Zero insertion force connector

Details Zero insertion force connector Zero insertion force connector

2000-03-02

2001-08-28

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

06280217

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a zero insertion force (ZIF) connector.
In order to facilitate electrical connection between a conductor such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC) and an element such as a printed circuit board (PCB), a zero insertion force connector can be used. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,778,403; 5,458,506 and 5,580,272 disclose a series of ZIF connectors. The conventional connectors each have an insulative housing and a cover plate connected with the housing. The connector is provided with a pivoting mechanism respectively formed on the housing and the cover plate, whereby the cover plate is pivotable relative to the housing between closed and open positions. However, due to limited space in the connector, the pivot mechanism must have a small size, which causes the mechanism to be weak by nature. The weak pivot mechanism impairs the durability of the connector. Referring to
FIG. 5
which is a duplication of FIG. 3 in U.S. Pat. No. 4,778,403, a ZIF connector comprises an insulative housing
72
and a cover plate
76
pivotably attached to the housing
72
. The housing
72
comprises a pair of reversed steps
720
at a front end thereof and the cover plate
76
comprises a pair of projection shoulders
760
at a front end thereof. The cover plate
76
further comprises a pair of side walls
762
clamping both ends
722
of the housing
72
therebetween. The side walls
762
can become unhinged due to the cover plate
76
simultaneously clamping with the housing
72
at its forward end and pivoting about the housing
72
at its middle. This can happen while attempting to fully close the cover plate
76
with the housing
72
. As the cover plate
76
pivots it can simultaneously move forward, thereby causing the side walls
762
to disengage from the housing
72
. Additionally, the projection shoulder
760
is not durable and is prone to being deformed and broken when the projection shoulder
760
engages with the reversed step
720
of the housing
72
. Hence, an improved ZIF connector is required to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide a ZIF connector having a curvedly sliding mechanism for curvedly slidably connecting a cover plate and an insulative housing thereby facilitating inserting or removing an FPC when the cover plate is in an open position.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a ZIF connector having two locking mechanisms thereby providing secure retention between the housing and the cover plate.
Accordingly, a ZIF connector comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of terminals received in the housing, a cover plate mounted to the housing for pressing an FPC against the terminals, a curvedly sliding mechanism for curvedly slidably connecting the cover plate with the housing, and two locking mechanisms for securely locking the cover plate to the housing.
The housing comprises a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of standing walls vertically extending from opposite ends of the bottom wall. The terminals each comprise an upper portion and a lower portion which respectively fit in a lower face of the top wall and in an upper face of the bottom wall. The top wall and the bottom wall define a space therebetween. The cover plate comprises a main body, a pair of arms formed at opposite ends of the main body and a pressing plate projecting from the main body into the space between the upper portions and the lower portions of the terminals. The curvedly sliding mechanism comprises a pair of arcuate channels defined in the two standing walls and a pair of corresponding arcuate ribs formed on opposite arms of the cover plate and slidingly moving in the arcuate channels.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


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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