Abstract:
A cable assembly, comprises at least one connector defining a mating portion; a cable electrically connected to the connector; and a dustproof cover module attached to the cable. The dustproof cover module comprises at least one dustproof cover for covering the mating portion of the connector and a carrier comprising a base portion having at least one receiving room therein and a tie extending from a rear surface of the base portion. The dustproof cover is received into the receiving room, the tie engages with the base portion to make the carrier surrounding the cable and holding the dustproof cover positioned in the base portion of the carrier.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to cable assembly, particularly to a cable assembly with a dustproof cover module removeably attached to a cable of the cable assembly. 
   DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
   Dustproof cover are widely applied to the cable assembly in order to protect an interface of a connector before its interconnection with a mating connector from being contaminated by dust particles, moisture and other substances to ensure a good performance of information transmission. U.S. Pat. No. 7,534,132 B2 issued on May 19, 2009 discloses a dustproof cover fitted to a mating portion of the cable assembly, when the cable assembly is in use, the dustproof cover should be removed, however, the dust cover tends to get lost after it is removed. 
   As discussed above, an improved cable assembly overcoming the shortages of existing technology is needed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cable assembly with a dustproof cover module attached to the cable assembly for preventing a dustproof cover disposed in the dustproof cover module from being lost. 
   In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, a cable assembly comprises at least one connector defining a mating portion; a cable electrically connected to the connector; and a dustproof cover module attached to the cable. The dustproof cover module comprises at least one dustproof cover for covering the mating portion of the connector and a carrier comprising a base portion having at least one receiving room therein and a tie extending from a rear surface of the base portion. The dustproof cover is received into the receiving room, the tie engages with the base portion to make the carrier surrounding the cable and holding the dustproof cover positioned in the base portion of the carrier. 
   Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cable assembly of a first embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and a pair of dustproof covers are respectively fitted to cover the pair of connectors of the cable assembly; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a cable assembly of the first embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and the pair of dustproof covers are received into a carrier of the cable assembly; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded, perspective view of a dustproof cover module of the cable assembly of the first embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from another aspect; 
       FIG. 5  is an assembled, perspective view of a dustproof cover module of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a cable assembly of a second embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and a pair of dustproof covers are respectively fitted to cover the pair of connectors of the cable assembly; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the cable assembly of the second embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and the pair of dustproof covers are received into a carrier of the cable assembly; 
       FIG. 8  is an exploded, perspective view of a dustproof cover module of a cable assembly of the second embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is an assembled, perspective view of the dustproof cover module of  FIG. 8 ; 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a cable assembly of the first embodiment made in accordance with the present invention, generally designated  100 , is adapted for mating with a plurality of complementary connectors (not shown). The cable assembly  100  defines a first connector  1 , a second connector  2 , a cable  3  electrically connected with the first and second connectors  1 ,  2  and a dustproof cover module  4  attached to the cable  3 . In the first embodiment, the first connector  1  is a DVI (Digital Visual Interface) connector, and the second connector  2  is a HDMI connector. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the dustproof cover module  4  includes a first dustproof cover  41 , a second dustproof cover  42  and a carrier  43 . The first dustproof cover  41  defines a top wall  410  and a side wall  411  extending from circumference of the top wall  410 . A receiving cavity  412  enclosed by the top wall  410  and a side wall  411  is fitted to receive a mating portion  11  of the first connector  1 . The length of the side wall  411  is the same with that of the mating portion  11  of the first connector  1 . So the first dustproof cover  41  is fully fitted to cover the mating portion  11  of the first connector  1 . The second dustproof cover  42  also defines a top wall  420  and a side wall  421  extending from circumference of the top wall  420 . A receiving cavity  422  enclosed by the top wall  420  and a side wall  421  is fitted to receive a mating portion  21  of the first connector  2 . The length of the side wall  421  is the same with that of the mating portion  21  of the first connector  2 . So the second dustproof cover  42  is fully fitted to cover the mating portion  21  of the first connector  2 . The first and second dustproof covers  41 ,  42  are both used to prevent the mating portions  11 ,  21  of the first and second connector  1 ,  2  from being dirtied by dust particles when the first and second connectors are not in use. The area of the top wall  410  of the first dustproof cover  41  is larger than that of the top wall  420  of the second dustproof cover  42 . The first and second dustproof covers  41 ,  42  can be received and positioned in the carrier  43  which can be bundled to the cable  3  or other place of the cable assembly  100 . So, the first and second dustproof covers  41 ,  42  will not be easily lost when the cable assembly  100  is in use. 
   Also referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the carrier  43  of the dustproof cover module  4  of the cable assembly  100  is formed of insulative material and defines a base portion  431  and a tie  435  extending along a longitudinal direction from a rear surface  4311  of the base portion  431 . 
   The base portion  431  of the carrier  43  defines a first receiving room  432  for receiving the first dustproof cover  41  and a second receiving room  433  for receiving the second dustproof cover  42 . The first receiving room  432  and second receiving room  433  are arranged side by side along a longitudinal direction and communicated with each other. The second receiving room  433  is formed in a rear section of the base portion  431  and the first receiving room  432  is formed in a front section of the base portion  431 . The second receiving room  433  is smaller than the first receiving room  432 . The second dustproof cover  42  should be received into the second receiving room  433  before the first dustproof cover  41  received into the first receiving room  432  so that the first and second dustproof cover  41 ,  42  can be both received into the base portion  431 . A protrusion  434  is formed on a top wall  4310  of the base portion  431 . The protrusion  434  defines a bottom portion  4341  connected to the top wall  43   10 , a column portion  4342  extending upwardly form the bottom portion  4341  and a ball portion  4343  formed on a top end of the column portion  4342 . The diameter of the ball portion  4343  is larger than that of the column portion  4342 . 
   The tie  435  is flexible and elastic, it defines a plurality of through hole  4350  at a free end thereof and extending in a vertical direction. The diameter of the through  4350  is smaller than that of the ball portion  4343  of the protrusion  434  and larger than that of the column portion  4342  of the protrusion  434 . The tie  435  can be bent to make the ball portion  4343  corresponding to the through hole  4350 , then the ball portion  4343  can be passed through the through hole  4350  and the column portion  4342  can be received into the through hole  4350 . So, the tie  435  can be engaged with protrusion  434  of the carrier  43  to form a bundling region and to hold the first and second dustproof covers  41 ,  42  positioned in the carrier  43 . And the protrusion  434  of the carrier  43  can cooperate with different through hole  4350  to define the bundling region in a small or larger size. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , when the first and second connectors  1 ,  2  of the cable assembly  100  are mating with the complementary connectors, the first dustproof cover  41  and second dustproof cover  42  are both received into the first and second receiving room  432 ,  433  in turn. Then making the rear surface  4311  the base portion  431  of the carrier  43  attached to an outer surface of the cable  3 . Then bending the tie  435  to surround the cable  3  and the first dustproof cover  41 . At last, engaging the tie  435  to the protrusion  434  of the carrier  43  through the ball portion  4343  of the protrusion  434  passed through the through hole  4350  of the tie  435 . So, the first and second dustproof cover  41 ,  42  are well positioned in the base portion  431  of the carrier  43 . 
   When the first and second connectors  1 ,  2  of the cable assembly  100  are not in use, the first and second dustproof covers  41 ,  42  are respectively fitted to cover the mating portions  11 ,  21  of the first connector and second connector  1 ,  2  for preventing the mating portions  11 ,  21  from being dirtied by dust particles. And the carrier  43  is also bundled to the cable  3  to prevent the carrier  43  from being lost. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a cable assembly of a second embodiment made in accordance with the present invention, generally designated  100 ′, is adapted for mating with a pair of complementary connectors (not shown). The cable assembly  100 ′ defines a pair of connectors  2 ′ and a cable  3 ′ electrically connected with the pair of connectors  2 ′ and a dustproof cover module  4 ′. The connector  2 ′ defines a mating portion  21 ′ at a front end thereof. In the second embodiment, the connector  2 ′ is also a HDMI connector. 
   In the second embodiment, the dustproof cover module  4 ′ includes a pair of dustproof covers  42 ′ and a bunding tie  43 ′. The dustproof cover  42 ′ has a same structure with the second dustproof  42  in the first embodiment. 
   Also referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the carrier  43 ′ of the dustproof cover module  4 ′ of the cable assembly  100 ′ defines a base portion  431 ′ and a tie  435 ′ extending along a longitudinal direction from a rear surface  4311 ′ of the base portion  431 ′. The base portion  431 ′ defines a pair of receiving rooms  433 ′ arranged side by side in a widthwise direction for receiving the pair of dustproof covers  42 ′. A protrusion  434 ′ is formed on a top wall  4310 ′ of the base portion  431 ′. The protrusion  434 ′ has a same structure with the protrusion  434  in the first embodiment. The tie  435 ′ also has a same structure with the tie  435  in the first embodiment. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , when the pair of connectors  2 ′ of the cable assembly  100 ′ are mating with the complementary connectors, the pair of dustproof covers  42 ′ are received into the pair of receiving rooms  433 ′. Then making the rear surface  4311  ′ the base portion  431  ′ of the carrier  43 ′ attached to an outer surface of the cable  3 ′. Then bending the tie  435 ′ to surround the cable  3 ′ and the pair of dustproof covers  42 ′. At last, engaging the tie  435 ′ to the protrusion  434 ′ of the carrier  43 ′. So, the pair of dustproof covers  42 ′ are well positioned in the base portion  431 ′ of the carrier  43 ′. 
   When the pair of connectors  2 ′ of the cable assembly  100 ′ are not in use, the pair of dustproof covers  42 ′ are respectively fitted to cover the mating portions  21 ′ of the pair of connectors  2 ′ for preventing the mating portions  21  ′ from being dirtied by dust particles. And the carrier  43 ′ is also bundled to the cable  3 ′ to prevent the carrier  43 ′ from being lost. 
   It should be noted that the method of the dustproof cover module  4 ,  4 ′ of the first and second embodiment of the cable assembly  100 ,  100 ′ bundled to the cable  3 ,  3 ′ is the same with each other. However the structure of the base portion  431 ,  431 ′ of the dustproof cover module  4 ,  4 ′ is different from each other. 
   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.