Patent Publication Number: US-7909632-B2

Title: Cable assembly with latching mechanism

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a cable assembly, and more particularly to a cable assembly with a latching mechanism. 
     DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART 
     Nowadays, an electrical device has become lower profile and multi-functional, and a cable assembly for the electrical device is also capable of high-speed transmitting, and reliably connection and easily detachable with its counterpart. 
     CN patent No. 200420022197 issued to Peng on Sep. 7, 2005 discloses a cable assembly. The cable assembly includes an insulative housing, a plurality of terminals accommodated in the insulative housing, a metallic shell enclosing the insulative housing, two locking members mounted to two sides of the insulative housing and two clamping members adapted for securing the two locking members and an external cover. Each locking member has a mounting portion fixed to the insulative housing, a deformable arm connected to the mounting portion and deflected along up-to-down direction, in addition, a hook is formed at a front end of the deformable arm, and an upward protrusion is formed on the deformable arm and accessible by a deformable button which is formed on the external cover. However, it takes more time to manufacture and assemble the two clamping members to the insulative housing, and in addition, a total dimension of the insulative housing is increased. 
     Hence, an improved cable assembly is highly desired to overcome the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a lower profile and easily manufactured cable assembly. 
     In order to achieve the object set forth, a cable assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing with a plurality of terminals; a cable having a plurality of wires respectively connected to the plurality of terminals; a latching member mounted to the insulative housing, the latching member including two latching arms spaced apart from each other along a transversal direction and a connecting portion with two opposite ends thereof joined with the two latching arms, at least one resilient tab extend downwardly from the connecting portion; and an external cover enclosing the insulative housing and the latching member, the external cover having a deformable button disposed proximate to the connecting portion of the latching member. 
     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 an exploded, perspective view of a cable assembly of the first embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but viewed from another aspect; 
         FIG. 3  is a partially assembled view of the cable assembly; 
         FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 3 , but viewed from other direction; 
         FIG. 5  is other partially assembled view of the cable assembly; 
         FIG. 6  is an assembled, perspective view of the cable assembly; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-section view taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded, perspective view of a cable assembly of the second embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is similar to  FIG. 8 , but viewed from another aspect; 
         FIG. 10  is a partially assembled view of the cable assembly; 
         FIG. 11  is similar to  FIG. 10 , but viewed from other direction; 
         FIG. 12  is other partially assembled view of the cable assembly; 
         FIG. 13  is an assembled, perspective view of the cable assembly; and 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-section view taken along line  14 - 14  of  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , a cable assembly  100  of the first embodiment in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing  1 , a terminal module  2 , a latching member  3 , a metallic shell  4 , an external cover  5 , a cap  6  and a cable  7 . 
     The insulative housing  1  includes a main portion  10  and two mounting arms  12  extending rearwardly from lateral sides of the main portion  10 . A receiving space  102  is recessed forwardly from a middle segment of a rear edge of the main portion  10 . A cavity  104  is recessed downwardly from a front segment of a top side of the main portion  10  and further communicates with the receiving space  102 . A depression  104 ′ is defined in a lower side of the main portion  10 , and the depression  104 ′ is of isosceles trapezoid shape, which has a horizontal side  1041 ′ and two oblique sides  1041 ′,  1042 ′. A slot  101  is defined in the mounting arm  12  and partial of main portion  10  in front of the mounting arm  12 . A positioning hole  124  is defined in a rear portion of the mounting arm  12 , and a standoff  122  is formed on middle portion of the mounting arm  12  and projected upwardly. 
     The terminal module  2  includes a first terminal module  21  and a second terminal module  22 . The first terminal module  21  has an insulator  211  and a number of terminals  212  combined together by insert-molded process. The terminals  212  are divided into signal terminals and grounding terminals configured to be longer than the signal terminals. The terminals  212  have contacting portions  2120  disposed in front of an edge of the insulator  211  and tail portions  2121  located on a back segment of the insulator  211  and fanned out. Two mounting holes  2110  are defined in a bottom side of the insulator  211  and two protruding portions  2112  are formed on a top side of the insulator  211 . 
     The second terminal module  22  has an insulator  221  and a number of terminals  222  combined together by insert-molded process. The terminals  222  are divided into signal terminals and grounding terminals configured to be longer than the signal terminals. The terminals  222  have contacting portions  2220  disposed in front of an edge of the insulator  221  and tail portions  2222  located on a back segment of the insulator  221  and fanned out. Two mounting posts  2210  are formed on an top side of the insulator  221 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  in conjunction with  FIGS. 1-2 , the first terminal module  21  and the second terminal module  22  are assembled together, with the contacting portions  2120 ,  2220  merged into one row, while the tail portions  2122 ,  2222  separated into two distinct rows along an up-to-down direction. The mounting posts  2210  are inserted into the mounting holes  2110  so as to keep the first terminal module  21  and the second terminal module  22  together. The first terminal module  21  and the second terminal module  22  are assembled to the insulative housing  1 , with front segments of the insulators  211 ,  221  inserted into the receiving space  102 , a rear segment of the insulator  221  supported by the mounting arms  12 . The signal terminals includes six signal terminals separated into three groups: S 1 -S 2 , S 3 -S 4 , S 5 -S 6  which are respectively arranged between four grounding terminals G 1 , G 2 , G 3 , G 4 . The signal terminals S 1 -S 2 , S 3 -S 4 , S 5 -S 6  are differential pairs which are used for transmitting video signal. Furthermore, an additional two signal terminals S 7 -S 8  are located at right side and accompanied by a grounding terminal G 5  arranged adjacent to the grounding terminal G 4 . The signal terminals S 7 -S 8  are used for transmitting audio signals or other signals. The signals S 2 , S 3 , S 6 , S 8  and the grounding terminals G 1 , G 3 , G 5  which are arranged in a row and belong to the first terminal module  21 , and the signals  51 , S 4 , S 5 , S 7  and the grounding terminals G 2 , G 4  which are arranged in other row and belong to the second terminal module  22 . 
     The latching member  3  includes two latching arms  32  spaced apart from each other along a transversal direction and a connecting portion  31  with two opposite ends thereof joined with the two latching arms  32 . The connecting portion  31  includes a main segment  30  and two L-shaped bridge segments  302  respectively projected laterally from two opposite free ends of the main segment  30 . Each L-shaped bridge segment  302  with a lower end thereof engaged with the corresponding latching arm  32  so as to raise the main segment  30 . Two resilient tabs  304  are formed with and extend downwardly from the main segment  30 , and the two resilient tabs  304  reach the insulator  211  so as to provide a restored force onto the latching member  3 . Each latching arm  32  has an upward hook  322  formed at a front end thereof and a downward foot  324  formed at a rear end thereof. 
     The metallic shell  4  has a first shell  41  and a second shell  42 . The first shell  41  includes a frame  411  to accommodate the main portion  10  therein and an inverted U-shaped stretching part  412  extending rearwardly from a back edge of the frame  411 . Two through holes  4110  are defined in a front segment of a top side  411   a  of the frame  411  to allow hooks  322  of the latching member  3  passing through. Two holes  4112  are defined in a back segment of the top side  411   a  to engage with the two protruding portions  2112  of the insulator  211 . The frame  411  has a bottom side  411   b  suitably matching with the depression  104 ′ of the insulative housing  1 . A middle segment of a top side of the stretching part  412  is cut off other portions of the top side, excepted for a back portion of the stretching  412 , to form a deformable segment  4120 . Four holes  4122  are divided into two groups and respectively defined in lateral portions of the top side of the stretching part  412 . 
     The second shell  42  includes a main body  421  similar to the stretching part  412  and a cable holder  423  integrated with the main body  421  and projecting backwardly. Four holes  4211  are divided into two groups and respectively defined in lateral portions of a bottom side of the main body  421 . The main body  421  and the stretching part  412  are joined together by latching means thereof. Two positioning holes  4213  are defined in lateral sides of a middle segment of the bottom side of the main body  421 , and the feet  324  of the latching arms  32  can be respectively inserted into the positioning holes  4213  and further soldered to the bottom side of the main body  421 . 
     The external cover  5  includes an upper cover  51  and a bottom cover  52 . The upper cover  51  has a first hollow  511  and a second hollow  512  disposed behind the first hollow  511 . A rectangular shaped opening  5110  is located in the front portion of the upper cover  51 , and the opening  5110  further communicates with the first hollow  511 . A semicircular shaped outlet  513  is defined in the rear portion of the upper cover  51  and communicated with the second hollow  512 . Four protruding ribs  5112  are divided into two groups and formed at lateral sides of the first hollow  511  and inserted into the holes  4122  of the first shell  41 . A front segment  510  of the upper cover  51  is thinner than a rear segment of the upper cover  51 . A deformable button  514  is integrally formed with the upper cover  51  and floatable along up-to-down direction to enter the first hollow  511  so as to actuate the deformable segment  4120 . In addition, a number of ribs  5140  are formed on a top side of the deformable button  514  to increase friction between user&#39;s thumb and the deformable button  514 . 
     The bottom cover  52  is similar to the upper cover  51 , and also has a first hollow  521  and a second hollow  522  disposed behind the first hollow  521 . An opening  5210  is located in the front portion of the bottom cover  52 , and the opening  5210  further communicates with the first hollow  521 . A semicircular shaped outlet  523  is defined in the rear portion of the bottom cover  52  and communicated with the second hollow  522 . Four protruding ribs  5212  are divided into two groups and formed at lateral sides of the first hollow  521  and inserted into the holes  4211  of the second shell  42 . A front segment  520  of the bottom cover  52  is thinner than a rear segment of the bottom cover  52 . 
     The cap  6  has a number of sides (not numbered) joined together to enclose a roomage  61  with a front opening  62 . The front segments  510 ,  520  are accommodated in the roomage  61  of the cap  6 , with the frame  411  of the first shell  41  protruding outward via the front opening  62 . 
     The cable  7  includes a cable member  70  and insulative block  72  attached to a front segment of the cable member  70 . The cable member  70  further has a number of wires  701  shielded by a jacket  702 . The insulative block  72  is over-molded onto the jacket  702 , and the wires  701  are soldered to the tail portions  2122 ,  2222  of the terminals  212 ,  222 . The insulative block  72  is retained in the second hollows  512 ,  522 . Furthermore, partial of wires  701  adjacent to the terminals is shielded by the metallic shell  4 , therefore, a connecting area between the terminals  212 ,  222  and the wires  701  is well shielded and protected. 
     When detach the cable assembly  100  from a complementary connector, just press the deformable button  514  to actuate the deformable segment  4120  and urge the connecting portion  31  of the latching member  3  downwardly movement, and the latching arms  32  retreat into the slots  101 . When the pressing force is withdrawn, the deformable button  514  and the deformable segment  4120  restored to their original positions, and the latching arms  32  also upwardly movement by rebounded force of the resilient tabs  304 . 
     The deformable button  514  may directly contact the connecting portion  31 , the terminals  212 ,  222  mounted to the insulative housing  1 , and the resilient tabs  304  press onto the insulative housing  1 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8-14 , a cable assembly  200  of the second embodiment in accordance with the present invention is disclosed, and the cable assembly  200  has an insulative housing  1 , a terminal module  2 , an external cover  5  and a cable  7 , and all of which are similar to corresponding elements of the cable assembly  100 , detailed description is omitted hereby. In addition, the cable assembly  200  also has a latching member  3 ′ and a metallic shell  4 ′, and both of them are similar to the latching member  3  and the metallic shell  4 . 
     The latching member  3 ′ includes two latching arms  32  spaced apart from each other along a transversal direction and a connecting portion  31  with two opposite ends thereof joined with the two latching arms  32 . The connecting portion  31  includes a main segment  30  and two L-shaped bridge segments  302  respectively projected laterally from two opposite free ends of the main segment  30 . Each L-shaped bridge segment  302  with a lower end thereof engaged with the corresponding latching arm  32  so as to raise the main segment  30 . Two resilient tabs  304  are formed with and extend downwardly from the main segment  30 , and the two resilient tabs  304  reach the insulator  211  so as to provide a restored force onto the latching member  3 . Each latching arm  32  has an upward hook  322  formed at a front end thereof and a downward foot  324  formed at a rear end thereof. Furthermore, two tabs  306  project upwardly from lateral edges of the main segment  30  of the connecting portion  31 . 
     The metallic shell  4 ′ has a first shell  41 ′ and a second shell  42 ′. The second  42 ′ is the same with the second shell  42  of the cable assembly  100 , and the first shell  41 ′ is similar to the first shell  41  of the cable assembly  100 . 
     The first shell  41 ′ includes a frame  411  and an inverted U-shaped stretching part  412  extending rearwardly from a back edge of the frame  411 . Two through holes  4110  are defined in a front segment of a top side  411   a  of the frame  411  to allow hooks  322  of the latching member  3  passing through. Two holes  4112  are defined in a back segment of the top side  411   a  to engage with the two protruding portions  2112  of the insulator  211 . Two slots  4124  are defined in front segment of a top side of the stretching part  412 . The tabs  306  of the latching member  3 ′ protrudes outwardly via the two slots  4124  and disposed adjacent to a deformable button  514 , and the deformable button  514  is pressed to actuate the tabs  306 , and to urge the latching arms  32  moving into slots  101  of the insulative housing  1 . 
     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.