Connector in which a FPC is tightly held between a housing and a movable actuator when being connected to the connector

Abstract: In a connector for use in connecting a FPC having a plurality of pads, a plurality of contacts (16,17) are held by a housing (15) and become in contact with the pads, respectively. The FPC is tightly held between the housing and an actuator (18) which has a pivot portion (18c) pivotally held to the housing and a locking portion (18e) making engagement with the housing in a state of tightly holding the FPC. The locking portion is spaced from the pivot portion with a first distance. The first distance is determined greater than a second distance which is determined between the pivot portion and a distal edge (18d) of the actuator.

Description: Background of the Invention: The present invention relates to a connector for a flexible printed circuit (hereinafter referred to as "FPC") and more particularly to a connector for a FPC, which is suitable for a high density packaging on a printed circuit board. A conventional connector for a FPC disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (JP-A) No. H09-82427 will be described with reference to Figs. 1 through 4. As shown In Fig. 1, a housing 15 includes a base portion 20 and side walls 21 disposed both ends of the base portion 20 and is configured to have an open top. The base portion 20 is provided with a large number of slits 20a formed in the front side and a large number of slits 20b formed in the rear side. As shown in Figs. 1, 2A, and 2B, first contacts 16 are inserted into the slits 20a at the front side of the housing 15 and second contacts 17 are inserted into the slits 20b at the rear side of the housing 15. Each of the first contacts 16 includes a contact portion 16a, a fixing portion 16b, and a lead terminal portion 16c projecting outside the housing 15. As shown in Fig. 3A, in the state that the first contacts 16 are inserted Into the housing 15, the contact portion 16a and fixing portion 16b which form together a U-like section vertically sandwich a convex portion 20c projecting toward the front of the housing 15. The each first contact 16 further has a contact point 16d which is provided on an end portion of the contact portion 16a so that the contact point 16d is in contact with a pad of a FPC 19 for electric continuity. In the state that the first contacts 16 are inserted into the housing 15, the bottom level of the fixing portion 16b and the bottom level of the lead terminal portion 16c are flush with the bottom level of the housing 15. As shown in Fig. 3B, each of the second contacts 17 comprises a contact portion 17a, a fixing portion 17b, and a lead terminal portion 17c and further comprises a spring supporting portion 17e positioned above the contact portion 17a. As shown in Fig. 3B, in the state that the second contacts 17 are inserted into the housing 15, the contact portion 17a and fixing portion 17b vertically sandwich a convex portion 20d projecting toward the rear of the housing 15. The end portion of the spring supporting portion 17e is in a generally curved shape and this portion supports an actuator or a lever 18 described later. The each second contact 17 further has a contact point 17d which is provided on an end portion of the contact portion 17a so that the contact point 16d is in contact with a pad of a FPC 19 for electric continuity. In the state that the second contacts 17 are inserted into the housing 15, the bottom level of the fixing portion 17b and the bottom level of the lead terminal portion 17c are the same as the bottom level of the housing 15. In the state that the first and second contacts 16, 17 are inserted into the housing 15, the contact portions 16a, 17a are aligned to alternate to each other in the width direction of the housing without overlapping. Therefore, the contact points 16d, 17d of the first and second contacts 16, 17 are arranged in a zigzag configuration in the longitudinal direction and in the width direction. As shown in Figs. 3A through 3C, the contact points 16d, 17d of the first and second contacts 16, 17 and the pivot portion (the ends of the spring supporting portions 17e) of the lever 18 are positioned to form together a phantom isosceles triangle. The lever 18 has a pivot portion 18c supported pivotally about the ends of the spring supporting portions 17e and is positioned above the housing 15 as shown in Fig 1. After the FPC 19 is set to a predetermined position above the housing, the lever 18 is pivoted to press and fix the FPC 19. In this state, the lever 18 functions as a lid of the housing 15. As shown in Figs. 3A through 3C, there is a curved engaging portion 18a at the pivot portion of the lever 18. The engagement between the engaging portion 18a and the ends of the spring supporting portions 17e of the second contacts 17 allows the pivotal movement of the lever 18 about the ends of the spring supporting portions 17e. When the lever 18 is open (Figs. 3A and 3B), the contact portion of the lever 18 relative to the FPC 19 is formed in a generally curved configuration. When the lever 18 is closed (Fig. 3C), the contact portion of the lever 18 relative to the FPC 19 is formed like a flat surface. As shown in Fig. 1, the opposite side walls of the lever 18 are provided with convex portions 18b near the ends thereof. When the lever 18 pivots about the ends of the spring supporting portions 17e and becomes lie down, the convex portions 18b are fitted or engaged Into concave portions 21a formed in inside faces of the side walls 21 of the housing 15 to hold the lever 18 in closing state. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 4, a number of contact pads 22a, 22b are provided on the bottom surface of the FPC 19 so that these contact pads 22a, 22b are aligned to alternate to each other in two lines of zigzag configuration. The contact pads 22a near a head edge of the FPC 19 come into contact with the contact points 17d of the second contacts 17 while the contact pads 22b far from the head edge of the FPC 19 come into contact with the contact points 16d of the first contacts 16. Since the conventional connector for a FPC described in the above with reference to Figs. 1 through 4 has the lever 18 which is structured to pivot for the opening and closing movement relative to the housing 15, there is a possibility that the lever 18 is inadvertently opened when the FPC 19 is pulled with force exceeding a predetermined value in a direction of opening the lever 18. As described concretely, the distance between the pivot portion of the lever 18 (the ends of the spring supporting member 17e of the second contact 17) and the concave portions 21a, formed on the opposite side walls 21 of the housing 15, to be engaged with the convex portions 18b of the lever 18, is shorter than the distance between the pivot portion of the lever 18 and a portion where tensile force in such a direction that the FPC 19 opens the lever 18 acts (the edge of the lever 18 far from the pivot portion of the lever 18), so when the FPC 19 is pulled in the direction of opening the lever 18, the lever 18 may be opened even with small force. US-A-4630874 discloses a connector according to the preamble of claim 1, whereby abovementioned distances are equal. Summary of the Invention: It is therefore an object of the present Invention to provide a connector for a FPC in which an actuator is hard to open even when the FPC is pulled in a direction of opening the actuator. Other objects of the present invention will become clear as the description proceeds. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector according to claim 1. Brief Description of the Drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional connector for a FPC in a state before the FPC is inserted into the connector; Fig. 2A is a perspective view of the connector shown in Fig. 1 in a state before first contacts are inserted into a housing; Fig. 2B is a perspective view of the connector shown in Fig. 1 in a state before second contacts are inserted into the housing; Fig. 3A is a sectional view illustrating a positional relation in the connector of Fig. 1 among the housing, the first contacts, and the lever in the open state; Fig. 3B is a sectional view illustrating a positional relation in the connector of Fig. 1 among the housing, the second contacts, and the lever in the open state; Fig. 3C is a sectional view illustrating a positional relation in the connector of Fig. 1 among the housing, the second contacts, and the lever in the closed state; Fig. 4 is a rear view of the FPC to be connected to the connector of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a connector for a FPC according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state that an actuator is opened; Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a state that the FPC is inserted into the connector of Fig. 5 and is locked; and Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the connector of Fig. 5 in a state that the FPC is pulled in a direction of opening the actuator. Description of the Preferred embodiment: With reference to Figs. 5 through 7, description will be made as regards a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. Similar parts are designated by like reference numerals. First referring to Fig. 5, the connector is for being connected to the FPC 19. Though the structure for attaching the actuator 18 in such a manner as to freely open and close is not illustrated, such attachment can be achieved by fitting or engagement between convex portions formed on outer surfaces of the opposite side walls of the actuator 18 and concave portions formed in inner surfaces of the opposite side walls of the housing 15. Each of the housing 15 and the actuator 18 is made of synthetic resin. A large number of first contacts 16 are arranged at the front side of the housing 15 and a large number of second contacts 17 are arranged at the rear side of the housing 15. Each of the first and second contacts 16 and 17 is made of conductive material. As shown in Fig. 5, but not clearly, the first contacts 16 and the second contacts 17 are arranged in a zigzag configuration to prevent mutual short. The housing 1 is provided with receiving portions 1 a formed on the opposite side walls near the front edge thereof so as to project outwardly. The actuator 18 comprises a distal edge 18d as a particular portion. The actuator 18 is provided with locking portions 18e which engage with the receiving portions 15a, respectively. The locking portions 18e are formed on projections projecting from the opposite sides of the distal edge 18d in such a manner as to project inwardly from the projections. The actuator 18 further comprises operating portions 18f formed to face outwardly in portions corresponding to the locking portions 18e. The actuator 18 can be opened when the operating portions 18f are hooked and pulled by fingers. It is to be noted that the locking portions 18e are spaced from the pivot portion 18c with a first distance, that the distal edge 18d is spaced from the pivot portion 18c with a second distance, and that the operating portion 18f is spaced from the pivot portion 18c with a third distance. In the connector, the operating portions 18f are formed adjacent to the locking portions 18e. In other words, third distance is determined substantially equal to the first distance. Shown in Fig. 6 is the sate that the FPC 19 is inserted into the connector and locked. In this state, the locking portions 18e of the actuator 18 are engaged with a pair of receiving portions 15a of the housing 15 in a direction of opening the actuator 18. Therefore, the FPC 19 is tightly held between the housing 15 and the actuator 18 by engagement between locking portions 18e and the receiving portions 15a. It should be noted that a large number of contact pads (not shown) are provided on the bottom surface of the FPC 19 so that these contact pads are aligned to alternate to each other in two lines of zigzag configuration. The contact pads near a head edge of the FPC 19 come into contact with the second contacts 17 while the contact pads far from the head edge of the FPC 19 come into contact with the first contacts 16. Referring to Fig. 7, when the FPC 19 is pulled in the direction of opening the actuator 18, the actuator 18 is subjected to load at the distal edge 18d. Taking this into consideration, the distance between the locking portions 18e and the pivot portion 18c of the actuator 18 is set to be longer than the distance between the distal edge 18d of the actuator 18 and the pivot portion 18c. In other words, the first distance is determined great than the second distance. Accordingly, even when the FPC 19 is inadvertently pulled in the direction of arrow, the engagement between the locking portions 18e and the receiving portions 15a is hardly released because of the leverage. While the present invention has thus far been described in connection with a single embodiment thereof, it will readily be possible for those skilled in the art to put this invention into practice in various other manners. For example, the operating portions are formed in position farther from the pivot portion relative to the locking portions of the actuator. In other words, the third distance is determined greater than the first distance. With this structure, the actuator can be opened from the housing even with small force.

Claims: A connector for being connected to a FPC, said FPC having a plurality of pads, said connector comprising: a plurality of contacts for becoming in contact with said pads, respectively; a housing holding said contacts; and an actuator (18) for holding said FPC in cooperation with said housing, said actuator including a pivot portion (18c) pivotally held to said housing and a locking portion (18e) spaced from said pivot portion with a first distance, said housing having a receiving portion for making engagement with said locking portion in a state of tightly holding said FPC, said actuator further including a particular portion (18d) subjected to release force when said FPC is pulled in the direction of opening the actuator, said particular portion being spaced from said pivot portion with a second distance, characterised in that said first distance is greater than said second distance. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said particular portion is an edge portion of said actuator. A connector as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said pivot portion is on an axis extending in a predetermined direction, said receiving portion projecting from each of opposite side walls of said housing in said predetermined direction, said locking portion projecting from each of opposite side walls of said actuator in said predetermined direction. A connector as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an operating portion (18f) connected to said actuator for pivotally operating said actuator, said operating portion being spaced from said pivot portion with a third distance. A connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein said third distance is determined substantially equal to said first distance. A connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein said third distance is determined greater than said first distance.

Inventors: KUDO TAKAAKI, KUDO, TAKAAKI, Kudo, Takaaki, Japan Aviation Electronics Ind. Ltd
Applicants: JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRON, JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY LIMITED
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H01R12
IPC codes: H01R12