Abstract:
The present invention relates to a connector, especially to a connector for connecting a flexible flat cable (FFC). By providing a pivoting member and positioning members on a base and a pivoted member and positioned member on a top cover, the FCC can be fixed and positioned at a proper position between the base and the top cover.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a connector for fixing a flexible flat cable (FFC) or a flexible printed circuit (FPC).  
         [0003]     1. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Connectors are commonly used in electronic products, and a flexible flat cable (FFC) and a flexible printed circuit (PFC) are introduced to meet the requirements for a circuit connection and a space layout. When the corresponding FCC or PFC connector is used, the effect of the circuit connection can be maximized. Therefore, the FFC and FPC are used extensively in the products such as keyboards, notebook computers, mobile phones and facsimile machines, etc.  
         [0005]     As implied in the name, connectors have a main function of connecting or relaying a signal and/or a power supply. Therefore, a connector is provided for securely connecting an object which is usually a circuit board. If the connection is improper, then the signal or power supply will be disconnected. The key point of the design is focused on a secured connection.  
         [0006]     R.O.C. Pat. Application No. 92213446 entitled “Electric connector” discloses a connector having a reinforced arm and a T-shaped groove disposed on a metal casing, and a T-shape protrusion corresponding to the T-shape groove disposed on a base, such that when a latch is connected, the connector can be secured. However, such patent has not taken the constant connection into consideration, when the terminals of the circuit board are plugged. The FFC cannot be guided into a proper position and the FFC is not plugged or fixed properly, or one side of the FFC is tilted. As a result, the circuit will have a poor contact or will even be shorted. Therefore, the FFC has to be reinstalled or plugged again. Additional manpower is needed to examine whether or not the connection or the signal is correct. The abovementioned situation occurs very often, if the pitch of the connector or the number of pins of the FFC gets smaller.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a connector that precisely and securely fixes a flat cable between the base and the upper casing of the connector, so as to achieve the purpose of clamping the flat cable. With the installation of the foregoing upper casing and base, the components are interfered and latched with each other, and a component is disposed at the corresponding position of the flat cable for passing the flat cable through. When the upper casing is engaged with the base, the upper casing will not be loosened or fallen out due to the interference and latch, so as to achieve the effect of precisely fixing the upper casing into a position.  
         [0008]     To achieve the foregoing objective, the present invention provides a connector to be installed onto a flat cable and comprises a base having a plurality of terminal slots disposed at an operating end for receiving a plurality of terminals, and a pivoting member disposed separately on both sides of the base, and a positioning member disposed on both external sides of the terminal slots, and an upper casing having a pivoted member pivotally coupled with the pivoting member, and a positioned member disposed at a position corresponding to the positioning member, such that the flat cable is clamped between the base and the upper casing by a penetrating groove disposed corresponding to the positioning member, and the positioned member passes through the penetrating groove to couple with the positioning member. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of an upper casing being pivotally coupled to a base according to the invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3 a  schematic view of a flexible flat cable being plugged according to the invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an upper casing and a base being installed according to the invention; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a flexible flat cable being plugged according to the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]     Referring to FIGS.  1  to  5 , the connector of the present invention comprises a base  1 , an upper casing  2 , and a flat cable  3 , and the flat cable  3  could be a flexible flat cable (FFC) or a flexible printed circuit (FPC). The base  1  is made of an insulating material and includes a plurality of terminal slots  11  proximate to an operating end A for receiving a plurality of terminals  12 , and the rear section of the base  1  is covered by a base cover  13 , such that the terminal slots  11  and the terminals  12  are not exposed. A sidewall  14  is disposed separately on both sides of the base  11 , and the sidewall  14  is in the shape of a single pillar or track, so that the sidewall  14  can be pivotally connected with an upper casing  2 . The sidewall  14  further comprises a pivoting member  15 , and the pivoting member  15  is a hole in this preferred embodiment, but also could be a tenon.  
         [0015]     The characteristics of the present invention reside on that a positioning member  16  is installed between the terminal slots  11  and sidewalls  14  disposed on both sides of the base  1 , and the positioning member  16  is a penetrating or a non-penetrating hole groove, including and not limited to a protrusion, and the shape of the positioning member  16  includes but not limited to a rectangular shape, a circular shape, or any other shape.  
         [0016]     The upper casing  2  is in the shape of a long bar and has a size corresponding to the exposed portion of the terminal slots  11 , so that the upper casing  2  can cover the terminal slots  11  after the upper casing  2  is engaged. A pivoted member  21  disposed corresponding to the pivoting member  15  is selectively and pivotally coupled to a side of the upper casing. The pivoted member  21  according to this preferred embodiment is a tenon, but not limited to such. If the foregoing pivoting member  15  is a tenon, then the pivoted member  21  is a corresponding hole, and the pivoting member  15  preferably includes a resilient member such as a spring for reinforcing the engagement between the pivoting member  15  and the pivoted member  21 . Further, a positioned member  22  is installed at a position corresponding to the positioning member  16 , and the size and shape of the positioned member  22  correspond to those of the tenon of the positioning member  16 . If the positioning member  16  is a tenon, then the positioned member  22  is a hole groove. To securely latch the positioning member  16  with the positioned member  22 , the positioned member  22  includes a latch  23  as shown in the figure. The latch  23  is a binder made of a soft material, which can be sheathed directly onto the positioned member  22  or a notch is formed on the positioned member  22 , so that when the positioned member is latched to the positioning member  16 , the latch  23  presses against the positioning member  16  to secure the connection. However, such arrangement is a prior art, and thus will not be described here. Further, a pressing edge  24  is protruded from the sidewall for connecting the upper casing  2  to the lateral side of the base casing  13  for pressing the flat cable after the upper casing  2  is engaged with the base casing  13 .  
         [0017]     In  FIG. 2 , the front end of the flat cable  3  includes a plurality of flat cable terminals  31  coupled with the corresponding terminals  12  for providing an electric connection, after the flat cable terminals  31  are coupled with the terminals  12 . At least one penetrating groove  32  is disposed at a position corresponding to the positioning member  16  for passing the positioned member  22 . The penetrating groove  32  is a notch in this preferred embodiment, but it also could be a hole.  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5  for the application of the present invention, the pivoted member  21  can be pivotally coupled to the pivoting member  15 , so that the upper casing  2  can be lifted up from the base  1 , and then the flat cable  3  in place at the exposed section of the base  1 , and the flat cable terminals  31  correspond to the terminals  12  of the base  1 , and then the upper casing  2  is turned downward to engage with the base  1 . The positioned member  22  passes through the penetrating groove  32  and is embedded into the positioning member  16  for the positioning. In  FIG. 5 , the pressing edge  24  presses against the portion of the flat cable terminals  31  of the flat cable  3  for a secured connection. If the latch  23  is installed, then the upper casing  2  and the base  1  can be connected more securely.  
         [0019]     In an application of the present invention, the connector of a flexible flat cable is connected securely for an electric connection. When the connector is being latched, the users can feel the snap-in movement. In the meantime, the invention can improve the pulling and pushing stresses of the FFC, and the flat cable can be accessed vertically downward, so as to prevent any possible scratch or damage to the goldfingers.  
         [0020]     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.  
         [0021]     In summation of the above description, the present invention herein enhances the performance than the conventional structure and further complies with the patent application requirements and is submitted to the Patent and Trademark Office for review and granting of the commensurate patent rights.