Abstract:
To provide a connector that includes a locking section having a high strength, and is excellent in shielding performance. Contacts are held by a housing including a receiving space into which is inserted FPC. An actuator is mounted in the housing in a manner pivotally movable between open position for inserting FPC into the space, and closed position for holding FPC therein. The housing is covered with a shield plate. The shield plate includes a contact portion for contact with a ground line of FPC, a terminal portion for contact with a printed circuit board, and a seesaw-type locking section for preventing FPC from being removed. A nail portion is formed at one end of the locking section, for engagement with FPC, and a power point portion on which a pivotal force of the actuator acts is formed at the other end. The actuator is provided with a third cam portion which is operable when the actuator is in closed position, to move the power point portion such that the nail portion comes closer to FPC.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector suitable for electrically connecting between an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) and a printed wiring board. 
   2. Prior Art 
   Conventionally, there has been proposed a connector comprising a plurality of contacts, a housing that holds the contacts, and an actuator that is rotatably mounted on the housing and elastically deforms the contacts to thereby bring the contacts into contact with an FPC. 
   When the actuator is operated for rotation, the connecting portion of the contact is urged against the FPC to generate a contact force between the FPC and the connecting portion of the contact. If a force in the removing direction acts on the FPC in this state due to some cause, the FPC sometimes drops off the connector. 
   The conventional technique for eliminating this inconvenience includes provision of a locking section formed with a nail for prevention of removal of the FPC. 
   However, this conventional technique suffers from the problem that the locking section is formed of a synthetic resin and hence low in strength, and the strength for preventing the removal of the FPC is also low. 
   Further, no shell is provided for connection to the ground of the FPC, and hence it is impossible to ground the connector (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. H08-180940). 
   The above-described connector also suffers from the problem of low shielding performance. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a connector that includes a locking section having a high strength, and is excellent in shielding performance. 
   To attain the above object, the present invention provides a connector for electrically connecting a pair of connected objects, comprising a housing having a receiving space into which one connected object of the pair of connected objects is inserted, a plurality of contacts held in the housing, an actuator mounted in the housing in a manner pivotally movable between an open position for allowing insertion of the connected object into the receiving space and a closed position for holding the connected object in the receiving space, and a metallic shell covering the housing, the shell including a contact portion capable of being brought into contact with a ground line of the one connected object, a terminal portion capable of being brought into contact with a connection terminal portion of the other connected object of the pair of connected objects, and a seesaw-type locking section for preventing the one connected object from being removed, the seesaw-type locking section having a nail portion at one end thereof, for engagement with the one connected object, and a power point portion at the other end thereof, on which a pivotal force of the actuator acts, wherein the actuator includes a cam portion that is operable when the actuator is in the closed position, to push upward the power point portion, to thereby move the nail portion such that the nail potion comes closer to the other connected object. 
   With the arrangement of the connector according to the present invention, the seesaw-type locking section for preventing the one connected object from being removed is provided in the shell, and hence the locking section has an increased strength and is excellent in the shielding performance. Further, the actuator moves the contact portion of the shell toward the one connected object, which positively brings the contact portion into contact with the ground. In other words, it is possible to obtain a sufficient contact force, which improves the connecting performance of the connector. 
   Preferably, the nail portion of the locking section also functions as the contact portion. 
   The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken on line II-II of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken on line III-III of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken on line V-V of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken on line V-V of  FIG. 1 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the connector in a state in which the actuator is in a closed position, which is taken on line V-V of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing preferred embodiments thereof. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the connector is for an FPC (one connected object), and is comprised of a housing  3 , the first contacts  5 , the second contacts  6 , the actuator  9 , and a shield plate  11 . The connector is mounted on a printed wiring board (the other connected object), not shown. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the housing  3  includes a ceiling  31 , a bottom  32 , and a connecting portion  33 . Formed between the ceiling  31  and the bottom  32  is an FPC-receiving space (receiving space)  34 . 
   The ceiling  31  has accommodation grooves  31   a  and accommodation grooves  31   b  formed in a lower surface thereof such that they are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction of the housing  3 . 
   The bottom  32  has accommodation grooves  32   a  and accommodation grooves  32   b  formed in an upper surface thereof such that they are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction of the housing  3 . 
   The connecting portion  33  connects the ceiling  31  and the bottom  32 . The connecting portion  33  has accommodation holes  33   a  and accommodation holes  33   b  formed therein such that they are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction of the housing  3 . Each accommodation hole  33   a  extends along the direction of insertion of the FPC  21  and communicates with associated ones of the accommodation grooves  31   a  and  32   a . Each accommodation hole  33   b  extends along the direction D of insertion of the FPC, and communicates with associated ones of the accommodation grooves  31   b  and  32   b . The accommodation hole  33   a  has a press contact piece  33   c  formed therein. The accommodation hole  33   b  has a press contact piece  33   d  formed therein. 
   The above-described accommodation grooves  31   a  and  32   a  and accommodation holes  33   a  form a first contact-accommodating space  35 . The above-described accommodation grooves  31   b  and  32   b  and accommodation holes  33   b  form a second contact-accommodating space  36 . 
   Each first contact  5  includes a first beam  51 , a spring piece  52 , and a second beam  53 . The first beam  51  is connected to the second beam  53  via the spring piece  52  such that it can perform a seesaw operation. The first beam  51  and the second beam  53  are substantially parallel to each other. The first beam  51  has a portion toward one end thereof (portion on the left side of the spring piece  52  as viewed in  FIG. 2 ) formed as a contact portion  51   a , and a portion toward the other end thereof (portion on the right side of the spring piece  52  as viewed in  FIG. 2 ) formed as a power point portion  51   b . The contact portion  51   a  is formed with a contact point  51   c . The power point portion  51   b  has a rear end thereof formed with an engaging portion  51   d.    
   The second beam  53  has a portion toward one end thereof (portion on the left side of the spring piece  52  as viewed in  FIG. 2 ) formed as a first beam portion  53   a , and a portion toward the other end thereof (portion on the right side of the spring piece  52  as viewed in  FIG. 2 ) formed as a second beam portion  53   b . The first beam portion  53   a  is formed with a press-fitted piece  53   c . The press-fitted piece  53   c  is press-fitted into the press contact piece  33   c , whereby the first contact  5  is held in a state fixed within the first contact-accommodating space  35 . The second beam portion  53   b  is formed with a terminal portion  53   d . The terminal portion  53   d  is soldered to the printed wiring board, not shown. Further, the second beam portion  53   b  is formed with a recess  53   e.    
   Each second contact  6  includes a first beam  61 , a spring piece  62 , and a second beam  63 . The first beam  61  is connected to the second beam  63  via the spring piece  62  such that it can perform a seesaw operation. The first beam  61  is slightly inclined with respect to the second beam  63 . The first beam  61  has a portion toward one end thereof (portion on the left side of the spring piece  62  as viewed in  FIG. 3 ) formed as a contact portion  61   a , and a portion toward the other end thereof (portion on the right side of the spring piece  62  as viewed in  FIG. 3 ) formed as a power point portion  61   b . The contact portion  61   a  is formed with a contact point  61   c.    
   The second beam  63  has a portion toward one end thereof (portion on the left side of the spring piece  62  as viewed in  FIG. 3 ) formed as a first beam portion  63   a , and a portion toward the other end thereof (portion on the right side of the spring piece  62  as viewed in  FIG. 2 ) formed as a second beam portion  63   b . The first beam portion  63   a  has a foremost end thereof formed with a terminal portion  63   c . The terminal portion  63   c  is soldered to the printed wiring board, not shown. The second beam portion  63   b  is formed with a press-fitted piece  63   d . The press-fitted piece  63   d  is press-fitted into the press contact piece  33   d , whereby the second contact  6  is held in a state fixed within the second contact-accommodating space  36 . 
   The actuator  9  has one end in the direction of the width thereof formed with an operating section  91 , and the other end in the direction of the width thereof formed with first cam portions  92 , second cam portions (cam portions)  93 , and third cam portions  94 . The first cam portions  92 , the second cam portions  93 , and the third cam portions  94  each have a substantially elliptical shape in cross section. Although in the present embodiment, the sizes thereof are different from each other, they may have the same size. 
   The operating section  91  has a substantially convex shape. The actuator  9  is operated by putting a finger on the operating section  91 . 
   The first cam portions  92  and the second cam portions  93  are in an alternate arrangement. 
   Each first cam portion  92  is sandwiched by the power point portion  51   b  and the second beam portion  53   b  of an associated one of the first contacts  5 , and is further engaged with the engaging portion  51   d  and the recess  53   e  such that the first cam portion  92  is prevented from dropping off the associated first contact  5 . Each second cam portion  93  is sandwiched by the power point portion  61   b  and the second beam portion  63   b  of an associated one of the second contacts  6 . Therefore, the actuator  9  is pivotally held by the first contacts  5  and the second contacts  6 . 
   The actuator  9  has through holes  95  formed therethrough at respective location adjacent to the first cam portions  92 . Each through hole  95  has an associated one of the power point portions  51   b  inserted therethrough. 
   The actuator  9  has through holes  96  formed therethrough at respective locations adjacent to the second cam portions  93 . Each through hole  96  has an associated one of the power point portions  61   b  extended therethrough. 
   The third cam portions  94  are formed at opposite ends of the actuator  9  in the longitudinal direction thereof. 
   The shield plate  11  covers the ceiling  31 . As the material of the shield plate  11 , there may be mentioned stainless steel, copper, etc. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the shield plate  11  has a rear end of a longitudinal central portion thereof formed with an extended portion  11   a  covering the connecting portion  33  of the housing  3  and a rear end of the bottom  32  of the same. The extended portion has a distal end formed with a terminal portion  11   b . The terminal portion  11   b  is soldered to a ground line of the printed circuit board (not shown). One first contact-accommodating space  35  opposed to the extended portion  11   a  does not accommodate the first contact  6 . 
   By forming the terminal portion  11   b  of the shield plate  11  and the terminal portion  53   d  of the first contact  5  such that they have substantially the same shape in plan view, it is possible to pattern the signal lines and the ground lines of the printed circuit board (not shown) such that they have the same shape. 
   The shield plate  11  has longitudinal opposite ends thereof formed with respective locking sections  11   c . The locking section  11   c  performs a seesaw operation. The distal end of the locking section  11   c  is formed with a locking nail  11   d . The locking nail  11   d  is inserted into a cutout  21   a  of the FPC  21  inserted into the FPC-receiving space  34 . This locks the FPC  21 . The locking section  11   c  has a power point portion  11   f  connected to a rear end thereof. 
   The shield plate  11  is formed with a contact portion  11   e  at a location adjacent to the locking nail lid. The contact portion  11   e  is brought into contact with the ground line  21   b  of the FPC  21 . 
   Although the actuator  9  is pivotally held by the first contacts  5  and the second contacts  6 , as described above, but it is pivotally movable between an open position (position of the actuator  9  in a state where it can receive the FPC  21 : the state shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ) and a closed position (position of the actuator  9  in a state where the first and second contacts are brought into contact with the FPC). Further, positions of contact between the first and second cam portions  92  and  93  and the respective power point portions  51   b  and  61   b  are displaced in the FPC inserting direction with respect to positions of contact between the first and second cam portions  92  and  93  and the respective second beam portions  53   b  and  63   b , respectively. With this arrangement, when the actuator  9  is in a position close to the open position, a moment for pivotally moving the actuator  9  toward the open position is generated, whereas when the actuator  9  is in a position close to the closed position, a moment for pivotally moving the actuator  9  toward the closed position is generated. 
   When the actuator  9  is in the closed position, the first cam portion  92  pushes upward the power point portion  51   b  of the associated first contact  5 , whereby the contact portion  51   a  of the associated first contact  5  is pushed downward such that the contact portion  51   a  enters the FPC-receiving space  34 . 
   When the actuator  9  is in the closed position, the second cam portion  93  pushes upward the power point portion  61   b  of the associated second contact  6 , whereby the contact portion  61   a  of the associated second contact  6  is pushed downward such that the contact portion  61   a  enters the FPC-receiving space  34 . 
   When the actuator  9  is in the closed position, the third cam portion  94  pushes upward the associated power point portion  11   f  connected to the locking section  11   c  of the shield plate  11  whereby the nail portion  11   d  of the locking section  11   c  is pushed downward such that the nail portion  11   d  enters the cutout  21   a . At this time, the associated contact portion  11   e  is also pushed downward, and hence is pressed against the ground of the FPC, whereby a sufficient contact force can be obtained to positively bring the contact portion  11   e  into contact with the ground of the FPC. 
   Peripheral edges of the through holes  95  and  96  toward the operating section  91  form pressing portions  98 . 
   When the actuator  9  is in the open position (state shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ), the pressing portions  98  push the power point portions  51   b  and  61   b  downward, to thereby move the contact portions  51   a  and  61   a  out of the FPC-receiving space  34 . 
   Further, when the actuator  9  is in the open position, the third cam portions  94  do not push the power point portions  11   f , but the locking sections  11   c  return to their original state (shown in  FIG. 5 ) by its own resilient force, whereby the nail portion  11   d  is moved out of the cutout  21   a  to release the locking of the FPC  9 . 
   As described heretofore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to facilitate insertion of the FPC, and obtain a sufficient contact force for being brought into contact with the ground of the FPC. 
   Also, it is possible to shield the connector by the shield plate  11 . 
   Further, since the shield plate  11  is provided with the locking sections  11   c  for locking the FPC  21 , and hence the locking sections  11   c  have a high strength, and are capable of positively locking the FPC  21 . 
   It should be note that although in the above-described embodiments, the present invention is applied to the connector for an FPC, this is not limitative, but the present invention can also be applied to a connector e.g. for an FFC (Flexible Flat Cable). 
   It is further understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing are the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and that various changes and modification may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.