Patent Publication Number: US-6705899-B1

Title: Cable end connector having improved shell structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a cable end connector, and more particularly to a cable end connector having improved interlocked shell structures so as to prevent the shell from wrapping-up which consequently blocks the intermating between the connectors. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     In high speed data transmitting environment, it is important to shield the signal conductors at a connection interface to prevent Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) exposed thereon thereby deteriorating the signals transmitted therethrough. Accordingly, shielded cable end connectors have been designed to meet the requirement. Such a conventional cable end connector is, for example, typically disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,941,725 and 5,934,942. The cable end connector includes an inner dielectric housing having a plurality of terminals secured therewithin, an upper and a lower conductive shells, and an outer dielectric housing enclosing the upper and lower conductive shells. The upper and lower conductive shells enclose the inner dielectric housing therein to provide a full shielding environment. However, a front portion of the upper and lower conductive shells are merely abut against an upper and a lower surfaces of the inner dielectric housing without fixture to fixedly attach to the inner dielectric housing, so the front portion of the upper and lower conductive shells have a possibility to wrap up which consequently blocks the intermating between the cable end connector and a mating connector. 
     Hence, an improved cable end connector is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a cable end connector having an improved shell. 
     To fulfill the above-mentioned object, a cable end connector according to the present invention for assembling with a cable comprises a dielectric housing having a plurality of terminals secured therewithin, an upper and a lower shells enclosing the housing, and an upper and a lower covers enclosing the upper and lower shells. The dielectric housing includes a main body and a tongue portion projecting forwardly from the main body. The upper shell has an upper main wall abutting against an upper surface of the main body of the dielectric housing and an upper projecting lip abutting against an upper surface of the tongue portion of the dielectric housing. The lower shell has a lower main wall abutting against a lower surface of the main body of the dielectric housing and a lower projecting lip abutting against a lower surface of the tongue portion of the dielectric housing. The upper and lower projecting lips respectively has a pair of upper and lower engaging portions disposed on opposite side edges thereof. The pair of upper and lower engaging portions abut against opposite side surfaces of the tongue portion, and the pair of upper and lower engaging portions engage with each other. 
     In this design, the upper and lower projecting lips of the upper and lower conductive shells respectively has a pair of upper and lower engaging portions disposed on opposite side edges thereof, the upper and lower projecting lips are fixed on the dielectric housing via the upper and lower engaging portions engaging with each other, the upper and lower projecting lips have no risk to wrap which ensure the cable end connector mate with a mating connector. 
    
    
     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 view of a cable end connector according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is another exploded view of the cable end connector in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a part perspective view of the cable end connector in FIG. 1, which includes a dielectric housing securing a plurality of terminals, a printed circuit board (PCB), and a lower conductive shell; 
     FIG. 4 is another part perspective view of the cable end connector in FIG. 1, which includes a dielectric housing securing a plurality of terminals, a PCB, an upper and a lower conductive shell; and 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cable end connector in FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG.  1  and FIG. 2, a cable end connector  1  according to the present invention comprises a dielectric housing  10  securing a plurality of terminals  20  therewithin, a PCB  30 , an upper and a lower conductive shells  40 ,  50 , an upper and a lower covers  60 ,  70 , and a pair of latches  80 . 
     The dielectric housing  10  includes a main body  100  and a tongue portion  101  extending forwardly from the main body  100 . A plurality of terminal channels  102  run through the front-to-end of the dielectric housing  10  for receiving the terminals  20 . Two pairs of locating poles  103  are respectively disposed on an upper and a lower surface of the main body  10 . The main body  10  further has a pair of position poles  104  protruded on opposite side surfaces. The tongue portion  101  has a separated pole in a front surface thereof for separating power terminals and data terminals. 
     Each terminal  20  includes a contact portion  200  extending beyond the front surface of the tongue portion  101  of the dielectric housing  10  for contacting with terminals of a mating connector (not shown), and a solder portion  201  extending beyond a rear surface of the main body  100  of the dielectric housing  10  for soldering with the PCB  30 . The PCB  30  has a plurality of electric components (not labeled) disposed thereon for performing the power transmission and data exchanging functions. 
     The upper shell  40  is made from a metal plate, includes an upper main wall  400  and an upper projecting lip  401  extending from a front edge of the upper main wall  400 . The upper main wall  400  has a pair of upper locating holes  402  in a front thereof. A pair of upper-front side walls  403  and a pair of upper-rear side walls  404  are bending disposed from opposite side edges of the upper main wall  400 . Each upper-rear side wall  404  has a of block orifice  405  defined therein. The upper main wall  400  bending disposed a pair of rear walls  406  on a rear edge thereof. A gap  407  formed between the two rear walls  406  to allow a cable end (not shown) run through and sold with the PCB  30 . A rear piece  408  adjacent with the gap  407  rearwardly extends from the upper main wall  400 . The upper projecting lip  401  has a pair of upper engaging portions  409  disposed on opposite sides thereof. In the present embodiment, the upper engaging portion  409  is a wing having a T-shaped groove. 
     The lower shell  50  is made from a metal plate also, includes a lower main wall  500  and an lower projecting lip  501  extending from a front edge of the lower main wall  500 . The lower main wall  500  has a pair of lower locating holes  502  in a front thereof. A pair of lower-front side walls  503 , a pair of lower-middle side walls  504 , and a pair of lower-rear side walls  505  are bending disposed from opposite side edges of the lower main wall  500 . Each lower-front side wall  503  has a position hole  506  defined therein. Each lower-rear side wall  505  has a block piece  507  defined therein. A crimp  508  rearwardly extends from the lower main wall  500 . The lower projecting lip  501  has a pair of lower engaging portions  509  disposed on opposite sides thereof. In the present embodiment, the lower engaging portion  509  is a T-shaped wing. 
     The lower cover  70  has a pair of receiving slots  700  defined in opposite sides thereof for receiving the pair of latches  80 . A lower semicircular groove  701  is depressed on a rear portion of the lower cover  70 . The upper cover  60  has a press button  600  for actuating the latches  80  to release the cable end connector  1  from engagement with a mating connector. An upper semicircular groove  601  is depressed on a rear portion of the upper cover  60 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, in assembly, the PCB  30  is soldered with the solder portion  201  of the terminals  20 . The upper and lower conductive shells  40 ,  50  are assembled together to enclose the dielectric housing  10  and the PCB  30  therein for providing a full shielding environment. The upper main wall  400  and the upper projecting lip  401  of the upper shell  40  respectively abut against the upper surface of the main body  100  and the tongue  101  of the dielectric housing  10 . The pair of locating poles  102  on the upper surface of the main body  100  of the dielectric housing  10  are located in the pair of upper locating holes  402  on the upper main wall  400  of the upper shell  40 . The lower main wall  500  and the lower projecting lip  501  of the lower shell  50  respectively abut against the lower surface of the main body  100  and the tongue  101  of the dielectric housing  10 . The pair of locating poles  102  on the lower surface of the main body  100  of the dielectric housing  10  are located in the pair of lower locating holes  502  on the lower main wall  500  of the lower shell  50 . The pair of lower-front side walls  503  of the lower shell  50  abut against opposite side surfaces of the main body  100  of the dielectric housing  10 . The position poles  103  on the opposite side surfaces of the main body  100  of the dielectric housing  10  are positioned in the position holes  506  of the lower-front side walls  503  on the lower shell  50 . The pair of upper and lower engaging portions  409 ,  509  of the upper and lower shells  40 ,  50  abut against opposite side surfaces of the tongue portion  101  of the dielectric housing  10 . The pair of upper and lower engaging portions  409 ,  509  engage with each other. In addition, the block pieces  507  on the lower-rear side walls  505  of the lower shell  50  are blocked in the block orifices  405  on the upper-rear side walls  404  of the upper shell  40 . The rear piece  408  of the upper shell  40  and the crimp  508  of the lower shell  50  work together to secure the cable end. The upper and lower covers  60 ,  70  enclose the upper and lower shells  40 ,  50 . The upper and the lower semicircular grooves  601 ,  701  form a circular aperture which allow the cable end to run through. 
     Compared to the prior art, the upper and lower projecting lips  401 ,  501  of the upper and lower conductive shells  40 ,  50  according to the present invention respectively has a pair of upper and lower engaging portions  409 ,  509  disposed on opposite side edges thereof, the upper and lower projecting lips  401 ,  501  are fixed on the dielectric housing  10  via the upper and lower engaging portions  409 ,  509  engaging with each other, the upper and lower projecting lips  401 ,  501  have no risk to wrap which ensure the cable end connector  1  mate with a mating connector. 
     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.