Abstract:
An adapter ( 100 ) comprises an elongate printed circuit board (PCB) ( 10 ) having a first surface ( 12 ) and a second surface ( 14 ) opposite the first surface ( 12 ), a first connector ( 20 ) mounted to the first surface of the PCB and a second connector ( 30 ) mounted to the second surface of the PCB. The first connector ( 20 ) has a mating port ( 242 ) facing away from and oriented perpendicular to the first surface of the PCB. The second connector ( 30 ) has a mating face ( 322 ) facing away from and oriented perpendicular to the second surface of the PCB.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an electrical adapter, and particularly to an electrical adapter for electrically connecting two different electrical devices having incompatible electrical connectors. 
     As computer technology evolves, new types of electrical devices with advanced functions are developed which are equipped with connectors having new configurations. An adapter is needed to connect a cable connector assembly having an older design with a device connector having a new design, as is provided on certain newly developed devices (for example, new types of computers). Conventional adapters include two connectors at either end wherein one is configured to mate with a connector for a new type computer, and the other is configured to mate with a conventional cable connector assembly. 
     The connectors of the conventional adapter are usually interconnected using a flat cable, a single printed circuit board (PCB), or discrete conducting wires. The individual conductors of the flat cable and the discrete conducting wires must be connected to terminals of the separate connectors in the adapter by soldering, and production is necessarily inefficient and complicated. Alternatively, prior art adaptors have connectors mounted at elongate ends of a single PCB of the adapter, both mating ports of the connectors being oriented parallel to a main surface of the single PCB. When one of the connectors of the adapter is engaged with a connector mounted on a panel of a computer, the PCB of the adapter is vertical to the panel thereby occupying a large space outside of the panel. 
     Therefore, an improved adapter occupying a small space when mated to a connector mounted on a computer panel is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The main object of the present invention is to provide an adapter for connecting a connector having a new design and mounted on a newly developed electrical device with a conventional cable connector assembly, wherein the adapter occupies a small space outside the new electrical device when it is connected to the connector thereof. 
     An adapter in accordance with the present invention comprises an elongate printed circuit board (PCB) having a first surface and a second surface, a first connector mounted to the first surface of the PCB and a second connector mounted to the second surface of the PCB. The first connector has a mating port facing away from and oriented perpendicular to the first surface of the PCB. The second connector has a mating face facing away from and oriented perpendicular to the second surface of the PCB. 
     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partly exploded view of an adapter of the present invention without insulation and screws; 
     FIG. 2 is an assembled view of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an assembled view of the adapter of FIG. 1 after insert molding with insulation; 
     FIG. 4 is an upside-down view of FIG. 3; and 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the adapter of FIG. 3 with a first connector mating with a connector of a computer mainframe and a second connector mating with a cable connector assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, an adapter  100  includes a printed circuit board (PCB)  10 , a first connector  20  and a second connector  30 . 
     The PCB  10  comprises a first surface  12  and an opposite second surface  14 , and defines therethrough a first group of rectangular through holes  16  at a first end of the PCB  10 , a pair of assembling holes  17  beside the rectangular through holes  16 , a second group of round through holes  18  at a second end of the PCB  10  opposite the first end, and a pair of fixing holes  19  beside the second group of round through holes  18 . All of the first and second groups of through holes  16  and  18  and the assembling and fixing holes  17 ,  19  extend through the first surface  12  and the second surface  14  of the PCB  10 . The first group of rectangular through holes  16  is offset from the second group of round through holes  18 . A distance is defined between the first group of rectangular through holes  16  and the second group of round through holes  18 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 to  4 , the first connector  20  comprises an insulative first housing  22 , a first shield  24  shrouding the first housing  22  and a plurality of first electrical terminals  26  received in the first housing  22 . The first shield  24  comprises a mating port  242  and a first flange  244  formed at the sides of the mating port  242 . The first flange  244  has a pair of mounting holes  246  at lateral ends thereof. The mounting holes  246  align with the assembling holes  17  of the PCB  10  when the first connector  20  is mounted to the first surface  12  of the PCB  10  by extending the first electrical terminals  26  through the rectangular through holes  16 . The first electrical terminals  26  each comprise a first mating end  262  at one end thereof extending into the mating port  242  of the first shield  24  and a first mounting end  264  at the other end thereof extending beyond one side of the first housing  22  for soldering to the PCB  10 . 
     The second connector  30  comprises an insulative second housing  32 , a second shield  34  shrouding the second housing  32 , a plurality of second electrical terminals  36  received in the second housing  32  and a pair of screw caps  38  assembled at lateral ends of the second connector  30 . The second housing  32  has a mating face  322 . Each second electrical terminal  36  comprises a second mounting end  362  extending beyond the second housing  32  for mounting to the PCB  10  and an opposite second mating end (not labeled) extending through the second housing  32  to the mating face  322 . The second shield  34  comprises a second flange  342 . The screw caps  38  are positioned at lateral ends of the second flange  342 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2, in assembly, the first mounting ends  264  of the first electrical terminals  26  of the first connector  20  are extended through the first group of rectangular through holes  16  of the PCB  10  and then soldered thereto, whereby the first connector  20  is mounted to the first surface  12  of the PCB  10 . The second mounting ends  362  of the second electrical terminals  36  are extended through the second group of round through holes  18  of the PCB  10  and then soldered thereto, whereby the second connector  30  is mounted to the second surface  14  of the PCB  10 . The screw caps  38  each have a board lock  382  extending through a corresponding fixing holes  19  of the PCB  10  and are securely positioned therein when the second connector  30  is mounted to the PCB  10 . 
     The first connector  20  is offset from the second connector  30  with a distance along a vertical direction from the first end of the PCB to the second end of the PCB. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, after the above assembly, the sub-assembly is subject to an insert molding process whereby an insulator  40  encloses the PCB  10  and rearward portions of the first connector  20  and the second connector  30  to complete the adapter  100 . The second connector comprises a projection  39  projecting from the first surface  12  of the PCB  10  enclosing the rear portion of the second connector  30  and being adjacent to the mating port  242  of the first connector  20 . The mating portion  242  of the first connector  20 , the mating face  322  of the second connector  30  and the screw caps  38  are exposed for engaging with corresponding mating connectors and screws. The adapter  100  further comprises a pair of elongate screws  50  assembled to the first connector  20 . A threaded end of each screw  50  extends through the assembling hole  17  of the PCB  10  and the mounting hole  246  of the first connector  20  for screwing with a corresponding screw cap of a panel connector  60  in a computer  70  (as shown in FIG.  5 ). The panel connector  60  has a mating face  62  exposing to a panel  72  of an electrical device. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, when the first connector  20  of the adapter  100  mates with the connector  60  in the computer  70  and the second connector  30  of the adapter  100  mates with a cable connector assembly  80 , the PCB  10  of the adapter  100  is substantially parallel to the panel  72  of the computer  70  thereby reducing a distance between the second connector  30  and the computer  70 . Therefore, space occupied by the adapter outside of the panel of the computer is substantially reduced. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure 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.