Multi-layer connector assembly

A multi-layer connector assembly for computer audio signal transmissions includes a plastic housing, two terminal sets and a metal outer housing. The plastic housing is consisted of a plastic body and a terminal stand. The invention is characterized that, the plastic body has an obverse side thereof for installing signal connecting caps having distinct colors serving for identification purposes, and the terminal stand is provided with two symmetrical terminal sets that are bent and arranged in certain manners, thereby reducing a height of the connector assembly by 3 mm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a multi-layer connector assembly, and more particularly, to a connector assembly for computer video and audio data transmissions. The multi-layer connector assembly comprises a plastic housing, two terminal sets and a metal outer housing. The plastic housing is consisted of a plastic body and terminal stands, and is bent and arranged in certain manners using the terminal sets, thereby reducing a height of the connector assembly by 3 mm for conforming to requirements of users.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

FIG. 1shows prior connector assembly for transmitting input or output analog audio data signals. A current computer equipment is commonly provided with 5.1 channels, and a connector for controlling output includes an output opening of front left and right speakers, an output opening of rear left and right speakers, an output opening of a central speaker and an output opening of a bass speaker. As a number of output openings of a signal connector increases, a main body of the connectors becomes a two-layer stacked body or a side-by-side arrangement. When using a side-by-side arrangement, various elements of the connectors are first piled and then covered by a metal housing. The connector assembly is adhered to a corresponding golden finger at a circuit board. However, for being altogether provided at a same circuit board, the aforesaid connector has a drawback of occupying a greater space. In addition, a height of the stacked connector assembly is rather large that difficulties may arise when joining the circuit board with the housing. Thus, not only large amounts and different molds of plastic housings having distinct shapes are needed, but also shapes of terminals are necessarily altered. Time and production costs are both wasted, and hence failing to meet market practicability and economic values. Furthermore, the numerous output openings are long since manufactured into integrals having diverse colors, and are irreplaceable with likable complications incurred during manufacturing processes. Therefore, it is a vital task of the invention as how to provide a connector assembly comprising terminals that are devised in certain designs for reducing an overall height of the connector assembly and can be installed within a plastic body having different amounts of signal openings, and replaceable signal connecting caps having distinct colors serving for identification purposes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid shortcomings, the invention provides a novel multi-layer connector assembly capable of overcoming the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior invention.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a connector assembly having terminal sets that reduce a height of the connector assembly by 3 mm, thereby adapting to requirements of users.

The secondary object of the invention is to provide a connector assembly having replaceable signal connecting caps with distinct colors serving for easy identification purposes.

To accomplish the aforesaid objects, a multi-layer connector assembly according to the invention comprises a plastic housing, two terminal sets and a metal outer housing. The plastic housing is consisted of a plastic body and a terminal stand. Each terminal set has an audio signal terminal, a ground terminal and a power supply terminal that are each arranged in a downward direction. The ground terminals are situated at a middle section of the terminal sets so as to be shared when put to use. The audio signal terminals are situated at outermost sides of the terminal set and serve for outputting audio signals of left and right sound channels. The power supply terminals are situated at innermost sides of the terminal sets, with a right innermost power supply terminal having a contact end thereof accommodated with a plastic wrap. Moreover, the left innermost power supply terminal is continuously bent to locate a contact end thereof at a right side of a conducting end of the right innermost power supply terminal. At appropriate positions, the audio signal terminals and the power supply terminals are respectively provided with wedge members that can be wedged into a sliding groove at a reverse side of the plastic body. Upper and middle outermost audio terminals are devised in a two-sectional design—the contact ends and the conducting ends are provided as two individual terminals. As a result, a height of the plastic housing is reduced for that heights of upper, middle and lower terminals are all decreased. The terminal stand is divided into various partitions at an interior thereof for placing different terminals; and has terminal openings at a lower portion thereof, and a locating member at an upper rear portion thereof for corresponding with a locating member of the plastic body. The terminal stand also has a locating column at a lower portion thereof. The plastic body is devised with six analog signal connecting openings having a same size at an obverse side thereof. The signal connecting openings are provided in same size and shape for corresponding and accommodating connecting caps. Each of the connecting caps is a hollow cap body, and has a skirt at a periphery thereof and a round opening at a center portion thereof for inserting through a signal joint.

According to the aforesaid structure, because a height of the terminal sets is decreased by 3 mm, a height of the plastic body is consequently reduced by 3 mm. When the terminal sets are corresponding inserted into the terminal stand, an overall height of the connector assembly is reduced. To avoid formation complications, the upper and middle terminals are devised in a two-section design. When inserting an audio output signal plug, a right innermost power supply terminal comes into contact with a left innermost power supply terminal for conduction due to that a right audio signal terminal receives a force imposing to a right side, thereby eliminating noise issues produced when inserting an audio input plug while power is conducted in advance. According to the invention, when being inserted into the sliding groove of the plastic body, the wedge member at the front portion of the terminal set does not come into direct contact with the signal connecting caps. For replacement, signal connecting caps having distinct colors but same dimensions are placed into the signal connecting openings at the front end of the plastic body, so as to accomplish easy identification purposes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

To better understand structures, devices and characteristics of the invention, a preferred embodiment shall be given with the accompanying drawings below.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, a multi-layer connector assembly1according to the invention comprises a plastic housing1, two terminal sets20and a metal outer housing30. The plastic housing10is consisted of a plastic body11and a terminal stand12. The plastic body11is devised with 6 analog signal connecting openings11ahaving a same size at an obverse side thereof. The signal connecting openings11aare provided in same size and shape for corresponding with connecting caps13, so as to accommodate the connecting caps13. Each of the connecting caps13is a hollow cap body, and has a skirt13aat a periphery thereof and a round opening13bat a center portion thereof for inserting through a signal joint. The plastic body11is devised with a sliding groove11bat a reverse side thereof and a locating member11cat an upper portion thereof for joining with the terminal stand12. The terminal stand12is divided into various partitions at an interior thereof12afor placing different terminals; and has terminal openings12bat a lower portion thereof, and a locating member12cat an upper rear portion thereof for corresponding with the locating member11cof the plastic body11. The fastening member11cof the plastic housing11appears as a clamp in shape; whereas the locating member12cof the terminal stand12appears as an inverted V in shape for corresponding with a shape of a front end of the locating member11c, and is inserted into a gap in front via a lower end of the locating member11cof the plastic housing11. For assembly, a front end of the terminal set20is inserted into the sliding groove11bof the plastic body11, the locating members11cand12cof the plastic body11and the terminal stand12are fastened with each other, and the skirt13aof the signal connecting cap13is exactly butted against a side of the signal connecting opening11a, such that a portion of the signal connecting cap13is projected from the plastic body11. The metal outer housing30is covered onto the aforesaid assembled structure, and a positioning column12dat a lower portion of the plastic housing10is fixed to a rear side of a circuit board2.

According to the aforesaid structure, in order to coordinate with the six signal connecting openings11a, the terminal sets20are disposed to the terminal stand12at left and right sides in a symmetrical manner. With reference toFIGS. 4A,4B,5A,5B,6A and6B, each terminal set20has an audio signal terminal21, a ground terminal22and a power supply terminal23that are each arranged in a downward direction. The ground terminals22appears as an F-shape, and are situated at middle sections of the terminal sets20so as to be shared when put to use. The audio signal terminals21are situated at left and right outermost sides of the terminal sets20and serve for outputting audio signals of left and right sound channels. The power supply terminals23are situated at left and right innermost sides of the terminal sets20, with a contact end23bof the right innermost power supper terminal23accommodated with a plastic wrap23d. Moreover, the power supply terminal23at the left innermost side is continuously bent to locate the contact end23bthereof at a right side of a conducting end23cof the right innermost power supply terminal23. At appropriate positions, the audio signal terminal21and the power supply terminal23are respectively provided with wedge members21aand23athat can be wedged into the sliding groove11bat the reverse side of the plastic body11. Upper and middle outermost audio terminals21are devised in a two-sectional design—the contact ends21band the conducting ends21care provided as two individual terminals. As a result, a height of the plastic housing10is reduced for that heights of upper, middle and lower terminals are all decreased.

Referring toFIGS. 7A and 7Bshowing another embodiment according to the invention, one set of the symmetrical terminal is directly disposed at a plastic body11, which has a width half of that of the aforesaid structure and three signal connecting openings11afor installing three connecting caps13. A metal outer housing having three openings is used for coverage to complete an assembled connector assembly1. Not only an overall height of the connector assembly1is reduced, but also issues as having to re-design the terminals20are eliminated, thereby lowering production costs.

Conclusive from the above, the multi-layer connector assembly according to the invention, using certain bending and arrangement for decreasing heights of terminal sets and a plastic housing thereof, has a reduced overall height. In addition, signal connecting caps according to the invention are readily replaced while also serving for identification purposes. Above all, the terminal sets according to the invention are capable of eliminating noises produced when inserting an audio signal plug, thereby further enhancing practicability of the invention.