A non-adhesive housing for a data cable, the data cable itself, and a method for assembling the same.

Abstract

A non-adhesive housing for a data cable, the data cable itself, and an assembly method thereof are disclosed, belonging to the field of data cables. The non-adhesive housing includes: a metal shielding shell for housing the internal structure of the data cable connector; an outer protective shell fitted over the metal shielding shell; a one-way locking structure disposed between the metal shielding shell and the outer protective shell for forming a mechanical lock that prevents the outer protective shell from detaching in the reverse direction when it is fitted over the metal shielding shell in the assembly direction; and an elastic sealing sleeve fitted over one end of the metal shielding shell, wherein the elastic sealing sleeve and the inner wall surface of the outer protective shell form a detachable adsorption fit. The assembly process is simple and quick, requiring no waiting for adhesive curing, thus improving production efficiency and ensuring reliable connection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of data cable technology, and more specifically to a non-adhesive housing for a data cable, a data cable, and an assembly method thereof. Background Technology

[0002] Many electronic devices nowadays have data communication interfaces, such as high-end laptops, servers, high-end cameras, high-speed external hard drives, and mobile graphics cards. In existing technologies, the connector housing of data cables is typically encapsulated using a one-piece injection molding process. Specifically, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the bare connector end 10, which is to be assembled with an internal circuit board, terminals, and a metal shielding shell 11, is placed in a mold and molded by integral injection molding to form a plastic shell that encapsulates it. However, this in-mold injection molding encapsulation method can cause deformation of the plastic shell during the curing process of the plastic material from high temperature. Since electronic components are soldered inside the bare connector end 10, this deformation will cause changes in the overall impedance characteristics of the connector. This change will directly affect key test indicators of data line performance, such as integrated multiple reflection (IMR), integrated return loss (IRL), and channel operating current (COM), potentially causing test results to fail to meet industry standards and ultimately affecting the actual transmission performance and reliability of the data line.

[0003] To avoid the problem of changes in the overall impedance characteristics of connectors caused by the temperature of the adhesive material during in-mold injection molding, the industry has introduced a cold-forming process for encapsulation using adhesive bonding. This cold-forming encapsulation method uses adhesive bonding; however, the adhesive bonding process can easily cause adhesive to seep into and compress the delicate internal structure of the connector, which can also lead to changes in the overall impedance characteristics of the connector. This change will also affect key performance indicators of the data line, such as integrated multiple reflection (IMR), integrated return loss (IRL), and channel operational flow (COM).

[0004] Therefore, the packaging of the existing bare connector end 10 has been a problem for the connector industry. There is an urgent need for a data cable housing structure that can avoid bonding process defects, is easy to assemble, and provides a stable connection. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a non-adhesive housing for a data cable and a data cable containing the housing, so as to overcome the technical problems in the prior art, such as impedance changes, unstable test performance, cumbersome process, easy failure under high and low temperature environments, and complicated assembly caused by the bonding process.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: The present invention provides a non-adhesive housing for a data cable, comprising: a metal shielding shell for housing the internal structure of the data cable connector; an outer protective shell fitted over the metal shielding shell; a one-way locking structure disposed between the metal shielding shell and the outer protective shell for forming a mechanical lock that prevents the outer protective shell from detaching in the reverse direction when the outer protective shell is fitted over the metal shielding shell in the assembly direction; and an elastic sealing sleeve fitted over one end of the metal shielding shell, wherein the elastic sealing sleeve and the inner wall surface of the outer protective shell form a detachable adsorption fit.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the hardness of the outer protective shell is less than that of the metal shielding shell.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the unidirectional locking structure includes at least one first locking portion disposed on the outer surface of the metal shielding shell and at least one second locking portion disposed on the inner surface of the outer protective shell; when the outer protective shell is fitted along the assembly direction, the second locking portion can pass over the first locking portion; when the outer protective shell moves in the opposite direction, the first locking portion and the second locking portion lock each other.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the first locking part is a one-way locking snap spring, and the second locking part is a protrusion that elastically protrudes into the inner cavity of the outer protective shell.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the elastic sealing sleeve has an adsorption surface facing the inner wall of the outer protective shell, and the adsorption surface is provided with at least one adsorption structure for forming a negative pressure adsorption with the inner wall of the outer protective shell.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the adsorption structure is a suction cup blind hole, and an annular clearance groove is provided around the opening of the suction cup blind hole.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the elastic sealing sleeve further includes a waterproof platform at its end. When the elastic sealing sleeve is installed in place, the waterproof platform abuts against the inner wall of the end of the outer protective shell, and the waterproof platform and the elastic sealing sleeve are integrally formed.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the inner wall of the outer protective shell is provided with a guide structure to prevent mis-insertion during the installation process, which guides the outer protective shell to align with the metal shielding shell.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the anti-misinsertion guide structure includes at least one protruding rib extending along the sleeve direction on the inner wall of the outer protective shell, and a guide groove is formed between adjacent protruding ribs. The outer wall of the metal shielding shell has a guide portion that is adapted to the guide groove.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the inner wall of the outer protective shell is provided with a smooth adsorption area, and the elastic sealing sleeve is adsorbed and fitted with the adsorption area.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the inner wall of the data cable connection end of the outer protective shell is provided with reinforcing ribs to enhance the strength of the outer protective shell.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the outer protective shell is made of insulating material.

[0018] The present invention also includes a data cable, comprising: a data cable; a connector including a circuit board and a terminal interface electrically connected to the circuit board; and a non-adhesive housing of the present invention; wherein the metal shielding housing houses and shields the circuit board.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the metal shielding shell has an outwardly extending overlapping portion at one end adjacent to the terminal interface, and the overlapping portion engages with the limiting structure on the terminal interface.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the elastic sealing sleeve is fitted onto one end of the metal shielding shell adjacent to the terminal interface.

[0021] The present invention also includes a data cable assembly method, comprising the following steps: providing a metal shielding shell, an outer protective shell, an elastic sealing sleeve, and an internal structure of a connector; installing the internal structure of the connector into the metal shielding shell; fitting the elastic sealing sleeve onto one end of the metal shielding shell; aligning the outer protective shell with the metal shielding shell, and fitting the outer protective shell onto the outside of the metal shielding shell along the assembly direction, until a one-way locking structure between the metal shielding shell and the outer protective shell forms a mechanical lock that prevents the outer protective shell from detaching in the opposite direction, and the elastic sealing sleeve and the inner wall surface of the outer protective shell form a detachable adsorption fit.

[0022] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1. By employing a one-way locking structure (such as the cooperation between one-way locking clips and clips) to achieve a mechanical one-way locking connection between the metal shielding shell and the outer protective shell, the traditional adhesive bonding process is completely eliminated. This avoids impedance changes caused by internal circuitry, thereby ensuring the stability and pass rate of key performance test results such as IMR, IRL, and COM of the data cable, and improving product performance.

[0023] 2. The assembly process of the above-mentioned one-way locking structure is simple and quick, without waiting for the adhesive to cure, which improves production efficiency. The connection is reliable and is not prone to failure due to the different thermal expansion coefficients of materials in high and low temperature environments, thus enhancing the environmental adaptability and long-term stability of the product.

[0024] 3. Due to the use of an elastic sealing sleeve and its adsorption fit with the inner wall of the outer protective shell, an effective seal and buffer are formed at the connector end. This not only prevents moisture from entering from the end, improving waterproof performance, but also absorbs some of the stress during insertion and removal, protecting the internal structure. At the same time, the adsorption force further assists in fixing the shell and preventing loosening.

[0025] 4. The anti-misinsertion guide structure provides clear guidance during the fitting process of the outer protective shell and the metal shielding shell, avoiding misalignment or reverse insertion during assembly, simplifying the assembly operation, facilitating automated production, and ensuring the consistency of product assembly. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the existing adhesive shell structure; Figure 2 This is an exploded structural diagram of the non-adhesive housing of the data cable of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the non-adhesive housing of the data cable of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the non-adhesive housing AA of the data cable of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the non-adhesive housing BB of the data cable of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a perspective view of the elastic sealing sleeve 13 of the non-adhesive housing of the data cable of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a perspective view of the outer protective shell 12 of the non-adhesive shell of the data cable of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a CC cross-sectional view of the outer protective shell 12 of the non-adhesive shell of the data cable of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the data cable structure of the present invention, including a non-adhesive housing.

[0028] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Non-adhesive housing; 20. Data cable; 21. Data cable; 22. Connector; 11. Metal shielding shell; 111. Overlapping part; 112. One-way locking clip; 12. Outer protective shell; 121. Protrusion; 122. Adsorption area; 123. Vertical rib; 124. Guide groove; 125. Data cable connection end; 126. Horizontal rib; 13. Elastic sealing sleeve; 131. Suction cup blind hole; 1311. Clearance groove; 133. Waterproof platform; 14. Terminal interface; 141. Card slot. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] It should be noted that if the embodiments of the present invention involve directional indication, the directional indication is only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a certain specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0031] Furthermore, if the embodiments of this invention involve descriptions such as "first" or "second," these descriptions are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the use of "and / or" or "and / or" throughout the text implies three parallel solutions. For example, "A and / or B" includes solution A, solution B, or a solution where both A and B are satisfied. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0032] like Figures 1-4 As shown, this embodiment of the invention provides a non-adhesive housing 1 for a data cable. The housing 1 mainly includes a metal shielding shell 11, an outer protective shell 12, a one-way locking structure, and an elastic sealing sleeve 13.

[0033] The metal shielding shell 11 is used to house and protect the internal structure of the data cable connector (not shown in the figure).

[0034] The outer protective shell 12 is fitted over the metal shielding shell 11, providing protection and insulation. A one-way locking structure is positioned between the two to achieve mechanical locking; the elastic sealing sleeve 13 is used for end sealing and auxiliary fixation; this combination of purely mechanical connection and adsorption sealing completely replaces traditional bonding, solving the problems of performance instability and process defects caused by adhesives.

[0035] The one-way locking structure has at least one first locking part on the outer surface of the metal shielding shell and at least one second locking part on the inner surface of the outer protective shell; when the outer protective shell is fitted along the assembly direction, the second locking part can pass over the first locking part; when the outer protective shell moves in the opposite direction, the first locking part and the second locking part lock each other.

[0036] In this embodiment, the first locking part of the one-way locking structure is a one-way locking snap spring 112; the second locking part is a protrusion 121, which is a preferred embodiment. Specifically, the one-way locking structure includes a one-way locking snap spring 112 disposed on the outer surface of the metal shielding shell 11, such as... Figure 6 As shown: and the protrusion 121 provided on the inner surface of the outer protective shell 12. (See also...) Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, when the outer protective shell 12 is assembled onto the metal shielding shell 11 along the sleeve direction (usually to the left in the figure), the protrusion 121 is elastically deformed by the pressure of the inclined surface of the one-way locking clip 112, thus sliding past the one-way locking clip 112. Once past, the protrusion 121 returns to its original shape. At this time, if the outer protective shell 12 is subjected to a reverse (to the right) force attempting to disengage, the vertical stop surface of the one-way locking clip 112 will abut against the protrusion 121, forming an effective mechanical lock and preventing it from disengaging in the opposite direction. To achieve better mechanical locking, the hardness of the outer protective shell 12 is less than that of the metal shielding shell 11. This structure achieves reliable one-way locking, the connection is stable after assembly, and no adhesive is required.

[0037] Furthermore, multiple one-way locking clips 112 can be provided, spaced apart along the circumference and / or axial direction of the metal shielding shell 11, to provide uniform and reliable locking force. The protrusion 121 is preferably an elastic cantilever beam structure formed integrally by stamping or injection molding from the inner wall of the outer protective shell 12, which has a simple structure and low cost.

[0038] In this embodiment, as Figure 5 As shown: The elastic sealing sleeve 13 is preferably a suction cup soft rubber sleeve, which is made of a material with elasticity and a certain sealing performance (such as silicone, TPU, etc.). Figure 5As shown, the elastic sealing sleeve 13 is fitted onto one end of the metal shielding shell 11 near the connection port 14. Its surface facing the inner wall of the outer protective shell 12 has a suction cup blind hole 131. When the outer protective shell 12 is in place, the suction cup blind hole 131 comes into close contact with the smooth inner wall surface of the outer protective shell 12 (especially the adsorption area 122), and the air inside the hole is expelled, creating a negative pressure and thus generating an adsorption force. This adsorption force not only provides additional axial fixation to prevent the shell assembly from loosening, but also effectively seals the gap between the metal shielding shell 11 and the end of the outer protective shell 12, providing dust and water protection.

[0039] To improve adsorption efficiency and reliability, such as Figure 5 As shown: An annular clearance groove 1311 is provided around the suction cup blind hole 131. When the suction cup blind hole 131 is squeezed and adsorbed, the adhesive material at its edge can deform and expand into the clearance groove 1311. This ensures that the suction cup blind hole 131 has more sufficient contact with the wall surface to form a good seal, and avoids stress caused by excessive compression and accumulation of adhesive, making the adsorption more durable and stable.

[0040] The cross-sectional shape of the suction cup blind hole 131 can be circular, elliptical, rectangular or square, etc. Circular and elliptical shapes perform better in terms of uniform force distribution.

[0041] In addition, the end of the elastic sealing sleeve 13 is provided with a waterproof platform 133. When the elastic sealing sleeve 13 is installed in place, the waterproof platform 133 abuts against the inner wall of the end of the outer protective shell 12, forming a physical barrier to further prevent liquid from entering along the end gap and enhance the overall waterproof performance.

[0042] In this embodiment, the inner wall of the outer protective shell 12 is provided with an anti-misinsertion guide structure, such as... Figure 6 As shown, the anti-misinsertion guide structure includes multiple elastic protruding vertical ribs 123 extending along the sleeve direction, with guide grooves 124 formed between adjacent vertical ribs 123. Correspondingly, the outer wall of the metal shielding shell 11 has elastic protrusions or flat surfaces that match these guide grooves 124 as guide portions. During assembly, simply aligning the guide grooves 124 with the guide portions allows the outer protective shell 12 to be easily pushed in, effectively preventing skewing, misalignment, or reverse installation during assembly, greatly facilitating operation, and is especially suitable for automated assembly lines.

[0043] Among them, such as Figure 7 As shown: The data cable connection terminal 125 of the outer protective shell 12 is for inserting a data cable (not shown in the figure) into the data cable connection terminal 125 and connecting it to the circuit board of the metal shielding shell 11. In order to make the insertion of the data cable connection terminal 125 more secure, a horizontal rib 126 is also provided inside, which stabilizes the data cable and enhances the strength of the outer protective shell 12.

[0044] like Figure 9 As shown: In another aspect of the invention, a data cable is also provided. The data cable 20 includes a data cable 21 and a connector 22. The connector 21 includes a circuit board, a terminal interface 14 electrically connected to the circuit board, and the aforementioned non-adhesive housing 1. A metal shielding housing 11 houses and shields the circuit board; it is made of a conductive metal material and provides electromagnetic shielding. An outer protective housing 12 is made of an insulating material (such as plastic) and provides external insulation and protection. A resilient sealing sleeve 13 is fitted onto one end of the metal shielding housing 11 adjacent to the terminal interface 14. The metal shielding housing 11 may also have an outwardly extending overlapping portion 111 at this end for limiting engagement with the slot 141 of the terminal interface 14, ensuring more stable assembly.

[0045] The assembly process of the data cable using this housing 1 is briefly described as follows: First, the internal structure of the connector (circuit board and terminals soldered thereon) is inserted into the metal shielding shell 11, and the overlapping part 111 and the slot 141 of the terminal interface 14 are engaged. Next, the elastic sealing sleeve 13 is fitted onto the end of the metal shielding shell 11 from one end of the terminal interface 14. Then, the guide groove 124 of the outer protective shell 12 is aligned with the guide part of the metal shielding shell 11, and the outer protective shell 12 is pushed along the fitting direction to fit onto the outside of the metal shielding shell 11. During this process, the protrusion 121 slides over and engages the one-way locking clip 112, while the suction cup blind hole 131 on the elastic sealing sleeve 13 is compressed and adsorbed onto the adsorption area 122 of the outer protective shell 12, and the waterproof platform 133 abuts against the inner wall of the end of the outer protective shell 12, thus completing the assembly. The entire process requires no dispensing, injection, or curing, making it highly efficient and reliable.

[0046] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: 1. Due to the adoption of a one-way locking structure, such as the cooperation between the one-way locking clip 112 and the protrusion 121, a mechanical one-way locking connection is achieved between the metal shielding shell 11 and the outer protective shell 12, completely eliminating the traditional adhesive bonding process. This avoids the problem of adhesive seeping into and compressing the internal circuit, causing impedance changes, thereby ensuring the stability and pass rate of key performance test results such as IMR, IRL, and COM of the data cable, and improving product performance.

[0047] 2. The above-mentioned mechanical locking structure has a simple and quick assembly process, which does not require waiting for the adhesive to cure, thus improving production efficiency. It also has a reliable connection and is not prone to failure due to the different thermal expansion coefficients of materials in high and low temperature environments, thereby enhancing the product's environmental adaptability and long-term stability.

[0048] 3. Due to the use of the elastic sealing sleeve 13 and its adsorption fit with the inner wall of the outer protective shell, an effective seal and buffer are formed at the connector end. This not only prevents moisture from entering from the end and improves waterproof performance, but also absorbs some of the stress during insertion and removal, protecting the internal structure. At the same time, the adsorption force further assists in fixing the shell and preventing loosening.

[0049] 4. The anti-misinsertion guide structure provides clear guidance during the connection process between the outer protective shell 12 and the metal shielding shell 11, avoiding misalignment or reverse insertion during assembly, simplifying the assembly operation, facilitating automated production, and ensuring product assembly consistency. In summary, this invention provides a high-performance, high-reliability, easy-to-assemble, and environmentally adaptable non-adhesive shell and data cable through an innovative mechanical locking and adsorption sealing structure, effectively overcoming the inherent defects of traditional adhesive bonding processes. In summary, the foregoing disclosure of this invention is intended to enable those skilled in the art to clearly understand the technical content of this invention and implement it accordingly, and is not intended to limit the scope of patent protection of this invention. In addition, this invention may naturally have other embodiments not listed. Without departing from the spirit and essence of this invention, those skilled in the art should be able to devise various corresponding changes and modifications based on this invention, but all such changes and modifications should fall within the scope of protection of the patent application filed for this invention.

Claims

1. A non-adhesive housing for a data cable, characterized in that, include: A metal shielding shell, which houses the internal structure of the data cable connector; An outer protective shell, which is fitted over the metal shielding shell; A one-way locking structure is disposed between the metal shielding shell and the outer protective shell, and is used to form a mechanical lock that prevents the outer protective shell from detaching in the reverse direction when the outer protective shell is sleeved on the metal shielding shell in the assembly direction; And an elastic sealing sleeve, which is fitted onto one end of the metal shielding shell, and the elastic sealing sleeve and the inner wall surface of the outer protective shell form a detachable adsorption fit.

2. The non-adhesive housing of the data cable according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hardness of the outer protective shell is less than that of the metal shielding shell.

3. The non-adhesive housing of the data cable according to claim 1, characterized in that, The one-way locking structure includes at least one first locking portion disposed on the outer surface of the metal shielding shell and at least one second locking portion disposed on the inner surface of the outer protective shell; when the outer protective shell is fitted along the assembly direction, the second locking portion can pass over the first locking portion; when the outer protective shell moves in the opposite direction, the first locking portion and the second locking portion lock each other.

4. The non-adhesive housing of the data cable according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first locking part is a one-way locking snap spring, and the second locking part is a protrusion protruding into the inner cavity of the outer protective shell.

5. The non-adhesive housing of the data cable according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The elastic sealing sleeve has an adsorption surface facing the inner wall of the outer protective shell. The adsorption surface is provided with at least one suction cup blind hole for forming a negative pressure adsorption with the inner wall of the outer protective shell. The periphery of the opening of the suction cup blind hole is provided with an annular clearance groove.

6. The non-adhesive housing of the data cable according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The elastic sealing sleeve also includes a waterproof platform at its end. When the elastic sealing sleeve is installed in place, the waterproof platform abuts against the inner wall of the end of the outer protective shell. The waterproof platform and the elastic sealing sleeve are integrally formed.

7. The non-adhesive housing of the data cable according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The inner wall of the outer protective shell is provided with a mis-insertion prevention guide structure to guide its alignment with the metal shielding shell during the installation process.

8. The non-adhesive housing of the data cable according to claim 7, characterized in that, The anti-misinsertion guide structure includes at least one protruding rib extending along the sleeve direction on the inner wall of the outer protective shell, and a guide groove is formed between adjacent protruding ribs. The outer wall of the metal shielding shell has a guide portion that is adapted to the guide groove.

9. The non-adhesive housing of the data cable according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The inner wall of the outer protective shell is provided with a smooth adsorption area, and the elastic sealing sleeve is adsorbed and fitted with the adsorption area.

10. The non-adhesive housing of the data cable according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The inner wall of the data cable connection end of the outer protective shell is provided with reinforcing ribs to enhance the strength of the outer protective shell.

11. The non-adhesive housing of the data cable according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The outer protective shell is made of insulating material.

12. A data cable, characterized in that, include: Data cables; A connector, the connector including a circuit board and a terminal interface electrically connected to the circuit board; And a non-adhesive housing as described in any one of claims 1 to 11; wherein the metal shielding housing houses and shields the circuit board.

13. The data cable according to claim 12, characterized in that, The metal shielding shell has an outwardly extending overlapping portion at one end adjacent to the terminal interface, and the overlapping portion engages with the limiting structure on the terminal interface.

14. A method for assembling a data cable, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Provides metal shielding shell, outer protective shell, elastic sealing sleeve and internal structure of connector; The internal structure of the connector is installed inside the metal shielding shell; The elastic sealing sleeve is fitted onto one end of the metal shielding shell; Align the outer protective shell with the metal shielding shell, and fit the outer protective shell over the metal shielding shell along the assembly direction until the one-way locking structure between the metal shielding shell and the outer protective shell forms a mechanical lock that prevents the outer protective shell from detaching in the opposite direction, and the elastic sealing sleeve forms a detachable adsorption fit with the inner wall surface of the outer protective shell.

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