Electrical connectors – Contact comprising cutter – Insulation cutter
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-01
2001-07-31
Patel, Tulsidas (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Contact comprising cutter
Insulation cutter
C439S397000, C439S424000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267618
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a terminal fitting for connection to a flat conductor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Prior art flat conductors include an FFC (flexible flat cable) and an FPC (flexible print circuit board). The prior art FFC includes a plurality of parallel conductive paths sandwiched between insulation sheets, such that the FFC resembles a flexible ribbon. Terminal fittings are connected to the respective conductive paths of the FFC by embedding the conductive paths in the insulation sheet or by tearing off the insulation sheet on a section of the FFC to expose sections of the conductive paths on one surface of the FFC.
The former method is called a through type method, and has an advantage of omitting the stage of tearing off the insulation sheet. This method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 50-100585, and is shown in FIG.
7
. In this method, contact blades
3
are erected on both side edges of a base plate
2
of a terminal fitting
1
. Both contact blades
3
pierce a conductive path
5
of an FFC
4
to bring cut end surfaces of the conductive path
5
into the contact blade
3
.
However, in this method, there is a fear that when the contact blade
3
is pierced into the conductive path
5
, the FFC
4
floats between the contact blades
3
and thus the cut end surfaces of the conductive path
4
do not contact the contact blade
3
favorably. To avoid the unfavorable contact, it is conceivable to press the FFC
4
when the contact blade
3
is pierced into the conductive path
5
.
As shown in
FIG. 8
, the contact blades
3
project outward from the side edges of the base plate
2
. The space between the left and right contact blades
3
must be small if the conductive path
5
is narrow. In this situation, the width y of the base plate
2
must be very narrow, as shown in FIG.
8
A. Thus, the base plate
2
has a low degree of strength. To improve the strength of the base plate
2
without changing the interval between the left and right contact blades
3
, it is absolutely necessary to make a channel-type base plate having a side wall erected on both sides of the base plate to secure a large width x. The contact blades
3
then are erected on the upper edge of side wall
2
A such that the contact blades are flush with the side wall
2
A, as shown in FIG.
9
.
The construction in which the contact blades
3
are flush with the side wall
2
A requires the FFC
4
to be pressed toward the base plate
2
so that the contact blades
3
pierce into the conductive path
5
. However, as shown in
FIG. 10
, this design causes the upper edge of the side wall
2
A to catch the FFC
4
. As a result, the FFC
4
cannot be pressed to the bottom of the base plate
2
. That is, a flank
8
is formed between the FFC
4
and the bottom of the base plate
2
. As a result, the FFC
4
flexes and escapes to the flank
8
. In this case, a sufficient contact pressure may not be obtained between a cut surface
5
A of the conductive path
5
and the contact blades
3
or only a part of an insulation sheet
6
is in contact with the surface of the side wall
2
A of the contact blade
2
. Thus, there is a possibility that the connection method is not reliable in electrical contact.
The present invention has been completed in view of the above-described situation. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to allow a reliable contact between a contact blade of a terminal fitting of through type and a cut surface of a conductive path of a flat conductor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention is directed to a terminal fitting connected to a flat conductor whose conductive path is embedded in an insulation layer. The terminal fitting comprises a base plate and a pressing plate that confronts the base plate. A side wall is erected on a side edge of the base plate, and a contact blade projects from an upper edge of the side wall, such that the contact blade is flush with the side wall in a widthwise direction. The contact blade is pierced into the conductive path, with the flat conductor being sandwiched between the base plate and the pressing plate to connect the terminal fitting to the terminal of the flat conductor. A raised part or support is erected on a bottom portion of the base plate such that a height of the support is equal to or slightly larger than that of an upper edge of the side wall. Preferably, the support is formed integrally with the base plate.
The contact blades are pierced into the conductive path, with the flat conductor being sandwiched between the support and the pressing plate, before the flat conductor is caught by the upper edge of the side wall of the base plate. That is, it is possible to avoid generation of a flank between the base plate and the pressing plate and the flat conductor is prevented from escaping into such a flank. Thus, it is possible to allow the cut surface of the conductive path to confront the surfaces of the contact blades properly and to obtain an optimal contact state. Thus it is possible to obtain a stable electrical performance.
It is possible to reduce the number of parts and hence convenient to handle the terminal fitting in the connection operation.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3247316 (1966-04-01), Weimer, Jr.
patent: 4040702 (1977-08-01), McKee et al.
patent: 4082402 (1978-04-01), Kinkaid et al.
patent: 4560224 (1985-12-01), Weisenburger
patent: 4832620 (1989-05-01), Yamamoto
patent: 5137468 (1992-08-01), Murakami
patent: 6146185 (2000-11-01), Cole et al.
patent: 63-73861 (1988-05-01), None
patent: 63-73862 (1988-05-01), None
Casella Anthony J.
Hespos Gerald E.
Patel Tulsidas
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
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