Dustproof cover for electrical connector

A dustproof cover (1, 3) for covering an electrical connector (2, 4) includes an upper wall (10, 30), a bottom wall (12, 32), a back wall (13, 33) associated with lateral walls (11, 31), all of which define a connector receiving room (14, 34) with an opening. A plurality of ribs (15, 16 and 35) are arranged on inner surfaces of one or more of walls and protrude into the connector receiving room. The electrical connector is inserted into the connector receiving room through the opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a dustproof cover, and particularly to a dustproof cover protecting an electrical connector effectively.

2. Description of Related Arts

Docking plug connectors are suitable for the transmission of a signal in case a VTR, TV, CD player, tuner, amplifier, etc. Such a docking plug connector is conventionally equipped with a dustproof structure for preventing dust particles or the like from entering the housing thereof when it is not in use. The prior art has discloses a device comprising a protective cap. The protective cap is a hollow chamber that has a single opening, which fits to cover a connector for preventing the connector from contacting with external members that may damage the connector, and furthermore, preventing the connector from being dirtied by dust particles. However, this dustproof cover becomes looser after a number of push-and-pull of the docking plug connector, for the dustproof cover just enwraps the connector, or another saying: there is small resistance located between the dustproof cover and the connector that the dustproof cover may fall off after a number of push-and-pull of the docking plug connector and it can't protect the docking plug connector effectively.

Hence, an improved dustproof cover is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a dustproof cover for an electrical connector, which protects the electrical connector effectively.

To achieve the above object, a dustproof cover for covering an electrical connector includes an upper wall, a bottom wall, a back wall associated with lateral walls, all of which define a connector receiving room with an opening. A plurality of ribs are arranged on inner surfaces of one or more of walls and protrude into the connector receiving room. The electrical connector is inserted into the connector receiving room through the opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-2and5-6illustrate a dustproof cover1and an electrical connector2mating with the dustproof cover1according to one embodiment of the present invention. The dustproof cover1comprises an upper wall10, a bottom wall12, a back wall13and a pair of lateral walls11being vertical to and respectively connecting with the upper, bottom and back walls10,12,13. All of the upper wall10, the lateral walls11, the bottom wall12and the back wall13are smooth surfaces and especially, junction corners of the lateral walls11and the back wall13are smooth corners. The upper wall10, the lateral walls11, the bottom wall12associate with the back wall13for defining a connector receiving room14and defining a connector push-and-pull direction (an end the connector inserted is defined as a back end and the other end the connector pulled out is defined as a front end). The connector receiving room14defines a rectangular opening for the electrical connector2inserted therethrough. Two first ribs15are arranged on the inner surface of the upper wall10as well as the inner surface of the bottom wall12; two second ribs16are also arranged on each inner surface of the lateral walls11. Each first rib15comprises a tapered portion150having an inclined surface (not labeled) at the front end thereof and a flat portion151extending from the tapered portion150, along a front-to-back direction, to the back wall13. Each second rib16comprises an inclined portion160at a front part thereof and an engaged portion161, shaped in a flat piece, at a back side of the inclined portion160.

Referring toFIG. 2, the electrical connector2comprises an insulating housing20and a plug end21which is partly received in the insulating housing20and partly extends out of the insulating housing20. The plug end21forms a pair of hooks210on both sides thereof and guiding slots211recessed inward on the upper and lower surfaces thereof. When the plug end21of the electrical connector2is inserted into the dustproof cover1, the first ribs15are moveably received in the guiding slots211; the plug end21of the electrical connector2goes deeper into the dustproof cover1, the combination between the first ribs15and the guiding slots211becomes more and more closely; and finally, the hooks210arrive at the engaged portions162along a trace formed by the second ribs16and engage with the engaged portions162for preventing the dustproof cover1from falling off from the electrical connector2. The dustproof cover1effectively prevents the plug end21of the electrical connector2from contacting with external members that may damage the plug end21, and furthermore, prevents the plug end21from being dirtied by dust particles.

FIGS. 3-4and7indicate another embodiment of a dustproof cover3and an electrical connector4mating with the dustproof cover3. The dustproof cover3comprises an upper wall30, a bottom wall32, a back wall33and a pair of lateral walls31being vertical to and respectively connecting with the upper, bottom and back walls30,32,33. All of the upper wall30, the lateral walls31, the bottom wall32and the back wall33are smooth surfaces. The upper wall30, the lateral walls31and the bottom wall32associate with the back wall33for defining a connector receiving room34. At least a pair of ribs35is formed on the inner surfaces of the lateral walls31, one facing towards the other. Each of the ribs35protrudes therefrom at a same height from one end to the other, which is different from the ribs15,16. The height of the rib35is also a small height for allowing the electrical connector4inserted smoothly therein. The electrical connector4comprises an insulating housing40and a plug end41. The plug end41is fixedly received in the dustproof cover3in an interference fit manner thereby the ribs35, and accordingly, the dustproof3is prevented from falling off the plug end41.

In the two embodiments of this invention, the inner surfaces of the walls form a plurality of ribs15,16,35. The dustproof covers1,3shield over the plug ends21,41of the electrical connectors2,4when the electrical connectors2,4are not in use. The dustproof covers1,3are prevented from dropping off from the plug ends21,41of the electrical connectors2,4because of the plurality of ribs15,16,35formed thereon. The dustproof covers1,3prevent the plug ends21,41of the connectors2,4from being damaged by external members, and furthermore, prevent the plug ends21,41thereof from being dirtied by dust particles.