Electrical connector with releasing member

An electrical connector including a housing having an opening through which a flat circuit device is inserted into the housing, conductive contacts arranged on the housing, a conductive shell provided with a holding member for engaging with the flat circuit device to hold the same, and a releasing member provided on the housing with a manipulatable portion and a pressing portion for engaging with the holding member, wherein the manipulatable portion is formed to be movable in a direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged and the pressing portion is operative to move for pressing the holding member so as to cause the same to disengage from the flat circuit device when the manipulatable portion is moved in the direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged under a condition wherein the holding member is put in engagement with the flat circuit device to hold the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an improvement in an electrical connector which has a housing in which a flat circuit device, such as a flexible printed circuit board (hereinafter, referred to as an FPC) or a flexible flat cable assembly (hereinafter, referred to as an FFC), is inserted, a plurality of conductive contacts arranged in the housing for coming into press-contact with connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing, holding means for engaging with the flat circuit device inserted in the housing so as to hold the same to be prevented from getting out of the housing unwillingly and releasing means for releasing the flat circuit device from holding by the holding means.

2. Description of the Prior Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98

A flat circuit device, such as a relatively small-sized FPC or FFC, used in electronic apparatus of various kinds is often mounted on a main solid circuit board, on which various electrical parts are directly mounted, with an electrical connector which is mounted to and connected electrically with the main solid circuit board. The electrical connector has a plurality of conductive contacts, an end portion of each of which is connected electrically with a conductive circuit pattern portion formed on the main solid circuit board and which are provided for coming into contact with connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device, and is operative to connect electrically each of the connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device, through the conductive contacts, with the conductive circuit pattern portion formed on the main solid circuit board.

A first type of previously proposed electrical connector used for mounting a flat circuit device, such as an FPC, on a main solid circuit board, is provided with a housing made of insulator, which is mounted on the main solid circuit board and has an opening through which at least a part of the flat circuit device is inserted into the housing. In the housing, a plurality of conductive contacts are provided to be arranged along the opening and connected electrically with circuit terminals provided on the main solid circuit board. These conductive contacts are operative to come into contact respectively with a plurality of connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device when the flat circuit device is inserted into the housing through the opening provided thereon. The previously proposed electrical connector of the first type is also provided with a conductive shell which covers partially the housing and is grounded to be operative to contribute to adjustment on characteristic impedance of each of the conductive contacts and to shield the conductive contacts in the housing from electromagnetic wave noises coming from the outside. The previously proposed electrical connector of the first type is further provided with an actuator which is provided to be rotatable in regard to the housing so as to engage with each of the conductive contacts arranged in the housing. When the actuator is rotated in a first direction in regard to the housing, an operating portion of each of the conductive contacts is moved by the actuator to put the conductive contact in press-contact with a corresponding one of the connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device, and then, when the actuator is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction in regard to the housing, the conductive contacts put in press-contact with the connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device are released from the press-contact with the connecting terminals. With the conductive contacts put in the press-contact with the connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device, the flat circuit device is put in electrical connection with the main solid circuit board.

A second type of previously proposed electrical connector used for mounting the flat circuit device on the main solid circuit board is provided with a housing mounted on the main solid circuit board, a plurality of conductive contacts and a conductive shell in such a manner as mentioned above but is not provided with an actuator rotatable in regard to the housing. In the previously proposed electrical connector of the second type, when the flat circuit device is inserted into the housing through an opening provided thereon, each of the conductive contacts provided in the housing to be arranged along the opening is automatically put in press-contact with a corresponding one of connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device. That is, the flat circuit device is put in electrical connection with the main solid circuit board by means of only inserting correctly the flat circuit device into the housing through the opening provided thereon.

In the above-mentioned previously proposed electrical connector with or without the actuator rotatable in regard to the housing, when the flat circuit device is inserted into the housing through the opening provided thereon and the conductive contacts provided in the housing are put in press-contact with the connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device so that the flat circuit device is put in electrical connection with the main solid circuit board, it is required to prevent the flat circuit device inserted in the housing from getting out of the housing unwillingly. It is a matter of course that it is necessary for the flat circuit device inserted in the housing to be held stably so as not to get out of the housing unwillingly in order to keep the conductive contacts provided in the housing properly in a condition of press-contact with the connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device.

There has been also proposed previously an electrical connector belonging to the above-described first type having the housing, the conductive contact, the conductive shell and the actuator, which is provided with holding means for engaging with a flat circuit device, such as an FPC or an FFC, inserted in the housing so as to hold the same to be prevented from getting out of the housing unwillingly, as shown in, for example, the Japanese patent application published before examination under publication number 2008-52993 (hereinafter, referred to as published patent document 1).

In addition, there has been further proposed previously an electrical connector belonging to the above-described second type having the housing, the conductive contact and the conductive shell, which is provided with holding means for engaging with a flat circuit device, such as an FPC or an FFC, inserted in the housing so as to hold the same to be prevented from getting out of the housing unwillingly, as shown in, for example, each of the Japanese patent application published before examination under publication number 2008-192574 (hereinafter, referred to as published patent document 2) and the Japanese patent application published before examination under publication number 2011-40246 (hereinafter, referred to as published patent document 3).

In the electrical connector shown in published patent document 1, the holding means (a locking portion11c) is formed in a part of the conductive shell (a shield plate11) to be able to seesaw with an engaging end portion (a nail portion11d) curved to the inside of the conductive shell. The holding means shifts its position in response to a movement of the actuator (an actuator9) provided to be rotatable in regard to the housing (a housing3).

Then, when the actuator is rotated in a first direction in regard to the housing after the flat circuit device (an FPC21) is inserted into a receiving space (an FPC receiving space34) provided in the housing, each of the conductive contacts (first contacts5, second contacts6) provided in the housing is caused to shift its position by a cam (a cam portion92or93) formed on the actuator so as to be put in press-contact with a corresponding one of connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing and the holding means is caused to shift its position by a com (a cam portion94) formed on the actuator so as to cause the engaging end portion of the holding means to engage with an engaging portion (a recess21a) formed on the flat circuit device. As a result, the flat circuit device inserted in the housing is prevented from getting out of the housing unwillingly.

After that, when the actuator is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction in regard to the housing under a condition wherein the engaging end portion of the holding means engages with the engaging portion formed on the flat circuit device, the cam (the cam portion94) formed on the actuator allows the holding means to release the engaging end portion of the holding means from the engagement with the engaging portion formed on the flat circuit device. As a result, the flat circuit device is put in a condition to be able to get out of the housing.

Further, in the electrical connector shown in published patent document 2, the conductive shell (a shell4) is provided to be rotatable to the housing (a housing body2) and the holding means (a leg portion46) in the form of a leaf spring is formed in a part of the conductive shell. The holding means has an engaging projection (44) formed at an end of the holding means to be curved to the inside of the conductive shell.

When the flat circuit device (an FPC) is inserted into the housing through the opening (an opening21) provided thereon under a condition wherein the conductive shell is positioned to keep lying down on the housing so as to be close in its entirety to the housing, each of the conductive contacts (upper contacts31, lower contacts32) provided in the housing is caused to be put in press-contact with a corresponding one of connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing and the engaging projection formed on the holding means is caused to engage with an engaging portion (an FPC engaging hole2) provided on the flat circuit device. As a result, the flat circuit device inserted in the housing is prevented from getting out of the housing unwillingly.

After that, when the conductive shell is rotated to be positioned to keep rising from the housing under a condition wherein the engaging projection formed on the holding means is put in engagement with the engaging portion formed on the flat circuit device, the holding means formed in the conductive shell shifts its position in response to a movement of the conductive shell so as to release the engaging projection provided on the holding means from the engagement with the engaging portion formed on the flat circuit device. As a result, the flat circuit device is put in a condition to be able to get out of the housing.

In the case of the previously proposed electrical connector disclosed in published patent document 1, which has the holding means operative to shift its position in response to the rotational movements of the actuator provided to be rotatable in regard to the housing, the actuator provided to be rotatable in regard to the housing is required and this results in problems or disadvantages that the number of constitutive parts of the electrical connector increases undesirably and a production cost of the electrical connector rises disagreeably.

Further, it is necessary for causing the holding means to engage with or disengage from the flat circuit device inserted in the housing to rotate the actuator in regard to the housing and this results in undesirable increase in an open space around the electrical connector. Besides, since the conductive shell is shaped to cover only an upper surface of the housing opposite to a lower surface of the same facing the main solid circuit board and side surfaces of the housing opposite each other in the direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged, a contribution by the conductive shell to the adjustment on characteristic impedance of each of the conductive contacts is inevitably reduced and a shielding effect by the conductive shell to the conductive contacts against the electromagnetic wave noises can not be obtained sufficiently.

In the case of the previously proposed electrical connector disclosed in published patent document 2, which has the conductive shell provided to be rotatable in regard to the housing and the holding means formed in the part of the conductive shell, since the conductive shell is operative to rotate in regard to the housing, any part of the conductive shell can not be used for fastening the electrical connector to the main solid circuit board so that a separate holding-down member for fastening the electrical connector to the main solid circuit board is required and this results in problems or disadvantages that the number of constitutive parts of the electrical connector increases undesirably and a production cost of the electrical connector rises disagreeably. In addition, in this case also, since the conductive shell provided to be rotatable in regard to the housing is shaped to cover only an upper surface of the housing opposite to a lower surface of the same facing the main solid circuit board and side surfaces of the housing opposite each other in the direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged, a contribution by the conductive shell to the adjustment on characteristic impedance of each of the conductive contacts is inevitably reduced and a shielding effect by the conductive shell to the conductive contacts against the electromagnetic wave noises can not be obtained sufficiently.

On the other hand, in the electrical connector shown in published patent document 3, the conductive shell (a conductive shell14) for covering partially an outside surface of the housing (a housing11) is provided with the holding means (a locking member20) formed to extend into the housing for holding the flat circuit device (an FPC40) inserted in the housing through the opening (an opening12) provided thereon. Further, the housing is provided with the releasing means (a releasing member30) formed in a body on the housing to be movable with a first end portion projecting from the inside of the housing toward the outside of the conductive shell and a second end portion engaging with the holding means.

The holding means has an engaging projection (23) formed to be put in engagement with an engaging edged recess (43;44) provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing for holding the flat circuit device and a resilient arm portion (22) for supporting the engaging portion to be shiftable in position. The second end portion of the releasing means is operative to engage with the resilient arm portion of the holding means.

On the side of an upper surface of the housing (a surface of the housing opposite to a lower surface of the housing facing a solid circuit board on which the housing is mounted.), the first end portion of the releasing means projects upward from the housing toward the outside of the conductive shell covering the upper surface of the housing.

Then, when the flat circuit device is inserted into the housing through the opening provided thereon, the engaging portion of the holding means is put in engagement with the engaging edged recess provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing to hold the flat circuit device. As a result, the flat circuit device inserted in the housing is prevented from getting out of the housing unwillingly.

After that, when the first end portion of the releasing means projecting upward from the housing toward the outside of the conductive shell is pushed down toward the inside of the conductive shell, the second end portion of the releasing means engages with the resilient arm portion of the holding means to cause the same to shift in position so that the engaging portion supported by the resilient arm portion of the holding means is shifted in position to disengage from the engaging edged recess provided on the flat circuit device. As a result, the engaging portion of the holding means is released from the engagement with the engaging edged recess provided on the flat circuit device and thereby the flat circuit device inserted in the housing is put in a condition to be able to get out of the housing.

With the previously proposed electrical connector, in which the conductive shell is provided with the holding means formed to extend into the housing for holding the flat circuit device and the housing is provided with the releasing means formed in a body on the housing to be movable, as disclosed in published patent document 3, the disadvantages encountered with each of the previously proposed electrical connector disclosed in published patent document, which has the actuator provided to be rotatable in regard to the housing and the holding means formed on a part of the conductive shell, and the previously proposed electrical connector disclosed in published patent document 2, which has the conductive shell provided to be rotatable in regard to the housing and the holding means formed on a part of the conductive shell, are desirably avoided.

However, in the electrical connector proposed previously, as disclosed in published patent document 3, to be used for mounting the flat circuit device, such as the FPC, on the solid circuit board, which has the conductive shell provided with the holding means formed to extend into the housing for holding the flat circuit device and the housing provided with the releasing means formed in a body on the housing to be movable, the first end portion of the releasing means projects upward from the housing toward the outside of the conductive shell and it is necessary to push down the first end portion of the releasing means projecting upward from the housing when the flat circuit device inserted in the housing is released from holding by the holding means. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce a measure of the housing including the first end portion of the releasing means in a direction perpendicular to each of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing, that is, a measure of the housing in its thickness, sufficiently to obtain a thin circuit board assembly, and this may prevent each of various electrical or electronic parts mounted on the solid circuit board from being reduced in a measure of thickness.

Further, in the electrical connector proposed previously to be disclosed in published patent document 3, since a manipulation for pushing down the first end portion of the releasing means projecting upward from the housing is required to cause the flat circuit device inserted in the housing to be released from the holding by the holding means. It is necessary to keep an open space enough to conduct the manipulation for pushing down the first end portion of the releasing means above the first end portion of the releasing means projecting upward from the housing. Consequently, the electrical connector proposed previously to be disclosed in published patent document 3 is not able to be put in practical use under a condition wherein, when the housing is mounted on the solid circuit board, the open space enough to conduct the manipulation for pushing down the first end portion of the releasing means can not be obtained above the first end portion of the releasing means projecting upward from the housing on the solid circuit board.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector used for mounting a flat circuit device, such as an FPC or an FFC, on a solid circuit board, which comprises a housing made of insulator to be mounted on the solid circuit board and provided with an opening through which a flat circuit device is inserted into the housing, a plurality of conductive contacts provided to be arranged on the housing, and a conductive shell covering partially the housing, and which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages encountered with the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector used for mounting a flat circuit device, such as an FPC or an FFC, on a solid circuit board, which comprises a housing made of insulator to be mounted on the solid circuit board and provided with an opening through which a flat circuit device is inserted into the housing, a plurality of conductive contacts provided to be arranged on the housing, and a conductive shell covering partially the housing, and in which the flat circuit device inserted in the housing can be surely put in holding to be prevented from getting out of the housing unwillingly and then released from the holding so as to be able to get out of the housing with a relatively small number of constitutive parts of the electrical connector lacking an actuator provided to be rotatable in regard to the housing and a conductive shell set to be rotatable in regard to the housing and thereby resulting in a reduced production cost of the electronic connector.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector used for mounting a flat circuit device, such as an FPC or an FFC, on a solid circuit board, which comprises a housing made of insulator to be mounted on the solid circuit board and provided with an opening through which a flat circuit device is inserted into the housing, a plurality of conductive contacts provided to be arranged on the housing, and a conductive shell covering partially the housing, and in which the flat circuit device inserted in the housing can be surely put in holding to be prevented from getting out of the housing unwillingly and then released from the holding so as to be able to get out of the housing under a condition wherein a measure of thickness of the housing in a direction perpendicular to the solid circuit board on which the housing is mounted can be reduced sufficiently to obtain a thin circuit board assembly.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector used for mounting a flat circuit device, such as an FPC or an FFC, on a solid circuit board, which comprises a housing made of insulator to be mounted on the solid circuit board and provided with an opening through which a flat circuit device is inserted into the housing, a plurality of conductive contacts provided to be arranged on the housing, and a conductive shell covering partially the housing, and in which the flat circuit device inserted in the housing can be surely put in holding to be prevented from getting out of the housing unwillingly and then released from the holding so as to be able to get out of the housing under a condition wherein an open space enough to conduct a manipulation for releasing the flat circuit device from the holding is not required to be kept above the housing mounted on the solid circuit board.

According to the present invention, as claimed in any one of claims, there is provided an electrical connector, which comprises a housing made of insulator to be mounted on a solid circuit board and provided thereon with an opening through which a flat circuit device, such as an FPC or an FFC, is inserted into the housing, a plurality of conductive contacts arranged on the housing to be electrically connected respectively with circuit terminals provided on the solid circuit board and positioned to correspond respectively to connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device when the flat circuit device is inserted in the housing through the opening provided thereon, a conductive shell mounted on the housing to cover partially the same and to be electrically connected with a grounded portion provided on the solid circuit board and provided with a holding member formed in a body thereon to extend into the housing for engaging with the flat circuit device inserted in the housing to hold the same, and a releasing member provided in a body on the housing to be movable with a manipulatable portion projecting from the inside to the outside of the housing at a portion of the housing neighboring the opening through which the flat circuit device is inserted into the housing and a pressing portion projecting from the manipulatable portion to engage with the holding member, wherein the manipulatable portion of the releasing member is formed to be movable in a direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged and the pressing portion of the releasing member is operative to move for pressing the holding member so as to cause the same to disengage from the flat circuit device inserted in the housing so that the flat circuit device is released from holding by the holding member when the manipulatable portion of the releasing member is moved in the direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged under a condition wherein the holding member is put in engagement with the flat circuit device inserted into the housing to hold the same.

Especially, in a first example of electronic connector according to the present invention, such as claimed in claim2, the holding member is provided with an engaging portion for engaging with an engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing to hold the flat circuit device in the housing, a resilient arm portion for supporting the engaging portion to be shiftable in position and a press-receiving portion projecting from the resilient arm portion to form thereon a slanted surface inclined to the direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged, and the pressing portion of the releasing member engages with the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion of the holding member.

Further, in a second example of electronic connector according to the present invention, such as claimed in claim8, the conductive shell is provided, in addition to the holding member, with a resilient engaging portion extending into the inside of the conductive shell for engaging with the manipulatable portion of the releasing member so as to apply on the manipulatable portion a resilient force contributing to a returning movement of the manipulatable portion when the manipulatable portion of the releasing member is moved in the direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged.

In the electrical connector thus constituted in accordance with the present invention, when the housing is mounted on the solid circuit board and the flat circuit device is inserted into the housing thorough the opening provided thereon, each of the conductive contacts provided to be arranged in the housing comes into press-contact with a corresponding one of the connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing and the holding member formed in the conductive shell engages with the flat circuit device inserted in the housing to hold the same. As a result, the flat circuit device inserted in the housing is prevented from getting out of the housing unwillingly.

Then, when the manipulatable portion of the releasing member provided in a body on the housing, which projects from the inside to the outside of the housing at the portion of the housing neighboring the opening through which the flat circuit device is inserted into the housing, is moved in the direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged under the condition wherein the holding member is put in engagement with the flat circuit device inserted into the housing to hold the same, the pressing portion projecting from the end of the manipulatable portion is operative to move for pressing the holding member so as to cause the same to disengage from the flat circuit device inserted in the housing so that the flat circuit device is released from the holding by the holding member. As a result, the flat circuit device inserted in the housing is put in the condition to be able to get out of the housing.

The holding member employed, for example, in the first example of electrical connector as mentioned above has the engaging portion for engaging with the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing to hold the flat circuit device in the housing, the resilient arm portion for supporting the engaging portion to be shiftable in position and the press-receiving portion projecting from the resilient arm portion to form thereon the slanted surface inclined to the direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged. The pressing portion of the releasing member engages with the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion of the holding member.

In the first example of electrical connector employing the holding member thus constituted, when the manipulatable portion of the releasing member is moved in the direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged under a condition wherein the engaging portion of the holding member is put in engagement with the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing, the pressing portion of the releasing member is operative to move in the direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged for pressing the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion of the holding member so as to cause the holding member to move in a direction perpendicular to the direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged so that the engaging portion of the holding member is shifted in its position in the direction perpendicular to the direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged. As a result, the engaging portion of the holding member disengages from the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing.

Further, the conductive shell provided for covering partially the housing and employed, for example, in the second example of electrical connector as mentioned above has, in addition to the holding member, the resilient engaging portion which extends into the inside of the conductive shell for engaging with the manipulatable portion of the releasing member. The resilient engaging portion of the conductive shell is operative to apply on the manipulatable portion of the releasing member the resilient force contributing to the returning movement of the manipulatable portion when the manipulatable portion is moved in the direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged.

With the electrical connector constituted in accordance with the present invention as described above, it is not required, for causing the holding member formed in a body in the conductive shell to be put in engagement with the flat circuit device inserted in the housing to hold the same and then to be released by the releasing member provided in a body on the housing from the engagement with the flat circuit device to put the same in free, to provide on the housing an actuator rotatable in regard to the housing or to set the conductive shell to be rotatable in regard to the housing. Accordingly, the conductive shell fixed to the housing can be used for fastening the housing to the solid circuit board and any additional member for fastening the housing to the solid circuit board is not required. As a result, the electrical connector according to the present invention can be constituted with a relatively small number of constitutive parts and at a production cost reduced effectively.

In the electrical connector according to the present invention, the holding member is automatically put in engagement with the flat circuit device to hold the same in the housing when the flat circuit device is inserted into the housing through the opening provided thereon and then the holding member is released from the engagement with the flat circuit device inserted in the housing when the manipulatable portion of the releasing member, which projects from the inside to the outside of the housing at the portion of the housing neighboring the opening through which the flat circuit device is inserted into the housing, is moved in the direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged. Therefore, the holding member can be released from the engagement with the flat circuit device inserted in the housing by an extremely simple and easy manipulation.

Since the manipulatable portion of the releasing member is provided to project from the inside to the outside of the housing at the portion of the housing neighboring the opening through which the flat circuit device is inserted into the housing and not to project upward from the housing toward the outside of the conductive shell covering partially the housing on the side of an upper surface of the housing opposite to a lower surface of the housing facing the solid circuit board, the manipulatable portion of the releasing member has no effect on a measure of thickness of the housing in a direction perpendicular to the solid circuit board on which the housing is mounted. Consequently, with the electrical connector according to the present invention, the measure of thickness of the housing can be reduced sufficiently to obtain a thin circuit board assembly.

Further, with the electrical connector according to the present invention, since the holding member is released from the engagement with the flat circuit device inserted in the housing when the manipulatable portion of the releasing member is moved in the direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged and which is perpendicular to a direction from the upper surface to the lower surface of the housing, the flat circuit device inserted in the housing can be surely put in holding by the holding member to be prevented from getting out of the housing unwillingly and then released from the holding by the holding member so as to be able to get out of the housing under a condition wherein an open space enough to conduct the manipulation for releasing the flat circuit device from the holding by the holding member is not required to be kept above the housing covered partially by the conductive shell on the solid circuit board.

Especially, in the first example of electrical connector according to the present invention, since the holding member has the engaging portion for engaging with the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing to hold the flat circuit device in the housing, the resilient arm portion for supporting the engaging portion to be shiftable in position and the press-receiving portion projecting from the resilient arm portion to form thereon the slanted surface inclined to the direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged, and the pressing portion of the releasing member engages with the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion of the holding member, the flat circuit board inserted in the housing can be much more surely put in holding by the holding member and then released from the holding by the holding member.

Besides, in the second example of electrical connector according to the present invention, since the conductive shell provided for covering partially the housing has, in addition to the holding member, the resilient engaging portion which extends into the inside of the conductive shell for engaging with the manipulatable portion of the releasing member so as to apply on the manipulatable portion the resilient force contributing to the returning movement of the manipulatable portion when the manipulatable portion of the releasing member is moved in the direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged, the manipulatable portion of the releasing member having moved in the direction along which the conductive contacts are arranged can return rapidly and surely to an original position with the resilient force from the resilient engaging portion of the conductive shell.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Each ofFIG. 1which is a schematic front, top and left side perspective view,FIG. 2which is a schematic rear, top and right side perspective view andFIG. 3which is a schematic front view, shows a first embodiment of electrical connector according to the present invention.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 3, an electrical connector10, which constitutes the first embodiment of electrical connector according to the present invention, has a housing11made of insulator, such as plastics or the like. The housing11is provided on a front end portion thereof with an opening12through which a flat circuit device, such as an FPC, is inserted into the housing11and further provided with a room extending from the opening12into the inside of the housing11for accommodating the flat circuit device inserted in the housing11. The front end portion of the housing11is constituted with a part of the housing11forming the opening12and a part of the housing11surrounding the part of the housing11forming the opening12.

When the electrical connector10is put in practical use for mounting, for example, the FPC which constitutes the flat circuit device, on a solid circuit board in an electronic apparatus (not shown in the drawings), the housing11is mounted on the solid circuit board so that the electrical connector10is fixed in its entirety to the solid circuit board. The housing11mounted on the solid circuit board has an upper surface which is an outer surface of an upper end portion of the housing11and open to a space on the solid circuit board and a lower surface which is an outer surface of a lower end portion of the housing11and opposite to the upper surface to face the solid circuit board.

A plurality of conductive contacts13, each of which is made of resilient conductive material, are provided on the housing11to be arranged in a longitudinal direction of the housing11extending along a surface of the solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted. The conductive contacts13are operative to be electrically connected respectively with connecting terminals provided on the FPC inserted in the housing11. To be more concrete, each of the conductive contacts13constitutes one of a signal contact, a ground contact and a power supply contact which are electrically connected respectively with a signal connecting terminal, a ground connecting terminal and a power source connecting terminal provide on the FPC inserted in the housing11.

Further, each of the conductive contact13has a connecting terminal portion13aprojecting from a rear end portion of the housing11to the outside thereof, as shown inFIG. 2. The connecting terminal portion13aof the conductive contact13is connected electrically with one of circuit terminals provided on the solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted. These conductive contacts13are, for example, thrust into the housing11from the rear end portion thereof shown inFIG. 2when the electrical connector10is assembled.

When the FPC is inserted into the housing11through the opening12provided thereon, the conductive contacts13come into press-contact with the connecting terminals provided on the FPC inserted in the housing11, respectively. Therefore, the connecting terminals provided on the FPC inserted in the housing11are electrically connected through the conductive contacts13with the circuit terminals provided on the solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted.

The electrical connector10has also a conductive shell14mounted on the housing11for covering a major part of the housing11except the front end portion of the housing11on which the opening12is provided. To be more concrete, the conductive shell14covers a large part of the upper end portion of the housing11, a large part of each of left and right side end portions of the housing11, a part of the lower end portion of the housing11and a part of the rear end portion of the housing11.

The conductive shell14is formed by means of processing a metal thin plate and grounded to be operative mainly to shield the conductive contacts13provided on the housing11from electromagnetic wave noises coming from the outside.

As shown inFIG. 2, the conductive shell14does not cover the front end portion of the housing11, portions surrounding the front end portion of the housing11, a part of a portion between the upper end portion and the rear end portion of the housing11and a central part of the rear end portion of the housing11, from which the connecting terminal portion13aof each of the conductive contacts13extends to the outside of the housing11. Further, the conductive shell14is provided with a plurality of ground connecting portions14a, each of which is operative to be connected electrically by, for example, soldering with grounded portions provided on the solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted.

Since the conductive shell14covers the major part of the upper end portion of the housing11, the left side end portion of the housing11and the right side end portion of the housing11and each of the ground connecting portions14aprovided on the conductive shell14is connected electrically by, for example, soldering with the grounded portion provided on the solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted, as described above, the conductive contacts13provided on the housing11are sufficiently shielded by the conductive shell14from the electromagnetic wave noises coming from the outside. In addition, the conductive shell14is able to be used for fastening the housing11to the solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted.

Further, the conductive shell14is provided with a belt-shaped plate portion17separated from an upper plate portion18of the conductive shell14covering the upper end portion of the housing11for connecting a pair of left and right rear plate portions15A and15B of the conductive shell14with each other on the rear end portion of the housing11. The left rear plate portion15A of the conductive shell14covers a left end part of the rear end portion of the housing11and the right rear plate portion15B of the conductive shell14covers a right end part of the rear end portion of the housing11. The belt-shaped plate portion17is provided thereon with a plurality of ground contacts19. Each of the ground contacts19extends into the housing11toward the opening12formed in the front end portion of the housing11from the belt-shaped plate portion17, as shown inFIG. 4showing a cross sectional view taken along line IV-IV onFIG. 3. In the housing11, the ground contacts19is positioned to be opposite to a corresponding one of the conductive contacts13and operative to come into press-contact with a ground connecting portion provided on the FPC when the FPC is inserted in the housing11through the opening12provided thereon.

As shown inFIG. 5, the conductive shell14is also provided with a couple of holding members20A and20B for holding the FPC inserted in the housing11through the opening12provided thereon. The holding member20A is formed in a body in the conductive shell14at a position opposite to the left rear plate portion15A of the conductive shell14and the holding member20B is also formed in a body in the conductive shell14at a position opposite to the right rear plate portion15B of the conductive shell14.

The holding member20A is provided with a pair of folding portions22A and23A, each of which extends first from a left end of a lower plate portion21of the conductive shell14covering the lower end portion of the housing11toward the front end portion of the housing11and then folds back to extend toward the left rear plate portion15A of the conductive shell14, a connecting portion24A for connecting the folding portions22A and23A with each other, a press-receiving portion25A projecting from the folding portion23A, and an engaging portion26A provided on the folding portion23A. In the holding member20A thus constituted, the folding portions22A and23A and the connecting portion24A in the aggregate constitute a resilient arm portion which is operative to shift in position resiliently in a direction passing through both of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing11, so that the resilient arm portion is operative to support the engaging portion26A to be shiftable in position in the direction passing through both of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing11and the press-receiving portion25A projects from the resilient arm portion.

Each of the folding portions22A and23A is shaped into a resilient strip with a predetermined width. The width of the resilient strip forming the folding portion22A is selected to be equal to or larger than the width of the resilient strip forming the folding portion23A. The press-receiving portion25A forms thereon a slanted surface inclined to the longitudinal direction of the housing11, that is, the direction along which the conductive contacts13are arranged. Further, the engaging portion26A constitutes a projection standing up on the folding portion23A forming the resilient arm portion toward the upper plate portion18of the conductive shell14and is operative to shift in position with the shift of the resilient arm portion in the direction passing through both of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing11.

Similarly, the holding member20B is provided with a pair of folding portions22B and23B, each of which extends first from a right end of the lower plate portion21of the conductive shell14toward the front end portion of the housing11and then folds back to extend toward the right rear plate portion15B of the conductive shell14, a connecting portion24B for connecting the folding portions22B and23B with each other, a press-receiving portion25B projecting from the folding portion23B, and an engaging portion26B provided on the folding portion23B. In the holding member20B thus constituted, the folding portions22B and23B and the connecting portion24B in the aggregate constitute a resilient arm portion which is operative to shift in position resiliently in the direction passing through both of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing11, so that the resilient arm portion is operative to support the engaging portion26B to be shiftable in position in the direction passing through both of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing11and the press-receiving portion25B projects from the resilient arm portion.

Each of the folding portions22B and23B is shaped into a resilient strip with a predetermined width. The width of the resilient strip forming the folding portion22B is selected to be equal to or larger than the width of the resilient strip forming the folding portion23B. The press-receiving portion25B forms thereon a slanted surface inclined to the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged. Further, the engaging portion26B constitutes a projection standing up on the folding portion23B forming the resilient arm portion toward the upper plate portion18of the conductive shell14and is operative to shift in position with the shift of the resilient arm portion in the direction passing through both of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing11.

As shown inFIG. 6showing a cross sectional view taken along line VI-VI onFIG. 3, the engaging portion26A of the holding member20A, which constitutes the projection standing up on the folding portion23A forming the resilient arm portion toward the upper plate portion18of the conductive shell14, has an upper end part forming thereon a slanted end plane27A ascending gradually in a direction along which the FPC is inserted into the housing11through the opening12provided thereon. The upper end part of the engaging portion26A forming thereon the slanted end plane27A is positioned in the inside of the conductive shell14for engaging with an engaging edged recess provided on the FPC inserted in the housing11, as described later.

Similarly, the engaging portion26B of the holding member20B, which constitutes the projection standing up on the folding portion23B forming the resilient arm portion toward the upper plate portion18of the conductive shell14, has an upper end part forming thereon a slanted end plane27B ascending gradually in the direction along which the FPC is inserted into the housing11through the opening12provided thereon. The upper end part of the engaging portion26B forming thereon the slanted end plane27B is positioned in the inside of the conductive shell14for engaging with an engaging edged recess provided on the FPC inserted in the housing11, as described later.

Further, the conductive shell14is provide on a left front end portion opposite to the left rear plate portion15A thereof with a left plate-like engaging portion28A which extends from a left end of the upper plate portion18of the conductive shell14toward the outside of the conductive shell14for engaging with a left end portion of the housing11which neighbors the opening12provided on the front end portion of the housing11and provided also on a right front end portion opposite to the right rear plate portion15B thereof with a right plate-like engaging portion28B which extends from a right end of the upper plate portion18of the conductive shell14toward the outside of the conductive shell14for engaging with a right end portion of the housing11which neighbors the opening12provided on the front end portion of the housing11.

The housing11is provided on the left and right end portions thereof with a couple of releasing members30A and30B to be manipulated for releasing the FPC inserted in the housing11from holding by the holding members20A and20B. The releasing member30A is provided in a body on the housing11at a position corresponding to the holding member20A and the releasing member30B is also provided in a body on the housing11at a position corresponding to the holding member20B.

As shown inFIG. 7showing a cross sectional view taken along line VII-VII onFIG. 3, the releasing member30A has a manipulatable portion31A extending from the rear end portion of the housing11toward the outside of the front end portion of the housing11so as to project from the inside to the outside of the housing11at the left end portion of the housing11neighboring the opening12provided on the front end portion of the housing11and a pressing portion32A projecting downward from a lower end of the manipulatable portion31A, as shown inFIG. 8showing a cross sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII onFIG. 6andFIG. 9.

The manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A is provided to be resilient and movable in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged. The pressing portion32A of the releasing member30A is provided to engage with the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion25A of the holding member20A. When the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A is manipulated to move in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged, the pressing portion32A of the releasing member30A is moved also in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged, together with the manipulatable portion31A.

Although detailed illustrations have been omitted, the releasing member30B has a manipulatable portion31B extending from the rear end portion of the housing11toward the outside of the front end portion of the housing11so as to project from the inside to the outside of the housing11at the right end portion of the housing11neighboring the opening12provided on the front end portion of the housing11and a pressing portion32B projecting downward from a lower end of the manipulatable portion31B as shown inFIG. 3.

The manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B is provided to be resilient and movable in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged. The pressing portion32B of the releasing member30B is provided to engage with the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion25B of the holding member20B. When the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B is manipulated to move in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged, the pressing portion32B of the releasing member30B is moved also in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged, together with the manipulatable portion31B.

On the left end portion of the housing11neighboring the opening12provided on the front end portion of the housing11, a movement-limiting portion33A for limiting a movement of the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged is provided to be in the vicinity of the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A for projecting from the housing11toward the outside of the housing11. Similarly, on the right end portion of the housing11neighboring the opening12provided on the front end portion of the housing11, a movement-limiting portion33B for limiting a movement of the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged is also provided to be in the vicinity of the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B for projecting from the housing11toward the outside of the housing11.

Further, as shown clearly inFIGS. 3,8and9, on the left end portion of the housing11neighboring the opening12provided on the front end portion of the housing11, a shell-receiving portion34A is provided to be positioned above the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A for receiving the left plate-like engaging portion28A provided on the left front end portion of the conductive shell14. Similarly, on the right end portion of the housing11neighboring the opening12provided on the front end portion of the housing11, a shell-receiving portion34B is also provided to be positioned above the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B for receiving the right plate-like engaging portion28B provided on the right front end portion of the conductive shell14, as shown inFIG. 3.

Besides, a couple of vertical grooves38A and38B are provided on the front end portion of the housing11in addition to the opening12. Each of the vertical grooves38A and38B is used for observing therethrough a condition wherein the FPC inserted in the housing11through the opening12provided thereon has reached a predetermined destination in the housing11.

The manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A provided on the housing11takes up such a station as shown inFIG. 10when any manipulation does not act on the manipulatable portion31A. On that occasion, the pressing portion32A of the releasing member30A is positioned on the press-receiving portion25A of the holding member20A to be in contact with the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion25A.

When the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A is manipulated to move from the station shown inFIG. 10in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged so as to approach the movement-limiting portion33A, the manipulatable portion31A comes to take up such a station as shown inFIG. 11, for example, for coming into contact with the movement-limiting portion33A so that the movement of the manipulatable portion31A is limited by the movement-limiting portion33A. With such a movement of the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A, the pressing portion32A of the releasing member30A is operative to move in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged for pressing the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion25A of the holding member20A. Thereby, the press-receiving portion25A of the holding member20A causes the resilient arm portion of the holding member20A to deform resiliently so as to shift in position downward in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged. With such a shift of the press-receiving portion25A of the holding member20A, the engaging portion26A of the holding member20A shifts in position also downward in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged. After that, when the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A is released from the manipulation acted thereon, the manipulatable portion31A is operative to return to the station shown inFIG. 10from the station shown inFIG. 11with its own resilience and resilience of the resilient arm portion of the holding member20A. With such a returning movement of the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A, the resilient arm portion of the holding member20A is subjected to resilient restoring deformation and thereby each of the press-receiving portion25A and the engaging portion26A of the holding member20A is shifted in position upward to return to a former position.

The manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B provided on the housing11takes up a station corresponding to the station of the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A shown inFIG. 10when any manipulation does not act on the manipulatable portion31B. On that occasion, the pressing portion32B of the releasing member30B is positioned on the press-receiving portion25B of the holding member20B to be in contact with the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion25B.

When the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B is manipulated to move from the station corresponding to the station of the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A shown inFIG. 10in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged so as to approach the movement-limiting portion33B, the manipulatable portion31B comes to take up a station corresponding to the station of the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A shown inFIG. 11, for example, for coming into contact with the movement-limiting portion33B so that the movement of the manipulatable portion31B is limited by the movement-limiting portion33B. With such a movement of the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B, the pressing portion32B of the releasing member30B is operative to move in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged for pressing the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion25B of the holding member20B. Thereby, the press-receiving portion25B of the holding member20B causes the resilient arm portion of the holding member20B to deform resiliently so as to shift in position downward in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged. With such a shift of the press-receiving portion25B of the holding member20B, the engaging portion26B of the holding member20B shifts in position also downward in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged. After that, when the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B is released from the manipulation acted thereon, the manipulatable portion31B is operative to return to the station corresponding to the station of the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A shown inFIG. 10from the station corresponding to the station of the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A shown inFIG. 11with its own resilience and resilience of the resilient arm portion of the holding member20B. With such a returning movement of the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B, the resilient arm portion of the holding member20B is subjected to resilient restoring deformation and thereby each of the press-receiving portion25B and the engaging portion26B of the holding member20B is shifted in position upward to return to a former position.

As described above, the electrical connector10is provided at both end portions thereof in the longitudinal direction of each of the housing11and the conductive shell14respectively with a couple of holding members20A and20B and a couple of releasing members30A and30B.

FIG. 12shows an FPC40which is an example of the FPC constituting the flat circuit device to be inserted into the housing11of the electrical connector10through the opening12provided on the housing11. InFIG. 12, a reverse surface of the FPC40facing upward is shown.

Referring toFIG. 12, a plurality of signal connecting terminals41each made of conductive material and formed into a rectangular strip are provided to be arranged on an end portion of the reverse surface of the FPC40. Further, as shown in each ofFIGS. 14 and 15, a ground connecting portion42is provided on an end portion of a front surface of the FPC40, which opposite to the end portion of the reverse surface of the FPC40, on which the signal connecting terminals41are arranged, with a body of the FPC40between.

In addition, a pair of engaging edged recesses43A and43B are provided respectively on left and right side end portions of the FPC40which are opposite to each other with the signal connecting terminals41on the reverse surface of the FPC40between. A top flat portion44A is formed at the outside of the engaging edged recess43A provided on the left side end portion of the FPC40and another top flat portion44B is formed at the outside of the engaging edged recess43B provided on the right side end portion of the FPC40.

It is possible to provide the FPC40with a pair of engaging edged holes in place of the engaging edged recesses43A and43B. The FPC40is covered with a coating film45except portions thereof on which the signal connecting terminals41, the ground connecting portion42and the engaging edged recesses43A and43B are provided and the top flat portions44A and44B.

FIG. 13shows the electrical connector10and the FPC40which is inserted in the housing11of the electrical connector10through the opening12provided on the housing11. InFIG. 13, the front surface of the FPC40, on which the ground connecting portion42is provided and which is covered with the coating film45and facing upward, is shown.

Under a condition wherein the FPC40is properly inserted in the housing11of the electrical connector10through the opening12provided on the housing11, the upper end part of the engaging portion26A of the holding member20A, on which the slanted end plane27A is formed, is put in engagement with the engaging edged recess43A provided on the FPC40, as shown inFIG. 13, and, although illustrations have been omitted, the upper end part of the engaging portion26B of the holding member20B, on which the slanted end plane27B is formed, is put in engagement with the engaging edged recess43B provided on the FPC40. Thereby, the FPC40is held by the holding members20A and20B so as to be prevented from getting out of the housing11unwillingly.

When the FPC40is inserted into the housing11of the electrical connector10through the opening12provided on the housing11to be put in the condition shown inFIG. 13, first the upper end part of the engaging portion26A of the holding member20A, on which the slanted end plane27A is formed, comes into contact with the top flat portion44A provided on the FPC40on the side of the lower plate portion21of the conductive shell14at the left end portion of the housing11, as shown inFIG. 14. At this time, the engaging portion26A of the holding member20A is pushed toward the lower plate portion21of the conductive shell14by the top flat portion44A provided on the FPC40and thereby the resilient arm portion of the holding member20A is resiliently deformed so as to shift the engaging portion26A of the holding member20A in position to approach the lower plate portion21of the conductive shell14.

In addition, although illustrations have been omitted, at the right end portion of the housing11also, the upper end part of the engaging portion26B of the holding member20B, on which the slanted end plane27B is formed, comes into contact with the top flat portion44B provided on the FPC40on the side of the lower plate portion21of the conductive shell14. At this time, the engaging portion26B of the holding member20B is pushed toward the lower plate portion21of the conductive shell14by the top flat portion44B provided on the FPC40and thereby the resilient arm portion of the holding member20B is resiliently deformed so as to shift the engaging portion26B of the holding member20B in position to approach the lower plate portion21of the conductive shell14.

Then, the FPC40is further inserted into the housing11to reach the predetermined destination in the housing11. When the FPC40has reached the predetermined destination in the housing11, the upper end part of the engaging portion26A of the holding member20A, on which the slanted end plane27A is formed, is put out of the top flat portion44A provided on the FPC40and shifted in position by the resilient arm portion of the holding member20A restoring resiliently to go away from the lower plate portion21of the conductive shell14, so that the engaging portion26A of the holding member20A engages with the engaging edged recess43A provided on the FPC40for holding the FPC40, at the left end portion of the housing11, as shown inFIG. 15.

In addition, although illustrations are omitted, at the right end portion of the housing11also, the upper end part of the engaging portion26B of the holding member20B, on which the slanted end plane27B is formed, is put out of the top flat portion44B provided on the FPC40and shifted in position by the resilient arm portion of the holding member20B restoring resiliently to go away from the lower plate portion21of the conductive shell14, so that the engaging portion26B of the holding member20B engages with the engaging edged recess43B provided on the FPC40for holding the FPC40.

On that occasion, the FPC40inserted in the housing11has reached the predetermined destination in the housing11and held by the couple of the holding members20A and20B provided respectively at the left and right end portions of the housing11so as to be prevented from getting out of the housing11unwillingly. This results in that the FPC40is automatically put in a condition to be prevented from getting out of the housing11unwillingly only by means of being inserted into the housing11.

When the FPC40inserted in the housing11has reached the predetermined destination in the housing11as shown inFIG. 13, the engaging edged recess43A provided on the FPC40can not be observed through the vertical groove38A provided on the front end portion of the housing11in a bird's-eye view of the electrical connector10fixed to the solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted and similarly the engaging edged recess43B provided on the FPC40can not be observed through the vertical groove38B provided on the front end portion of the housing11in a bird's-eye view of the electrical connector10fixed to the solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted. Thereby, the condition wherein the FPC40inserted in the housing11has reached the predetermined destination in the housing11can be easily confirmed by means of observing the FPC40inserted in the housing11through each of the vertical grooves38A and38B. If at least one of the engaging edged recesses43A and43B provided on the FPC40inserted in the housing11can be observed through at least one of the vertical grooves38A and38B provided on the front end portion of the housing11, the FPC40inserted in the housing11has not reached the predetermined destination in the housing11.

Under a condition wherein the FPC40inserted in the housing11takes up the predetermined destination in the housing11in the manner described above, each of the ground contacts19extending into the housing11from the belt-shaped plate portion17of the conductive shell14comes into resilient press-contact with the ground connecting portion42on the front surface of the FPC40from the side of the upper plate portion18of the conductive shell14. As a result, the ground connecting portion42on the front surface of the FPC40inserted in the housing11is electrically connected through the ground contacts19with the grounded portion provided on the solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted.

Further, each of the conductive contacts13arranged on the housing11also comes into resilient press-contact with a corresponding one of the signal connecting terminals41on the reverse surface of the FPC40from the side of the lower plate portion21of the conductive shell14. As a result, the signal connecting terminals41on the reverse surface of the FPC40inserted in the housing11are electrically connected through the conductive contacts13with the circuit terminals provided on the solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted.

Besides, the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A provided on the housing11takes up the station shown inFIG. 10and the pressing portion32A of the releasing member30A is positioned on the press-receiving portion25A of the holding member20A to be in contact with the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion25A. Similarly, the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B provided on the housing11takes up the station corresponding to the station of the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A shown inFIG. 10and the pressing portion32B of the releasing member30B is positioned on the press-receiving portion25B of the holding member20B to be in contact with the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion25B.

Then, when the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A is manipulated to move from the station shown inFIG. 10in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged so as to approach the movement-limiting portion33A, the manipulatable portion31A comes to take up the station shown inFIG. 11, for example, for coming into contact with the movement-limiting portion33A so that the movement of the manipulatable portion31A is limited by the movement-limiting portion33A. With this movement of the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A, the pressing portion32A of the releasing member30A is operative to move in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged for pressing the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion25A of the holding member20A. Thereby, the press-receiving portion25A of the holding member20A causes the resilient arm portion of the holding member20A to deform resiliently so as to shift in position downward in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged. With this shift of the press-receiving portion25A of the holding member20A, the engaging portion26A of the holding member20A shifts in position also downward in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged so as to disengage from the engaging edged recess43A provided on the FPC40for releasing the FPC40from the holding by the holding member20A.

In addition, when the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B is manipulated to move from the station corresponding to the station of the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A shown inFIG. 10in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged so as to approach the movement-limiting portion33B, the manipulatable portion31B comes to take up the station corresponding to the station of the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A shown inFIG. 11, for example, for coming into contact with the movement-limiting portion33B so that the movement of the manipulatable portion31B is limited by the movement-limiting portion33B. With this movement of the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B, the pressing portion32B of the releasing member30B is operative to move in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged for pressing the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion25B of the holding member20B. Thereby, the press-receiving portion25B of the holding member20B causes the resilient arm portion of the holding member20B to deform resiliently so as to shift in position downward in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged. With this shift of the press-receiving portion25B of the holding member20B, the engaging portion26B of the holding member20B shifts in position also downward in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged so as to disengage from the engaging edged recess43B provided on the FPC40for releasing the FPC40from the holding by the holding member20B.

On that occasion, since the width of the resilient strip forming the folding portion22A is selected to be equal to or larger than the width of the resilient strip forming the folding portion23A in the holding member20A having the folding portions22A and23A and the connecting portion24A constituting the resilient arm portion, the folding portion23A is equal in rigidity to or smaller in rigidity than the folding portion22A and therefore the engaging portion26A of the holding member20A can be easily and surely shifted in position downward with the press-receiving portion25A of the holding member20A having the slanted surface pressed downward by the pressing portion32A of the releasing member30A. Similarly, since the width of the resilient strip forming the folding portion22B is selected to be equal to or larger than the width of the resilient strip forming the folding portion23B in the holding member20B having the folding portions22B and23B and the connecting portion24B constituting the resilient arm portion, the folding portion23B is equal in rigidity to or smaller in rigidity than the folding portion22B and therefore the engaging portion26B of the holding member20B can be easily and surely shifted in position downward with the press-receiving portion25B of the holding member20B having the slanted surface pressed downward by the pressing portion32B of the releasing member30B.

The press-receiving portion25A of the holding member20A is operative to exert a retroactive force directed upward on the pressing portion32A of the releasing member30A. This retroactive force from the press-receiving portion25A of the holding member20A is transferred through the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A to the upper end portion of the housing11and then absorbed by the left plate-like engaging portion28A which is provided on the left front end portion of the conductive shell14for engaging with the shell-receiving portion34A provided on the left end portion of the housing11, so that each of the left end portion of the housing11and the left end portion of the conductive shell14is prevented from being subjected to undesirable deformation or the like.

The press-receiving portion25B of the holding member20B is operative also to exert a retroactive force directed upward on the pressing portion32B of the releasing member30B. This retroactive force from the press-receiving portion25B of the holding member20B is transferred through the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B to the upper end portion of the housing11and then absorbed by the right plate-like engaging portion28B which is provided on the right front end portion of the conductive shell14for engaging with the shell-receiving portion34B provided on the right end portion of the housing11, so that each of the right end portion of the housing11and the right end portion of the conductive shell14is prevented from being subjected to undesirable deformation or the like.

The left plate-like engaging portion28A provided on the conductive shell14is operative also to guide the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A moving in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged and similarly the right plate-like engaging portion28B provided on the conductive shell14is operative also to guide the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B moving in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged.

As described above, when the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A is manipulated, the engaging portion26A of the holding member20A shifts in position downward and disengages from the engaging edged recess43A provided on the FPC40inserted in the housing11so that the FPC40is released from the holding by the holding member20A, and when the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B is manipulated, the engaging portion26B of the holding member20B shifts in position downward and disengages from the engaging edged recess43B provided on the FPC40inserted in the housing11so that the FPC40is released from the holding by the holding member20B. As a result, the FPC40is put in a condition to be able to get out of the housing11.

In the case that the engaging edged holes are provided on the FPC40in place of the engaging edged recesses43A and43B, the FPC40inserted in the housing11is held by the holding members20A and20B and then released by the releasing members30A and30B from the holding by the holding members20A and20B in the same manner as described above.

After that, when the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A is released from the manipulation acted thereon, the manipulatable portion31A is operative to return to the station shown inFIG. 10from the station shown inFIG. 11with its own resilience and resilience of the resilient arm portion of the holding member20A. With this returning movement of the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A, the resilient arm portion of the holding member20A is subjected to resilient restoring deformation and thereby each of the press-receiving portion25A and the engaging portion26A of the holding member20A is shifted in position upward to return to the former position.

Similarly, when the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B is released from the manipulation acted thereon, the manipulatable portion31B is operative to return to the station corresponding to the station of the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A shown inFIG. 10from the station corresponding to the station of the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A shown inFIG. 11with its own resilience and resilience of the resilient arm portion of the holding member20B. With this returning movement of the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B, the resilient arm portion of the holding member20B is subjected to resilient restoring deformation and thereby each of the press-receiving portion25B and the engaging portion26B of the holding member20B is shifted in position upward to return to the former position.

With the electrical connector10as described above, the FPC40is automatically put in a condition wherein each of the holding members20A and20B is automatically put in engagement with the FPC40inserted in the housing11to hold the same, the signal connecting terminals41provided on the FPC40inserted in the housing11are electrically connected through the conductive contacts13arranged on the housing11with the circuit terminals provided on the solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted, and the ground connecting portion42provided on the FPC40inserted in the housing11is electrically connected through the ground contacts19formed in the conductive shell14with the grounded portion provided on the solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted, only by means of being inserted into the housing11.

Further, With the electrical connector10, it is not required, for causing the holding members20A and20B formed in the conductive shell14to be put in engagement with the FPC40inserted in the housing11to hold the same and then to be released by the releasing members30A and30B provided on the housing11from the engagement with the FPC40to put the same in free, to provide on the housing11an actuator rotatable in regard to the housing11or to set the conductive shell14to be rotatable in regard to the housing11. Accordingly, the conductive shell14fixed to the housing11can be used for fastening the housing11to the solid circuit board and any additional member for fastening the housing11to the solid circuit board is not required. As a result, the electrical connector10is able to be constituted with a relatively small number of constitutive parts and at a production cost reduced effectively.

In the electrical connector10, the holding member20A is released from the engagement with the FPC40inserted in the housing11when the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A, which projects from the inside to the outside of the housing11at the left end portion of the housing11neighboring the opening12provided on the front end portion of the housing11, is moved in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged, and the holding member20B is also released from the engagement with the FPC40inserted in the housing11when the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B, which projects from the inside to the outside of the housing11at the right end portion of the housing11neighboring the opening12provided on the front end portion of the housing11, is moved in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged. Therefore, each of the holding members20A and20B is able to be released from the engagement with the FPC40inserted in the housing11by an extremely simple and easy manipulation.

Since the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A is provided to project from the inside to the outside of the housing11at the left side portion of the housing11neighboring the opening12provided on the front end portion of the housing11and not to project upward from the housing11toward the outside of the conductive shell14on the side of the upper surface of the housing11, and the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B is provided to project from the inside to the outside of the housing11at the right side portion of the housing11neighboring the opening12provided on the front end portion of the housing11and not to project upward from the housing11toward the outside of the conductive shell14on the side of the upper surface of the housing11, each of the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A and the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B has no effect on a measure of thickness of the housing11in a direction perpendicular to the solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted. Consequently, with the electrical connector10, the measure of thickness of the housing11can be reduced sufficiently to obtain a thin circuit board assembly.

Besides, with the electrical connector10, since the holding member20A is released from the engagement with the FPC40inserted in the housing11when the manipulatable portion31A of the releasing member30A is moved in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged and which is perpendicular to a direction from the upper surface to the lower surface of the housing11and the holding member20B is released from the engagement with the FPC40inserted in the housing11when the manipulatable portion31B of the releasing member30B is moved in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged and which is perpendicular to the direction from the upper surface to the lower surface of the housing11, the FPC40inserted in the housing11can be surely put in holding by the holding members20A and20B to be prevented from getting out of the housing11unwillingly and then released from the holding by the holding members20A and20B so as to be able to get out of the housing11under a condition wherein an open space enough to conduct the manipulation for releasing the FPC40from the holding by the holding members20A and20B is not required to be kept above the housing11covered partially by the conductive shell14on the solid circuit board.

FIG. 16shows a second embodiment of electrical connector according to the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 16, an electrical connector50, which constitutes the second embodiment of electrical connector according to the present invention, has a housing51made of insulator, such as plastics or the like. The housing51is provided on a front end portion thereof with an opening52through which a flat circuit device, such as an FPC, is inserted into the housing51and further provided with a room extending from the opening52into the inside of the housing51for accommodating the flat circuit device inserted in the housing51. The front end portion of the housing51is constituted with a part of the housing51forming the opening52and a part of the housing51surrounding the part of the housing51forming the opening52.

When the electrical connector50is put in practical use for mounting, for example, an FPC which constitutes the flat circuit device, on a solid circuit board in an electronic apparatus (not shown in the drawings), the housing51is mounted on the solid circuit board so that the electrical connector50is fixed in its entirety to the solid circuit board. The housing51mounted on the solid circuit board has an upper surface which is an outer surface of an upper end portion of the housing51and open to a space on the solid circuit board and a lower surface which is an outer surface of a lower end portion of the housing51and opposite to the upper surface to face the solid circuit board.

A plurality of conductive contacts53, which correspond to the conductive contacts13employed in the electrical connector10described above and are not shown inFIG. 16but shown inFIG. 21described later, are provided on the housing51to be arranged in a longitudinal direction of the housing51extending along a surface of the solid circuit board on which the housing51is mounted. Each of the conductive contacts53is constituted in the same manner as each of the conductive contacts13employed in the electrical connector10to have a connecting terminal53awhich corresponding to the connecting terminal portion13aof the conductive contact13. The conductive contacts53thus constituted are operative to perform the same function as that performed by the conductive contacts13employed in the electrical connector10.

When the FPC is inserted into the housing51through the opening52provided thereon, the conductive contacts53come into press-contact with connecting terminals provided on the FPC inserted in the housing51, respectively. Therefore, the connecting terminals provided on the FPC inserted in the housing51are electrically connected through the conductive contacts53with circuit terminals provided on the solid circuit board on which the housing51is mounted.

The electrical connector50has also a conductive shell54mounted on the housing51for covering a major part of the housing51except the front end portion of the housing51on which the opening52is provided. To be more concrete, the conductive shell54covers a large part of the upper end portion of the housing51, a large part of each of left and right side end portions of the housing51, a part of the lower end portion of the housing51and a part of the rear end portion of the housing51. The conductive shell54thus mounted on the housing51has a longitudinal direction thereof extending in the same manner as the longitudinal direction of the housing51.

Each ofFIG. 17which is a schematic front, top and right side perspective view,FIG. 18which is a schematic rear, top and right side perspective view andFIG. 19which is a schematic plan and partially fragmentary view, shows the conductive shell54removed from the housing51.

ReferringFIGS. 17,18and19, the conductive shell54is formed by means of processing a metal thin plate to have a plurality of ground connecting portions54a, each of which is operative to be connected electrically by, for example, soldering with grounded portions provided on the solid circuit board on which the housing51is mounted.

Since the conductive shell54is formed to cover the major part of the upper end portion of the housing51, the left side end portion of the housing51and the right side end portion of the housing51when the conductive shell54is mounted on the housing51and each of the ground connecting portions54aprovided on the conductive shell54is connected electrically by, for example, soldering with the grounded portion provided on the solid circuit board on which the housing51is mounted, as described above, the conductive contacts53provided on the housing51are sufficiently shielded by the conductive shell54from the electromagnetic wave noises coming from the outside. In addition, the conductive shell54mounted on the housing51is able to be used for fastening the housing51to the solid circuit board on which the housing51is mounted.

Further, the conductive shell54is provided with a belt-shaped plate portion56separated from an upper plate portion57of the conductive shell54covering the upper end portion of the housing51for connecting a pair of left and right rear plate portions55A and55B of the conductive shell54with each other on the rear end portion of the housing51. The left rear plate portion55A of the conductive shell54covers a left end part of the rear end portion of the housing51and the right rear plate portion55B of the conductive shell54covers a right end part of the rear end portion of the housing51. The belt-shaped plate portion56is provided thereon with a plurality of ground contacts58. Each of the ground contacts58extends into the housing51toward the opening52formed in the front end portion of the housing51from the belt-shaped plate portion56. In the housing51, the ground contacts58is positioned to be opposite to a corresponding one of the conductive contacts53and operative to come into press-contact with a ground connecting portion provided on the FPC when the FPC is inserted in the housing51through the opening52provided thereon.

The conductive shell54is also provided with a couple of holding members60A and60B for holding the FPC inserted in the housing51through the opening52provided thereon. The holding member60A is formed in a body in the conductive shell54at a position opposite to the left rear plate portion55A of the conductive shell54and the holding member60B is also formed in a body in the conductive shell54at a position opposite to the right rear plate portion55B of the conductive shell54.

The holding member60A is provided with a pair of folding portions62A and63A, each of which extends first from a left end of a lower plate portion61of the conductive shell54covering the lower end portion of the housing51toward the front end portion of the housing51and then folds back to extend toward the left rear plate portion55A of the conductive shell54, a connecting portion64A for connecting the folding portions62A and63A with each other, a press-receiving portion65A projecting from the folding portion63A, and an engaging portion66A provided on the folding portion63A. In the holding member60A thus constituted, the folding portions62A and63A and the connecting portion64A in the aggregate constitute a resilient arm portion which is operative to shift in position resiliently in a direction passing through both of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing51, so that the resilient arm portion is operative to support the engaging portion66A to be shiftable in position in the direction passing through both of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing51and the press-receiving portion65A projects from the resilient arm portion.

Each of the folding portions62A and63A is shaped into a resilient strip with a predetermined width. The width of the resilient strip forming the folding portion62A is selected to be equal to or larger than the width of the resilient strip forming the folding portion63A. The press-receiving portion65A forms thereon a slanted surface inclined to the longitudinal direction of the housing51, that is, the direction along which the conductive contacts53are arranged. Further, the engaging portion66A constitutes a projection standing up on the folding portion63A forming the resilient arm portion toward the upper plate portion57of the conductive shell54and is operative to shift in position with the shift of the resilient arm portion in the direction passing through both of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing51.

Similarly, the holding member60B is provided with a pair of folding portions62B and63B, each of which extends first from a right end of the lower plate portion61of the conductive shell54toward the front end portion of the housing51and then folds back to extend toward the right rear plate portion55B of the conductive shell54, a connecting portion64B for connecting the folding portions62B and63B with each other, a press-receiving portion65B projecting from the folding portion63B, and an engaging portion66B provided on the folding portion63B. In the holding member60B thus constituted, the folding portions62B and63B and the connecting portion64B in the aggregate constitute a resilient arm portion which is operative to shift in position resiliently in the direction passing through both of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing51, so that the resilient arm portion is operative to support the engaging portion66B to be shiftable in position in the direction passing through both of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing51and the press-receiving portion65B projects from the resilient arm portion.

Each of the folding portions62B and63B is shaped into a resilient strip with a predetermined width. The width of the resilient strip forming the folding portion62B is selected to be equal to or larger than the width of the resilient strip forming the folding portion63B. The press-receiving portion65B forms thereon a slanted surface inclined to the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged. Further, the engaging portion66B constitutes a projection standing up on the folding portion63B forming the resilient arm portion toward the upper plate portion57of the conductive shell54and is operative to shift in position with the shift of the resilient arm portion in the direction passing through both of the upper and lower surfaces of the housing51.

The engaging portion66A of the holding member60A, which constitutes the projection standing up on the folding portion63A forming the resilient arm portion toward the upper plate portion57of the conductive shell54, has an upper end part forming thereon a slanted end plane67A ascending gradually in a direction along which the FPC is inserted into the housing51through the opening52provided thereon. The upper end part of the engaging portion66A forming thereon the slanted end plane67A is positioned in the inside of the conductive shell54for engaging with an engaging edged recess provided on the FPC inserted in the housing51, as described later.

Similarly, the engaging portion66B of the holding member60B, which constitutes the projection standing up on the folding portion63B forming the resilient arm portion toward the upper plate portion57of the conductive shell54, has an upper end part forming thereon a slanted end plane67B ascending gradually in the direction along which the FPC is inserted into the housing51through the opening52provided thereon. The upper end part of the engaging portion66B forming thereon the slanted end plane67B is positioned in the inside of the conductive shell54for engaging with an engaging edged recess provided on the FPC inserted in the housing51, as described later.

Further, the conductive shell54is provided, in addition to the holding members60A and60B, with a pair of resilient engaging portions70A and70B each formed in a body on the conductive shell54to be shaped into a cantilever. The resilient engaging portion70A extends from a rear end of a left side end portion68A covering the left side end portion of the housing51into the inside of the conductive shell54for bending toward the front end portion of the housing51so as to be positioned immediately in the vicinity of the holding member60A. The resilient engaging portion70B extends from a rear end of a right side end portion68B covering the right side end portion of the housing51into the inside of the conductive shell54for bending toward the front end portion of the housing51so as to be positioned immediately in the vicinity of the holding member60B.

A top end part71A of the resilient engaging portion70A is put in a position corresponding to the front end portion of the housing51in the vicinity of the holding member60A for engaging with a manipulatable portion81A of a releasing member80A explained later. Similarly, a top end part71B of the resilient engaging portion70B is put in a position corresponding to the front end portion of the housing51in the vicinity of the holding member60B for engaging with a manipulatable portion81B of a releasing member80B explained later. Each of the resilient engaging portions70A and70B is provided to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the conductive shell54along which the conductive contacts53are arranged.

The resilient engaging portion70A is operative to apply on the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A, with which the top end part71A of the resilient engaging portion70A is put in engagement, a resilient force contributing to a returning movement of the manipulatable portion81A when the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A is moved in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged. Similarly, the resilient engaging portion70B is operative to apply on the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B, with which the top end part71B of the resilient engaging portion70B is put in engagement, a resilient force contributing to a returning movement of the manipulatable portion81B when the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B is moved in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged.

Besides, the conductive shell54is provide on a left front end portion opposite to the left rear plate portion55A thereof with a left plate-like engaging portion75A which extends from a left end of the upper plate portion57of the conductive shell54toward the outside of the conductive shell54for engaging with a left end portion of the housing51which neighbors the opening52provided on the front end portion of the housing51and provided also on a right front end portion opposite to the right rear plate portion55B thereof with a right plate-like engaging portion75B which extends from a right end of the upper plate portion57of the conductive shell54toward the outside of the conductive shell54for engaging with a right end portion of the housing51which neighbors the opening52provided on the front end portion of the housing51.

Referring toFIG. 20, the housing51is provided on the left and right end portions thereof with a couple of releasing members80A and80B to be manipulated for releasing the FPC inserted in the housing51from holding by the holding members60A and60B. The releasing member80A is provided in a body on the housing51at a position corresponding to the holding member60A and the releasing member80B is also provided in a body on the housing51at a position corresponding to the holding member60B.

As shown inFIG. 21which is a schematic partial cross sectional view showing an inside structure of a left end portion of the electrical connector50, the releasing member80A has the manipulatable portion81A extending from the rear end portion of the housing51toward the outside of the front end portion of the housing51so as to project from the inside to the outside of the housing51at the left end portion of the housing51neighboring the opening52provided on the front end portion of the housing51and a pressing portion (not shown in the drawings) projecting downward from a lower end of the manipulatable portion81A in the same manner as the pressing portion32A projecting downward from the lower end of the manipulatable portion31A employed in the electrical connector10.

The manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A is provided to be resilient and movable in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged. The pressing portion projecting downward from the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A is provided to engage with the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion65A of the holding member60A. When the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A is manipulated to move in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts are arranged, the pressing portion projecting downward from the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A is moved also in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged, together with the manipulatable portion81A.

As shown inFIG. 21, the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A is provided thereon with an engaging recess82A constituting a groove-shaped portion, with which the top end part71A of the resilient engaging portion70A formed on the conductive shell54engages. That is, the engaging recess82A is provided on the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A to constitute the groove-shaped portion for receiving the top end part71A of the resilient engaging portion70A.

The releasing member80B has the manipulatable portion81B extending from the rear end portion of the housing51toward the outside of the front end portion of the housing51so as to project from the inside to the outside of the housing51at the right end portion of the housing51neighboring the opening52provided on the front end portion of the housing51and a pressing portion (not shown in the drawings) projecting downward from a lower end of the manipulatable portion81B in the same manner as the pressing portion32B projecting downward from the lower end of the manipulatable portion31B employed in the electrical connector10.

The manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B is provided to be resilient and movable in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged. The pressing portion projecting downward from the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B is provided to engage with the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion65B of the holding member60B. When the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B is manipulated to move in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts are arranged, the pressing portion projecting downward from the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B is moved also in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged, together with the manipulatable portion81B.

As shown inFIG. 20, The manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B is provided thereon with an engaging recess82B constituting a groove-shaped portion, with which the top end part71B of the resilient engaging portion70B formed on the conductive shell54engages. That is, the engaging recess82B is provided on the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B to constitute the groove-shaped portion for receiving the top end part71B of the resilient engaging portion70B.

On the left end portion of the housing51neighboring the opening52provided on the front end portion of the housing51, a movement-limiting portion85A for limiting a movement of the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged is provided to be in the vicinity of the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A for projecting from the housing51toward the outside of the housing51. Similarly, on the right end portion of the housing51neighboring the opening52provided on the front end portion of the housing51, a movement-limiting portion85B for limiting a movement of the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged is also provided to be in the vicinity of the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B for projecting from the housing51toward the outside of the housing51.

Further, as shown inFIG. 16, on the left end portion of the housing51neighboring the opening52provided on the front end portion of the housing51, a shell-receiving portion86A is provided to be positioned above the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A for receiving the left plate-like engaging portion75A provided on the left front end portion of the conductive shell54. Similarly, on the right end portion of the housing51neighboring the opening52provided on the front end portion of the housing51, a shell-receiving portion86B is also provided to be positioned above the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B for receiving the right plate-like engaging portion75B provided on the right front end portion of the conductive shell54.

Besides, a couple of vertical grooves87A and87B are provided on the front end portion of the housing51in addition to the opening52. Each of the vertical grooves87A and87B is used for observing therethrough a condition wherein the FPC inserted in the housing51through the opening52provided thereon has reached a predetermined destination in the housing51.

In the electrical connector50having the housing51on which the conductive contacts53are arranged and the conductive shell54mounted on the housing51for covering partially the same, as described above, the top end part71A of the resilient engaging portion70A formed on the conductive shell54is put in engagement with the engaging recess82A provided on the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A provided on the housing51and the top end part71B of the resilient engaging portion70B formed on the conductive shell54is put in engagement with the engaging recess82B provided on the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B provided on the housing51. Then, when the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A is manipulated to move in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged for approaching the movement-limiting portion85A, the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A moves in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged together with the resilient engaging portion70A and the resilient engaging portion70A is operative to apply on the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A the resilient force contributing to the returning movement of the manipulatable portion81A. Similarly, when the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B is manipulated to move in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged for approaching the movement-limiting portion85B, the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B moves in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged together with the resilient engaging portion70B and the resilient engaging portion70B is operative to apply on the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B the resilient force contributing to the returning movement of the manipulatable portion81B.

Under such a condition as described above, the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A provided on the housing51takes up such a station as shown inFIG. 16when any manipulation does not act on the manipulatable portion81A. On that occasion, the pressing portion projecting downward from the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A is positioned on the press-receiving portion65A of the holding member60A to be in contact with the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion65A.

When the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A is manipulated to move from the station shown inFIG. 16in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged so as to approach the movement-limiting portion85A, the manipulatable portion81A moves together with the resilient engaging portion70A in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged, for example, to come into contact with the movement-limiting portion85A so that the movement of the manipulatable portion81A is limited by the movement-limiting portion85A.

With such a movement of the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A, the pressing portion projecting downward from the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A is operative to move in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged for pressing the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion65A of the holding member60A. Thereby, the press-receiving portion65A of the holding member60A causes the resilient arm portion of the holding member60A to deform resiliently so as to shift in position downward in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged. With such a shift of the press-receiving portion65A of the holding member60A, the engaging portion66A of the holding member60A shifts in position also downward in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged.

After that, when the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A is released from the manipulation acted thereon, the manipulatable portion81A is operative to return to the station shown inFIG. 16with its own resilience and resilience of the resilient arm portion of the holding member60A. With such a returning movement of the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A, the resilient arm portion of the holding member60A is subjected to resilient restoring deformation and thereby each of the press-receiving portion65A and the engaging portion66A of the holding member60A is shifted in position upward to return to a former position. On that occasion, the returning movement of the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A is conducted surely and quickly with the resilient force applied on the manipulatable portion81A by the resilient engaging portion70A so as to contribute the returning movement of the manipulatable portion81A.

The manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B provided on the housing51also takes up such a station as shown inFIG. 16when any manipulation does not act on the manipulatable portion81B. On that occasion, the pressing portion projecting downward from the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B is positioned on the press-receiving portion65B of the holding member60B to be in contact with the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion65B.

When the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B is manipulated to move from the station shown inFIG. 16in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged so as to approach the movement-limiting portion85B, the manipulatable portion81B moves together with the resilient engaging portion70B in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged, for example, to come into contact with the movement-limiting portion85B so that the movement of the manipulatable portion81B is limited by the movement-limiting portion85B.

With such a movement of the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B, the pressing portion projecting downward from the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B is operative to move in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged for pressing the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion65B of the holding member60B. Thereby, the press-receiving portion65B of the holding member60B causes the resilient arm portion of the holding member60B to deform resiliently so as to shift in position downward in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged.

With such a shift of the press-receiving portion65B of the holding member60B, the engaging portion66B of the holding member60B shifts in position also downward in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged.

After that, when the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B is released from the manipulation acted thereon, the manipulatable portion81B is operative to return to the station shown inFIG. 16with its own resilience and resilience of the resilient arm portion of the holding member60B. With such a returning movement of the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B, the resilient arm portion of the holding member60B is subjected to resilient restoring deformation and thereby each of the press-receiving portion65B and the engaging portion66B of the holding member60B is shifted in position upward to return to a former position. On that occasion, the returning movement of the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B is conducted surely and quickly with the resilient force applied on the manipulatable portion81B by the resilient engaging portion70B so as to contribute the returning movement of the manipulatable portion81B.

As described above, the electrical connector50is provided at both end portions thereof in the longitudinal direction of each of the housing51and the conductive shell54respectively with a couple of holding members60A and60B and a couple of releasing members80A and80B.

In the electrical connector50constituted as described above, for example, the FPC40shown inFIG. 12which is the example of the FPC constituting the flat circuit device is inserted into the housing51through the opening52provided on the front end portion of the housing51.

When the FPC40is inserted into the housing51of the electrical connector50through the opening52provided on the housing51, the folding portions62A and63A, the connecting portion64A, the press-receiving portion65A, the engaging portion66A and the slanted end plane67A, which constitute the holding member60A employed in the electrical connector50, are operative to function in the same manner as the folding portions22A and23A, the connecting portion24A, the press-receiving portion25A, the engaging portion26A and the slanted end plane27A, which constitute the holding member20A employed in the electrical connector10under the condition wherein the FPC40is inserted into the housing11of the electrical connector10through the opening12provided on the housing11, and the folding portions62B and63B, the connecting portion64B, the press-receiving portion65B, the engaging portion66B and the slanted end plane67B, which constitute the holding member60B employed in the electrical connector50, are operative to function in the same manner as the folding portions22B and23B, the connecting portion24B, the press-receiving portion25B, the engaging portion26B and the slanted end plane27B, which constitute the holding member20B employed in the electrical connector10under the condition wherein the FPC40is inserted into the housing11of the electrical connector10through the opening12provided on the housing11. Accordingly, the upper end part of the engaging portion66A of the holding member60A, on which the slanted end plane67A is formed, engages with the engaging edged recess43A provided on the FPC40and the upper end part of the engaging portion66B of the holding member60B, on which the slanted end plane67B is formed, engages with the engaging edged recess43B provided on the FPC40, so that the FPC40inserted in the housing51is held by the holding members60A and60B. As a result, the FPC40inserted in the housing51is prevented from getting out of the housing51unwillingly.

When the FPC40inserted in the housing51has reached a predetermined destination in the housing51, the engaging edged recess43A provided on the FPC40can not be observed through the vertical groove87A provided on the front end portion of the housing51in a bird's-eye view of the electrical connector50fixed to the solid circuit board on which the housing51is mounted and similarly the engaging edged recess43B provided on the FPC40can not be observed through the vertical groove87B provided on the front end portion of the housing51in a bird's-eye view of the electrical connector50fixed to the solid circuit board on which the housing51is mounted. Thereby, the condition wherein the FPC40inserted in the housing51has reached the predetermined destination in the housing51can be easily confirmed by means of observing the FPC40inserted in the housing51through each of the vertical grooves87A and87B. If at least one of the engaging edged recesses43A and43B provided on the FPC40inserted in the housing51can be observed through at least one of the vertical grooves87A and87B provided on the front end portion of the housing51, the FPC40inserted in the housing51has not reached the predetermined destination in the housing51.

Under a condition wherein the FPC40inserted in the housing51takes up the predetermined destination in the housing51in the manner described above, each of the ground contacts58extending into the housing51from the belt-shaped plate portion56of the conductive shell54comes into resilient press-contact with the ground connecting portion42on the front surface of the FPC40from the side of the upper plate portion57of the conductive shell54. As a result, the ground connecting portion42on the front surface of the FPC40inserted in the housing51is electrically connected through the ground contacts58with the grounded portion provided on the solid circuit board on which the housing51is mounted.

Further, each of the conductive contacts53arranged on the housing51also comes into resilient press-contact with a corresponding one of the signal connecting terminals41on the reverse surface of the FPC40from the side of the lower plate portion61of the conductive shell54. As a result, the signal connecting terminals41on the reverse surface of the FPC40inserted in the housing51are electrically connected through the conductive contacts53with the circuit terminals provided on the solid circuit board on which the housing51is mounted.

Besides, the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A provided on the housing51takes up the station shown inFIG. 16and the pressing portion projecting from the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A is positioned on the press-receiving portion65A of the holding member60A to be in contact with the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion65A. Similarly, the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B provided on the housing51takes up the station shown inFIG. 16and the pressing portion projecting from the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B is positioned on the press-receiving portion65B of the holding member60B to be in contact with the slanted surface formed on the press-receiving portion65B.

Then, when the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A is manipulated to move in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged so as to approach the movement-limiting portion85A, the manipulatable portion81A is operative to move, together with the resilient engaging portion70A, in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged and the holding member60A operates in the same manner as the holding member20A operative to release the FPC40inserted in the housing11from the holding by the holding member20A in the electrical connector10so as to release the FPC40inserted in the housing51from the holding by the holding member60A. In addition, when the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B is manipulated to move in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged so as to approach the movement-limiting portion85B, the manipulatable portion81B is operative to move, together with the resilient engaging portion70B, in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged and the holding member60B operates in the same manner as the holding member20B operative to release the FPC40inserted in the housing11from the holding by the holding member20B in the electrical connector10so as to release the FPC40inserted in the housing51from the holding by the holding member60B.

On that occasion, since the width of the resilient strip forming the folding portion62A is selected to be equal to or larger than the width of the resilient strip forming the folding portion63A in the holding member60A having the folding portions62A and63A and the connecting portion64A constituting the resilient arm portion, the folding portion63A is equal in rigidity to or smaller in rigidity than the folding portion62A and therefore the engaging portion66A of the holding member60A can be easily and surely shifted in position downward with the press-receiving portion65A of the holding member60A having the slanted surface pressed downward by the pressing portion projecting from the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A. Similarly, since the width of the resilient strip forming the folding portion62B is selected to be equal to or larger than the width of the resilient strip forming the folding portion63B in the holding member60B having the folding portions62B and63B and the connecting portion64B constituting the resilient arm portion, the folding portion63B is equal in rigidity to or smaller in rigidity than the folding portion62B and therefore the engaging portion66B of the holding member60B can be easily and surely shifted in position downward with the press-receiving portion65B of the holding member60B having the slanted surface pressed downward by the pressing portion projecting from the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B.

The press-receiving portion65A of the holding member60A is operative to exert a retroactive force directed upward on the pressing portion projecting from the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A. This retroactive force from the press-receiving portion65A of the holding member60A is transferred through the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A to the upper end portion of the housing51and then absorbed by the left plate-like engaging portion75A which is provided on the left front end portion of the conductive shell54for engaging with the shell-receiving portion86A provided on the left end portion of the housing51, so that each of the left end portion of the housing51and the left end portion of the conductive shell54is prevented from being subjected to undesirable deformation or the like.

The press-receiving portion65B of the holding member60B is operative to exert a retroactive force directed upward on the pressing portion projecting from the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B. This retroactive force from the press-receiving portion65B of the holding member60B is transferred through the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B to the upper end portion of the housing51and then absorbed by the right plate-like engaging portion75B which is provided on the right front end portion of the conductive shell54for engaging with the shell-receiving portion86B provided on the right end portion of the housing51, so that each of the right end portion of the housing51and the right end portion of the conductive shell54is prevented from being subjected to undesirable deformation or the like.

The left plate-like engaging portion75A provided on the conductive shell54is operative also to guide the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A moving in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged and similarly the right plate-like engaging portion75B provided on the conductive shell54is operative also to guide the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B moving in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged.

As described above, when the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A is manipulated, the engaging portion66A of the holding member60A shifts in position downward and disengages from the engaging edged recess43A provided on the FPC40inserted in the housing51so that the FPC40is released from the holding by the holding member60A, and when the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B is manipulated, the engaging portion66B of the holding member60B shifts in position downward and disengages from the engaging edged recess43B provided on the FPC40inserted in the housing51so that the FPC40is released from the holding by the holding member60B. As a result, the FPC40is put in a condition to be able to get out of the housing51.

In the case that a pair of engaging edged holes are provided on the FPC40in place of the engaging edged recesses43A and43B, the FPC40inserted in the housing51is held by the holding members60A and60B and then released by the releasing members80A and80B from the holding by the holding members60A and60B in the same manner as described above.

After that, when the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A is released from the manipulation acted thereon, the manipulatable portion81A is operative to return to the station shown inFIG. 16with its own resilience and resilience of the resilient arm portion of the holding member60A. With this returning movement of the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A, the resilient arm portion of the holding member60A is subjected to resilient restoring deformation and thereby each of the press-receiving portion65A and the engaging portion66A of the holding member60A is shifted in position upward to return to the former position.

Similarly, when the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B is released from the manipulation acted thereon, the manipulatable portion81B is operative to return to the station shown inFIG. 16with its own resilience and resilience of the resilient arm portion of the holding member60B. With this returning movement of the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B, the resilient arm portion of the holding member60B is subjected to resilient restoring deformation and thereby each of the press-receiving portion65B and the engaging portion66B of the holding member60B is shifted in position upward to return to the former position.

With the electrical connector50as described above, the same effect and advantages as those obtained with the electrical connector10can be obtained. In addition, in the electrical connector50, since the resilient engaging portion70A provided on the conductive shell54is operative to apply on the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A the resilient force contributing to the returning movement of the manipulatable portion81A when the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A is manipulated to move in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged for approaching the movement-limiting portion85A and the resilient engaging portion70B provided on the conductive shell54is operative to apply on the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B the resilient force contributing to the returning movement of the manipulatable portion81B when the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B is manipulated to move in the longitudinal direction of the housing51along which the conductive contacts53are arranged for approaching the movement-limiting portion85B, each of the manipulatable portion81A of the releasing member80A and the manipulatable portion81B of the releasing member80B is able to return much more surely and quickly to the former position after the manipulation acted thereon.