Patent Publication Number: US-2010120285-A1

Title: Cable assembly with dustproof cover

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to cable assembly, particularly to a cable assembly with dustproof cover for protecting a portion of the cable assembly effectively. 
     DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
     Dustproof cover are widely applied to the cable assembly in order to protect an interface of a connector before its interconnection with a mating connector from being contaminated by dust particles, moisture and other substances to ensure a good performance of information transmission. U.S. Pat. No. 7,534,132 B2 issued on May 19, 2009 discloses a dustproof cover fitted to a mating portion of the cable assembly, when the cable assembly is in use, the dustproof cover should be removed. Further, U.S. Pat. No. 6,896,540 B1 issued on May 24, 2005 discloses a cable assembly with a latch on an outer surface of a housing of the cable assembly without protection, so when the cable assembly is not in use, the latch of the cable assembly will be distorted or damaged by outer force easily. 
     As discussed above, an improved cable assembly overcoming the shortages of existing technology is needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cable assembly with at least one dustproof cover for protecting a mating surface of the insulative housing of the cable assembly and a locking member attached to the insulative housing of the cable assembly. 
     In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, a cable assembly with at least one dustproof cover comprises a first connector with a first locking member thereon; a second connector with a second locking member thereon and paralleled with first connector; a cable electrically connected with the first and second connectors and vertical with the first and second connectors; a first dustproof cover covered to the first connector and enclosing the first locking member; and a second dustproof cover covered to the second connector and enclosing the second locking member. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cable assembly in accordance with the present invention, and a first and second dustproof covers are respectively covered to a first and second connectors of the cable assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a cable assembly in accordance with the present invention, and the first and second of dustproof covers are not covered to the first and second connectors of the cable assembly; 
         FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2 , but viewed from another aspect; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the first dustproof cover; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the second dustproof cover; 
         FIG. 6  is similar to  FIG. 5 , but viewed from another aspect. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a cable assembly with at least one dustproof cover made in accordance with the present invention, generally designated  100 , is adapted for mating with a plurality of complementary connectors (not shown). The cable assembly  100  defines a first connector  1 , a second connector  2 , a third connector and a cable  4  electrically connected with the first, second and third connectors  1 ,  2 ,  3 . In addition, a first and second dustproof covers  11 ,  21  are respectively assembled to the first and second connectors  1 ,  2 . The first and second connector  1 ,  2  are paralleled with each other. The third connector  3  is vertical with the first or second connector  1 ,  2 . The first, second and third connectors  1 ,  2 ,  3  are all Serial ATA Plug Connectors. 
     The first connector  11  defines a first insulative housing  10  having a plurality of terminal receiving passageways  102  therein, a plurality of first terminals  103  respectively received into the corresponding terminal receiving passageways  102  and a first locking member  101  attached to a top surface  100  of the first insulative housing  10 . The top surface  100  is a step surface included by a first surface  1000  and a second surface  1001  lower than the first surface  1000 . The first insulative housing  10  further defines a bottom surface  104  opposite to the top surface  100 , a mating surface  106  and a rear surface  107  opposite to the mating surface  106 . The first locking member  101  is stamped and formed from a metallic plate. And, the first connector  1  is locked with and discreted from the complementary connector (not shown) through pushing down and releasing the first locking member  101 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3  and in conjunction with  FIG. 4 , the first dustproof cover  11  of the cable assembly  100  is formed of insulative material and defines four side walls  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16  connected with each other and a bottom wall  17  connecting with respective edges of the four side walls  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 . A receiving room  12  is enclosed by four side walls  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16  and the bottom wall  17  and defines an opening  120  for the first connector  1  entered into the receiving room  12 . Each side wall  15 ,  16  defines a latch  150 ,  160  for latching with the first insulative housing  10  of the first connector  1 . The latch  150 ,  160  respectively defines an engaging section  151 ,  161  formed on an inner surface of the latch  150 ,  160 . The bottom wall  17  defines a pair of through holes  170  for forming the pair engaging portions  151 ,  161  conveniently and easily. Two spaced and paralleled ribs  171  are formed on an inner surface of the bottom wall  17  and extend into the receiving room  12  toward the opening  120 . Furtherly, each rib  171  defines a protruding portion  172  disposed on one side of the rib  171  and extending toward the opening  120 . Thus, each rib  171  is in a step shape. A receiving cavity  173  are formed between the two spaced ribs  171  and the bottom wall  17  for receiving a portion of the first locking member  101 . Each side wall  13 ,  14  respectively defines a step protrusion  130 ,  140  on an outer surface thereof, so the user can grasp the first dustproof cover  11  easily. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3  and in conjunction with  FIG. 4 , the receiving room  12  of the first dustproof cover  11  has a size equal to that of the first insulative housing  10 , so the first insulative housing  10  can be received into the receiving room  12  of the first dustproof cover  11  properly. And the receiving cavity  173  of receiving room  12  of the dustproof cover  11  has enough space for receiving a portion of the first locking member  101  located upper the top surface  100  of the first insulative housing  10  of the first connector  1 . When the dustproof cover  11  is covered to the first insulative housing  10  of the first connector  1 , the two step shaped ribs  171  are respectively attached to the corresponding step shaped top surface  100  of the first insulative housing  10 . And the portion of the first locking member  101  located upper the top surface  100  of the first insulative housing  10  of the first connector  1  is received into the receiving cavity  173 . In other word, the first locking member  101  are completely protected by the dustproof cover  11 , so the first locking member  101  will not be distorted or damaged by outer force easily. And the mating surface  106  of the first insulative housing  10  is also shielded by the side wall  13  to protect from being contaminated by dust particles, moisture and other substances to ensure a good performance of information transmission. At the same time, the engaging sections  151 ,  161  of the latches  150 ,  160  are engaged with the bottom surface  104  of the first insulative housing  10 . Thus, the engagement between the first dustproof cover  11  and the first connector  1  is finished. If the first connector  1  is to be used, the dustproof cover  11  should be removed from first connector  1  in advance. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the second connector  2  defines a second insulative housing  20  having a plurality of terminal receiving passageways  202  therein, a plurality of second terminals  203  respectively received into the corresponding terminal receiving passageways  202  and a second locking member  201  attached to a top surface  200  of the second insulative housing  20 . The second insulative housing  20  further defines a bottom surface  205  opposite to the top surface  200 , a mating surface  206  and a rear surface  204  opposite to each other. The second locking member  201  is stamped and formed from a metallic plate and defines a portion upper the top surface  200  of the second insulative housing  20 . The second connector  2  is locked with and discreted from the complementary connector (not shown) through pushing down and releasing the second locking member  201 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3  and in conjunction with  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a second dustproof cover  21  of the cable assembly  100  is also formed of insulative material and defines four side walls  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26  connected with each other and a bottom wall  27  connecting with one side of the four side walls  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26 . A receiving room  22  is enclosed by the four side walls  23 ,  24 ,  25 ,  26  and the bottom wall  27  and defines an opening  220  for the second connector  2  entered into the receiving room  22 . The side wall  25  defines two paralleled slits  252  disposed at one end thereof and apart from the bottom wall  27 . Thus, a latch  250  is formed by the two spaced slits  252 . And an engaging section  251  is formed on an inner surface of the latch  250 . The side wall  26  also defines two paralleled slits  262  to form a latch  260 . The latch  260  also has an engaging section  261  formed on an inner surface of the latch  250 . The bottom wall  27  defines a pair of through holes  270  for forming the pair engaging sections  251 ,  261  conveniently and easily. The side wall  24  defines a bulgy portion  242  in a middle section thereof. And the bulgy portion  242  of the side wall  24  defines a step protrusion  242  on an outer surface thereof for the user grasping the first dustproof cover  21  easily. Two spaced ribs  241  are formed on an inner surface of the side wall  24  to form a receiving channel  243 . The side wall  23  also defines two spaced ribs  231  on an inner surface thereof. Each rib  231  defines a chamfer  232  at one end adjacent to the opening  220  of the second dustproof cover  21 . The side walls  23 ,  24  of the second dustproof cover  21  respectively defines a U-shaped cutout (not figured) for the cable  4  passing through when the second dustproof cover  21  is covered to the second connector  2 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3  and in conjunction with  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the receiving room  22  of the second dustproof cover  21  has a size equal to that of the second insulative housing  20  of the second connector  2 , so the second insulative housing  20  can be received into the receiving room  22  of the second dustproof cover  21  properly. And the receiving channel  243  of receiving room  22  of the second dustproof cover  21  has enough space for receiving a portion of the second locking member  201  disposed upper the top surface  200  of the second insulative housing  20  of the second connector  2 . When the second dustproof cover  21  is fully covered to the second insulative housing  20  of the second connector  2 , the two ribs  241  are attached to the corresponding top surface  200  of the second insulative housing  20 . And the portion of the second locking member  201  located upper the top surface  200  of the second insulative housing  20  of the second connector  2  is received into the receiving channel  243 . In other word, the second locking member  201  are fully protected by the second dustproof cover  21 , so the second locking member  201  will not be distorted or damaged by outer force easily. The mating surface  206  of the second insulative housing  20  is also shielded by the bottom wall  27  of the second dustproof cover  21  to protect from being contaminated by dust particles, moisture and other substances to ensure a good performance of information transmission. The engaging sections  251 ,  261  of the latches  250 ,  260  are engaged with the rear surface  204  of the second insulative housing  2 . Thus, the engagement between the second dustproof cover  21  and the second connector  2  is finished. And the two ribs  231  formed on the side wall  23  are attached to the bottom surface  205  of the second insulative housing  20 . Thus, the second connector  2  is fully and steady received into the receiving room  22 . If the first connector  2  is to be used, the second dustproof cover  21  should be removed from first connector  2  in advance. 
     Obviously, the third connector  3  also can be covered by a third dustproof cover (not shown) when the third connector  3  is not in use. A mating surface (not figured) of the third connector  3  and a locking member (not figured) assembled to a third housing  30  can be protected by the third dustproof cover. 
     It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.