Abstract:
The invention relates to a cable connector assembly including cover means and connecting means, wherein the cover means include wall portions and an opening adapted to accommodate the connecting means. At least one of the wall portions is at least partially curved for guiding at least one cable of one or more other cable connector assemblies. Cable ties to attach the cable to the curved wall portion are disclosed are well. The invention facilitates cable management in dense and small cabinets.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a cable connector assembly comprising cover means and connecting means, said cover means comprising wall portions and an opening adapted to accommodate said connecting means. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   WO 99/27616 discloses a high density electrical connector system, wherein the electrical connectors have a hood with a sloping top. Because of the slope of the hood and the position of the opening in the hood for a cable, a second connector does not interfere with this cable. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the invention to provide a cable connector assembly and a connector system wherein cable management is facilitated. This is important since the cabinets containing the cables are getting smaller and the density of cable connector assemblies on a circuit board increases. 
   This object is achieved by providing a cable connector assembly characterized in that at least one of said wall portions is at least partially curved for guiding at least one cable of at least one other cable connector. By adapting the cover means such that it allows guiding cables of other cable connector assemblies, these cables can be controlled by the cover means. The curvature of the wall portion can be close to the minimum bend radius at which a signal through the guided cable or the shielding of the cable starts to degrade. For the shielding of the cable, especially the braid is susceptive for bend forces if the bend radius of the cable becomes too small. 
   In an embodiment of the invention the cover means of the cable connector has means for reducing the movement of a cable over the cover means. Preferably these means include cable tie means for attaching the cable to the partially curved wall portion to secure the guided cable. Alternatively or in addition the curved wall portion may be curved substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the curved wall portion. This is e.g. advantageous if a single cable is to be guided over the curved wall portion. Moreover other structures or material compositions for the wall portion can be envisaged that are adapted to reduce the movement of the cable. 
   can be envisaged that are adapted to reduce the movement of the cable. 
   The invention also relates to a cable connector system comprising at least a first and a second cable connector assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first cable connector comprises said at least partially curved wall portion and said second cable connector comprises a wall portion having an opening adapted for directing said cable substantially tangential to said at least partially curved wall portion. By adapting the opening the cable connectors can be positioned in close proximity to each other, thereby providing the possibility to obtain a high density system of cable connectors on e.g. a circuit board with improved cable management features. The system may comprise several cable connector assemblies, wherein the cover means of the assemblies guide at least some of the cable of these cable connector assemblies. These cables can be attached to the cover means by cable tie means. In this way a flexible cable management system is obtained. 
   The invention also relates to the cover means as such, comprising an at least partially curved wall portion. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be further illustrated with reference to the attached drawing, which shows a preferred embodiment according to the invention. It will be understood that the cable connector assembly and system according to the invention are not in any way restricted to this specific and preferred embodiment. 
       FIG. 1  shows a cable connector system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of a cable connector assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 3  shows different cable clamp arrangements; 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show perspective views of two parts of a cover according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  show perspective views of a cable connector assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a cable connector system  1  comprising a first cable connector assembly  2  and a second cable connector assembly  3  on a printed circuit board  4 . Each of said assemblies  2 ,  3  has a cable  5  extending from said assemblies  2 ,  3 . In  FIG. 1  only the cover means  6 ,  7  of respectively the assemblies  2  and  3  are visible. It is noted that cover  6  and  7  may be identical or similar. The cover means  6 ,  7 , hereinafter also referred to as cover, comprises upper wall portions  8 ,  9  that are curved for guiding the cable  5 . The curvature of the upper wall is preferably close to the minimum bend radius of the cable  5 . As a general rule the bend radius of the curved wall portion  8 ,  9  is equal to or higher than five times the outer diameter of the cable. For instance, in a cable connector system  1  with three types of cables  5  with outer diameters of  5 , 6.5 and 10 mm, the curvature of the wall portions  8 ,  9  of the cover means  6 ,  7  is adapted to the cable  5  with the largest diameter, i.e. the curvature of the wall portions  8 ,  9  is at least 50 mm. 
   The cable  5  is reduced in movement and assisted in guidance by the cable tie  10  that attaches cable  5 . This cable tie  10  may e.g. be of plastic material and can be adapted to easily fasten and release a cable. Alternatively the cable tie  10  may be a metal or plastic cable clamp. The cable tie  10  may be integrated with the cover means  6 ,  7 . Cable tie  10  may attach several cables  5  from other connector assemblies (not shown) as well. The covers  6 ,  7  comprise a recess or slot  11  for holding the cable tie  10 . It is noted that the recess  11  for the cable tie  10  is not necessarily located near the position on the upper wall where the cable approaches the assembly, but may e.g. be located in the middle of the upper wall  8 ,  9 . Also more than one cable tie  10  can be applied. 
   The assemblies  2 ,  3  further comprise cable openings  12  (see  FIG. 2 ) that are e.g. adapted by the alignment part  13  to direct the cable  5  of assembly  2  tangential to the curved wall portion  9  of the assembly  3 . To facilitate this alignment an alignment part  13  may have a direction which gives cable  5  a direction which is just below the tangential direction such that contact with the upper wall  9  is ensured. Alignment parts  13  and the tie-wraps  14  may also have a bend relief function in  FIG. 1 . Alignment part  13  may be an integral part of the cover  6 ,  7  as well as being a mountable part. The upper wall  9  may comprise a small linear part near the location where the cable  5  meets the cover  7  to define the tangential direction for the cable  5 . The cables  5  can be attached to the covers  6 ,  7  by the tie wrap  14 . The assemblies  2 ,  3  are fastened to the printed circuit board  4  with screws  15 . Covers  6  and  7  are provided with indents  16  for fingers to facilitate unmating of the connector assemblies  2 ,  3  from the headers (not shown) of the printed circuit board  4 . 
   The construction of a cable connector assembly  2 ,  3  according to two embodiments of the invention will be discussed next in greater detail. 
     FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the connector assembly  2  wherein the front part of the cover  6  is removed. Cover  6  comprises sidewall portions  20 ,  21  and  22  that together with the front part side wall  23  (see  FIG. 4B ) of the cover determine an opening  24  opposite to the partially curved upper wall  8 , which opening  24  accommodates connecting means or terminal blocks  25  to be mounted on the printed circuit board  4 . The front part of the cover  6  can be attached to the assembly  2  by using pins  26 . Cable opening  12  may comprise a cable clamp  27  inserted in a slot of the cover  6  for strain relief of the cable  5 . A connector assembly  2  may have several cables  5 , possibly of different diameters, connected to the terminal blocks  25 . Therefore different cable clamps  27 ′,  27 ″ can be used, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The several cables  5  may all be guided by the upper wall  9  of cable assembly  3  or, alternatively, some of the cables  5  leaving cable assembly  2  are guided by the upper wall  9 . 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B  show perspective views of two parts  30  and  31  that are to be attached to each other to form a cover  6 . Similar or equivalent parts of the covers with respect to the first embodiment have been assigned identical reference numbers. The alignment part  13  at the cable opening  12  shown in  FIG. 2  is omitted in the second embodiment. Instead the sidewalls  21 ,  23  of the cover  6  comprise a structure  32  forming a tubular cable opening  12  when the sidewalls  21  and  23  are attached to each other by fitting the pins  26  in corresponding holes  33 . This tubular cable opening is adapted to perform the same function as the alignment part  13  in  FIG. 2 . 
   In  FIG. 5A  the cable assembly  2  is shown comprising a cable  5  in the tubular cable opening  12  formed by the structure  32  in the sidewall  21  of the cover  6 . Cable  5  comprises a plurality of wires  34  that are to be connected to the appropriate terminal blocks  25 . The cable  5  can be attached to the cover  6  in the tubular cable opening  12  by one or more components  35  for fixation of the cable to the cover  6 . Such a component  35  may be a wrap that can be shrunk around the cable  5  and fitted in the tubular opening  12 . Component  35  has a similar function as the cable clamps  27 ,  27 ′,  27 ″ as shown in  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 5B  the connector assembly  2  is shown with the sidewall  23  in place, ready to be mounted to a printed circuit board  4 . When mounted cable  5  can be guided by the upper walls of other similar connector assemblies, such as connector assembly  3 . In this way management of the cables is improved. 
   It is noted that the cable or cables  5  of the connector assemblies  2 ,  3  are not necessarily in contact with the entire upper wall  8 ,  9 . Especially at the end of the curved upper wall, the cable  5  may diverge from the upper wall since e.g. the destination of the cable  5  urges this cable to a particular direction. 
   Moreover it is noted that alternatively or in addition to the cable tie  10 , other means for reducing movement and/or assisting the guidance of the cable  5  can be applied on the upper wall  8 ,  9 . E.g. the upper wall  8 ,  9  may comprise a groove or further curvature in the longitudinal direction of the upper wall  8 ,  9 . Further, structures or material compositions of or on top of the upper wall  8 ,  9  that are able to exert a sufficient friction force to the cable  5  when moved can be envisaged as well.