AIR FLOW STRUCTURES FOR CONNECTOR ASSEMBLIES

A connector assembly may be formed to include a cage, with a connector positioned inside the cage, and an air scooping structure on a side wall of the cage. The air scooping structure is configured to divert a portion of the air flowing along the outside of the cage and re-direct it inward to as to pass by a surface of an inserted module and direct generated thermal energy away from the module. A separate air scooping structure may be formed on each side wall and may include a plurality of individual air scoops disposed in a defined pattern and located in close proximity to any thermal energy-generating areas of the inserted module. A side wall offset may be included along each cage side wall in the area of the included connector to form a wider gap between the connector housing and the cage side wall.