Patent Publication Number: US-7909661-B2

Title: Plug connector with improved cable arrangement and having retaining arrangement securely retaining mating substrate therein

Description:
This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/321,080 invented by Jerry Wu, both of which are currently assigned to the same assignee as this application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a plug connector, and more particularly to a plug connector with circuit board connector mating substrate securely retained therein by means of a retaining pins extending therethrough. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Present electrical devices include so many internal components as to define complex internal spaces. Thus, internal connectors are needed to be adapting to the internal space. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,410,365, issued to Wu on Aug. 12, 2008, discloses a plug connector with improved engaging means that are assembled to the housing for locking board printed circuit board toward the housing reliable. However, the conventional housing extends along a horizontal direction is not adapted to some electrical devices. 
     Hence, in this art, a plug connector 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 plug connector with bending cover. 
     In order to implement the above object, the plug connector, mated with a complementary connector, comprises a housing comprising a mating interface defined by a pair of tongue portions and an opening defined between the tongue sections, a cover assembled with housing, an inner mold received in the cover, a printed circuit boar received in the housing and the inner mold, a plurality of cables electrically attached to corresponding electrical pads of the printed circuit board, and a fastening element securely anchored to the housing. The cover comprises a first section, a second section extending along a direction different from the first section extending along, and a bending section connecting the second section to the first section. The printed circuit board comprises a plurality of electrical pads formed thereon a part of which defines a mating portion parallel to the pair of tongue sections. The fastening element comprises at least one column post extending through the printed circuit board. 
     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 plug connector in according with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but taken from a different aspect; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded, perspective view of the plug connector in according with the present invention; 
         FIG. 4-5  are views similar to  FIG. 3 , but taken from different aspects; 
         FIG. 6-7  are part-assembled views of the plug connector of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is cross-section views of the plug connector taken along lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 1 to 2  illustrate perspective views of an electrical plug connector  100  made in accordance with the present invention and used to exchange electrical signals and be connected to the complementary connector (not shown). The plug connector  100  comprises a housing  1 , a cover  2  assembled to the housing  1 , an inner mold  3  received in the cover  2 , a printed circuit board (PCB)  4  with a part thereof received in the inner mold  3 , a plurality of cables  5  connected to the PCB  4 , a latch  6  assembled to the housing  1  and the cover  2  and a location pin  7  preventing the housing  1  from breaking off the connector  100 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 to 8 , the housing  1 , which is made of insulative material with robust rigidity or other material, such as metal, comprises a rectangular body portion  10  defining a central receiving slot  101  therethrough, and a tongue portion  11  having first and second tongue sections  110 ,  112 . The first and second tongue sections  110 ,  112  respectively extends forwardly from a front surface  101  of the body portion  10  and an opening (not labeled) formed between the first and second tongue sections  110 ,  112 . The first and second tongue sections  110 ,  112  together with the opening form a mating interface (not labeled) of the housing  1 . 
     The body portion  10  defines a rectangular receiving space  104  recessed forwardly from a rear surface thereof to communicate with the receiving slot  102 , and thus, forming a pair of longitudinal walls  105 , a pair of lateral walls  103 , and an inner wall  106 . Each lateral wall  103  defines a cutout  1030  to divide the lateral wall  103  to form an upper lateral arm and a lower lateral arm (not labeled). The receiving slot  102  recesses forwardly from the inner face to the front surface  101  of the body portion  10  and forms a pair of upper a lower surfaces opposite to each other and perpendicular to the inner wall  106 . The outmost surface of the cutouts  1030  communicates with the corresponding lateral walls  103 . A groove  107  recesses upwardly from the bottom surface of the body portion  10  to form a receiving space (not labeled) and a blocking surface  1070 . Triple circular depressions holes  15  extend upwardly from the blocking surface  1070  to communicate with the receiving slot  102 . 
     The body portion  10  forms an M-shape engaging portion  12  on a top surface and adjacent to the rear surface thereof. The engaging portion  12  comprises a protruding section  121  and a pair of arms  122  located at opposite sides of the protruding section  121 , all extending rearward from a transverse main section  123 . A slit  1210  is formed between the protruding section  121  and a top surface of the body portion  12  to extend into the main section  123  of the engaging portion  12 . The top surface of the engaging portion  12  is higher than the top surface of the main section  123 , and an inclined surface  124  is connected to the two top surfaces of the engaging portion  12  and the main section  123 . A pair of trough  1220  is respectively formed in the arms  122  and open toward each other. 
     The inner mold  3  of the present invention is made of PVC material and in the form of L-shape configuration. In other alternative embodiments, the inner mold  3  can or also be made from other material, same as that of the housing  1  or different from that of the front housing piece  1 . The inner mold  3  comprises a main portion  30  and a guiding portion  32 . The main portion  30  comprises a horizontal and rectangular first portion  314 , a vertical and rectangular second portion  316 , and a bending portion  318  connecting the first portion  314  to the second portion  316 . The second portion  316  is narrower than the first portion  314  and the bending portion  318 . A flat extruding section  311  protrudes upwardly from the upper surface of the first portion and rearward extends form the front surface of the first portion  314  to be adjacent to but separated from the bending portion  318 . A through slot  34  divides the guiding portion  32  into a first piece  320  and a second piece  322  separated from the first piece  320 . 
     The cover  2  comprises a first upper cover  21  and a second lower cover  22  assembled with the first cover  21  together. The first cover  21  comprises a first main section  210  with a pair of side walls (not labeled) downwards extending from the two side edges of the first cover  21  for forming a receiving space (not labeled) therebetween and a first guiding section  212 . The first main section  210  comprises a horizontal and rectangular first section  2101 , a vertical and rectangular second section  2103 , and a bending section  2105  connecting the first portion  2101  to the second portion  2103 . The first section  210  comprises a pair of receiving groove  2102  on the outmost surfaces of the two side walls thereof and a pair of receiving holes  2104  respectively upward extending form the lower surfaces of the two side walls thereof. A transverse slot  21050  is formed on the front surface of the second section  2105  in communication with the upper surface of the main section  21 . A flat extruding section  211 , which is corresponding to the flat extruding portion  311  of the housing  3 , protrudes upwardly from the upper surface of the first section  210  and rearward extends from the front surface of the first section  2101  into the slot  21050 . A receiving space (not labeled) is defined between the upper surface of the slot  21050  and the flat extruding section  211 . A pair of ear sections  2106  are located on opposite sides of the extruding section  211  and connected to the second section  2103 . Each one of the ear sections  2106  has a recess  2108  backwardly recessed from the front surface thereof. The two recesses  2108  face to each other. The first guiding section  212  comprises a pair of first guiding projections  2120  on the two sides thereof and a pair of protrusions  2122  respectively frontward extending from the front surface of the first main section  210  on the outmost surfaces of the two first guiding projections  2120 . The two first guiding projections  2120  are respectively across the two side surfaces of the main body  212  along front-to-rear direction. The outmost surface of each of the protrusions  2122  is coplanar with its corresponding side surface of the main portion  210 . A pair of L-shaped inserting portion  21030  respectively extends from the rear surface of the side walls of the second section  2103  of the first main section  210 . 
     The second cover  22  comprises a second main section  220  with two side walls (not labeled) for forming a receiving space (not labeled) between the two side walls and a second guiding section  222  frontward extending from the second main section  220 . The second main section  220  comprises a horizontal first section  2201 , a vertical second section  2203  separated from the first section  2201  and a second bending section  2205  connecting the first section  2201  to the second section  2203 . A pair of fastening arms  2202 , which corresponds to the pair of receiving grooves  2102 , respectively upward extends from the two side walls of the first section and defines a channel  2204  between the side walls of the second section  2203  and the fastening arms  2202 . Each of the two fastening arms  2202  comprises a clasp  22020  on the top thereof. A pair of rectangular posts  2206 , which correspond to the two receiving holes  2104 , extends from the two sides thereof on front of the fastening arm  2202 . A pair of receiving channel  22030  respectively upward extends from the lower surfaces of the second section  2203  of the lower surface. The second guiding section  222  comprises a pair of second guiding projections  2220  on the two side thereof for correspond to the first guiding projections  2120 . 
     The printed circuit board  4  has a plurality of first conductive traces  41  disposed along its leading edge which are intended to mate with the contacts (not shown) of the complementary connector when the plug connector  100  is inserted into the complementary connector, a plurality of second conductive traces  42  at middle thereof to be respectively connected to the cables  5 , and triple holes  43  located between the first and second traces  41 ,  42  and arranged in a line. Each side edge of the printed circuit board  4  defines a pair of semi-circular positioning holes  44  arranged along the front-back direction. In order to facilitate the so called hot-plug function, each of the first conductive traces  41  which are used for signal transmission are formed with a V-shape cutout  410  to let the first conductive traces  41  which are interconnected with ground contacts of the complementary connector firstly and disengaged from the complementary connector later. Such V-shape cut-outs  410  assure the signal transmission without being interrupted. Of course, the V-shape cutouts  410  also can be omitted here or have other configuration. 
     The cables  5  comprises two sets of sub-assemblies in a stacked relationship. Each set comprises four serial Attached Technology Attachment (ATA) standard cables  50  for high speed signal transmission and four strand wires  52  for low speed signal transmission. Of course, the strand wires  52  may not be included into the cable set in this embodiment or other embodiments according to different requirements. Each serial ATA standard cable  50  comprises a pair of signal conductors  500  respectively transmitting positive signal and negative signal, and a pair of grounding conductors  502  arranged at opposite outer sides of the pair of signal conductors  500  for providing grounding to the signal transmission. 
     The latch  6  is stamped and formed from a metallic sheet and comprises a retaining portion  60 , a pair of locking portions  61  extending upwardly and backwardly from the retaining portion  60 , a generally horizontal pressing portion  62  and an inclined supporting portion  63  slantwise extending from the pressing portion  62 . The latch  6  further forms an inclined intermediate portion  64  connecting the pressing portion  62  with the locking portions  61 . 
     The retaining portion  60  has a pair of transverse bar sections  600  respectively connecting with front edges of the locking portions  61 , an engaging section  602  connecting with opposite inner ends of the pair of bar sections  600  and extending backwardly from the bar sections  600 , and a pair of positioning sections  604  respectively extending forwardly from front edges of the pair of bar sections  600 . Outmost end of each bar section  600  extends beyond outmost edge of corresponding locking portion  61  and served as guiding means for the latch  6 . The engaging section  602  is located between the pair of locking portion  61  and comprises a rectangular frame  6020  located in a horizontal surface and a pair of elastic snapping section  6022  extending into the space circumscribed by the frame  6020  with distal ends bending upwardly. Each locking portion  61  comprises an inclined first section  612  extending rearward and upwardly from the retaining portion  60  and a flat second section  614  extending rearward from the first section  612  to connect with the intermediate portion  64 . Each inclined first section defines a cutout  6120  therein for increasing flexibility thereof. Each cutout  6120  extends form the first section  612  to the second section  614 . The second section  614  is formed with a pair of latch sections  610  extending upwardly and rearward form a front portion thereof. A pair of stop sections  606  are respectively formed with the bar sections  600  and extending into the cutout  6120  and curve upwardly. The pressing portion  62  comprises a body section  620  and a pair of side beams  621  extending downwardly from opposite lateral ends of the body section  620 . Each side beam  621  is formed with a spring tab  6210  extending outwardly therefrom. The body section  620  is formed with a plurality of rims  6202  for easy handling. The supporting portion  63  defines a pair of rectangular openings  630  and forms a curved edge  631  at a free end thereof. The intermediate portion  64  defines a pair of elongated cutouts  640 . 
     In assembly of the plug connector  100 , the two sets of cables  5  are respectively soldered to the second conductive pads  42  located on the upper and lower surfaces of the printed circuit board  4 , and then are bend at a proper position. The inner mold  3  is then molded over the printed circuit board  4  and the cables  5  to form a plurality of different-size receiving passages  35 . The rear portion of the printed circuit board  4  is received in the through slot  34  formed in the guiding portion  32 , and the cables  5  respectively protruding through the corresponding receiving passages  35  to expose out of a rear surface of the inner mold  3 . The pair of positioning holes  44  located at a relatively rear position are filled with the same material as the inner mold  3  for securely fastening together the inner mold  3  with the printed circuit board  3 . Of course, the inner mold  3  can be molded firstly, and then is pushed forwardly toward the cables  5  and the printed circuit board  4  to enclose the junctions between the cables  5  and the printed circuit board  4 . 
     Referencing to  FIG. 6 , the inner mold  3  with the cables  4  and the printed circuit board  3  is covered by the first cover  21  and the second cover  22 . The first cover  21  and the second cover  22  are respectively assembled on the inner mold  3  for receiving the inner mold  3  with the cables  4  and the printed circuit board  3  in its receiving space. As the first cover  21  and the second cover  22  are assembled on the inner mold  3 , the two fastening arms  2202  of the second cover  22  respectively go through the corresponding receiving grooves  2102  of the first cover  21  with the two clasps  22020  of the fastening arms  2202  catching the first cover  21  for securely assembling the first cover  21  with the second cover  22 , the two posts  2206  of the second cover  22  are respectively inserted into the receiving holes  2104 , and the two inserting portions  21030  are respectively received in the corresponding receiving channel  22030 . Each of the side walls of the first cover  21  is connected to its corresponding side wall of the second cover  22 . 
     Referencing to  FIG. 7 , with the guidance of the pair of guiding projections assembled by the first and second guiding projections  2120 ,  2220  sliding into the cutouts  1030  of the lateral walls  103 , the front portion of the printed circuit board  4  protrudes through the receiving slot  102  to be exposed between the first and second tongue sections  110 ,  112  until a front surface of the cover  2  abuts against the front inner wall  106  of the housing  1 . Thus, the through holes  43  of the printed circuit board  4  align with the circular depression  15 . To enhance the combination of the printed circuit board  4  and the housing  1 , the fastening portion  7  are employed. The fastening portion  7  comprises a connecting board  74  and three column posts  72  respectively attached on the connecting board  74 . Each column post  72  has a rim  70  on one side thereof. The three column posts  72  respectively extend through the circular depressions  15  and the three holes  43  into receiving space of the front housing  11  with the rims  70  respectively compressing on the inner surface of the circular depressions  15  and the connecting board  74  received in the circular depression  15 . Via the fastening portion  7 , the printed circuit board  4  is securely assembled with the front housing piece  1  and has no possibility of being pulled out from the front housing piece  1  when user is pulling the cables  5 , further enhancing the engagement between the front and inner molds  1 ,  2 . The fastening portion  7  and the three through holes  43  serve as engaging means to position the printed circuit board  4  to the housing  1 . Accordingly, the front portion of the printed circuit board  4  is wholly received in the housing  1  and the front ends of the cables  5  are fully covered by the inner housing  1  and the cover  2  for achieving a reliable connection with the printed circuit board  4 . 
     Particularly referring to  FIGS. 1 and 7  in conjunction with  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the latch  6  is assembled on the housing  1  and first cover  21 . A forward pressing force is exerted on the latch  6 . The spring tabs  6210  of the pressing portion  62  respectively slide along the recesses  2108  of the ear sections  2106  of the first cover  21 . At the same time, with the guidance of the outmost ends of the retaining portion  60  sliding along the grooves  1220  of the arms  122  of the housing  1 , the bar section  600  and the engaging section  602  are received in the slit  1210  with the positioning sections  604  and the snapping sections  6022  respectively locked into the slots  1230  to prevent the latch  6  from moving rearward when the plug connector  100  mates with the complementary connector. The pair of stop sections  606  is located in front of the main section  123  for preventing excessive forward movement of the latch  6 . The supporting portion  63  is located above the extruding section  211  of the first cover  21  with the curved edge  631  abutting against a surface of the extruding section  211  and extending into the transverse slot  21050  of the second section  216 . The spring tabs  6210  of the pressing portion  62  elastically engage with inner surfaces of the recesses  2108  of the ear sections  2106  for preventing the latch  6  from escaping the recesses  2108  of the first cover  21 . The pressing portion  62  is downwardly movable relative to the rear portion of the first cover  21  to deflect the locking portion  61  toward the housing  1  and the first cover  21 . 
     The complementary connector has corresponding structure locking with the pair of latch sections  610  of the latch  6  to realize the reliable engagement with the plug connector  100 . When the plug connector  100  is to be disconnected from the complementary connector, a downward pressing force is exerted on the pressing portion  62  of the latch  6 . The pressing portion  62  moves downwardly and the locking portion  61  creates a vertical displacement toward the housing  1 . The retaining portion  60  is engaged with the housing  1  and the supporting portion  63  extends into the transverse slot  2108  to press on the first cover  21 , thus, together form a girder. The vertical displacement of the locking portion  61 , particularly the latch sections  610 , is big spatially enough to realize the disconnection between the plug connector  100  and the complementary connector easily. 
     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.