Patent Application
20090280678
The present invention relates to a light guiding structure for electric connector, and more particularly to a light guiding structure for electric connector that includes a base, at least two light-guiding units, a coupler, and an enclosure that can be easily and firmly assembled together.
In a conventional light guiding structure for electric connector as shown in
Since the light guides 51 are associated with the base 50 simply through engagement of the hooked portions 511 of the light guides 51 with the through holes 501 on the front end surface of the base 50, the light guides 51 could not be firmly and stably connected to the base 50 and tend to sway relative to the base 50. And, to enclose the subassembly of the base 50, the light guides 51, the fixing block 52, and the clamping plates 53 in the cover 54, an operator has to hold the subassembly with one hand while using the other hand to slightly expand the cover 54. The subassembly has a relatively large overall length, and the light guides 51 are easily subject to sway and accordingly deflection under even a minor external force. That is, the subassembly of the base 50, the light guides 51, the fixing block 52, and the clamping plates 53 has an unstable structure, and it would be difficult for the operator to securely hold the subassembly with only one hand. As a result, it is uneasy to enclose the subassembly in the cover 54 to complete the assembling of the light guiding structure for the electric connector.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a light guiding structure for electric connector, in which a base, at least two light-guiding units, a coupler, and an enclosure can be easily and firmly assembled together.
To achieve the above and other objects, the light guiding structure for electric connector according to the present invention includes a base being provided on a front end surface with a plurality of sockets; at least two light-guiding units, each of which including at least two corresponding light guides and two mounting sections opposite to the light guides for mounting to two lateral surfaces of the base; a coupler coupled with the light guides of the light-guiding units; and an enclosure enclosing the base, the light-guiding units, and the coupler therein. The enclosure includes a top cover connected to the base and the coupler, a bottom plate connected to a lower open side of the top cover, and a back cover connected to the base and a rear open side of the top cover. And, the top cover and the back cover are provided at respective lower edges with a plurality of insertion tabs.
The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein
Please refer to
The base 1 is provided on a front end surface with a plurality of sockets 11, and at predetermined positions on two lateral surfaces with a plurality of locating holes 12 and a plurality of locating blocks 13.
The light-guiding units 2 are mounted to the two lateral surfaces of the base 1. The light-guiding units 2 each include at least two corresponding light guides 21, and two mounting sections 22 opposite to the light guides 21 for mounting to the lateral surfaces of the base 1. The mounting sections 22 are provided with a plurality of locating protrusions 23 corresponding to the locating holes 12 on the lateral surfaces of the base 1.
The coupler 3 is coupled with the light guides 21 of the light-guiding units 2. The coupler 3 consists of an engaging member 31 for fitting on the light guides 21, and a locating member 32 located outside the engaging member 31. The locating member 32 is provided at lateral edges with a plurality of lugs 321. The engaging member 32 and the locating member 32 may be integrally formed as one unit, or be separately formed as two members.
The enclosure 4 is designed to enclose the base 1, the light-guiding units 2, and the coupler 3 therein. The enclosure 4 consists of a top cover 41 for connecting to the base 1 and the coupler 3, a bottom plate 42 for connecting to a lower open side of the top cover 41, and a back cover 43 for connecting to the base 1 and a rear open side of the top cover 41.
The top cover 41 and the back cover 43 are provided at respective lower edges with a plurality of insertion tabs 411, 431. The top cover 41 is provided near a rear portion with notches 412 corresponding to the locating blocks 13 on the lateral surfaces of the base 1. The top cover 41 is also provided near the insertion tabs 411 and the notches 412 with a plurality of spring leaves 413, 414, and on two lateral walls with a plurality of slits 415 each.
The bottom plate 42 and the back cover 43 are respectively provided with brackets 421 and 432 corresponding to the spring leaves 413 and 414.
The enclosure 4 also includes a fixing frame 44 fitted around a front end of the enclosure 4 to hold the top cover 41 and the bottom plate 42 together.
Please also refer to
With the increased number of bases 1, light-guiding units 2, and couplers 3, the light guiding structure for electric connector according to the second embodiment of the present invention is more practical for use and may still be easily and firmly assembled.
The present invention has been described with some preferred embodiments thereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in the described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims.
