Electrical connectors – Contact comprising cutter – Axially penetrating the elongated conductor
Patent
1998-10-29
2000-05-16
Stephan, Steven L.
Electrical connectors
Contact comprising cutter
Axially penetrating the elongated conductor
H01R 424, H01R 426
Patent
active
060628987
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an electric connector for a flexible electric circuit of the type comprising one or more conducting tracks covered with insulating layers.
BACKGROUND ART
Normally, for connection to another electric circuit, the conducting tracks of a flexible circuit must first be exposed by locally removing the insulating layers.
In some cases, the cables of the other electric circuit are bonded directly to the locally exposed tracks; in others, particularly when the other electric circuit is a printed circuit board, a connector is used presenting a number of terminals cooperating with the exposed portions of the tracks (normally in forced manner to ensure adequate contact pressure) and presenting contact portions for connection to respective conducting elements of the other electric circuit.
Removing the insulating layer from the tracks of the flexible circuit is a painstaking preliminary operation, which therefore increases work time and cost.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric connector for a flexible circuit, enabling the above preliminary operation to be dispensed with, and which provides for rapid, effective, reliable connection of a flexible circuit to another electric circuit.
According to the present invention, there is provided an electric connector for a flexible circuit presenting at least one conducting track and a cover layer of insulating material; the connector comprising an insulating casing, and at least one electric terminal housed in said casing and presenting a respective contact portion cooperating with said conducting path; characterized in that said contact portion of said terminal comprises slitting means for slitting said cover layer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a partly sectioned plan view of a connector in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows a front view of the main body of the FIG. 1 connector;
FIG. 3 shows a view in perspective of an electric terminal of the FIG. 1 connector;
FIG. 4 shows a view in perspective of a safety element of the FIG. 1 connector;
FIG. 5 shows a larger-scale partial longitudinal section of the FIG. 1 connector in the preassembly position;
FIG. 6 shows a larger-scale partial longitudinal section of the FIG. 1 connector in the assembly position;
FIG. 7 shows a first variation of an electric terminal of the FIG. 1 connector;
FIG. 8 shows a second variation of an electric terminal of the FIG. 1 connector.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Number 1 in FIG. 1 indicates a connector for a flexible electric circuit 2.
In known manner, flexible circuit 2 is in the form of an elongated strip, and comprises a number of side by side conducting tracks 3 (only one shown) extending lengthwise of the strip, sandwiched between two layers 4 of insulating material (FIG. 5), and terminating at a free end edge 5 of circuit 2, perpendicular to tracks 3.
Connector 1 comprises a main body 6 in turn comprising a casing 7 of plastic insulating material, and a number of electric terminals 8 housed inside and partly co-molded into casing 7.
More specifically, each terminal 8 presents a connecting portion 9 for connection to a respective electric cable 10; and a contact portion 14 cooperating with circuit 2. Casing 7 is substantially parallelepiped, and comprises a rear portion 17 incorporating portions 9 of terminals 8 and the respective end portions of cables 10; and a hollow front portion 18 defined by a pair of base walls 20 and a pair of lateral walls 21 defining a seat or cavity 22 into which contact portions 14 of terminals 8 project parallel to tracks 3 of circuit 2. Lateral walls 21 present respective central longitudinal grooves 23, which are engaged by respective lateral edges of circuit 2 to define the seating plane a of circuit 2 inside seat 22.
Portion 9 of each
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PCT International Search Report.
Framatome Connectors International S.A.
Prasad Chandrika
Stephan Steven L.
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