Abstract:
A flat and pliable circuit board connector includes an insulated body having a top open space and a plurality of terminals disposed therein, two anchor members mounted on both sides of the housing and an upper lid pivotally connected to the anchor members and upwardly turnable to expose the open space and enable easy insertion of a pliable circuit board into the open space. After the movable upper lid is closed, the pliable circuit board is securely latched in the connector and the upper lid becomes an upper wall of the connector. The movable upper lid is covered by a metal shield plate to prevent electromagnetic interference (EMI) to enhance the performance of the flat and pliable circuit board connector. The upper lid is lifted and opened rearwardly and closed forwardly.

Description:
This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on patent application Ser. No. 092113523 filed in TAIWAN on May 20, 2003, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a flat and pliable circuit board connector and particularly to a flat and pliable circuit board connector that has a movable upper lid for opening and closing to provide an open space and exposed terminals to facilitate insertion of the pliable circuit board and also equips function of preventing electromagnetic interference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A conventional pliable circuit board connector  10  generally is constructed like the one shown FIGS. 1 and 2. It mainly includes a rectangular insulation body  20 , a rectangular coupling cap  30  and a plurality of terminals  25 . The rectangular insulation body  20  is a closed frame structure and includes an upper side wall  21 , a lower side wall  22  and a side wall connecting to the left side and the right side of the upper side wall  21  and the lower side wall  22 . The front side of the frame has an opening to form an insertion slot  23  to enable a pliable circuit board  15  to insert and enter the interior of the insulation body  20 . The rear half section of the frame has a plurality of parallel and spaced ditches  24  to allow the terminals  25  to wedge in to form electric connection with the front sections of the upper legs  26  and lower legs  27  of the terminals  25 . The coupling cap  30  has an elongated slot  32  abutting a lip end of the coupling cap  30  so that a rib axle  31  formed in an ellipsoidal cross section on the lip end is wedged between the upper leg  26  of each terminal  25  exposed outside the insulation body  20  and the lower leg  27  to form a pivotal structure for the terminal as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Namely, although the coupling cap  30  is located at the rear side of the insulation body  20 , it is independent from the frame of the insulation body  20  without assembled. Referring to FIG. 1, when the coupling cap  30  is lifted and opened, the rear section of the upper leg  26  of each terminal  25  is not latched by the rib axle  31  and is in a free condition. Once the pliable circuit board  15  is inserted into the insulation body  20 , and electric connection is established on each terminal  25 , and the coupling cap  25  is closed over the insulation body  20  on the rear side, the rear section of the upper leg  26  of each terminal  25  is latched by the rib axle  31  of the coupling cap  30  so that the front section of the upper leg  26  is moved downwards due to a levering force to press the pliable circuit board  15  and the pliable circuit board  15  is securely held inside the insulation body  20  without loosening off. 
     As the insulation body  20  mentioned above adopts a closed frame structure that has the upper side wall  21  and the lower side wall  22 , and the terminals  25  are sealed in the frame, the movable cap  30  cannot become the upper side wall of the insulation body  20 . The pivotal fulcrum of turning and closing for the coupling cap  30  must be located between the upper leg  26  and the lower leg  27  at the rear half section of the terminals  25 , and cannot be located on the frame of the insulation body  20 . The space of the coupling cap  30  is restricted. The torque for opening or closing the coupling cap  30  also is limited. The resulting torque is generally smaller, and a greater force is required during operation. For closing, it is moved towards the rear side of the insulation body  20 . Overall, operation of the pliable circuit board  10  connector is inconvenient. 
     Moreover, the conventional pliable circuit board connector  10  does not have the function of preventing electromagnetic interference (EMI). Therefore to add an EMI shielding device is required to enhance the function of the pliable circuit board connector. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the aforesaid disadvantages, the primary object of the invention is to provide an improved flat and pliable circuit board connector equipped with an open space to make operation of the connector more convenient. 
     The flat and pliable circuit board connector according to the invention includes an upper side wall formed by a movable upper lid that can be lifted rearwards and closed forwards. To insert the pliable circuit board, the movable upper lid is lifted rearwards to expose the upper leg and lower leg on the front half section of the terminal in an open space. Thus insertion operation of the pliable circuit board from the front end is easy, and the terminal may be inserted correctly to establish electric connection. Then the movable upper lid may be closed to securely hold the pliable circuit board in the flat and pliable circuit board connector without loosening off. Operation is easy and efficient. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a flat and pliable circuit board connector that has an open space. There is a pivotal fulcrum located on the rear back section of the flat and pliable circuit board connector for the movable upper lid to open or close, rather than located between the upper leg and lower leg at the rear half section of the terminal. Hence the movable upper lid may be lifted or closed at a longer torque to save effort and make operation simpler. Moreover, the movable upper lid may be covered by a metal shield plate to prevent EMI to enhance the function of the flat and pliable circuit board connector. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a flat and pliable circuit board connector equipped with an open space in which terminal flutes are formed on the plate of the movable upper lid. The rear end of the plate has a sloping downward structure with the distal end of the flutes forming an axle of an ellipsoidal cross section so that the axle and terminals of selected shapes form a cam shaft mechanism. When the movable upper lid is closed, the ellipsoidal axle generates a downward pressure for the front section of the upper leg of each terminal to enable the pliable circuit board to be firmly inserted in the flat and pliable circuit board connector. 
     The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 are sectional views of a conventional pliable circuit board connector and a use condition. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the flat and pliable circuit board connector of the invention coupling with a metal shield plate to prevent EMI. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 are exploded views of the flat and pliable circuit board connector of the invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the invention with the movable upper lid opened for inserting the pliable circuit board. 
     FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the invention with the movable upper lid closed. 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the invention with the movable upper lid opened at the maximum angle. 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the invention with the pliable circuit board inserted and latched securely by the movable upper lid. 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the invention showing the indented body coupling with two different types of terminals in the ditches in an alternate manner. FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the invention showing the movable upper lid opened in another viewing angle. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 through 6, the flat and pliable circuit board connector  40  of the invention includes an indented body  50  which has an open space  51 , a movable upper lid  60  located above the indented body  50  that may be lifted and opened to expose the open space  51  or closed over the indented body to become the upper lid of the indented body  50 , a plurality of terminals  70  wedged in the indented body  50 , a pair of anchor plates  80  coupling on the left side and the right side of the indented body  50 , and a metal shield plate  90  covering the plate  61  of the movable upper lid  60 . 
     Referring to FIG. 9 for another embodiment of the flat and pliable circuit board connector  40  of the invention. It consists of an indented body  50 , a movable upper lid  60 , a plurality of terminals  70  and a pair of anchor plates  80 . In other words, the metal shield plate  90  for preventing EMI is an optional feature which may be selected by users as desired. 
     The indented body  50  has an exposed open recess to form an open trough  51 . The open trough  51  has two side walls each adjacent to a jutting side rib  52  such that the open trough  51  forms a two-stage open space. The upper stage space above the side ribs  52  forms a wider upper space while the side ribs  52  border a narrower lower stage space. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 9, the upper stage space of the open trough  51  provides a closing space for the movable upper lid  60  so that the movable upper lid  60  becomes the upper lid of the indented body  50  after closed. Referring to FIG. 6, the lower stage space of the open trough  51  provides a space for inserting the pliable circuit board  15  to enable the pliable circuit board  15  to form electric connection with the terminals  70 . 
     In addition, the surface of the open trough  51  of the indented body  50  has a plurality of ditches  53 . Each ditch  53  has a wedge rib  54  formed in a cross section shown in FIG. 5 to couple with the terminal  70  so that the terminal  70  may be wedged in the ditch  53 . As shown in FIG. 5, the top surface of the wedge rib  54  has a notch  543  sunk partially. The front end and the rear end of the wedge rib  54  extend respectively to form a tongue-shaped plate to become a rear tenon  541  and a front tenon  542 . Such a structure enables the indented body  50  to equip multiple functions. Referring to FIGS. 5,  6  and  7 , the rear tenon  541  on the indented body  50  may be coupled with one set of terminal  70  to allow the terminal  70  to be wedged in the ditch  53 ; or as shown in FIG. 10, the front tenon  542  may be coupled with another set of terminal  70  of a different type in an alternate manner in the ditch  53  of the indented body  50 . Hence for accommodating only once set of terminals  70  in the ditches  53  in the indented body  50 , the wedge rib  54  may have only the rear tenon  541  without the front tenon  542  thereby to form another embodiment of the indented body  50  with a different structure. 
     Moreover, there are insert troughs  55  formed on left and right side walls of the indented body  50  to couple with the anchor plates  80  on two sides of the indented body  50 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, the anchor plates  80  are symmetrical left and right. Each anchor plate has a flat surface  81 , insert pins  82  extending upwards from the middle section of one side, a bracket arm  83  extending upwards from one end that has an arched notch, and fastening slots  84  directly inwards on the opposite side. The anchor plate  80  may be coupled with the left side and right side of the indented body  50  by inserting the insert pins  82  into the troughs  55  from under the indented body  50 . The bracket arm  83  is exposed on the back side of the left and right side walls of the indented body  50  to form a supporting bracket structure as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to pivotally engage with stub shafts  63  of the movable upper lid  60 . 
     The fastening slots  84  on the anchor plate  80  allow bolts to pass through to fasten the flat and pliable circuit board connector  40  to a circuit board. 
     Referring to FIGS. 4,  5  and  7 , the terminal  70  generally includes an upper leg  71 , a lower leg  72  and a latch leg  73 , and forms a latch slot  75 , pivot slot  76  and a mortise slot  77  therebetween. The latch leg  73  is connected to a distal end of the rear section of the lower leg  72 , and has a front section spaced from the rear section of the lower leg  72  to form the mortise slot  77 . The mortise slot  77  may be coupled with the rear tenon  541  of the indented body  50  to enable the terminal  70  to be wedged securely in the ditch  53  of the indented body  50 . 
     The upper leg  71  and the lower leg  72  are connected by a bridge section  78  to form the latch slot  75  therebetween. When the terminal  70  is wedged in the ditch  53 , the latch slot  75  is located in the lower stage open space of the open trough  51  as shown in FIGS. 6,  7  and  8 . The upper leg  71  of the terminal  70  is located in the upper stage open space of the open trough  51 . Referring to FIG. 6, the latch slot  75  allows the pliable circuit board  15  to insert therein to establish electric connection with the upper leg  71  and the lower leg  72 . Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the front section of the lower leg  72  is suspended above the notch  543  of the indented body  50  to form a cantilever beam so that it has a flexible strain allowance in a desired range to facilitate insertion of the pliable circuit board  15  into the latch slot  75  of the terminal  70 . 
     The rear sections of the upper leg  71  and the lower leg  72  are spaced from each other to form the pivot slot  76 . The distal end of the rear section of the upper leg  71  is bent downwards to form a bent section  74  so that the opening of the pivot slot  76  is narrower to generate a latch effect. 
     The movable upper lid  60  includes a plate  61  which has a stub shaft  63  extending respectively from the left and right sides of the rear end thereof. The stub shaft  63  has dual functions. Referring to FIGS. 5 through 10, the stub shaft  63  is pivotally coupled with the arched notch of the bracket arm  83  of the anchor plate  80  to form a fulcrum for lifting or closing the movable upper lid  60 . Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, it may also couple with a latch notch  96  formed on the metal shield plate  90 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 4 and 8, the left and right sides of the front end of the plate  61  of the movable upper lid  60  are extended downwards to form a pair of retaining members  62  to enable users to apply force to lift and close the movable upper lid  60 . As the movable upper lid  60  uses the stub shafts  63  as the fulcrum that are located on the rear side of the indented body  50 , and the force receiving retaining members  62  are spaced from the stub shafts  63  at a maximum distance to form the torque for lifting, the movable upper lid  60  may be lifted and opened in the rear direction, and closed in the front direction easily with less efforts. Moreover, each retaining member  62  has a latch stub  66  extending from a side wall thereof to couple with a latch slot  94  formed on the metal shield plate  90 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the rear end of the plate  61  of the movable upper lid  60  is sloped downwards at a desired angle. Such a structure can restrict the movable upper lid  60  to be lifted and opened without exceeding the maximum angle as shown in FIG.  8 . In addition, when the open space  51  of the indented body  50  is completely exposed, the pliable circuit board  15  may be easily inserted into the latch slot  75  of the terminal  70 . 
     The plate  61  of the movable lid  60  further has a plurality of flutes  64  corresponding to the ditches  53  of the indented body  50 . Each flute  64  has a distal end forming an axle  65  of an ellipsoidal cross section. The narrow section of the axle  65  may be wedged into the pivot slot  76  of the terminal  70 . After the stub shafts  63  of the movable upper lid  60  is pivotally engaged with the bracket arm  83 .of the anchor plate  80 , the axle  65  may be coupled with the pivot slot  76  without escaping. 
     Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, when the movable upper lid  60  is turned about the stub shafts  63 , the axle  65  and the upper leg  71  of the terminal  70  form a cam shaft mechanism. When the movable upper lid  60  is turned for closing, the ellipsoidal contour of the axle  65  generates a push action on the bent section  74  of the upper leg  71  so that the upper leg  71  uses the bridge section  78  as a fulcrum to produce a levering action to enable the front section of the upper leg  71  to press downwards. 
     The width of the plate  61  of the movable upper lid  60  is narrower than the upper stage open space of the open trough  51  of the indented body  50 , but wider than the lower stage open space of the open trough, and the upper leg  71  is located in the upper stage open space of the open trough  51 . Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, after the movable upper lid  60  is closed, it is in contact with the top surface of the side ribs  52  of the open trough  51  to close the upper stage open space to form the upper lid of the indented body  50 . Meanwhile, the upper leg  71  is exposed to the flute  64  of the movable upper lid  60 , thereby the thickness of the flat and pliable circuit board connector  40  may be greatly reduced. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the metal shield plate  90  for preventing EMI includes a cover plate  91  formed in a shape corresponding to the plate  61  of the movable upper lid  60 . The cover plate  91  has a rear section forming a cut out notch  92 . Referring to FIG. 11, when the metal shield plate  90  is covered over the plate  61  of the movable upper lid  60  and the movable upper lid  60  is lifted and opened rearwards, the notch  92  may prevent the metal shield plate  90  from hitting the rear section of the upper leg  71 . 
     The metal shield plate  90  further has respectively a rear flap  95  extending downwards from the left and right sides of the rear end thereof. The rear flap  95  has a latch notch  96  extending downwards to couple with the stub shaft  63  of the movable upper lid  60 . The rear flap  95  has a bulged spot  97  on a lower surface abutting the latch notch  96  to generate a gap between the surface of the rear flap  95  and the bracket arm  83  of the anchor plate  80  so that open or close operation of the movable upper lid  60  may be smoothly executed. Moreover, the cover plate  91  further has a front flap  93  extending respectively downwards on the left and right side of the front end. The front flap  93  has a latch slot  94  to couple with the latch stub  66  located on one side of the retaining member  62 . 
     For covering the metal shield plate  90  over the plate  61  of the upper lid  60 , first, couple the latch slot  94  with the latch stub  66  of the movable upper lid  60 ; then latch the latch notch  96  on the stub shaft  63  of the movable upper lid  60 . The assembled structure thus made can prevent EMI for the flat and pliable circuit board connector  40 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 6 through 9, for inserting the pliable circuit board  15 , first, lift and open the movable upper lid  60  rearwards to the maximum angle to completely expose the open trough  51  of the indented body  50  to facilitate insertion of the pliable circuit board  15 ; in this condition, the upper leg  71  of the terminal  70  is free from the action of the axle  65  of the movable upper lid  60 , and the front section of the upper leg  71  does not press downwards, therefore the pliable circuit board  15  may be inserted easily into the latch slot  75  of the terminal  70  through the open trough  51  of the indented body  50  along the side ribs  52  to form electric connection with the terminal  70 ; then close the movable upper lid  60  in the forward direction over the open trough  51 , the bent section  74  of the upper leg  71  is pressed by the axle  65  of the movable upper lid  60 , and the front section of the upper leg  71  is moved downwards to compress and latch the pliable circuit board  15  to form a secured electric connection with the terminal  70 . And the pliable circuit board  40  may be securely latched without escaping when in use.