11includes a rectangle shape top wall111, a rear wall112bending downwardly from the top wall111, a pair of side walls113bending downwardly from the top wall111and connected to the rear wall112, a pair of first positioning posts118, a pair of enlarging portions114which extending downwardly from the top wall111, and a pair of second positioning posts115extending downwardly from the enlarging portions114respectively. The top cover11has a first opening1131disposed among the top wall111and the side walls113, a second opening1121opposited to the first opening1131. The first opening1131extends into the top wall111and the side walls113, but not passes through the top wall111and the side walls113. The second opening1121passes through the rear wall112. The openings1131,1121are in communication with the retaining space10.

The pair of side walls113each defines a cutout1132passing therethrough into the retaining space10and adapted to retain the insulator3. The first positioning posts118each defines a positioning hole116, and has a same dimension with the enlarging portion114. The first positioning posts118and the second positioning posts115are disposed on four apexes of a rectangle at end of the top wall111respectively. The second positioning posts115each defines a plurality of vertical ribs1151on an outer surface thereof. The top cover11defines a first vertical reinforce wall1111connected to the first positioning post118, the top wall111and the side wall113, and a second vertical reinforce wall1112connected to the enlarging portion114, the top wall111and the side wall113.

The bottom cover12is similar to the top cover11, and includes a pair of first positioning posts124corresponding to the pair of second positioning posts115of the top cover111, and a pair of second positioning posts125corresponding to the pair of first positioning posts118respectively. The first positioning posts124each defines a positioning hole126adapted to retain the second positioning post115therein. The second positioning posts125each is retained into the positioning hole116of the first positioning118of the top cover11. The bottom cover12includes a bottom wall121opposited to the top wall111of the top cover11, a pair of side walls123and a rear wall122all of which bend upwardly from the bottom wall121, and an enlarging portion128extending upwardly from the bottom wall121to the second positioning post125. The pair of side walls123each defines a cutout1232formed together with the cutout1132of the top cover11to form a chamber for retaining the insulator3to prevent the insulator3from moving along the front-to-rear direction and the upper-to-lower direction. The pair of side walls123each combines with the side wall113of the top cover11to form a pair of circular holes1230passing through the side walls113,123along the front-to-rear direction. The cutout1132is disposed between the pair of circular holes1230.

The insulators3are sandwiched between the top cover11and the bottom cover12along the upper-to-lower direction, and each defines a locating hole31passing therethrough along the front-to-rear direction, a first retaining slot32disposed at a front end thereof, a second retaining slot33disposed at a rear end thereof. The first retaining slot32and the second retaining slot33extend through the insulator3along the upper-to-lower direction respectively. The first retaining slot32defines a first gap320extending to exterior of the insulator3. The second retaining slot33defines a second gap330extending to exterior of the insulator3. The locating hole31is disposed in an outer side of the first retaining slot32and the second retaining slot33. The locating hole31is divided into a front locating hole311and a rear locating hole312whose dimension is wider than the front locating hole311.

The screws2each includes a middle portion21received into the locating hole31, a thread portion22locking in the securing hole425of the shell42of the electrical connector4and protruding forwardly beyond the flange423for latching with the mating connector, and a rotating portion23disposed on a rear end thereof for rotating the screw2. The middle portion21defines a circular ring210surrounding an outer side wall thereof and received in the rear locating hole312of the insulator3for preventing the screw2from over-moving along the front-to-rear direction.

The cable5includes a strain relief portion51on a front end thereof and a plurality of wires (not shown) connected to the soldering tails411of the terminals41of the electrical connector4. The block6is insert molded with the soldering tails411. The strain relief portion51defines a cavity510extending forwardly therethrough to retain the block6therein, and a rear plate511enclosing the cavity510. The block6is sandwich between the pair of insulators3in the laterally direction. The rear plate511is located in the retaining space10and is pressed against by an inner wall of the rear walls112,122of the cover1for preventing the cable5from breaking away from the electrical connector4.

After the cable connector assembly100is assembled, the second positioning posts115,125of one of the top cover11and the bottom cover12that are retained into the positioning holes126,116of the first positioning posts118,124of the other one of the top cover11and the bottom cover12respectively. The first positioning posts118,124presses against the corresponding enlarging portions114,128which are connected to the second positioning post115,125along the upper-to-lower direction. The enlarging portions114,128and the first positioning post118,124of one of the top cover11and the bottom cover12are retained in the first retaining slot32and the second retaining slot33of the insulators3respectively to ensure the top cover11combined with the bottom cover12reliably.