Electrical connectors – Contact comprising cutter – Insulation cutter
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-12
2001-10-23
Ta, Tho D. (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Contact comprising cutter
Insulation cutter
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305968
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a terminal hardware used to connect to a terminal of a flat-type conductor, and to a method of making the terminal hardware.
2. Description of Related Art
A flexible flat cable (FFC) and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) are known as flat-type conductors. For example, a construction of an FFC is described as follows. Plural strips of conductors are aligned in parallel and covered and pressed by insulating sheets from both upper and lower sides. Thus, the FFC is formed to have a flexible ribbon-shape. There are two methods to connect terminal hardware to each of the conductors of the FFC as described above: a method that connects the terminal hardware to the conductor covered by the insulating sheet, and a method that connects the terminal hardware to the conductor exposed on one side by peeling the insulating sheet of the terminal.
The latter method is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Sho. 63-73862, for example. As shown in
FIG. 16
, at the terminal of FFC
1
, a predetermined amount of an insulating sheet
2
on the upper side is peeled, and a conductor
3
is exposed on the upper side. Terminal hardware
4
having a base plate
6
extending from a rear side of a connection portion
5
is provided to be connected to another terminal hardware. Further, a top plate
7
is integrally formed with the base plate
6
so as to face the base plate
6
and to be capable of being opened and closed with respect to the base plate
6
. Claws
8
are provided at opposite side edges of the open end of the top plate
7
.
A portion of the exposed conductor
3
is inserted between the base plate
6
and the top plate
7
. The claws
8
pierce the FFC
1
and are crimped on the lower side to opposite side edges of the base plate
6
. Thus, the FFC
1
is sandwiched between the base plate
6
and the top plate
7
, and the top plate
7
is pressed against the conductor
3
to establish connection.
However, in the above-described method, since the entire surface of the flat-shaped top plate
7
contacts the conductor
3
, the contact pressure becomes low. Thus, the reliability of electrical contact is poor.
Further, when a tension is applied in a longitudinal direction of the FFC
1
, there is a possibility that the claws
8
separate from the FFC
1
(insulating sheet
2
) and the terminal hardware becomes separated from the FFC
1
, since the claws
8
are caught by the FFC
1
only at a portion where the claws pierce the FFC.
When a terminal hardware is connected to the conductor
3
, which is exposed at a surface, there is a way to avoid the claws
8
piercing the FFC. In this case, the terminal of FFC is formed to have a comb-shape so that each portion where the conductor
3
is exposed is left as a tooth portion. The claws
8
hold the tooth portions of the comb-shape and are crimped thereto to fix the terminal hardware to the terminal of the FFC. However, the terminal hardware
4
is more easily separated from the terminal particularly in this case.
The present invention is provided to eliminate the above-described drawbacks. An objective of the present invention is to provide a terminal hardware for a flat-type conductor having a high contact pressure between a conductor and the terminal hardware, and a superior holding force against a tension to separate the terminal hardware from the terminal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the above and/or other goals, the present invention provides a terminal hardware connected to a terminal end of a flat-type conductor having a conductor exposed on one surface. The terminal hardware includes a pair of plates that face each other and receive the conductor therebetween, and a crimping portion that projects from a side edge of one of the pair of the plates and that is bendable and crimpable to a side edge of the other one of the pair of the plates. The pair of plates respectively has first and second undulating portions. The first and second undulating portions undulate in a longitudinal direction of the pair of the plates and are configured to be in contact with each other. Preferably, the crimping portion is a pair of crimping portions.
According to the features of the present invention, since the exposed surface of the conductor contacts one of the pair of the plates while the conductor is bent in an undulating-shape, high contact pressure can be achieved. In addition, since the terminal hardware of the present invention having undulating plates can provide a wider contact area than the terminal hardware with flat plates having the same total length, a stable electrical connection can be achieved. Further, since the pair of the plates bend the conductor in an undulating-shape and contacts therewith, an area of the conductor with a total width can be used to hook the terminal conductor. Accordingly, the holding power against a tension to separate the terminal hardware from the terminal can be increased.
In another aspect of the present invention, the first and second undulating portions are configured to fit against each other without a gap when the flat-type conductor is not inserted therebetween. In this case, when the flat-type conductor is inserted between the pair of the plates, the first and the second wave portions do not fit against each other. Thus, the flat-type conductor has portions having different amounts of compression between the pair of the plates. In particular, at a portion where an amount of compression is great, the contact pressure between the conductor and the plate facing the exposed surface of the conductor becomes high. Accordingly, the reliability of electrical contact can be improved. Further, the holding power against a tension to separate the terminal hardware from the terminal can be further increased.
In another aspect of the present invention, the terminal hardware further includes a cut-in projection provided on one of the pair of plates that faces the exposed surface of the conductor. The cut-in projection forcefully presses against and bites into the conductor. According to this feature of the invention, the contact pressure and holding power against a tension to separate the terminal hardware from the terminal can further be improved.
The cut-in projection can be formed by cutting an edge of a triangle in one of the pair of the plates and by embossing the triangle in a wedged-shape. The cut edge is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the pair of the plates and is located forwardly in a direction to which the terminal hardware is separated from the terminal of the flat-type conductor. According to another feature of the present invention, the surface projecting in a wedged-shape of the cut-in projection is perpendicular to a direction of a tension tending to separate the terminal hardware from the terminal and forcefully presses against and bites into the conductor. Thus, the holding power against the tension tending to cause separation can be further increased.
In another aspect of the present invention, the pair of plates is formed unitarily and in one piece so as to be able to be opened and closed. Thus, the number of components can be reduced and it becomes easy to handle the terminal hardware.
Preferably, the first and second undulating portions include a ridge and two troughs provided at opposite sides of the ridge in the longitudinal direction of the pair of the plates.
Alternatively, the first and second undulating portions can include two troughs spaced in the longitudinal direction of the pair of plates. Further, a first cut-in projection can be provided between two troughs, and a second cut-in projection is provided at a rear end of the pair of plates. Furthermore, a first pair of crimping portions can be provided on opposite side edges between the two troughs, and a second pair of crimping portions can be provided on opposite side edges at a rear end of the pair of plates.
Preferably, the cut-in projection is located at substantially the same position in the longitudinal direct
Hio Masahide
Okada Hajime
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
Ta Tho D.
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