Retention member for cable connector

Details Retention member for cable connector Retention member for cable connector

2000-03-03

2001-09-04

Paumen, Gary F. (Department: 2833)

Electrical connectors

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

Having open slot for receiving preformed panel circuit...

C439S495000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06283779

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector used for connecting a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) or a flat cable, and particularly to a zero insertion force FPC connector reliably securing the FPC in position.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
A conventional connector disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,778,403 provides a connector which consists of a housing with a plurality of contacts received therein and an actuator. The housing includes a pair of side walls at lateral sides thereof. Each side wall is of stepped shape in a bottom thereof thereby forming a stepped wall. The actuator provides a stepped portion to cooperate with the stepped wall of the housing. Therefore, the stepped portion is adapted to interlock with the stepped wall to position the actuator to press a flexible printed circuit board against the contacts.
The engagement between the stepped wall of the housing and the stepped portion of the actuator is not as reliable as desired since tolerance and friction therebetween are potential danger.
Hence, an improved electrical connector is required to overcome the disadvantage of the prior art.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first object of the present invention is to provide a connector for connecting with a flexible printed circuit board which has improved retention means for securing an actuator of the connector to press the printed circuit board against a plurality of terminals of the connector.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, a connector includes an elongate housing and an actuator attached to the housing.
The housing receives a plurality of terminals therein and defines a slot for receiving a FPC. The housing includes a top wall, a bottom wall, and a pair of upright supporting walls intersecting the top wall and the bottom wall. The bottom wall forms a pair of outwardly projecting ribs at lateral ends thereof. Each supporting wall includes a top shoulder, a lower shoulder and a recess between the shoulders. A projection outwardly extends from each top shoulder and an aperture is defined in an inward side of each recess.
The actuator consists of a handle, a pair of arms extending from lateral ends of the handle, a pressing plate extending from the handle and a pair of latches perpendicularly projecting from junctures of each arm and the handle. An embossment is formed on a free end of each latch.
The actuator is pushed from a front side of the housing, in assembly, while the arms extend along the recesses until the pegs of the arms are received into the apertures. In use, the arms are retained in the recesses by the projections and embossments of the latches interlocking with the ribs thereby reliably securing the pressing plate press the flexible printed circuit board against the terminals.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4778403 (1988-10-01), Ikesugi et al.
patent: 5458506 (1995-10-01), Yamaguchi et al.
patent: 5580272 (1996-12-01), Yamaguchi et al.
patent: 5904586 (1999-05-01), Takayasu
patent: 6056572 (2000-05-01), Matsumoto et al.

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