Electrical connectors – Coupling part with actuating means urging contact to move... – Having open slot for receiving preformed panel circuit...
Reexamination Certificate
2003-10-03
2004-07-13
Nguyen, Son V. (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Coupling part with actuating means urging contact to move...
Having open slot for receiving preformed panel circuit...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06761573
ABSTRACT:
This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on patent application Ser. No. 092113523 filed in TAIWAN on May 20, 2003, which is herein incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a flat and pliable circuit board connector and particularly to a flat and pliable circuit board connector that has a movable upper lid for opening and closing to provide an open space and exposed terminals to facilitate insertion of the pliable circuit board and also equips function of preventing electromagnetic interference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A conventional pliable circuit board connector
10
generally is constructed like the one shown
FIGS. 1 and 2
. It mainly includes a rectangular insulation body
20
, a rectangular coupling cap
30
and a plurality of terminals
25
. The rectangular insulation body
20
is a closed frame structure and includes an upper side wall
21
, a lower side wall
22
and a side wall connecting to the left side and the right side of the upper side wall
21
and the lower side wall
22
. The front side of the frame has an opening to form an insertion slot
23
to enable a pliable circuit board
15
to insert and enter the interior of the insulation body
20
. The rear half section of the frame has a plurality of parallel and spaced ditches
24
to allow the terminals
25
to wedge in to form electric connection with the front sections of the upper legs
26
and lower legs
27
of the terminals
25
. The coupling cap
30
has an elongated slot
32
abutting a lip end of the coupling cap
30
so that a rib axle
31
formed in an ellipsoidal cross section on the lip end is wedged between the upper leg
26
of each terminal
25
exposed outside the insulation body
20
and the lower leg
27
to form a pivotal structure for the terminal as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
. Namely, although the coupling cap
30
is located at the rear side of the insulation body
20
, it is independent from the frame of the insulation body
20
without assembled. Referring to
FIG. 1
, when the coupling cap
30
is lifted and opened, the rear section of the upper leg
26
of each terminal
25
is not latched by the rib axle
31
and is in a free condition. Once the pliable circuit board
15
is inserted into the insulation body
20
, and electric connection is established on each terminal
25
, and the coupling cap
25
is closed over the insulation body
20
on the rear side, the rear section of the upper leg
26
of each terminal
25
is latched by the rib axle
31
of the coupling cap
30
so that the front section of the upper leg
26
is moved downwards due to a levering force to press the pliable circuit board
15
and the pliable circuit board
15
is securely held inside the insulation body
20
without loosening off.
As the insulation body
20
mentioned above adopts a closed frame structure that has the upper side wall
21
and the lower side wall
22
, and the terminals
25
are sealed in the frame, the movable cap
30
cannot become the upper side wall of the insulation body
20
. The pivotal fulcrum of turning and closing for the coupling cap
30
must be located between the upper leg
26
and the lower leg
27
at the rear half section of the terminals
25
, and cannot be located on the frame of the insulation body
20
. The space of the coupling cap
30
is restricted. The torque for opening or closing the coupling cap
30
also is limited. The resulting torque is generally smaller, and a greater force is required during operation. For closing, it is moved towards the rear side of the insulation body
20
. Overall, operation of the pliable circuit board
10
connector is inconvenient.
Moreover, the conventional pliable circuit board connector
10
does not have the function of preventing electromagnetic interference (EMI). Therefore to add an EMI shielding device is required to enhance the function of the pliable circuit board connector.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the aforesaid disadvantages, the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved flat and pliable circuit board connector equipped with an open space to make operation of the connector more convenient.
The flat and pliable circuit board connector according to the invention includes an upper side wall formed by a movable upper lid that can be lifted rearwards and closed forwards. To insert the pliable circuit board, the movable upper lid is lifted rearwards to expose the upper leg and lower leg on the front half section of the terminal in an open space. Thus insertion operation of the pliable circuit board from the front end is easy, and the terminal may be inserted correctly to establish electric connection. Then the movable upper lid may be closed to securely hold the pliable circuit board in the flat and pliable circuit board connector without loosening off. Operation is easy and efficient.
Another object of the invention is to provide a flat and pliable circuit board connector that has an open space. There is a pivotal fulcrum located on the rear back section of the flat and pliable circuit board connector for the movable upper lid to open or close, rather than located between the upper leg and lower leg at the rear half section of the terminal. Hence the movable upper lid may be lifted or closed at a longer torque to save effort and make operation simpler. Moreover, the movable upper lid may be covered by a metal shield plate to prevent EMI to enhance the function of the flat and pliable circuit board connector.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a flat and pliable circuit board connector equipped with an open space in which terminal flutes are formed on the plate of the movable upper lid. The rear end of the plate has a sloping downward structure with the distal end of the flutes forming an axle of an ellipsoidal cross section so that the axle and terminals of selected shapes form a cam shaft mechanism. When the movable upper lid is closed, the ellipsoidal axle generates a downward pressure for the front section of the upper leg of each terminal to enable the pliable circuit board to be firmly inserted in the flat and pliable circuit board connector.
The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5906498 (1999-05-01), Nagafuji
patent: 6338648 (2002-01-01), Miura et al.
patent: 6352442 (2002-03-01), Kudo
patent: 6679713 (2004-01-01), Miura
Birch & Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Nguyen Son V.
P-Two Industries Inc.
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