Patent Publication Number: US-8123550-B2

Title: Connector having an operation lever and elastic nails

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a connector, particularly to a connector having a structure capable of temporarily holding a flexible print substrate to be electrically connected. 
     2. Related Art 
     Conventionally, as a connector, for example Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-277068 discloses a cable connector ( 1 ) having (a) a housing ( 11 ) including an insertion hole ( 13 ) into which a plate shape cable ( 101 ) is inserted, an upper part ( 15 ) defining an upper side of the insertion hole ( 13 ), and side parts ( 16 ) defining both sides of the insertion hole ( 13 ); (b) terminals ( 51 ,  61 ) loaded in the housing ( 11 ) and electrically connected to a conductive line ( 151 ) of the plate shape cable ( 101 ), and an engagement member ( 81 ); (c) the plate shape cable ( 101 ) including a locking projection ( 113 ); (d) the engagement member ( 81 ) including a locking protrusion ( 83   a ) to be engaged with the locking projection ( 113 ); wherein (e) at least part of an upper end surface ( 83   c ) of the engagement member ( 81 ) protrudes to an upper side of an upper surface ( 15   a ) of the upper part ( 15 ) when the locking protrusion ( 83   a ) is in contact with an upper surface of the locking projection ( 113 ), and is placed on an equal level or below the upper surface ( 15   a ) of the upper part ( 15 ) when the locking protrusion ( 83   a ) is engaged with the locking projection ( 113 ). 
     SUMMARY 
     However, in the above cable connector, as clear from  FIGS. 8 to 12  thereof, an inner beam portion  83  moving upward and downward is locked on a locking recess  112  of the plate shape cable  101  from an upper side so as to temporarily hold the plate shape cable. Therefore, it is not possible to confirm whether or not a distal end of the plate shape cable  101  is precisely placed at a predetermined position in the cable connector  1  from the outside, and thus inconvenience and erroneous connection may occur. 
     One or more embodiments of the present invention provides a connector capable of precisely and easily confirming whether or not a flexible print substrate to be electrically connected is placed at a predetermined position. 
     A connector according to one or more embodiments of the present invention includes a base having an opening formed on a front surface side into which a distal end of a flexible print substrate is insertable, and a plurality of insertion holes arranged side by side at a predetermined pitch passing through from the front surface side to a rear surface side, connection terminals respectively including substantially T shape operation pieces respectively having movable contacts formed at first ends in a protruding manner to be pressure-welded to connection portions arranged side by side in the distal end of the flexible print substrate, the connection terminals being adapted to be inserted into the insertion holes, and an operation lever supported on the rear surface side of the base turnably on a turning support point on an upper surface side of the connection terminals, the operation lever having cam portions capable of operating operation receiving portions placed at second ends of the operation pieces, the connector being adapted to temporarily hold the distal end of the flexible print substrate inserted from the opening of the base, and then hold the flexible print substrate by turning the operation lever and operating the connection terminals thereby pressure-welding the movable contacts of the connection terminals to the connection portions of the flexible print substrate, in which a pair of elastic nails to be elastically engaged from sides with cutouts provided in both side edges of the distal end of the flexible print substrate inserted from the opening of the base for temporarily holding the flexible print substrate is formed in a protruding manner inside the opening in the base, and inspection holes for visually checking outer circumferential edges of the elastic nails are formed on a top surface of the base. 
     According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the outer circumferential edges of the elastic nails elastically deformable sideward can be visually checked from the inspection holes. Therefore, by visually checking the elastic nails from the inspection holes, it is possible to easily and precisely confirm a positioning work on whether or not the elastic nails are engaged with the cutouts of the flexible print substrate so as to precisely and temporarily hold the flexible print substrate. 
     According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, axes of the elastic nails may be flush with an axis of the flexible print substrate. 
     Accordingly, distortion or the like is not generated in the elastic nails, and the elastic nails precisely and temporarily hold the flexible print substrate. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the connector with higher positioning accuracy. 
     According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, substantially U shape clearances in a plan view may be formed between opening edges of the inspection holes and the outer circumferential edges of the elastic nails except base parts. 
     Accordingly, by confirming whether or not there are the substantially U shape clearances in a plan view, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the flexible print substrate is precisely and temporarily held by the connector. Therefore, workability and reliability are improved. 
     According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the elastic nails may be formed in a sideward protruding manner on side surfaces of a support wall integrally formed so that the top surface is continuous to a bottom surface of the base. 
     Accordingly, the support wall supporting the elastic nails is integrally formed so that the top surface is continuous to the bottom surface of the base. Therefore, support strength of the elastic nails is enhanced, and the connector having high durability can be obtained. 
     According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, ribs not in contact with the elastic nails may be formed in a sideward protruding manner at least in outer parts of opposed side edges forming the opening edges of the inspection holes. 
     Accordingly, since the ribs can be extended to the vicinity of the outer circumferential edges of the elastic nails, a reinforcing effect can be obtained. Further, since the clearances formed between the opening edges of the inspection holes and the outer circumferential edges of the elastic nails can be reduced, intrusion of dust and the like can be prevented. 
     According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, step portions may be formed in areas on a lower side of the inspection holes. 
     Accordingly, even when the dust and the like intrude the inside from the inspection holes, the dust and the like can be discharged from clearances formed by the step portions to the outside. Therefore, contact reliability is improved. 
     A manufacturing method for a connector according to one or more embodiments of the present invention includes the step of making the inspection holes and the elastic nails forming the above base with upper and lower molds. 
     According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, since the inspection holes and the elastic nails can be formed by the upper and lower molds, manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since the number of manufacturing process is small, there is an effect that the manufacturing method for the connector with high productivity can be obtained. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are perspective views showing a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention before and after operation; 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  are perspective view showing the connector shown in  FIG. 1  before and after the operation seen from different angles; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are perspective views of a connection terminal shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; 
         FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C are plan views showing steps of connecting a flexible print substrate to the connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  7 C are sectional views showing the steps of connecting the flexible print substrate to the connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 8A ,  8 B and  8 C are sectional views showing a state that the flexible print substrate is connected to the connector of  FIG. 1  mounted on a surface of a print substrate; 
         FIGS. 9A and 9B  are a plan view and a plan sectional view, respectively, showing a state that the flexible print substrate is connected to the connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 10A and 10B  are a plan view and a plan sectional view, respectively, showing a state that a different flexible print substrate is connected to the connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 11A and 11B  are a plan view and a plan sectional view, respectively, showing a state that the flexible print substrate is imprecisely connected to the connector of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 12  is a plan view showing a state that the flexible print substrate is connected to a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of a connector according to the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 12 . In embodiments of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the invention. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 11 , a connector  10  according to a first embodiment broadly includes a base  11 , connection terminals  30 , and an operation lever  40 . The connector  10  is for electrically connecting a flexible print substrate  50  to another print substrate  55  (refer to  FIG. 8 ). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the base  11  has a plurality of insertion holes  13  arranged side by side at a predetermined pitch passing through from an opening  12  on a front surface side to a rear surface side. A guide receiving portion  14  with a substantially C shape section for guiding the flexible print substrate  50  inserted from the opening  12  is formed in a protruding manner on the front surface side. The guide receiving portion  14  has tapered surfaces  15  respectively formed on opposed opening inner edges thereof. Fixing fittings  16  with substantially L shape sections are press-fitted and fixed to the outside of the guide receiving portion  14  for preventing uplift of the base  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the base  11  has elastic arms  17  extending in parallel on the rear surface side from edges of both side end surfaces thereof. In inward surfaces of the elastic arms  17 , guide tapered surfaces  18  are respectively formed at distal end edges on the inner side and bearing recesses  19  are respectively formed on the far side. Further, the base  11  has a guide plate  20  extending in parallel between the edge on a lower side of the rear surface and the elastic arms  17 . Guide grooves  21  communicating with the insertion holes  13  are formed in the guide plate  20 . Press-fitting ribs  22  are formed in a sideward protruding manner along the guide grooves  21  so as to be placed on the obliquely upper side of the guide grooves  21 . 
     Further, the base  11  has inspection holes  23  respectively formed in the vicinity of both ends of a flat surface thereof for visually checking elastic nails  24 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the inspection holes  23  are shaped so that outer circumferential edges of the elastic nails  24  except base parts of the elastic nails  24  can be visually checked and locking corner portions  54  of the flexible print substrate  50  described later can be also visually checked. Particularly, since substantially U shape clearances are formed between the inspection holes  23  and the elastic nails  24 , it is possible to precisely recognize positions of the elastic nails  24  and thus a position of the flexible print substrate  50  based on shapes of the clearances. As shown in  FIGS. 8B and 8C , the base parts of the elastic nails  24  extend from side surfaces of a support wall  25  formed so that a top surface of the base  11  is continuous to a bottom surface to the front surface side. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the elastic nails  24  having high support strength. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8A , the base  11  has ribs  26   a  and  26   b  extending inward from the opposed side edges of peripheral edges of the inspection holes  23  provided on the top surface. Particularly, the rib  26   a  placed on the outer side can prevent intrusion of dust and the like and has a position and a shape so as not to be in contact with the elastic nails even when the elastic nails  24  are elastically deformed outward. 
     Further, shallow step portions  27  are formed in areas on a lower side of the elastic nails  24  on the bottom surface of the base  11 . Therefore, clearances  28  are formed between a surface of the print substrate  55  on which the base  11  of the connector  10  according to one or more embodiments of the present invention is mounted and bottom surfaces of the step portions  27  of the base  11 . As a result, for example, there is an advantage that the dust and the like can be discharged from the clearances  28  to the outside even when the dust and the like intrude the inside from the inspection holes  23 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , each of the connection terminals  30  has a first end (one distal end)  31  provided with an engagement protrusion being insertable from the guide groove  21  of the base  11  into the insertion hole  13 , a substantially T shape operation piece  33  having a support portion  32  formed in a protruding manner from an intermediate portion thereof, and a locking nail  35  provided in a lower edge of a second end (the other distal end)  34 . A movable contact  36  protrudes downward from a first end of the operation piece  33 , and a second end thereof serves as an operation receiving portion  37 . Further, the connection terminal  30  has a slip-out nail  38  protruding in the plate thickness direction from a base part of the support portion  32 . A turning receiving portion  39  is formed between the second end  34  and the slip-out nail  38 . 
     When the connection terminals  30  are slid and moved along the guide grooves  21  of the base  11  and inserted into the insertion holes  13 , the slip-out nails  38  are locked on the press-fitting ribs  22 . Further, when the connection terminals  30  are press-fitted, the locking nails  35  are locked on a lower edge of the base  11  and placed at predetermined positions. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the operation lever  40  has turning shaft portions  41 ,  41  formed in a protruding manner on the same axis on both side end surfaces. The operation lever  40  has cam portions  42  (refer to  FIG. 7 ) arranged side by side at a predetermined pitch on an edge on one side for operating the operation receiving portions  37  of the connection terminals  30 , and through holes  43  arranged side by side at positions corresponding to the cam portions  42  into which the operation receiving portions  37  are insertable are arranged. 
     The operation receiving portions  37  of the connection terminals  30  are inserted into the through holes  43  of the operation lever  40 , the operation lever  40  is slid along upper surfaces of the connection terminals  30 , and the operation receiving portions  37  are pushed up and pushed in while being elastically deformed with the cam portions  42 . Thereby, the cam portions  42  are fitted to the turning receiving portions  39  of the connection terminals  30 , and the turning shaft portions  41  are fitted to the bearing recesses  19  of the base  11 . Thus, the operation lever  40  is turnably supported. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the flexible print substrate  50  to be electrically connected has a plurality of connection portions  52  arranged side by side on a surface of a distal end lined with a reinforcing plate  51 . Engagement cutouts  53  are provided on both side edges of the distal end so as to bring out locking corner portions  54 . 
     Next, a method of connecting and fixing the flexible print substrate  50  to the connector  10  mounted on the surface of the print substrate  55  will be described (refer to  FIGS. 6 and 7 ). 
     Firstly, the distal end of the flexible print substrate  50  is inserted from the opening  12  on the front surface side of the base  11 , and the elastic nails  24  are elastically deformed outward and engaged with the engagement cutouts  53  so as to temporarily hold the flexible print substrate  50 . At this time, in a case where the distal end is precisely inserted into a predetermined position, not only the locking corner portions  54  of the flexible print substrate  50  but also the clearances formed by the outer circumferential edges of the elastic nails  24  except the base parts and the inspection holes  23  can be visually checked from the inspection holes  23  as shown in  FIG. 9 . Thus, it is possible to confirm precise positioning. 
     When the operation lever  40  is turned and pushed down relative to the axis of the turning shaft portions  41 , the cam portions  42  simultaneously push up the operation receiving portions  37  of the connection terminals  30  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Therefore, the substantially T shape operation pieces  33  tilt with the support portions  32  as support points, the distal end of the flexible print substrate  50  is nipped by the movable contacts  36  and the first ends  31 , and the movable contacts  36  pressure-welded and conducted to the connection portions  52 . 
     Even when size of the engagement cutouts  53  of the flexible print substrate  50  varies, for example when the engagement cutouts  53  are excessively large as shown in  FIG. 10 , with engagement cutouts  53  being precisely placed at a predetermined position, it is possible to easily and precisely perform determination based on the shapes of the clearances formed by the inspection holes  23  and the elastic nails  24 . 
     Particularly, when the light is shed from a lower side of the print substrate  55 , there is an advantage that a positioning state of the flexible print substrate  50  can be more clearly determined by distinguishing the shapes of the clearances through which the light passes. 
     Even when the flexible print substrate  50  is imprecisely inserted, the locking corner portions  54  of the flexible print substrate  50  are partially in contact with the elastic nails  24  as shown in  FIG. 11 , and the substantially U shape clearances formed by the outer circumferential edges of the elastic nails  24  and the opening edges of the inspection holes  23  cannot be visually checked. Thus, precision or imprecision positioning can be recognized at a glance. 
     It should be noted that the inspection holes  23  are not limited to the above shapes but may have substantially uniform dimension overall as in a second embodiment shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, there is an advantage that the locking corner portions  54  of the flexible print substrate  50  can be clearly visually checked so that a confirmation work is more easily performed. 
     The connector according to one or more embodiments of the present invention is not limited to the above connector but, as a matter of course, may be applied to other connectors. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.