Abstract:
To provide a connector capable of assuring contact pressure between a terminal and a flat cable without disposing a metal beam supporting an actuator. In the connector of the Present Application, a housing has a convexity-opposing a terminal, and an actuator has a concavity mating with the convexity. An axle disposed in the concavity is inserted into a bearing disposed on the convexity. The actuator has a cam fitting between the convexity and the terminal, and is disposed so as to be able to turn between a sandwiched position at which a flat cable is sandwiched between the cam and the terminal and a release position at which the sandwiching is released.

Description:
REFERENCE To RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The Present Application claims priority to prior-filed Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-120778, entitled “Connector,” and filed 19 May 2009, the contents of which is fully incorporated in its entirety herein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT APPLICATION 
       [0002]    In connectors used in flexible printed circuits, flexible flat cables and other flat cables, the flat cable electrode is held in pressure contact with the connector terminal by the connector being rotatable after the flat cable is inserted into the connector. 
         [0003]    An example is illustrated in Japanese Patent Application No. H8-279378. The &#39;378 application purports to disclose technology in which a portion of the actuator (i.e., an insertion pressure element) is inserted between a metal beam and the terminal and pressure is applied toward the terminal by the metal beam. However, disposing this metal beam is a cause of increased cost. 
         [0004]    The &#39;378 application further describes disposing a rotating support point protrusion 13 and a rotating support point concavity 32 on the two lengthwise ends of the housing and the actuator. See Paragraphs 0001, 0012; and FIG. 6. However, the rotating support point protrusion 13 and the rotating support point concavity 32 are merely support points for rotation of the actuator, and do not generate any pressure force upon the actuator. Actually, the insertion pressure element 33 of the actuator is pressed upon by an attachment 23 serving as a metal beam. 
         [0005]    Taking note of the circumstance described above, a principal aim of the Present Application is to provide a connector capable of assuring contact pressure between the terminal and the flat cable without disposing a metal beam supporting the actuator. 
       SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT APPLICATION 
       [0006]    In order to solve the problem described above, the connector of the Present Application has at least one terminal, a housing to which the terminal is attached, and an actuator. The housing has at least one convexity opposing the terminal. The actuator has at least one concavity mating with the convexity, and an axle disposed in one of the convexity and the concavity is inserted into a bearing disposed in the other. In addition, the actuator has a cam fitting between the convexity and the terminal, and is disposed so as to be able to turn between a sandwiched position at which a flat cable is sandwiched between the cam and the terminal and a release position at which sandwiching is released. 
         [0007]    According to the Present Application, the convexity on the housing is disposed opposing the terminal, and when the cam of the actuator is fitted between the convexity and the terminal, a flat cable is sandwiched between the cam and the terminal. As a result, contact pressure can be assured between the terminal and the flat cable without disposing a metal beam supporting the actuator. 
         [0008]    In addition, in an embodiment of the Present Application, a bearing is disposed on the convexity, and the bearing is formed as a groove opened to the opposite side from the side on which the cam is disposed when the actuator is in the sandwiched position. As a result, actuator drop is inhibited in the sandwiched position. 
         [0009]    In addition, in an embodiment of the Present Application, protrusions are formed respectively on the convexity and the concavity making mutual contact when the actuator is in the release position. As a result, the actuator is limited to rotating toward the opposite side from the sandwiched position from the release position. 
         [0010]    Also, in an embodiment of the Present Application, the terminal is disposed flexibly deformably in a direction approaching the convexity. As a result, contact pressure between the terminal and the flat cable is increased by the plastic deformation of the terminal. 
         [0011]    In addition, the connector of the Present Application has at least 1 terminal, a housing to which the terminal is attached, and an actuator. The housing has at least 1 convexity opposing the terminal. The actuator has at least one concavity mating with the convexity, and an axle disposed in one of the convexity and the concavity is inserted into a bearing disposed in the other. In addition, the actuator has a cam fitting between the convexity and the terminal, and is disposed so as to be able to turn between a sandwiched position at which a flat cable is sandwiched between the cam and the terminal and a release position at which sandwiching is released. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0012]    The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the Present Application, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following Detailed Description, taken in connection with the accompanying Figures, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1A  illustrates an external perspective view of the connector with the actuator in the release position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1B  illustrates an external perspective view of the connector with the actuator in the sandwiched position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2A  illustrates an external perspective view of the housing; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2B  illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of the housing; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3A  illustrates an external perspective view of the actuator; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3B  illustrates an enlarged view of a portion of the actuator; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a sectional view of the connector with the actuator in the release position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4B  illustrates a sectional view of the connector with the actuator in the sandwiched position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a drawing describing the contact between the pair of protrusions; 
           [0022]      FIG. 6A  is a first drawing describing the assembly of the connector; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6B  is a second drawing describing the assembly of the connector; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6C  is a third drawing describing the assembly of the connector; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  illustrates a sectional view showing a modified example. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    While the Present Application may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the Figures, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments, with the understanding that the disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the Present Application, and is not intended to limit the Present Application to that as illustrated. 
         [0027]    In the illustrated embodiments, directional representations—i.e., up, down, left, right, front, rear and the like, used for explaining the structure and movement of the various elements of the Present Application, are relative. These representations are appropriate when the elements are in the position shown in the Figures. If the description of the position of the elements changes, however, it is assumed that these representations are to be changed accordingly. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B , the connector  1  has a generally box-shaped housing  2  formed from resin material with insulating properties. An insertion opening  10   a  (see  FIG. 4A ) is disposed on the front surface of the housing  2 , and a flat cable (not shown) is inserted therein. 
         [0029]    The flat cable is a flat wiring member having plasticity, with a group of electrodes formed on terminals on one surface. 
         [0030]    In the present embodiment, the group of electrodes is inserted into the insertion opening  10   a  directed toward the bottom. Inside the housing  2 , a plurality of terminals  4  formed by bending conductive metallic thin sheets is disposed mutually in parallel a prescribed distance apart. On the upper front side of the housing  2  is attached a horizontal actuator formed from a resin material with insulating properties and extending from right to left. In addition, on the left and right edges of the housing is attached support hardware  5  formed by bending metallic thin sheets. The support hardware  5  is partially soldered to a circuit board (not shown). 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 2A , the housing  2  has a bottom  21 , sides  23 , and a top  25 , and is formed in a general box shape. On the bottom  21  is formed a plurality of terminal grooves  21  into which the terminals  4  are inserted. The top  25  is formed to cover the rear half of the bottom  21 , and on the front edge thereof is disposed a plurality of convexities  27  protruding in a forward direction, arrayed lengthwise a prescribed distance apart. These convexities  27  are disposed above the terminals  4  supported on the bottom  21 . Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 4A , the convexities  27  are disposed above mountain-shape curved contact points  41  serving as points of contact with the flat cable. 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 2B , bearings  27   a  are disposed on the right and left sides of the convexity  27 . These bearings  27   a  are formed as U-shaped grooves opened upward, and subsequently discussed axles  363  of the actuator  3  are inserted therein. In the center of the convexity  27  a rectangular shaped notch  27   c  is disposed passing in a top-to-bottom direction between the left and right bearings  27   a.  On the front side of the bearings  27   a  are formed protrusions  273  protruding to the rear on the left and right. A perimeter surface  271  is formed centered on the bearings  27   a  from the front to the bottom of the convexity  27 . Also, at the front edge of the top  25 , at the left and right shoulders of the convexity  27 , a tapered surface  252  is formed in a forward angular upward direction. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 3A , the actuator  3  is formed in an essentially horizontal sheet shape extending left and right. A lengthwise side in front of the actuator  3  serves as a control unit  32  for a user to actuate rotation of the actuator using a finger. On a lengthwise side in the rear of the actuator  3  is arrayed a plurality of concavities  36  at a prescribed distance apart. These concavities  36  correspond to the convexities  27  disposed on the housing  2 . 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 3B , axles  363  are disposed in the concavities  36  extending toward the inside from the left and right side walls  38 . The tips of the axles  363  are inserted into the bearings  27   a  on the housing  2 . At the rear of the base ends of the axles  363 , protrusions  365  are formed continuous with the base ends of the axles  363 . Cams  361  are disposed at the lower rear edge of the interior of the concavities  36  extending left and right and linking the paired side walls  38 . These cams  361  are disposed underneath the protrusions  365 . At the center of the front side of the cams  361 , ribbed sections  362  are disposed linking the cams  361  with the front wall  39 . On the left and right shoulders of the ribbed sections  362  are disposed notches  361  running through in a top-to-bottom direction. The outer surface of the ribbed sections  362  serves as a perimeter surface centered on the axles  363 . 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 4A , configured thusly, the actuator  3  is attached to the housing  2  in an upright posture. Specifically, because of the fact that the axles  363  disposed in the concavities  36  of the actuator  3  are inserted from the top side of the bearings  27   a  disposed on the convexities  27  of the housing  2 , the concavities  36  of the actuator  3  are able to mate with the convexities  27  of the housing  2 . The position of the actuator  3  at this time is an example of the release position. At this time, a gap is formed between the convexities  27  and the terminals  4 , and the flat cable is inserted into this gap from the insertion opening  10   a.    
         [0036]    In addition, when the control unit  32  is actuated by a user, the actuator  3  turns between the release position and the sandwiched position in a tipped-forward attitude shown in  FIG. 4B . 
         [0037]    When the actuator turns from the release position to the sandwiched position, the cams  361  disposed in front of the convexities  27  move downward and to the rear, fitting into the space between the convexities  27  and the terminals  4 . At this time, the flat cable is sandwiched between the cams  361  and the terminals  4 . In addition, at this time, the terminals  4  are depressed by the cams  361 , thereby generating return pressure force, or in other words, sandwiching force on the flat cable due to plastic deformation. 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , when the actuator  3  is somewhat tilted to the rear, contact occurs between the protrusions  365  disposed on the shoulders of the axles  363  on the actuator  3  and the protrusions  273  disposed on the front of the bearing  27   a  of the housing  2 . Accordingly, the actuator is restricted from turning more than this amount to the rear. As a result, the axles  363  of the actuator  3  will not come off even if further turning force is applied to the rear in the actuator  3  release position. 
         [0039]    The following section describes assembly of the connector  1 . First, as shown in  FIG. 6A , the actuator  3  is moved downward in an upright posture and attached to the housing  2 . At this time, as discussed previously, the axles  363  disposed in the concavities  36  of the actuator  3  are inserted from above into the bearings  27   a  disposed in the convexities  27  of the housing  2  (see 
         [0040]      FIG. 4A ). Next, as shown in  FIG. 6B , support hardware  5  is attached to the left and right edges of the housing  2  in order to partially solder to a circuit board (not shown). In addition, as shown in  FIG. 6C , a plurality of terminals  4  is inserted at once into the housing  2  from the rear. 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIG. 6C , the terminals  4  are formed as part of a terminal cluster  40 . This terminal cluster  40  has a shape in which the plurality of terminals  4  is held onto a base  49 , and is formed into this shape from a single metallic thin sheet. By producing this terminal cluster  40 , it is possible to press the plurality of terminals  4  into the housing  2  all at once. 
         [0042]    According to the present embodiment as described above, as shown in  FIG. 4B , the convexities  27  of the housing  2  are disposed above the contact points  41  serving as contact points with the flat cable from among the terminals  4  held onto the housing  2 . When the actuator  3  is disposed in the sandwiched position, the cams  361 , which are a part of the actuator  3 , fit into the gap between the convexities  27  and the terminals  4 . At this time, since the flat cable is sandwiched between the contact points  41  for the cams  361  and the terminals  4 , contact pressure can be secured between the contact points  41  of the terminals  4  and the electrodes of the flat cable. 
         [0043]    In addition, as shown in  FIG. 4B , in the present embodiment, the bearings  27   a  disposed on the sides of the convexities  27  of the housing  2  are formed as U-shaped grooves opened upward, and the axles  363  disposed in the concavities  36  of the actuator  3  are inserted into the bearings  27   a.  Moreover, when the actuator  3  is in the sandwiched position, the cams  361 , which are part of the actuator  3 , are disposed below the convexities  27  of the housing  2 , so the actuator  2  will not fall off in any direction. 
         [0044]    Also, in the present embodiment, protrusions  273  are disposed in front of the bearings  27   a  of the housing  2 , as shown in  FIG. 2B , and protrusions  365  are disposed on the shoulders of the axles  363  of the actuator  3 , as shown in  FIG. 3B . These protrusions  273  and protrusions  365  make contact when the actuator  3  is tilted to the rear as shown in  FIG. 5 , thereby limiting the actuator  3  from turning to the rear to a greater amount. As a result, the axles  363  of the actuator  3  will not come off even if additional turning force is applied to the rear with the actuator  3  in the release position. 
         [0045]    In addition, in the present embodiment, the terminals  4  are formed by bending a metallic thin sheet, and are configured to be flexibly deformable upward and downward, which is the direction of sheet pressure. As a result, when the actuator  3  turns to the sandwiched position and the cams  361 , which are part of the actuator  3 , fit into the space between the convexities  27  and the terminals  4 , the terminals  4  are depressed by the cams  361 . 
         [0046]    As a result, contact pressure is increased between the contact points  41  of the terminals  4  and the electrodes of the flat cable due to the plastic deformation of the terminals  4 . 
         [0047]    The preceding section has described an embodiment of the Present Application. However, the Present Application is not limited to the embodiment described above, and a person of ordinary skill in the art may of course implement various modifications. 
         [0048]    For example, in the embodiment described above, the flat cable is sandwiched into the space between the cams  361 , which are part of the actuator  3 , and the terminals  4 . But conversely, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the terminals  4  may also be sandwiched into the space between the cams  361  and the flat cable. 
         [0049]    The intent of the Present Application is not to remove the metal beam supporting the actuator, but to further enhance pressure force on the actuator by combining a metal beam supporting the actuator with the configuration of the Present Application described above.