Abstract:
The invention is to provide a detachable electrical connector, which comprises a seat having an upper first recess with a first connecting member disposed therein, a lower second recess adjacent the first recess and being in communication thereto, and a third recess besides the second recess with a second connecting member disposed therein, wherein the second recess is adapted to receive an attachment member which is capable of protecting a plurality of conductors and includes ridges for spacing any two adjacent first conductors for preventing a potential short circuit from occurring. Thus, the first and second connecting members are spaced from each other and facing different directions.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to electrical connectors and more particularly to a detachable electrical connector with improved characteristics. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The availability of various electronic products is even faster as electronics and information technology make progress significantly in recent several decades throughout the world. For example, an additional connector is mounted on a motherboard of a computer such that either a new function can be added to the computer or the purpose of making the motherboard comply with new specifications is achieved. This is an important phase of designing a motherboard. An electrical connector (or connector in short) is a component for transmitting signals (i.e., data) or power from one electronic device to the other electronic device by connecting to a mated connector of the other electronic device. Thus, quality of a connector plays a critical role in signal transmission performance. And in turn, performance of the connected electronic device is closely associated therewith. 
   A conventional detachable electrical connector  1  is shown in  FIG. 1 . The electrical connector  1  comprises a seat  11  including a first recess  112 , a second recess  113  opposite the first recess  112 , a first connecting member  111  adjacent the second recess  113 , a first latch  114  upright projecting from a blind end of the first connecting member  111 , and a plurality of bent conductors  115  extended from a bottom end of the first latch  114  to the first connecting member  111 . The conductors  115  in turn pass the bottom of the first connecting member  111  and the first recess  112  to project out of the seat  11  in a direction away from the first latch  114 . 
   The electrical connector  1  further comprises an attachment member  13  mounted onto the first recess  112  for protecting the conductors  115 ; a second connecting member  14  mounted in the second recess  113  and including a plurality of slots  141 ; an abutment member  12  mounted on a top of the seat  11 , the abutment member  12  including a second latch  121  mated with the first latch  114  and secured thereto such that the first connecting member  111  is capable of connecting to and fastening a connector of a peripheral device when the abutment member  12  is secured onto the seat  11 ; a first casing  15  of L-section mounted onto the seat  11  wit both the abutment member  12  and the attachment member  13  enclosed therein; and a second casing  16  of U-section opposite the first casing  15  and facing both the second connecting member  14  and the first connecting member  111 , the second casing  16  including a plurality of openings  151  facing both the second connecting member  14  and the first connecting member  111 . 
   However, the well known detachable electrical connector suffered from several disadvantages in installation and use. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1  again, the first connecting member  111  is formed on the seat  11  of the detachable electrical connector  1 . However, the whole detachable electrical connector  1  is no longer useful if only the first connecting member  111  is damaged. 
   Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 1  again the function of the first connecting member  111  connecting to and fastening a connector of a peripheral device is effected only when the abutment member  12  is secured onto the seat  11 . However, the fastening of the abutment member  12  and seat  11  is reliable. Hence, either the abutment member  12  or the seat  11  is prone to damaging when plugging or unplugging the connector of the peripheral device. This really bothers users a lot and causes a great inconvenience in use. 
   In addition, as shown in  FIG. 2 , both the slots  141  and the first connecting member  111  face the same direction. But it is understood that the connector of the peripheral device is not required to plug or unplug frequently. In fact, it is often that the connector of the peripheral device is maintained in its insertion into the detachable electrical connector  1  for a relatively long period of time. It is possible that the inserted connector of the peripheral device is disengaged with the slots  141  or the first connecting member  111  when either connecting the connector of the peripheral device to the slots  141  and the first connecting member  111  or unplugging the connector of the peripheral device out of the slots  141  and the first connecting member  111 . As a result, data transmission through the connected connectors fails. This indeed bothers users and causes a great inconvenience in use. Thus, continuing improvements in the exploitation of detachable electrical connector without the well known disadvantages described above by having beneficial features including convenient use and reliability are constantly being sought among detachable electrical connector manufacturers of the art. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   After considerable research and experimentation, a detachable electrical connector according to the invention has been devised so as to overcome the above drawbacks of the prior art. 
   It is an object of the invention to provide a detachable electrical connector comprising a seat including an upper first recess with a first connecting member disposed therein, a lower second recess adjacent the first recess and being in communication thereto, the second recess adapted to receive an attachment member which is capable of protecting a plurality of conductors and spacing any two adjacent first conductors for preventing a potential short circuit from occurring, and a third recess besides the second recess with a second connecting member disposed therein. Thus, the first and second connecting members are spaced from each other facing different directions. By utilizing the detachable electrical connector the drawbacks of the well known detachable electrical connector are eliminated. These drawbacks include, for example, the inserted connector of the peripheral device being prone to undesirably disengaging with the first connecting member when either connecting the connector of the peripheral device to the first connecting member or unplugging the connector of the peripheral device out of the first connecting member. 
   The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a conventional detachable electrical connector; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the assembled electrical connector; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of detachable electrical connector according to the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  but viewed from an opposite angle; and 
       FIG. 5  is an environmental view of the assembled electrical connector of the invention mounted on a rear panel of a computer case. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , a detachable electrical connector  2  in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The detachable electrical connector  2  comprises a seat  21 ; a front first connecting member  22 , and a rear second connecting member  23 . The connecting members  22  and  23  are mounted in the seat  21  and are also spaced from each other facing different directions. For example, a connector of one peripheral device is adapted to connect to the first connecting member  22  in the assembled electrical connector  2 . Thus, it is highly impossible of inserting a connector of the other peripheral device into the wrong connecting member (e.g., the first connecting member  22  in this case) in a plugging operation. Further, it is highly impossible of inadvertently pulling the wrong connector out of either connecting member in an unplugging operation. As a result, an inadvertent pulling of the connector of the peripheral device out of either connecting member is substantially avoided. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4  in conjunction with  FIG. 3 , in the preferred embodiment of the invention the rectangular seat  21  comprises an upper first recess  211 , two retaining members  214  provided in two top corners of a rear wall of the first recess  211  respectively, the retaining members  214  extended toward the first recess  211 , a lower second recess  212  adjacent the first recess  211  and being in communication thereto, a lower third recess  213  besides the second recess  212 , an upper protrusion  210  slightly projecting into the first recess  211 , and a hole  2100  provided at either side of the protrusion  210  facing the first recess  211 . The first connecting member  22  is adapted to mount in the first recess  211 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4  again, in the preferred embodiment of the invention the rectangular first connecting member  22  comprises a first housing  220  including an inverted U-shaped flange  2200  projecting from a rear end of the first housing  220  into the seat  21  to urge against the retaining members  214 , a rear fourth recess  2201  facing the protrusion  210 , and a tab  2202  provided at either side of the fourth recess  2201 , the tabs  2202  adapted to secure to the holes  2100  by inserting therein. Moreover, a first receptacle  221  is formed in the first housing  220 . A plurality of first conductors  2211  are provided and are adapted to partially dispose in the first receptacle  221 . In detail, the bent first conductors  2211  extend from the first receptacle  221  into the seat  21 . Next, the first conductors  2211  pass a bottom of the first recess  211  into the second recess  212 . Finally, the first conductors  2211  extend out of the seat  21  in a direction away from the first connecting member  22 . For repairing the malfunctioned first connecting member  22 , a person may simply detach the first connecting member  22  from the first recess  211  and then mount a new first connecting member  22  in the first recess  211  instead of replacing the whole electrical connector  2  with a new one. Moreover, the first housing  220  of the first connecting member  22  is an integral member. Hence, the structural strength of the first housing  220  is higher than that of a first housing  220  formed by assembling a number of components. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4  again, in the embodiment a plurality of parallel first troughs  2121  are formed and defined by the second recess  212 , the first recess  211 , and one side of the seat  21 . A plurality of parallel lower rear first ridges  2122  are formed and defined by the second recess  212 , one side of the seat  21 , a bottom of the seat  21 , and a bottom of the first troughs  2121 . A second trough  2123  is formed between any two adjacent first ridges  2122 . An attachment member  24  is provided in the second recess  212 . The attachment member  24  comprises a rear first engagement element  240  facing the seat  21 . The first engagement element  240  comprises a plurality of parallel third troughs  2401  in communication with the bottom of the seat  21 . A second ridge  2400  is formed between any two adjacent third troughs  2401 . Each of the second ridges  2400  is adapted to insert into a dip between any two adjacent second troughs  2123 . A space is formed between a top of the second ridges  2400  and a bottom of the second troughs  2123  for disposing a portion of the first conductors  2211 . Moreover, each of the first ridges  2122  is adapted to insert into a dip between any two adjacent third troughs  2401 . A space is formed between a top of the first ridges  2122  and a bottom of the third troughs  2401  for disposing another portion of the first conductors  2211 . The attachment member  24  can protect the first conductors  2211  when a portion of the first conductors  2211  is received in the second recess  212 . Further, any two adjacent first conductors  2211  are spaced by the ridges  2122  and  2400  and the troughs  2121 ,  2123 , and  2401 . As a result, a potential short circuit is prevented from occurring. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4  again, in the embodiment a groove  2130  is formed on an inner surface of either side of the third recess  213  of the seat  21 . The second connecting member  23  is adapted to mount in the third recess  213 . The second connecting member  23  comprises a second housing  230 . A projecting rail  2300  is formed on an outer surface of either side of the second housing  230 . The rails  2300  are adapted to align with and slidably mount in the grooves  2130 . A second receptacle  231  is provided in the second housing  230 . A plurality of second conductors  2310  are provided and are adapted to partially dispose in the second receptacle  231 . In detail, the bent second conductors  2310  extend out of the second housing  230 . The shown second receptacle  231  can be replaced by another type of receptacle depending on applications. For repairing the malfunctioned second receptacle  231 , a person may simply detach the second receptacle  231  from the third recess  213  and then mount a new second receptacle  231  in the third recess  213  instead of replacing the whole electrical connector  2  with a new one. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4  again, in the embodiment a first casing  25  of L-section is provided and mounted onto the seat  21  with both the first connecting member  22  and the attachment member  24  enclosed therein. The first casing  25  comprises a front first opening  251  aligned with the first receptacle  221 . A rear second casing  26  of U-section is provided and mounted onto two sides of the seat  21  with the second connecting member  23  is received therein. Both sides of the second casing  26  are matingly assembled with the first casing  25 . Also, the first receptacle  22  has its both side surfaces proximate both sides of the assembled first and second casings  25  and  26 . The second casing  26  comprises a plurality of second openings  261  facing the second receptacle  31 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5  in conjunction with  FIG. 4 , in the embodiment the openings  251  and  261  are formed oppositely on the electrical connector  2 . Only a rear portion of the electrical connector  2  is exposed when the electrical connector  2  is mounted on a rear panel of an electrical device (e.g., a personal computer as shown)  3 . In brief, either the first opening  251  to be electrically connected to a connector of a peripheral device is exposed or the second openings  261  to be electrically connected to the connector of the peripheral device are exposed in use. This can prevent either an insertion of the connector of the peripheral device into the wrong opening or a wrong pulling of the connector of the peripheral device out of the opening from occurring. As such, it is very convenient in use. Moreover, it is a fault proof design since only the opening(s) to be electrically connected to the connector of the peripheral device is (are) exposed rather than exposing the other opening(s) hidden in the electrical device  3 . As a result, a loosening of the inserted connector of the peripheral device by inadvertently unplugging same is prevented from occurring. 
   While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.