Electrical connector for flat circuitry

Details Electrical connector for flat circuitry Electrical connector for flat circuitry

1998-07-23

2001-02-13

Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

Coupling part with actuating means urging contact to move...

Having open slot for receiving preformed panel circuit...

C439S325000, C439S495000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06186811

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to connectors for electrically interconnecting flat electrical circuitry such as flat flexible circuitry.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A flat flexible electrical circuit conventionally includes an elongated flat flexible dielectric substrate having laterally spaced strips of conductors on one or both sides thereof. The conductors may be covered with a thin, flexible protective layer on one or both sides of the circuit. If protective layers are used, cutouts are formed therein to expose the underlying conductors at desired contact locations where the conductors are to engage the conductors of a complementary mating connecting device which may be a second flat flexible circuit, a printed circuit board or the terminals of a mating connector.
A wide variety of zero insertion force electrical connectors have been designed particularly adapted for terminating flat circuits, such as flat flexible circuits, flexible printed circuit boards and the like. These electrical connectors conventionally have a housing mounting a plurality of terminals in a generally parallel array spaced. along an elongated opening or slot for receiving an end of the flat circuit. Typically, these connectors use actuators to push the flat circuits, flexible printed circuit boards or the like against resilient contact portions of the terminals.
The actuators of these flat circuit connectors typically are movable between a first position allowing free insertion of the flat circuit into the elongated opening or slot in the housing, and a second position wherein a pressure plate portion of the actuator biases the circuit against the contact portions of the terminals. For instance, the pressure plate biases the exposed conductors of a flat circuit against the contact portions of the terminals.
Major problems continue to plague such connectors, particularly in the areas of cost, size, operability and reliability. With the ever-increasing miniaturization of electronic circuitry, it has become desirable to provide connectors for flat circuits as thin as possible. It is desirable to provide some form of temporary holding means on the connectors for preliminarily holding the flat circuit. It also is desirable to provide some sort of means to hold the actuator in one or both of its positions on the connector housing. Providing these features or means are difficult with extremely small or miniaturized connectors. The present invention is directed to solving one or more of these problems and satisfying such needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved electrical connector for receiving a flat electrical circuit.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connector includes an elongated dielectric housing defining a. slot for receiving the flat electrical circuit. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing, with contact portions spaced along the slot. A metal actuator is mounted on the housing and includes a pressure plate portion for biasing the flat electrical circuit against the contact portions of the terminals. A flexible elongated strip portion is spaced forwardly of the pressure plate portion and extends longitudinally of the housing to define a preliminary circuit holding means at a mouth of the slot. The pressure plate portion is separated from the elongated strip portion at opposite ends thereof by open areas to, thereby, isolate the flexibility of the elongated strip portion from that of the pressure plate portion.
As disclosed herein, the open areas between the pressure plate portion and the elongated strip portion are formed by elongated slots extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of the elongated strip portion. The flexible pressure plate portion comprises a. plurality of flexible fingers. Each finger has a width to cover on the order of two contact portions of two terminals.
The elongated strip portion in the preferred embodiment is formed by a cross portion between a pair of legs of a U-shaped section of the metal actuator. The rear ends of the legs are joined to a rear area of the pressure plate portion of the actuator. The pressure plate portion projects forwardly into the U-shaped section and is separated from the legs by the aforementioned opened areas. The elongated strip portion is flexible enough to allow for the easy insertion of the flat circuitry while preventing easy withdrawal until the actuator is moved to its final holding position.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4023877 (1977-05-01), Hennessey et al.
patent: 4235500 (1980-11-01), Belopavlovich et al.
patent: 4416497 (1983-11-01), Brandsness et al.
patent: 4477137 (1984-10-01), Ayer
patent: 4509811 (1985-04-01), Amano et al.
patent: 4639063 (1987-01-01), Mueller
patent: 4824391 (1989-04-01), Ii
patent: 6015310 (2000-01-01), Tojo

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