Patent Publication Number: US-6341987-B1

Title: Cable connector assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is related to a cable connector assembly, and particularly to a cable connector assembly having an RJ-11 modular jack and an RJ-45 modular jack integrated together side-by-side and a cable connecting with terminals of the jacks. 
     2. Description of the Related Prior Art 
     A cable connector assembly includes a connector for mating with a complementary connector and a cable for connecting with an electrical device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,274 disclosed a cable connector assembly comprising a modular jack, a cable and a connection mechanism. The modular jack has a plurality of insulating displacement connection (IDC) terminals. Each terminal of the modular jack pierces an insulation jacket surrounding a center conductor of each wire of the cable to electrically contact the center conductor. To achieve the IDC connection, the terminals and the housing of the modular jack need a complicated structure. 
     Hence, an improved cable connector assembly is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first object of the present invention is to provide a cable connector assembly which has a simple configuration. 
     A second object of the present invention is to provide a cable connector assembly which requires less assembly space. 
     To achieve the above-mentioned objects, a cable connector assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises a modular jack, a cable assembly and a connection mechanism. The modular jack includes an insulating housing having at least one receiving space and a plurality of terminals received in the at least one receiving space. The connection mechanism defines a clip and a base, the base comprising a first portion and a second portion. The cable assembly includes a plurality of wires positioned on the first portion and exposed front ends of wire conductors are positioned on the second portion. The clip clamps the wire on the first portion firmly. The terminals are received in the second portion and connected electrically with the exposed conductors, respectively. 
     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a cable connector assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connection mechanism of the cable connector assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-section view taken along line  3 — 3  in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a partly assembled rear view of the cable connector assembly with a shield; and 
     FIG. 5 is an assembled view of a modular jack connector assembly of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a cable connector assembly  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises a modular jack connector  10 , a cable assembly  20  and a connection mechanism  30 . The modular jack connector  10  comprises an insulating housing  11 , a metal shield  12 , a plurality of terminals  13 , two light emitting diode (LED) devices  14  and two auxiliary elements  15 . 
     The housing  11  is rectangular in shape and defines two receiving spaces  111  arranged side by side for receiving complementary plugs (not shown). A number of passageways  110  are defined in a bottom plate of the housing  11  to communicate with the receiving spaces  111 . A top plate  112  of the housing  2  defines two recesses  115  for receiving the LEDS  14  and the cover elements  15 . 
     Each terminal  13  forms a mating portion  131  and an engaging portion  132  extending substantially upwardly from a rear end of the terminal  13 . A number of bards  133  are formed on two side of the terminal  13  to interference fit with inner surfaces of the passageways  110 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the connection mechanism  30  defines a base  31  and two clips  32 , wherein the base comprises a first portion  311  and a second portion  312  with a bridge (not labeled) therebetween. The first portion  311  defines a number of spacers  3111  with a plurality of protrusions  3112  thereon to pre-position the wires of the cable assembly  20 . The second portion  312  defines a plurality of slots  3121  to receive the engaging portions  132  and the exposed conductor  21  of the wires of the cable assembly  20 . The width of the slot  3121  is approximately equal to a diameter of the exposed conductors  21  of the wires to fix them firmly in the slots  3121 . The clips  32  have a top piece  322  pressing on the wires in the base  31  and a pair of protruding ends  321  clamping the cable assembly  20  on the base  31 . The first portion  311  defines a pair of protrusions  3113  on side surfaces thereof to connect the base  31  and the housing  11 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, the metal shield  12  defines two openings  121  corresponding to the receiving space  111 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, in assembly, the cable assembly  20  is positioned on the base  31 , and the clips  32  is assembled to clamp the cable assembly  20  firstly and then the terminals  13  is received in the passageways  110  of the housing  11 . Inserting the incorporate connection mechanism  30  into the receiving space  111  from the underside of the housing  11 , the exposed conductors  21  will engage with the engaging portions  132  of the terminals  13 . The LEDS  14  are fixed in the receiving accesses  115 . Then, the cover elements  15  are assembled on the LEDS  14  to keep the LEDS  14  in the receiving accesses  115 . Referring to FIG. 5, the metal shield  12  covers the housing  11 . Thus, the cable connector assembly  1  is assembled. 
     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.