Flat circuit connector

An electrical connector is provided for terminating a flat electrical circuit which has a given width and an insertion end narrower than the given width to define at least one shoulder section at a side of the circuit. The connector includes a dielectric housing having opening for receiving the insertion end of the flat circuit in an insertion direction. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing at the opening. An actuator is movably mounted on the housing for movement between an open position allowing the insertion end of the flat circuit to be inserted into the opening, and a closed position to relatively bias the flat circuit against the terminals. A circuit-suppressing member projects outwardly of the housing opposite the insertion direction for engaging the shoulder section of the flat circuit to prevent the flat circuit from being bent upwardly against the actuator.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to the art of electrical connectors and, particularly, to a connector for terminating a flat circuit, such as a flat flexible circuit, a flexible printed circuit or other flat electrical cable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wide variety of electrical connectors have been designed for terminating flat cables or circuits, such as flat flexible cables, flexible printed circuits or the like. A typical connector for flat circuits includes a dielectric housing molded of plastic material, for instance. The housing has an elongated opening or slot for receiving an end of the flat circuit which has generally parallel, laterally spaced conductors exposed across the end. A plurality of terminals are mounted in the housing and are spaced laterally along the slot, with contact portions of the terminals engageable with the laterally spaced conductors of the flat circuit. An actuator often is movably mounted on the housing for movement between a first position whereat the flat circuit is freely insertable into the slot and a second position whereat the actuator clamps the circuit in the housing and biases the circuit against the contact portions of the terminals.

In a widely used type of flat circuit connector, the flat circuit is insertable into a slot at the front of the connector housing, and the actuator is pivotally mounted on the housing generally at the top, front thereof overlying the slot in a closed position of the actuator. Problems are encountered with these types of flat circuit connectors if an operator pulls outwardly on a terminated flat circuit, especially if the pulling forces are inclined upwardly. The flat circuit has a tendency to pivot the actuator upwardly away from its closed position. This loosens the connections between the contact pads on the flat circuit and the contact portions of the terminals on the connector housing and, thereby, adversely affects or destroys the electrical connections therebetween.

In order to solve these problems, attempts have been made to provide anti-pulling means on the connector as shown in Japan Patent No. 3029985; Japan Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-45527; and Japan Patent Laid-Open No. 10-189174. The anti-pulling means is provided by anti-pulling projections which prevent displacement of the flat circuit under the actuator when the flat circuit is pulled outwardly and upwardly. The anti-pulling projections extend horizontally inwardly, generally toward each other, from opposite sides of the opening or slot in the housing which receives the end of the flat circuit. These anti-pulling projections cause further problems in that they interfere with the insertion of the flat circuit into the opening or slot. Since many flat circuit connectors are mounted on printed circuit boards, the flat circuit must be inserted into the connector very close to and parallel to the circuit board and the bottom of the connector housing in order to get under the projections, which is quite difficult with miniaturized connectors. The present invention is directed to solving these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved flat circuit connector of the character described.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, a flat circuit connector is provided for terminating a flat electrical circuit which has a given width and an insertion end narrower than the given width to define at least one shoulder section at a side of the circuit. The connector includes a dielectric housing having opening for receiving the insertion end of the flat circuit in an insertion direction. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing at the opening. An actuator is movably mounted on the housing for movement between an open position allowing the insertion end of the flat circuit to be inserted into the opening, and a closed position to relatively bias the flat circuit against the terminals. A circuit-suppressing member projects outwardly of the housing opposite the insertion direction for engaging the shoulder section of the flat circuit to prevent the flat circuit from being bent upwardly against the actuator.

According to one aspect of the invention, the circuit-suppressing member is located outside the opening for engaging the shoulder section of the flat circuit. The circuit-suppressing member projects outwardly from a front face of the housing in a direction generally parallel to and opposite the insertion direction.

According to another aspect of the invention, the circuit-suppressing member is separate from the housing and is mounted in a slot in the housing. The circuit-suppressing member includes a mounting portion inserted into the slot and a head portion projecting from the housing for engaging the shoulder section of the flat circuit. In the preferred embodiment, the circuit-suppressing member is stamped of metal material.

As disclosed herein, the flat electrical circuit includes a pair of the shoulder sections at opposite sides thereof. The connector includes a pair of the circuit-suppressing members projecting outwardly of the housing outside opposite ends of the opening for engaging the pair of shoulders.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first toFIGS. 1–6, the invention is embodied in a flat circuit electrical connector, generally designated10, for terminating a flat electrical circuit, generally designated12. The flat circuit may be a flat flexible cable, a flexible printed circuit board or the like. Connector10includes a dielectric housing, generally designated14, mounting a plurality of terminals, generally designated16. An actuator, generally designated18, is pivotally mounted on the housing for movement between an open position (FIG. 7) allowing the flat circuit to be inserted into the connector and a closed position (FIGS. 1–6) to relatively bias the flat circuit against the terminals. The connector is designed or adapted for mounting on a flat substrate, such as a printed circuit board, generally designated20.

More specifically, housing14of connector10may be molded of dielectric material such as plastic or the like. The housing has a front end14a,a rear end14b,a top wall14cand a bottom wall14d.The housing is open at the front and top thereof to define an opening22for receiving flat circuit12, and a cavity24within which actuator18is movable between its open and closed positions.

Terminals16of connector10are mounted in housing14in a generally parallel, spaced array along opening22and cavity24of the housing. Each terminal includes a contact arm16a(FIG. 7) cantilevered into cavity24for engaging an appropriate contact pad on the bottom of flat circuit12. Each terminal16also includes a tail portion16b(FIG. 5) for connection, as by soldering, to an appropriate circuit trace on printed circuit board20.

Before proceeding to a description of the circuit-suppressing means of the invention, reference is made toFIG. 7wherein flat circuit12is shown in detail. The flat circuit has a given width “W” and an insertion end12awhich is narrower than the given width to define a pair of shoulder sections12bwhich project transversely beyond insertion end12a.The flat circuit is inserted into opening22in the direction of arrow “A”.

As best seen inFIG. 6, a pair of circuit-suppressing members, generally designated30, are mounted in housing14outside opposite ends of opening22. Each circuit suppressing member is separate from the housing and can be stamped of metal material. Each circuit-suppressing member includes a rearwardly projecting mounting portion30a,a forwardly projecting head portion30band a generally perpendicular fixing portion30cfor connection, as by soldering32(FIGS. 1 and 7) to an appropriate mounting pad on printed circuit board20. The circuit-suppressing member is mounted in the housing by inserting mounting portion30ainto a hole34in the housing wherein the mounting portion establishes a press-fit, as at36, to fix the circuit-suppressing member to the housing. When fully mounted, head portion30bof the circuit-suppressing member projects outwardly from the front end or face14aof the housing as is seen clearly inFIG. 6. As seen clearly inFIGS. 1,2and7, head portions30bof the circuit-suppressing members are disposed outside opposite ends of opening22.

As stated above, actuator18is pivotally mounted on housing14for movement between an open position (FIG. 7) which allows insertion of insertion end12aof flat circuit12into opening22, and a closed position (FIGS. 1–6and8) whereat the flat circuit is biased downwardly against cantilevered contact arms16aof terminals16. This movement is shown by double-headed arrow36inFIG. 8.

With actuator18in its open position as shown inFIG. 7, insertion end12aof flat circuit12can be easily inserted in the direction of arrow “A” into opening22without any interference whatsoever by head portions30bof the circuit-suppressing members30. That is because the head portions are located laterally outwardly of the opening and project forwardly from front end14aof the housing generally parallel to and opposite the insertion direction “A”.

When flat circuit12is fully inserted into opening22of housing14of connector10, shoulder sections12bof the flat circuit move under head portions30bof the circuit-suppressing members as is shown clearly inFIGS. 1–6. Moving the shoulder sections under the head portions of the circuit-suppressing members is easily accomplished because insertion end12aof the flat circuit now has been inserted under actuator18in the open position of the actuator.

FIG. 9shows a condition wherein flat circuit12has been bent outwardly and upwardly in the direction of arrow “B”. It can be seen that head portions30bof the circuit-suppressing members abut against a top surface38of the flat circuit. This prevents the upwardly-pulled flat circuit from engaging a front edge18a(FIG. 1) of actuator18. If the flat circuit engages the front edge of the actuator (i.e., without circuit-suppressing members30), the flat circuit would lift or pivot the actuator away from its closed position and loosen the connections between contact arms16aand the contacts of the flat circuit, thereby adversely affecting or even opening these connections. However, with the circuit engaging head portions30bof circuit-suppressing members30, the actuator continues to lock the circuit in the connector.