Terminal end structure of flat circuitry and branch...

Electrical connectors – Including or for use with tape cable

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C439S422000, C439S495000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06305970

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a terminal end structure of a flat circuitry, such as a flexible flat cable (FFC) and a flexible printed circuit (FPC), and also to a branch connection structure of the flat circuitry.
Generally, when electrically connecting circuitries together, using a flat circuitry, a connector is connected to an end portion of this flat circuitry, and this connector is connected to a mating connector.
FIG. 8
shows a related terminal end structure of a flat circuitry for effecting such connection. The flat circuitry
1
comprises a plurality of conductors
1
a
fixedly held between insulating films
1
b.
First, terminals
2
are fixedly press-connected to an end portion of the flat circuitry
1
in electrically connected relation to the respective conductors
1
a.
Then, the terminals
2
are inserted respectively into terminal receiving chambers
4
in a connector housing
3
. Thus, the terminal end structure of the flat circuitry
1
is formed. In this case, press-connecting portions
5
of the terminals
2
are disposed outside of the connector housing
3
.
FIG. 9
shows another related construction. In this example, also, terminals
12
are fixedly press-connected to an end portion of a flat circuitry
11
(having a plurality of conductors
11
a
held between insulating films
11
b
) in electrically-connected relation to the respective conductors
11
a.
Then, the terminals
12
are inserted respectively into terminal receiving chambers
14
in a connector housing
13
, thus forming a terminal end structure. Slits
16
are beforehand formed in the end portion of the flat circuitry
11
so that the interval between the adjacent conductors
11
a
can be adjusted. With this construction, the interval between the adjacent terminals
12
, connected respectively to the conductors
11
a,
can be adjusted in accordance with the intervals and arrangement of the terminal receiving chambers
14
in the connector housing
13
. In this case, also, press-connecting portions
15
are disposed outside of the connector housing
13
.
In the above related terminal end structures of the flat circuitry, the press-connecting portions
5
,
15
of the terminals
2
,
12
, connected respectively to the conductors
1
a,
11
a,
are disposed outside of the connector housing
3
,
13
, and are not covered with any member. Therefore, there has been a possibility that the conductors
1
a,
11
a
are short-circuited together by dew condensation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the above problem in view, it is an object of this invention to provide a terminal end structure of a flat circuitry, as well as a branch connection structure of a flat circuitry, in which the short-circuiting between conductors by dew condensation is eliminated.
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a terminal end structure of an electric connection, comprising:
a flat circuitry in which a plurality of conductors are arranged and fixedly held between an insulating film so as to be isolated from each other;
a plurality of terminals respectively secured to a first predetermined portion of each of the conductors to electrically connect therewith; and
a connector housing provided with a plurality of chambers defined by a partition wall for respectively receiving the terminals,
wherein the insulating film is formed with a slit arranged between adjacent conductors, which extends from an end portion of the flat circuitry so as to have a predetermined length which is longer than a length between the end portion of the flat circuitry and the first predetermined portion; and
wherein the partition wall of the connector housing is inserted into the slit such that the first predetermined portions of the conductors are accommodated in the respective chambers when the terminals are inserted in the associated chambers.
In this structure, the secured portions of the terminals are received within the connector housing, and the adjacent secured portions are isolated from each other by the partition wall of the terminal receiving chambers, and therefore even when dew condensation is occurred, the secured portions (and hence the conductors) will not be short-circuited together.
Preferably, the insulating film is formed with a slot arranged between adjacent conductors and extending in a longitudinal direction of the flat circuitry. Here, the end portion of the flat circuitry and the slit is formed by folding a second predetermined portion which is a longitudinal center portion of the slot.
In this structure, the terminals are fixedly secured to the double-folded end portion of the flat circuitry, and therefore the securing strength can be increased.
Preferably, the folded portion of the flat circuitry is used as a branch connection terminal of the electric connection.
In this structure, any special branch connection device is not needed, and the branch connection can be easily effected, merely using the ordinary terminals and the connector housing.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a terminal end structure of an electric connection, comprising:
a flat circuitry in which a plurality of conductors are arranged and fixedly held between an insulating film so as to be isolated from each other;
a connector housing provided with a plurality of chambers defined by a partition wall; and
a plurality of press-connecting terminals respectively provided in each of the chambers, which are to be secured to a first predetermined portion of each of the conductors to electrically connect therewith,
wherein the insulating film is formed with a slit arranged between adjacent conductors, which extends from an end portion of the flat circuitry so as to have a predetermined length which is longer than a length between the end portion of the flat circuitry and the first predetermined portion; and
wherein the partition wall of the connector housing is inserted into the slit such that the first predetermined portions of the conductors are accommodated in the respective chambers when the conductors are press-connected with the associated press-connecting terminals.
In this structure, when the end portion of the flat circuitry is press-connected to the press-contacting terminals received in the connector housing, the partition wall of the terminal receiving chambers are inserted in the slit. Therefore, the adjacent press-contacting terminals, including those portions press-contacted with the conductors of the flat circuitry, are isolated from each other by the partition wall of the terminal receiving chambers, and therefore the short-circuiting due to dew condensation is eliminated.
Preferably, the insulating film is formed with a slot arranged between adjacent conductors and extending in a longitudinal direction of the flat circuitry. Here, the end portion of the flat circuitry and the slit is formed by folding a second predetermined portion which is a longitudinal center portion of the slot.
In this structure, the terminals are fixedly secured to the double-folded end portion of the flat circuitry, and therefore the press-connecting strength can be increased.
Preferably, the folded portion of the flat circuitry is used as a branch connection terminal of the electric connection.
In this structure, any special branch connection device is not needed, and the branch connection can be easily effected, merely using the ordinary terminals and the connector housing.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3088086 (1963-04-01), Crimmins
patent: 6152763 (2000-11-01), Sai
patent: 64-7712 (1989-01-01), None
patent: 5-53042 (1993-07-01), None
patent: 06-208873 (1994-07-01), None
patent: 2549583 (1997-06-01), None

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