Abstract:
A cable assembly ( 1 ) includes an insulative housing ( 10 ), a number of contacts ( 20 ) disposed in the housing, an insulator ( 70 ) with a base ( 71 ) and a distal portion ( 72 ) extending upwardly from the base, a plurality of cables ( 40 ), and a cover ( 50 ), the cables comprises a plurality of conductors ( 43 ) received in the distal portion of the insulator, passing through the base and connected to a rear portion of the housing, the cover assembled on the rear portion of the housing, enclosing insulator, and has a body portion ( 510 ), and a receiving portion ( 511 ) behind the body portion, the base of the insulator are received of in the body portion, and the distal portion of the insulator are received in the receiving portion, said cables extend out of the cover from a lateral side thereof.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE  
       [0001]     This is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/787,661, filed on Feb. 25, 2004 and entitled “CABLE CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY HAVING LOCKING MEMBER” which have the same applicant and assignee as the present invention. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a cable assembly, and particularly to a cable assembly having a locking member for locking with a complementary connector.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Prior Arts  
         [0005]     There exists in the art a cable assembly known as a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (Serial ATA) connector which is generally used for disk drives and storage peripherals. Especially, the Serial ATA connectors according to the Serial ATA standard are featured in fewer counts of electrical contacts than other conventional electrical connectors and are relatively tiny in configuration. It is desirable for the Serial ATA connector to have latch means for providing a reliable mechanical and electrical connection with a complementary connector.  
         [0006]     With the development of the Serial ATA standard, the next-generation serial storage interface effort expands the base Serial ATA 1.0 capabilities to address additional markets segments, including the server and networked storage markets. A cable assembly based on Serial ATA II standard is designed to connect with more devices and cables. As the connector is probably applied to a wider profile, an improved locking member of the Serial ATA connector is disclosed (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/787,661).  
         [0007]     Obviously, it is desirable to improve the structure for retaining the improved locking member on a right angle electrical connector.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     An object of the present invention is to provide a cable assembly having an improved locking member for locking the cable assembly with a complementary connector.  
         [0009]     To achieve the above object, a cable end connector assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts received in the insulative housing, a plurality of cables comprising a plurality of conductors electrically connecting with corresponding contacts, a pair of covers assembled on the rear portion of the housing and enclosing front portions of the cables together, and a pair of locking members. The insulative housing defines a forwardly extending mating port with a pair of opposite side portions by two sides thereof, each of said side portions defining a first retention cavity; each cover defines a pair of opposite side portions with a pair of U-shaped second retention cavities therein, respectively, the first retention cavities aligned with the corresponding second retention cavities in a front-to-back direction; the locking members received in the second retention cavities of the covers and extending into the first retention cavities of the housing, each locking members comprising a spring section and a latching section, the spring section is movable received in the second retention cavities; the covers are engaged together by a plurality of screws.  
         [0010]     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a partially exploded, perspective view of a cable assembly in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but taken from a different aspect;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is an assembled, perspective view of the cable assembly of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , but taken from a different aspect;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a top elevation view of the cable assembly;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of the cable connector assembly;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 4   
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of a locking member shown in  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a view similar to  FIG. 10 , but taken from a different aspect. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0022]     Referring to FIGS.  1  to  4 , a cable assembly  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing  10 , a plurality of contacts  20 , a plurality of cables  40 , an insulator  70 , a cover  50  and a pair of locking members  60 . In the present embodiment, the cable assembly  1  is in accordance with a Serial ATA II standard. However, in alternative embodiments, the electrical connector could be provided as other types.  
         [0023]     Particularly referring to FIGS.  1  to  3 , the insulative housing  10  comprises an upper wall  100 , a lower wall  101  opposite to the upper wall  100 , and a pair of side portions  102  connecting with the upper wall  100  and the lower wall  101 . Between the upper and the lower walls  100 ,  101 , the housing  10  defines a front plug receiving space  103  and a rear spacer receiving space (not shown) for respectively receiving a complementary connector (not shown) and the spacer  30 . A block  105  is formed on the upper wall  100  and protrudes into the plug receiving space  103 . The block  105  defines a plurality of passageways  106  extending therethrough in a front-to-back direction and communicating with the plug receiving space  103 . The plug receiving space  103  is divided into an L-shaped first port  108  and a rectangular second port  109  by a vertically extended partition wall (not labeled) for receiving complementary connectors with different profiles. Each side portion  102  defines a retention cavity  111  opening toward outside therein for engaging with corresponding locking member  60 .  
         [0024]     Referring to FIGS.  1  to  3 , the contacts  20  are received in the passageways  106  of the insulative housing  10  and each contact comprises a curved contact portion  21 , a tail portion  22  and a housing retaining portion  23  connecting the contact portion  21  and the tail portion  22 . The contact portions  21  extend into the L-shaped first port  108  and the rectangular second port  109  and partially exposed into the plug receiving space  103  of the housing  10 , respectively. The housing retaining portions  23  are secured within the passageways  106  of the housing  10  by an interference fit.  
         [0025]     The insulator  70  is over-molded the cable  40  and received in the cover  50 . The cable  40  extends outwardly from a lateral edge of the insulator  70  to present L-shape. The angle between the cable  40  and the insulator  70  can be adjusted according to the requirement.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  7 - 9 , the cover  50  comprises an upper cover  51  and a lower cover  52 . The upper cover  51  is of a sandglass-like configuration and comprises a body portion  510 , a rear edge  512  projecting outwardly from rear end of the body portion  510 , and a pair of side portions  511  at the opposite lateral ends of the body portion  510 . Each side portion  511  comprises a substantially U-shaped receiving cavity  513  in a middle area thereof. A first side portion  511  defines a pair of screw-holes  5131  disposed along the front-to-back direction, and a plurality of positioning holes  514  therein. An opening  516  is defined in the second side portion  513  and adjacent to the rear edge  512 . The second side portion  513  defines a screw post  5133  with a passage therein (not labeled), and a plurality of positioning posts  515  thereon. The rear edge  512  of the upper cover  51  comprises a straight edge section and an inclined edge section. The rear edge  512  forms a plurality of positioning posts  515  spaced arranged the straight and inclined edge sections thereon, a pair of plastic latches  517  respectively extending from the straight edge portion thereof with a hook  5171  at each distal end, and a protrusion  518  formed between the plastic latches  517 . The rear edge  522  defines a plurality of positioning hole  524 , a pair of receiving channels  529 , and a receiving passageway  528  between the receiving channels  529 .  
         [0027]     During the upper and the lower covers  51 ,  52  are assembled together, the plastic latches  517  are inserted into corresponding receiving channels  519 , and the hooks  5171  engage with the outer face of the lower cover  52 . The protrusion  518  is received in the receiving passageway  528  for guiding insertion and position. The opening  516 ,  526  of the upper and lower covers  51 ,  52  together forms an existing opening (not labeled) for the cable  40 &#39;s existance. Each positioning posts  525 ,  515  of the lower cover and the upper cover  52 ,  51  are inserted into corresponding positioning holes  514 ,  524  of the upper cover and lower covers  51 ,  52 . Each screw post  5133 ,  5233  of the upper and lower covers  51 ,  52  is inserted into corresponding screw hole  5131 ,  5231  for letting a screw  53  go through. The upper and the lower covers  51 ,  52  are retained with each other by the screws  53 . The U-shaped receiving cavities  513 ,  523  on the upper cover  51  and the lower cover  52  together define a second retention cavity  55  ( FIG. 9 ) communicating with the first retention cavities  111  of the insulative housing  10  along the front-to-back direction.  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , each locking member  60  is stamped and formed from a metallic plate and comprises an elongate, housing retention section  62  extending along the front-to-back direction, a cover retention section  61  extending rearwardly from the housing retention section  62 , a spring section  63  extending slantways from the cover retention section  61 , a flat pushing section  64  extending forwardly from the spring section  63 , an L-shaped positioning section  65  extending forwardly from the pushing section  64 , and a latch section  66  extending forwardly from the positioning section  65 . The housing retention section  62  are partially cut to form two pairs of recesses  622 , thus, also forming a pair of retention tabs  621  at middle and a tip end thereof. The cover retention section  61  defines a pair of retention tabs  611  slantways extending from opposite upper and lower edges thereof for engaging with the cover  50 . The pushing section  64  defines a plurality of protrusions  641  on an outer surface thereof for handling concentrically. A pair of stopping sections  67  extends towards the cover retention section  61  from opposite sides of the pushing section  64 . The positioning section  65  comprises a pair of positioning tabs  651  and a pair of recesses  652  for assuring fixed assembly. The latch section  66  comprises a protrusion  661  outwardly protruding from outer surface thereof along the front-to-back direction and a locking tab  662  bent and extending outwardly.  
         [0029]     Referring to FIGS.  7  to  9 , in assembly, the wires of the cable  40  electrically connect with the tail portions  23  of the contacts  20 . The upper and lower covers  51 ,  52  enclose a front portion of the housing  10 , the insulator  70 , and the front portion of the cable  40  with extending out of the cover  50  from the opening (not labeled) at the lateral side of the cover  50 . The locking members  60  are assembled on the opposite ends of the housing  10  and the cover  50 . The housing retention section  62  of the locking member  60  is received in the first retention cavity  111  of the housing  10  with the retention tabs  621  being engaged therein. The cover retention section  61  is received in the second retention cavity  55  of the cover  50  with the retention tabs  61  engaging with and securely retained in the cover  50 . The pushing section  64  and the stopping section  67  are located in the depression (not labeled) of the cover  50 , and the stopping sections  67  extends towards the cover  50 . The latch section  66  is received in the first retention cavity  111  of the housing  10  and the locking tab  662  projects outside the housing  10 . When the cable assembly  1  mates with the complementary connector, an inward pressing force is firstly exerted on the pushing sections  64  of the locking members  60  by user&#39;s fingers to drive the latch section  66  to move inwardly to separate the cable assembly  1  from the complementary connector. Once the pressing force is released, the latch section  66  restore to its original position due to their own elasticity and thus locks with the complementary connector through the locking tab  622 . The positioning tabs  651  of each positioning section  65  abut against the housing  10  for assuring a reliable mating between the cable end connector assembly  1  and the complementary connector. When the cable end connector assembly  1  is to be disengaged from the complementary connector, a contrary operating procedure is applied  
         [0030]     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.