Universal serial bus connector with integral shell

A universal serial bus connector (1) includes a metal casing (10), an insulative housing (20) and a mating pedestal (30) received in the metal casing, and a printed circuit board (40) with a front portion (41) received in the mating pedestal and a rear portion (42) received in the metal casing. The metal casing forms a mating port (110) and a receiving port (120). The mating port and the receiving port are integrally formed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a portable memory device, and more particularly to a universal serial bus connector.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The existent portable memory device of an electric appliances is used to process or store data. Such portable memory device is required to have small volume and be easily usable and portable. For example, the currently widely used universal serial bus which has small volume and can be easily carried.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,456,500 B1 issued to Speed Tech on Sep. 24, 2002 discloses a universal serial bus (USB) connector. The conventional USB connector is composed of a bottom cover 1, an upper cover 2, a circuit board 3 and a lateral decorative strip 4. An adapter 31 for engaging with a complementary connector is disposed at a front portion of the circuit board 3. The bottom cover 1 and the upper cover 2 latch with each to form a receiving space for receiving the circuit board 3 and the adapter 3. However, when the conventional USB drops off accidentally, the bottom cover 1 and the upper cover 2 easily disengage or depart.

Accordingly, there is a need for providing a universal serial bus connector with a firm and compact structure.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a universal serial bus connector with a firm and compact structure.

In order to attain the objective above, a universal serial bus connector includes a metal casing, an insulative housing and a mating pedestal received in the metal casing, and a printed circuit board with a front portion received in the mating pedestal and a rear portion received in the metal casing. The metal casing integrally forms a mating port and a receiving port. The receiving port defines an opening. The insulative housing includes a planar body and a rear portion. A retaining portion laterally extends from the rear portion and forms a bump for engaging with the opening of the metal casing at a front portion thereof. Since the mating port and the receiving port are integrally formed, the structure of the universal serial bus connector is compact and firm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Refer toFIGS. 1–3, a universal serial bus connector1according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a metal casing10, an insulative housing20received in the metal casing10, a mating pedestal30and a printed circuit board40.

The metal casing10is formed by a top and a bottom metal sheet11,12latched with each other via a plurality of latches101. The metal casing10includes a front mating port110for mating with a complementary connector (not shown) and a rear receiving port120for receiving the printed circuit board40and the insulative housing20. The top metal sheet11defines a rectangular opening102. The latches101are respectively defined in side walls111of the mating port110and side walls121of the receiving port120.

the insulative housing20is received in the mating port110and includes a planar body21and a rear portion22. A retaining portion23parallel extends from the rear portion22and forms a bump230at a front portion thereof. When the insulative housing20is inserted into the metal casing10from the rear receiving port120, the bump230of the retaining portion23latches with the opening102of the metal casing10.

The mating pedestal30is disposed on the mating pedestal30and is formed of a step-shaped portion. The mating pedestal30includes an engaging portion31and a recess32. The engaging portion31defines a barb310at a front end thereof. The printed circuit board40includes a front portion41with a plurality of golden fingers (not labeled) and a rear portion42. The printed circuit board40rips through the recess32with the barb310latching the front portion41.

In addition, the rear portion22of the insulative housing20includes a projection24defining a through hole240. In use, a rope laces through the through hole240for conveniently take the USB.

Further refer toFIGS. 4–5and5A, a second embodiment of the present invention provides a USB1′ having a metal casing10′. The metal casing10′ is formed by a single metal sheet (shown inFIG. 5A) which is integrally bent into a mating port110′ and a receiving port120′. The receiving port120′ forms a plurality of latches101′ at side edges thereof. The mating port110′ includes two parts, wherein each part defines a plurality of latches101′ at side edges thereof. Therefore, when the single metal sheet is bent into the metal casing10′, the latches101′ of the receiving port120′ are formed at a side wall121′, and at the same time the latches101′ of the mating port110′ are formed at two side walls111′.

Further refer toFIG. 6, a third embodiment of the present invention discloses a USB1″ being formed by a single metal sheet. The single metal sheet is stamped integrally into a mating port110″ and a receiving port120″. The receiving port120″ forms a plurality of latches101″ at side edges and top edges thereof, respectively. The mating port110″ respectively form a plurality of latches101″ at bottom edges and side edges thereof. When the single metal sheet is bent into the metal casing10″, the latches101″ of the top edges of the receiving port120″ and the latches101″ of the bottom edges of the mating port110″ latch with each other.

Comparing with the prior art, the metal sheet integrally forms the mating port and the receiving port to effectively reduce the size of the USB. In addition, the predetermined structure prevents the mating port of the USB from disengaging or departing when the USB drops off accidentally.