Space-saving cable connector assembly with blind mate structure

Claim 1

A cable connector assembly adapted for mounting to a panel, comprising: an insulative housing defining a mating direction and a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the mating direction and comprising a base and a mating portion projecting outwardly from the base along the mating direction, the base comprising an upper surface and an opposite lower surface both extending along said longitudinal direction, a pair of ear portions diagonally disposed at opposite ends thereof and extending toward each other along said longitudinal direction, and a pair of polarizing keys respectively formed on the upper and the lower surfaces thereof and arranged in a stagger manner; a plurality of conductive contacts received in the insulative housing; a cable comprising a plurality of conductors respectively electrically connecting with the conductive contacts; and a pair of fastening members protruding through the ear portions of the insulative housing and adapted for securing to the panel; wherein the insulative housing comprises a mating face and a terminating face opposite to the mating face and defines a cavity recessed from the terminating face toward the mating face to receive a spacer; wherein the insulative housing forms a retaining portion extending beyond the terminating face thereof and a slit beside the retaining portion, wherein the insulative cover forms a latch received in the slit and latching the retaining portion; wherein the slit communicates with the receiving cavity of the guiding member; and wherein an insulative cover cooperates with the insulative housing to sandwich the cable between the cover and the insulative housing.

Claim 12

A system comprising: a panel defining a mounting opening, a pair of mounting holes at opposite sides of the mounting opening and a pair of polarizing openings recessed from opposite upper and lower inner edges of the mounting opening and arranged in a stagger manner; and a cable connector assembly comprising: an insulative housing defining a mating direction and a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the mating direction and comprising a base and a mating portion projecting outwardly from the base along the mating direction and through the mounting opening of the panel, the base comprising a pair of ear portions diagonally disposed at opposite ends thereof and extending toward each other along said longitudinal direction, and a pair of polarizing keys formed adjacent to respective ear portions and diagonally spaced by the mating portion, the pair of polarizing keys respectively received in the polarizing openings of the panel, the dimension of the polarizing opening of the panel along said longitudinal direction being larger than that of the polarizing key; a plurality of conductive contacts received in the insulative housing; a cable comprising a plurality of conductors respectively electrically connecting with the conductive contacts; and a pair of fastening members protruding members respectively protruding through the ear portions and the mounting holes of the panel to secure the cable connector assembly to the panel; wherein the insulative housing comprises a mating face and a terminating face opposite to the mating face and defines a cavity recessed from the terminating face toward the mating face to receive a spacer; wherein the insulative housing forms a retaining portion extending beyond the terminating face thereof and a slit beside the retaining portion, wherein the insulative cover forms a latch received in the slit and latching the retaining portion; wherein an insulative cover cooperates with the insulative housing to sandwich the cable between the cover and the insulative housing.

Claim 13

A system comprising: a panel defining a mounting opening, a pair of mounting holes at opposite sides of the mounting opening and a pair of polarizing openings recessed from opposite upper and lower inner edges of the mounting opening and arranged in a stagger manner; and a cable connector assembly comprising: an insulative housing defining a mating direction and a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the mating direction and comprising a base and a mating portion projecting outwardly from the base along the mating direction and through the mounting opening of the panel, the base comprising a pair of ear portions diagonally disposed at opposite ends thereof and extending toward each other along said longitudinal direction, and a pair of polarizing keys formed adjacent to respective ear portions and diagonally spaced by the mating portion, the pair of polarizing keys respectively received in the polarizing openings of the panel, the dimension of the polarizing opening of the panel along said longitudinal direction being larger than that of the polarizing key; a plurality of conductive contacts received in the insulative housing; a cable comprising a plurality of conductors respectively electrically connecting with the conductive contacts; and a pair of fastening members protruding members respectively protruding through the ear portions and the mounting holes of the panel to secure the cable connector assembly to the panel; wherein the insulative housing comprises a mating face and a terminating face opposite to the mating face and defines a cavity recessed from the terminating face toward the mating face to receive a spacer; wherein the insulative housing forms a retaining portion extending beyond the terminating face thereof and a slit beside the retaining portion, wherein the insulative cover forms a latch received in the slit and latching the retaining portion; wherein an insulative cover cooperates with the insulative housing to sandwich the cable between the cover and the insulative housing.