Computer cable connector providing quick assembly and removal

• US 6,589,076 B1
• Filed: 05/07/2001
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Davis, David R., Thompson, Jeff P., Erickson, Vernon D., Moriel, Jorge A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hyeon, Hae Moon
• Application Number:
  US09/850,516
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 439/552, 439/553, 439/557, 439/565, 439/358, 439/939
• US Class Current: 439/557
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/741 using snap fastening means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/939 with grounding to metal mounting panel

Abstract

An electrical connector has an inner dielectric housing adapted for mounting a plurality of electrical contacts and including at least one forwardly projecting mating portion having opposite sides. The connector has a metallic shield surrounding a major portion of the inner dielectric housing. An outer dielectric cover has a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side. The outer dielectric cover surrounds a major portion of the metallic shield and includes first and second integrally formed spring latches. The first integrally formed spring latch extends forwardly from the back along the top and the second integrally formed spring latch extending forwardly from the back along the bottom. The first and second spring latches each comprise a spring portion and a distal grip, said distal grips being constructed and arranged to compress the spring latches when a user urges them inwardly toward each other to install the connector in a computer case. When the user releases the grip, the connector is securely held in the computer case by spring biasing provided by the spring latches until a user compresses the spring latch to quickly release the connector from the computer.

Claims

1. An electrical, comprising:

a inner dielectric housing adapted for mounting a plurality of electrical contacts and including at least one forwardly projecting mating portion having opposite sides;

a metallic shield surrounding a major portion of the inner dielectric housing, a portion of which is transverse to the forwardly projecting mating portion; and

an outer housing comprising an outer dielectric cover having a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side, the outer dielectric cover surrounding a major portion of the metallic shield and filer including a first integrally formed spring latch and a second integrally formed spring latch, the integrally formed spring latches extending forwardly beyond the front of the outer dielectric cover.

2. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the first integrally formed spring latch extends forwardly from the back along the top and the second integrally formed spring latch extends forwardly from the back along the bottom, the first spring latch and the second spring latch each comprising a spring portion and a distal grip, said distal grips being constructed and arranged to compress the spring latches when a user urges the grips inwardly toward each other.

3. The electrical connector of claim 2 wherein the outer housing is constructed and arranged to mate with au opening in a computer case, the connector being securely and removably mounted in the computer case by the spring biased spring latches, the connector being removable by the user upon compression of the spring latches, whereby the connector is quickly released from the computer case.

4. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the portion of the metallic shield which is transverse to the forwardly projecting mating portion, further comprises a first U-shaped indentation and a second U-shaped indentation shaped to respectively receive the first spring latch and the second spring latch when a user actuates the spring latches to remove the connector from a computer case.

5. The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the forwardly projecting mating portion is any interface connector which carries a signal.

6. The electrical connector of claim 5 wherein the forwardly projecting mating portion is a USB connector.

7. The electrical connector of claim 5 wherein the forwardly projecting mating portion is a EEBE-1394 (firewire) connector.

8. The electrical connector of claim 5 including at lent one additional forwardly projecting mating portion.

9. A cable assembly providing an interface for a computer system, the cable assembly comprising:

an electrical connector operably coupled with the cable and located at the proximal end thereof, the electrical connector comprising an inner dielectric housing adapted for mounting a plurality of electrical contacts and including at least one forwardly projecting mating portion, a metallic shield surrounding a major portion of the inner dielectric housing, a portion of which is transverse to the forwardly projecting mating portion, an outer dielectric cover having a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side, the outer dielectric cover further including a first integrally formed spring latch and a second integrally formed spring latch, the integrally formed spring latches extending forwardly beyond the front of the outer dielectric cover; and

a connecting plug operably coupled with the cable and located at the distal end thereof, the connecting plug insertable into a motherboard of a computer.

10. The cable assembly of claim 9 wherein the connector further comprises:

an inner dielectric housing adapted for mounting at least one electrical contact and including at least one forwardly projecting mating portion having opposite sides; and

a metallic shield surrounding a major portion of the inner dielectric housing.

11. The cable assembly of claim 10 wherein the first integrally formed spring latch extends forwardly from the back along the top and the second integrally formed spring latch extends forwardly from the back along the bottom, the first spring latch and the second spring latch each comprising a spring portion and a distal grip, said distal grips being constructed and arranged to compress the spring latches when a user urges the grips inwardly toward each other.

12. The cable assembly of claim 11 wherein the housing is constructed and arranged to mate with an opening in a computer case, the connector being securely and removably mounted in the computer case by the spring biased spring latches, the connector being removable by the user upon compression of the spring latches, whereby the connector is quickly released from the computer case.

13. The cable assembly of claim 12 wherein the metallic shield further comprises a first U-shaped indentation and a second U-shaped indentation shaped to respectively receive the first spring latch and the second spring latch when a user actuates the spring latches to remove the connector from a computer case.

14. The cable assembly of claim 10 wherein the forwardly projecting mating portion is any interface connector which caries a signal.

15. The cable assembly of claim 14 wherein the forwardly projecting mating portion is a USB connector.

16. The cable assembly of claim 14 wherein the forwardly projecting mating portion is a IBEE-1394 (finds) connector.

17. The cable assembly of claim 10 wherein the connector further comprises at least one additional forwardly projecting mating portion.

18. A method for quick assembly and removal of a connector to a computer case, the method comprising:

providing the connector comprising an outer dielectric cover having a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side, the outer dielectric cover further including a first integrally formed spring latch and a second integrally formed spring latch, the integrally formed spring latches extending forwardly beyond the front of the outer dielectric cover;

providing a computer with an opening constructed on the computer case and arranged to receive the connector;

compressing the spring latches;

placing the connector into the opening of the computer; and

releasing the spring latches, whereby the connector is retained within the opening of the computer in a spring biased relationship therewith.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

removing the connector from the opening of the computer by compressing the spring latches and pulling the connector from the opening in an outward direction.

20. A method for quick assembly and removal of a computer cable connector assembly to a computer, the method comprising:

providing a computer cable assembly comprising;

a cable having a proximal end and a distal end;

an electrical connector operably coupled with the cable and located at the proximal end thereof the electrical connector comprising an outer dielectric cover having a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side, the outer dielectric cover further including a first integrally formed spring latch and a second integrally formed spring latch the integrally formed latches extending forwardly beyond the front of the outer dielectric cover, and

a connecting plug operably coupled with the cable and located at the distal end thereof, the connecting plug insertable into a motherboard of a computer;

providing the compute having the motherboard located internally and an exterior computer case, the exterior computer case having an opening constructed and arranged to receive the computer cable assembly and shaped to mate with the electrical connector thereof;

inserting the computer cable assembly into the opening of the computer case;

plugging the distal connector plug into the motherboard of the computer;

compressing the spring latches of the computer connector;

placing the computer connector into the opening of the computer case; and

releasing the spring latches, whereby the connector is retained within the opening of the computer case in a spring biased relationship therewith.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

removing the connector from the opening of the computer by compressing the spring latches and pulling the connector from the opening in an outward direction, thereby removing the distal connecting plug from the motherboard and the computer cable assembly from the computer case.