Patent Publication Number: US-2011059644-A1

Title: Cable assembly with flat cable

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a cable assembly, and more particularly to a low profile cable assembly with a flat cable. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The communication between two electronic devices is always achieved through some external cable assembly. The external cable assembly is composed of a plurality of wires and an electric connector. However, too much wires would make the assembly complex. In present electronic device, flexible flat cable (FFC) or flexible printed circuit (FPC) have been inducted to be instead of original wires. However, present structure of cable assembly with FFC or FPC is not adapt for being used as an external cable assembly. 
     Hence, in this art, a cable assembly to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art should be provided. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a cable assembly with an improved coupling structure. 
     In order to implement the above object, a cable assembly, used out of an electronic device, comprises an electrical connector, a flexible printed circuit having a first end electrically connected to a rear end of the electrical connector, a flat tube covering the flexible printed circuit and having a front portion with a front end, a strain relief portion covering the front portion of the flat tube with the front end of the flat tube exposed out thereof, and a cover covering the rear end of the electrical connector, the first end of the flexible printed circuit, the front end of the flat tube and a front end of the strain relief portion. 
     Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cable assembly in according with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, perspective view of the cable assembly in according with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a partly assembled perspective view of the cable assembly in according with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     Reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , A cable assembly, used out of an electronic device, comprises an electrical connector  10 , a flat cable connected to the electrical connector  10 , a strain relief portion  30 , a cover  20 , and a printed circuit board  50 . The flat cable comprises a flexible printed circuit  60  having a first end electrically connected to a rear end of the electrical connector  10 , and a flat tube  40  covering the flexible printed circuit  60  and having a front portion with a front end. The strain relief portion  30  covers the front portion of the flat tube  40  with the front end of the flat tube  40  exposed out thereof. The cover  20  covers the rear end of the electrical connector  10 , the first end of the flexible printed circuit, the front end of the flat tube  40  and a front end of the strain relief portion  30 . 
     The printed circuit board  50  is located between the electrical connector  10  and the flexible printed circuit  60  and has a plurality of pins  502  respectively arranged on the two opposite ends thereof. The printed circuit board  50  is respectively connected to the electrical connector  10  and the flexible printed circuit  60  on two opposite ends thereof. 
     The flat tube  40  and the strain relief portion  30  are made from flexible insulation material and molded as an integer. The strain relief portion  30  comprises a base portion  306 , a fastening portion  302  in front of the base portion  302  and a groove  304  depressing from four surfaces of the base portion  306  and connected to the fastening portion  302 . The fastening portion  302  is longer and wider than the base portion  306 . 
     The cover  20  can be made from metal or insulation material. The cover  20  comprises an upper cover  202  and a lower cover  204 . The upper cover  202  and the lower cover  204  are respectively assembled on the electrical connector  10  integrated with the printed circuit board  50 , the flexible printed circuit  60 , the flat tube  40  and the strain relief portion  30  from above and from below. The upper cover  202  and the lower cover  204  form a receiving space (not labeled) and a front wall  206 , rear wall  208  and a pair of side walls  210  connecting the front wall  206  to the rear wall  208 . The front wall  206 , the rear wall  208  and the side walls  210  surround the receiving space. The printed circuit board  50 , the rear end of the electrical connector  10 , the front end of the flexible printed circuit  60 , the front end of the strain relief portion  30  and the front end of the flat tube  40  are received in the receiving space. The fastening portion  302  is received in the receiving space and the rear wall of the cover  20  is inserted into the groove  304  of the strain relief portion  30 . In other embodiment, the flexible printed circuit  60  can be replaced by flexible flat cable. And the printed circuit board  50  can be canceled, and the flexible printed circuit is physically connected to the electrical connector  10 . 
     While the foregoing description includes details which will enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, it should be recognized that the description is illustrative in nature and that many modifications and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of these teachings. It is accordingly intended that the invention herein be defined solely by the claims appended hereto and that the claims be interpreted as broadly as permitted by the prior art.