Connector having improved pivoting member design

A connector to be detachably fitted with a connecting object, includes a required number of contacts, a housing, and a pivoting member acting upon the contacts to bring them into contact with a connecting object. In case of having many contacts, at least one contact is provided with an extended portion at a tip of its pressure receiving portion to extend toward its connection portion, and instead of a pushing portion of the pivoting member acting upon the contact, the pivoting member is provided with an engaging rod to engage the extending portion of the contact. The contact is arranged at an optional position so as to prevent the pivoting member from being warped. The contacts are arranged in a single row, or alternately arranged to be staggered. With the connector thus constructed, the pivoting member is not damaged when pivotally moving after the connecting object has been inserted to achieve a stable electrical connection even with very small pitches of contacts and very thin walls of the housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a connector for use in electric and electronic appliances such as mobile or cellular phones, notebook personal computers, digital cameras and the like, and more particularly to a connector with a structure superior in stable electrical connection without a pivoting member being damaged when it is being pivotally moved after a connecting object such as a flexible printed circuit board and flexible flat cable has been inserted, even if pitches of contacts become extremely smaller (miniaturization of the connector) and wall thicknesses of insulators become thinner.

As such connectors using a flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable, there are following types of connectors. A connector of non-zero insertion force (N-ZIF) type has contacts so arranged that gaps between contact portions of the contacts are a little less than the thickness of a flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable which is forced into the gaps between the contacts, thereby causing the circuit board or flat cable to be in contact with the contact portions of the contacts. A connector of zero insertion force (ZIF) type has contacts so arranged that gaps between contact portions of the contacts are larger than the thickness of a flexible printed circuit board or flat cable. After the circuit board or flat cable has been inserted in the gaps between the contacts, the contact portions of the contacts are brought into contact with the circuit board or flat cable by some means. Among connectors of the zero insertion force (ZIF) type, there are connectors of slider type, front pivoting type and rear pivoting type. A connector of slider type uses a wedge-shaped slider which is inserted into connector after a flexible printed circuit board or flat cable has been inserted to bring the contacts into contact with the circuit board or flat cable. A connector of front pivoting type has a pivoting member which is pivotally moved on the side of an inserting opening for a flexible printed circuit board or flat cable after the circuit board or flat cable has been inserted into the connector, thereby bringing contacts into contact with the circuit board or flat cable. A connector of rear pivoting type has also a pivoting member which is pivotally moved on the opposite side of an inserting opening for a flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable after the circuit board or flat cable has been inserted into the connector, thereby bringing contacts into contact with the circuit board or flat cable.

With connectors of these types, there are increasing demands for the zero insertion force (ZIF) type and light insertion force (LIF) type connectors which reduce the forces for inserting the circuit board or flat cable as much as possible and further demands for reduced overall height connectors and connectors having contacts arranged with extremely small pitches.

As examples of the types described above, incorporated herein are a connector of slider type of Japanese Utility Model Application Opened No. H06-60,983 (1994) (Patent Literature 1), connectors of front pivoting type of Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2001-307,805 (Patent Literature 2) and Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2006-032,216 (Patent Literature 3), and connectors of rear pivoting type of Japanese Patent Application Opened No. H10-208,810 (1998) (Patent Literature 4), Japanese Patent Application Opened No. H11-031,561 (1999) (Patent Literature 5), Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2002-270,290 (Patent Literature 6) and Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2004-071,160 (Patent Literature 7) filed by the applicant of the present case.

Patent Literature 1

According to the abstract of the Japanese Utility Model Application Opened No. H06-60,983 (1994), this utility model has an object to provide a connector having a slider for a printed circuit board for use in a small space in an electronic or communication appliance. The slider5of a connector is formed at ends on both sides with U-shaped arms52whose proximal ends are fixed to the slider as guiding means when the slider is being inserted into a housing4. The U-shaped arms are each provided on the side of the opening52with a projection56and formed with a notch55so that the opening end of the U-shaped arm is visible from the inserting side. The housing is provided at both the side ends with projections48having an oblique surface adapted to engage the projection of the slider. When the slider together with connection terminals31of a flexible printed circuit board3is inserted into the housing, the projections56of the slider ride over the projections48having the oblique surface of the housing so that the opening ends of the U-shaped arms of the slider are temporarily spread outwardly and then returned to their normal positions when the insertion has been completed.

Incidentally, claim 1 of the Japanese Utility Model Application Opened No. H06-60,983 (1994) recites a connector having a slider for a print circuit board, comprising a housing provided with a number of contacts and with connection terminals of a flexible printed circuit board installed at the contact portion, into which contact portion a slider having a plate-shaped portion provided at its tip with a wedge-shaped portion is forcedly inserted, thereby bringing the flexible printed circuit board into contact with said contacts, wherein said slider is formed at ends on both sides with U-shaped arms whose proximal ends are fixed to the slider as guiding means when the slider is being inserted into said housing, and the U-shaped arms are each provided on their opening side with a projection and formed with a notch so that the opening end of said U-shaped arms is visible from the inserting side, and wherein said housing is provided at both the side ends with projections each having an oblique surface adapted to engage the projection of said slider, and when said slider together with connection terminals of the flexible printed circuit board is inserted into said housing, the projections of said slider engage the projections having oblique surfaces of said housing so that the opening ends of the U-shaped arms of the slider are temporarily spread outwardly and then returned to their normal positions when the insertion has been completed.

Patent Literature 2

According to the abstract of the Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2001-307,805, this invention has an object to provide an electrical connector for a flexible substrate which is capable of reducing the overall height of the electrical connector. Disclosed is an electrical connector for a flexible substrate, including a plurality of terminals having contact portions to which the flexible substrate P is pushed by pushing portions of a pressure applying member, wherein the plurality of terminals include two kinds of terminals, that is, first terminals10and second terminals20, and corresponding thereto the pressure applying member30comprises first guided portions31A and second guided portions32A pivoted and guided by upper arms11and21of the first and second terminals, and wherein when the pressure applying member is pivotally moved into a closed position, the first guided portions come into contact with lower edges of the upper arms of the first terminals and the second guided portions come into contact with upper edges of the upper arms of the second terminals.

Incidentally, claim 1 of the Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2001-307,805 recites an electrical connector for a flexible substrate, including a housing having an opening which communicates with and opens at forward portion and upper portion adjacent thereto; a plurality of terminals having contact portions arranged in said opening or an inner portion of said opening and further having lower arms positioned on the bottom side of the housing and upper arms positioned above the lower arms, the lower and upper arms extending forwardly, and said contact portions provided on upper edges of said lower arms; and a pressure applying member provided at said opening and pivotally movable in upper position of said lower arms between its opened position and closed position, and when said pressure applying member is opened, after the flexible substrate has been inserted from the front side of the connector into said opening so that the circuit surface of said flexible substrate is arranged above the contact portions of said lower arms, the pressure applying member being pivotally moved into its closed position to cause said flexible substrate to be pushed to said contact portions by the pushing portions of said pressure applying member, wherein the plurality of terminals include two kinds of terminals, that is, first terminals and second terminals, and corresponding thereto the pressure applying member comprises first guided portions and second guided portions pivoted and guided by upper arms of the first and second terminals, and wherein when the pressure applying member is pivotally moved into a closed position, the first guided portions come into contact with lower edges of the upper arms of the first terminals and the second guided portions come into contact with upper edges of the upper arms of the second terminals. Claim2recites the electrical connector for a flexible substrate as claimed in claim1, wherein the upper arms of the first terminals are flexible, and by pivotally moving the pressure applying member from its opened position to the closed position, the first guided portions cause said upper arms to be elastically deformed upwardly, and reaction force from the upper arms causes the pressure applying member to be movable downwardly. Claim3recites the electrical connector for a flexible substrate as claimed in claim2, wherein the upper arms of the second terminals are flexible, and when the pressure applying member is moved downwardly, said upper arms are subjected to a force downwardly from the second guided portions of the pressure applying member to cause said upper arms to be elastically deformed, thereby pushing the flexible substrate. Claim4recites the electrical connector for a flexible substrate as claimed in claim3, wherein the upper arms and lower arms of the second terminals are integrally connected at their proximal ends by jointing portions which are each provided with a removal-preventing anchoring portion extending therefrom, and said anchoring portions are anchored in anchoring holes of the housing with clearances so that when the upper arms are elastically deformed, the lower arms can partly be elastically deformed. Claim5recites the electrical connector for a flexible substrate as claimed in claim1, wherein positions of the contact portions provided on the lower arms of the first and second terminals are staggered relative to each other in the inserting direction of the flexible substrate. Claim6recites the electrical connector for a flexible substrate as claimed in claim1, wherein a distance from the center of pivotal movement in the normally closed position of the pressure applying member to the contact point of the first arm portion is smaller than corresponding distances when the pressure applying member is moved from the normally closed position to other positions. Claim7recites the electrical connector for a flexible substrate as claimed in claim1, wherein the plurality of terminals include two kinds of first terminals and second terminals, and corresponding thereto the pressure applying member comprises first guided portions and second guided portions to be pivoted and guided by the upper arms of the first terminals and the second terminals, respectively, so that when the pressure applying member is pivotally moved toward its opened position, at least either of said first and second guided portions pushes the upper arms of the first and second terminals upwardly so as to be elastically deformed so that the minimum spacing between said upper arms and said lower arms corresponding thereto is made to be wider. Claim8recites an electrical connector for a flexible substrate, including a housing having an opening which communicates with and opens at forward portion and upper portion adjacent thereto; a plurality of terminals having contact portions arranged in said opening or an inner portion of said opening and further having lower arms positioned on the bottom side of the housing and upper arms positioned above the lower arms, the lower and upper arms extending forwardly, and said contact portions provided on at least edges of said upper or lower arms; and a pressure applying member provided at said opening and pivotally movable in upper position of said lower arms between its opened position and closed position, and when said pressure applying member is opened, after the flexible substrate has been inserted from the front side of the connector into said opening so that the circuit surface of said flexible substrate is arranged above the contact portions of said lower arms, the pressure applying member being pivotally moved in its closed position to cause said flexible substrate to be pushed to said contact portions by the pushing portions of said pressure applying member, wherein the upper arms and lower arms of the second terminals are integrally connected at their proximal ends by jointing portions which are each provided with a removal-preventing anchoring portion extending therefrom, and said anchoring portions are anchored in anchoring holes of the housing with clearances so that when the upper arms are elastically deformed, the lower arms can partly be elastically deformed, wherein said terminals are fixed relative to the housing on the side of free ends of the lower arms positioned in a reverse direction relative to said jointing portions. Claim9recites an electrical connector for a flexible substrate, including a housing having an opening which communicates with and opens at forward portion and upper portion adjacent thereto; a plurality of terminals having contact portions arranged in said opening or an inner portion of said opening and further having lower arms positioned on the bottom side of the housing and upper arms positioned above the lower arms, the lower and upper arms extending forwardly, and said contact portions provided on at least edges of said upper or lower arms; and a pressure applying member provided at said opening and pivotally movable in upper position of said lower arms between its opened position and closed position, and when said pressure applying member is opened, after the flexible substrate has been inserted from the front side of the connector into said opening so that the circuit surface of said flexible substrate is arranged opposite to said contact portions, the pressure applying member being pivotally moved into its closed position to cause said flexible substrate to be pushed to said contact portions by the pushing portions of said pressure applying member, wherein the pressure applying member comprises guided portions pivoted and guided by upper arms of the terminals, and said guided portions consist of first guided portions adapted to come into contact with lower edges of the upper arms of said terminals and second guided portions adapted to come into contact with upper edges of the upper arms of said terminals when the pressure applying member is being pivotally moved toward its closed position. Claim10recites an electrical connector for a flexible substrate, including a housing having an opening which communicates with and opens at forward portion and upper portion adjacent thereto; a plurality of terminals having contact portions arranged in said opening or an inner portion of said opening and further having lower arms positioned on the bottom side of the housing and upper arms positioned above the lower arms, the lower and upper arms extending forwardly, and said contact portions provided on at least edges of said upper or lower arms; and a pressure applying member provided at said opening and pivotally movable in upper position of said lower arms between its opened position and closed position, and when said pressure applying member is opened, after the flexible substrate has been inserted from the front side of the connector into said opening so that the circuit surface of said flexible substrate is arranged opposite to said contact portions, the pressure applying member being pivotally moved to cause said flexible substrate to be pushed to said contact portions by the pushing portions of said pressure applying member, wherein the pressure applying member comprises guided portions pivoted and guided by upper arms of the terminals, and said guided portions comprise guided portions adapted to come into contact with inner edges of the upper arms of said terminals when the pressure applying member is opened, and wherein the upper arms are adapted to be elastically deformed such that the spacing between the upper arms and the lower arms corresponding thereto when the pressure applying member is opened becomes larger than the spacing when the flexible substrate is not inserted and the pressure applying member is closed. Claim11recites the electrical connector for a flexible substrate claimed in claim10, wherein means for elastically deforming the upper arms is cam means formed between the pressure applying member and the housing.

Patent Literature 3

According to the abstract of the Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2006-032,216, this invention has an object to provide an electrical connector for a flexible substrate, enabling terminals to be arranged with small pitches, and the invention further has an object to provide a flexible substrate for use with the above electrical connector and a method for producing the flexible substrate. Disclosed is an electrical connector for a flexible substrate, including a plurality of terminals1arranged in parallel with one another and each having a support arm3, a contact arm4and a fixed portion7, extending in the substantially same direction and formed so as to maintain plate surfaces of a metal plate, the fixed portion being press-fitted in said extending direction in a holding groove of a housing, and a pressure applying member having pushing portions23causing the flexible substrate P to be brought into elastic contact with contact portions4A of said contact arms4, said support arms each formed with a supporting portion3A for supporting said pressure applying member, wherein either of the support arm and the contact arm of each of the terminals is at least partly accommodated in an accommodating groove13formed in the housing10, the groove13formed and opening in a direction perpendicular to said extending direction and the other being positioned outside the accommodating groove.

Incidentally, claim 1 of the Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2006-032,216 recites an electrical connector for a flexible substrate, including a plurality of terminals arranged in parallel with one another with a predetermined interval in the direction of their thickness and each having a support arm, a contact arm and a fixed portion extending in substantially the same direction and formed so as to maintain plate surfaces of a flat metal plate, the fixed portion being press-fitted in said extending direction in a holding groove of a housing, and a pressure applying member having pushing portions for causing the flexible substrate to be brought into elastic contact with contact portions formed on said contact arms, said pressure applying member being movable between an opened position for permitting the flexible substrate to be inserted and an closed position for bringing the flexible substrate into an elastic contact position, and support arms each formed with a support portion for supporting said pressure applying member, wherein either of the support arm and the contact arm of each of the terminals is at least partly accommodated in an accommodating groove formed in the housing, the groove formed opening in a direction perpendicular to said extending direction and the other being positioned outside the accommodating groove. Claim2recites the electrical connector for a flexible substrate as claimed in claim1, wherein the fixed portion of each of the terminals is a margin of a U-shaped groove formed between either of the support arm and the contact arm and a fixed arm extending in parallel therewith. Claim3recites the electrical connector for a flexible substrate as claimed in claim1, wherein the fixed portion of each of the terminals is a margin of a U-shaped groove formed between the support arm and the contact arm. Claim4recites the electrical connector for a flexible substrate as claimed in any one of claims1to3, wherein the support arm of each of the terminals is positioned outside the accommodating groove. Claim5recites the electrical connector for a flexible substrate as claimed in any one of claims1to3, wherein the contact arm of each of the terminals is positioned outside the accommodating groove. Claim6recites the electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims1to5, wherein the terminals on one side among the plurality of alternately positioned terminals each have the support arm, the contact arm and fixed arm, and the other terminals each have the contact portion and fixed arm, only the other terminals on the one side movably supporting the pressure applying member by the support arms, and wherein the contact portions of both the terminals are positioned outside the accommodating grooves, and the contact arms other than the contact portions are positioned in the accommodating grooves. Claim7recites the electrical connector as claimed in claim1, wherein arranged in the housing are a series of the terminals movably supporting the pressure applying member with the support arms and the other series of the terminals opposite thereto, said other series of the terminals having no support arms, and the housing forms a space at location above the flexible substrate arranged on the contact arms for receiving the pressure applying member pivoted in its closed position. Claim8recites a flexible substrate having a plurality of lands formed and arranged in the proximity of its end, wherein the flexible substrate is formed with a reference mark at predetermined distances in the direction of arrangement of the lands and in the direction perpendicular thereto. Claim9recites the flexible substrate claimed in claim8, wherein the reference mark is a cross mark having line segments extending in the direction of arrangement of the lands and in the direction perpendicular thereto and intersecting with each other. Claim10recites a method for producing a flexible substrate comprising steps of forming a reference mark at predetermined distances from lands in the direction of their arrangement and in the direction perpendicular thereto, and working edges of the flexible substrate in a manner that distances from the reference mark to the edges in the direction of the arrangement of the lands and in the direction perpendicular thereto become predetermined distances while image-recognizing said reference mark.

Patent Literature 4

According to the abstract of the Japanese Patent Application Opened No. H10-208,810 (1998), this invention has an object to provide a connector to be fitted with a flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable, which is miniaturized without degrading its operationality, and the invention has a purpose of preventing a misaligned connection and improving reliability and quality of the connector. Disclosed is a connector including contact elements which are each “H-shaped” and each comprise a rotating beam having a rotating portion whose end is circular arc-shaped provided on one of upper beams connected in the form of “T” to one end of a vertical column, a contact beam provided at a tip end of the other upper beam and having a contact portion to be connected to a flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable, and an SMT terminal to be connected to a pad of a substrate and arranged at one end of a lower beam of the contact element on the side of the substrate, the lower beam being arranged at location opposite to the rotating beam; a lever adapted to engage the rotating portions of the rotating beams and upon being operated to cause the rotating beams to be displaced upwardly and cause the contact beams to be displaced downwardly about columns as fulcrums according to the principle; and an insulator for accommodating the contact elements and lever.

Patent Literature 5

According to the abstract of Japanese Patent Application Opened No. H11-31,561 (1999), this invention has an object to provide a connector superior in operationality and being capable of reliably connecting flat wires. Disclosed is a connector so constructed that when a pivoting member4provided at an opening6on the opposite side of an inserting opening5for flat wires8is at the starting position of the pivotal movement, the pressure-connection portions4bof the pivoting member4do not abut against peripheries of corners3a2of contact elements3so that the connector is under the opened condition in which flat wires are freely inserted or removed, and by pivotally moving the pivoting member4the pressure-connection portions4bof the pivoting member4press the peripheries of corners3a2of the contact elements3to cause them to be elastically deformed so that the contact portions3a1are pressure-connected to the flat wires8, and at the terminal position of the pivotal movement, the pressure-connection portions4bof the pivoting member4ride over the apexes P2of the corners3a2of the contact elements3to produce forces in directions maintaining the connection state by elastic restoring force of the contact elements3.

Incidentally, claim 1 of the Japanese Patent Application Opened No. H1-31,561(1999) recites a connector comprising a housing having an inserting opening for flat wires and an opening on the opposite side thereof, a plurality of contact elements installed in the housing, and a pivoting member pivotally movablly supported on said housing on the side of said opening, said pivoting member having pressure-connection portions which are not pressed to the contact elements to allow the flat wires to be inserted and removed into and from the inserting opening of the housing at the starting position of the pivoting member, while the pressure-connection portions are pressed against the contact elements to cause the contact elements to be elastically deformed so that contact portions of said contact elements are brought into close contact with the flat wires at the terminal position of the pivotal movement of the pivoting member. Claim2recites the connector as claimed in claim1wherein said pivoting member serves to cause said pressure-connection portions to be pressed against peripheries of corners of the contact elements, and said pivoting member is so positioned that said pressure-connection portions are on one side of a line connecting the center of pivotal movement and apexes of the corners at the starting position of the pivotal movement, on progressing of the pivotal movement said pressure-connection portions are moving over the line, and the pressure-connection portions are on the other side of the line at the terminal position of the pivotal movement. Claim3recites the connector as claimed in claim2, wherein the pressure-connection portions of said pivoting member are pressed against peripheries of the corners on one ends of the contact elements so that the contact portions on the other ends of the contact elements are brought into close contact with the inserted flat wires. Claim4recites the connector as claimed in any one of claims1to3, wherein said contact elements each having a pair of contact portions opposed to each other, and the pressure-connection portions of said pivoting member are pressed against said contact elements at the terminal position of said pivotal movement so that one of each pair of contact portions is elastically deformed onto the other side to embrace the inserted flat wires by both the contact portions.

Patent Literature 6

According to the abstract of the Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2002-270,290, this invention has an object to provide a reduced overall height connector having an actuator which is actuated by a slight operating force and capable of enlarging moving distances of contacts to securely perform electrical connection. Disclosed is a connector comprising an actuator30having cam portions31and an actuating portion33, between both the portions being formed with relief grooves32into which proximities14aof tips of spring portions14of the contacts10are inserted and removed, so that when the actuator is rotated about its fulcrum31athrough 90° in a clockwise direction, the cam portions cause the spring portions and connecting spring portions13of the respective contacts to be elastically deformed to embrace a flexible printed circuit board50between projections11aand11bof the contact portions11and projections12aand12bof the contact portions12, with the result that patterns of the flexible printed circuit board50are connected to a printed substrate60through terminals17of the contacts, and an insulator20having a ceiling portion20covering the contact portions11of the respective contacts and formed in the lower portion of the front side of the ceiling portion with a guide portion22afor inserting the flexible printed circuit board into the connector.

Incidentally, claim 1 of the Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2002-270,290 recites a connector including contacts, an insulator holding said contacts, and an actuator rotatably mounted on said insulator and enabling said contacts to be elastically deformed to bring them into contact with a connecting object, wherein said contacts each comprise a first beam having on one side a contact portion adapted to contact said connecting object and on the other side an actuated portion to be actuated by said actuator, a second beam having on one side a contact portion adapted to contact said connecting object and on the other side a terminal portion to be connected to a printed substrate, and a jointing spring portion connecting said first and second beams, and wherein said insulator includes a ceiling portion for covering at least ones of the contact portions from the fitting side and said ceiling portion is formed with a guide portion for guiding the insertion of said connecting object. Claim2recites the connector as claimed in claim1, wherein at least ones of the contact portions are each provided with an inclined portion inclined toward said connecting object in the proximity of said jointing spring portion. Claim3recites the connector as claimed in claim1, wherein said actuator comprises an actuating portion, cam portions for actuating said actuated portions of said contacts, and relief grooves between said actuating portion and said cam portions so that said actuated portions can be inserted into said relief grooves before the connector is connected to said connecting object. Claim4recites a connector including contacts, an insulator holding said contacts, and an actuator rotatably mounted on said insulator and enabling said contacts to be elastically deformed to bring them into contact with a connecting object, wherein said contacts each comprise a first beam having on one side a contact portion adapted to contact said connecting object and on the other side an actuated portion to be actuated by said actuator, a second beam having on one side a contact portion adapted to contact said connecting object and on the other side a terminal portion to be connected to a printed substrate, and a jointing spring portion connecting said first and second beams, and wherein the contact portions of said first beams each include a first protrusion and a second protrusion arranged side by side in the inserting direction of said connecting object and extending toward said connecting object, and the contact portions of said second beams each include a third protrusion and a fourth protrusion arranged side by side in the inserting direction of said connecting object and extending toward said connecting object so that said third protrusion is positioned between said first protrusion and said second protrusion or said first protrusion is positioned between said third protrusion and said fourth protrusion with the result that said first and second protrusions or said third and fourth protrusions become the contacts contacting said connecting object.

Patent Literature 7

According to the abstract of the Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2004-71,160, this invention has an object to provide a connector being capable of securely pushing a flexible printed circuit board40or flexible flat cable to contact portions22of contacts14by means of a slider16without degrading strength of respective members and specifications or customers demands, and achieving a superior operationality, extremely smaller pitches of conductors and reduced overall height. Disclosed is a connector achieving the reduced overall height of this object comprises contacts14each comprising a contact portion22, a connection portion24, and an elastic portion34and a fulcrum portion32between the contact portion22and the connection portion24, and a pressure receiving portion20extending from the elastic portion34in a position facing to the connection portion24, and the contact portion22, elastic portion34, fulcrum portion32and connection portion24being arranged in the form of a crank, and a slider16comprising pushing portions36arranged continuously in the longitudinal direction and the slider16being pivotally mounted on a housing so that the pushing portions36are pivotally moved in a space between the connection portions22and pressure receiving portions20of the contacts14.

Incidentally, claim 1 of the Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2004-71,160 recites a connector detachably fitted with a flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable, including a required number of contacts each having a contact portion adapted to contact said flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable, a housing holding and fixing the contacts and having a fitting opening for inserting the flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable, and a slider for pushing the flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable to the contacts, wherein the contacts each comprise an elastic portion and a fulcrum portion between the contact portion and a connection portion, and a pressure receiving portion extending from the elastic portion and located in a position facing to the connection portion, and the contact portion, elastic portion, fulcrum portion and connection portion being arranged substantially in the form of a crank, and the slider is provided with pushing portions continuously arranged in its longitudinal direction and is mounted on the housing so that the pushing portions are pivotally moved in a space between the connection portions and pressure receiving portions of the contacts. Claim2recites a connector detachably fitted with a flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable, including a required number of contacts each having a contact portion adapted to contact said flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable, a housing holding and fixing the contacts and having a fitting opening for inserting the flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable, and a slider for pushing the flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable to the contacts, wherein two kinds of contacts are alternately arranged to be staggered, the contacts of one kind each comprising an elastic portion and a fulcrum portion between the contact portion and a connection portion, and a pressure receiving portion extending from the elastic portion in a position facing to the connection portion, and the contact portion, elastic portion, fulcrum portion and connection portion being arranged substantially in the form of a crank, and the contacts of the other kind each comprising an elastic portion and a fulcrum portion between the contact portion and a contact portion, and the contact portion, elastic portion, fulcrum portion, and connection portion being arranged substantially in the form of a U-shape, and the slider is provided with pushing portions arranged continuously in its longitudinal direction and mounted on the housing so that the pushing portions are pivotally moved in a space between the connection portions and the pressure receiving portions of the contacts of the one kind and between the pressure receiving portions of the contacts of the other kind and the housing. Claim3recites the connector as claimed in claim1, wherein when the pushing portions of the slider are pivotally moved in the space between the connection portions and the pressure receiving portions of the contacts of the one kind, the pressure receiving portions are raised by the pushing portions so that the elastic portions are tilted about the fulcrum portions toward the contact portions to push the contact portions against the flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable. Claim4recites the contact as claimed in claim1or2, wherein the pressure receiving portions of the contacts of the one kind or the other kind are each provided with a projection so that the pushing portions of the slider are prevented from moving toward the connection portions of the contacts of the one kind. Claim5recites the contact as claimed in claim1or2, wherein the pushing portions of said slider are of an elongated shape. Claim6recites the connector as claimed in claim5, wherein the slider is formed with a required number of anchoring holes independent from one another, which are adapted to engage the projections of the contacts, respectively. Claim7recites the connector as claimed in claim5, wherein the elongated shape of said pushing portions is in the form of an ellipsoid. Claim8recites the connector as claimed in claim1, wherein said contacts of the one kind are each provided with a further contact portion in the direction extending from the fulcrum portion and adapted to contact said flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable. Claim9recites the connector as claimed in claim2, wherein said contacts of the other kind are each provided with an extension portion extending from said fulcrum in the direction opposite from the connection portion, and said slider is mounted on the housing so that the pushing portions of the slider are pivotally moved in the space between the extension portions and the pressure receiving portions. Claim10recites the connector as claimed in claim2, wherein said contacts of the other kind are each further provided between the fulcrum portion and the connection portion with a contact portion adapted to contact said flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable.

With the slider type connector as disclosed in the Utility Model Application Opened No. H06-60,983 (1994) (Patent Literature 1), the connector is constructed in six layers (upper and lower walls of the housing, contact portions and receiving portions of the contacts, the pushing portions of the slider, and the flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable), so that this type of the connector is not suitable for reducing the overall height of the connector. In the slider type, moreover, if the receiving portions of contact are omitted to construct the connector in five layers (upper and lower walls of the housing, contact portions of the contacts, the pushing portions of the slider, and the flexible printed circuit board or flexible flat cable), a further reduction of the overall height of the connector would be impossible for maintaining strengths of respective parts, required specifications, and the like. Since the operations for inserting a flexible printed circuit board or flat cable into the connector and for pushing contact portions of contacts to the circuit board or flat cable are only carried out on the side of the fitting opening of the housing, its operationality would become worse, as the connector becomes smaller.

The connectors of front pivoting type have been disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2001-307,805 (Patent Literature 2) and the Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2006-032,216 (Patent Literature 3). The connectors of the front pivoting type may enable a miniaturization of connector, very narrow pitches of contacts, and space-saving in the inserting direction of the connector (achieving on the order of 3 mm). However, it would be difficult to realize a reduced overall height of the connector (limitation of the order of 1 mm), a requirement for arranging upper and lower contacts opposite to each other according to specifications and the like, stability of connection and holding force when a connecting object is accidentally forced upward, easy and reliable guidance of the connecting object, and the like.

The connectors of rear pivoting type are disclosed in the Japanese Patent Application Opened No. H10-208,810 (1998) (Patent Literature 4), the Japanese Patent Application Opened No. H11-031,561 (1999) (Patent Literature 5), the Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2002-270,290 (Patent Literature 6), and the Japanese Patent Application Opened No. 2004-071,160 (Patent Literature 7) filed by the applicant of the present application. These connectors of rear pivoting type may have advantages enabling a miniaturization of connector, very small pitches of contacts, a reduced overall height of connector (on the order of 0.65 mm), an arrangement of upper and lower contacts opposite to each other according to specifications and the like, stability of connection and holding force when a connecting object is accidentally forced upward, easy and reliable guidance of a connecting object. However, it would be difficult to achieve space-saving in the inserting direction of the connector.

In the connectors of rear pivoting type of the Patent Literatures 4 to 6 other than the Patent Literature 7 proposed by the applicant of the present case, the pivoting member is pivotally moved about a certain fulcrum so that when pivotally moving, a great load will act on the fulcrum, with the result that there would be a tendency for the fulcrum to be damaged. As described above, further, as there is an increasing demand for very small pitches of contacts (miniaturization of connector), the pivoting member becomes thinner so that the possibility of damage at the pivotal movement further increases. In the connector disclosed in the Patent Literature 7 proposed by the applicant of the present case, although the axis of rotation moves to avoid any concentration of load, there is a risk of the fulcrum being damaged. In general, further, when a great number of contacts are used, the pivoting member tends to be deformed or warped at its center when being pivotally moved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the problems with the prior art, the invention has been completed, and the invention has an object to provide a connector whose pivoting member is not damaged when the pivoting member is pivotally moved after a flexible flat cable or printed circuit board has been inserted into the connector to achieve a stable electrical connection even if pitches of contacts of the connector become very small (miniaturization of the connector) and walls of an insulator become very thinner.

The object of the invention can be achieved by the connector10to be detachably fitted with a connecting object, said connector including a required number of contacts each having a contact portion adapted to contact said connecting object and a connection portion to be connected to a substrate, a housing12having inserting holes44for arranging and holding said contacts inserted in said inserting holes and a fitting opening5into which said connecting object is inserted, and a pivoting member14mounted on said housing on the opposite side of said fitting opening5and acting upon said contacts to bring them into contact with said connecting object, constructed according to the invention of claim1in that said contacts each comprise a first piece151having at one end said contact portion152and at the other end a pressure receiving portion153, a second piece155having at an outer end said connection portion156, and an elastic portion22and a fulcrum portion24positioned between said contact portion152and said connection portion156and jointing said first piece151and the other end of said second piece155, and said contact portion152, said elastic portion22, said fulcrum portion24and said connection portion156being arranged substantially in the form of a crank, and such type of contacts are named as first contacts15, that said pivoting member14is provided with anchoring grooves28independent from one another for receiving the pressure receiving portions153of said first contacts15, respectively, and said pivoting member14is further provided with pushing portions30formed by bottoms of said anchoring grooves28, said pushing portions30acting upon said pressure receiving portions153of said first contacts15, respectively, when said pivoting member14is being pivotally moved (rotated), that when the number of said contacts is a predetermined number or less, said first contacts15only are installed in said housing12, that when the number of said contacts is more than said predetermined number, one or more of said first contacts15are each provided with an extended portion164located at the tip of the pressure receiving portion153of said first contact15and extending toward said connection portion, such type of contacts being named as second contacts16, and said pivoting member14is further provided with an anchoring hole or holes32independent from one another each for receiving the pressure receiving portion163of said second contact16, and said pivoting member14is further provided with an engaging rod or rods34each engaging said extended portion164of said second contact16, and that said second contact16is arranged instead of at least one of said first contacts15at an arbitrary location so as to prevent said pivoting member14from being warped.

The object of the invention can be achieved by the connector11to be detachably fitted with a connecting object, said connector including a required number of contacts each having a contact portion adapted to contact said connecting object and a connection portion to be connected to a substrate, a housing13having inserting holes44for arranging and holding said contacts inserted in said inserting holes44and a fitting opening5into which said connecting object is inserted, and a pivoting member14mounted on said housing13on the opposite side of said fitting opening5and acting upon said contacts to bring them into contact with said connecting object, constructed according to the invention of claim2in that said contacts each comprise a first piece171having at one end said contact portion172and at the other end a pressure receiving portion173, a second piece175having at one end said connection portion176, and an elastic portion22and a fulcrum portion24positioned between said contact portion172and said connection portion176and jointing said first piece171and the other end of said second piece175, and said contact portion172, said elastic portion22, said fulcrum portion24and said connection portion176being arranged substantially in a U-shape, and such type of contacts are named as third contacts17, that said pivoting member14is provided with anchoring grooves28independent from one another for receiving the pressure receiving portions173of said third contacts17, respectively, and said pivoting member14is further provided with pushing portions30formed by bottoms of said anchoring grooves28, said pushing portions30acting upon said pressure receiving portions173of said third contacts17, respectively, when said pivoting member14is being pivotally moved (rotated), that when the number of said contacts is a predetermined number or less, said third contacts17only are installed in said housing13, that when the number of said contacts is more than said predetermined number, one or more of said third contacts17are each provided with an extended portion184located at the tip of the pressure receiving portion173of said third contact17and extending toward said housing, such type of contacts being named as fourth contacts18, and said pivoting member14is further provided with an anchoring hole or holes32independent from one another each for receiving the pressure receiving portion183of said fourth contact18and said pivoting member14is further provided with an engaging rod or rods34each engaging said extended portion184of said fourth contact18, and that said fourth contact18is arranged instead of at least one of said third contacts17at an arbitrary location so as to prevent said pivoting member14from being warped.

The invention claimed in claim4lies in the connector10or11constructed in that said pushing portions30are substantially plate-shaped, and when said pivoting member14is being pivotally moved, during initial stage of which said pushing portions30do not contact said first or third contacts15or17, and in the state that the pivotal movement of said pivoting member14has been completed, surfaces of said pushing portions30cause the pressure receiving portions153and173of said first and third contacts15and17to be raised.

The invention claimed in claim5lies in the connector10or11constructed in that in the case that said engaging rods34each comprises a rod portion36only, a spacing between the contact portions162or182of said second or fourth contacts16and18and said housing12or13is smaller than the thickness of said connecting object.

The invention claimed in claim6lies in the connector10or11constructed in that said engaging rods34are each formed as a cam portion38having a substantially L-shaped cross-section including the rod portion36, and when said pivoting member14is pivotally moved about the rod portions36of said cam portions38as a center of the pivotal movement, the pressure receiving portions163and183of said second and fourth contacts16and18are raised by said cam portions38.

The invention claimed in claim7lies in the connector10or11constructed in that said first, second, third and fourth contacts15,16,17and18are each provided with an extension portion157,167,177and187extending from said fulcrum portion24to a location facing to said contact portion152and162or said pressure receiving portion173and183.

The invention claimed in claim8lies in the connector10constructed in that said first and fourth contacts15and18are alternately arranged to be staggered, or said third and second contacts17and16are alternately arranged to be staggered.

The invention claimed in claim9lies in the connector10or11constructed in that said pressure receiving portion153or173is provided with an extended surface154or174adapted to contact a surface of said pushing portion30of said pivoting member14.

As can be seen from the above description, the connector according to the invention can bring about the following significant functions and effects.

(1) A connector claimed in claim1is the connector10to be detachably fitted with a connecting object, said connector including a required number of contacts each having a contact portion adapted to contact said connecting object and a connection portion to be connected to a substrate, a housing12having inserting holes44for arranging and holding said contacts inserted in said inserting holes and a fitting opening5into which said connecting object is inserted, and a pivoting member14mounted on said housing on the opposite side of said fitting opening5and acting upon said contacts to bring them into contact with said connecting object, wherein said contacts each comprise a first piece151having at one end said contact portion152and at the other end a pressure receiving portion153, a second piece155having at an outer end said connection portion156, and an elastic portion22and a fulcrum portion24positioned between said contact portion152and said connection portion156and jointing said first piece151and the other end of said second piece155, and said contact portion152, said elastic portion22, said fulcrum portion24and said connection portion156being arranged substantially in the form of a crank, and such type of contacts are named as first contacts15, wherein said pivoting member14is provided with anchoring grooves28independent from one another for receiving the pressure receiving portions153of said first contacts15, respectively, and said pivoting member14is further provided with pushing portions30formed by bottoms of said anchoring grooves28, said pushing portions30acting upon said pressure receiving portions153of said first contacts15, respectively, when said pivoting member14is being pivotally moved (rotated), wherein when the number of said contacts is a predetermined number or less, said first contacts15only are installed in said housing12, wherein when the number of said contacts is more than said predetermined number, one or more of said first contacts15are each provided with an extended portion164located at the tip of the pressure receiving portion153of said first contact15and extending toward said connection portion, such type of contacts being named as second contacts16, and said pivoting member14is further provided with an anchoring hole or holes32independent from one another each for receiving the pressure receiving portion163of said second contact16, and said pivoting member14is further provided with an engaging rod or rods34each engaging said extended portion164of said second contact16, and wherein said second contact16is arranged instead of at least one of said first contacts15at an arbitrary location so as to prevent said pivoting member14from being warped. Accordingly, after a connecting object such as a flexible printed circuit board80or flat cable has been inserted, when the pivoting member14is pivotally moved, a stable electrical connection is obtained without damaging the pivoting member14, even if pitches of contacts of the connector become very small (miniaturization of the connector) and walls of the insulator become very thinner.

(2) A connector claimed in claim2is the connector11to be detachably fitted with a connecting object, said connector including a required number of contacts each having a contact portion adapted to contact said connecting object and a connection portion to be connected to a substrate, a housing13having inserting holes44for arranging and holding said contacts inserted in said inserting holes44and a fitting opening5into which said connecting object is inserted, and a pivoting member14mounted on said housing13on the opposite side of said fitting opening5and acting upon said contacts to bring them into contact with said connecting object, wherein said contacts each comprise a first piece171having at one end said contact portion172and at the other end a pressure receiving portion173, a second piece175having at one end said connection portion176, and an elastic portion22and a fulcrum portion24positioned between said contact portion172and said connection portion176and jointing said first piece171and the other end of said second piece175, and said contact portion172, said elastic portion22, said fulcrum portion24and said connection portion176being arranged substantially in a U-shape, and such type of contacts are named as third contacts17, wherein said pivoting member14is provided with anchoring grooves28independent from one another for receiving the pressure receiving portions173of said third contacts17, respectively, and said pivoting member14is further provided with pushing portions30formed by bottoms of said anchoring grooves28, said pushing portions30acting upon said pressure receiving portions173of said third contacts17, respectively, when said pivoting member14is being pivotally moved (rotated), wherein when the number of said contacts is a predetermined number or less, said third contacts17only are installed in said housing13, wherein when the number of said contacts is more than said predetermined number, one or more of said third contacts17are each provided with an extended portion184located at the tip of the pressure receiving portion173of said third contact17and extending toward said housing, such type of contacts being named as fourth contacts18, and said pivoting member14is further provided with an anchoring hole or holes32independent from one another each for receiving the pressure receiving portion183of said fourth contact18and said pivoting member14is further provided with an engaging rod or rods34each engaging said extended portion184of said fourth contact18, and wherein said fourth contact18is arranged instead of at least one of said third contacts17at an arbitrary location so as to prevent said pivoting member14from being warped. Therefore, after a connecting object such as a flexible printed circuit board80or flat cable has been inserted, when the pivoting member14is pivotally moved, the pivoting member14is never damaged to obtain a stable electrical connection, even if pitches of contacts of the connector become very small (miniaturization of the connector) and walls of the insulator become very thinner.

(4) According to the connector10or11claimed in claim4, said pushing portions30are substantially plate-shaped, and when said pivoting member14is being pivotally moved, during initial stage of which said pushing portions30do not contact said first or third contacts15or17, and in the state that the pivotal movement of said pivoting member14has been completed, surfaces of said pushing portions30cause the pressure receiving portions153and173of said first and third contacts15and17to be raised. Therefore, the pivoting member14is never damaged to obtain a stable electrical connection when the pivoting member14is pivotally moved.

(5) According to the connector10or11claimed in claim5, in the case that said engaging rods34each comprises a rod portion36only, a spacing between the contact portions162or182of said second or fourth contacts16and18and said housing12or13is smaller than the thickness of said connecting object. Accordingly, the pivoting member14is never damaged to obtain a stable electrical connection when the pivoting member14is pivotally moved.

(6) According to the connector10or11claimed in claim6, said engaging rods34are each formed as a cam portion38having a substantially L-shaped cross-section including the rod portion36, and when said pivoting member14is pivotally moved about the rod portions36of said cam portions38as a center of the pivotal movement, the pressure receiving portions163and183of said second and fourth contacts16and18are raised by said cam portions38. Consequently, when the pivoting member14is pivotally moved, the pivoting member14is never damaged to obtain a stable electrical connection, and a zero insertion force (ZIF) type connector can be realized for all kinds of contacts.

(7) According to the connector10or11claimed in claim7, said first, second, third and fourth contacts15,16,17and18are each provided with an extension portion157,167,177and187extending from said fulcrum portion24to a location facing to said contact portion152and162or said pressure receiving portion173and183. Therefore, the pivoting member14is never damaged to obtain a stable electrical connection when the pivoting member14is pivotally moved.

(8) According to the connector10claimed in claim8, said first and fourth contacts15and18are alternately arranged to be staggered, or said third and second contacts17and16are alternately arranged to be staggered. Therefore, after a connecting object such as a flexible printed circuit board80or flat cable has been inserted, when the pivoting member14is pivotally moved, the pivoting member14is never damaged to obtain a stable electrical connection, even if pitches of contacts of the connector become very small (miniaturization of the connector) and walls of the insulator become very thinner. As the contacts are alternately arranged to be staggered, even smaller pitches of the contacts can be achieved, and the connector according to the invention is advantageous for cost of dies and management cost.

(9) According to the connector10or11claimed in claim9, said pressure receiving portion153or173is provided with an extended surface154or174adapted to contact a surface of said pushing portion30of said pivoting member14. Accordingly, when the pivoting member14is pivotally moved, the pivoting member14is never damaged to obtain a stable electrical connection.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Forming an important aspect of the invention is a construction of pushing portions30of a pivoting member14configured in a manner that bottoms of anchoring grooves28of the pivoting member14are adapted to act on pressure receiving portions153and173of first and third contacts15and17when the pivoting member14is pivotally moved (rotated) in order to prevent the pivoting member14from being damaged due to loading upon pivoting. In case of a great number of contacts, the center portion of the pivoting member may be likely to be deformed owing to the load upon pivoting. In order to overcome this problem, according to the invention at optional positions there are provided contacts each having an extended portion at the outer end of the pressure receiving portion, and the pivoting member is provided with engaging rods34instead of the pushing portions30at locations corresponding to those of the extended portions of the contacts so as to engage the extended portions.

In other words, according to the number of contacts pushing portions30of the pivoting member14are formed substantially in the form of a plate so that when the pivoting member14is being pivotally moved, during an initial stage of which the pushing portions30do not contact the contacts, but in the state that the pivoting movement has been completed the pushing portions30push the pressure receiving portions of the contacts upwardly. On the other hand, contacts are optionally arranged each having an extended portion at the tip of its pressure receiving portion, and the pivoting member is provided with an engaging rod or rods34instead of the pushing portions30, which engage the extended portions of the contact.

The words “optionally arranged” are here understood as signifying that the contacts each having the extended portion provided at the tip of the pressure receiving portion are arranged at locations and the pivoting member is provided with the engaging rods34adapted to engage the extended portions, instead of the pushing portions30, for preventing the pivoting member from being deformed at its center due to the load upon being pivotally moved.

A connector whose contacts are arranged in a single row will be explained. The words “arranged in a single row” means that all the connection portions of the contacts are arranged on one side of the connector, i.e. on the side of the fitting opening or on the opposite side of the fitting opening of the connector.

Initially, one embodiment of the connector10according to the invention will be explained with reference toFIGS. 1A to 6B.FIG. 1Ais a perspective view of the connector according to the invention viewed from the above on the side of the fitting opening for a flexible printed circuit board, andFIG. 1Bis a perspective view of the connector viewed from the below on the opposite side of the fitting opening.FIG. 2Ais a perspective view of a first contact, whileFIG. 2Bis a perspective view of a second contact.FIGS. 3A and 3Bare perspective views of a housing, andFIG. 4is a perspective view of a pivoting member.FIG. 5Ais a sectional view of the connector with the pivoting member opened, taken along the first contact, whileFIG. 5Bis a sectional view of the connector with the pivoting member opened, taken along the second contact.FIG. 6Ais a sectional view of the connector with the flexible printed circuit board inserted and with the pivoting member closed, taken along the first contact, andFIG. 6Bis a sectional view of the connector with the flexible printed circuit board inserted and with the pivoting member closed, taken along the second contact.

The connector10according to the invention mainly comprises a housing12, two kinds of contacts (first and second contacts15and16), and a pivoting member14.

Components of the connector10according to the invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. First, the two kinds of the contacts will be explained. The first and second contacts15and16of the two kinds are both made of a metal and formed by means of the press-working of the known technique. Preferred metals from which to form first and second contacts15and16of the two kinds include brass, beryllium copper, phosphor bronze and the like which comply with the requirements as to springiness, electric conductivity, and the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the two kinds of the contacts (first and second contacts15and16) are inserted into inserting holes44of the housing12from the side opposite from the fitting opening5of the housing.

Said first contact15comprises at least a first piece151having at one end a contact portion152and at the other end a pressure receiving portion153, a second piece155having at its outer end a connection portion156, and an elastic jointing portion (consisting of a fulcrum portion24and an elastic portion22) for connecting or jointing the first piece151and the other end of said second piece155. Said elastic jointing portion can be divided into the fulcrum portion24and the elastic portion22in the illustrated embodiment. In other words, said first contact15is substantially h-shaped and comprises the first piece151having at one end the contact portion152adapted to contact a flexible printed circuit board80(not shown inFIG. 2A) and at the other end the pressure receiving portion153to be pushed by said pivoting member14, the second piece155having at one end the fulcrum portion24and at the other end the connection portion156to be connected to a substrate, and the elastic portion22for jointing the substantially middle portion of the first piece151and the fulcrum portion24of the second piece155(said elastic jointing portion consisting of the fulcrum portion24and the elastic portion22), and further may comprises a fixed portion20on the second piece155in the proximity of the elastic jointing portion. The contact portion152of said first piece151, the elastic portion22, the fulcrum portion24and the connection portion156are arranged substantially in the form of a crank.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first contact15is further provided with an extension portion157extending from said fulcrum portion24in the direction opposite from said connection portion156(toward the fitting opening5) so that the first contact15is substantially H-shaped as shown inFIG. 2A.

Said fixed portion20is provided on said second piece155in the proximity of the elastic jointing portion. The position and size of said fixed portion20may be suitably designed in consideration of the holding force for the first contact15, the rising of the contact, stability of connectivity, and the like.

Said contact portion152is in the form of a protrusion for the purpose of facilitating the contact with the flexible printed circuit board80. The connection portion156is of a surface mounting type (SMT) in the illustrated embodiment as shown inFIG. 1B. It may be of a dip type.

Said fulcrum portion24, said elastic portion22, and said pressure receiving portion153function as the following description when said flexible printed circuit board80has been inserted into the connector10. When the pivoting member14is being pivotally moved after the flexible printed circuit board80has been inserted into the connector10, the pushing portions30of said pivoting member14enter the spaces between the connection portions156and the pressure receiving portions153of said first contacts15, and are pivotally moved in the spaces, with the result that said pressure receiving portions153are raised upwardly. Therefore, the elastic portions22of said first contacts15are tilted toward said contact portions152about the fulcrum portions24of the first contacts15by the upward movement of the pressure receiving portions153, so that the contact portions152are pushed to said flexible printed circuit board80. The sizes and shapes of said fulcrum portions24, said elastic portions22, and said pressure receiving portions153may be suitably designed so as to achieve these functions.

It is preferable to provide an extended surface154on the pressure receiving portion153of said first contact15so as to extend toward said connection portion156for facilitating the occurrence of the above functions. The pushing portions30of said pivoting member14come into surface contact with said extended surfaces154of said first contacts15to ensure the above functions and stable electrical connection. The size and shape of said extended surfaces may be suitably designed to achieve the above functions.

The second contact16will then be explained with reference toFIG. 2B. A remarkable difference of the second contact16from the first contact15is in an extended portion164provided at the tip of the pressure receiving portion163of said second contact16. The extended portion164of the second contact16engages an engaging rod34of the pivoting member14later described to obtain its assured pivotal (rotational) movement and to prevent the center portion of said pivoting member14from being deformed in a direction shown by an arrow A inFIG. 1Acaused by the load (reaction force against the pivotal movement) acting upon the pivoting member14when it is being pivoted. The size of said extended portion164may be any one so long as it achieves such functions, and may be suitably designed such that the engaging rod34of said pivoting member14engages the extended portion164to achieve a stable pivotal (rotational) movement. The shape of said second contact16may be substantially h-shaped or H-shaped similarly to the first contact15.

Said second contact16comprises at least a first piece161having at one end a contact portion162and at the other end a pressure receiving portion163, a second piece165having at an outer end a connection portion166, and an elastic jointing portion (consisting of a fulcrum portion24and an elastic portion22) for connecting or jointing said first piece161and the other end of said second piece165. Said elastic jointing portion can be divided into the fulcrum portion24and the elastic portion22in the illustrated embodiment. In other words, said second contact16is substantially h-shaped and comprises the first piece161having at one end the contact portion162adapted to contact the flexible printed circuit board80(not shown inFIG. 2B) and at the other end the pressure receiving portion163to be pushed by said pivoting member14, the second piece165having at one end the fulcrum portion24and at the other end the connection portion166to be connected to the substrate, and the elastic portion22(said fulcrum portion24and said elastic portion22form the elastic jointing portion) for jointing the substantially middle portion of said first piece161and said fulcrum portion24of said second piece165, and further may comprises a fixed portion20on said second piece165in the proximity of the elastic jointing portion. Said contact portion162of said first piece161, said elastic portion22, said fulcrum portion24, and said connection portion166are arranged substantially in the form of a crank.

In the illustrated embodiment, said second contact16is provided with an extension portion167extending from said fulcrum portion24in the direction opposite from said connection portion166(toward the fitting opening5) so that the second contact16is substantially H-shaped as shown inFIG. 2B.

As described above, said fixed portion20is provided on said second piece165in the proximity of its elastic jointing portion. The position and size of said fixed portion20may be designed taking into account the holding force for the second contact16, the rising of the contact, stability of connectivity, and the like.

Said contact portion162is in the form of a protrusion in order to facilitate the contact with said flexible printed circuit board80. Although said connection portion166is of a surface mounting type (SMT) as shown inFIG. 1B, it may be of a dip type.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 5B and 6B, when said engaging rod34of said pivoting member14is formed by merely a rod portion36, said pressure receiving portion163only serves as a bearing, and said fulcrum portion24and said elastic portion22only serve to joint the first piece161and the second piece165of said second contact16. In such a case, a space between the contact portion162and the extension portion167of said second contact16(the housing12in case of being free from the extension portion167) is designed to be smaller than the thickness of the flexible printed circuit board80to be inserted into the space (a so-called non-zero insertion force (N-ZIF) structure), thereby achieving a stable connection of the connector and the flexible printed circuit board inserted therein.

In the case that said engaging rod34of said pivoting member14is formed as a cam portion38which includes the rod portion36and has a substantially L-shaped cross-section (although not shown inFIGS. 1A to 6B), said fulcrum portion24, said elastic portion22, and said pressure receiving portion163perform the following functions when the flexible printed circuit board80has been inserted into the connector10. After the flexible printed circuit board80has been inserted into the fitting opening5of said housing12, when the cam portion38of said pivoting member14is pivotally moved between the connection portion166and the pressure receiving portion163of said second contact16, said pressure receiving portion163is raised upwardly by the cam portion38so that the elastic portion22of said second contact16is tilted toward said contact portion162about the fulcrum portion24of said second contact16, thereby pushing said contact portion162to said flexible printed circuit board80. The sizes and shapes of said fulcrum portion24, said elastic portion22, and said pressure receiving portion163may be suitably designed so as to achieve such a function.

The pivoting member14will then be explained. The pivoting member14is formed from an electrically insulating plastic material by means of the injection molding of the known technique. The materials for the pivoting member14may be suitably selected in consideration of dimensional stability, workability, manufacturing cost, and the like and generally include polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyamide (66PA or 46PA), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polycarbonate (PC), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), and the like, and synthetic materials thereof. Said pivoting member14mainly comprises an actuating portion26, axles to be fitted in the housing12for pivotally moving the pivoting member relative to the housing12, anchoring grooves28for receiving the pressure receiving portions153of said first contacts15, pushing portions30for pushing the pressure receiving portions153, an anchoring hole or holes32for receiving the pressure receiving portions163of said second contacts16, and an engaging rod or rods34adapted to engage the extended portions164. Said axles are fulcrums for pivotally moving the pivoting member14and suitably fitted in both the longitudinal ends of the housing12so as to permit the pivoting member14to be pivotally moved.

According to the invention, made to be different from each other are shapes of the portions (the pushing portions30, the engaging rod or rods34, and the like) of said pivoting member14with which the pressure receiving portions153and163of said first and second contacts15and16are engaged, respectively. In other words, in order to prevent said pivoting member14from being deformed (warped) in the direction shown by the arrow A inFIG. 1Adue to the load (reaction against the pivotal movement) when the pivoting member14is being pivotally moved (rotated), said second contact or contacts16are arranged at optional locations instead of the first contacts15.

Regarding the portions (the pushing portions30) of said pivoting member14cooperating with said first contacts15and said anchoring grooves28whose bottom surfaces are formed substantially in the form of a plate, when said pivoting member14is pivotally moved (rotated), during the initial stage of the pivotal movement, the pushing portions30do not contact said first contacts15and in the state that the pivotal movement has been completed, the extended surfaces154of the pressure receiving portions153of said first contacts15are raised upwardly by the surfaces of said pushing portions30, that is, the pushing portions30are exerted on said first contacts15as described above, thereby bringing the contact portions152of said first contacts15into contact with the inserted flexible printed circuit board80. Preferably, the shape of said pushing portions30is substantially in the form of a plate. With such plate-shaped pushing portions30, the extended surfaces154of said first contacts15can be raised upwardly by the surfaces of said pushing portions30(the bottom surfaces of the anchoring grooves28) when the pivoting member14is inserted and pivotally moved. By causing the surfaces to contact each other, the extended surfaces154can be securely raised and at the same time the load acting upon the pivoting member14when pivotally moving can be reduced.

The size of said pushing portions30is determined so as to be larger than the distance between the extended surface154and the connection portion156of said first contact15so that the functions described above can be achieved. The pushing portions30may be suitably designed in consideration of the elasticity of the contacts, contact pressure, strength, and the like.

Said engaging grooves28are blind holes (grooves) and are independent from one another in order to maintain the strength of said pivoting member14and to avoid the pivoting member14from being damaged when it is pivotally moving. The depth of said engaging grooves28may be suitably designed so as to achieve the functions described above taking into account the relation to the thickness of said pushing portions30, the elasticity of the contacts, contact pressure, strength and the like.

Insertion and pivotal movement of the pushing portions30will be explained herein with reference toFIGS. 14A to 14D. First, when the flexible printed circuit board80is not inserted into the connector10, the pivoting member14stands substantially upright as shown inFIG. 14A. Then, the flexible printed circuit board80is inserted and the pivoting member14is started to be pivotally moved, during initial stage of which the pushing portion30does not contact the extended surface154of the first contact15as shown inFIG. 14B. When the pivoting member14is further pivotally moved, the tip of said pushing portion30comes into line contact with the extended surface154as shown inFIG. 14C. Upon further pivotal movement, the pivoting member14becomes substantially parallel to the housing12and said pushing portion30comes into surface contact with the extended surface154to cause the extended surface154to be raised by said pushing portion30as shown inFIG. 14D.

There is a case that the engaging rod34of said pivoting member14cooperating with said second contact16is only the rod portion36(the non-zero insertion force (N-ZIF) structure as described above) as shown inFIGS. 5B and 6B, or there is a case that the engaging rod34is the cam portion38having the substantially L-shaped cross-section including the engaging rod34and the rod portion36as shown inFIG. 15A.

In the case that the engaging rod34is the rod portion36only (the non-zero insertion force (N-ZIF) structure as described above), the rod portion36only needs to engage the extended portion164of the second contact16and rotate and to be sufficient to prevent the pivoting member14from being deformed in the direction shown by the arrow A inFIG. 1Adue to the load (the reaction force against the pivotal movement) when the pivoting member14is pivotally moving. In the illustrated embodiment, said rod portion36is substantially in the form of a cylindrical column. The size of said rod portion36may be suitably designed in consideration of the deformation or warping and strength of the pivoting member14, miniaturization of the connector, pivotal (rotational) movability, the size of the extended portion164of the second contact16, and the like.

In the case that the engaging rod34is the cam portion38having the substantially L-shaped cross-section including the engaging rod34and the rod portion36, the rod portion36only needs to engage the extended portion164of said second contact16and rotate and to be sufficient to prevent the pivoting member14from being deformed in the direction shown by the arrow A inFIG. 1Adue to the load (the reaction force against the pivotal movement) when the pivoting member14is pivotally moving. Further, the cam portion38only needs to raise the pressure receiving portion163of said second contact16by the difference in contact height of the cam portion38(the cross-section of the cam portion38is not perfectly circular) when the cam portion38is pivotally moved (rotated) so that the function described above occurs, thereby enabling the contact portion162of said second contact16to contact the flexible printed circuit board80. In the illustrated embodiment, the rod portion36is substantially column-shaped, and the size of said rod portion36may be suitably designed in consideration of the deformation (warping) and strength of said pivoting member14, miniaturization of the connector10, pivotal (rotational) movability, the size of the extended portion164of the second contact16, and the like. Moreover, the cam portion38may be suitably designed so as to achieve the functions described above, taking into account the elasticity, contact pressure and strength of the contact, and the like.

Said pivoting member14is provided with an anchoring hole or holes32which are through-holes and independent from each other and are located at positions corresponding to those of said second contacts16. Said anchoring holes32may be suitably designed so that the pressure receiving portions163of said second contacts16are received in said anchoring holes32and said extended portions164engage said rod portions36, thereby enabling a stable pivotal movement of said engaging rods34.

The actuating portion26of said pivoting member14may be of any shape and size insofar as it enables said pivoting member14to be actuated so as to be pivotally moved, and may be suitably designed taking into account its operationality and strength.

The pivotal movement of said cam portion38will be explained herein with reference toFIGS. 15A to 15D. First, when the flexible printed circuit board80is not inserted into the connector10, the pivoting member14stands substantially upright as shown inFIG. 15A. Then, the flexible printed circuit board80is inserted and the pivoting member14is started to be pivotally moved, during initial stage of which the cam portion38is rotated about the rod portion36of said cam portion38as a rotating center and the cam portion38is in an inclined position at substantially45degrees as shown inFIG. 15B. When the pivoting member14is further pivotally moved, the cam portion38is rotated about the rod portion36of said cam portion38as a rotating center, and the cam portion38is in a substantially vertical position as shown inFIG. 15C. When the pivoting member14is further pivotally moved, the cam portion38is rotated about the rod portion36of said cam portion38as a rotating center, and the cam portion38is in substantially vertical position and slightly tilted to the right viewed in the drawing ofFIG. 15Dso that said pressure receiving portion163is raised by said cam portion38.

Finally, the housing12will be explained. The housing12is formed from an electrically insulating plastic material by means of the injection molding of the known technique. The materials for the housing12may be suitably selected in consideration of dimensional stability, workability, manufacturing cost, and the like and generally include polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyamide (66PA or 46PA), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polycarbonate (PC) and the like and synthetic materials thereof.

The housing12is formed with inserting holes44into which a required number of the contacts are inserted and fixed, respectively, by means of press-fitting, hooking (lancing), welding, or the like.

The housing12is further formed at both the longitudinal ends with bearings into which the axles of the pivoting member14are fitted so as to permit the pivoting member14to be pivotally movable. The shape and size of the bearings may be any ones so long as the pivoting member14is pivotally moved, and may be suitably designed taking into account their functions, the strength and the size of the housing, and the like.

Moreover, the housing12is provided with a ceiling portion40for covering or insulating the contact portions152and162of the first pieces151and161of said first and second contacts15and16. It is preferable to provide a conducting portion at the outer peripheries of the fitting opening5of said housing12for facilitating the insertion of a connecting object such as the flexible printed circuit board80.

The arrangement of said first and second contacts15and16according to the invention will be explained. In the case that the number of the contacts is ten (10) or less, said first contacts15only are used. If the number of the contacts is more than ten (10), one or more of the second contacts16are used in place of the first contacts15at optional positions. In other words, in the case that the number of the contacts is more than ten (10), since it is envisioned that said pivoting member14may be deformed or warped due to the load when it is pivotally moving, such a deformation of said pivoting member14is prevented by causing the engaging rod34of said pivoting member14to engage the extended portion164of said second contact16. The second contact16may be provided at any location insofar as the deformation or warping of the pivoting member14can be prevented. In the case that the number of the contacts is more than ten (10), it is effective (desirable) to arrange the second contacts at locations corresponding to about every fifth contact.

A connector11of another embodiment of the invention will then be explained with reference toFIGS. 7A to 12B.FIG. 7Ais a perspective view of the connector according to the invention different from the connector shown inFIG. 1A, viewed from the above on the side of the fitting opening for a flexible printed circuit board, andFIG. 1Bis a perspective view of the connector viewed from the below on the opposite side of the fitting opening.FIG. 8Ais a perspective view of a third contact, whileFIG. 8Bis a perspective view of a fourth contact.FIGS. 9A and 9Bare perspective views of a housing different from the housing shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B, andFIG. 10is a perspective view of a pivoting member different from the pivoting member shown inFIG. 4.FIG. 11Ais a sectional view of the connector with the pivoting member opened, taken along the third contact, whileFIG. 11Bis a sectional view of the connector with the pivoting member opened, taken along the fourth contact.FIG. 12Ais a sectional view of the connector with the flexible printed circuit board inserted and with the pivoting member closed, taken along the third contact, andFIG. 12Bis a sectional view of the connector with the flexible printed circuit board inserted and with the pivoting member closed, taken along the fourth contact.

The connector11according to the invention comprises a housing13, two kinds of contacts (third contacts17and fourth contacts18), and a pivoting member14in the same manner as in the connector10described above.

Components of the connector11according to the invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. First, the two kinds of the contacts will be explained. The third and fourth contacts17and18of the two kinds are both made of a metal and formed by means of the press-working of the known technique. Preferred metals from which to form third and fourth contacts17and18of the two kinds include brass, beryllium copper, phosphor bronze and the like which comply with the requirements as to springiness, electric conductivity, and the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the two kinds of the contacts (third and fourth contacts17and18) are inserted into inserting holes44of the housing13from the side of the fitting opening5of the housing.

Said third contact17comprises at least a first piece171having at one end a contact portion172and at the other end a pressure receiving portion173, a second piece175having at one end a connection portion176, and an elastic jointing portion (consisting of a fulcrum portion24and an elastic portion22) for connecting or jointing the first piece171and the other end of said second piece175. Said elastic jointing portion can be divided into the fulcrum portion24and the elastic portion22in the illustrated embodiment. In other words, said third contact17is substantially h-shaped and comprises the first piece171having at one end the contact portion172adapted to contact a flexible printed circuit board80(not shown inFIG. 8A) and at the other end the pressure receiving portion173to be pushed by said pivoting member14, the second piece175having at one end the connection portion176to be connected to a substrate and at the other end the fulcrum portion24, and the elastic portion22for jointing the substantially middle portion of the first piece171and the fulcrum portion24of the second piece175(said elastic jointing portion consisting of the fulcrum portion24and the elastic portion22), and further may comprises a fixed portion20on an extension portion177(described in next paragraph) in the proximity of the elastic jointing portion. The contact portion172of said first piece171, the elastic portion22, the fulcrum portion24and the connection portion176are arranged substantially in the form of a U-shape.

In the illustrated embodiment, the third contact17is further provided with the extension portion177extending from said fulcrum portion24in the same direction extending the pressure receiving portion173(in opposite direction from the fitting opening5) so that the third contact17is substantially H-shaped as shown inFIG. 8A.

Said fixed portion20is provided on said extension portion177in the proximity of the elastic jointing portion. The position and size of said fixed portion20may be suitably designed in consideration of the holding force for the third contact17, the rising of the contact, stability of connectivity, and the like.

Said contact portion172is in the form of a protrusion for the purpose of facilitating the contact with the flexible printed circuit board80. The connection portion176is of a surface mounting type (SMT) in the illustrated embodiment as shown inFIG. 7A. It may be of a dip type.

Said fulcrum portion24, said elastic portion22, and said pressure receiving portion173serve as the following description when said flexible printed circuit board80has been inserted into the connector11. When the pivoting member14is being pivotally moved after the flexible printed circuit board80has been inserted into the connector11, the pushing portions30of said pivoting member14enter the spaces between the extension portions177and the pressure receiving portions173of said third contacts17and are pivotally moved in the spaces, with the result that said pressure receiving portions173are raised upwardly. Therefore, the elastic portions22of said third contacts17are tilted toward said contact portions172about the fulcrum portions24of the third contacts17by the upward movement of the pressure receiving portions173, so that the contact portions172are pushed to the flexible printed circuit board80. The sizes and shapes of said fulcrum portions24, said elastic portions22, and said pressure receiving portions173may be suitably designed so as to achieve these functions.

It is preferable to provide an extended surface174on the pressure receiving portion173of said third contact17so as to extend toward said extension portion177for facilitating the occurrence of the above functions. The pushing portions30of said pivoting member14come into surface contact with said extended surfaces174of said third contacts17to ensure the above functions and more stable electrical connection. The size and shape of said extended surfaces may be suitably designed to achieve the above functions.

The fourth contact18will then be explained with reference toFIG. 8B. A great difference of the fourth contact18from the third contact17is in an extended portion184provided at the tip of the pressure receiving portion183of said fourth contact18. The extended portion184of the fourth contact18engages the engaging rod34of the pivoting member14later described to obtain its assured pivotal (rotational) movement and to prevent the center portion of said pivoting member14from being deformed in a direction shown by an arrow B inFIG. 7Acaused by the load (reaction force against the pivotal movement) acting upon the pivoting member14when it is being pivoted. The size of said extended portion184may be any one so long as it achieves such functions, and may be suitably designed such that the engaging rod34of said pivoting member14engages the extended portion184to achieve a stable pivotal (rotational) movement. The shape of said fourth contact18may be substantially h-shaped or H-shaped similarly to the third contact17.

Said fourth contact18comprises at least a first piece181having at one end a contact portion182and at the other end a pressure receiving portion183, a second piece185having at one end a connection portion186, and an elastic jointing portion (consisting of a fulcrum portion24and an elastic portion22) for connecting or jointing said first piece181and the other end of said second piece185. Said elastic jointing portion can be divided into the fulcrum portion24and the elastic portion22in the illustrated embodiment. In other words, said fourth contact18is substantially h-shaped and comprises the first piece181having at one end the contact portion182adapted to contact the flexible printed circuit board80(not shown inFIG. 8B) and at the other end the pressure receiving portion183to be pushed by said pivoting member14, the second piece185having at one end the connection portion186to be connected to the substrate and at the other end the fulcrum portion24, and the elastic portion22(said fulcrum portion24and said elastic portion22form the elastic jointing portion) for jointing the substantially middle portion of said first piece181and said fulcrum portion24of said second piece185, and further may comprises a fixed portion20on an extension portion187(described in next paragraph) in the proximity of the elastic jointing portion. Said contact portion182of said first piece181, said elastic portion22, said fulcrum portion24, and said connection portion186are arranged substantially in the form of a U-shape.

In the illustrated embodiment, said fourth contact18is provided with the extension portion187extending from said fulcrum portion24in the direction opposite from said connection portion186(away from the fitting opening5) so that the fourth contact18is substantially H-shaped as shown inFIG. 8B.

As described above, said fixed portion20is provided on said extension portion187in the proximity of its elastic jointing portion. The position and size of said fixed portion20may be designed taking into account the holding force for the fourth contact18, the rising of the contact, stability of connectivity, and the like.

Said contact portion182is in the form of a protrusion in order to facilitate the contact with said flexible printed circuit board80. Although said connection portion186is of a surface mounting type (SMT) as shown inFIG. 7A, it may be of a dip type.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 11B and 12B, when said engaging rod34of said pivoting member14is formed by merely a rod portion36, said pressure receiving portion183only serves as a bearing, and said fulcrum portion24and said elastic portion22only serve to joint the first piece181and the second piece185of said fourth contact18. In such a case, a space between the contact portion182and the connection portion186of said fourth contact18is designed to be smaller than the thickness of the flexible printed circuit board80to be inserted into the space (a so-called non-zero insertion force (N-ZIF) structure), thereby achieving a stable connection of the connector and the flexible printed circuit board inserted therein.

In the case that said engaging rod34of said pivoting member14is formed as a cam portion38which includes the rod portion36and has a substantially L-shaped cross-section (although not shown inFIGS. 7A to 12B), said fulcrum portion24, said elastic portion22, and said pressure receiving portion183perform the following functions when the flexible printed circuit board80has been inserted into the connector11. After the flexible printed circuit board80has been inserted into the fitting opening5of said housing13, when the cam portion38of said pivoting member14is pivotally moved between the pressure receiving portion183and the extension portion187(housing13in case of being free from the extension portion) of said fourth contact18, said pressure receiving portion183is raised upwardly by the cam portion38so that the elastic portion22of said fourth contact18is tilted toward said contact portion182about the fulcrum portion24of said fourth contact18, thereby pushing said contact portion182to said flexible printed circuit board80. The sizes and shapes of said fulcrum portion24, said elastic portion22, and said pressure receiving portion183may be suitably designed so as to achieve such a function.

The pivoting member14will then be explained. The pivoting member14is formed from an electrically insulating plastic material by means of the injection molding of the known technique. The materials for the pivoting member14may be suitably selected in consideration of dimensional stability, workability, manufacturing cost, and the like and generally include polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyamide (66PA or 46PA), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polycarbonate (PC), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), and the like, and synthetic materials thereof. Said pivoting member14mainly comprises an actuating portion26, axles to be fitted in the housing13for pivotally moving the pivoting member relative to the housing13, anchoring grooves28for receiving the pressure receiving portions173of said third contacts17, pushing portions30for pushing the pressure receiving portions173, an anchoring hole or holes32for receiving the pressure receiving portions183of said fourth contacts18, and an engaging rod or rods34adapted to engage the extended portions184. Said axles are fulcrums for pivotally moving the pivoting member14and suitably fitted in both the longitudinal ends of the housing13so as to permit the pivoting member14to be pivotally moved.

According to the invention, made to be different from each other are shapes of the portions (the pushing portions30, the engaging rod or rods34, and the like) of said pivoting member14with which the pressure receiving portions173and183of said third and fourth contacts17and18are engaged, respectively. In other words, in order to prevent said pivoting member14from being deformed (warped) in the direction shown by the arrow B inFIG. 7Adue to the load (reaction against the pivotal movement) when the pivoting member14is being pivotally moved (rotated), said fourth contact or contacts18are arranged at optional locations instead of the third contacts17.

Regarding the portions (the pushing portions30) of said pivoting member14cooperating with said third contacts17and said anchoring grooves28whose bottom surfaces are formed substantially in the form of a plate, when said pivoting member14is pivotally moved (rotated), during the initial stage of the pivotal movement, the pushing portions30do not contact said third contacts17and in the state that the pivotal movement has been completed, the extended surfaces174of the pressure receiving portions173of said third contacts17are raised upwardly by the surfaces of said pushing portions30, that is, the pushing portions30are exerted on said third contacts17as described above, thereby bringing the contact portions172of said third contacts17into contact with the inserted flexible printed circuit board80. Preferably, the shape of said pushing portions30is substantially in the form of a plate. With such plate-shaped pushing portions30, the extended surfaces174of said third contacts17can be raised upwardly by the surfaces of said pushing portions30(the bottom surfaces of the anchoring grooves28) when the pivoting member14is inserted and pivotally moved. By causing the surfaces to contact each other, the extended surfaces can be securely raised and at the same time the load acting upon the pivoting member when pivotally moving can be reduced.

The size of said pushing portions30is determined so as to be larger than the distance between the extended surface174and the extension portion177of said third contact17so that the functions described above can be achieved. The pushing portions30may be suitably designed in consideration of the elasticity of the contacts, contact pressure, strength, and the like.

Said engaging grooves28are blind holes (grooves) and are independent from one another in order to maintain the strength of said pivoting member14and to avoid the pivoting member14from being damaged when it is pivotally moving. The depth of said engaging grooves28may be suitably designed so as to achieve the functions described above taking into account the relation to the thickness of said pushing portions30, the elasticity of the contacts, contact pressure, strength and the like.

Insertion and pivotal movement of the pushing portions30cooperating with the third contact17will be explained herein with reference toFIGS. 14A to 14D. First, when the flexible printed circuit board80is not inserted into the connector11, the pivoting member14stands substantially upright as shown inFIG. 14A. Then, the flexible printed circuit board80is inserted and the pivoting member14is started to be pivotally moved, during initial stage of which the pushing portion30does not contact the extended surface174of the third contact17as shown inFIG. 14B. When the pivoting member14is further pivotally moved, the tip of said pushing portion30comes into line contact with the extended surface174as shown inFIG. 14C. Upon further pivotal movement, the pivoting member14becomes substantially parallel to the housing13and said pushing portion30comes into surface contact with the extended surface174to cause the extended surface174to be raised by said pushing portion30as shown inFIG. 14D.

There is a case that the portion (the engaging rod34) of said pivoting member14cooperating with said fourth contact18is only the rod portion36(the non-zero insertion force (N-ZIF) structure as described above) as shown inFIGS. 11B and 12B, or there is a case that the engaging rod34is the cam portion38having the substantially L-shaped cross-section including the engaging rod34and the rod portion36as shown inFIG. 13BandFIG. 15.

In the case that the engaging rod34is the rod portion36only (the non-zero insertion force (N-ZIF) structure as described above), the rod portion36only needs to engage the extended portion184of the fourth contact18and rotate and to be sufficient to prevent the pivoting member14from being deformed in the direction shown by the arrow B inFIG. 7Adue to the load (the reaction force against the pivotal movement) when the pivoting member14is pivotally moving. In the illustrated embodiment, said rod portion36is substantially in the form of a cylindrical column. The size of said rod portion36may be suitably designed in consideration of the deformation or warping and strength of the pivoting member14, miniaturization of the connector, pivotal (rotational) movability, the size of the extended portion184of the fourth contact18, and the like.

In the case that the engaging rod34is the cam portion38having the substantially L-shaped cross-section including the engaging rod34and the rod portion36, the rod portion36only needs to engage the extended portion184of said fourth contact18and rotate and to be sufficient to prevent the pivoting member14from being deformed in the direction shown by the arrow B inFIG. 7Adue to the load (the reaction force against the pivotal movement) when the pivoting member14is pivotally moving. Further, the cam portion38only needs to raise the pressure receiving portion183of said fourth contact18by the difference in contact height of the cam portion38(the cross-section of the cam portion38is not perfectly circular) when the cam portion38is pivotally moved (rotated) so that the function described above occurs, thereby enabling the contact portion182of said fourth contact18to contact the flexible printed circuit board80. In the illustrated embodiment, the rod portion36is substantially column-shaped, and the size of said rod portion36may be suitably designed in consideration of the deformation (warping) and strength of said pivoting member14, miniaturization of the connector10, pivotal (rotational) movability, the size of the extended portion184of the fourth contact18, and the like. Moreover, the cam portion38may be suitably designed so as to achieve the functions described above, taking into account the elasticity, contact pressure and strength of the contact, and the like.

Said pivoting member14is provided with an anchoring hole or holes32which are through-holes and independent from each other and are located at positions corresponding to those of said fourth contacts18. Said anchoring holes32may be suitably designed so that the pressure receiving portions183of said fourth contacts18are received in said anchoring holes32and said extended portions184engage said rod portions36, thereby enabling a stable pivotal movement of said engaging rods34.

The actuating portion26of said pivoting member14may be of any shape and size insofar as it enables said pivoting member14to be actuated to be pivotally moved, and may be suitably designed taking into account its operationality and strength.

The pivotal movement of said cam portion38will be explained herein with reference toFIGS. 15A to 15D. First, when the flexible printed circuit board80is not inserted into the connector11, the pivoting member14stands substantially upright as shown inFIG. 15A. Then, the flexible printed circuit board80is inserted and the pivoting member14is started to be pivotally moved, during initial stage of which the cam portion38is rotated about the rod portion36of said cam portion38as a rotating center and the cam portion38is in an inclined position at substantially45degrees as shown inFIG. 15B. When the pivoting member14is further pivotally moved, the cam portion38is rotated about the rod portion36of said cam portion38as a rotating center, and the cam portion38is in a substantially vertical position as shown inFIG. 15C. When the pivoting member14is further pivotally moved, the cam portion38is rotated about the rod portion36of said cam portion38as a rotating center, and the cam portion38is in substantially vertical position and slightly tilted to the right viewed in the drawing ofFIG. 15Dso that said pressure receiving portion183is raised by said cam portion38.

Finally, the housing13will be explained. The housing13is formed from an electrically insulating plastic material by means of the injection molding of the known technique. The materials for the housing13may be suitably selected in consideration of dimensional stability, workability, manufacturing cost, and the like and generally include polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyamide (66PA or 46PA), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polycarbonate (PC) and the like and synthetic materials thereof.

The housing13is formed with inserting holes44into which a required number of the contacts are inserted and fixed, respectively, by means of press-fitting, hooking (lancing), welding, or the like.

The housing13is further formed at both the longitudinal ends with bearings into which the axles of the pivoting member14are fitted so as to permit the pivoting member14to be pivotally movable. The shape and size of the bearings may be any ones so long as the pivoting member14is pivotally moved, and may be suitably designed taking into account their functions, the strength and the size of the housing13, and the like.

Moreover, the housing13is provided with a ceiling portion40for covering or insulating the contact portions172and182of the first pieces171and181of said third and fourth contacts17and18. It is preferable to provide a conducting portion at the outer peripheries of the fitting opening5of said housing13for facilitating the insertion of a connecting object such as the flexible printed circuit board80.

The arrangement of said third and fourth contacts17and18according to the invention will be explained. In the case that the number of the contacts is ten (10) or less, said third contacts17only are used. If the number of the contacts is more than ten (10), one or more of the fourth contacts18are used in place of the third contacts17at optional positions. In other words, in the case that the number of the contacts is more than ten, since it is envisioned that said pivoting member14may be deformed or warped due to the load when it is pivotally moving, such a deformation of said pivoting member14is prevented by causing the engaging rod34of said pivoting member14to engage the extended portion184of said fourth contact18. The fourth contact18may be provided at any location insofar as the deformation or warping of the pivoting member14can be prevented. In the case that the number of the contacts is more than ten, it is effective (desirable) to arrange the fourth contacts at locations corresponding to about every fifth contact.

A connector according to the invention whose contacts are alternately arranged to be staggered will then be explained hereinafter. The words “alternately arranged to be staggered” used herein mean that the contacts of two kinds are alternately arranged on the side of the fitting opening and the opposite side of the fitting opening of the housing.

One embodiment of the connector10according to the invention will be explained with reference toFIGS. 16A to 23B.FIG. 16Ais a perspective view of the connector according to the invention viewed from the above on the side of the fitting opening for a flexible printed circuit board, andFIG. 16Bis a perspective view of the connector viewed from the below on the opposite side of the fitting opening.FIG. 17Ais a perspective view of a first contact, andFIG. 17Bis a perspective view of a second contact, whileFIG. 17Cis a perspective view of a third contact, andFIG. 17Dis a perspective view of a fourth contact.FIGS. 18A and 18Bare perspective views of a housing, andFIG. 19is a perspective view of a pivoting member.FIG. 20Ais a sectional view of the connector with the pivoting member opened, taken along the first contact, whileFIG. 20Bis a sectional view of the connector with the pivoting member opened, taken along the second contact.FIG. 21Ais a sectional view of the connector with a flexible printed circuit board inserted and with the pivoting member closed, taken along the first contact, andFIG. 21Bis a sectional view of the connector with a flexible printed circuit board inserted and with the pivoting member closed, taken along the second contact.FIG. 22Ais a sectional view of the connector with the pivoting member opened, taken along the third contact, whileFIG. 22Bis a perspective view of the connector with the pivoting member opened, taken along the fourth contacts.FIG. 23Ais a sectional view of the connector with the flexible printed circuit board inserted and with the pivoting member closed, taken along the third contact, whileFIG. 23Bis a sectional view of the connector with the flexible printed circuit board inserted and the pivoting member closed, taken along the fourth contact.

The connector10according to the invention mainly comprises a housing12, three or four kinds of contacts (first, second, third, and fourth contacts15,16,17and18), and a pivoting member14.

Components of the connector10according to the invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. First, the four kinds of contacts will be explained. The first, second, third and fourth contacts15,16,17and18of the four kinds are both made of a metal and formed by means of the press-working of the known technique. Preferred metals from which to form first, second, third and fourth contacts15,16,17and18of the four kinds include brass, beryllium copper, phosphor bronze and the like which comply with the requirements as to springiness, electric conductivity, and the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the four kinds of contacts (first, second, third and fourth contacts15,16,17and18) are inserted into inserting holes44of the housing12and fixed thereto.

Said first contact15comprises at least a first piece151having at one end a contact portion152and at the other end a pressure receiving portion153, a second piece155having at its outer end a connection portion156, and an elastic jointing portion (consisting of a fulcrum portion24and an elastic portion22) for connecting the first piece151and the other end of said second piece155. Said elastic jointing portion can be divided into the fulcrum portion24and the elastic portion22in the illustrated embodiment. In other words, said first contact15is substantially h-shaped and comprises the first piece151having at one end the contact portion152adapted to contact a flexible printed circuit board80(not shown inFIG. 17A) and at the other end the pressure receiving portion153to be pushed by said pivoting member14, the second piece155having at one end the fulcrum portion24and at the other end the connection portion156to be connected to a substrate, and the elastic portion22for jointing the substantially middle portion of the first piece151and the fulcrum portion24of the second piece155(said elastic jointing portion consisting of the fulcrum portion24and the elastic portion22), and further may comprises a fixed portion20on the second piece155in the proximity of the elastic jointing portion. The contact portion152of said first piece151, the elastic portion22, the fulcrum portion24and the connection portion156are arranged substantially in the form of a crank.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first contact15is further provided with an extension portion157extending from said fulcrum portion24in the direction opposite from said connection portion156(toward the fitting opening5) so that the first contact15is substantially H-shaped as shown inFIG. 17A.

Said fixed portion20is provided on said second piece155in the proximity of the elastic jointing portion. The position and size of said fixed portion20may be suitably designed in consideration of the holding force for the first contact15, the rising of the contact, stability of connectivity, and the like.

Said contact portion152is in the form of a protrusion for the purpose of facilitating the contact with the flexible printed circuit board80. The connection portion156is of a surface mounting type (SMT) in the illustrated embodiment as shown inFIG. 16B. It may be of a dip type.

Said fulcrum portion24, said elastic portion22, and said pressure receiving portion153serve as the following description when said flexible printed circuit board80has been inserted into the connector10. When the pivoting member14is being pivotally moved after the flexible printed circuit board80has been inserted into the fitting opening5of the housing10, the pushing portions30of said pivoting member14enter the spaces between the connection portions156and the pressure receiving portions153of said first contacts15, and are pivotally moved in the spaces, with the result that said pressure receiving portions153are raised upwardly by the pushing portions30. Therefore, the elastic portions22of said first contacts15are tilted toward said contact portions152about the fulcrum portions24of the first contacts15by the upward movement of the pressure receiving portions153, so that the contact portions152are pushed to the flexible printed circuit board80. The sizes and shapes of said fulcrum portions24, said elastic portions22, and said pressure receiving portions153may be suitably designed so as to achieve these functions.

It is preferable to provide an extended surface154on the pressure receiving portion153of said first contact15so as to extend toward said connection portion156for facilitating the occurrence of the above functions. The pushing portions30of said pivoting member14come into surface contact with said extended surfaces154of said first contacts15to ensure the above functions and stable electrical connection. The size and shape of said extended surfaces may be suitably designed to achieve the above functions.

The second contact16will then be explained with reference toFIG. 17B. A great difference of the second contact16from the first contact15is in an extended portion164provided at the tip of the pressure receiving portion163of said second contact16. The extended portion164of the second contact16engages an engaging rod34of the pivoting member14to obtain its assured pivotal (rotational) movement and to prevent the center portion of said pivoting member14from being deformed in a direction shown by an arrow A inFIG. 16Acaused by the load (reaction force against the pivotal movement) acting upon the pivoting member14when it is being pivoted. The size of said extended portion164may be any one so long as it achieves such functions, and may be suitably designed such that the engaging rod34of said pivoting member14engages the extended portion164to achieve a stable pivotal (rotational) movement. The shape of said second contact16may be substantially h-shaped or H-shaped similarly to the first contact.

Said second contact16comprises at least a first piece161having at one end a contact portion162and at the other end a pressure receiving portion163, a second piece165having at an outer end a connection portion166, and an elastic jointing portion (consisting of a fulcrum portion24and an elastic portion22) for connecting or jointing said first piece161and the other end of said second piece165. Said elastic jointing portion can be divided into the fulcrum portion24and the elastic portion22in the illustrated embodiment. In other words, said second contact16is substantially h-shaped and comprises the first piece161having at one end the contact portion162adapted to contact the flexible printed circuit board80(not shown inFIG. 17B) and at the other end the pressure receiving portion163to be pushed by said pivoting member14, the second piece165having at one end the fulcrum portion24and at the other end the connection portion166to be connected to the substrate, and the elastic portion22(said fulcrum portion24and said elastic portion22form the elastic jointing portion) for jointing the substantially middle portion of said first piece161and said fulcrum portion24of said second piece165, and further may comprises a fixed portion20on said second piece165in the proximity of the elastic jointing portion. Said contact portion162of said first piece161, said elastic portion22, said fulcrum portion24, and said connection portion166are arranged substantially in the form of a crank.

In the illustrated embodiment, said second contact16is provided with an extension portion167extending from said fulcrum portion24in the direction opposite from said connection portion166(toward the fitting opening5) so that the second contact16is substantially H-shaped as shown inFIG. 17B.

As described above, said fixed portion20is provided on said second piece165in the proximity of its elastic jointing portion. The position and size of said fixed portion20may be designed taking into account the holding force for the second contact16, the rising of the contact, stability of connectivity, and the like.

Said contact portion162is in the form of a protrusion in order to facilitate the contact with said flexible printed circuit board80. Although said connection portion166is of a surface mounting type (SMT) as shown inFIG. 16B, it may be of a dip type.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 20B and 21B, when said engaging rod34of said pivoting member14is formed by merely a rod portion36, said pressure receiving portion163only serves as a bearing, and said fulcrum portion24and said elastic portion22only serve to joint the first piece161and the second piece165of said second contact16. In such a case, a space between the contact portion162and the extension portion167of said second contact16(the housing12in case of being free from the extension portion167) is designed to be smaller than the thickness of the flexible printed circuit board80to be inserted into the space (a so-called non-zero insertion force (N-ZIF) structure), thereby achieving a stable connection of the connector and the flexible printed circuit board inserted therein.

In the case that said engaging rod34of said pivoting member14is formed as a cam portion38which includes the rod portion36and has a substantially L-shaped cross-section (not shown), said fulcrum portion24, said elastic portion22, and said pressure receiving portion163perform the following functions when the flexible printed circuit board80has been inserted into the connector10. After the flexible printed circuit board80has been inserted into the fitting opening5of said housing12, when the cam portion38of said pivoting member14is pivotally moved between the connection portion166and the pressure receiving portion163of said second contact16, said pressure receiving portion163is raised upwardly by the cam portion38so that the elastic portion22of said second contact16is tilted toward said contact portion162about the fulcrum portion24of said second contact16, thereby pushing said contact portion162to said flexible printed circuit board80. The sizes and shapes of said fulcrum portion24, said elastic portion22, and said pressure receiving portion163may be suitably designed so as to achieve such a function.

Said third contact17comprises at least a first piece171having at one end a contact portion172and at the other end a pressure receiving portion173, a second piece175having at one end a connection portion176, and an elastic jointing portion (consisting of a fulcrum portion24and an elastic portion22) for connecting or jointing the first piece171and the other end of said second piece175. Said elastic jointing portion can be divided into the fulcrum portion24and the elastic portion22in the illustrated embodiment. In other words, said third contact17is substantially h-shaped and comprises the first piece171having at one end the contact portion172adapted to contact a flexible printed circuit board80(not shown inFIG. 17C) and at the other end the pressure receiving portion173to be pushed by said pivoting member14, the second piece175having at one end the connection portion176to be connected to a substrate and at the other end the fulcrum portion24, and the elastic portion22for jointing the substantially middle portion of the first piece171and the fulcrum portion24of the second piece175(said elastic jointing portion consisting of the fulcrum portion24and the elastic portion22), and further may comprises a fixed portion20on an extension portion177(described in next paragraph) in the proximity of the elastic jointing portion. The contact portion172of said first piece171, the elastic portion22, the fulcrum portion24and the connection portion176are arranged substantially in the form of a U-shape.

In the illustrated embodiment, the third contact17is further provided with the extension portion177extending from said fulcrum portion24in the same direction extending the pressure receiving portion173(in opposite direction from the fitting opening5) so that the third contact17is substantially H-shaped as shown inFIG. 17C.

Said fixed portion20is provided on said extension portion177in the proximity of the elastic jointing portion. The position and size of said fixed portion20may be suitably designed in consideration of the holding force for the third contact17, the rising of the contact, stability of connectivity, and the like.

Said contact portion172is in the form of a protrusion for the purpose of facilitating the contact with the flexible printed circuit board80. The connection portion176is of a surface mounting type (SMT) in the illustrated embodiment as shown inFIG. 16B. It may be of a dip type.

Said fulcrum portion24, said elastic portion22, and said pressure receiving portion173serve as the following description when said flexible printed circuit board80has been inserted into the connector10. When the pivoting member14is being pivotally moved after the flexible printed circuit board80has been inserted into the connector10, the pushing portions30of said pivoting member14enter the spaces between the extension portions177and the pressure receiving portions173of said third contacts17and are pivotally moved in the spaces, with the result that said pressure receiving portions173are raised upwardly. Therefore, the elastic portions22of said third contacts17are tilted toward said contact portions172about the fulcrum portions24of the third contacts17by the upward movement of the pressure receiving portions173, so that the contact portions172are pushed to the flexible printed circuit board80. The sizes and shapes of said fulcrum portions24, said elastic portions22, and said pressure receiving portions173may be suitably designed so as to achieve these functions.

It is preferable to provide an extended surface174on the pressure receiving portion173of said third contact17so as to extend toward said extension portion177for facilitating the occurrence of the above functions. The pushing portions30of said pivoting member14come into surface contact with said extended surfaces174of said third contacts17to ensure the above functions and more stable electrical connection. The size and shape of said extended surfaces may be suitably designed to achieve the above functions.

The fourth contact18will then be explained with reference toFIG. 17D. A great difference of the fourth contact18from the third contact17is in an extended portion184provided at the tip of the pressure receiving portion183of said fourth contact18. The extended portion184of the fourth contact16engages the engaging rod34of the pivoting member14to obtain its assured pivotal (rotational) movement and to prevent the center portion of said pivoting member14from being deformed in a direction shown by an arrow A inFIG. 16Acaused by the load (reaction force against the pivotal movement) acting upon the pivoting member14when it is being pivoted. The size of said extended portion184may be any one so long as it achieves such functions, and may be suitably designed such that the engaging rod34of said pivoting member14engages the extended portion184to achieve a stable pivotal (rotational) movement. The shape of said fourth contact18may be substantially h-shaped or H-shaped similarly to the third contact17.

Said fourth contact18comprises at least a first piece181having at one end a contact portion182and at the other end a pressure receiving portion183, a second piece185having at one end a connection portion186, and an elastic jointing portion (consisting of a fulcrum portion24and an elastic portion22) for connection or jointing said first piece181and the other end of said second piece185. Said elastic jointing portion can be divided into the fulcrum portion24and the elastic portion22in the illustrated embodiment. In other words, said fourth contact18is substantially h-shaped and comprises the first piece181having at one end the contact portion182adapted to contact the flexible printed circuit board80(not shown inFIG. 17D) and at the other end the pressure receiving portion183to be pushed by said pivoting member14, the second piece185having at one end the connection portion186to be connected to the substrate and at the other end the fulcrum portion24, and the elastic portion22(said fulcrum portion24and said elastic portion22form the elastic jointing portion) for connecting or jointing the substantially middle portion of said first piece181and said fulcrum portion24of said second piece185, and further may comprises a fixed portion20on an extension portion187(described in next paragraph) in the proximity of the elastic jointing portion. Said contact portion182of said first piece181, said elastic portion22, said fulcrum portion24, and said connection portion186are arranged substantially in the form of a U-shape.

In the illustrated embodiment, said fourth contact18is provided with the extension portion187extending from said fulcrum portion24in the direction opposite from said connection portion186(away from the fitting opening5) so that the second contact16is substantially H-shaped as shown inFIG. 17D.

As described above, said fixed portion20is provided on said extension portion187in the proximity of its elastic jointing portion. The position and size of said fixed portion20may be designed taking into account the holding force for the fourth contact18, the rising of the contact, stability of connectivity, and the like.

Said contact portion182is in the form of a protrusion in order to facilitate the contact with said flexible printed circuit board80. Although said connection portion186is of a surface mounting type (SMT) as shown inFIG. 16B, it may be of a dip type.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 22B and 23B, when said engaging rod34of said pivoting member14is formed by merely a rod portion36, said pressure receiving portion183only serves as a bearing, and said fulcrum portion24and said elastic portion22only serve to joint the first piece181and the second piece185of said fourth contact18. In such a case, a space between the contact portion182and the connection portion186of said fourth contact18is designed to be smaller than the thickness of the flexible printed circuit board80to be inserted into the space (a so-called non-zero insertion force (N-ZIF) structure), thereby achieving a stable connection of the connector and the flexible printed circuit board inserted therein.

In the case that said engaging rod34of said pivoting member14is formed as a cam portion38which includes the rod portion36and has a substantially L-shaped cross-section (although not shown inFIGS. 16A to 23B), said fulcrum portion24, said elastic portion22, and said pressure receiving portion163perform the following functions when the flexible printed circuit board80has been inserted into the connector10. After the flexible printed circuit board80has been inserted into the fitting opening5of said housing13, when the cam portion38of said pivoting member14is pivotally moved between the pressure receiving portion183and the extension portion187(housing13in case of being free from the extension portion) of said fourth contact18, said pressure receiving portion183is raised upwardly by the cam portion38so that the elastic portion22of said fourth contact18is tilted toward said contact portion182about the fulcrum portion24of said fourth contact18, thereby pushing said contact portion182to said flexible printed circuit board80. The sizes and shapes of said fulcrum portion24, said elastic portion22, and said pressure receiving portion183may be suitably designed so as to achieve such a function.

The pivoting member14will then be explained. The pivoting member14is formed from an electrically insulating plastic material by means of the injection molding of the known technique. The materials for the pivoting member14may be suitably selected in consideration of dimensional stability, workability, manufacturing cost, and the like and generally include polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyamide (66PA or 46PA), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polycarbonate (PC), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), and the like, and synthetic materials thereof. Said pivoting member14mainly comprises an actuating portion26, axles to be fitted in the housing12for pivotally moving the pivoting member relative to the housing12, anchoring grooves28for receiving the pressure receiving portions153of said first contacts15, pushing portions30for pushing the pressure receiving portions153, an anchoring hole or holes32for receiving the pressure receiving portions163of said second contacts16, and an engaging rod or rods34adapted to engage the extended portions164. Said axles are fulcrums for pivotally moving the pivoting member14and suitably fitted in both the longitudinal ends of the housing12so as to permit the pivoting member14to be pivotally moved.

According to the invention, made to be different from each other are shapes of the portions (the pushing portions30, the engaging rod or rods34, and the like) of said pivoting member14with which the pressure receiving portions153,163,173and183of said first, second, third and fourth contacts15,16,17and18are engaged, respectively. In other words, in order to prevent said pivoting member14from being deformed (warped) in the direction shown by the arrow A inFIG. 16Adue to the load (reaction against the pivotal movement) when the pivoting member14is being pivotally moved (rotated), said second and fourth contacts16and18are arranged at optional locations instead of either or both of the first and third contacts15and17.

Regarding the portions (the pushing portions30) of said pivoting member14cooperating with said first and third contacts15and17and said anchoring grooves28whose bottom surfaces are formed substantially in the form of a plate, when said pivoting member14is pivotally moved (rotated), during the initial stage of which pivotal movement, the pushing portions30do not contact said first and third contacts15and17and in the state that the pivotal movement has been completed, the extended surfaces154and174of the pressure receiving portions153and173of said first and third contacts15and17are raised upwardly by the surfaces of said pushing portions30, that is, the pushing portions30are exerted on said first and third contacts15and17as described above, thereby bringing the contact portions152and172of said first and third contacts15and17into contact with the inserted flexible printed circuit board80. Preferably, the shape of said pushing portions30is substantially in the form of a plate. With such plate-shaped pushing portions30, the extended surfaces154and174of said first and third contacts15and17can be raised upwardly by the surfaces of said pushing portions30(the bottom surfaces of the anchoring grooves28) when the pivoting member14is pivotally moved. By causing the surfaces to contact each other, the extended surfaces can be securely raised and at the same time the load acting upon the pivoting member when pivotally moving can be reduced.

The size of said pushing portions30is determined so as to be larger than the distances between the extended surfaces154and174and the connection portion156and176of said first and third contacts15and17so that the functions described above can be achieved. The pushing portions30may be suitably designed in consideration of the elasticity of the contacts, contact pressure, strength, and the like.

Said engaging grooves28are blind holes (grooves) and are independent from one another in order to maintain the strength of said pivoting member14to avoid the pivoting member14from being damaged when it is pivotally moving. The depth of said engaging grooves28may be suitably designed so as to achieve the functions described above taking into account the relation to the thickness of said pushing portions30, the elasticity of the contacts, contact pressure, strength and the like.

Insertion and pivotal movement of the pushing portions30will be explained herein with reference toFIGS. 25A to 25D. First, when the flexible printed circuit board80is not inserted into the connector10, the pivoting member14stands substantially upright as shown inFIG. 25A. Then, the flexible printed circuit board80is inserted and the pivoting member14is started to be pivotally moved, during initial stage of which the pushing portion30does not contact the extended surfaces154and174of the first and third contacts15and17as shown inFIG. 25B. When the pivoting member14is further pivotally moved, the tip of said pushing portion30comes into line contact with the extended surfaces154and174as shown inFIG. 25C. Upon further pivotal movement, the pivoting member14becomes substantially parallel to the housing12and said pushing portion30comes into surface contact with the extended surfaces154and174to cause the extended surfaces154and174to be raised by said pushing portion30as shown inFIG. 25D.

There is a case that the portions (the engaging rods34) of said pivoting member14cooperating with said second and fourth contacts16and18are only the rod portions36(the non-zero insertion force (N-ZIF) structure as described above) as shown inFIGS. 20B and 21B, or there is a case that the engaging rod34is the cam portion38having the substantially L-shaped cross-section including the engaging rod34and the rod portion36as shownFIGS. 13A and 13B.

In the case that the engaging rods34are the rod portions36only (the non-zero insertion force (N-ZIF) structure as described above), the rod portions36only need to engage the extended portion164and184of the second and fourth contacts16and18and rotate and to be sufficient to prevent the pivoting member14from being deformed in the direction shown by the arrow A inFIG. 16Adue to the load (the reaction force against the pivotal movement) when the pivoting member14is pivotally moving. In the illustrated embodiment, said rod portions36are substantially in the form of a cylindrical column. The size of said rod portions36may be suitably designed in consideration of the deformation or warping and strength of the pivoting member14, miniaturization of the connector, pivotal (rotational) movability, the size of the extended portions164and184of the second and fourth contacts16and18, and the like.

In the case that the engaging rods34are the cam portions38each having the substantially L-shaped cross-section including the engaging rod34and the rod portion36, first, the rod portions36only need to engage the extended portions164and184of said second and fourth contacts16and18and rotate and to be sufficient to prevent the pivoting member14from being deformed in the direction shown by the arrow A inFIG. 16Adue to the load (the reaction force against the pivotal movement) when the pivoting member14is pivotally moving. Further, the cam portions38only need to raise the pressure receiving portions163and183of said second and fourth contacts16and18by the difference in contact height of the cam portions38(the cross-sections of the cam portions38are not perfectly circular) when the cam portions38are pivotally moved (rotated) so that the function described above occurs, thereby enabling the contact portions162and182of said second and fourth contacts16and18to contact the flexible printed circuit board80. In the illustrated embodiment, the rod portions36are substantially column-shaped, and the size of said rod portions36may be suitably designed in consideration of the deformation (warping) and strength of said pivoting member14, miniaturization of the connector10, pivotal (rotational) movability, the size of the extended portion164and184of the second and fourth contacts16and18, and the like. Moreover, the cam portions38may be suitably designed so as to achieve the functions described above, taking into account the elasticity, contact pressure and strengths of the contacts, and the like.

Said pivoting member14is provided with anchoring holes32which are through-holes and independent from each other and are located at positions corresponding to those of said second and fourth contacts16and18. Said anchoring holes32may be suitably designed so that the pressure receiving portions163and183of said second and fourth contacts16and18are received in said anchoring holes32, and said extended portions164and184engage said rod portions36, thereby enabling a stable pivotal movement of said engaging rods34.

The actuating portion26of said pivoting member14may be of any shape and size insofar as it enables said pivoting member14to be actuated to be pivotally moved, and may be suitably designed taking into account its operationality and strength.

The pivotal movement of said cam portion38cooperating with the fourth contact18will be explained herein with reference toFIGS. 26A to 26D. First, when the flexible printed circuit board80is not inserted into the connector10, the pivoting member14stands substantially upright as shown inFIG. 26A. Then, the flexible printed circuit board80is inserted and the pivoting member14is started to be pivotally moved, during initial stage of which the cam portion38is rotated about the rod portion36of said cam portion38as a rotating center and the cam portion38is in an inclined position at substantially45degrees as shown inFIG. 26B. When the pivoting member14is further pivotally moved, the cam portion38is rotated about the rod portion36of said cam portion38as a rotating center, and the cam portion38is in a substantially vertical position as shown inFIG. 26C. When the pivoting member14is further pivotally moved, the cam portion38is rotated about the rod portion36of said cam portion38as a rotating center, and the cam portion38is in substantially vertical position and slightly tilted to the right viewed in the drawing ofFIG. 26Dso that said pressure receiving portions163and183are raised by said cam portion38.

Finally, the housing12will be explained. The housing12is formed from an electrically insulating plastic material by means of the injection molding of the known technique. The materials for the housing12may be suitably selected in consideration of dimensional stability, workability, manufacturing cost, and the like and generally include polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyamide (66PA or 46PA), liquid crystal polymer (LCP), polycarbonate (PC) and the like and synthetic materials thereof.

The housing12is formed with inserting holes44into which a required number of the contacts are inserted and fixed, respectively, by means of press-fitting, hooking (lancing), welding, or the like.

The housing12is further formed at both the longitudinal ends with bearings into which the axles of the pivoting member14are fitted so as to permit the pivoting member14to be pivotally movable. The shape and size of the bearings may be any ones so long as the pivoting member14is pivotally moved, and may be suitably designed taking into account their functions, the strength and the size of the housing12, and the like.

Moreover, the housing12is provided with a ceiling portion40for covering or insulating the contact portions152,162,172and182of the first pieces151,161,171and181of said first, second, third and fourth contacts15,16,17and18. It is preferable to provide a conducting portion at the outer peripheries of the fitting opening5of said housing12for facilitating the insertion of a connecting object such as the flexible printed circuit board80.

The arrangement of said first, second, third and fourth contacts15,16,17and18according to the invention will be explained. In the case that the number of the contacts is ten (10) or less, said first and third contacts15and17only are used. Said first contacts15and said third contacts17are alternately arranged to be staggered. If the number of the contacts is more than ten (10), said second and fourth contacts16and18are used instead of either or both of the first and third contacts15and17at optional positions. In other words, in the case that the number of the contacts is more than ten, it is envisioned that said pivoting member14may be deformed or warped due to the load when it is pivotally moving, such a deformation of said pivoting member14is prevented by causing the engaging rods34of said pivoting member14to engage the extended portions164and184of said second and fourth contacts16and18. Said second and fourth contacts16and18may be provided at any locations so long as the deformation or warping of the pivoting member14can be prevented. In the case that the number of the contacts is more than ten, it is effective (desirable) to arrange the second and fourth contacts16and18at locations corresponding to about every fifth contact. From the standpoint of manufacturing cost (die cost and managing expense), it is preferable to arrange the first and fourth contacts15and18alternately to be staggered or the second and third contacts16and17alternately to be staggered.

Examples of applications of the invention are connectors for use in mobile or cellular phones, notebook personal computers, digital cameras and the like, and more particularly connectors superior in stable electrical connection without a pivoting member being damaged when the pivoting member is being pivotally moved after a connecting object such as a flexible printed circuit board and a flexible flat cable has been inserted, even if pitches of contacts of the connectors become smaller (miniaturization of the connectors) and wall thicknesses of insulators of the connectors become as thin as possible.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.