Abstract:
A communication is jack adapted to connect a cable that has an exposed ground wire mesh. The communication jack includes a first member, a second member, and a clamping component. The second member and the first member are capable of pivotally rotating relatively to be combined to form a clamping area. The cable is gripped by the clamping component and the second member in the clamping area, and the clamping component and the second member keep in contact with the ground wire mesh of the cable. Thus, the cable is fixed and grounded by simply combining the first and second members.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.§119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 097210345 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Jun. 11, 2008 the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention relates to an electric signal connector, and in particularly, to a communication jack capable of fixing and grounding a cable at the same time. 
   2. Related Art 
   Connectors are basic parts commonly seen in the electro-communication field, and almost various electronic devices are installed with connectors serving as the medium for connecting the electronic devices to an external electric signal. Among various types of connectors, some can be directly inserted with a cable (for example, a network line or telephone line) so as to be electrically connected thereto, and this kind of connector is referred to as a communication jack for connecting cables of two different interfaces. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a common network or telecommunication jack is shown. The jack mainly includes a jack body  10 , a wire harness cap (not shown), and two covers  12 . One side of the jack body  10  is provided for insertion of a cable  14  with a plug, and the other side is connected to a cable  15  with exposed wires. The cable  15  is electrically connected to the cable  14  through IDC terminals and contact terminals electrically connected to an inner case of the jack body  10 . The cable  15  is formed by a plurality of wires and a woven wire mesh  151  wrapped around the wires. In addition, the wires are arranged on the wire harness cap, and the woven wire mesh  151  is usually uncovered on the surface of the cable  15  during the layout. The covers  12  press the wire harness cap, so as to extrude the wires of the cable  15  into the IDC terminals to complete the electrical connection. The cover  12  has a ground ring  13  corresponding to the cable  15 , and the cable  15  is tightly bound to the ground ring  13  by a strap  16 . Thus, the cable  15  is fixed to the covers  12 , and meanwhile the ground ring  13  keeps in close contact with the woven wire mesh  151  of the cable  15 , so as to achieve grounding through the covers  12  and the jack body  10 . 
   However, in the communication jack of  FIG. 1 , an additional accessory (i.e., the strap  16 ) independent from the communication jack is used to complete the fixing and grounding operation. Thus, the strap  16  must be attached to the communication jack when shipped and sold, so the number of separate parts is increased. The increase of the parts will result in the increase of complexity of assembling the communication jack and the cable  15 , and cost more labor hours. Besides, the additional parts may easily fall apart or get lost, thus resulting in inconvenience in assembly. Further, the strap  16 , exposed out of the communication jack without any protection, may easily be damaged under an external force, which further results in the loss of the grounding and fixing effects. In addition, usually, the strap  16  can be used only once. Moreover, in order to install the strap  16 , an operating space must be reserved on the periphery of the communication jack, so the strap  16  is inapplicable to the communication jack in an electronic device with a limited inner space. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In the communication jack of the prior art, the parts for fixing and grounding a cable are separated from the jack, so that the assembly is inconvenient and easily cause damages. Thereby, in order to solve the problems in the prior art, the present invention is directed to a communication jack with the parts for fixing and grounding a cable integrated therein. 
   A communication jack adapted to connect a cable is provided. The cable has a ground wire mesh laid on a surface of the cable from inner to outer. The communication jack includes a first member, a second member, and a clamping component. The first member has an operating slot, and the second member is movably assembled with the first member. Further, the second member and the first member pivotally rotate relatively so as to be combined together, thus forming a clamping area corresponding to the operating slot. The cable passes through the clamping area and extends to a place between the first member and the second member. The clamping component is displacedly disposed in the operating slot of the first member, and normally extends into the clamping area to press against the cable, such that the first member and the second member grip the cable together and keep in contact with the ground wire mesh. Therefore, as long as the first member is combined with the second member, the cable can be fixed and grounded through the two members. 
   The present invention has the following effects. As long as the first member is combined with the second member, the cable can be fixed and grounded, thus simplifying the assembly process, reducing the labor hours, and saving the operating space. Besides, as the clamping component is integrated inside the communication jack, the first member and the second member may provide certain protections to resist external forces. Thus, the additional parts can be reduced, and the problems that the parts fall apart or get lost can be solved. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic combined view of a signal jack and cables in the prior art; 
       FIG. 2  is a three-dimensional exploded view of a signal jack and cables according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a three-dimensional assembly view of the signal jack and cables according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a three-dimensional assembly view of the signal jack and cables according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a three-dimensional combined view of the signal jack and cables according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the signal jack and cables according to the first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a three-dimensional exploded view of a signal jack according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic three-dimensional view of the signal jack according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a three-dimensional assembly view of the signal jack and cables according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is a three-dimensional assembly view of the signal jack and cables according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a three-dimensional combined view of the signal jack and cables according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the signal jack and cables according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The objectives, structures, features, and functions of the present invention will be illustrated in detail below in the accompanying embodiments. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 6 , a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. According to the first embodiment of the present invention, a communication jack electrically connects a cable  17  and a cable  18 . The communication jack of this embodiment includes a first member  20 , a second member  30 , a base  50 , and a clamping component  60 , which are all made of a conductive material, such as copper, iron, aluminum, or other metal materials. 
   The cable  18  is a network or telecommunication connection line with an adapter  181  on the front end. The cable  17  has a plurality of wires  171  and a layer of ground wire mesh  172  wrapped around the wires  171 . The ground wire mesh  172  is woven, for grounding and isolating the cable  17  from external signal interferences. During the layout, the front end of the cable  17  is cut open to expose the wires  171  and the ground wire mesh  172 . Afterward, the exposed ground wire mesh  172  is lifted outward to be laid on the outer surface of the cable  17  for grounding. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5 , the front end of the base  50  is inserted by the adapter  181  of the cable  18 , and the rear end is provided with a piercing terminal block  51  divided into two parts. The piercing terminal block  51  has a plurality of insulation displacement connection terminals (IDC terminals) each electrically connected to a contact terminal (not shown). After being inserted in the base  50  with the adapter  181 , the cable  18  is able to electrically contact the contact terminals, so as to be electrically connected to the IDC terminals on the piercing terminal block  51  through the contact terminals. In addition, the base  50  further includes a terminal pressing member  52 . The front end of the cable  17  passes through the terminal pressing member  52 , and the exposed wires  171  are respectively disposed on the terminal pressing member  52  (i.e., inserted in notches of the terminal pressing member  52 ). 
   The first member  20  is pivotally disposed at one side of the base  50 , and the second member  30  is pivotally disposed at the other side of the base  50 . That is, the second member  30  is movably combined to the first member  20 . The first member  20  has a            -shaped operating slot  21 . The first member  20  has a notch  22  adjacent to the operating slot  21 , and the notch  22  covers the space area extending from the opening of the operating slot  21  to the edge of the first member. The first member  20  further has two retaining portions  23  and a ground portion  24 . The retaining portions  23  are disposed on one side of the operating slot  21 . The ground portion  24  is disposed on the other side of the operating slot  21  and on the outer surface of the first member  20 . In addition, a ground wire  19  is inserted in the ground portion  24  for grounding.
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 6 , the second member  30  has a restraining portion  31  and two bumps  32 . The restraining portion  31  is disposed on the other end of the second member  30  opposite to the pivoting end. The bumps  32  are respectively disposed on the outer surface at two sides of the second member  30 . When the terminal pressing member  52  disposed with the wires  171  rests on the piercing terminal block  51  of the base  50 , the second member  30  rotates toward the piercing terminal block  51  to press the terminal pressing member  52 , such that the wires  171  on the terminal pressing member  52  are embedded in the corresponding IDC terminals on the piercing terminal block  51 . Thus, the wires  171  are electrically connected to the contact terminals inside the base  50  through the IDC terminals of the piercing terminal block  51 , and the cable  17  is thus electrically connected to the cable  18 . When the second member  30  is combined with the first member  20 , the retaining portions  23  of the first member  20  grasp the bumps of the second member  30 , so that the first member  20  and the second member  30  are firmly engaged together. 
   The clamping component  60 , movably disposed in the operating slot  21  of the first member  20 , includes a clamping member  61  and two elastic members  62 . The clamping member  61  is movably disposed in the operating slot  21 . That is, the size of the operating slot  21  is slightly larger than that of the clamping member  61 , and thus the clamping member  61  is able to slide in the operating slot  21 . The clamping member  61  has a pressing portion  611  and two sliding portions  612 . The pressing portion  611  is connected between the sliding portions  612 , and the sliding portions  612  extend into the operating slot  21  so as to guide the clamping member  61  to slide in the operating slot  21 . The two ends of each elastic member  62  respectively rest on the bottom of the operating slot  21  and the clamping member  61 , and the elastic member  62  may be, but not limited to, a compression spring. Normally, the elastic members  62  push against the clamping member  61  outward the operating slot  21 , so that the pressing portion  611  may extend from the operating slot  21  into the notch  22 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 6 , the second member  30  and the first member  20  pivotally rotate relative to each other so as to be combined on one side of the base  50 , thus forming a clamping area  70  corresponding to the operating slot  21 . In practice, when the second member  30  is combined with the first member  20 , the restraining portion  31  of the second member  30  extends into the notch  22  of the first member  20  to contact the ground wire mesh  172  of the cable  17 , and the clamping area  70  is enclosed by the edges of the restraining portion  31  of the second member  30  and the notch  22  of the first member  20 . The second member  30  and the first member  20  respectively rotate (or are lifted to rotate) toward the piercing terminal block  51  so as to be combined together and further cover the piercing terminal block  51 , the front end of the cable  17 , and the terminal pressing member  52 . Thus, the cable  17  seems to pass through the clamping area  70  and extend between the first member  20  and the second member  30 . 
   Normally, the clamping component  60  extends into the clamping area  70  to press against the cable  17 , such that the second member  30  and the clamping component  60  together grip the cable  17  and keep in close contact with the ground wire mesh  172  of the cable  17 . That is, the elastic members  62  normally push the clamping member  61  out of the operating slot  21 , and thus the pressing portion  611  of the clamping member  61  may press against the cable  17  and keep in close contact with the ground wire mesh  172 . Further, as the first member  20  is firmly engaged with the second member  30 , the restraining portion  31  of the second member  30  presses against the cable  17  and keeps in close contact with the ground wire mesh  172 . In addition, the ground wire  19  is electrically connected to the ground wire mesh  172  of the cable  17  through the first member  20  and the clamping component  60 , so the cable  17  is grounded and fixed. Therefore, as long as the second member  30  is adopted to press against the terminal pressing member  52 , and the first member  20  is then combined with the second member  30 , the first member  20  and the second member  30  may grip the cable  17 , and the cable  17  is further grounded via the ground wire  19 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7 to 12 , a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. The objective and principle of this embodiment are similar to those of the first embodiment, so the details will not be repeated herein again, and only the differences will be illustrated below. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 , and  11 , the second member  30  is pivotally disposed at one side of the first member  20 , and the second member  30  pivotally rotates about the first member  20  so as to be combined with the first member  20 . The first member  20  has an operating slot  21 , a chamber  25 , and a piercing terminal block  26 . The chamber  25  is located beside the operating slot  21 . The piercing terminal block  26  is disposed in the chamber  25 , so as to be combined with the exposed wires  171  at the front end of the cable  17 . The second member  30  rotates toward the piercing terminal block  26 , so as to be combined with the first member  20  and further cover the piercing terminal block  26 , the chamber  25 , and the front end of the cable  17 . The exposed wires  171  at the front end of the cable  17  are disposed on the terminal pressing member  52 , and the second member  30  rotates toward the piercing terminal block  26  to press against the terminal pressing member  52 . Thus, the wires  171  are embedded in the IDC terminals of the piercing terminal block  26 , and thus electrically connected to the cable  18 . 
   The first member  20  has two bumps  27 , and the second member  30  has two retaining portions  34 . When the second member  30  is combined with the first member  20 , the retaining portions  34  of the second member  30  grasp the bumps  27  of the first member  20 , so that the first member  20  and the second member  30  are firmly engaged together. Further, the second member  30  has a restraining portion  31  and a ground portion  35 . The restraining portion  31  and the clamping component  60  together grip the cable  18 , and the ground portion  35  is inserted by the ground wire  19 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7 to 12 , the second member  30  pivotally rotates to be combined with the first member  20 , thus forming a clamping area  70  corresponding to the operating slot  21 . In practice, when the second member  30  is combined with the first member  20 , the restraining portion  31  of the second member  30  extends into the notch  22  of the first member  20  to contact the ground wire mesh  172  of the cable  17 , and the clamping area  70  is enclosed by the edges of the restraining portion  31  of the second member  30  and the notch  22  of the first member  20 . The second member  30  rotates (or is lifted to rotate) toward the piercing terminal block  26  and the chamber  25  so as to be combined with the first member  20  and together cover the piercing terminal block  26 , the chamber  25 , the front end of the cable  17 , and the terminal pressing member  52 . Thus, the cable  17  seems to pass through the clamping area  70  and extend between the first member  20  and the chamber  25 . 
   Normally, the clamping component  60  extends into the clamping area  70  to press against the cable  17 , such that the second member  30  and the clamping component  60  together grip the cable  17  and keep in close contact with the ground wire mesh  172  of the cable  17 . That is, the elastic members  62  normally push the clamping member  61  out of the operating slot  21 , and thus the pressing portion  611  of the clamping member  61  may press against the cable  17  and keep in close contact with the ground wire mesh  172 . Further, as the first member  20  is firmly engaged with the second member  30 , the restraining portion  31  of the second member  30  presses against the cable  17  and keeps in close contact with the ground wire mesh  172 . In addition, the ground wire  19  is electrically connected to the ground wire mesh  172  of the cable  17  through the second member  30 , so the cable  17  is grounded and fixed. Therefore, as long as the second member  30  is adopted to press against the terminal pressing member  52 , and the first member  20  is then combined with the second member  30 , the first member  20  and the second member  30  may grip the cable  17 , and the cable  17  is further grounded via the ground wire  19 . 
   In the communication jack provided by the embodiments of the present invention, as long as the first member is combined with the second member, the cable can be fixed and grounded, thus simplifying the assembly process, shortening the labor time, and reducing the operating space. Besides, as the clamping component is integrated inside the communication jack, the first member and the second member may provide certain protections to resist external forces. Thus, additional parts can be reduced, and problems that the parts fall apart or get lost can be solved.