Patent Publication Number: US-8118615-B2

Title: Connector assembly having grounding means

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a connector assembly, more particularly to a connector assembly with improved grounding means. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Nowadays, an electronic device becomes lower profile and multifunctional. So accessories are attached to the electronic device, such as connector assembly should be transmitting fast, smaller contour, simplified and friendly usage. USB and Audio jack are commonly input/output interfaces for a computer or other consumer devices, and those interfaces are commonly mounted to an external cage of a computer or other electronic devices and to link with other peripheral devices. CN Pat. No. 201204355 issued on Mar. 4, 2009 to Sang discloses a connector assembly adapted for mounting to an external cage of a computer. The connector assembly includes an insulative cover, two USB connectors and two Audio connectors enclosed in the insulative cover, and a metallic shell shielding the insulative cover. However, there is no reliable grounding path between the connectors and the metallic shell, which may influence an effect of the connector assembly. 
     Hence, a connector assembly with improved grounding means is desired. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector assembly which has reliable grounding means. 
     In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a connector assembly in accordance with present invention comprises an insulative cover defining a plurality of grooves arranged in a row along a transversal direction; a plurality of connectors accommodated in the grooves, respectively, each of the connectors having a terminal module and a metallic shell enclosing the terminal module; a metallic cage enclosing the insulative cover; and a plurality of conductive members, each of the conductive member including a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, the horizontal portion having a first tab abutting against the metallic cage, and the vertical portion having a second tab pressing against the metallic shell of a corresponding connector. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, perspective view of a connector assembly; 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from other aspect. 
         FIG. 3  is a partially assembled, perspective view of the connector assembly; 
         FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from other direction; 
         FIG. 5  is other partially assembled, perspective view of the connector assembly; and 
         FIG. 6  is an assembled, perspective view of the connector assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. 
     Reference will be made to the drawing figures to describe the present invention in detail, wherein depicted elements are not necessarily shown to scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by same or similar reference numeral through the several views and same or similar terminology. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , a connector assembly  100  in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative cover  1 , a number of connectors  2  received in the insulative cover  1 , a number of conductive members  3  retained in the insulative cover  1 , a number of cables  4  electrically connected to the connectors  2  and a metallic cage  5  shielding the insulative cover  1 . Detail description of these elements and their relationship and other elements formed thereon will be detailed below. 
     The insulative cover  1  includes a top cover  11  and a bottom cover  12 . 
     The bottom cover  12  has six grooves  120  located in a front segment thereof and three semi-circular cable outlets  122  defined in a back wall of the bottom cover  12 . The grooves  120  are arranged in a row along a transversal direction. Each groove  120  has a first opening  121  located in the front of the corresponding groove  120 . Every two adjacent grooves  120  are separated by a spacer  123 . A number of first positioning holes  124  are located in the back segment of the bottom cover  12  and disposed in front of the cable outlets  122 , and there are several second positioning holes  125  are located in the front segment of the bottom cover  12  and three of the second positioning holes  125  are defined in the spacers  123 , respectively. There are two holes  126  located in lateral sides of a bottom wall of the bottom cover  12 . A number of positioning cavities  127  are located in a lower side of the bottom cover  12 . 
     There are six second openings  110  located in a front wall of the top cover  11 . A number of first positioning posts  112  are located on a front segment of an upper wall of the top cover  11  and inserted into the first positioning holes  124  respectively. There are several second positioning posts  111  are located on a back segment of an upper wall of the top cover  11  and inserted into the second positioning holes  125  respectively. Three semi-circular cable outlets  113  are defined in a back wall of the top cover  11  and cooperate with the cable outlets  122  to form corresponding circular cable outlets to allow the cables  4  passing through. Two latching arms  114  are formed at lateral sides of the upper wall of the top cover  11  and locked into the holes  126  so as to keep the top cover  11  and the bottom cover  12  together. A number of positioning cavities  115  are located in an upper wall of the top cover  12 . A number of windows  116  are defined in the upper wall of the top cover  12 . 
     The connectors  2  are accommodated in the grooves  120 , respectively. The connectors  2  include several first connectors  21  and second connectors  22 . The first connectors  22  include four USB connectors which have similar structure as commonly used type, i.e. USB 2.0. The second connectors  21  have two Audio jacks which have similar structure as commonly used type. Both the first connectors  21  and the second connectors  22  are electrically coupled to the cables  4 . 
     Each first connector  21  includes a terminal module  210  and a metallic shell  211  enclosing the terminal module  210 . The terminal module  210  and the metallic shell  211  together define a mating port  212  exposed outside of the insulative cover  1 . The metallic shell  211  has an expanded front end  213 . The terminal module  210  has a dielectric body  214  and a plurality of terminals  215  retained with the dielectric body  214 . Each terminal  215  has a tail portion  2150  backwardly projecting outside of the dielectric body  214  to be connected with the cable  4 . Detailed description of the second connector  22  is omitted hereby. 
     The conductive member  3  is made of metal sheet. The conductive member  3  is an inverted L-shaped viewed from a back side. The conductive member  3  has a horizontal portion  31  and a vertical portion  32  joining with a lateral edge of the horizontal portion  31 . There is a first tab  311  formed on the horizontal portion  31  and obliquely and upwardly extending therefrom. There is a second tab  321  formed on the vertical portion  32  and obliquely and upwardly extending therefrom. The first tab  311  is disposed above and supported by the horizontal portion  31 . The second tab  321  is disposed under the horizontal portion  32 . The first tab  311  and the second tab  321  are respectively punched from the horizontal portion  31  and the vertical portion  32 , therefore there two holes  310 ,  320  left when they are deflected from original positions. 
     The metallic cage  5  has a front side with a plurality of slots  51  to allow the first connectors  21  and the second connectors  22  extending outward therethrough. There are a number of locking tabs  52  formed on a top side and a bottom side of the metallic cage  5 . The locking tabs  52  extend into interior of the metallic cage  5  and engage with the positioning cavities  115 ,  127  of the insulative cover  1 . There is a mounting section  53  laterally extending from a left side of the metallic cage  5 . The mounting section  53  further has a fixing hole  531 . A flange  54  extends upwardly from a rear end of the top side of the metallic cage  5 . A plurality of hooks  55  are formed on the flange  54  and a back end of the bottom side of the metallic cage  5 . 
     When assembling, the first connectors  21  and the second connectors  22  are respectively put into the grooves  120  of the bottom cover  12  and arranged in a row along the transversal direction. Each conductive member  3  is arranged alongside a corresponding first connector  21  or second connector  22 , with the vertical portion  32  sandwiched between the metallic shell  211  of the first connector  21  and the corresponding spacer  123  and the second tab  321  pressing against the metallic shell  211 , and the horizontal portion  31  supported by the metallic shell  211 . The top cover  11  is assembled to the bottom cover  12  to hold the connectors  21 ,  22  therebetween. The first tabs  311  of the conductive members  3  protrude outward via the windows  116  of the top cover  11 . The top cover  11  and the bottom cover  12  is mounted into the metallic cage  5 , with the first tabs  311  abutting against the top side of the metallic cage  5 , therefore, a grounding line is formed between the first connector  21  or second conductor  22  and the metallic cage  5  via the conductive members  3 . 
     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. For example, the tongue portion is extended in its length or is arranged on a reverse side thereof opposite to the supporting side with other contacts but still holding the contacts with an arrangement indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.