Patent Publication Number: US-8535098-B2

Title: Electronic devices connector

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to connectors, and particularly to a connector used in an electronic device. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Many electronic devices, such as computers, need a plurality of connectors. The connectors may be, for example, USB connectors, or A-jack connectors. The connector may include a body and a metallic enclosure. The metallic enclosure entirely surrounds the body and may include a front plate and a rear plate secured to the front plate. The rear plate may be connected to a ground wire of the body, the front plate may be connected to a ground wire of a circuit board of the electronic device, and the connector may be connected to the ground. However, the metallic enclosure may be easily disengaged from the body. Therefore, an improved connector for electronic devices may be desired. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded, isometric view of an embodiment of a connector. 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed in a different aspect. 
         FIG. 3  is an assembled, isometric view of the connector of  FIG. 1  and a circuit board. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a connector in accordance with an embodiment includes an enclosure  10  and a body  20 . 
     The enclosure  10  includes a top plate  11 , a front plate  12 , and two side plates  13 . The two side plates  13  are opposite to each other. In one embodiment, the top plate  11  is substantially perpendicular to the front plate  12  and the two side plates  13 , and the front plate  12  is substantially perpendicular to the two side plates  13 . The top plate  11  includes a first side edge  110 . The first side edge  110  is substantially parallel to the front plate  12 . A flange  111  extends perpendicularly from the first side edge  110  and is substantially parallel to the front plate  12 . Each of the two side plates  13  includes a second side edge  130 . The second side edge  130  is substantially parallel to the front plate  12  and perpendicular to the first side edge  110 . A distance between the first side edge  110  and the front plate  12  is greater than between the second side edge  130  and the front plate  12 . A third side edge  115  is connected to the first side edge  110  and the second side edge  130 . The third side edge  115  is substantially perpendicular to the first side edge  110  and the second side edge  130 . A first mounting piece  113  extends from the third side edge  115 , and the first mounting piece  113  is substantially “L” shaped. Two second mounting pieces  131  extend from the second side edge  130  and are substantially “L” shaped. An inserting piece  133  extends from a bottom edge of each of the two side plates  13 . Two resilient pieces  135  extend from each of the two side plates  13  towards each other. An opening  136  is defined between the second side edge  130  and the third side edge  115 . The first mounting piece  113  and each of the two second mounting pieces  131  extend into the opening  136 . The front plate  12  defines a first opening  121  and two second openings  123 . In one embodiment, a network cable is run through the first opening  121 , and USB cables are respectively run through the two second openings  123 . 
     The body  20  includes a top wall  23 , two sidewalls  25 , a rear wall  26 , a base  27 , and a first circuit board  28 . The two sidewalls  25 , the rear wall  26 , and the first circuit board  28  are located on the base  27 . In one embodiment, the top wall  23  is substantially parallel to the base  27 , the two sidewalls  25  and the rear wall  26  are substantially perpendicular to the base  27 , and the first circuit board  28  is substantially parallel to the rear wall  26 . The first circuit board  28  is located in a corner between the base  27  and the rear wall  26 . Each of the two sidewalls  25  defines a first mounting hole  251 , two second mounting holes  253  and two positioning holes  255 . The first mounting hole  251  corresponds to the first mounting piece  113 . The two second mounting holes  253  correspond to the two second mounting pieces  131 . The two positioning holes  255  correspond to the two resilient pieces  135 . The body  20  defines a first connecting portion  21  and two second connecting portions  22 . In one embodiment, the first connecting portion  21  is configured for connecting to the network cable, and the two second connecting portions  22  are configured for connecting to the two USB cables. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in assembly, the enclosure  10  is moved to the body  20 . The first mounting piece  113  and each of the two second mounting pieces  131  are elastically deformed. The enclosure  10  can be further moved on the body  20 . The two resilient pieces  135  are elastically deformed when pressed by the body  20 . When the first mounting piece  113  is aligned to the first mounting hole  251 , and each of the two second mounting pieces  131  is aligned to each of the two second mounting holes  253 , the resilient pieces  135  rebound to engage in the two positioning holes  255 , the first mounting piece  113  rebounds to engage in the first mounting hole  251 , and each of the two second mounting pieces  131  rebounds to engage in each of the two second mounting holes  253 . Thus, the enclosure  10  is secured to the body  20 . The top plate  11  abuts the top wall  23 , and each of the two side plates  13  abuts each of the two sidewalls  25 . The flange  111  is electronically connected to a ground wire of the first circuit board  28  by soldering. 
     The connector is connected to a second circuit board  30 . The second circuit board  30  defines two connecting holes  31 . The inserting piece  133  is inserted into each of the two connecting holes  31  and electronically connected to a ground wire of the second circuit board  30  by soldering. 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, 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.