Electrical connectors – Including or for use with tape cable – With mating connection region formed by bared cable
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-05
2001-12-25
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Including or for use with tape cable
With mating connection region formed by bared cable
C439S492000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06332805
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a structure for connecting a flat circuit member. More particularly, the present invention relates to a structure for electrically connecting a conductor of a flat circuit member to a terminal.
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-058982, which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit (i.e., FPC) cable has been proposed in a “FPC-Board Connection Structure In Portable Telephone” in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei. 9-22760. Referring to
FIG. 5
, a description will be given hereafter of the connector for connecting the FPC cable.
As shown in
FIG. 5
, a structure
60
for connecting an FPC and a substrate in a portable telephone is arranged such that a holding base
62
is mounted on an upper surface of a substrate
61
, contacts
63
are attached to the holding base
62
, a pair of holding pieces
64
are formed on both sides of the contacts
63
, connecting pads
66
are exposed on an FPC
65
, and a pair of retaining holes
67
are formed on both sides of the connecting pads
66
.
According to this connecting structure
60
, since the connecting pads
66
are brought into contact with the contacts
63
by merely fitting the holding pieces
64
of the substrate
61
in the retaining holes
67
of the FPC
65
, if, for instance, an external force is applied to the FPC
65
, a lateral deviation occurs in the FPC
65
. Hence, there is a problem in that the contact between the contacts
63
and the connecting pads
66
becomes insufficient, resulting in faulty continuity.
In addition, since the holding pieces
64
of the substrate
61
are merely fitted in the retaining holes
67
of the FPC
65
, a widthwise central portion of the FPC
65
, in particular, cannot be sufficiently pressed against the substrate
61
side.
For this reason, there is a problem in that the contact resistance between the contacts
63
and the connecting pads
66
becomes instable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been devised in view of the above-described problems, and its object is to provide a structure for connecting a flat circuit member which makes it possible to prevent faulty continuity and stabilize the contact resistance.
To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a structure for electrically connecting a flat circuit member to a terminal. More specifically, the structure according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a terminal, a flat circuit member attachable to the terminal, the flat circuit member having a through hole portion therethrough, a conductor portion having a portion penetrated by the through hole portion in a thickness direction of the conductor portion, the conductor portion being disposed on a surface of the flat circuit member, a guide portion formed on the terminal, an inserting portion insertable in the through hole portion of the flat circuit member, the inserting portion being connected to the guide portion, and a pressing piece extending from a distal end of the inserting portion. In the structure, when the flat circuit member is electrically connected to the terminal, the inserting portion of the terminal is inserted in the through hole portion of the flat circuit member, the guide portion of the terminal extends along a rear surface of the flat circuit member, and the pressing piece extends toward the conductor portion of the flat circuit member and presses the flat circuit member toward the guide portion.
In the structure for connecting a flat circuit member thus constructed, the through hole portion is formed in the conductor portion o f the flat circuit member, and the through hole portion is passed over the pressing piece of the terminal so as to be fitted over the inserting portion. Then, the conductor portion is pressed by the pressing piece. For this reason, even if, for instance, an external force is applied to the flat circuit member, it is possible to prevent a lateral deviation from occurring in the flat circuit member.
Here, the flat circuit member in one example is a flexible flat cable (FFC) in which a plurality of conductor portions are exposed on a rear surface side of a belt-shaped flat portion, and a ribbon wire ( so-called flat harness), a flexible printed circuit (FPC), o r t he like may be additionally used as the flat circuit member.
In this case, a plurality of the above-described terminals may be provided. Since the plurality of conductor portions are individually pressed by the pressing pieces, it is possible to stabilize the contact resistance between the conductor portions and the terminals.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the structure further comprises a spring portion formed by partially cutting the guide portion so as to rise up from the guide portion toward the pressing piece, wherein the flat circuit member is electrically connected to the terminal, so that the conductor portion of the flat circuit member is clamped between the pressing piece and the spring portion. Since the spring portion is provided in the guide portion, the conductor portion of the flat circuit member is more reliably clamped by the pressing piece and the spring portion. Accordingly, the lateral deviation or the faulty continuity of the flat circuit member can be prevented more reliably.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the structure further comprises a housing into which the terminal is insertable, and a cover member, wherein the cover member covers the guide portion, the inserting portion, and the pressing piece. Accordingly, the terminals are protected as the guide portions, the inserting portions, and the pressing pieces are covered with the cover member.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the housing has an opening adopted to be covered by the cover member, and the cover member has a pair of protrusions, and wherein, after the terminal has been inserted in the housing, the cover member covers the opening of the housing so that the flat circuit member and the terminal are sandwiched between the cover member and the housing while the pair of protrusions press the flat circuit member.
The advantages of the structure for connecting a flat circuit member described above are as follows.
In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, provided that a plurality of the above-described terminals and a plurality of the above-described conductor portions are provided, since the through hole portions formed in the conductor portions of the flat circuit member are fitted over the inserting portions, and the conductor portions are pressed by the respective pressing pieces, even if, for instance, an external force is applied to the flat circuit member, a lateral deviation does not occur in the flat circuit member. Accordingly, since a state of contact between the conductor portions and the terminals is reliably maintained, faulty continuity can be prevented, and the contact resistance between the conductor portions and the terminals can be obtained stably.
Further, in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, the conductor portions of the flat circuit member can be clamped between the pressing pieces and the spring portions more reliably. Hence, the lateral deviation or the faulty continuity of the flat circuit member can be prevented more reliably.
Furthermore, in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention, the terminals are protected as the guide portions, the inserting portions, and the pressing pieces are covered with the cover member, so that the quality improves.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompan
Bradley Paula
McCamey Ann M
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
Yazaki -Corporation
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