Patent Publication Number: US-6984151-B2

Title: Electrical connector with non-conductive cover

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector with a non-conductive protective cover. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,987 B2, assigned to Fujitsu Component Limited and issued on Sep. 16, 2003, discloses an electrical connector comprising a plug body, a board and a shield cover assembly. The plug body and the board form a plug receiving a plurality of contacts therein (as shown in FIG. 4 of the patent). The shield cover assembly includes a first half shield cover and a second half shield cover connected together. The first and second half shield covers are conductive and made of die-casing zinc which will ground with system chassis for providing electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. However, to prevent the shield cover assembly from touching with anything else to thereby occur a short circuit, it is necessary to provide an insulative cover for encasing the shield cover assembly therein. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,588 B1 (named as the &#39;588 patent for simplification) discloses a cable connector which comprises a main body, a shielding shell having a top shell and a bottom shell attached together, and a cover unit covering the shielding shell. With reference to FIG. 2 of the &#39;588 patent, the cover unit  6  has a top and a bottom portions  61 ,  62  attached together. The top portion  61  forms a first and a second side walls  63 ,  64  on opposite sides thereof. The bottom portion  62  forms a first and a second side walls  65 ,  66  on opposite sides thereof for correspondingly engaging with the first and the second side walls  63 ,  64  of the top portion  61 . The first side wall  63  of the top portion  61  forms a first cutout  631  in an outer surface thereof and a pair of protrusions  633  on an inner surface thereof. The first side wall  65  of the bottom portion  62  has a first flange  651  upwardly extending therefrom corresponding to the first cutout  631  and a pair of latching tabs  653  upwardly extending from the bottom portion  62  along an inner surface thereof. Each tab  653  defines an opening  654  therein for fittingly receiving the protrusion  633 . In assembly, the top and bottom portions are firmly attached together. However, when an external force is exerted on one sidewall of the cover unit, the external force is passed to and mostly accumulated on the latching tab. The latching tab is not blocked by anything when withstanding the external force. Because the latching tab is a thin wall upwardly extending from the bottom portion and has the opening, two sidewalls of the latching tab cannot endure enough external force and are easily subject to breakage, thus resulting in invalidation of the cover unit. 
   Additionally, in the above two patents, the connector has a plurality of contacts for engaging with an inserted mating connector, and a receiving space for receiving the mating connector. The receiving space of the connector is open to the outside and the contacts are unprotected. In this condition, contaminants, especially dust, may enter into the receiving space. When contaminants adhere to the surface of the contacts, they can degrade the electrical connection between the connector and the mating connector, and can further influence the quality of signal transmissions therebetween. 
   Hence, it is desired to provide an improved electrical connector to avoid the foregoing drawbacks. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A main object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector having a non-conductive cover which can protect a die-casting shielding shell thereof from touching with anything else and occurring a short circuit. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector which has a dust-proof cap steadily assembled to an insulative housing thereof so as to protect a plurality of terminals of the electrical connector and ensure the signal transmission. 
   In order to achieve the objects set forth, an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a shielded connector having a terminal subassembly, a lower and an upper shells, a pair of hermaphroditic half cover members for covering the upper and lower shell therein, and a dust-proof cap. The cap has a receiving space attached to a front end of the terminal subassembly and a pulling portion in a front end thereof. Each half cover member comprises a body wall, a pair of opposite sidewalls, and a rear wall connecting with the body wall and the sidewall, which together define a half receiving chamber. Each of the sidewalls and the rear wall has an end surface, a pillow projecting beyond the end surface, and a cutout defined along the end surface corresponding to configuration of the pillow. A notch is defined along an outer surface thereof in each pillow and a detent is provided in the notch. A latching tab is disposed projecting beyond the end surface along the outer surface thereof in each cutout, corresponding to the notch. Each rear wall defines a semicircular cable exit in a center thereof. 
   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 assembled, perspective view of an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partially exploded, perspective view of  FIG. 1 , showing an shielded connector with a dust-proof cap and a non-conductive cover before assembly; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the shielded connector with the dust-proof cap; 
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 2 , but taken from rear and bottom aspects; 
       FIG. 5  is an assembled view of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIGS. 6A through 6D  are cross-sectional views of the electrical connector taken along line  6 A— 6 A through  6 D— 6 D of  FIG. 6 , respectively. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an electrical connector  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises a shielded connector  2 , a non-conductive cover made up of a pair of half cover members  3 ,  4 , which are attached each other for encasing the shielded connector  2  therebetween, and a dust-proof cap  5  attached to a front end of the shielded connector  2 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the shielded connector  2  comprises a terminal subassembly  20 , a lower shell  21 , an upper shell  22  for being assembled to the lower shell  21 , a strain relief  23 , a pull tab  24 , and a pair of screws  25  for securing the upper shell  22  on the lower shell  21 . 
   The terminal subassembly  20  comprises an insulating housing  200 , a tongue blade  201  extending forwardly from the insulating housing  200 , a printed circuit board (PCB)  202  assembled to a rear side of the insulating housing  200 , and a plurality of terminals  204  received in the tongue blade  201  and extending through the insulating housing  200  to electrically connect to the PCB  202 . 
   The dust-proof cap  5  includes a securing portion  50  for securing the dust-proof cap  5  to the shielded connector  2 , and a pulling portion  52  projecting forwardly from the securing portion  50 . The securing portion defines a receiving space  500  in a rear end thereof for receiving the tongue blade  201  of the terminal subassembly  20 . A plurality of retention ribs  502  are provided in a top and a bottom walls of the receiving space  500  for enhancing retention force to prevent the dust-proof cap  5  from coming off the shielded connector  2 . The pulling portion  52  has a pair of fingers  520  in two opposite sides thereof for facilitating holding by hand. 
   The lower shell  21  has a base plate  210 , a mating frame  211  in a front end of the base plate  210  and a pair of sidewalls  212  upwardly extending from opposite lateral sides of the base plate  210 . The mating frame  211  defines an aperture  213  extending therethrough and each sidewall  212  defines an elongated channel  214 . The lower shell  21  defines a substantially semicircular lower passage  215  at a rear side thereof, a pair of screw holes  216  located at opposite sides of the semicircular lower passage  215 , and a pair of slits  217  adjacent to the semicircular lower passage  215  for interferentially receiving the stain relief  23 . The base plate  210  defines a rectangular recess  218  (as shown in  FIG. 4 ) in an outer surface thereof. 
   The upper shell  22  has a cover plate  220  and a pair of sidewalls  222  downwardly extending from opposite lateral sides of the cover plate  220 . Each sidewall  222  defines an elongated channel  224  corresponding to the channel  214  of the lower shell  21 . The upper shell  22  defines a substantially semicircular upper passage  225  and a pair of holes  226  at a rear side thereof corresponding to the semicircular lower passage  215  and the screw holes  216 , respectively. The cover plate  220  defines a rectangular recess  228  in an outer surface thereof. 
   The pull tab  24  comprises an operation portion  240  exposed outside of the upper and lower shells  22 ,  21  and a pair of arms  242  extending forwardly from opposite sides of the operation portion  240  and received in the channels  224 ,  214  of the upper and lower shells  22 ,  21 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  4  and  5 , the two half cover members  3 ,  4  in the preferred embodiment are hermaphroditic. The invention, however, is not limited thereto. Each half cover member  3 ,  4  comprises a body wall  30  having a rectangular protrusion  300  in an inner surface thereof, a pair of sidewalls  32  and a rear wall  34  connecting with the sidewalls  32  and the body wall  30 , which together define a half receiving chamber  35 . Each sidewall  32  of each half cover member  3 ,  4  has an end surface  320 , a pillow  321  projecting beyond the end surface  320  toward its half cover member, and a cutout  322  defined along the end surface  320  corresponding to configuration of the pillow  321 . The pillow  321  and the cutout  322  of one sidewall  32  respectively align with the cutout  322  and the pillow  321  of the other sidewall  32  in the same half cover member. The rear wall  34  of each half cover member has an end surface  340 , and defines a substantially semicircular cable exit  347  in a center thereof and a pair of gap  348  adjacent to the sidewalls  32  for providing extension therethrough of the pull tab  24 . A pillow  341  and a cutout  322  corresponding to configuration of the pillow  341  are respectively disposed in two opposite sides of the semicircular cable exit  347 . Each of the sidewalls  32  and the rear wall  34  defines a notch  323 ,  343  in the pillow  321 ,  341  along an outer surface thereof and have a latching tab  324 ,  344  in the cutout  322 ,  342  projecting beyond the end surface  320 ,  340  toward associated half cover member along the outer surface thereof, corresponding to configuration of the notch  323 ,  343 . The latching tab  323  and the notch  324 , of one sidewall  32  respectively align with the notch  323  and the latching tab  324 , of the other sidewall  32  in the same half cover member. Each of the sidewalls  32  and the rear wall  34  provides a detent  325 ,  345  in the notch  323 ,  343 . Each latching tab  324 ,  344  of each of the sidewalls  32  and the rear wall  34  defines an opening  326 ,  346  therein for fittingly receiving a corresponding detent  325 ,  345 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6A–6D  in conjunction with  FIG. 6 , as the two half cover members  3 ,  4  are moved toward each other, the end surface  320 ,  340  of one half cover member abuts on the end surface  320 ,  340  of the other half cover member so as to form the protective cover, and the shielded connector is sandwiched between a integral cavity formed by the two half receiving chambers  35  of the half cover members  3 ,  4  with the mating frame of the shielded connector exposed beyond a front end of the cover. The rectangular protrusions  300  of the two half cover members  3 ,  4  are respectively positioned in corresponding rectangular recesses  228 ,  218  formed in the outer surfaces of the upper and lower shells  22 ,  21 . The pillows  321 ,  341  of one sidewall  32  and the rear wall  34  of one half cover member are positioned in corresponding cutouts  322 ,  342  of the other sidewall  32  and the rear wall  34  of the other half cover member. The latching tabs  324 ,  344  of one sidewall  32  and the rear wall  34  of one half cover member are received in corresponding notches  323 ,  343  of the other sidewall  32  and the rear wall  34  of the other half cover member with the detents  325 ,  345  latchably engaged within corresponding openings  326 ,  346 . Thereby, the two half cover members  3 ,  4  are firmly attached together to protect the upper and lower shells  22 ,  21  of the shielded connector  2 . 
   One feature of the invention is to provide a full mating frame  211  on a front end of the lower shell  21  under a condition that a pair of protrusions  2131  are located about the mating frame  211 . On the other hand, the upper shell  22  is provided with a pair of L-shaped protrusions  227  at the front end thereof. Accordingly, in assembling the upper shell  22  is initially engaged with the lower shell  21  at an rearwardly upwardly oblique angle under a condition that the pair of L-shaped protrusions  227  are engaged under the pair of protrusions  2131 . Successively, the upper shell  22  is rotated toward the lower shell  21  about the engaged L-shaped protrusions  227  and protrusions  2131  until the rear end of the lower shell  21  and the rear end of the upper shell  22  abut against each other under a condition that the ridge of the screw hole  216  of the lower shell  21  is received in the corresponding blind hole (not shown) in the corresponding position of the upper shell  22 . Finally, the screw  25  fastens the upper shell  22  and the lower shell  21  together. It is noted that because the pivotal point of this rotation is located about the upper portion of the upper shell  22 , it is very easy without any improper interference during assembling the upper and lower shells  21 ,  22  together. 
   Another feature of the invention is to provide a plastic-molded dust-proof cover  5  which only shields the mating tongue blade  201  rather than the whole mating port of the connector. Additionally, because such a dust-proof cover  5  is equipped with the laterally extending fingers  520 , it is intentionally formed with an opening  522  ( FIG. 2 ) in alignment with the corresponding finger  320  for compliance with the molding process. Anther feature of the invention is to provide a lateral opening  800  in the front end of each side of the assembled two half cover members  3 ,  4 , which is laterally aligned with the corresponding lateral opening  700  located in the front end of each side of the assembled two shells  21 ,  22 , so as to expose the front end hook  243  of the corresponding arm  242  in a lateral direction. 
   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.