Cable connector assembly having a shield shell with a metal shrapnel

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cable connector assembly and especially relates to a shield shell having a number of metal shrapnel.

2. Description of Related Art

Taiwan Utility Model No. 346200 discloses a cable connector assembly for being mounted to a panel of a computer casing. The cable connector assembly includes a number of connectors, an insulative housing receiving the connectors, and a shield shell enclosing the insulative housing. The connector includes a metal shell. The shield shell has a top wall and a front wall perpendicular to the top wall. The top wall has a number of metal shrapnel connectable with the computer casing panel. The front wall has a number of tabs connectable with the connector metal shell. The metal shrapnel elastically contacts the panel to realize grounding of the connector, but does not contact the metal shell. Another tab is needed for the shield shell to contact the metal shell.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,924 discloses a cable connector assembly including a dielectric housing, a pair of first connectors, a pair of second connectors, and a shield member. The shield member includes a front wall and a pair of sidewalls. The dielectric housing has an elongate base having a pair of positioning slits. Each sidewall is stamped to form a plurality of engaging tabs protruding outwardly and a pair of contacting tabs protruding inwardly. The engaging tabs are devised for electrically engaging with a panel of a computer when the cable connector assembly is assembled in the computer. The second connector further includes a grounding terminal The contacting tabs extend through the positioning slits of the housing and electrically contact the grounding terminals.

In the above prior art designs, extra stamping process is required for producing two sets of grounding pieces and a distance of circuit back becomes longer. Such design does not ensure a low grounding resistance of the cable connector assembly but increases EMI of the cable connector assembly.

An improved cable connector assembly is desired.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cable connector assembly requiring only a simple stamping manufacturing process while achieving a good effect for preventing EMI.

In order to achieve the object set forth, the invention provides a cable connector assembly for being mounted on an external device for docking a mating connector, comprising: a shield shell having a plurality of metal shrapnel; an insulative housing received in the shield shell; a plurality of connectors received in the insulative housing, the connector having a metal shell; and a cable connecting with the connector; wherein the metal shrapnel is movable by an external device to be elastically pressed between the connector metal shell and the external device.

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.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cable connector assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a part of the cable connector assembly as shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the whole cable connector assembly as shown in FIG. 2 ;

FIG. 4 is another exploded view of the whole cable connector assembly as shown in FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the cable connector assembly taken along line 5 - 5 of FIG. 1 ; and

FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged drawing of a circle section as shown in FIG. 5 .

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 2 , a cable connector assembly 100 to be mounted on an external device is shown. The cable connector assembly 100 includes a number of connectors 1 , an insulative housing 2 receiving the connectors 1 , a shield shell 3 enclosing the insulative housing 2 , and a cable 4 connect with the connector 1 .

Referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 4 , the connector 1 includes a number of first connectors 11 and a number of second connectors 12 . The first connectors 11 are USB connectors arranged in a row in a transverse direction. The second connectors 12 are audio jack connectors arranged in a row in the transverse direction. In this embodiment, the first connectors 11 are located in one side of the second connectors 12 . The first connector 11 includes a terminal plate 13 , a metal shell 14 enclosing the terminal plate 13 , and a mating port 15 defined in the metal shell 14 . The cable 4 electrically connects with the terminal plate 13 and then bend to extend beyond the insulative housing 2 .

The insulative housing 2 defines a number of receiving cavities 21 separating from each other and a mounting portion 20 mounting the cable connector assembly 100 on the external device. The receiving cavities 21 receive the first connector 11 and the second connector 12 . The insulative housing 2 includes an upper board 22 , a lower board 23 opposite to the upper board 22 , and a front wall 24 , and a rear wall 25 . Both of the front wall 24 and the rear wall 25 connect with the upper board 22 and the lower board 23 . The front wall 24 of the insulative housing 2 defines a number of opening 241 opposite to the receiving cavities 21 . Both of the upper board 22 and the lower board 22 define a number of tubers 27 . The rear wall 25 of the insulative housing 2 has a number of outlets 251 connecting with the receiving cavities 21 . The cable 4 extends through the outlet 251 beyond the insulative housing 2 . Both of the upper board 22 and the lower board 23 define a plurality of slots 26 breakthrough along an up-to-down direction for exposing a part of the metal shell 14 . The slot 26 connects with the receiving cavities 21 . The insulative housing 2 further comprises a top shell 28 and a bottom shell 29 , the bottom shell 29 having a plurality of embossments 291 , the top shell 28 having a plurality of locking plates 281 . The embossment 291 is locked in the locking plate 281 for retaining the top shell 28 and the bottom shell 29 together. The shield shell 3 is formed by punching a flat plate-like metal plate with a bending process. The shield shell 3 includes a number of metal shrapnel 30 and holes 300 locking catch with corresponding tubers 27 .

Referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 6 , when the cable connector assembly 100 is not mounted on the external device, the metal shrapnel 30 disconnects the metal shell 14 of the connector 1 . When the cable connector assembly 100 is mounted on the external device, the metal shrapnel 30 is pressed by the external device and elastically connects with the metal shell 14 of the connector 1 . The shield shell 3 includes a top wall 31 , a bottom wall 32 and a front wall 33 enclosing a front end of the insulative housing 2 . The front wall 33 has a number of openings 34 opposite to the receiving cavities 21 . The connector 1 is received in the opening 34 . Both of the top wall 31 and the bottom wall 32 have a number of perforations 35 .

The metal shrapnel or spring arm 30 includes a first spring arm 301 extending upward from an edge of the perforation 35 and a second spring arm 302 extending downward to the metal shell 14 . The second spring arm 302 includes an extending portion 3021 and a bending portion 3022 extending from an end of the extending portion 3021 . When the cable connector assembly 100 is mounted on the external device, the first spring arm 301 is pressed by the external device to drive the bending portion 3022 to elastically contact the metal shell 14 of the connector 1 . The metal shrapnel 30 connects the external device and metal shell 14 at the same time in this design. Therefore, the shield shell 3 does not need to add extra metal shrapnel 30 to its stamping manufacturing process. This design shortens the distance of a current circuit of the connector 1 and ensures that the connector 1 has a smaller grounding resistance to reduce EMI of the cable connector assembly 100 .

The metal shell 14 includes a top plate 143 , a bottom plate 144 , a left side wall 145 , and a right side wall 146 . Both of the top plate 143 and the bottom plate 144 define a tab 16 protruding to inside of the metal shell 14 . The second spring arm 302 elastically contacts the tab 16 .

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 members in which the appended claims are expressed.