Electrical connectors – Including or for use with tape cable – With mating connection region formed by bared cable
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-08
2001-07-31
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Including or for use with tape cable
With mating connection region formed by bared cable
C439S260000, C439S492000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267620
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flexible board electrical connector for connecting a Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) board to another printed circuit board, and particularly to a flexible board connector having an improved pressure member.
2. Description of Prior Art
Conventional flexible board connectors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,778,403, 5,458,506, 5,639,260 and 5,580,272. Referring to
FIG. 8
, a conventional flexible board connector
1
′ comprises a dielectric housing
2
′ defining a plurality of contact channels
20
′ in a bottom wall thereof, a corresponding number of conductive contacts
3
′ received in the contact channels
20
′, and a pressure member
4
′. The pressure member
4
′ is pivotably mounted to opposite sides of the housing
2
′ for pressing a FPC board (not shown) against the conductive contacts
3
′. When the pressure member
4
′ is turned to an open position as shown in
FIG. 8
, the flexible board is inserted into the housing
2
′ from an opening
22
′ defined in the left-hand side of the housing
2
′. When the pressure member
4
′ is consequently turned counterclockwise to a closed position, substantially in a horizontal orientation, it presses the flexible board downward to make an electrical connection between the flexible board and the contacts
3
′. However, the pressure member
4
′ is easy to shake or rotate in the open position since no positioning or retaining means is provided thereto.
Hence, a flexible board connector with an improved pressure member is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide a flexible board electrical connector having a pressure member which is reliably held in an open position; and
A second object of the present invention is to provide a flexible board electrical connector forming a positioning means for a pressure member thereof, wherein the positioning means is easily manufactured and low in cost.
A flexible board electrical connector for connecting a flexible board to another printed circuit board comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of conductive contacts and a pressure member both assembled to the housing. The housing defines an L-shaped opening on a front side thereof and a plurality of contact channels on a bottom wall thereof for receiving the contacts therein. A pair of support arms, having certain resilience, extend from opposite sides of the housing and each defines an elongated hole therein. A channel is defined between each support arm and an adjacent side wall of the housing with a predetermined width and wherein one channel forms a recessed section at a lower portion thereof. One side wall of the housing adjacent to the recessed section defines a recess on a top portion thereof. The pressure member comprises an elongated pressure section and a pair of shaft arms extending from opposite ends thereof. The shaft arm has a first positioning bar on an outside surface thereof for insertion into the elongate hole of the housing. The shaft arms can be rotated with respect to the first positioning bars between an open position where the flexible board is inserted into the opening of the housing and a closed position where the pressure member presses the flexible board against the contacts. One shaft arm corresponding to the channel having the recessed section further forms a second positioning bar on an inner surface thereof for insertion into the recess of the side wall of the housing. The first and the second positioning bars together prevent the pressure member from shaking or rotating in the open position.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present embodiment when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6056571 (2000-05-01), Noro
Chung Wei Te
Hon Hai - Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
Ta Tho D.
LandOfFree
Flexible board electrical connector with an improved... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Flexible board electrical connector with an improved..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Flexible board electrical connector with an improved... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2560486