Patent Publication Number: US-6655979-B1

Title: Cable end connector with locking member

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This patent application is related to a application Ser. No. 10/241,551, filed on Sep. 11, 2002, invented by Jerry Wu, and entitled “CABLE END CONNECTOR WITH LOCKING MEMBER” and assigned to the same assignee as this patent application. This patent application is also related to a application Ser. No. 10/242,099, filed on Sep. 11, 2002, invented by Jerry Wu, and entitled “ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WITH LOCKING MEMBER” and is also related to Ser. No. 10/280,515, filed on Oct. 24, 2002, invented by George Lee, entitled “CABLE END CONNECTOR WITH LOCKING MEMBER”, both assigned to the same assignee as this patent application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a cable end connector with a locking member for locking with a complementary connector. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Complementary electrical connectors typically include dielectric housings respectively receiving a plurality of terminals or contacts which, when the connectors are mated, establish an electrical interconnection therebetween. The complementary connectors may be male and female connectors or plug and socket connectors for electrically connecting the terminals or contacts received therein. In some instances, the connectors have complementary latches for locking the connectors together when mated. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,445,534, 5,775,931, 5,924,886 and 6,431,887 disclose different forms of latch structures to provide reliable mechanical connection therebetween. 
     There exists in the art an electrical connector known as a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (Serial ATA) connector which is generally used for disk drives and storage peripherals. Especially, the Serial ATA connectors according the Serial ATA standard are featured in fewer electrical contacts than other conventional electrical connectors and are relatively tiny in configurations, and it is more desirable for the Serial ATA connector to have a locking member for providing a reliable mechanical and electrical connection with a complementary connector. 
     Hence, an electrical connector with a locking member for locking the electrical connector with a complementary connector is required to overcome the disadvantages of the related art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a cable end connector with a locking member for locking the connector with a complementary connector. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a cable end connector with a locking member adapted to easily lock/release with/from a complementary connector. 
     In order to achieve the objects set forth, a cable end connector for mating with a complementary connector comprises a housing defining a receiving space in a mating portion thereof adapted for receiving a mating portion of the complementary connector, a plurality of contacts mounted in the housing, a cable having a plurality of conductors electrically connecting the contacts, a cover over-molded with and enclosing a rear portion of the housing, and a locking member. The locking member has a pushing portion abutting against a fulcrum portion of the cover, a securing portion extending forwardly from the pushing portion and securing to the mating portion of the housing, and a latching portion extending forwardly from the pushing portion adapted for locking with the complementary connector and providing a mechanical connection therebetween. 
    
    
     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 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector assembly to show a cable end connector and a complementary connector in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the cable end connector in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but taken from rear and bottom aspects; 
     FIG. 4 is an assembled, perspective view of the cable end connector of FIG. 2, except for a locking member; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the locking member of the cable end connector; 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but taken from rear and bottom aspects; 
     FIG. 7 is an assembled view of the cable end connector of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  8 — 8  of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is an assembled view of the cable end connector and the complementary connector of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  10 — 10  of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an electrical connector assembly of a second embodiment of the present invention to show a second cable end connector and a second complementary connector; 
     FIG. 12 is an assembled view of FIG. 11; and 
     FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  13 — 13  of FIG.  12 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, an electrical connector assembly  100  in accordance with the present invention comprises a cable end connector  1  and a complementary connector  7 . In the embodiment shown, the cable end connector  1  and the complementary connector  7  are typical standard Serial ATA connectors. However, in alternative embodiments, the electrical connectors could be provided as other than Serial ATA electrical connectors. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, the cable end connector  1  comprises an insulative housing  2 , a contact insert  3 , a cover  4 , a cable  5 , and a locking member  6 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2-4 and in conjunction with FIGS. 7 and 8, the insulative housing  2  comprises a mating portion  20  and a rear portion  29  opposite to the mating portion  20 . An L-shaped receiving space  21  is defined in the mating portion  20 . A block  22  is formed on a lower wall of the mating portion  20  and protrudes into the receiving space  21 . A plurality of passageways  23  is defined through the block  22 . A pair of ribs  28  is formed on an upper surface and a lower surface of the housing  2  and adjacent to the rear portion  29  thereof for engaging with the cover  4  and a receiving cavity  292  is defined in the rear portion  29 . A guiding projection  24  protrudes sidewardly from a side surface of the housing  2 . A pair of protrusions  25  protrudes sidewardly from the side surface of the housing  2  and adjacent to the guiding projection  24 . 
     A pair of projections  26  forms on the upper surface of the housing  2  and a slit  260  is defined between the projection  260  and the upper surface of the housing  2 . A cutout  291  is defined in the rear portion  29  of the housing  2  and opposite to the pair of protrusions  25  for being received into the cover  4 . A pair of cutouts  27  is defined in a front edge of an upper wall of the mating portion  20 , and a pair of recesses  270  is defined in an inner surface of the upper wall of the mating portion  20  and is in communication with the cutouts  27  respectively. 
     The contact insert  3  comprises a plurality of contacts  31  and a retainer  30  defining a plurality of slots therein. Each contact  31  comprises a retention portion  311  for engaging with corresponding passageway  23  defined in the block  22 , a mating portion  310  extending forwardly from the retention portion  311  for being received in corresponding passageway  23  and partly exposed into the receiving space  21 , and a tail portion  312  extending rearwardly from the retention portion  311  for electrically connecting the cable  5 . 
     The cable  5  comprises a plurality of conductors  50  extending beyond a front end thereof. 
     The cover  4  is over-molded with the housing  2  and the cable  5 . The cover  4  comprises a rectangular body and a rear portion  45  extending rearwardly from the body. The body comprises an upper plate  48  and a lower plate  46 , and a receiving cavity  43  is defined therebetween for receiving the rear portion of the housing  2 . The rear portion  45  of the cover  4  defines an opening  47  therethrough for receiving the front end of the cable  5 . A channel  41  is defined in a front portion of the body and a holder portion  40  of the body is formed in a rear portion of the body. An inclined fulcrum portion  42  extends upwardly and forwardly from a bottom surface  44  of the channel  41  and into the channel  41 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2,  3 ,  5  and  6 , the locking member  6  comprises a flat pushing portion  61 , a pair of side securing portions  64  extending downwardly then forwardly from a front end of the pushing portion  61 , and a latching portion  63  extending downwardly then forwardly from the pushing portion  61  and locating between the pair of the side securing portions  64 . A hook portion  630  bends downwardly from a front end of the latching portion  63  for locking with the complementary connector  7 . Each side securing portion  64  comprises an arm  640  for securing to the upper surface of the mating portion  20  of the housing  2 , a bending portion  643  extending vertically from a free end of the arm  640  for engaging with corresponding cutout  27  of the mating portion  20 , and a claw  642  extending rearwardly from a free end of the bending portion  643  for being received in corresponding recess  270  of the mating portion  20 . A tab  641  extends sidewardly from an outer edge of each arm  640  for being received in corresponding slit  260  defined in the projection  26  of the housing  2 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  4 ,  7  and  8 , in assembly, the contacts  31  is first assembled into the housing  2  in a rear-to-front direction. The mating portions  310  and the retention portions  311  of the contacts  31  are received into the passageways  23  and the tail portions  312  exposed outside the housing  2 . The retainer  30  is pushed into and received in the receiving cavity  292  defined in the housing  2 , and the tail portions  312  of the contacts  31  protrude through the slots of the retainer  30 . The conductors  50  of the cable  5  are soldered to the tail portions  312  of the contacts  31 . The cover  4  is then over-molded with the rear portion of the housing  2  with the conductors  50  received into the opening  47 . The pair of ribs  28  is received in the receiving cavity  43  and engaging with inner surfaces of the upper and lower plates  48 ,  46 . The pair of protrusions  25  is received in the receiving cavity  43  and engaging with an inner side surface of the body. The locking member  6  is then assembled to the housing  2  and the cover  4 . The bending portions  643  of the pair of side securing portions  64  engage with the cutouts  27  defined in the mating portion  20 . The claws  642  hook inwardly within the recesses  270  communicating with the cutouts  27  for attaching the locking member  6  firmly to the housing  2 . Each tab  641  of the arm  640  is received in corresponding slit  260  defined in the projection  26  of the housing  2  for preventing the locking member  6  from moving forwardly. The pushing portion  61  is received in the channel  41  and the front end thereof abuts against the fulcrum portion  42  which can prevent the locking member  6  from being pushed too much and destroyed and function as a fulcrum. The latching portion  63  extends beyond the mating portion  20  of the housing  2  for locking with the complementary connector  7 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  9  and  10 , the complementary connector  7  comprises a base portion  70 , a guiding post  71  extending forwardly from one end of the base portion  70 , a tongue portion  72  extending forwardly from a middle of the base portion  70 . A plurality of terminals  73  is assembled to the tongue portion  72  and each terminal  73  has a tail portion extending beyond a rear surface  700  of the base portion  70  for extending through and soldered with a through hole of a printed circuit board (not shown). 
     When the cable end connector  1  is mated with the complementary connector  7 , the guiding projection  24  of the cable end connector  1  is received into the guiding post  71  of the base portion  70  of the complementary connector  7 , the tongue portion  72  is received into the receiving space  21  with the terminals  73  electrically contacting the contacts  31  exposed into the receiving space  21 , the hook portion  630  of the locking member  6  locking and abutting against the rear surface  700  of the base portion  70  to securely lock the complementary connector  7  with the cable end connector  1 . When the cable end connector  1  is separated from the complementary connector  7 , push a rear end of the pushing portion  61  downwardly toward the channel  41 , at the same time, push the holder portion  40  rearwardly. The fulcrum portion  42  of the cover  4  supports the pushing portion  61  and functions as a fulcrum, at the same time, the hook portion  630  of the latching portion  63  moves upwardly and are separated from the rear surface  700  of the base portion  70 , the cable end connector  1  is separated from the complementary connector  7 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 11-13, an electrical connector assembly  100 ′ in accordance with a second embodiment comprises a second cable end connector  1 ′ and a second complementary connector  7 ′. The second cable end connector  1 ′ has a same construction as that of the cable end connector  1  described in the first embodiment. The second complementary connector  7 ′ has a same construction as that of the complementary connector  7  in the first embodiment except a base portion  70 ′ and terminals  73 ′. The base portion  70 ′ has a pair of rear portions extending rearwardly from a rear surface  700 ′ of the base portion  70 ′. Each terminal  73 ′ has a tail portion extending beyond the rear surface  700 ′ of the base portion  70 ′ and is bent downwardly for being surface mounted to the printed circuit board. 
     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.