Patent Publication Number: US-7581983-B1

Title: Connector for flexible printed circuit board

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to a connector for a flexible printed circuit (FPC hereinafter for simplification) board, and more particularly to an FPC connector capable of receiving two FPC boards therein. 
   2. The Related Art 
   A traditional FPC connector includes an insulating housing defining a mouth, a plurality of terminals disposed in the insulating housing, and an actuator rotatably mounted to the mouth of the insulating housing so as to be opened or closed freely. After an FPC board is inserted into the mouth of the FPC connector, the actuator is rotated from an open position to a closed position so as to ensure an electrical connection between the FPC board and the terminals of the FPC connector. However, the traditional FPC connector can only receive one FPC board therein. With the development of electrical field, electrical products are gradually microminiaturized, thus an FPC connector capable of receiving two or more FPC boards therein is required. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a connector which can receive at least two flexible printed circuit boards therein. The connector includes an insulating housing defining a first mouth at a front thereof and a receiving recess behind the first mouth, a plurality of first terminals disposed in a front of the insulating housing and stretching into the first mouth, a first actuator rotatably mounted to the first mouth of the insulating housing, and a plurality of second terminals disposed in a rear of the insulating housing. The first mouth has a top and a front opened freely. The receiving recess is higher than the first mouth and has a front opened freely. Each of the second terminals has a second connecting arm at an upper portion thereof and a third connecting arm at a lower portion thereof. A free end of the second connecting arm protrudes downward to form a second contact portion and a free end of the third connecting arm protrudes upward to form a third contact portion. The second and third contact portions stretch into the receiving recess. Wherein one of the flexible printed circuit boards can be inserted into the first mouth and pressed downward by the first actuator to electrically contact the first terminals, the other flexible printed circuit board can be inserted into the receiving recess and clipped between the second and third connecting arms to electrically contact the second and third contact portions of the second terminals. 
   As described above, the foregoing connector can simultaneously receive two flexible printed circuit boards therein from the same direction such that can suffice a microminiaturization requirement with the development of electrical field. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an FPC connector in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the FPC connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an insulating housing of the FPC connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the FPC connector without a first actuator and a second actuator; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing that a first FPC board is inserted in the FPC connector; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing that both the first FPC board and a second FPC board are inserted in the FPC connector; and 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the FPC connector along line VII-VII of  FIG. 1 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   With reference to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 6 , an FPC connector  100  according to the present invention can receive a first FPC board  200  and a second FPC board  300  therein from a same direction and includes an insulating housing  1 , a plurality of first terminals  2 , a plurality of second terminals  3 , a first actuator  4 , a second actuator  5  and a pair of support members  13  disposed in the insulating housing  1  respectively. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the insulating housing  1  is substantially of rectangular shape. A top of the insulating housing  1  defines a rectangular first space  101  penetrating through a front and two opposite sides thereof, and a rectangular second space  102  connected with a rear top of the first space  101 . A bottom middle of the first space  101  extends downward to form a rectangular first mouth  11  having a front opened freely. A bottom of the first mouth  11  defines a plurality of first passageways  111  arranged at regular intervals along a transverse direction thereof and each extending longitudinally. A rear end of each first passageway  111  vertically extends to a rear of the first mouth  11  to form a first receiving cavity  112 , and a front end of each first passageway  111  extends downward to penetrate through the insulating housing  1  to form a first fixing cavity  113 . Two opposite sides of the first mouth  11  extend oppositely to form a pair of rectangular receiving grooves  114  extending longitudinally and having a front opened freely. Each of the receiving grooves  114  extends downward and then extends rearward to form an inserting groove  115 . A front end of the inserting groove  115  extends downward to penetrate through the insulating housing  1  to form a fixing groove  116 . 
   The top of the insulating housing  1  further defines a rectangular second mouth  12  penetrating through a rear thereof. A bottom middle of the second space  102  extends downward and then extends rearward to form a rectangular receiving recess  103  higher than the first mouth  11  and having a front communicating with the first space  101 . A top and a bottom of the receiving recess  103  respectively define a plurality of second passageways  121  arranged at regular intervals along a transverse direction thereof and each extending longitudinally to penetrate through a front of the second mouth  12  and communicate with the second mouth  12 . The front of the second mouth  12  further defines a plurality of second receiving cavities  122  each extending vertically to connect rear ends of the corresponding two second passageways  121 . A bottom of the second mouth  12  defines a plurality of third passageways  123  extending rearward from a bottom of the corresponding second receiving cavities  122 . A rear end of each third passageway  123  extends downward to penetrate through the insulating housing  1  to form a second fixing cavity  124 . Two opposite sides of the second mouth  12  extend oppositely to form a pair of second pivoting grooves  125  in a substantial middle and a pair of second locking grooves  126  opened freely at a rear thereof. Accordingly, a preventing wall  127  is formed between the second pivoting groove  125  and the corresponding second locking groove  126 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2  again, each of the support members  13  has a support bar  131  extending longitudinally. The support bar  131  protrudes upward to form a rectangular preventing block  132  on a substantial middle thereof and a fixing barb  134  at a rear thereof. The support bar  131  protrudes downward to form a soldering block  133  at a front thereof. 
   Each of the first terminals  2  has a rectangular base board  21  disposed vertically. A front edge of the base board  21  extends forward to form a first bearing arm  22  at top and a first connecting arm  23  longer than the first bearing arm  22  at bottom. A free end of the first bearing arm  22  protrudes downward to form a first interference portion  24 . The first connecting arm  23  protrudes upward to form a first contact portion  25  at a substantial middle thereof and extends downward to form a soldering portion  26  at a free end thereof. 
   Each of the second terminals  3  has a base portion  31  extending vertically. A front edge of the base portion  31  extends forward to form a second connecting arm  32  at top and a third connecting arm  33  shorter than the second connecting arm  32  at bottom. A rear edge of the base portion  31  extends rearward to form a second bearing arm  34  at top and a fourth connecting arm  35  longer than the second bearing arm  34  at bottom. A free end of the second connecting arm  32  protrudes downward to form a second contact portion  321  and a free end of the third connecting arm  33  protrudes upward to form a third contact portion  331 . A free end of the second bearing arm  34  protrudes downward to form a second interference portion  341 . A free end of the fourth connecting arm  35  extends downward to form a rectangular soldering board  351 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 7 , the first actuator  4  has a substantially rectangular first base body  41  disposed vertically. A bottom of the first base body  41  defines a plurality of first locating slots  43  penetrating from front to rear and arranged at regular intervals along a longwise direction thereof. Accordingly, a plurality of first prop beams  45  are formed under the respective first locating slots  43 . Two opposite sides of the first base body  41  protrude outward to form a pair of columned first piloting portions  42  at bottom and a pair of rectangular first locking blocks  44  at top. The second actuator  5  is substantially similar to the first actuator  4  and has a second base body  51 , a plurality of second locating slots  53 , a pair of columned second pivoting portions  52  and a pair of substantially rectangular second locking blocks  54 . A plurality of second prop beams  55  are formed under the respective second locating slots  53  and each have a substantially oval radial-section of which the major axis extends longitudinally to be perpendicular to the second base body  51  and the minor axis extends vertically. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 4-7 , in assembly, the support bar  131  of the support member  13  is inserted in the corresponding inserting groove  115  of the insulating housing  1  and the fixing barb  134  abuts against an inside of the inserting groove  115 . The soldering block  133  is received in the fixing groove  116  for being soldered to a printed circuit board (not shown). The preventing block  132  is positioned in the corresponding receiving groove  114  to divide the receiving groove  114  into a first locking groove  1141  at a front thereof and a first pivoting groove  1142  at a rear thereof. The base board  21  of each first terminal  2  is fastened in the corresponding first receiving cavity  112  and the first bearing arm  22  stretches into the first mouth  11 . The first connecting arm  23  is received in the respective first passageway  111  and the first contact portion  25  stretches into the first mouth  11 . The soldering portion  26  is inserted in the corresponding first fixing cavity  113  for being soldered to the printed circuit board. The first actuator  4  is rotatably mounted to the first mouth  11  of the insulating housing  1  so as to be opened or closed freely. The first piloting portions  42  are pivoted in the corresponding first pivoting grooves  1142 . The free end of the first bearing arm  22  is received in the corresponding first locating slot  43  and the first prop beam  45  is located under the respective first bearing arm  22  behind the corresponding first interference portion  24 , so the first actuator  4  can be prevented from falling off the insulating housing  1  while being opened or closed. 
   The base portion  31  of each of the second terminals  3  is fastened in the corresponding second receiving cavity  122  of the insulating housing  1  and the second bearing arm  34  stretches into the second mouth  12 . The second connecting arm  32  and the third connecting arm  33  are respectively received in the corresponding second passageways  121 , and the second contact portion  321  and the third contact portion  331  stretch into the receiving recess  103 . The fourth connecting arm  35  is received in the respective third passageway  123  and the soldering board  351  is inserted in the corresponding second fixing cavity  124  for being soldered to the printed circuit board. The second actuator  5  is rotatably mounted to the second mouth  12  of the insulating housing  1  so as to be opened or closed freely. The second piloting portions  52  are pivoted in the respective second pivoting grooves  125 . The free end of the second bearing arm  34  is received in the corresponding second locating slot  53  and the second prop beam  55  is located under the second bearing arm  34  in front of the corresponding second interference portion  321 , so the second actuator  5  can be prevented from falling off the insulating housing  1  while being opened or closed. 
   When the FPC connector  100  is used, on one hand, the first actuator  4  is opened rearward to make the first FPC board  200  inserted rearward into the first mouth  11  and located between the first bearing arms  22  and the first connecting arms  23  of the first terminals  2  to electrically contact the first contact portions  25 . Then the first actuator  4  is closed forward in the first mouth  11  to make the first base body  41  abut against the first FPC board  200  so as to ensure a steadily electrical connection between the first terminals  2  and the first FPC board  200 . Moreover, the first locking blocks  44  are buckled into the respective first locking grooves  1141  to make the first actuator  4  closed firmly and further ensure the first terminals  2  electrically contact the first FPC board  200  steadily. 
   On the other hand, the second actuator  5  is opened forward to make the second FPC board  300  inserted rearward into the receiving recess  103  and located between the second connecting arms  32  and the third connecting arms  33  of the second terminals  3  to electrically contact the second contact portions  321  and the third contact portions  331 . Then the second actuator  5  is closed rearward to make the second prop beams  55  push the corresponding second bearing arms  34  upward that drives the corresponding second connecting arms  32  to incline downward and further drives the second contact portions  321  to move downward due to a fulcrum function of the corresponding base portions  31 , so the second FPC board  300  can be tightly clipped between the second contact portions  321  and the third contact portions  331  so as to ensure a steadily electrical connection between the second terminals  3  and the second FPC board  300 . When the second actuator  5  is fully closed in the second mouth  12 , the second locking blocks  54  are buckled into the corresponding second locking grooves  126  to make the second actuator  5  closed firmly and further ensure the second terminals  3  electrically contact the second FPC board  300  steadily. 
   When the first FPC board  200  and the second FPC board  300  are to be withdrawn from the FPC connector  100 , firstly, the second actuator  5  is opened forward to drive the second prop beams  55  rotate to make the second bearing arms  34  move downward due to self-elasticity that further drives the second connecting arms  32  and the second contact portions  321  to move upward due to the fulcrum function of the corresponding base portions  31 . So when the second actuator  5  is fully opened, the second FPC board  300  can be easily withdrawn from the receiving recess  103 . Then, the first actuator  4  is opened rearward to make the first FPC board  200  withdrawn from the first mouth  11 . 
   As described above, the FPC connector  100  of the present invention can simultaneously receive the first FPC board  200  and the second FPC board  300  therein from the same direction such that can suffice a microminiaturization requirement with the development of electrical field.