Abstract:
A cable assembly ( 100 ), comprises a housing ( 10 ) formed by a base portion ( 101 ) having a first top surface ( 1011 ) and a mating portion ( 102 ) having a second top surface ( 1021 ), and the housing has a receiving space therein. A plurality of conductive contacts ( 311, 331 ) are retained in the housing. A cable ( 7 ) is entered into the receiving space and electrically connected with the conductive contacts. A pulling member ( 52 ) is moveable relative to the housing in a horizontal direction, and comprises a cooperating portion ( 524 ) at a front end thereof. And a latching member ( 51 ) is cooperated with the pulling member and assembled to the housing for latching with a complementary connector. The latching member comprises an engaging section ( 513 ) assembled to the housing, a latching section ( 515 ) disposed on the top of the base portion and an actuating section ( 5140 ) disposed between the engaging section and the latching section. The actuating section is interconnected with the cooperating portion and capable of being actuated by the cooperating portion of the pulling member.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to a cable assembly, and more particularly to a cable assembly with a new latching mechanism. 
       DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    PCI Express, officially abbreviated as PCI-E or PCIe, is a computer expansion card interface format introduced by Intel in 2004. It was designed to replace the general-purpose PCI expansion bus, the high-end PCI-X bus and the AGP graphics card interface. Unlike previous PC expansion interfaces, rather than being merely a bus, it is configured around point-to-point full duplex serial links called lanes. In PCIe 1.1 (the most common version as of 2007) each lane carries 250 MB/s in each direction. 
         [0003]    PCI Express External Cabling which extends the PCI Express interconnects architecture “outside the box.” Cables using the PCIe technology will be used for external applications, as well as applications internal to an enclosure that need a cable connection. PCI Express External Cabling Specification, REV. 1.0 introduced four kinds of cable assemblies x1, x4, x8 and x16, and among which the x16 cable assembly may reach highest transmitting rate. The x16 cable assembly includes a housing, a pair of stacked PCBs accommodated in a space of the housing and four cables terminated to corresponding the PCBs. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,134,914 B1 discloses a cable assembly having a latch and an actuator cooperated with each other, the actuator has a front end disposed below the latch for actuating a portion of the latch on the top of the front end of the actuator. When the actuator is moved rearward by a pulling force, a front end of the latch is raised up. However, the front end of the latch can not be resumed to an original state automatically when the pulling force is removed, obviously, additional operation should be effected on the latch to make it resume to the original state. So the cable assembly can not latch with the complementary connector conveniently. 
         [0005]    Hence, an improved cable assembly is highly desired to overcome the aforementioned problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cable assembly having a latching mechanism including an pulling member and a latching member cooperated with the pulling member, and an interconnection between the pulling member and the latching member is reliable and simple. 
         [0007]    In order to achieve the object set forth, a cable assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing formed by a base portion having a first top surface and a mating portion having a second top surface, and the housing has a receiving space therein. A plurality of conductive contacts are retained in the housing. A cable is entered into the receiving space and electrically connected with the conductive contacts. A pulling member is moveable relative to the housing in a horizontal direction, and comprises a cooperating portion at a front end thereof. And a latching member is cooperated with the pulling member and assembled to the housing for latching with a complementary connector. The latching member comprises an engaging section assembled to the housing, a latching section disposed on the top of the base portion and an actuating section disposed between the engaging section and the latching section. The actuating section is interconnected with the cooperating portion and capable of being actuated by the cooperating portion of the pulling member. 
         [0008]    Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of a cable assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is an assembled, perspective view of the cable assembly without a conductive shell; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is an assembled, perspective view of the cable assembly; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is perspective view of a latching member of the cable assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 6 , a cable assembly  100  in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing  10  having an upper first shield part  1  and a lower second shield part  2  together enclosing a receiving space (not numbered) therein, a pair of printed circuit boards (PCBs)  3  received in the receiving space, a spacer  4  interposed between the pair of the printed circuit boards  3 , four cables  7  coupled to the pair of PCBs  3  and a latching mechanism  5  assembled to the housing  10 . The housing  10  defines a base portion  101  having a first top surface  1011  and a mating portion  102  having a second top surface  1021 . The mating portion  102  extends forwardly form the base portion  101 , and the mating portion  102  is smaller than the base portion  101 . 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the first shield part  1  comprises an expanded first base portion  11  and a relative slim first mating portion  12  extending forwardly from a front edge of the first base portion  11 . The first base portion  11  has a top wall  111 , a pair of side walls  112 ,  113  and a rear wall  114  forming a hollow portion  110 . Four semicircular through holes  1141  extending in a front to rear direction are defined in the rear wall  114  and arranged in a row along transversal direction. Further, a recess  1142  is formed in each through hole  1141 . The first mating portion  12  has a top side  121  and a pair of transversal sides  122 ,  123  extending downward from two edges of the top side  121 . A mating port  120  is formed by the top side  121  and a pair of transversal sides  122 ,  123 , and located in front of and communicating with the hollow portion  110 . Two pair of first supporting posts  1211  are spaced apart each other and arranged at lateral sides of an inner surface of the top side  121 . Each first supporting post  1211  has a first receiving hole (not figured) therein. 
         [0018]    The top wall  111  of the base portion  11  of the first shield part  1  defines a first channel  1111  arranged in a middle section thereof and a lower second channel  1114  in front of and communicating with the first channel  1111 . The first and second channels  1111 ,  1114  are both formed on a top surface of the top wall  111  of the base portion  11 . It should be noted that the top surface of the top wall  111  of the base portion  11  of the first shield part  1  can be seen as the first top surface  1011  of the base portion  101  of the housing  10 . In addition, a pair of first grooves  1112  are located in the middle section of the top wall  111  and further communicate with the first channel  1111 . Two second grooves  1113  are in front of the first grooves  1112  and also communicate with the first channel  1111 . A receiving room  1115  is recessed downwardly from the top surface of a front section of the top wall  111  and communicates with the first channel portion  1114 . It should be noted that the second channel  1114  can also be seen as the receiving room  1115 . A pair of protrusions  1116  are formed on a front side of a bottom surface of the receiving room  1115 . The bottom surface of the receiving room  115  can be defined as a third top surface of the base portion  101  of the housing  10 . And a protruding piece  1118  is formed on a rear side of a bottom surface of the receiving room  1115 . A pair of slits  1117  extend downward from the top surface of the top wall  111  and communicate with the receiving room  1115 . The pair of slits  1117  are disposed at two sides of the receiving room  1115 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the second shield part  2  comprises a second base portion  21  and a second mating portion  22  extending forwardly from a front edge of the second base portion  21 . The second base portion  21  has a bottom wall  211 , a pair of side walls  212 ,  213  and a rear wall  214  extending upwardly from lateral edges and rear edge of the bottom wall  211 . Four semicircular through holes  2141  extending in a front to rear direction are defined in the rear wall  214  and arranged in a row along transversal direction. Further, a recess  2142  is formed in each semicircular through hole  2141 . The second mating portion  22  has a bottom side  221  and a pair of flanges  222 ,  223  extending upward from two lateral edges of the bottom side  221 . Two pair of second supporting posts  2211  are respectively arranged at lateral sides of the bottom side  221 . Each second supporting post  2211  defines a second receiving hole therein. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 2 , the pair of PCBs  3  includes a first PCB  3   a  and a second PCB  3   b . A structure of the first PCB  3   a  is the same with a structure of the second PCB  3   b . Each of the first and second PCBs  3   a ,  3   b  includes a substrate  30  defining a middle section  32 , a narrower front section  31  and a broader rear section  32 . A group of first conductive pads  311  are arranged on the front section  31  of each PCB  3  to form a first mating interface and a set of second conductive pads  331  are arranged on the rear section  33  of each PCB  3  to form a first mounting portion. A distance between two adjacent first conductive pads  311  is narrower than a distance between two adjacent second conductive pads  331 . Two pair of through holes  321  are respectively defined in lateral sides of the middle section  32  of each PCB  3 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 2 , the spacer  4  defines an upper surface  402  and an opposite lower surface  401 . Two pair of positioning posts  403  are respectively formed on the upper surface  402  and lower surface  401  of the spacer  4  for cooperating with the through holes  321  formed on the PCBs  3   a ,  3   b , and first and second receiving holes (not figured) respectively formed in the first and second supporting posts  1211 ,  2211 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 2  and  FIG. 6 , an optional latching mechanism  5  is assembled to the housing  10  of the cable assembly  100 . The latching mechanism  5  includes a latching member  51 , a pulling member  52  cooperated with the latching member  51  and a pulling tape  53  attached to a rear portion of the pulling member  52 . The pulling member  52  has a main body  521  which can be received into the first channel  1111 , a pair claw-shaped spring members  522  arranged at lateral sides of a front segment of the main body  521  and received in the first grooves  1112 , a pair of stoppers  523  disposed in front of the pair of claw-shaped spring members  522  and arranged at the lateral sides of the main body  521  and received in the second grooves  1113  and a cooperating portion  524  formed at a front end thereof which can be entered into the receiving room  1115  of the first shield part  1 . An aperture  5240  is formed in the cooperating portion  524 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 2  and in conjunction with  FIG. 6 , the latching member  51  has a main section  511 , a connecting section  512  extending upward form a rear end of the main section  511 , an engaging section  513  engaged with the housing  10 , an inclined section  514  connected with the connecting section  512  and the engaging section  513 . The connecting section  512  and the engaging section  513  are respectively located on two paralleled vertical planes. An actuating section  5140  extends rearward and upward from a connection between the connecting section  512  and the inclined section  514 . The actuating section  5140  has a slant segment  5141  extending along the inclined section  514  and a locking segment  5142  extending upward form the slant segment  5141 . The locking segment  5142  is a tab and can pass through the aperture  5240  formed on the cooperating portion  524  of the pulling member  52  and locked with the pulling member  52 . The main section  511  defines a pair of hooks  5111  at two sides thereof and a pair of openings  5110  at a middle portion thereof. A front end of the latching member  51  can be defined as a latching section  515  of the latching member  51 . The engaging section  513  defines a base segment  5132  and a pair of side segments  5130  which can be received into the corresponding slits  1117  formed on the first top surface  1011  of the base portion  101  of the housing  10 . Each side segment  5130  defines a plurality of barbs  5131  for engaging the latching member  51  to the housing  10 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 2 , the conductive shell  6  comprises a body portion  60  and a slant tab  404  extending forward and downward from a front edge of the body portion  40 . In addition, a pair of first and second screws  62  are assembled to the cable assembly  100  to interconnect with the conductive shell  6 , the first shield part  1  and the second shield part  2 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 2 , each of the cables  7  includes a number of wires  71  and an insulated jacket  70  enclosing thereon. A circular-shaped ring member  72  is formed around the insulated jacket  70  and can be disposed into the semicircular through holes  1141 ,  2141  respectively formed in the first and second shield parts  1 ,  2 . The cables  7  can be arranged into an upper and a lower rows. A wire management member  8  is integrated formed around the number of wires  71  to manage the number of wires  71 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 2 , the cable assembly  100  of the present invention may have a gasket  9  assembled to the housing  10  for reducing the Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) in the signal transmission. The gasket  9  is a rectangular frame which can be mounted to an outer periphery of the mating portion  102  of the housing  10 . The gasket  9  defines a cutout  91  thereon for a portion of the latching member  51  passing through. 
         [0027]    When assembly, firstly the wires  71  of the cables  7  are soldered to the second conductive pads  331  of the first and second PCBs  3   a ,  3   b . Then the spacer  4  is arranged between the first and second PCBs  3   a ,  3   b , thus, the positioning posts  403  formed on the upper and lower surfaces  402 ,  401  of the spacer  4  respectively passes through the corresponding through holes  321  formed on the first and second PCBs  3   a ,  3   b  to make the first and second PCBs  3   a ,  3   b  and the spacer  4  assembled together. 
         [0028]    Secondly, the PCBs  3   a ,  3   b  and the spacer  4  are together assembled to the second shield part  2 , each positioning post  403  formed on the lower surface  401  of the spacer  4  has a free end received into a receiving hole (not figured) formed in each second supporting post  2211 . At the same time, the cables  7  are supported by the rear wall  214  of the second shield part  2  and extends into the second shield part  2  through the semicircular through holes  2141 , and a lower portion of each ring member  72  is located into a recess  2142  formed in each semicircular through hole  2141  of the rear wall  214 . 
         [0029]    Thirdly, the first shield part  1  is assembled to the second shield part  2  to form a housing  10 , thus, the first and second PCBs  3   a ,  3   b  and the spacer  4  are enclosed into the housing  10 , each positioning post  403  formed on the upper surface  402  of the spacer  4  has a free end received into a receiving hole (not figured) formed in each first supporting post  1211 . And the ring member  72  is fully received into the recesses  1142 ,  2142  respectively formed in the rear walls  114 ,  214  of the first and second shield parts  1 ,  2 . Obviously, the number of first and second conductive pads  311 ,  331  are located in the housing  10  through the first and second PCBs  3   a ,  3   b  disposed in the housing  10 . 
         [0030]    Fourthly, the latching member  51  is received into the receiving room  1115  of the first shield part  1  of the housing  10  and engaged with the housing  10 . The base segment  5132  of the engaging section  513  is disposed between the protruding piece  1118  and a rear surface of the receiving room  1115  in a longitudinal direction, the pair of side segments  5130  of the engaging section  513  are received into the pair of slits  1117  and engaging with the housing  10 . The latching section  515  of the latching member  51  is located on the top of the second top surface  1021  of the mating portion  102  of the housing  10 . As a result, the latching portion  515  is cantilevered from the engaging portion  513  of the latching member  51 . The connecting portion  512  and the inclined portion  514  are located on the top of the bottom surface of the receiving room  1115 . 
         [0031]    Fifthly, the pulling member  52  is attached to the first top surface  1011  of the base portion  101  of the housing  10  and cooperated with the latching member  51 . Thus, the locking segment  5142  of the actuating section  5140  pass through the aperture  5240  formed on the cooperating portion  524  of the pulling member  52 . Thus, the latching member  51  and the pulling member  52  are interlocked with each other. It is clearly that the pulling member  52  is disposed on the top of latching member  51 . Then, the pulling tape  53  is attached to the rear end of the pulling member  52 . When a rearward pulling force exerts on the pulling member  52  or the pulling tape  53 , a pair of claw-shaped spring members  522  and a pair of stoppers  523  are respectively sided in the first and second grooves  1112 ,  1113  along a front to rear direction, the pulling member  52  is also moved rearward. Thus, the actuating section  5140  of the latching member  51  is also pulled backward by a rearward movement from the pulling member  52 , simultaneously, the main portion  511  of the latching member  51  will be raised up easily. When a pulling force exerted on the pulling member  52  is removed, the latching member  51  will be resumed to an original state. So, the interconnection between the pulling member  52  and the latching member  51  is reliable and the cooperation between the pulling member  52  and the latching member  51  is simple. 
         [0032]    Six, the conductive shell  6  is assembled to the first top surface  1011  of the base portion  101  of the housing  10 , and then a pair of first and second screws  62  are assembled to the cable assembly  100  to interconnect with the conductive shell  6 , the first shield part  1  and the second shield part  2 . 
         [0033]    At last, a gasket  9  is assembled to the housing  10 . The gasket  9  is mounted to an outer periphery of the mating portion  102  of the housing  10  and attached to a front surface of the base portion  101  of the housing  10 . 
         [0034]    After the above assembling steps, the entire process of assembling the cable assembly  100  is finished. 
         [0035]    It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.