Electrical connector

An electrical connector including a housing provided thereon with an opening through which a flexible printed circuit board (an FPC) is inserted into the housing, a plurality of conductive contacts arranged on the housing, a conductive shell mounted on the housing for covering partially the same and provided with a holding member, and a movable lever, wherein the holding member comprises an arm portion extending from the conductive shell to the inside thereof, an engaging projection provided at an end of the arm portion for engaging with an engaging edged portion provided on the FPC inserted in the housing so as to hold the FPC, a pressure receiving portion extending from the engaging projection for receiving pressure from the movable lever and an indicating portion extending from the pressure receiving portion to take up selectively first and second positions for indicating a state of the holding member, and the indication portion taking up at least one of the first and second positions is able to be visually checked from the outside of the conductive shell.

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, holding means for engaging with 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) inserted in the housing, so as to hold the same to be prevented from getting out of the housing unwillingly and a plurality of conductive contacts provided for coming into press-contact with connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device so as to put the flat circuit device in electrical connection with another electrical device, such as a main solid circuit board.

2. Description of the Prior Art

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 fixed 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, through the conductive contacts, each of the connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device 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 fixed 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. 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. 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 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 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 fixed 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 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 mentioned 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 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).

Besides, there has been further proposed previously an electrical connector belonging to the above mentioned 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 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 2008-192574 (hereinafter, referred to as published patent document 2).

In the electrical connector shown in the published patent document 1, the holding means (a locking portion 11c) is formed in a part of the conductive shell (a shield plate 11) to be able to seesaw with an engaging end portion (a nail portion 11d) curved to the inside of the conductive shell. The holding means shifts its position in response to a movement of the actuator (an actuator 9) provided to be rotatable in regard to the housing (a housing 3).

Then, when the actuator is rotated in a first direction in regard to the housing after the flat circuit device (an FPC 21) is inserted into a receiving space (an FPC receiving space 34) provided in the housing, each of the conductive contacts (first contacts 5, second contacts 6) provided in the housing is caused to shift its position by a cam (a cam portion 92 or 93) 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 portion 94) formed on the actuator so as to cause the engaging end portion of the holding means to engage with an engaging portion (a recess 21a) 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 portion 94) 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 the published patent document 2, the conductive shell (a shell 4) is provided to be rotatable to the housing (a housing body 2) and the holding means (a leg portion 46) 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 opening 21) 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 contacts 31, lower contacts 32) 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 hole 2) 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 each of the electrical connectors thus proposed previously, which is provided with the holding means operative to prevent the flat circuit device inserted in the housing from getting out of the housing unwillingly, the holding means, which is put in operation to prevent the flat circuit device inserted in the housing from getting out of the housing unwillingly, assumes a posture which is entirely or almost the same as a posture assumed by the holding means which is not put in operation to prevent the flat circuit device inserted in the housing from getting out of the housing unwillingly or takes up a position which is entirely or almost the same as a position taken up by the holding means which is not put in operation to prevent the flat circuit device inserted in the housing from getting out of the housing unwillingly. Further, the flat circuit device, which is inserted in the housing and prevented by the holding means from getting out of the housing unwillingly, assumes a posture which is entirely or almost the same as a posture assumed by the flat circuit device which is inserted in the housing but not prevented by the holding means from getting out of the housing unwillingly.

This means that, with the previously proposed electrical connector put to practical use, it is very difficult to confirm quickly and accurately by means of visual check or feeling check from the outside of the electrical connector that the flat circuit device inserted in the housing has reached an appropriate position in the housing to be surely prevented by the holding means from getting out of the housing unwillingly. Accordingly, particular additional operations are required for confirming that the flat circuit device inserted in the housing has been put in an appropriate condition to be connected electrically with, for example, a main solid circuit board to which the electrical connector is fixed with electrical connection. This results in problems or disadvantages that the number of steps of work for producing the electrical connector increases and the production cost of the electrical connector rises.

OBJECTS AND 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 FFC, on a main solid circuit board, which comprises a housing made of insulator 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 FFC, on a main solid circuit board, which comprises a housing made of insulator 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 prevented from getting out of the housing unwillingly by a holding member formed in the conductive shell and the conductive contacts provided in the housing can be stably and appropriately kept in a condition of press-contact with a plurality of connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device.

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 FFC, on a main solid circuit board, which comprises a housing made of insulator 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 with which it is very easy to confirm quickly and accurately by means of visual check or feeling check from the outside of the electrical connector that the flat circuit device inserted in the housing has reached an appropriate position in the housing to be surely prevented from getting out of the housing unwillingly by a holding member formed in the conductive shell.

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 and provided with an opening through which a flat circuit device, such as an FPC or FFC, is inserted into the housing, a plurality of conductive contacts provided to be arranged on the housing and positioned to correspond respectively to connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device when the flat circuit device is inserted into the housing through the opening provided thereon, a conductive shell mounted on the housing for covering partially the same and provided with a holding member formed in a body therein for holding the flat circuit device inserted in the housing, and a movable lever provided to be rotatable in regard to the housing for taking up a first station and a second station selectively, wherein the holding member formed in the conductive shell comprises an arm portion extending from the conductive shell to the inside thereof, an engaging projection provided at an end of the arm portion for engaging with an engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device, a pressure receiving portion extending from the engaging projection for receiving pressure from the movable lever and an indicating portion extending from the pressure receiving portion for indicating a state of the holding member, the engaging projection is operative to engage with the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing so as to hold the flat circuit device and the indication portion is operative to take up a first position when the movable lever is postured to take up the first station, the pressure receiving portion is operative to be moved by the movable lever to release the engaging projection from engagement with the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing so as not to hold the flat circuit device and to cause the indication portion to take up a second position different from the first position when the movable lever is rotated from the first station to the second station, and the indication portion taking up at least one of the first and second positions is able to be visually checked from the outside of the conductive shell.

Especially, in one embodiment of electronic connector in accordance with the present invention, the movable lever has a pair of rotating axis portions supported to be rotatable by the housing and a pressing portion extending from each of the rotating axis portions to be rotatable with an imaginary axis of rotation passing through the rotating axis portions. The pressing portion is operative to cause the engaging projection of the holding member formed in the conductive shell to engage with the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing when the movable lever is postured to take up the first station and to move the pressure receiving portion of the holding member so as to release the engaging projection of the holding member from the engagement with the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing when the movable lever is rotated from the first station to the second station.

Further, in another embodiment of electronic connector in accordance with the present invention, the holding member is formed with resiliency in the conductive shell. The engaging projection of the holding member is operative to come into press-contact with the flat circuit device inserted in the housing so as to cause the holding member to be resiliently deformed just before engaging with the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device and the pressure receiving portion of the holding member is operative to hit with resilient force against a portion, for example, the pressing portion of the movable lever when the engaging projection of the holding member engages with the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing.

In the electrical connector thus constituted in accordance with the present invention, the movable lever postured to take up the first station is positioned in its entirety to keep lying down on the housing and the movable lever postured to take up the second station is positioned in its entirety to keep rising from the housing.

When the flat circuit device is inserted into the housing thorough the opening provided thereon under a condition wherein the movable lever is postured to take up the first station, each of the conductive contacts provided to be arranged in the housing comes into press-contact with the corresponding one of the connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing, the engaging projection of the holding member formed in the conductive shell engages with the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing so as to hold the flat circuit device, and the indicating portion of the holding member takes up the first position. The indicating portion taking up the first position is postured, for example, to be put in the inside of the conductive shell or to face the outside from the inside of the conductive shell.

Then, when the movable lever is rotated from the first station to the second station under a condition wherein the flat circuit device has been inserted into the housing, the pressure receiving portion of the holding member is pressed up to move by the movable lever so that the engaging projection of the holding member is released from the engagement with the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing so as not to hold the flat circuit device and the indicating portion of the holding member is shifted from the first position to the second position. The indicating portion taking up the second position is postured, for example, to project from the inside to the outside of the conductive shell.

The indication portion of the holding member taking up the second position to project from the inside to the outside of the conductive shell, as mentioned above, can be visually checked from the outside of the conductive shell.

The movable lever, which is employed in one of the above mentioned embodiments of electrical connector according to the present invention, has the rotating axis portions each supported to be rotatable by the housing and the pressing portion extending from each of the rotating axis portions to be rotatable with the imaginary axis of rotation passing through the rotating axis portions. When the movable lever is rotated from the first station to the second station, the movement of the pressure receiving portion of the holding member pressed up by the movable lever is carried out with the rotation of the pressing portion of the movable lever with the imaginary axis of rotation passing through the rotating axis portions under a condition wherein the pressing portion of the movable lever is in contact with the pressure receiving portion of the holding member

The holding member, which is employed in the other of the above mentioned embodiments of electrical connector according to the present invention, is formed with resiliency in the conductive shell. When the engaging projection of the holding member engages with the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing, the pressure receiving portion of the holding member hits with resilient force against a part of the movable lever, for example, the pressing portion, so as to make a crack of hitting. In addition, an operator who inserts manually the flat circuit device into the housing through the opening provided thereon, can feel a click when the engaging projection of the holding member engages with the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device.

With the electrical connector thus constituted in accordance with the present invention, as described above, when the flat circuit device is inserted into the housing thorough the opening provided thereon under the condition wherein the movable lever is postured to take up the first station, each of the conductive contacts provided to be arranged in the housing comes into press-contact with the corresponding one of the connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing and the engaging projection of the holding member formed in the conductive shell engages with the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing so as to hold the flat circuit device. Accordingly, the flat circuit device inserted in the housing can be surely prevented from getting out of the housing unwillingly by the holding member formed in the conductive shell and the conductive contacts provided in the housing can be stably and appropriately kept in a condition of respective press-contact with the connecting terminals provided on the flat circuit device.

Then, when the movable lever is rotated from the first station to the second station under the condition wherein the flat circuit device has been inserted into the housing, the pressure receiving portion of the holding member is pressed up to move by the movable lever so that the engaging projection of the holding member is released from the engagement with the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing so as not to hold the flat circuit device. Accordingly, the flat circuit device can be easily and appropriately moved to get out of the housing.

Further, the indicating portion of the holding member is operative to take up the first position to be postured, for example, to be put in the inside of the conductive shell or to face the outside from the inside of the conductive shell when the engaging projection of the holding member formed in the conductive shell engages with the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing so as to hold the flat circuit device and to take up the second position to be postured, for example, to project from the inside to the outside of the conductive shell when the engaging projection of the holding member is released from the engagement with the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing so as not to hold the flat circuit device. Then, the indication portion of the holding member taking up the second position to project from the inside to the outside of the conductive shell can be visually checked from the outside of the conductive shell. Accordingly, it can be easily, quickly and accurately confirmed by means of visual check from the outside of the electrical connector that the flat circuit device inserted in the housing has reached an appropriate position in the housing to be surely prevented from getting out of the housing unwillingly by the holding member formed in the conductive shell.

Besides, with the embodiment of electrical connector according to the present invention, in which the holding member is formed with resiliency in the conductive shell, the pressure receiving portion of the holding member hits with resilient force against the part of the movable lever so as to make the crack of hitting when the engaging projection of the holding member engages with the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device inserted in the housing, and the operator who inserts manually the flat circuit device into the housing through the opening provided thereon can feel the click when the engaging projection of the holding member engages with the engaging edged portion provided on the flat circuit device, it can be easily, quickly and accurately confirmed by means of aural check or feeling check from the outside of the electrical connector that the flat circuit device inserted in the housing has reached the appropriate position in the housing to be surely prevented from getting out of the housing unwillingly by the holding member formed in 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.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

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

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 3, an electrical connector10, which constitutes the embodiment of electrical connector according to the present invention, has a housing11made of insulator such as plastics or the like.

When the electrical connector10is put in practical use, the housing11is mounted on a main solid circuit board in an electronic apparatus (not shown in the drawings) so that the electrical connector10is fixed in its entirety to the main solid circuit board.

The housing11is provided with an opening12through which, for example, an FPC constituting a flat circuit device is inserted into the housing11.

A plurality of conductive contacts13, each of which is made of resilient conductive material, are provided on the housing11of the electrical connector10to be arranged in a longitudinal direction of the housing11. Each of the conductive contacts13constitutes, for example, a signal contact operative to come into press-contact with a signal connecting terminal provided on the FPC. It is also possible that the conductive contacts13include, in addition to the signal contacts, one or more ground contacts operative to come into press-contact with a ground connecting portion provided on the FPC. Further, each of the conductive contact13has a connecting terminal13aprojecting from a rear end portion of the housing11to the outside thereof, as shown inFIG. 2. The connecting terminal13aof the conductive contact13is connected electrically with a signal terminal provided on the main 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 housing through the opening12provided thereon, the conductive contacts13come into press-contact with the signal connecting terminals provided on the FPC inserted in the housing11, respectively. Therefore, the signal connecting terminals provided on the FPC inserted in the housing11are electrically connected through the conductive contacts13with the signal terminals provided on the main solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted.

The electrical connector10has also a conductive shell14mounted on the housing for covering an outer surface of the housing except the rear end portion, portions in the vicinity of the rear end portion and a part of a bottom portion thereof. That is, the conductive shell14is provided for covering partially the housing11. An upper portion of the conductive shell14opposite to the bottom portion of the housing11covers over a space in the housing11connected with the opening12provided on the housing11. The conductive shell14is formed by means of processing a metal thin plate and grounded to be operative to shield the conductive contacts13on the housing11from electromagnetic wave noises coming from the outside. A plurality of ground connecting terminals14aare formed in the conductive shell14to be connected electrically with a grounded portion provided on the main solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted.

The conductive shell14is provided with a plurality of slanted guiding portions15formed therein, each of which extends from a lower portion of the conductive shell14covering partially the outer surface of the bottom portion of the housing11so as to form a slanted surface in the vicinity of the opening12provided on the housing11, a plurality of first grounding contacts16formed therein, each of which constitutes a part of the slanted guiding portion15, and a plurality of second grounding contacts17formed therein, each of which extends from a rear end of the upper portion of the conductive shell14covering over the space in the housing11connected with the opening12provided on the housing11into the inside of the housing11in the direction toward the opening12.

The slanted guiding portion15is operative to guide with the slanted surface the FPC inserted through the opening12into the housing11. The first grounding contact16is operative to come into press-contact with the ground connecting portion provided on the FPC inserted in the housing11from the side of the lower portion of the conductive shell14to be connected electrically with the ground connecting portion provided on the FPC. The second grounding contact17is operative to come into press-contact with the ground connecting portion provided on the FPC inserted in the housing11from the side of the upper portion of the conductive shell14to be connected electrically with the ground connecting portion provided on the FPC.

In the case where the FPC inserted in the housing11is not provided with the ground connecting portion on a part thereof opposite to the upper portion of the conductive shell14but provided with the ground connecting portion only on another part thereof opposite to the lower portion of the conductive shell14, the first grounding contact16provided on the conductive shell14is operative to come into contact with the part of the FPC opposite to the upper portion of the conductive shell14and the second grounding contact17provided on the conductive shell14is operative to come into contact with the ground connecting portion provided on the part of the FPC opposite to the lower portion of the conductive shell14. Further, in the case where the FPC inserted in the housing11is not provided with the ground connecting portion on a part thereof opposite to the lower portion of the conductive shell14but provided with the ground connecting portion only on another part thereof opposite to the upper portion of the conductive shell14, the second grounding contact17provided on the conductive shell14is operative to come into contact with the part of the FPC opposite to the lower portion of the conductive shell14and the first grounding contact16provided on the conductive shell14is operative to come into contact with the ground connecting portion provided on the part of the FPC opposite to the upper portion of the conductive shell14.

With the first and second grounding contacts16and17thus described, the ground connecting portions provided on the FPC inserted in the housing11are electrically connected through the conductive shell14with the grounded portion provided on the main solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted.

The conductive shell14is also provided with a pair of holding members18for holding the FPC inserted in the housing11through the opening12provided thereon. The holding members18are formed in a body in the conductive shell14respectively at portions in the vicinity of a pair of end portions of the conductive shell14opposite each other in the longitudinal direction of the housing11along which the conductive contacts13are arranged. Each of the holding members18extends first from a front end of the upper portion of the conductive shell14covering over the space in the housing11connected with the opening12provided on the housing11to the space in the housing11and then from the space in the housing11toward the outside of the conductive shell14. The holding members18for holding the FPC inserted in the housing11through the opening12provided thereon are operative to prevent the FPC inserted in the housing11from getting out of the housing11unwillingly, as described in detail later.

The electrical connector10has further a movable lever19provided to be rotatable to the housing11, in addition to the housing11, the conductive contacts13and the conductive shell14. The movable lever19is formed, for example, by means of bending a metal bar to have a pair of ends folded back to be opposite each other, as shown inFIG. 4. A pair of rotating axis portions20and22are provided respectively on the ends of the movable lever19folded back to be opposite each other. The rotating axis portion20is supported to be rotatable by the housing11and a top end extending to be winding from the rotating axis portion20forms a pressing portion21which is rotatable with an imaginary axis of rotation α passes through the rotating axis portions20and22, as shown with a broken line inFIG. 4. The rotating axis portion22is also supported to be rotatable by the housing11and a top end extending to be winding from the rotating axis portion22forms a pressing portion23, which is rotatable with the imaginary axis of rotation α passing through the rotating axis portions20and22. Accordingly, the movable lever19has the rotating axis portion20supported to be rotatable by the housing11and the pressing portion21extending to be winding from the rotating axis portion20to be rotatable with the same on one of the ends thereof folded back to be opposite each other and the rotating axis portion22supported also to be rotatable by the housing11and the pressing portion23extending to be winding from the rotating axis portion22to be rotatable with the same on the other of the ends thereof folded back to be opposite each other.

As shown inFIG. 5which is a schematic cross sectional view taken along line V-V onFIG. 3, the rotating axis portion22of the movable lever19is supported to be rotatable by a bearing portion11aprovided on one of end portions of the housing11in the longitudinal direction. Further, although there is no any illustration, the rotating axis portion20of the movable lever19is supported to be rotatable by a bearing portion corresponding to the bearing portion11aprovided on the other of the end portions of the housing11in the longitudinal direction.

Accordingly, the movable lever19is operative to be rotated in its entirety in regard to the housing11with the imaginary axis of rotation α passing through the rotating axis portions20and22. When the movable lever19is rotated in regard to the housing11, each of the pressing portions21and23of the movable lever19moves round the imaginary axis of rotation α passing through the rotating axis portions20and22

The movable lever19rotatable in regard to the housing11is postured to take up selectively a first station wherein the movable lever19is positioned in its entirety to keep lying down on the housing11, as shown inFIGS. 1 to 3, and a second station wherein the movable lever19is positioned in its entirety to keep rising from the housing11, as shown inFIGS. 6 and 7. The movable lever19postured to take up the first station is held by a plurality of holding projections14bprovided on the conductive shell14as shown inFIG. 1and the movable lever19postured to take up the second station is held by a holding projection14cprovided on the conductive shell14as shown inFIG. 6. To be more concrete, the movable lever19postured to take up the first station is put between the holding projections14bprovided respectively on a front end portion and a side end portion of the conductive shell14and comes into press-contact with the holding projections14bprovided on the side end portion of the conductive shell14so as to be prevented from rotating further toward the main solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted, and the movable lever19postured to take up the second station is put between the holding projections14cprovided on the side end portion of the conductive shell14and the housing11and comes into press-contact with the housing11so as to be prevented from rotating further to be remote from the main solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted.

InFIG. 8which is a schematic cross sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII onFIG. 3, the conductive contact13provided on the housing11and the first and second grounding contacts16and17both provided on the conductive shell14are shown.

Referring toFIG. 8, the conductive contact13has a part thereof which forms a adversely S-shaped cross section in the housing11. A lower contacting portion13band an upper contacting portion13cfacing the lower contacting portion13bare formed on the part the conductive contact13forming the adversely S-shaped cross section in the housing11. The lower contacting portion13bis operative to come into press-contact with the signal connecting terminal or a portion other than the signal connecting terminal provided on the FPC inserted in the housing11from the side of the lower portion of the conductive shell14. The upper contacting portion13cis operative to come into press-contact with a portion other than the signal connecting terminal or the signal connecting terminal provided on the FPC from the side of the upper portion of the conductive shell14.

A contacting portion16ais formed on the first grounding contact16extending from the lower portion of the conductive shell14into the housing11. The contacting portion16aformed on the first grounding contact16is operative to come into press-contact with the ground connecting portion or a portion other than the ground connecting portion provided on the FPC inserted in the housing11from the side of the lower portion of the conductive shell14.

A contacting portion17ais formed on the second grounding contact17extending from the upper portion of the conductive shell14into the housing11. The contacting portion17aformed on the second grounding contact17is positioned to face the contacting portion16aformed on the first grounding contact16and operative to come into press-contact with a portion other than the ground connecting portion or the ground connecting portion provided on the FPC inserted in the housing11from the side of the upper portion of the conductive shell14.

InFIG. 9which is a schematic cross sectional view taken along line IX-IX onFIG. 3, the holding member18formed in a body in the conductive shell14is shown.

Referring toFIG. 9, the holding member18formed in the conductive shell14comprises an arm portion24which extends from the front end of the upper portion of the conductive shell14to the inside of the conductive shell14, an engaging projection25which is provided at an end of the arm portion24to be positioned in the inside of the conductive shell14for engaging with an engaging edged portion provided on the FPC inserted in the housing11, as described later, a pressure receiving portion26which extends from the engaging projection25to be positioned in the inside of the conductive shell14for receiving pressure from the pressing portion23(or the pressing portion21) of the movable lever19, and an indicating portion27which extends from the pressure receiving portion26toward the outside of the upper portion of the conductive shell14for indicating a state of the holding member18. The indicating portion27has a top end thereof and is postured to take up selectively first and second positions. When the indicating portion27is postured to take up the first position, the top end of the indicating portion27is positioned to face the outside of the conductive shell14through an opening29formed in the upper portion of the conductive shell14. When the indicating portion27is postured to take up the second position, the top end of the indicating portion27is positioned to project from the inside to the outside of the conductive shell14through the opening29formed in the upper portion of the conductive shell14.

FIG. 10shows an FPC30which 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.

Referring toFIG. 10, a plurality of signal connecting terminals31each made of conductive material and formed into a rectangular plate member are provided to be arranged on one of a pair of surfaces opposite each other of the FPC30. A ground connecting portion32is also provided on the surface of the FPC30on which the signal connecting terminals31are provided at the outside of the ground connecting portion32. Further, a pair of engaging edged recesses33and34are provided respectively on side end portions of the FPC30which are opposite each other with the signal connecting terminals31and the ground connecting portion32between. It is possible to provide the FPC with a pair of engaging edged holes in place of the engaging edged recesses33and34. The FPC30is wrapped with a covering film35except a portion thereof on which the signal connecting terminals31, a part of the ground connecting portion32and the engaging edged recesses33and34are provided.

Although the FPC30shown inFIG. 10is provided with the signal connecting terminals31and the ground connecting portion32on one of the surfaces thereof opposite each other, it is also possible to use an FPC which is provided with a plurality of signal connecting terminals corresponding to the signal connecting terminals31on one of first and second surfaces opposite each other and with a ground connecting portion corresponding to the ground connecting portion32on the other of the first and second surfaces, as the flat circuit device provided to be inserted into the housing11.

FIG. 11shows the electrical connector10and the FPC30which is inserted in the housing11of the electrical connector10through the opening12provided on the housing11under a condition wherein the movable lever19of the electrical connector10is postured to take up the first station. InFIG. 11, the other of the surfaces opposite each other of the FPC30, on which any signal connecting terminal is not provided, is shown.

When the FPC30is inserted in the housing11of the electrical connector10through the opening12provided on the housing11, as shown inFIG. 11, the lower contacting portion13bof each of the conducting contacts13arranged in the housing11comes into press-contact with a corresponding one of the signal connecting terminals31provided on the FPC30inserted in the housing11from the side of the lower portion of the conductive shell14. As a result, the signal connecting terminals31provided on the FPC30inserted in the housing11are electrically connected through the conducting contacts13with the signal terminals provided on the main solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted.

On that occasion, the upper contacting portion13cof each of the conducting contacts13arranged in the housing11also comes into press-contact with a corresponding portion other than the signal connecting terminal31of the FPC30inserted in the housing11from the side of the upper portion of the conductive shell14. As a result, the FPC30inserted in the housing11is put between the lower contacting portion13bof each of the conducting contacts13and the upper contacting portion13cof each of the conducting contacts13, so that the pressure acting upon the FPC30from the lower contacting portion13bof each of the conducting contacts13and the pressure acting upon the FPC30from the upper contacting portion13cof each of the conducting contacts13are cancelled with each other and the housing11is prevented from receiving undesirable stress from the conductive contacts13. That is, it can be avoided that undesirable deformation of the housing11is caused by the stress from the conducting contacts13.

Further, the contacting portion16aof each of the first grounding contacts16extending from the lower portion of the conductive shell14into the housing11comes into press-contact with the ground connecting portion32provided on the FPC30inserted in the housing11from the side of the lower portion of the conductive shell14. As a result, the ground connecting portion32provided on the FPC30inserted in the housing11is electrically connected through the first grounding contacts16with the grounded portion provided on the main solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted.

On that occasion, the contacting portion17aof each of the second grounding contacts17extending from the upper portion of the conductive shell14into the housing11also comes into press-contact with a portion other than the ground connecting portion32of the FPC30inserted in the housing11from the side of the upper portion of the conductive shell14. As a result, the FPC30inserted in the housing11is put between the contacting portion16aof each of the first grounding contacts16and the contacting portion17aof each of the second grounding contacts17, so that the pressure acting upon the FPC30from the contacting portion16aof each of the first grounding contacts16and the pressure acting upon the FPC30from the contacting portion17aof each of the second grounding contacts17are cancelled with each other and the housing11is prevented from receiving undesirable stress from the first and second grounding contacts16and17. That is, it can be avoided that undesirable deformation of the housing11is caused by the stress from the first and second grounding contacts16and17.

When the FPS30is inserted into the housing11of the electrical connector10through the opening12provided on the housing11under the condition wherein the movable lever19of the electrical connector10is postured to take up the first station, first the engaging projection25of one of the holding members18extending from the upper portion of the conductive shell14comes into contact with an end portion of the FPC30extending forward from the engaging edged recess34provided on the FPC30from the side of the upper portion of the conductive shell14, as shown inFIG. 12. At this time, the holding member18is resiliently deformed so as to shift entirely the arm portion24, the engaging projection25, the pressure receiving portion26and the indicating portion27toward the upper portion of the conductive shell14and the indicating portion27is caused to take up the second position with the top end thereof positioned to project from the inside to the outside of the conductive shell14through the opening29formed in the upper portion of the conductive shell14.

Then, the FPC30is further inserted in the housing11to reach a predetermined appropriate position in the housing11. When the FPC30has reached the appropriate position in the housing11, the engaging projection25of the holding member18extending from the upper portion of the conductive shell14engages with the engaging edged recess34provided on the FPC30, as shown inFIG. 13. At that time, the holding member18is restored to its condition prior to resilient deformation so that a front slanted portion of the engaging projection25of the holding member18hits with resilient force against an edge on the FPC30forming the engaging edged recess34and the pressure receiving portion26of the holding member18also hits with resilient force against the pressing portion21of the movable lever19taking up the first station. As a result, a crack of hitting is made when the pressure receiving portion26of the holding member18hits with resilient force against the pressing portion21of the movable lever19. In addition, an operator who inserts manually the FPC30into the housing11through the opening12provided thereon can feel a click when the engaging projection25of the holding member18engages with the engaging edged recess34provided on the FPC30. Accordingly, the engagement of the engaging projection25of the holding member18with the engaging edged recess34provided on the FPC30can be easily confirmed by means of aural check or feeling check from the outside of the conductive shell14.

Further, the indicating portion27of the holding member18is postured to take up the first position with the top end thereof positioned to face the outside of the conductive shell14through the opening29formed in the upper portion of the conductive shell14, as shown inFIG. 13, when the engaging projection25of the holding member18engages with the engaging edged recess34provided on the FPC30. Accordingly, it can be easily confirmed by checking visually the indicating portion27of the holding member18from the outside of the conductive shell14that the FPC30has reached the appropriate position in the housing11and the engaging projection25of the holding member18engages with the engaging edged recess34provided on the FPC30. It is possible to position the indicating portion27of the holding member18in its entirety at the inside of the conductive shell14.

The engaging projection25of the other of the holding members18extending from the upper portion of the conductive shell14engages also with the engaging edged recess33provided on the FPC30in the same manner as the case of the engaging edged recess34provided on the FPC30and the pressure receiving portion26of the holding member18hits with resilient force against the pressing portion23of the movable lever19taking up the first station when the FPC30inserted in the housing11has reached the appropriate position in the housing11.

Under a condition wherein the engaging projections25of the holding members18engage respectively with the engaging edged recesses33and34provided on the FPC30, the front slanted portion of each of the engaging projections25which is in press-contact with the edge on the FPC30forming the engaging edged recess33or34is operative to press the FPC30down against the bottom portion of the housing11so as to fix the FPC30vertically in the housing11. Further, the end portion of the FPC30extending forward from each of the engaging edged recesses33and34provided on the FPC30is put in contact with a part of an inner surface of the housing11and thereby the FPC30inserted in the housing11is fixed in a direction of insertion thereof. With the holding members18having the engaging projections25which engage respectively with the engaging edged recesses33and34provided on the FPC in such a manner as mentioned above, the FPC30is held in the housing11so as to be prevented from getting out from the housing11unwillingly.

After that, when the movable lever19is rotated in regard to the housing11with the imaginary axis of rotation α passing through the rotating axis portions20and22to shift from the first station to the second station, each of the pressing portions21and23of the movable lever19moves round the imaginary axis of rotation α passing through the rotating axis portions20and22so as to shift the pressure receiving portion26of each of the holding members18toward the upper portion of the conductive shell14.

When the movable lever19is postured to take up the second station, the pressing portion21of the movable lever19is operative to position the pressure receiving portion26of the holding member18to be close extremely to the upper portion of the conductive shell14, as shown inFIG. 14, and thereby the holding member18is resiliently deformed so as to shift the engaging projection25to be released from the engagement with the engaging edged recess34provided on the FPC30.

Further, at that time, the indicating portion27of the holding member18deformed resiliently is postured to take up the second position with the top end thereof positioned to project from the inside to the outside of the conductive shell14through the opening29formed in the upper portion of the conductive shell14. As a result, it can be easily confirmed by checking visually the indicating portion27of the holding member18from the outside of the conductive shell14that the engaging projection25of the holding member18disengages from the engaging edged recess34provided on the FPC30.

In addition, when the movable lever19is rotated in regard to the housing11with the imaginary axis of rotation α passing through the rotating axis portions20and22to shift from the first station to the second station under the condition wherein the FPC30has been inserted in the housing11through the opening12provided thereon, the pressing portion23of the movable lever19is operative also to position the pressure receiving portion26of the holding member18to be close extremely to the upper portion of the conductive shell14and thereby the holding member18is resiliently deformed so as to shift the engaging projection25to be released from the engagement with the engaging edged recess33provided on the FPC30in the same manner as the case of the engaging edged recess34provided on the FPC30.

Consequently, the FPC30inserted in the housing11can be easily and appropriately moved to get out of the housing11.

In the case where the FPC30is provided thereon a pair of engaging edged holes in place of the engaging edged recesses33and34, the engaging projections25of the holding members18extending from the upper portion of the conductive shell14engage with or disengage from the engaging edged holes, respectively, in the same manner as the case of the engaging edged recesses33and34.

In the electrical connector10mentioned above, the indicating portion27of the holding member18extending from the upper portion of the conductive shell14is postured to take up the first position with the top end thereof positioned to face the outside of the conductive shell14through the opening29formed in the upper portion of the conductive shell14when the engaging projections25of the holding members18engage respectively with the engaging edged recesses33and34provided on the FPC inserted in the housing11, and then the indicating portion27of the holding member18is postured to take up the second position with the top end thereof positioned to project from the inside to the outside of the conductive shell14through the opening29formed in the upper portion of the conductive shell14when the engaging projections25of the holding members18disengage respectively from the engaging edged recesses33and34provided on the FPC inserted in the housing11. However, it should be understood that it is also possible to constitute the electrical connector10in such a manner that the indicating portion27of the holding member18extending from the upper portion of the conductive shell14is postured to take up the second position with the top end thereof positioned to project from the inside to the outside of the conductive shell14through the opening29formed in the upper portion of the conductive shell14when the engaging projections25of the holding members18engage respectively with the engaging edged recesses33and34provided on the FPC inserted in the housing11, and then the indicating portion27of the holding member18is postured to take up the first position with the top end thereof positioned to face the outside of the conductive shell14through the opening29formed in the upper portion of the conductive shell14when the engaging projections25of the holding members18disengage respectively from the engaging edged recesses33and34provided on the FPC inserted in the housing11.

With the electrical connector10constituted in accordance with the present invention as described above, when the FPC30is inserted into the housing11thorough the opening12provided thereon, the signal connecting terminals31provided on the FPC30are automatically connected electrically through the conductive contacts13arranged in the housing11with the signal terminals provided on the main solid circuit board on which the housing11is mounted.

Further, it can be easily confirmed by means of aural check or feeling check from the outside of the conductive shell14or by checking visually the indicating portion27of the holding member18from the outside of the conductive shell14that the FPC30inserted in the housing11has reached the appropriate position in the housing11and the engaging projections25of the holding members18extending from the upper portion of the conductive shell14engage respectively with the engaging edged recesses33and34provided on the FPC inserted in the housing11. That is, it can be easily, quickly and accurately confirmed from the outside of the electrical connector10that the FPC30inserted in the housing11has reached the appropriate position in the housing11to be surely prevented from getting out of the housing11unwillingly by the holding members18formed in the conductive shell14.