Two port USB cable assembly

• US 6,210,216 B1
• Filed: 11/29/1999
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hwang, Jeng-Yih, Tso-Chin, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US09/450,480
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: 439/545, 439/564, 439/939, 439/607, 439/609, 439/610, 439/701
• US Class Current: 439/545
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6582 with resilient means for engaging mating connector
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/748 using one or more screws H01R13/746 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/939 with grounding to metal mounting panel

Abstract

A USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable includes a cable having an end to which a connection device is attached. The connection device includes an insulative casing in which two USB connectors are fixed and electrically connected to the cable. Two bores are defined in a front wall of the casing for rotatably retaining two bolts. A conductive plate associated with each bolt is fixed in the casing having a first section defining a hole through which the bolt extends and a second section resiliently engaging with a conductive shield of the corresponding USB connector. The first section has step-like edges fixedly received in L-shaped slits defined in the front wall with the first section overlapping an outside surface of the front wall whereby when the connection device is secured to an external grounding panel by the bolts, the conductive plate engages with the grounding panel forming an electrical connection between the shield of the corresponding USB connector and the grounding panel.

Claims

1. A cable assembly comprising:

a cable having an end; and

a connection device mounted to and electrically connected to the end of the cable, the connection device comprising;

an insulative casing having a front wall;

at least one electrical connector having a conductive shield, the electrical connector being arranged in the casing and electrically connected to the cable, the connector being exposed to the front wall for being adapted to engage a mating connector,

at least one fastener comprising a threaded rod rotatably received in a bore defined in the front wall and having first and second expanded ends respectively located outside and inside the casing, a nut being fixed in the casing and engaging with the threaded rod whereby when the threaded rod is rotated, the threaded rod is axially moved with respect to the casing and the nut for securing the connection device to an external device, and

grounding means comprising at least a conductive plate having a first section defining a through hole through which the threaded rod of the corresponding fastener extends and a second section engaging with the conductive shield of the connector, the first section being located outside the casing adapted to electrically engage an external grounding device;

wherein the first section comprises opposite step-like edges fixedly received in L-shaped slits defined in the front wall on opposite sides of the bore with the first section overlapping an outside surface of the front wall for engaging with the external grounding device;

wherein the second section is substantially normal to the first section for resiliently engaging with the conductive shield of the connector;

wherein the connector is a universal serial bus (USB) connector;

wherein the USB connector partially extends beyond the front wall of the casing for engaging with the mating connector;

wherein the external grounding device comprises a panel in surface contact with and secured to the front wall of the casing whereby the first section of the grounding means engages the panel;

wherein the panel defines an opening having a circular hole sized to allow the first expanded end of the fastener to extend therethrough and a reduced slot in communication with the circular hole and sized to accommodate the threaded rod of the fastener, the first end of the fastener being adapted to be drivingly engageable with a tool for tightening the fastener against the panel and the front wall of the casing thereby securing the connection device of the cable assembly to the panel;

wherein a slot is defined in the first end of the fastener for engaging with a screwdriver.

2. An electrical connector assembly adapted to be releasably mounted to an external panel comprising:

an insulative casing having a front wall;

at least one electrical connector having a conductive shield, the electrical connector being arranged in the casing and electrically connected to the cable, the connector being exposed to the front wall for being adapted to engage a mating connector,

at least one fastener comprising a threaded rod rotatably received in a bore defined in the front wall and having first and second expanded ends respectively located outside and inside the casing, a nut being fixed in the casing and engaging with the threaded rod whereby when the threaded rod is rotated, the threaded rod is axially moved with respect to the casing and the nut for securing the connector assembly to an external device, and

grounding means comprising at least a conductive plate having a first section defining a through hole through which the threaded rod of the corresponding fastener extends and a second section engaging with the conductive shield of the connector, the first section being located outside the casing adapted to electrically engage an external grounding device.