Abstract:
A cable assembly ( 1 ) includes an insulative housing ( 10 ) with a number of terminals ( 20 ) received therein, each terminal ( 20 ) including a mating end ( 21 ) and a mounting end ( 23 ) opposite to the mating end ( 21 ), a cable ( 50 ) including a number of conductor cores ( 51 ) terminated to the corresponding mounting ends ( 23 ), an anchoring element ( 40 ) reliably assembled to the housing ( 10 ), and a cover ( 60 ). The cover partially encloses the housing, and engages with the anchoring element for increasing the retaining force between the housing and the cover.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention generally relates to a cable assembly, and more particularly to a Serial ATA cable assembly with improved engaging means for acquiring a reliable connection between a dielectric housing and a cover.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     With the miniaturization of electrical devices, the density of electronic components mounted on a panel of the electrical devices is notably increased. An issue is raised when there is a need to release a cable assembly from a mated complementary connector mounted on the panel of the electrical device that the operator can only pull the cable/cover of the cable assembly to unplug the cable assembly. Obviously, this may cause the wires of the cable divorcing from corresponding terminals of the cable assembly, and thus, inevitably influences the signal transmission between the cable assembly and the mated complementary connector, or may cause the cover loosing from the housing of the cable assembly, and thus, inevitably influences the reliable engaging connection between the housing and the cover. To solve these problems, different kinds of electrical connectors are designed.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,758,694 B2 discloses a cable assembly comprises a dielectric housing with a plurality of contacts received therein, a cable electrically terminated to the contacts, a cover assembled to the housing and the cable. The housing includes a plurality of holes defined in walls thereof. During the process of molding the cover, the melted plastic material of the cover flows through the holes. Thus, a plurality of strengthened projections are formed on the cover. These strengthened projections increase the retaining force between the housing and the cover, thereby making the housing engage with the cover more reliably.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,790,087B2 discloses an electrical connector which comprises a housing receiving a plurality of contacts therein, a contact supporting means assembled to the housing for positioning the contacts reliably, and a protective sleeve enveloped the housing and the contact supporting means. To prevent the protective sleeve from separating from the housing, an interference portion is provided on the housing to interferentially engage with the protective sleeve.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,808,410 B1 discloses a cable connector assembly comprising a housing, a plurality of terminals received in the housing, a cable terminated to the contacts, a cover partially enclosing the housing and the cable, a locking member assembled to the cover, and a pulling member sandwiched between the cover and the locking member. When the cable connector assembly is disengaged from corresponding complementary connector, the user only needs to pull the pulling member.  
         [0008]     In this art, a cable assembly with improved engaging means between the housing and the cover is provided.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide a cable assembly, which has an improved engaging means between the housing and the cover for acquiring a reliable connection therebetween.  
         [0010]     The another object of the present invention is to provide a cable assembly, which has a pulling means for disengaging the cable assembly from a complementary connector conveniently.  
         [0011]     In order to implement the objects set forth, a cable assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing for receiving a plurality of terminals therein, each terminal comprising a mating end and a mounting end opposite to the mating end, a cable comprising a plurality of conductor cores terminated to the corresponding mounting ends of the terminals, an anchoring element reliably assembled to the housing, and a cover. The cover partially encloses the housing, and engages with the anchoring element for increasing the retaining force between the housing and the cover.  
         [0012]     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is an assembled view of a cable assembly in accordance with the present invention, with a cover thereof in a perspective view;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but taken from a different aspect;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the cable assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , but taken from a different aspect;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a partially assembled view of  FIG. 4 , with the cable assembled to terminals in a perspective view; and  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is an assembled view of the cable assembly in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     While the invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, a specific embodiment with the understanding that the present discloses is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated and described herein.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a cable assembly  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing  10 , a plurality of terminals  20  received in the housing  10 , a spacer  30  disposed in the housing  10 , a cable  50  electrically terminated with the terminals  20 , an anchoring element  40  reliably assembled to housing  10 , and a cover  60  partially enclosing the housing  10  and engaging with the anchoring element  40 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cable assembly  1  is in the form of a Serial ATA cable assembly and matable with a complementary electrical connector (not shown here).  
         [0021]     The insulative housing  10  is in the shape of a rectangular block and comprises a front end  11 , a rear end  12  opposite to the front end  11 , an upper wall  13 , a lower wall  14 , and a pair of opposite sidewalls  15  connected with the upper and lower walls  13 ,  14 . The upper wall  13 , the lower wall  14 , and the opposite sidewalls  15  together define an L-shaped receiving space  18  for receiving a tongue (not shown) of the complementary electrical connector therein. A plurality of passageways  17  penetrate through the lower wall  14  from the front end  11  to the rear end  12  in a front-to-rear direction. A guiding projection  151  protrudes sidewardly from an outer surface of one sidewall  15  for guiding the cable assembly  1  to engage with the complementary electrical connector properly. A pair of protruding blocks  19  are formed on the upper and lower walls  13 ,  14 , respectively, and positioned adjacent to the rear end  12 . Each protruding block  19  comprises a pair of projections  191  sidewardly extending from two edges thereof and exposed beyond the sidewalls  15 , respectively. Moreover, the housing  10  further comprises a rectangular opening  121  inwardly hollowed from the rear end  12  and communicated with the passageways  17 .  
         [0022]     A plurality of electrical terminals  20  are received side by side in corresponding passageways  17 . Each terminal  20  comprises a mating end  21 , a retaining end  22  rearwardly extending from the mating end  21 , and a mounting end  23  downwardly bending from the retaining end  22 . Each retaining end  22  defines a plurality of barbs  221  on a pair of sides thereof.  
         [0023]     The spacer  30  is a rectangular board, with a size similar to that of the opening  121 . The spacer  30  comprises an elongated main body  33 , a plurality of through holes  32  penetrating through the main body  33 , and a plurality of supporting blocks  31  extending forwardly from a surface of the main body  33 . Each supporting block  31  is positioned under corresponding through hole  32  for supporting the retaining end  22  of the terminals  20 .  
         [0024]     The cable  50  comprises a plurality of wires  52 . Each wire  52  comprises a plurality of conductor cores  51 .  
         [0025]     Referring to FIGS.  3  to  4 , the anchoring element  40  is of an U-shaped configuration and comprises a main portion  41  and a pair of locking arms  42  extending forwardly from opposite ends of the main portion  41 . Each locking arm  42  comprises a pair of claws  44  projecting inwardly from opposite edges of the free end thereof, and a pair of stopping blocks  43  extending sidewardly from opposite edges of the midst thereof, respectively. The locking arm  42  disposed opposite to the guiding projection  151  further comprises a rib  45  extending forwardly from the free end thereof. In the preferred embodiment, the anchoring element  40  is made of metallic material.  
         [0026]     The cover  60  with a T-shaped configuration comprises a base  61  and an extending portion  62  downwardly extending from the base  61 . The base  61  comprises a pair of extending ribs  67  rearwardly extending from opposite sides thereof.  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the cable assembly  1  further comprises a pulling means  80  reliably engaging with the cover  60  for operator unplugging the cable assembly  1  from the complementary electrical connector more conveniently. In the preferred embodiment, the pulling means  80  is integrally molded with the cover  60 .  
         [0028]     In assembly, referring to FIGS.  1  to  5 , the terminals  20  are first inserted into the housing  10  in a rear-to-front direction. The mating end  21  of each terminal  20  is received into corresponding passageways  17 , and is partly exposed in the receiving space  18  for electrically connected with corresponding terminals of the complementary electrical connector. The retaining end  22  of each terminal  20  are received into corresponding passageways  17  with the barbs  221  interferentially engaging with the inner opposite surfaces of the passageways  17  for securing the terminals  20  in the housing  10  fixedly. The mounting end  23  of each terminal  20  is exposed beyond the rear end  12  of the housing  10  for being soldered with the cable  50 . Then, the spacer  30  is pushed and received in the opening  121  of the housing  12  with the supporting blocks  31  received in the corresponding passageways  17  for efficiently preventing the melted plastic material of the cover  60  from flowing into the housing  10  and influencing the electrical connection between the cable assembly  1  and the complementary electrical connector. The mounting ends  23  protrude through the holes  32  of the spacer  30  and bend downwardly, respectively. The conductor cores  52  of the cable  50  are then respectively soldered with the mounting end  23  to form an electrical connection between the cable  50  and the terminals  20 .  
         [0029]     The anchoring element  40  is then assembled to the housing  10 . Two pairs of claws  44  of the anchoring element  40  respectively clasp the upper and lower walls  13 ,  14  with the projections  191  of housing  10  located between the stopping blocks  43  and the claws  44  and the rib  45  abutting against the distal end of the guiding projection  151 . Thus, the anchoring element  40  is fastened with the housing  10  reliably, and cannot occur the deviation in a rear-to-front direction, even in a vibration circumstance.  
         [0030]     Referring to the FIGS.  1  to  5 , a cover  60  is provided after the housing  10 , the terminals  20 , the cable  50  and the anchoring element  40  are assembled together. The cover  60  is formed by an injection molding method in which the injected material is molded over the housing  10 , the conjunction of the cable  50  and the terminals  20 , and the anchoring element  40 . To prevent the cover  60  from separating from the housing  10 , after cooling down the cover  60 , an interference is provided between the housing  10  and cover  60 . In this embodiment, the interference may include either the anchoring element  40  assembled to the housing  10  or the protruding block  19  protruding from the housing  10 . These configuration variations can provide interference engagement with the formed cover  60  so as to prevent the cover  60  from loosing from the housing  10  and produce a reliable engaging connection between the housing  10  and the cover  60 . Obviously, in this preferred embodiment, the cover  60  is not limited to design only by overmolding but, rather, that those skills can fasten the cover  60 , the anchoring element  40  and the housing  10  reliably. In addition, the pulling means  80  is provided and abutting against the main portion  41  of the anchoring element  40 .  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 6  in conjunction with FIGS.  3  to  4 , the cable assembly  1 ′ of a second preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention is similar to the cable assembly  1  in structure. However, in the second preferred embodiment, the cover  60  is integrally molded with the pulling means  80 ′ and has the same thickness as the pulling means  80 ′. In addition, between the cover  60  and the pulling means  80 ′, there are a space  70 , functioned as operation area, for allowing operator unplugging the cable assembly  1 ′ from the complementary electrical connector conveniently.  
         [0032]     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.