Abstract:
A cable connector assembly ( 100 ) adapted for mounting to a panel ( 9 ) includes an insulated housing ( 1 ) having a base portion ( 11 ), a tongue portion ( 12 ) extending forwardly from the base portion and at least a mounting portion ( 13 ) integrated with the base portion; a plurality of contacts ( 2 ) assembled to the insulated housing, with mating portions thereof disposed on the tongue portion; at least a cable ( 5 ) electrically connecting to the contacts, at least a nut ( 6 ) permanently assembled to a mounting portion, and a bolt ( 7 ) combining with the nut ( 6 ) to fasten the cable connector assembly with the panel together.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to a cable assembly, and more particularly to a cable assembly mountable to a panel of an electronic device. 
   DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
   A cable assembly is widely applied in an electronic devices, such a computer, sever, etc. The cable assembly is housed in an interior of the electronic device, serving as intermediate member and bridging the electronic device and other exterior electronic device. The cable assemble includes a cable coupled to an electrical connector and electronic components inside an cage of the electronic device, while the electrical connector is fixed to one side (panel portion) of the cage to form Input/Output (I/O) interface. 
   For example, CN Pat. No. 2762206 discloses a kind of cable assembly attached to a panel of an electronic device, including a connector, a number of cables connecting to the connector and further connected to other electronic components, and additional bolts and nuts applied to fasten the connector and the panel together. However, as the electronic device becomes lower profile, and any components thereof are also smaller, so do the bolts and nuts. Thus it is difficult for a user to hold the nuts and bolts simultaneously to mount the cable assembly to the panel. 
   Hence, an improved cable assembly is highly desired to overcome the aforementioned problems. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cable assembly which is easily and conveniently mounted to a panel. 
   In order to achieve the object set forth, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention for interconnecting at least a cable and being mountable to a panel having an outlet therethrough and at least a mounting hole arranged alongside the outlet, the connector with a peripheral section thereof held in the outlet of the panel, comprising: an insulated housing including a base portion, a tongue portion extending forwardly from the base portion, and at least a mounting portion integrated with the base portion; a nut permanently assembled to the mounting portion adapted for aligning with the mounting hole of the panel; and a bolt assembled to the nut for fastening the connector and the panel together. 
   Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of a cable connector assembly and a panel in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
       FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from other direction; 
       FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from another aspect; 
       FIG. 5  is an assembled, perspective view of the cable connector assembly; 
       FIG. 6  shows the cable connector assembly mounted to the panel; and 
       FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 6 , but viewed from another aspect. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , a cable assembly  100  adapted for mounting to a panel  9  in accordance with the present invention comprises an electrical connector (not numbered) and a number of cables  5  coupled thereto. The panel  9  has an outlet  91  and a pair of mounting holes  92  arranged lateral sides of the outlet  91 . The electrical connector has a peripheral portion accommodated in and held by the outlet  91  of the panel  9 . The electrical connector comprises an insulated housing  1 , a plurality of contacts  2  assembled to the insulated housing  1 , a spacer  3 , a cover  4  and pair of matched nuts  6  and bolts  7 . 
   The insulated housing  1  includes a base portion  11 , a rectangular-shaped tongue portion  12  extending forwardly from a front surface of the base portion  11  and a pair of mounting portions  13  oppositely arranged at a back surface of the base portion  11  and laterally extending outward. A rectangular-shaped platform  121  is arranged on a top surface of tongue portion  12  to divide the top surface into two unsymmetrical areas along a transversal direction. Each mounting portion  13  has a cavity  132  recessed forwardly from a back surface thereof, a circular passage  131  recessed from a central section of a bottom surface the cavity  132  and a depression portion  133  located in front of and further communicating with the passage  131 . A longitudinal sunken portion  112  is defined in a rear area of an upper surface of the base portion  11 , with a number of spaced protrusions  1122  disposed therein. A beam  114  interconnects the pair of mounting portions  13 , adjacent to rear edge of a lower surface of the base portion  11 . A plurality of concave portions  1142  are recessed from a front surface of the beam  114 . A pair of U-shaped supporting members  134  are respectively attached to lower surfaces of the pair of mounting portions  13 , under the beam  114 . A pair of U-shaped guiding members  14  extend forwardly from two opposite ends of the base portion  11  for leading the cable assembly  100  properly mating with an complementary connector (not shown). 
   The contacts  2  are separated into first group of contacts  21 , second group of contacts  22  and third group of contacts  23 . The first group of contacts  21  and second group of contacts  22  are assembled to an upper section of the insulated housing  1  and spaced by the block  121  along a transversal direction, with mating portions  211 ,  221  disposed on an upper portion of the tongue portion  12  to form a first interface (not numbered), retention portions  212 ,  222  retained in an upper portion of the base portion  11 , and tail portions  213 ,  223  rearward extending beyond back surface of the insulated housing  1 . While the third group of contacts  23  are assembled to the insulated housing  1  and below the platform  121 , with mating portions  231  disposed on a lower portion of the tongue portion  12  to form a second mating interface (not numbered), retention portions  232  retained in a lower portion of the base portion  11 , and tail portions  233  rearward extending beyond back surface of the insulated housing  1 . 
   A spacer  3  includes a rectangular-shaped main portion  30 , a first sunken portion  31 , a second sunken portion  32  are recessed downwardly from a top surface of the main portion  30  and spaced by a rectangular block  34 . A third sunken  33  is recessed upwardly from bottom surface of the main portion  30  and under the block  34 . The tail portions  213 ,  223  of the first and second groups of contacts  21 ,  22  are accommodated in the first and second sunken portions  31 ,  32 , while the tail portions  233  of the third group of contacts  23  are accommodated in the third sunken portion  33 . A cantilevered lock member  35  is formed on the top surface of the main portion  30 , in front of the block  34 . A lock hole  116  is recessed forwardly from back surface of the base portion  11 , below the block member  34 , and adapted for latching with the lock member  35 . Three spaced rectangular-shaped posts  36  extend forwardly from a middle section of front surface of the main portion  30 . Corresponding grooves  118  are recessed forwardly form back surface of the base portion  11  for receiving the posts  36 . A pair of flange members  38  are arranged at lateral sides of the main portion  30  and adapted for being received in the supporting members  134 . 
   Each nut  6  includes a chassis portion  61  disposed in the cavity  132  of the mounting portion  13 , a cylindrical-shaped intermediate portion  62  extending forwardly from the chassis portion  61  and received in the passage  131  of the mounting portion  13  and an expanded stopper  63  formed at a front edge of the intermediate portion  62 . Further more, an optional ring-shaped washer member  8  is arranged in the depression portion  133  of the mounting portion  13  and assembled to the nut  6 , encircling the intermediate portion  62  and disposed inward side of the stopper  63 . Therefore, the nut  6  is permanently fixed to the mounting portion  13  and such configuration is convenient for a user, as the nut  6  is small and difficult for the user to hold it, when the cable connector  100  is assembled to the panel  9 . However, in alternative embodiments, the nut may be of different structure and embedded in the mounting portion or other portion of the housing, while the housing is manufactured. As the nut is embedded in the mounting portion, rather than protrude outward of the mounting portion, which may reduce a profile of the connector. A bolt  7  for matching with the nut  6  includes a head  71 , a rod extending forwardly from a front surface of the head  71 . An optional gasket  73  is also utilized along with the bolt  7 . 
   Each cable  5  includes a number of inner wires  51  and an insulated jacket  52  shielding the inner wires  51 . After the inner wires  51  are soldered to tail portions of the contacts  2 , a cover  4  is over-molded the base portion  11  of the insulated housing  1 , the spacer  3 , an interconnection portions between tail portions of the contacts  2  and wires  51  and partial of the cables  5  adjacent to the spacer  3 . The protrusions  1122  of the base portion  11  and concave portions  1142  of the beam  114  may increase combination between the housing  1  and the cover  4 . 
   When assemble, the cable assembly  100  attached to a front surface of the panel portion  9 , with the pair of mounting portions  13  disposed in front of and adjacent to the pair of mounting holes  92 , the cables  5  extending rearward through the outlet  91 , and then the pair of bolts  7  are respectively inserted into pair of mounting holes  92  and assembled to the nuts  6  to fasten the insulated housing  1  and the panel  9  together. 
   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.