Patent Abstract:
A cable end connector assembly ( 1 ) includes an insulative housing ( 2 ) including a front engaging portion ( 20 ) and a rear terminating portion ( 22 ), a number of IDC contacts ( 3 ) received in the insulative housing, a number of wires ( 4 ) electrically connecting with corresponding contacts, a cover ( 5 ) mechanically mounted to the terminating portion of the insulative housing, and a locking member ( 6 ). The cover defines a pair of passages ( 526 ). The locking member includes a retaining portion ( 60 ) secured with the engaging portion of the insulative housing, a pressing portion ( 62 ) received in the passages of the cover, a pressing portion ( 63 ) engaged with the cover and a pair of latch sections ( 610 ) located close to the retaining portion. The pressing portion moves downwardly toward the cover under a pressing force and creates a vertical displacement to the latch sections.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/397,446 filed on Mar. 25, 2003, invented by George Lee, entitled “CABLE CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY WITH LATCHING MEANS”, and Ser. No. 10/776,111 filed on Feb. 10, 2004, invented by Jerry Wu, entitled “CABLE END CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY HAVING LOCKING MEMBER”, both of which are assigned to the same assignee as this application. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a cable end connector assembly, and particularly to a cable end connector assembly having a locking member for locking with a complementary connector. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     There exists in the art an electrical connector known as a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (Serial ATA) connector which is generally used for disk drives and storage peripherals. Especially, the Serial ATA connectors according to the Serial ATA standard are featured in fewer electrical contacts than other conventional electrical connectors and are relatively tiny in configuration. It is desirable for the Serial ATA connector to have latch means for providing a reliable mechanical and electrical connection with a complementary connector. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,565,383 and 6,585,536, having the same inventor and the same assignee with the present invention, each disclose a Serial ATA connector equipped with a locking member for locking with a complementary connector. The locking member comprises a middle portion retained on a connector housing, a pushing portion extending rearwardly from the middle portion, and a locking portion extending forwardly from the middle portion for locking/releasing the Serial ATA connector with/from the complementary connector. 
     However, the locking member is a cantilevered type structure, the vertical distance between a locking position and a releasing position of the locking portion is relatively small, thereby adversely affecting the engagement and disengagement between the Serial ATA connector and the complementary connector. 
     Hence, a cable end connector assembly having an improved locking member is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a cable end connector assembly having an improved locking member having relatively big displacement for locking/unlocking the cable end connector assembly with/from a complementary connector more conveniently. 
     To achieve the above object, a cable end connector assembly in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing including a front engaging portion and a rear terminating portion, a plurality of IDC contacts received in the terminating portion of the insulative housing, a plurality of wires electrically connecting with corresponding contacts, a cover mechanically mounted to the terminating portion of the insulative housing, and a locking member. The housing forms a plurality of hook portions adjacent to the terminating portion thereof, and the cover forms a plurality of latching arms extending from a front surface thereof to respectively latch with the hook portions of the housing. The cover defines a pair of passages. The locking member comprises at a front end thereof a retaining portion secured with the engaging portion of the insulative housing, a supporting portion at a rear end thereof engaged with the cover, a pressing portion located on the rear end thereof close to the supporting portion and respectively received in the passages of the cover, and a locking portion extending rearwardly from the retaining portion. The locking portion comprises a pair of latch sections located close to the retaining portion for locking with the complementary connector. The pressing portion is movable downwardly and becomes curve toward the cover under a pressing force and creates a vertical displacement to the locking portion. 
     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, perspective view of a cable end connector assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2–4  are views similar to  FIG. 1 , but taken from different aspects; 
         FIG. 5  is an assembled view of the cable end connector assembly of FIG  1 ; 
         FIGS. 6–8  are views similar to  FIG. 5 , but taken from different aspects; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  9 — 9  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  10 — 10  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  11 — 11  of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  13 — 13  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  14 — 14  of  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  15 — 15  of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1–4 , a cable end connector assembly  1  in accordance with the present invention comprises an insulative housing  2 , a plurality of contacts  3 , a plurality of wires  4 , an insulative cover  5  and a locking member  6 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1–4  in conjunction with  FIGS. 9–15 , the insulative housing  2  comprises a front engaging portion  20  and a rear terminating portion  22 . The front engaging portion  20  comprises an upper wall  21 , a lower wall  23  opposite to the upper wall  21 , and a pair of sidewalls  25  connecting with the upper wall  21  and the lower wall  23 . A guiding projection  27  projects outwardly from one sidewall  25  for guiding a proper insertion of a complementary connector. An L-shaped receiving space  26  is defined between the upper and the lower walls  21 ,  23 . A block  24  is formed on the lower wall  23  and protrudes into the receiving space  26 . The block  24  defines a plurality of passageways  240 . The upper wall  21  defines a depression  210  on an upper surface thereof. A flat portion  211  extends rearwardly from a middle portion of a front flange of the upper wall  21  into the depression  210 . A slit  212  ( FIG. 9 ) is formed between the flat portion  211  and a bottom surface of the depression  210 . The upper wall  21  defines a pair of grooves  213  extending along opposite inner sides of the depression  126 . A pair of first slots  214  and a pair of second slots  215  extend rearwardly from a front face of the upper wall  21  into the flat portion  211  and communicate with the slit  212 , respectively. A plurality of protrusions  28  and hook portions  29  are alternatively formed at opposite sides of the upper wall  21  and on the lower wall  23  adjacent to the rear edge of the engaging portion  20 . The outmost protrusions  28  each form a claw  280  extending outwardly therefrom. 
     The rear terminating portion  22  has a plurality of rearwardly projecting posts  220  and every two neighboring posts  220  together define a U-shaped contact-receiving tunnel  222 . Each post  220  defines a pair of channels  224  respectively communicating with neighboring contact-receiving tunnels  222 . The channel  224  is formed by a pair of opposite walls  226  and a side surface  228 . 
     Each contact  3  has a fork-shaped configuration and comprises a three-beam mating portion  30 , a three-beam retention portion  31  extending rearwardly from the mating portion  30 , and an insulation displacement portion  32  extending rearwardly form the retention portion  31  for electrically connecting with a corresponding wire  4 . Each beam of the retention portion  31  has a plurality of barbs  310  on opposite sides thereof. The insulation displacement portion  32  comprises a first and a second walls  320 ,  322  and an intermediate section  324  connecting the first and the second walls  320 ,  322 . The first wall  320  extends rearwardly from the retention portion  31 . Each wall  320 ,  322  defines an elongated slot  326  therein. The walls  320 ,  311  are oppositely configured such that the slots  326  are aligned with each other, whereby the wire  4  can be inserted into the slots  326  in both walls  320 ,  322  and remains substantially straight. Each wall  320 ,  322  has a pair of opposite inwardly inclined edges  328  at a rear end thereof, thereby forming an entry  321  communicating with the slot  326 . 
     Each wire  4  comprises a conductor  40  and an outer insulator  41 . 
     The insulative cover  5  comprises a body  50  having opposite top and bottom walls  52 ,  54  and a pair of lateral walls  56  partially extending forwardly beyond a front surface  500  of the body  50 . A plurality of latching arms  504  respectively extend forwardly from the top and the bottom walls  52 ,  54  and beyond the front surface  500  corresponding to the hook portions  29  of the insulative housing  2 . Each lateral wall  56  forms a pair of latches  560  at a distal end thereof. The body  50  defines a plurality of receiving cavities  502  recessing rearwardly from the front surface  500  thereof. The bottom wall  54  is partially cutoff to form a plurality of wire-receiving concaves  540  disposed between every two neighboring latching arms  504 . Each latching arm  504  extending from the bottom wall  54  comprises a pair of vertical walls  5040  extending upwardly from opposite edges thereof, whereby a cavity  5042  communicating with a corresponding receiving cavity  502  is circumscribed by the vertical walls  5040  and an inner side of the latching arm  504 . The top wall  52  defines a cutout  520  in middle thereof. A pair of passages  526  extending in an up-to-down direction of the cover  5  from a bottom surface of the cutout  520 . A pair of tubers  528  are formed on the top wall  52  respectively beside corresponding passages  526 . A space  5280  ( FIG. 11 ) is defined below the tuber  528  to communicate with a corresponding passage  526 . A pair of pivot portions  522  are formed between the pair of tubers  528  and a plurality of ribs  524  are formed on a rear edge of the cutout  520 . 
     Particularly referring to  FIG. 3 , the locking member  6  is stamped and formed from a metallic plate and comprises a retaining portion  60 , a locking portion  61  extending upwardly and rearwardly from the retaining portion  60 , a flat pressing portion  62  extending rearwardly from the locking portion  61 , and a supporting portion  63  extending rearwardly and downwardly from the pressing portion  62 . The retaining portion  60  has a pair of bar sections  602  extending rearwardly from opposite ends thereof, a pair of snap sections  601  extending upwardly and rearwardly from a middle portion of a front end thereof, a pair of positioning sections  603  extending forwardly from the front end thereof and a pair of curved sections  604  extending opposite to the positioning sections  603 . The locking portion  61  is substantially L-shaped and comprises a first section  614  extending rearwardly from the retaining portion  60  and a second section  612  extending rearwardly and upwardly from the first section  614 . The first section  614  is formed with a pair of latch sections  610  extending upwardly and rearwardly from a front portion thereof. The pressing portion  62  comprises a body section  620  and a pair of side beams  621  at rear portion thereof and extending downwardly from opposite lateral ends of the body section  620 . Each side beam  621  is stamped with a spring tab  624  extending outwardly therefrom. The body section  620  is formed with a plurality of ribs  623  at the rear portion for facilitating handling. A pair of first openings  622  is defined in a front portion of the body section  620  of the pressing portion  62  and the second section  614  of the locking portion  61 . The supporting portion  63  also defines a pair of second openings  630  and forms a curved edge  631  at a free end thereof. The first and the second openings  622 ,  630  are defined for perfect deformation of the locking portion  61  and the supporting portion  63 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5–8  in conjunction with  FIGS. 9–15 , in assembly, the contacts  3  are inserted into the dielectric housing  2  in a rear-to-front direction. The mating portions  30  of the contacts  3  are respectively received in front portions of the passageways  240  and are partially exposed in the receiving space  26  for electrically connecting with the complementary connector. The retention portions  31  of the contacts  3  are respectively received in rear portions of the passageways  240  and the barbs  310  of each beam of the retention portion  31  engage with opposite side surfaces of a corresponding passageway  240  for retaining the contacts  3  in the housing  2 . The first and the second walls  320 ,  322  of the insulation displacement portion  32  are received in the pair of opposite channels  224  and corresponding contact-receiving tunnel  26  with the intermediate section  324  abutting against the side surface  228  of the channel  224 . 
     The wires  4  are respectively urged into the insulation displacement portions  32  of the contacts  3 . As the wire  4  is positioned in the entry  326 , the inwardly inclined edges  323  align the wire  4  with the dual slots  328 . Then the wire  4  is urged into the slots  328  with the outer insulator  41  cut by inner edges of the slots  328 , thereby the insulation displacement portion  32  connects with the conductor  40  and an electrical connection between the contact  3  and the wire  4  is established. 
     The insulative cover  5  is then assembled to the insulative housing  2 . The posts  220  of the insulative housing  2  are respectively received in the receiving cavities  502  of the cover  5 . The latching arms  504  respectively slide along inclined surfaces of the hook portions  29  and then snap onto the hook portions  29 . The latching arms  504  are positioned by neighboring protrusions  28 , thereby the latching arms  504  have no possibility of moving along a right-to-left direction. The latches  560  of the lateral walls  56  engage with the claws  280  of the outmost protrusions  28  for enhancing the engagement between the cover  5  and the insulative housing  2 . The wires  4  are respectively received in the wire-receiving holes  540  to electrically connect with the insulation displacement portions  32  of the contacts  3  more reliably. 
     Particularly referring to  FIGS. 5 and 7  in conjunction with  FIGS. 9–12  and  15 , the locking member  6  is assembled to the insulative housing  2  and the cover  5 . The pair of side beams  621  of the locking member  6  are respectively inserted into the passages  526  of the cover  5  with the spring tabs  624  received in the spaces  5280 . The spring tabs  624  can slide in the spaces  5280  along the front-to-rear direction. The bar sections  602  are received in the grooves  213  of the insulative housing  2 . The middle portion of the retaining portion  60  is received in the slit  212  with the positioning sections  603  and the snap sections  601  respectively locked with the first and the second slots  214 ,  215  to prevent the locking member  6  from moving rearwardly when the cable end connector assembly  1  mates with the complementary connector. The supporting portion  63  is located in the cutout  520  of the cover  5  with the curved edge  631  abuts against a bottom surface of the cutout  520 . The spring tabs  624  of the pressing portion  62  elastically abut against bottom surfaces of the tubers  528  for preventing the locking member  6  from escaping the spaces  5280  of the housing  2 . The pressing portion  62  is downwardly movable relative to the rear portion of the cover  5  to deflect the locking portion  61  toward the cover  5  and the insulative housing  2 . 
     When the cable end connector assembly  1  is to be mated with the complementary connector, a downward pressing force is exerted on the pressing portion  62  of the locking member  6 . The pressing portion  62  moves downwardly until the rear portion of the body section  620  contacts with the pivot portions  522  of the cover  5  and the locking portion  61  creates a vertical displacement toward the housing  2 . The body section  620  then becomes curve toward the cover  5  under the pressing force with the locking portion  61  creating a further vertical displacement. Since the retaining portion  60  and the supporting portion  63  respectively engage with the cover  5  and the insulative housing  2  and thus, together form a girder. The vertical displacement of the locking portion  61 , particularly the latch sections  610 , is big enough to realize the lock between the cable end connector assembly  1  and the complementary connector easily. When the cable end connector assembly  1  is to be disengaged from the complementary connector, a contrary operating procedure is applied. Because of the relatively big displacement of the latch sections  610 , the disengagement between the cable end connector assembly  1  and the complementary connector is also easy to realize. 
     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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7