Abstract:
A modular jack assembly ( 10 ) includes a number of connectors ( 1 ). Each connector includes at least one receiving cavity ( 24 ) for receive a mating connector, and a plurality of contacts ( 4 ) received in the connector. The modular jack assembly also includes an engager ( 3 ) mounted in front portions of the connectors to assemble the connectors together in side-by-side arrangement.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a multi-port modular jack assembly.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0004]    Modular jacks are commonly used in network communications. U.S. Pat. No. 6,227,911 issued to Boutros et al. disclose such modular jack assemblies with two rows of receiving cavities for connecting with a plurality of mating plugs. Each row of the receiving cavities is arranged along a longitudinal axis. However, a housing defining the receiving cavities is integrally made by insert-molding process. When it is desired to have different types of modular jacks with less or more receiving cavities, different types of moulds are needed, which is disadvantage for decrease manufacturing cost.  
           [0005]    Hence, an improved modular jack assembly is needed to overcome the foregoing shortcomings.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    A main object of the present invention is to provide a multi-port modular jack assembly wherein the receiving cavities can be increased or decreased conveniently.  
           [0007]    In order to achieve the object set forth, a modular jack assembly includes a number of connectors. Each connector includes at least a receiving cavity through a mating face for receive a mating connector, and a plurality of contacts received in the connector. The modular jack assembly also includes an engager mounted in front portions of the connectors and help to assembly the connectors together in side-by-side arrangement.  
           [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]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-port modular jack assembly according to the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is another exploded view of FIG. 1 from a different aspect; and  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a contact assembly according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and  3 , a multi-port modular jack assembly  10  comprises a plurality of single stacked connectors  1 , an engager  3  which is unitarily formed with a plurality of engaging blocks  30 . Each stacked connector  1  includes an insulative housing  2 , a contact assembly  4  received in the housing  2 , and an insert module  5  attached to a rear portion of the housing  2 .  
         [0014]    The housing  2  includes a pair of side walls  21 ,  22 , a pair of extension walls  200  extending rearwardly from upper portions of the side walls  21 ,  22 , a pair of stacked upper and lower receiving cavities  24  defined between the side walls  21 ,  22  and through a front face of the housing  2 , and a rear cavity  23  defined between the extension walls  200 . One of the side walls  21 ,  22  defines a pair of guiding bars  210  extending rearwardly in parallel on an outer surface of the left side wall  21 . Accordingly, a pair of guiding recesses  220  are defined in an outer surface of the right side walls  22 . The side walls  21 ,  22  define a pair of horizontal cutouts  201  in front portions thereof, a pair of holders  202  extending rearwardly therefrom, and upper and lower ribs  240 ,  241  formed on inner surfaces of the two side walls  21 ,  22  and adjacent to the upper and lower receiving cavities  24 . A pair of grooves  242  are defined between the upper and lower ribs  240 ,  241 . Each groove  242  is aligned with the cutouts  201  of the side walls  21 ,  22  respectively, and each of the groove  242  defines a barrier  205  in rear portion. A pair of baffles  25  is formed between each cavity  24  and the rear cavity  23 . Each baffle  25  has a plurality of longitudinal slots (not labeled), and an opening (not labeled) is defined between the baffles  25 .  
         [0015]    Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the engager  3  is integrally formed with a plurality of engaging blocks  30 . The engaging block  30  comprises a rectangular base  300 , a pair of engaging pieces  301  extending upwardly and downwardly from a front face  303  of the base  300 , and a pair of protuberances  302  protruding laterally from opposite ends of the base  300 . Front faces of the base  300 , the engaging pieces  301  and the protuberances  302  are in a common plane.  
         [0016]    Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and  4 , the contact assembly  4  comprises two identical contact modules  40 . Each contact module  40  includes a rectangular body  401  and a plurality of contacts  402  insert molding with the body  401 . The body  401  is made up of insulate material, it provides a flat plane  403  on one side thereof, and an engaging button  404  extending upwardly from opposite side thereof. Each contact  402  provides a bended contact portion  405  extending from the front of the body  40 , and a soldering portion  406  extending from the rearward of the body  40 .  
         [0017]    Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the insert module  5  comprises an interior circuit board  51  and a magnetic module  52 . The circuit board  51  forms some electric traces (not shown), two rows of soldering holes  510  adapting to solder the soldering portions  406  therein, and a pair of arced holding holes  511  on both sides of thereof and adapted to mate with the holders  202  of the housing  2 . The magnetic module  52  includes multiple soldering legs  520  extending downwardly for being soldered on an exterior circuit board (not shown).  
         [0018]    In assembly, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, first turn one of the contact modules  40  over, the flat planes  403  of the contact modules  40  abut against each other tightly. Then the engaging button  404  of one contact module  40  engage with the flat plane  403  of the other contact module  40 , whereby the contact modules  40  are assembled as a contact assembly  4 . The contact assembly  4  is insert into the housing  2  from a front portion, the two engaging buttons  404  on both side of the contact assembly  4  slide along the two grooves  242  of both side walls  21 ,  22  of the housing  2  respectively, and stopped by the barrier  205 . The soldering portion  406  of the contact  402  extends from the opening defined on rearward of the housing  2  to the rear cavity  23  thereof, and the contact portion  405  is received in corresponding slot of the baffles  25 .  
         [0019]    The insert module  5  is mounted in a rear portion of the housing  2 . Both sides of the magnetic module  52  respectively engage with the extension walls  200  of the housing  2 . The holder holes  511  in both sides of the interior circuit board  51  engage with the holder portions  202  on the rear portion of the housing  2 . The soldering portions  406  of the contacts  402  are soldered in corresponding soldering holes  510  of the interior circuit board  51 , and electrically connecting with the circuit traces thereon.  
         [0020]    The guiding bars  210  of each housing  2  is received in corresponding recesses  220  of an adjacent housing  2 , whereby a plurality of housings  2  are assembled together in side-by-side relationship.  
         [0021]    The engager  3  is inserted from the front face of the housing  2 . The two sides of the base  300  of each engaging block  30  are received in the two grooves  242  of both sides of the housing  2  respectively, and the two protuberances  302  respectively mate with the two cutouts  201  on both side walls of the housing  2 . The rear face of the engaging block  30  resists the front face of the contact assembly  4 , the two engaging pieces  301  mate with the upper and lower ribs  240 ,  241  defined in the cavity  24  of the housing  2  respectively, and the front face  303  aligns with the front portion of the housing  2  forming a planar front surface. Each engaging block  30  defined on the engager  3  mates with each housing  2 , which makes a plurality of housings  2  aligned together side by side to form a modular jack assembly  10 .  
         [0022]    In the embodiment of the invention, the modular jack assembly  10  comprises four single stacked connectors  1  aligned side by side. In practice, it is only to change the number of mold of the housing  2  and the engaging block  30  in manufacture when need to increase or decrease the number of ports conveniently.  
         [0023]    Certainly, there are some other embodiments of the invention, the multiple housing  2  of the modular jack assembly  10  could align by other means, and the single stacked connector  1  could be one port connector.  
         [0024]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous, characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set fourth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosed 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.