Patent Publication Number: US-7905747-B2

Title: FPC joining connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a joining connector for providing connection between flat printed circuit cables. 
     Conventionally, there are “relay” connectors that permit connection between two flat cables, often referred to as a flexible printed circuit (FPC) or a flexible flat cable (FFC), this is shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open (kokai) No. 9-185977).  FIG. 16  is an exploded view of a conventional relay connector. 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , the relay connector has an insulative housing  301  and a plurality of conductive terminals  302 , and are held by the housing  301 . The terminals  302  are respectively provided with fixing parts  304  that are press-fit into holes of the housing  301 . Each terminal  302  has contact parts  303  in the shape of a cantilever that extend in opposite directions so that flat cables  306  may be inserted into the mouth of both contact parts  303 . 
     Pressure receiving parts  307  extend upward and are connected to the terminals near the bases of the contact parts  303 . A pressure shaft  311  is connected to the lower end of a lock lever  310  and is inserted into space between the two pressure  307 . The lock lever  310  is rotatably mounted on the housing  301 , and is rotated 90 degrees about the shaft  311 . The shaft  311  is of substantially rectangular cross section, and a longitudinal axis of the rectangle extends vertically as viewed in  FIG. 16 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 16 , the lock lever  310  stands upright to allow the flat cables  306  to be inserted from two sides into the contact parts  303 . After inserting the two flat cables  306 , the lock lever  310  is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise, so that the right and left pressure receiving parts  307  are forced apart from one another by the pressure shaft  311 . The tips of the contact parts  303  move downward to pinch and lock the flat cables  306  from above, and they contact the leads of the flat cables  306  to electrically connect the right and left flat cables  306 . 
     Such a conventional relay connector has a complicated configuration because the terminals  302  and bilaterally symmetrical and are securely mounted on the single housing  301 , with the flat cables  306  inserted from the sides. Therefore, the structure of a mold for forming the housing  301  must be complicated and increases the manufacturing cost. The right and left contact parts  303  are operated simultaneously by the single lock lever  310 , so it is necessary to simultaneously insert the right and left flat cables  306 . It is not easy to insert the flat cables  306  in the proper attitudes at the same time, which affects the connecting reliability. Furthermore, the connector cannot be carried and moved to a place where the other flat cable  306  is prepared for connection. This lowers the degree of freedom of the operation for connecting the flat cables  306 , resulting in lowering of the operability. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a general object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problem encountered by the conventional relay connector. This is accomplished by providing a joining or relay connector configured to have a pair of housings, a pair of actuators, and terminals all of a common design, while allowing each actuator to be operated independently. The structures of respective components is simple, the manufacturing of the respective parts and components is simplified, and the assembly of the parts and components is made easy so as to achieve a high mass producability while permitting individual connections of flat cables to ensure a high operability of connecting operation. 
     To this end, a joining or relay connector according to the present invention includes: (i) a pair of housings each having an insertion opening formed therein; (ii) terminals that are commonly loaded into the housings; and, (iii) a pair of actuators secured to the housings that are movable between a first position that permits insertion of a flat cable and a second position that presses the flat cable against the terminal contacts. Such a connector permits the housings to be connected to each other so that the insertion openings are opposite each other and the contact portions are interconnected with each other. 
     In a relay connector according to one embodiment of the present invention, the respective housings have the same structure, and the respective actuators have the same structure. 
     In a relay connector of the present invention, the terminals are bilaterally symmetrical around a center line. 
     In a relay connector of the present invention, the housings are at least partially connected together by the terminals. 
     In a relay connector of the present invention, the housings are at least partially connected to each other by connecting members. 
     In a relay connector of the present invention, each housing is provided with a projecting connecting member formed on a side thereof opposite to the insertion opening, as well as a recess part that receives the connecting member therein. The connecting member and recess part are disposed outwardly to the sides of the array of terminals arranged in the housing. 
     In a relay connector of the present invention, each housing is provided with an engaging part formed on a side opposite to the insertion opening, and the connecting member is provided with an engagement part in the form of a hook for engaging the opposing housing recess. 
     In a relay connector of the present invention, the respective actuators are independently movable, and each includes a body part that lies substantially parallel to the inserted flat cable when the actuator is in its second position. 
     In a relay connector of the present invention, each actuator includes an operation part formed eccentrically in the body part. 
     In a relay connector of the present invention, a cover member is provided that covers the middle portions of the terminals. This cover member is engaged with the connecting members. 
     The connectors of the present invention include a pair of the housings, a pair of the actuators, and terminals supported by the housings. The actuators are independent in their movement. Thus, the respective members are simple in structure thereof and easy to manufacture. This leads to easy assembly and easy mass production. The flat cables can be connected independently, increasing the operability of connecting operation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view showing a disassembled state of a connector of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the connector  FIG. 1  assembled together with the actuators in an open position; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2  taken along line A-A thereof; 
         FIG. 4  is the same view as  FIG. 2  but showing the actuators in the closed position; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 4  taken along line B-B thereof; 
         FIGS. 6A to 6C  are perspective views showing assembly processes of the connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are perspective views showing another assembly process of the connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of a connector of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the connector of  FIG. 8  assembled together and in which the actuators are in an open position; 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 9  taken along line C-C thereof; 
         FIG. 11  is the same view of  FIG. 9 , but with the actuators in a closed position; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 11  taken along line D-D thereof; 
         FIGS. 13A to 13C  are perspective views showing an assembly process of the connector of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIGS. 14A to 14C  are perspective views showing a subsequent assembly process of the connector of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view showing an assembly process of the connector of the second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view of a conventional relay connector. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference numeral  10  designates a relay or joining connector constructed according to the first preferred embodiment, which is used to provide an electrical connection between two flat cables  51  called flexible printed circuits (FPC) or flexible flat cables (FFC), or the like or any type of flat cable provided with conductive leads. The expressions indicating the directions, such as up, down, left, right, front, and rear, which are used to describe the constructions and operations of the parts of the connector  10 , are relative rather than absolute. 
     The connector  10  includes a pair of housings  31 , a pair of actuators  11 , and common terminals  41 . The housings  31  are formed of an insulative material such as synthetic resin, and function as the connector body. The right and left housings  31  are of the same structure and are connected together back-to-back as shown. The actuators  11  are formed of an insulative material and function as a movable member that securely fixes the cables. The actuators  11  are mounted for rotation on the housings  31 , respectively. Each actuator  11  is disposed in the housing  31  so that it may move between an opened position as its first position, and a closed position as its second position. The terminals  41  are formed of a conductive material and are provided to be common to both of the housings  31  when assembled, as well held by the housings  31 . That is, the respective terminals  41  have bilaterally symmetrical configuration, with right and left portions thereof being disposed in the right and left housings  31 . 
     Each housing  31  is formed in a shape of a thin rectangular box, and has a lower part  32 , an upper part  35 , and an insertion opening  33 , through which the end of the flat cable  51  is inserted from front. The opening is located between the lower part  32  and the upper part  35 . The insertion opening  33  includes a plurality of terminal receiving grooves  34 , into which the terminals  41  are located. For example, thirteen terminal receiving grooves  34  are formed at a pitch of about 0.5 [mm]. The number and the pitch of the terminal receiving grooves  34  may be suitably changed. Some of the terminals  41  may be omitted as required depending upon the array of the conductive leads of the flat cable  51 . 
     Each terminal receiving groove  34  has the form of a substantially linear through-hole, which is defined by the upper part  35  and an upper shoulder portion  35   a  and the lower part  32  and a lower shoulder portion  32   a  that constitute ceiling and floor surfaces, respectively. A body part  42  of each terminal  41  is also formed substantially rectangular and, from which a projection  42   a  extends. A lower arm beam  43  and an upper arm beam  44  are formed at the tip of the body part  42 , and either have the same vertical width dimension as the body part  42  or are formed smaller than the vertical width dimension. The body parts  42  are connected together by a central connecting part  48  that maintains the bilateral symmetry. Each terminal  41  may be inserted up to the shoulder portions  35   a  and  32   a  ( FIG. 3 ), without abutment of the respective projections  42   a  against the ceiling surface, and as soon as the projections  42   a  arrive at the shoulder portions  35   a  and  32   a , the projections  42   a  are blocked and securely fixed to the housings  31 . 
     Thus, the shape of the housings  31  is simplified by forming the terminal-receiving grooves  43  as substantially linear through-holes. The gates of a mold for molding the housing  31  can be fewer, enabling the mold to be constructed without complexity. Further, the loading and fixing of the terminals to the housings  31  as well as connecting the housings  31  together can be achieved only by a linear one-way manual operation, facilitating assembly operation. 
     Auxiliary metallic bracket fitting grooves  36 , ( FIG. 2 ) into which stoppers  21  are fitted, are formed at locations in both sides of the lower part  32  of each housing  31  and are preferably adjacent to the sidewalls. The stoppers  21  may be metal brackets, one each, and are fitted into the auxiliary grooves  36  on both sides. The stoppers  21  prevent the actuators  11  from being disengaged from their housings  31 . Each of the stoppers  21  is provided with an ear holding recess part  22  that is recessed downward from an upper edge. Therefore, positioning and withdrawal avoidance of the flat cables  51  is achieved attained by holding ear parts  52  of the flat cables  51 , in the ear holding recess parts  22 . Engaging projections  36   a  project inwards and are formed on the sidewalls above the auxiliary fitting grooves  36 . The engaging projections  36   a  come into engagement with side projections  16  of the actuators  11  when closed, and hold the actuators  11  closed. 
     Each housing  31  further has a connecting arm  37  as a connecting member that extends backward from adjacent to one sidewall at the rear face. Each housing also has a location adjacent to the other sidewall at the rear face, a connecting arm holding recess  38  as a holding recess part, into which the connecting arm  37  of the opposing housing  31  is inserted. An engaging projection  37   a  (hook) projecting upward is formed at a free end of the connecting arm  37 , so as to be engaged with an engaging recess portion  38   a  formed within the connecting arm holding recess  38 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 2 , with the two housings  31  connected back to back, each of the arms  37  is held within the objective connecting arm holding recess  38 , and the engaging projection  37   a  is engaged with the engaging recess portion  38   a , so that the two housings  31  are secured together. 
     Each actuator  11  is a substantially rectangular thick plate member, and has a body part  15  that is manually operated by an operator, and side projections  16  projecting from the opposite sidewalls of the body part  15 . The actuator  11  has a pressing part  14 , which, when the actuator  11  is closed, the flat cable  51  inserted therein is pressed downward toward the lower arm beams  43  of the terminals  41 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the pressing part  14  of the actuator permits insertion of the flat cable  51  when the actuator  11  is open. The end of this pressing part  14  has holding holes  12  for holding the upper arm beams  44  of the terminals  41 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , actuator shafts  17  are engaged with bearing parts  44   a  of the upper arm beams  44  within the holding holes  12 . Each actuator  11  is secured along a front side edge of the housing upper part  35 . When the actuator  11  is closed, it covers the area of the lower part  32  that projects forward from the housing upper part  35 . When the actuator  11  is open, as shown in  FIG. 2 , it opens above the area of the lower part  32  that projects ahead of the upper part  35 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , each terminal  41  is symmetrical with respect to a line orthogonal (or vertical) to a longitudinal direction, namely bilaterally symmetrical, and is provided with the body parts  42  on its right and left sides. Both body parts  42  are held within the opposing housings  31 , and are further connected to each other by their center connecting part  48 . The upper and lower ends of the body parts  42  are sandwiched between (vertically) by the surfaces constituting the ceiling surfaces and the floor surfaces of the terminal receiving grooves  34 . Additionally, the terminal projections  42   a  projecting upward from the upper ends of the body parts  42  grip part of the ceiling surfaces of the terminal receiving grooves  34 . This fact further enhances the connecting state between the body parts  42  and the housing  31 . 
     The upper arm beams  44  and the lower arm beams  43  of the terminals  41  extend toward the front sides of the housings  31  from the body parts  42 , and the rear ends of the upper arm beams  44  and the lower arm beams  43  are connected together by the body parts  42 , so that they have a substantially U-shape or C-shape member opening, and are held in the terminal-receiving grooves  34 . Each flat cable  51  is inserted into a space between the corresponding upper and the lower arm beams  43  and  44 . 
     The lower arm beams  43  functions as a contact portion that connects to the conductive lead of the flat cable  51 , and the contact portion  43   a  projects upward at the tip of the lower arm beam  43 . When no flat cable  51  is inserted the lower arm beams  43  are resilient and are slightly obliquely upward so that the lower ends at the terminal tips are above the floor surfaces of the terminal receiving grooves  34 . 
     The bearing parts  44   a  that are formed near the tips of the upper arm beams  44  enter into the holes  12  of the actuators  11  and limit the upward movements of the shafts  17 . The lower surfaces of the bearing parts  44   a  contact the shafts  17 . The shapes of cross sections of the bearing parts  44   a  are preferably irregular. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , when the actuators  11  are open, the space above the areas of the lower parts  32  of the housings  31  is open, and accordingly smooth insertion of the ends of the flat cables  51  into the openings  33  is permitted. The space between the upper arm beams  44  and the lower arm beams  43  can be wide enough for permitting the flat cables  51  to be inserted with little or no contact pressure from the contact parts  43   a . This creates a substantially ZIF (zero insertion force) structure. 
       FIG. 4  shows the actuator in the closed position thereof. Each of the flat cables  51  has a plurality of conductive leads arranged side by side at a predetermined pitch, for example, about 0.5 mm, and disposed on an insulating layer. Another insulating layer overlies and covers the conductive leads. At the end of the flat cable  51 , the upper surfaces of the conductive leads are exposed over a predetermined range of length. In  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the conductive leads are exposed on the lower surface of the flat cable  51 . An auxiliary plate  53  of increased thickness is provided at the end portions of the cables  51 . The auxiliary plate  53  is formed of a material with a relatively high hardness, such as polyimide, extends over a predetermined lengthwise range, and over the entire width of the flat cable  51 . Ear parts  52  are formed on both sides of the flat cable  51  and project outward. 
     When connecting the flat cables  51  to the connector  10 , the ends of the flat cables  51  are inserted into the insertion openings  33  of the housings  31 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the actuators  11  are open. The operator then inserts the ends of the cables  51  into the openings  33 . The flat cables  51  are moved in while the auxiliary plates  53  face upwardly, and the surfaces of the flat cables  51  that have the conductive leads exposed thereon face downwardly. 
     The tip ends of the cables  51  are then inserted into the space between the upper arm beams  44  and the lower arm beams  43  of the terminals  41  held in the terminal-receiving grooves  34 . The ear parts  52  of each flat cable  51  are inserted into the ear holding recess parts  22  of both stoppers  21  in the auxiliary bracket fitting grooves  36  to complete the insertion of the flat cables  51 . 
     Subsequently, the operator manually operates the actuators  11  into their closed position ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ). The left actuator  11  as viewed in  FIG. 3  moves counterclockwise, while the actuator  11  moves clockwise. 
     The actuator pressing parts  14  are rotated to face down, so that they are nearly parallel to the insertion direction of the flat cables  51  ( FIG. 5 ). The pressing parts  14  abut against the upper surfaces of the auxiliary plates  53 , and apply a downward force to press the flat cables  51  against the lower arm beams  43  of the terminals  41 . The conductive leads of the flat cables  51  contact with terminal contact portions  43  to connect the cable and terminals together. It should be appreciated that the lower beams  43  have resiliency and therefore are resiliently deformed due to a pressure exerted by the flat cables when the latter is pressed, and maintain a good connection between the conductive leads and the contact parts  43   a.    
     When the actuators  11  are closed, the ends of the flat cables  51  are entirely covered with the body parts  15  and the whole of the end portions of the flat cables  51  is held against any upward movement. This eliminates disengagement of the ear parts  52  of the flat cables  51  from the ear holding recess parts  22 . Therefore, if the flat cables  51  are subjected to a force in the opposite direction of the direction of insertion, the flat cables  51  are prevented from being disengaged from the insertion openings  33  by engagements of the ear parts  52  with their corresponding holding recess parts  22 . 
     Thus, when the flat cables  51  are connected together by inserting them from the insertion openings  33  of the connector  10 , the conductive leads of the respective flat cables  51  and the terminals  41  can be electrically connected to each other, so that the conductive leads of the both flat cables  51  are eventually electrically connected to one another. 
     In the connector  10  of the first embodiment, both of the actuators  11  can be independently operated, i.e., they can individually change from an open to a closed position. Hence, after connecting one of the flat cables  51  to the connector  10  in the above-mentioned manner, the other flat cable  51  can be connected to the connector  10  in the same manner. Hence, the operator is able to reliably connect the flat cables  51  to the connector  10  without failure, thereby improving easiness, reliability, and speediness of connecting operation. Furthermore, one flat cable  51  and the other flat cable  51  can be connected to the connector  10  at times or different operation sites, thereby increasing the degree of freedom of connecting operation. 
     The description of operation of assembling the above-mentioned connector  10  will be provided hereinbelow. 
     As in  FIG. 6A , the terminals  41  are inserted into the terminal-receiving grooves  34  of one housing  31  from the rear face thereof. Specifically, the body part  42 , the upper arm beam  44 , and the lower arm beam  43  of the terminals  41  are initially inserted and fitted into the corresponding terminal receiving groove  34  of such one of the housings  31 . The upper end and the lower end of the inserted body part  42  are sandwiched and secured vertically by the ceiling surface and the floor surface of the terminal-receiving groove  34 . The projection  42   a  grips a part of the ceiling surface of the terminal-receiving groove  34  so that the body part  42  and the housing  31  are surely connected together. Hence, loading of the first one of the terminals  41  into the terminal receiving groove  34  is completed. Repeating a similar operation with respect to all of the remaining terminals  41  completes secure fitting of all of the terminals  41  into one of the housings  31 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6B , the other housing  31  is then secured to the terminals  41  securely fitted into the one housing  31 . Specifically, all of the body parts  42 , the upper arm beams  44  and the lower arm beams  43  of all of the terminals  41  on the other side are simultaneously inserted from the rear face side of the other housing  31  into all corresponding terminal-receiving grooves  34 . All the upper ends and the lower ends of the terminal body parts  42  are sandwiched between the ceiling surfaces and the floor surfaces of the terminal-receiving grooves  34 , to thereby surely connect the body parts  42  and the other housing  31 . 
     The connecting arms  37  of both housings  31  are then inserted into the connecting arm holding recess  38  of the opposite housing  31 . Then the engaging projections  37   a  of the connecting arms  37  are engaged with the engaging recess portion  38   a  in the connecting arm holding recess  38 . Thus, the secure fitting of all of the terminals  41  into the other housing  31 , and the interconnection of the two housings  31  is completed. 
     A pair of actuators  11  are next mounted on the two housings  31  ( FIG. 6 ). The actuators  11  are shifted from the front of the housings  31  toward the front side edge of the upper part  35 , so that the upper arm beams  44  of the terminals  41  are inserted into the holding holes  12  of the respective actuators  11 , and so that the actuator shafts  17  are shifted below the bearing parts  44   a  of the upper arm beams  44 . This completes the mounting of the actuators  11  onto the housings  31 . The actuators  11  may be sequentially fit to the housing one by one. The actuators  11  so mounted are in the close position thereof. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7A , the stoppers  21  are loaded into the auxiliary bracket fitting grooves  36  of the housings  31 . The stoppers  21  are press-fit into the auxiliary bracket fitting grooves  36  from the front of the housings  31 . The upper surfaces of the stoppers  21  abut against the lower surfaces of both side ends of the actuators  11 , so that an upward force is applied to the actuators  11 . As a result, the shafts  17  of the actuators  11  are engaged with the bearing parts  44   a  of the upper arm beams  44 . Thus, the mounted actuators  11  are prevented from being disengaged from the housings  31 . 
     Therefore, the structures of the housings  31  and the actuators  11  can be simplified facilitating easy manufacturing and easy assembly. 
     The housings  31  have the same structure, and the actuators  11  also have the same structure, and the terminals  41  are of bilaterally symmetrical shape. To this end, manufacturing of a mere single type of the housings  31 , a mere single type of the actuators  11 , and a mere single of the terminals  41  is permitted while facilitating easy manufacture of every part of the connector  10  and lowering of the manufacturing cost. 
     The housings  31  are interconnected with each other so that the insertion openings  33  open toward opposite directions. This permits the butt connection of the two flat cables  51 . 
     The housings  31  are connected by the terminals  41  and the connecting arms  37 , so that the right and left housings  31  are reliably connected. 
     The lower arm beams  43  are connected to each other. This enables a single terminal  41  to provide reliable connection of the leads of the flat cables  51  inserted into the insertion openings  33  from the right and left sides. 
     The actuators  11  can change their respective positions independently, allowing the flat cables  51  to be connected one by one to the connector  10 . This improves easiness, sureness and quickness of connecting operation, and also enhances the degree of freedom of connecting operation. 
     A second embodiment of the present invention will now be discussed. 
     Reference numeral  60  generally designates a connector of the present invention, which is used to provide connection between flat cables  51 . This second connector  60  has a pair of housings  81 , a pair of actuators  61 , and common terminals  91 . The housings  81  are insulative and have the same structure and are connected together back-to-back. The actuators  61  are formed of an insulative material, and function as movable members to secure the cables. The actuators  61  are movably mounted on each of the housings  81 . Each actuator  61  is disposed in the corresponding housing  81  so as to move between an open (first) position, and a closed (second) position. The terminals  91  are integrally formed of a conductive material and are common to both housings  81 , and are securely held by the housings  81 . The terminals  91  are also bilaterally symmetrical and, the right and left portions thereof are disposed in the right and left housings  81 , respectively. 
     Each of the housings  81  is formed in a shape like a rectangular thin box, and has a lower part  82 , an upper part  85 , and an insertion opening  83 , through which the end of the flat cable  51  is inserted from the front  85 . The insertion opening  83  has a plurality of terminal receiving grooves  84 , each of which holds a terminal  91 . The terminals  91  are loaded, one after another, into the terminal-receiving grooves  84 . The number and the pitch of the terminal receiving grooves  84  may be suitably changed. The terminals  91  are not necessarily required to be loaded into each of the terminal receiving grooves  84 . Some of the terminals  91  might be omitted appropriately depending on the array of the conductive leads of the flat cables  51 . 
     Auxiliary walls  86  extend upward from both sides of the lower part  82  and are formed inside of the sidewalls on both sides of each housing  81  and are located at positions in the vicinity of the rear face of the housing  81 . An auxiliary bracket receiving groove  86   a  is formed as a slit-shaped engaging part between each auxiliary wall  86  and the corresponding sidewall. Stoppers  71  in the form of auxiliary metallic brackets are loaded, one by one, into the auxiliary bracket-receiving grooves  86   a  on both sides. Each stopper  71  has connecting engagement parts  72  on both ends in a lengthwise direction, respectively, and has a cover engaging part  73  in the middle part in the lengthwise direction. The stoppers  71  prevent the actuators  61 , once secured to the housings  81  from being disengaged from the housings  81 , and prevent the cover member  75  secured to the two connected housings  81  from being disengaged. The stoppers  71  further function as a connecting member for connecting the two housings  81 . The stoppers  71  prevent disengagement of the cover member  75  by virtue of cover engaging parts  73  that abut against the upper surfaces of projections  76  and engage of the same cover engaging parts  73  with the upper surfaces of the projections  76  provided on the cover member  75 . The stoppers  71  prevent the two housings  81  from being disconnected from each other by engagements of connecting engagement parts  72  with the ends of the auxiliary walls  86  of both housings  81 . 
     Each actuator  61  has a body part  65  that is a substantially rectangular thick plate member, with an operation part  66  that is expanded from the body part  65  formed to enable the operator&#39;s finger and hand to be easily engaged therewith. The operation parts  66  are dislocated from the central position in a direction of width of the body part  65 , namely they are eccentrically formed. Thus, when the two actuators  61  are closed, the operation parts  66  are spaced apart from each other, enhancing the operability through the operator&#39;s finger and hand. The actuator  61  has, at the end on the side opposite to the operation part  66 , a plurality of holding holes  62  for holding actuating levers  94   b  of the upper arm beams  94  of the terminals  91 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , shafts  67  engaged with the actuating levers  94   b  of the upper arm beams  94  are formed within the holding holes  62 . The actuators  61  are secured along a rear side edge of the upper parts  85  of the housings  81 . When the actuators  61  are closed, they cover the areas of the lower parts  82  which project backward past the upper parts  85 . When they are opened, as shown in  FIG. 10 , they keep open the areas of the lower parts  82  which project forward than the upper parts  85 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , each terminal  91  is bilaterally symmetrical, and provided with the body parts  92  on the right and left sides, respectively. Both of the body parts  92  are held within both housings  81 , and are connected to be integrated with each other by a connecting part  98 . 
     Lower arm beams  93  extend forward of the housings  81  from the body parts  92 . Disposed above the lower beams  93  are upper arm beams  94  that are connected via connecting beams  95  to the lower arm beams  93 , and extend parallel with the lower arm beams  93 . The upper arm beams  94 , the lower arm beams  93 , and the connecting beam  95  are of substantially H-shape, and are held within the terminal receiving grooves  84 . Each cable  51  is inserted from the front into a space between the upper arm beams  94  and the lower arm beams  93 . 
     Each lower arm beam  93  has a tip projection  93   c , a cable supporting part  93   a  that projects upward near the tip and backward of the tip projection  93   c , and a bearing part  93   b  connected to the body part  92  and located at the rear end. The terminals  91  may be secured to the housings  81  by allowing a substantially linear lower end of the lower arm beams  93  to come into abutting contact against the floor surfaces of the terminal receiving grooves  84 , and allow the tip projections  93   c  to fit into recess parts formed in the front end walls of the terminal receiving grooves  84 , and also allow projections  92   a  that project forward from shoulder parts of the body parts  92  to grip part of the surfaces of the shoulder parts of the terminal receiving grooves  84 . 
     Thus, with the shape in which a shoulder portion  82   a  and a recess part  82   b  are formed in an opposite direction of the insertion openings  83 , and the terminal receiving grooves  84  are substantially linearly formed, the shape of the housings  81  is simplified. The gating directions of a mold for forming the housings  81  can be reduced, resulting in preventing the metallic mold from becoming complicated. 
     The terminal body parts  92  are connected bilaterally symmetrically and linearly by the connecting parts  98 , and the upper arm beams  94  and the lower arm beams  93  that are formed ahead of the connecting parts  98  are disposed in a direction of assembly of the pair of the housings  81 , thereby facilitating assembly operation of the housings  81 . Further, the two body parts  92  can be secured so as to be sandwiched by the shoulder portion  82   a  of both housings  81 , and the opposite projections  93   c  of the respective terminals  91  can also be secured so as to be sandwiched by the recess parts  82   b  of the housings  81 , without requiring any strong engaging means for securing the terminals  91  to the housings  81 . This also facilitates the assembly operation. 
     The upper arm beams  94  are able to function as contact pieces that are electrically connected to the leads of the flat cables  51 . Contact parts  94   a  projecting downward are formed in the vicinity of the tips of the upper arm beams  94 . The upper arm beams  94  are further provided with shift levers  94   b  that extend more backward than the connecting parts with the connecting beams  95 , and enter into the holding holes  62  of the actuators  61  and hold the shafts  67  against upward movements thereof. Each of the shafts  67  is of ellipse or rectangular cross-section, and interposed between the bearing part  93   b  and the actuating lever  94   b , and functions as a cam upon being rotated, to thereby push the actuating lever  94   b  in an upward direction. When the actuating levers  94   b  are pushed up, the areas near the connecting parts between the upper arm beams  94  and the connecting beams  95  are mainly resiliently deformed, and the whole of the upper arm beams  94  are rotated around the areas near the connecting parts between the upper arm beams  94  and the connecting beams  95 , so that the tips of the upper arm beams  94  are shifted downward so as to press the contact parts  94   a  thereat against the conductive leads of the flat cables  51 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 ; when the actuators  61  are open, the shafts  67  come to a position of angle that is approximately horizontal position, so that the actuating levers  94   b  are not pushed up, and the tips of the upper arm beams  94  are not shifted downward. This fact provides sufficiently large space between the tips of the upper arm beams  94  and the tips of the lower arm beams  93 , enabling the flat cables  51  inserted from the insertion openings  83  to be inserted under no contact pressure or slight contact pressure from the contact parts  94   a  and the cable supporting parts  93   a . This realizes a substantially ZIF (zero insertion force) structure. 
     Additionally, the cover member  75  is arranged so as to cover over a wide range of region above the connecting parts  98 , as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . This surely prevents the operator&#39;s finger and hand from contacting with the terminals  91 , or prevents dust from adhering to the terminals  91 . 
     When connecting the flat cables  51  to the connector  60 , the ends of the flat cables  51  are inserted into the openings  83  of the housings  81 . The actuators  61  are brought into the open position. The operator shifts the ends of the flat cables  51  to the openings  83 , so that the ends of the flat cables  51  can be moved toward the opening  83 . In the second embodiment, the flat cables  51  are moved with the auxiliary plates  53  facing down, and with the surface where the conductive leads are exposed facing up. 
     The tips of the cables  51  are then inserted into space between the upper arm beams  94  and the lower arm beams  93  of the terminals  91  held within the terminal receiving grooves  84 . The ear parts  52  on both sides of the flat cables  51  cannot be inserted into the insertion openings  83 , and their front ends abut against the front faces of the housings  81 . Thus, the lengthwise positioning of the flat cables  51  is performed to complete the insertion of the flat cables  51 . 
     The operator manually closes the actuators as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . The left actuator moves clockwise and the right actuator moves counterclockwise. 
     Upon this, the shafts  67  are rotated to a position of angle where it takes an approximately vertical position, as shown in  FIG. 12 , so that the space between the bearing parts  93   b  and the actuating levers  94   b  is widened, and the actuating levers  94   b  are pushed up. Therefore, the tips of the upper arm beams  94  are shifted downward, and the contact parts  94   a  are pressed against the flat cables  51 . As a result, the conductive leads being exposed on the upper surface of the flat cables  51  abut against the contact parts  94   a  thereby to form electrically connecting parts, so that the conductive leads and the terminals  91  are electrically connected to each other. The upper arm beams  94  have resiliency, and therefore are resiliently deformed under pressure exerted by the flat cable  51 , enabling the connection between the leads and the contact parts  94   a  to be maintained suitably. Further, since the cable supporting parts  93   a  of the lower arm beams  93  are located at positions opposed to the contact parts  94   a , the flat cables  51  can be surely supported by the cable supporting parts  93   a , enabling the connection between the conductive leads and the contact parts  94   a  to be reliably maintained. 
     Thus, when the flat cables  51  are connected by inserting them from the two insertion openings  83  of the connector  60 , the conductive leads of the respective flat cables  51  and the terminals  91  can be electrically connected to each other, so that the conductive leads of both flat cables  51  are electrically interconnected. 
     In the connector  60  of the second embodiment, both of the actuators  61  can be operated independently with the same benefits as the first embodiment. 
     Although there has been discussed the case where the flat cables  51  are inserted into the insertion openings  83  by directing upward the surface where the leads are exposed, the flat cables  51  may be inserted into the insertion openings  83  by directing downward the surface where the leads are exposed. In this case, since the cable supporting parts  93   a  of the lower arm beams  93  are located at positions opposed to the contact parts  94   a , the leads are pressed by the cable supporting parts  93   a  and contacted therewith, so that they are electrically connected to the terminals  91 . At this time, the lower arm beams  93  function as contact pieces. That is, in the second embodiment, if the flat cables  51  are disposed upside down, they can be connected to the connector  60 , enhancing the degree of freedom of connecting operation. 
     Furthermore, the operation parts  66  of the actuators  61  are formed eccentrically, as shown in  FIG. 11 , if the two actuators  61  are in the close position, the operator can easily hook the finger and hand over the operation parts  66 . This improves the operability of the connector  60 . 
     The operation of assembling the above-mentioned connector  60  will be described hereinbelow. 
       FIGS. 13A to 13C  are first perspective views showing assembly processes of the connector of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 14A to 14C  are second perspective views showing assembly processes of the connector of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 15  is a third perspective view showing an assembly process of the connector of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring first to  FIG. 13A , the terminals  91  are inserted into the terminal receiving grooves  84  of one housing  81  from the rear face side thereof. At this time, the terminals  91  are sequentially relatively moved one by one to the their respective corresponding terminal receiving grooves  84 , and the body part  92 , the upper arm beam  94 , and the lower arm beam  93 , each of which is opposed to the one housing  81 , are then inserted into the terminal receiving grooves  84 . The substantially linear lower end of the lower arm beam  93  abuts against the floor surface of the terminal receiving groove  84 , and the tip projection  93   c  fit into the recess part formed in the front end wall of the terminal receiving groove  84 , and further the shoulder portion of the body part  92  projecting forward from the shoulder portion of the body part  92  grips a portion of the surface of the shoulder portion of the terminal receiving groove  84 , so that the terminal  91  is firmly secured to the housing  81 . This completes loading of one of the terminals  91  into the terminal receiving groove  84 . Repeating a similar operation with respect to all of the terminals  91  completes securing of all of the terminals  91  to the one housing  81 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 13B , the other housing  81  is then secured to the terminals  91  securely fitted into the one housing  81 . In this case, all of the body parts  92 , the upper arm beams  94  and the lower arm beams  93  of all of the terminals  91 , each of which is not opposed to the one housing  81 , are inserted from the rear face side of the other housing  81  into all of their respective corresponding terminal receiving grooves  84  at the same time. The substantially linear lower ends of the lower arm beams  93  of all of the terminals  91  abut against the floor surfaces of the terminal receiving grooves  84 , and the tip projections  93   c  are fitted into the recess parts  82   b  formed in the front end walls of the terminal receiving grooves  84 , and further the projections  92   a  projecting from the shoulder portions of the body parts  92  grip a portion of the surfaces of the shoulder portions of the terminal receiving grooves  84 , so that the terminals  91  are securely fitted into the other housings  81 . This completes loading of all of the terminals  91  into the other housing  81 , so that both of the housings  81  are connected to each other. 
     Referring to  FIG. 13C , pair of the actuators  61  are fitted into the two housings  81 , respectively. Specifically, the actuators  61  are shifted from the rear face side of the housings  81  to the rear side edge of the upper part  85 , and the actuating levers  94   b  of the terminals  91  are inserted into the holding holes  62  of the actuators  61 , and the shafts  67  of the actuators  61  are shifted to space between the bearing parts  93   b  and the actuating levers  94   b . This completes the mounting of the actuators  61  in the housings  81 . In this case, the actuators  61  can be sequentially mounted one by one. The actuators  61  so mounted are in the open position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14A , the cover member  75  is secured from above to the connected area of the two housings  81  so as to cover above the connecting parts  98 . Referring to  FIG. 14B , the stopper  71  is then loaded into the auxiliary metallic bracket fitting grooves  86   a  of the housings  81 . Specifically, the stoppers  71  are press-fitted into the auxiliary metallic bracket fitting grooves  86   a  of the housings  81 . 
       FIG. 15  illustrates in detail the operation of loading the stoppers  71  into the auxiliary metallic bracket fitting grooves  86   a . For the sake of brevity in explanation, the illustration of the actuators  61  is omitted. The cover member  75  is secured so that the projections  76  fit into space between the auxiliary walls  86  of both housings  81 . When the stoppers  71  is pressed from above into the auxiliary metallic bracket fitting grooves  86   a , the cover engaging parts  73  enter into between the auxiliary walls  86  of both housings  81 , and engage from above with the projections  76  of the cover member  75 . As a result, the projections  76  are engaged to the stoppers  71  thereby to prevent disengagement of the cover member  75 . The connecting engagement parts  72  at the opposite ends of the stopper  71  are engaged with the ends of the auxiliary walls  86  of both housings  81 . This prevents the connected two housings  81  from being disengaged from each other. The connecting engagement parts  72  also hold both side ends of the actuators  61  against backward movement. This eliminates the possibility that the actuators  61  backwardly move and the shafts  67  are moved apart from the space between the bearing part  93   b  and the actuating levers  94   b . Consequently, the mounted actuators  61  are held against disengagement from the housings  81 . 
     On termination of loading of all of the stoppers  71 , the assembly of the connector  60  is completed, as shown in  FIG. 14C . 
     Thus, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the connector  60  has (i) the pair of the housings  81  provided with the insertion openings  83 , through which the flat cables  51  is inserted; (ii) the terminals  91  that are commonly loaded into the respective housings  81 , and provided with the upper arm beams  94  or the lower arm beams  93  electrically connected to the leads of the flat cables  51 ; and (iii) the pair of the actuators  61  mounted on the respective housings  81  so as to be changeable in attitude between the open position for permitting insertion of the flat cables  51 , and the close position suitable for pressing the inserted flat cables  51  against the upper arm beams  94  or the lower arm beams  93 . 
     In addition to these, each of the actuators  61  has the operation parts  66  eccentrically formed in the body parts  65 . The connector  60  has the cover member  75  covering above the middle parts of the terminals  91 , and the cover member  75  is engaged to the stoppers  71 . 
     With this construction, the second embodiment produces the effect of enhancing operability when both actuators  61  are in the close position, and the effect of preventing contact of the operator&#39;s finger and hand with the terminals  91 , and adhesion of dust to the terminals  91 , in addition to the same effect as in the first preferred embodiment. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments but various changes and modifications will occur based on the concept of the present invention, which may be considered as coming within the scope of the present invention as claimed in the appended claims.