Abstract:
A connector ( 10 ) comprises a housing ( 20 ), at least one terminal ( 15 ) receivable in the housing ( 20 ), and a fixing mechanism ( 25, 26 ) fixable to the housing ( 20 ). The terminal ( 15 ) has a contact surface ( 18 ) extended in a thickness direction thereof. When the fixing mechanism ( 25, 26 ) is fixed to the housing ( 20 ) so that a flat circuit member ( 12 ) having a conductor portion ( 13 ) is held between the housing ( 20 ) in which the terminal ( 15 ) is received and the fixing mechanism ( 25, 26 ), the fixing mechanism ( 25, 26 ) bends a part of the flat circuit member ( 12 ) in a thickness direction thereof to form a bent portion ( 14   a ) thereon, and presses the bent portion ( 14   a ) of the flat circuit member ( 12 ) against the contact surface ( 18 ) of the terminal ( 15 ) so that the terminal ( 15 ) is electrically connected to the conductor portion ( 13 ) of the flat circuit member ( 12 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a connector for a flat circuit member. More particularly, the present invention relates to a flat circuit member connector which can be positively connected to conductor portions of a flat circuit member such, for example as a ribbon cable, an FFC (i.e., Flexible Flat Circuit) and an FPC (i.e., Flexible Printed Circuit). 
     The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-49441, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     One example of conventional connectors for connection to a flat circuit member, such as a ribbon cable, an FFC and an FPC, is “Flat Cable Connection Connector” disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei. 9-73958. This conventional example will now be described with reference to FIG.  5 . 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the flat cable connection connector  60  comprises a housing  61 , having an opening  65  for receiving a distal end portion of an FPC cable as a flat circuit member, contacts  66  which are received in the opening  65  so as to be pressed against an electric circuit pattern (not shown) on the FPC cable  62 , and a slider portion  67  of metal provided in opposed relation to the contacts  66 . An insulating abutment portion  68  for preventing leakage of the electric circuit pattern is mounted on the slider portion  67 . 
     The FPC cable  62  has the electric circuit pattern formed on a lower surface thereof, and also has a plate-like reinforcing member  63  mounted on an upper surface thereof at the distal end portion thereof. 
     For connecting the FPC cable  62  to the flat cable connection connector  60 , the FPC cable  62  is inserted into the opening  65  in the housing  61  while sliding the plate-like reinforcing member  63  along the slider portion  67 . As a result, the FPC cable  62  is held between the slider portion  67  and the contacts  66 , and a contact portion  66   a  of each contact  66  is held in contact with the electric circuit pattern on the FPC cable  62 . 
     In the above conventional example, however, the FPC cable  62  is held between the slider portion  67  and the contacts  66  along the direction of the thickness of this cable, and by doing so, the FPC cable  62  is fixed to the housing  61 , and therefore there has been encountered a problem that when the FPC cable  62  is pulled in the longitudinal direction (as indicated by an arrow in FIG.  5 ), the FPC cable  62  can be easily disengaged from the opening  65 . 
     And besides, in the above conventional example, the slider portion  67  is needed for holding the FPC cable  62 , and also the insulating abutment portion  68  is needed for preventing the leakage of the electric circuit pattern. Therefore, the number of the component parts is large, which has invited a problem that the production cost of the flat cable connection connector  60  is high. 
     Furthermore, in the above conventional example, the contact point of the contact portion  66   a  of the contact  66  for contact with the electric circuit pattern is defined by a shearing surface formed by pressing, and therefore the value of the electric resistance relative to the electric circuit pattern on the FPC cable  62  is not constant under severe conditions in which severe vibrations are applied to the connector, and this invites a problem that the incomplete connection is liable to occur. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a flat circuit member connector which can be positively connected to a flat circuit member, and in which the number of component parts can be reduced, and the electric resistance value can be obtained in a stable manner. 
     To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector which comprises a housing, at least one terminal receivable in the housing, the terminal having a contact surface extended in a thickness direction thereof, and a fixing mechanism fixable to the housing, wherein when the fixing mechanism is fixed to the housing so that a flat circuit member having a conductor portion is held between the housing in which the terminal is received and the fixing mechanism, the fixing mechanism bends a part of the flat circuit member in a thickness direction thereof to form a bent portion thereon, and presses the bent portion of the flat circuit member against the contact surface of the terminal so that the terminal is electrically connected to the conductor portion of the flat circuit member. 
     Examples of the flat circuit member include a ribbon cable, an FFC and an FPC. In the case where a ribbon cable is used as the flat circuit member, insulating layers of wires are uniformly peeled, and by doing so, the flat circuit member connector of the present invention can be adopted. 
     The contact surface can be formed, for example, by bending a predetermined portion of the terminal into a substantially convex shape, or by bending an end portion of the terminal into a substantially L-shape in the direction of the thickness of the terminal. 
     In the case where the predetermined portion of the terminal is bent into a substantially convex shape to form the contact surface, a pair of opposed contact surfaces may be formed by bending two portions of the terminal spaced a predetermined distance from each other in the longitudinal direction. 
     In the case where the terminal has the pair of opposed contact surfaces, the bent portion, formed by bending an end portion or an intermediate portion of the flat circuit member into a substantially convex shape in such a manner that the surface of the flat circuit member, on which the conductor portions are formed, projects toward the housing, is inserted between the two contact surfaces, and by doing so, each conductor portion of the flat circuit member is held in surface-to-surface contact with each contact surface of the corresponding terminal. 
     In the case where the terminal has the pair of opposed contact surfaces, the fixing mechanism can have a bar-like member for fitting into the space between the pair of contact surfaces through the flat circuit member, and in this case this bar-like member can be formed integrally with a rear holder, engageable with the housing, so that the bar-like member can be held in a fitted condition. 
     In the flat circuit member connector of this construction, the flat circuit member is fixed in such a manner that the bent portion of the flat circuit member is held in press-contact with the contact surface of the terminal extending in the direction of the thickness thereof, and therefore the flat circuit member will not be easily disengaged from the housing even when it is pulled in the longitudinal direction, and the housing can be positively kept connected to the flat circuit member. 
     In the flat circuit member connector, the flat circuit member is fixed by the fixing mechanism in such a manner that the bent portion of the flat circuit member is held in press-contact with the contact surface, and thus the fixing is achieved with this very simple construction. Therefore, as compared with the conventional construction, the number of the component parts is reduced, and the production cost can be reduced. 
     And besides, in this flat circuit member connector, each terminal is disposed in surface-to-surface contact with the corresponding conductor portion of the flat circuit member through the contact surface, and therefore the electric resistance value can be obtained in a stable manner even under severe conditions in which severe vibrations are applied to the connector, and this eliminates the possibility of incomplete connection as encountered in the conventional construction. 
     According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the fixing mechanism includes a recess portion formed in the housing so that the contact surface of the terminal is exposed to an exterior through the recess portion, and a lid member fittable in the recess portion to cover the recess portion, and wherein the bent portion is held between the recess portion and the lid member. In the flat circuit member connector of this construction, the area of contact between each conductor portion of the flat circuit member and the contact surface of the terminal is covered with the lid member, and therefore the contact area is protected from dirt, dust, water and so on, and besides adverse effects, caused by an impact, a drag and others, can be relieved. 
     According to the third aspect of the present invention, the flat circuit member can be bent into a substantially crank shape, that is, that portion of the flat circuit member, disposed immediately adjacent to the distal end portion thereof bent into a substantially L-shape, can be bent into a substantially L-shape, and therefore the housing can be more positively kept connected to the flat circuit member as compared with the case where the flat circuit member is merely bent into a substantially L-shape. 
     According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the terminal may have a pair of the contact surfaces, and wherein the pair of contact surfaces are spaced a predetermined distance from each other in a longitudinal direction of the terminal, and are opposed to each other. 
     In this flat circuit member connector, thus, the terminal has the pair of opposed contact surfaces, and therefore the flat circuit member is fitted into the space between the pair of contact surfaces in a bent manner. 
     According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the lid member may have a projection fittable in the recess portion, so that the bent portion is held between the projection and the recess portion. 
     According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the fixing mechanism includes a lid member having at least one projection, and wherein when the fixing mechanism is fixed to the housing, the flat circuit member is held between the projection and a rear end of the terminal and also between the projection and the housing. 
     Therefore, in this flat circuit member connector, the housing can be more positively kept connected to the flat circuit member as compared with the case where the flat circuit member is merely bent into a substantially L-shape. 
     In this flat circuit member connector, the pair of contact surfaces of each terminal are held in surface-to-surface contact with the corresponding conductor portion of the flat circuit member, and therefore the area of contact of the terminal with the conductor portion of the flat circuit member increases, and this further reduces the possibility of incomplete connection due to severe vibrations. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a flat circuit member connector of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a terminal in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the procedure of connecting the flat circuit member connector to a flat circuit member; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the procedure of connecting the flat circuit member connector to the flat circuit member; and 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional FPC cable connection connector. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to  4 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a flat circuit member connector  10 , embodying the present invention, comprises a housing  20  for receiving many terminals  15  (in such a manner that the terminals  15  are isolated from one another) so that the terminals  15  can be connected to conductor portions  13  of a flat circuit member  12 , and a fixing mechanism  25  each of which holds the flat circuit member  12  on the housing  20 , and keeps the terminals  15  in press-contact with the conductor portions  13 . 
     The housing  20  is formed into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, using a suitable insulative resin, and this housing has many recess portions  26  extending from one longer side surface  20   a  (front side surface in FIG. 1) thereof to the other longer side surface  20   b  thereof. The terminals  15  can be inserted into these recess portions  26 , respectively. The recess portions  26  are arranged in two rows through a partition plate  22 . 
     Notches  21  and  21  are formed in upper and lower surfaces  20   c  and  20   d  of the housing  20 , respectively, and each of these notches extends from a central portion of the surface  20   c ,  20   d  to the longer side surface  20   a . The recess portions  26  are separated from one another by a plurality of pairs of partition walls  23  and  24 , and each pair of partition walls  23  and  24  are disposed in a common plane, and are spaced from one another. The partition walls  23  and  24  are exposed to the exterior through the notches  21 . The partition walls  23  and  24  are covered with corresponding flat plate-like lid members  27  (only one of which is shown) fitted respectively in the notches  21  and  21 . 
     The flat circuit member  12  is in the form of an FPC or an FFC, and has the conductor portions  13  of metal formed on one side of a flexible, band-like board. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the terminal  15  includes a female terminal portion  16  of a substantially square tubular shape for connection to a male terminal (not shown), a strip-like extension portion  16   a  extending from the female terminal portion  16  in a longitudinal direction, planar contact portions  17  and  17  each of which is defined by distal end portions of side walls extending upwardly respectively from opposite side (widthwise side) edges of the extension portion  16   a  in a direction of the thickness thereof, and is parallel to the surface of the extension portion  16   a , and contact surfaces  18  and  18  which are supported respectively by the contact portions  17 , and extend in the direction of the thickness of the extension portion  16   a.    
     The sum of the thickness of the extension portion  16   a  and the height of the side wall of the contact portion  17  is larger than the vertical dimension of the partition walls  23  and  24 . Namely, upper portions of the contact portions  17  are projected from upper surfaces of the partition walls  23  and  24  as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     The contact surfaces  18  and  18  are provided respectively at predetermined positions, spaced from each other in a longitudinal direction of the extension portion  16   a , and are disposed in opposed relation to each other. The distance between the contact surfaces  18  and  18  is smaller than the distance between each pair of partition walls  23  and  24 . 
     Each of the terminals  15  is formed by blanking an electrically-conductive metal sheet into a predetermined shape and then by suitably bending it, so that the female terminal portion  16 , the contact portions  17  and  17  and the contact surfaces  18  and  18  are formed. 
     When the terminal  15  is inserted into the recess portion  26  in the housing  20  until the distal end surface of the female terminal portion  16  abuts against an abutment portion on the housing, the contact surfaces  18  and  18  are disposed offset respectively from the opposed ends of each pair of partition walls  23  and  24  in a direction toward each other. Namely, the contact surfaces  18  and  18  are located between the opposed ends of each pair of partition walls  23  and  24  in a direction opposing to each other as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     The fixing mechanism  25  has a pair of elongate projections  28  and  29  formed on the lid member  27 . The elongate projections  28  and  29  are formed on a reverse surface of the lid member  27  which is to face the housing  20 , and these continuous elongate projections  28  and  29  extend in a longitudinal direction of the lid member  27  in parallel relation to each other. 
     When the lid member  27  of the fixing mechanism is fitted in the notch  21 , the elongate projection  29  is disposed between the contact surfaces  18  and  18  of each terminal  15  while the elongate projection  28  covers the rear ends of the terminals  15 . 
     At this time, the elongate projection  29  is disposed between the contact surfaces  18  and  18  such that a gap between the elongate projection  29  and each contact surface  18  is smaller than the thickness of the flat circuit member  12 . 
     On the other hand, the elongate projection  28  is disposed relative to the rear ends of the terminals  15  and the housing  20  such that a gap between the elongate projection  28  and the rear ends of the terminals  15 , as well as a gap between the elongate projection  28  and the housing  20 , is smaller than the thickness of the flat circuit member  12 . 
     Next, the procedure of connecting the flat circuit member  12  to the flat circuit member connector  10  will be described. 
     First, the terminals  15  are inserted into the recess portions  26  in the housing  20 , and the flat circuit member  12  is arranged in such a manner that the conductor portions  13  face the housing  20  and that the end portion of the flat circuit member  12  almost covers the notch  21 , as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     Then, the lid member  27  is pressed against the housing  20  until the elongate projection  28  covers the rear end of each terminal  15  while the elongate projection  29  is inserted between the contact surfaces  18  and  18 , thereby fixing the lid member  27  to the housing  20 , as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     At this time, the end portion of the flat circuit member  12  is held by the contact portions  17  and  17  of each terminal  15  and also between the elongate projection  29  and each of the contact surfaces  18  and  18 , so that a first bent portion  14   a  of a substantially convex shape is formed at the end portion of the flat circuit member  12 . Also, that portion of the flat circuit member  12 , disposed adjacent to the end portion thereof in the longitudinal direction, is held between the elongate projection  28  and the rear end of each terminal  15  and also between the elongate projection  28  and the housing  20 , so that a second bent portion  14   b  of a substantially crank-shape is formed at this predetermined portion of the flat circuit member  12 . 
     Namely, the flat circuit member  12  is fixed to the housing  20  against disengagement therefrom through the first bent portion  14   a  and the second bent portion  14   b.    
     In the flat circuit member connector  10  of the above construction, the first bent portion  14   a  of the flat circuit member  12  is disposed between the contact surfaces  18  and  18  of each terminal  15 , so that the flat circuit member  12  is fixed, with each conductor portion  13  held in press-contact with the contact surfaces  18  and  18  of the corresponding terminal  15 . Therefore, even when the flat circuit member  12  is pulled in the longitudinal direction away from the housing  20 , the flat circuit member  12  will not be easily disengaged from the housing  20 , and the housing can be positively kept connected to the flat circuit member  12 . 
     Particularly in this flat circuit member connector  10 , the flat circuit member  12  is fixed to the housing  20  not only by the first bent portion  14   a  but also by the second bent portion  14   b , and therefore the housing can be positively kept connected to the flat circuit member  12 . 
     In the flat circuit member connector  10 , the flat circuit member  12 , having the first and second bent portions  14   a  and  14   b  formed respectively at the predetermined portions thereof, is held in a gripped manner, and with this very simple construction, the flat circuit member  12  is fixed to the housing  20 . Therefore, as compared with the conventional construction, the number of the component parts is reduced, and the production cost can be reduced. 
     And besides, in this flat circuit member connector  10 , each terminal  15  is disposed in surface-to-surface contact with the corresponding conductor portion  13  of the flat circuit member  12  through the contact surfaces  18  and  18  and the planar contact portions  17  and  17 , and therefore the electric resistance value can be obtained in a stable manner even under severe conditions in which severe vibrations are applied to the connector, and this eliminates the possibility of incomplete connection as encountered in the conventional construction. 
     In the flat circuit member connector  10 , the area of contact between each conductor portion  13  of the flat circuit member  12  and each contact surface  18  of the terminal  15 , as well as the area of contact between the conductor portion  13  and each contact portion  17  of the terminal  15 , is covered with the lid member  27 , and therefore these contact areas are protected from dirt, dust, water and so on, and besides adverse effects, caused by an impact, a drag and others, can be relieved. 
     In this flat circuit member connector  10 , the flat circuit member  12  can be bent into a substantially crank-shape at its second bent portion  14   b , and therefore the housing  20  can be more positively kept connected to the flat circuit member  12  as compared with the case where the flat circuit member  12  is bent into a substantially L-shape. 
     And besides, in this flat circuit member connector  10 , the flat circuit member  12  is bent into a substantially convex shape at its first bent portion  14   a , and therefore the housing  20  can be more positively kept connected to the flat circuit member  12  as compared with the case where the flat circuit member  12  is merely bent into a substantially L-shape. 
     In this flat circuit member connector  10 , the pair of contact surfaces  18  and  18  of each terminal  15  are held in surface-to-surface contact with the corresponding conductor portion  13  of the flat circuit member  12 , and therefore the area of contact of the terminal  15  with the conductor portion  13  of the flat circuit member  12  increases, and this further reduces the possibility of incomplete connection due to severe vibrations. 
     The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but suitable modifications and improvements can be made. 
     For example, in the above embodiment, although the flat circuit member is bent into a convex shape, and is held in a gripped manner, the flat circuit member can be bent, for example, into a substantially L-shape or a substantially crank-shape. 
     In the above embodiment, although the end portion of the flat circuit member is fixed, the housing can be fixed to any desired portion of the flat circuit member in the longitudinal direction as indicated by the chain double-dashed lines in FIGS. 3 and 4. 
     With this arrangement, the flat circuit member connector of the present invention can be used as a branch connector for flat circuit members. 
     The material, shape, dimensions, form, number, arrangement and etc., of the flat circuit member, the terminals, the housing, the fixing mechanism and so on are not limited to the illustrated embodiment, but can be arbitrary in so far as the present invention can be achieved. 
     As described above, in the present invention, the flat circuit member is fixed in such a manner that the bent portion of the flat circuit member is held in press-contact with the contact surfaces of the terminal extending in the direction of the thickness thereof, and therefore the housing can be positively kept connected to the flat circuit member, and the number of the component parts is reduced as compared with the conventional construction, and the incomplete connection as encountered in the conventional construction can be avoided. 
     In the present invention, the area of contact between each conductor portion of the flat circuit member and each contact surface of the terminal is covered with the lid member, and therefore the contact area is protected from dirt, dust, water and so on, and besides adverse effects, caused by an impact, a drag and others, can be relieved. 
     In the present invention, the flat circuit member can be bent into a substantially crank shape, that is, that portion of the flat circuit member, disposed immediately adjacent to the distal end portion thereof bent into a substantially L-shape, can be bent into a substantially L-shape, and therefore the housing can be more positively kept connected to the flat circuit member as compared with the case where the flat circuit member is merely bent into a substantially L-shape. 
     In the present invention, the flat circuit member is fitted into the space between the pair of opposed contact surf aces of each terminal in a substantially convexly-bent manner, an therefore the housing can be more positively kept connected to the flat circuit member as compared with the case where the flat circuit member is merely bent into a substantially L-shape or a substantially crank-shape.