Patent Publication Number: US-6334250-B1

Title: Method of fixing a flexible flat cable to a cable holder

Description:
This application is a division of Ser. No. 08/872,646 filed Jun. 10, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,785. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a cable holder which holds that portion of a flexible flat cable adjacent to a distal end thereof, thereby facilitating the connection of the flexible flat cable to a connector, and the invention also relates to a fixing method of fixing the flexible flat cable to the cable holder. 
     Signal-transferring cables, which enable the connection of a plurality of wires with high reliability, include a flexible printed circuit board (hereinafter referred to as “FPC”), having wires printed on a film, and a flexible flat cable (hereinafter referred to as “FFC”) having flat-type soft copper wires covered with a film. For connecting these cables to a connector, there has been used a method in which a distal end portion of the cable is grasped, and then is inserted directly into the connector. In the case of using an FPC, there has been proposed techniques (for instance, Japanese Utility Model Unexamined Publication No. 5-62980) in which a cable holder is used. More specifically, when attaching a panel having the FPC to a body having a connector, the cable holder holds that portion of the cable adjacent to a distal end thereof. This construction eliminates a troublesome operation in which the distal end portion of the cable is grasped, and then is inserted into the connector, and this also eliminates an incomplete insertion of the FPC and an incomplete locking of the connector. 
     However, when the above method is applied to an FFC, the following problem has been encountered. In the conventional technique, in order to prevent a cable from being disengaged from a cable holder, retaining pins are formed on the cable holder. Also, holes for respectively receiving the retaining pins are formed in that portion of the cable to be held by the cable holder. FIG. 8 shows a condition in which in order to apply a similar method to an FFC, holes  91  for respectively retaining the pins are formed on a distal end portion of the cable. 
     Since the FFC is a cable having flat-type soft copper wires covered with a film, the wires are disposed in parallel, having the same intervals. Therefore, when the holes  91  are formed, two (or more) wires  92  are cut or severed, and can not be used. Thus, there has been encountered a problem that the rate of utilization of the cable has been lowered. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in order to overcome the above problem, and an object of the invention is to provide a cable holder which prevents a cable utilization rate from being lowered even if the cable holder holds an FFC. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a cable holder which achieves the above object, and can be mounted on a plate member such as a chassis. 
     Further object of the invention is to provide a cable holder which achieves the above objects, and in which when the cable holder is mounted on the plate member, a cable body can be led out at that side of the plate member where a connector, to which a flexible-flat cable is to be connected, is disposed. 
     Still further object of the invention is to provide a cable fixing method which facilitates a fixing operation when fixing a flexible flat cable to a cable holder, using an adhesive. 
     To achieve the objects, according to a first aspect of the invention provides a cable holder for holding a flexible flat cable having a film portion, flat wires running in the film portion, a reinforcement portion where a reinforcement sheet is attached and notches formed respectively in opposite side edges of the reinforcement portion, to electrically connecting the flexible flat cable to a connector, the cable holder comprising: a holder body; a holder guide portion provided with the holder body, wherein an inner shape of the holder guide corresponds to an outer shape of the connector; and a cable holding portion having protuberances formed on the cable holding portion, for engaging respectively in the notches for holding the reinforcement portion of the flexible flat cable such that a distal end of the flexible flat cable projects into the holder guide portion. 
     According to a second aspect, there is provided a cable holder for holding a flexible flat cable having an end portion, and connecting the end portion of the flexible flat cable to a connector, the cable holder comprising: a holder body; a holder guide portion provided with the holder body, wherein an inner shape of the holder guide corresponds to an outer shape of the connector; a cable holding portion provided with the holder body for holding the end portion of the flexible flat cable; and a pouring hole is formed in a wall of the cable holding portion wherein the flexible flat cable is fixedly secured to the holder body by an adhesive poured into the cable holding portion through the pouring hole. 
     According to a third aspect, there is provided a cable holder according to the first or second aspect, further comprising: a holder holding portion for holding the holder body on a holder holding hole formed in a plate member. 
     According to a fourth aspect, there is provided a cable holder according to the third aspect, further comprising: a lead-out opening is disposed on that side of the plate member where the holder guide portion is disposed, for leading the flexible flat cable from the cable holding portion while the holder body is held on the plate member by the holder holding portion. 
     According to a fifth aspect, there is provided a fixing method of fixing a flexible flat cable to a cable holder in order to connect the flexible flat cable to a connector, comprising the steps of: (a) engaging a holder guide portion of the cable holder with a positioning adaptor having an outer shape corresponding to an inner surface of the holder guide portion having a shape corresponding to an outer shape of the connector, the positioning adaptor having a positioning slit of a predetermined depth formed at a position corresponding to an insertion slit in the connector; (b) inserting a distal end portion of the flexible flat cable into a lead-out opening, which leads the flexible flat cable out of a cable holding portion, until the distal end portion reaches a bottom of the positioning slit; and (c) pouring an adhesive through a pouring hole formed in the cable holding portion, with the distal end portion held in contact with the bottom of the positioning slit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a cable holder of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which the cable holder of the embodiment of FIG. 1 is connected to a connector; 
     FIG. 3 is a view showing a shape of a distal end portion of a flexible flat cable; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of a cable holder of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a front-elevational view of a third embodiment of a cable holder of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which the cable holder of the embodiment of FIG. 5 is attached to a positioning adaptor; 
     FIG. 7 is a front-elevational view of a fourth embodiment of a cable holder of the invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is a view showing a distal end portion of a flexible flat cable. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a cable holder of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which the cable holder of this embodiment is connected to a connector. 
     In the drawings, an insulating film, covering wires, is removed a predetermined length from one side of a distal end portion of a flexible flat cable (hereinafter referred to as “FFC”)  7  to form an electrically-conductive portion  71 . A reinforcement sheet  72  in the form of a thin resin plate is affixed or bonded to the other side of the FFC, facing away from the conductive portion  71 , at the distal end portion thereof. The distal end portion of the FFC  7 , having the reinforcement sheet  72  affixed thereto, serves as a reinforcement portion  73 , and a pair of notches  74  of a generally U-shape are formed respectively in opposite side edges of the reinforcement portion  73 . 
     FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the notches  74  in detail. In order to enhance a retaining effect by the notches  74 , it is necessary to increase a width d of the notches  74  to such an extent that they will not reach respective wires  711  disposed respectively at opposite side edge portions of the cable. Therefore, in this embodiment, the width d is about 0.6 mm when the width D between a side end of the cable and the center line of the wire  711  is about 1.25 mm. 
     A holder body for holding the reinforcement portion  73  of the FFC  7  comprises a holder main portion  11  and a holder auxiliary portion  12 , and a recess  112 , having a width equal to the cable width of the FFC  7 , formed in the holder main portion  11 . An elongate protuberance  114 , having a substantially same shape in cross section as of the notch  74  in the FFC  7 , is formed on each of opposite side walls  113  of the recess  112 . 
     The holder auxiliary portion  12  can be pushed and fitted into the recess  112  in the holder main portion  11  from the front side thereof, and so that the holder auxiliary portion  12  can be fixed to the holder main portion  11 . Therefore, a pair of grooves  122  of a generally U-shaped cross-section, corresponding respectively to the protuberances  114 , are formed respectively on opposite side walls  121  of the holder auxiliary portion  12 . For preventing the holder auxiliary portion  12 , fitted into the holder main portion  11  from the front side thereof, from being disengaged therefrom, two retaining pawls  115  are formed on each of the opposite side walls  113  of the recess  112  in the holder main portion  11 , and are disposed adjacent to an edge thereof. Notches  123 , corresponding respectively to the retaining pawls  115 , are formed in each of the opposite side walls  121  of the holder auxiliary portion  12 . 
     A recessed portion  117  is formed in the opposite side walls  113  and a bottom surface  116  of the recess  112  at a lower portion of the holder main portion  11 . Also, a recessed portion  125  is formed in a lower portion of an inner side or surface  124  of the holder auxiliary portion  12 . When the holder auxiliary portion  12  is fixed to the holder main portion  11  by the retaining pawls  115 , a space is defined by the surfaces of the recessed portion  117  of, the holder main portion  11  and the surface of the recessed portion  125  of the holder auxiliary portion  12 . The special configuration of the space conforms to an outer shape of the connector  81 . The space, defined by the surfaces of the recessed portion  117  of the holder main portion  11  and the surface of the recessed portion  125  of the holder auxiliary portion  12 , serves as a holder guide portion  13 . An inclined surface  118  is formed at the lower end of the recessed portion  117 , and an inclined surface  126  is formed at the lower end of the recessed portion  125 , and these inclined surfaces facilitate the engagement of the holder with the connector  81 . 
     A flange  141  is formed on that portion of the holder main portion  11  spaced slightly from its central portion toward its upper end, the flange  141  having a rectangular plane shape. The flange  141  is formed only on an outer surface  119  of the holder main portion  11 , and is not formed at the region where the recess  112  exists. A pair of retaining pawls  142 , cooperating with the flange  141 , are formed respectively on opposite outer side surfaces (which are part of the outer surface  119 ) of the holder main portion  11  at the upper end thereof, and the flange  141  and the retaining pawls  142  cooperate with each other to provide a holder holding portion  14  for holding the holder body on a plate member  17 . 
     A depth of the recess  112  in the holder main portion  11  is equal to the sum of the thickness of the holder auxiliary portion  12  and the thickness of the reinforcement portion  73  of the FFC  7 . Therefore, when the holder auxiliary portion  12  is fixed to the holder main portion  11  by the retaining pawls  115 , a gap, equal to the thickness of the reinforcement portion  73  of the FFC  7 , is formed between the bottom surface  116  of the holder main portion and the inner surface  124  of the holder auxiliary portion  12 . This gap defines a cable holding portion  15  for holding the reinforcement portion  73  of the FFC  7 . 
     For attaching the FFC  7  to the cable holder of the above construction, the notches  74  in the FFC  7  are registered with the protuberances  114 , respectively, and in this condition the FFC  7  is pushed toward the bottom surface  116 . Then, the grooves  122  in the holder auxiliary portion  12  are registered with the protuberances  114 , respectively, and in this condition the holder auxiliary portion  12  is pressed toward the holder main portion  11 . The thus pressed holder auxiliary portion  12  slightly expands an open side of the recess  112 , and moves toward the bottom surface  116 . Then, when the holder auxiliary portion  12  is further pressed, the retaining pawls  115  are engaged respectively in the notches  123 , with the gap (corresponding to the thickness of the reinforcement portion  73 ) formed between the holder auxiliary portion  12  and the holder main portion  11 . Therefore, the holder auxiliary portion  12  is fixed to the holder main portion  11  by the retaining pawls  115 . At the same time, the holder auxiliary portion  12  cooperates with the holder main portion  11  to hold the reinforcement portion  73 . 
     Thus, when the FFC  7  is held by the holder main portion  11  and the holder auxiliary portion  12 , the notches  74  are engaged with the protuberances  114 , respectively, and therefore the FFC  7  is firmly held against movement in the length of the cable, with the distal end portion of the cable projected into the holder guide portion  13 . 
     The plate member  17  shown in FIG. 3 is, for example, a plate member, such as a chassis, having a mechanical portion of a video cassette recorder mounted thereon, and the plate member  17  has a rectangular mounting hole  171  larger in size a predetermined amount than the cross-sectional shape of the outer surface  119  of the holder main portion  11 . The upper end portion of the holder main portion  11  (holder body) holding the FFC  7  is passed through this mounting hole  171  from the lower side. When the upper end portion of the holder main portion  11  above the flange  141  is passed through the mounting hole  171 , the retaining pawls  142 , moved toward each other during this passing operation, are moved away from each other. As a result, the holder main portion  11  (holder body) is retained on the plate member  17  by the flange  141  and the retaining pawls  142 . Thus, the holder body is attached to the plate member  17 . 
     The chassis (plate member)  17 , having the holder body mounted thereon, is moved downward so that the holder guide portion  13  of the holder body can be engaged with the connector  81  mounted on a main circuit board  84 . The mounting hole  171 , formed through the plate member  17 , is larger in size a predetermined amount than the cross-sectional shape of the outer surface  119  in a right-left direction and a forward-rearward direction. Therefore, when the plate member  17  is moved downward, the holder main portion  11  is so moved by the inclined surfaces  118  and  126  of the holder guide portion  13  as to absorb an error of the mounting position (that is, error in the right-left direction and the forward-backward direction) relative to the connector  81 , so that the holder main portion  11  is guided to a predetermined position by the holder guide portion  13 . As a result, the distal end portion of the FFC  7  is guided and inserted into an insertion slit  82  in the connector  81 . 
     At this time, if there is an error in height of the connector  81 , so that the connector  81  is located at a position lower than a predetermined position, the plate member  71  is pressed hard downward to engage the holder body with the connector  81  in such a manner that the distal end of the FFC  7  reaches the bottom of the insertion slit  82 . Then, the downwardly-pressing force is removed from the plate member  17 , the plate member may be lifted or raised slightly. However, even if the plate member  17  is lifted, the retaining pawls  142  are flexed away from each other, thereby absorbing the lift of the plate member  17 . Therefore, the engagement of the holder body with the connector  81  is maintained, with the distal end of the FFC  7  held in contact with the bottom of the insertion slit  82 . Namely, if an error in the upward-downward positional relation is within an allowable range, this error is also absorbed, thereby ensuring the positive connection between the FFC  7  and the connector  81 . 
     In the condition in which the distal end portion of the FFC  7  is inserted into the insertion slit  82 , with the conductive portion  71  connected to electrodes (not shown) of the connector  81 , a lead-out opening  151  for leading a cable body  75  out of the cable holding portion  15  is disposed on that side of the plate member  17  where the holder guide portion  13  is disposed. Therefore, the cable body  75  can be led out on that side where the holder guide portion  13  is disposed. 
     As a result, in the case where the other end (not shown) of the FFC  7  is connected to a board or the like provided on a lower surface of the plate member  17 , the distal end portion of the FFC  7  can be connected to the connector  81  without the need for leading the cable body  75  to a position on the upper side of the plate member  17 . Namely, when the other end of the cable body  75  is connected to the associated member on the lower side of the plate member  17 , the installation of the cable body  75  can be simplified. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of a cable holder of the invention. Those portions identical to those shown in FIG. 1 will be designated by identical reference numerals, respectively, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. 
     In this embodiment, also, a holder body comprises two parts, that is, a holder main portion  21  and a holder auxiliary portion  22 . A width of a recess  212 , formed in the holder main portion  21 , is equal to the width of the FFC  7 . The recess  212  has protuberances  114 , retaining pawls  115 , a recessed portion  117 , and an inclined surface  118 . The holder auxiliary portion  22  has grooves  122 , notches  123 , a recessed portion  125  and an inclined surface  126 . A depth of the recess  212  is equal to the sum of the thickness of the holder auxiliary portion  22  and the thickness of the reinforcement portion  73 . When the holder auxiliary portion  22  is fixed to the holder main portion  21 , a holder guide portion  13  is formed by the recessed portion  117  and the recessed portion  125 . 
     A flange  241  is formed at an upper end of the holder main portion  21  at an upper end, the flange  141  having a rectangular plane shape. The flange  241  is formed only on an outer surface  119  of the holder main portion  21 , and is not formed at the region where the recess  212  exists. A pair of retaining pawls  242 , cooperating with the flange  241 , are formed respectively on opposite outer side surfaces (which are part of the outer surface  119 ) of the holder main portion  21 , and are disposed below the flange  241 . An elongate projection  223  is formed at an upper end of the holder auxiliary portion  22 , and when the holder auxiliary portion  22  is attached to the holder main portion  21 , the elongate projection  223  fits in the interrupted portion of the flange  241 . The flange  241 , the elongate projection  223  and the retaining pawls  242  jointly constitute a holder holding portion  24  for holding the holder body on a plate member  17 . 
     In this embodiment, a lower end portion of the holder body (comprising the holder main portion  21  and the holder auxiliary portion  22 ), holding the FFC  7 , is passed through a rectangular mounting hole (having the same shape as that of the mounting hole  171  shown in FIG. 3) formed through the plate member  17 . When the holder body is passed through the mounting hole to a predetermined position, the retaining pawls  242  are moved away from each other, so that the holder body is held by the plate member. In this case, the FFC  7  is led out from the upper side of the plate member. Therefore, if the other end (not shown) of the FFC  7  is connected to a board or the like provided on the upper surface of the plate member  17 , the distal end portion of the FFC  7  can be connected to the associated member without the need for leading a cable body  75  to a position on the lower side of the plate member  17 . Namely, when the other end of the cable body  75  is connected to the associated member on the upper side of the plate member  17 , the installation of the cable body  75  can be simplified. 
     FIG. 5 is a front-elevational view of a third embodiment of a cable holder of the invention. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a condition in which the cable holder of this embodiment is attached to a positioning adaptor. 
     A holder body  31  of this embodiment has the same outer shape as obtained when the holder auxiliary portion  12  is fixed in position to the holder main body  11  of the first embodiment, with the notches  123  omitted. Therefore, those portions identical to those shown in FIG. 1 will be designated by identical reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. 
     A cable holding portion  35  (which is shown in broken lines since it is an internal structure) is identical in shape to the cable holding portion  15  of the first embodiment except that any protuberances are not formed in the cable holding portion  35 . More specifically, the cable holding portion  35  has a uniform slit-like cross-sectional shape throughout its length from its upper end to lower end. A holder guide portion  33  identical in shape to the holder guide portion  13  of the first embodiment is formed in the lower end portion of the holder body  31 . When the holder body  31  is mounted on a plate member, a lead-out opening  351  for leading a cable body  75  out of the cable holding portion  35  is disposed on that side of the plate member where the holder guide portion  33  is disposed. 
     A pouring hole  311  is formed through a front wall portion  313 , disposed on the front side of the cable holding portion  35 , at a generally central portion thereof, and extends from an outer surface of the front wall portion  313  to the cable holding portion  35 . A pouring hole  312  is formed through a rear wall portion  314 , disposed on the rear side of the cable holding portion  35 , at a generally central portion thereof, and extends from an outer surface of the rear wall portion  314  to the cable holding portion  35 . An FFC  7  used in this embodiment is identical in construction to the FFC shown in FIG. 1 except -that the notches  74 , formed in the reinforcement portion  73 , are omitted. In the FFC  7  used in this embodiment, a reinforcement sheet  72  is affixed to a distal end portion of this cable to form a reinforcement portion  73 . 
     A fixing method of fixing the holder body  31  of the above construction to the FFC  7  will now be described. 
     For fixing the FFC  7  to the holder body  31 , the positioning adaptor  61  is used. This positioning adaptor  61  is a jig having the same outer shape as that of a connector (which is the same as the connector shown in FIG. 3) corresponding to the holder guide portion  33 , and this positioning adaptor  61  is fixed to a working base  62 . A positioning slit  65  is formed in the positioning adaptor  61  at a position corresponding to the insertion slit  82  in the connector  81 , the positioning slit  65  having generally the same shape and the same depth as those of the insertion slit  82 . Inclined surfaces  611  are formed respectively at upper edges of the positioning adaptor  61  so as to facilitate the engagement of the positioning adaptor  61  in the holder guide portion  33 . Inclined surfaces  612  are formed at edges of an inlet portion of the positioning slit  65  so as to facilitate the insertion of the distal end portion of the FFC  7  into this slit  65 . 
     For fixing the FFC  7  to the holder body  31 , the holder guide portion  33  is engaged with the positioning adaptor  61 . When the holder guide portion  33  is engaged with the positioning adaptor  61 , the holder body  31  is held by the positioning adaptor  61 . In this condition, the FFC  7  is inserted into the lead-out opening  351 . The distal end of the FFC  7 , thus inserted into the lead-out opening  351 , passes through the cable holding portion  35 , and reaches the bottom of the positioning slit  65 . When this distal end reaches the bottom of the positioning slit  65 , the FFC  7  is projected into the holder guide portion  33  by an amount required for connection to the connector. 
     In this condition, a suitable amount of an adhesive is injected under pressure into each of the pouring holes  311  and  312 . The adhesive, injected into the pouring hole  311 , is filled in a gap between one side of the reinforcement portion  73  and an inner surface of the cable holding portion  35 , while the adhesive, injected into the pouring hole  312 , is filled in a gap between the other side of the reinforcement portion  73  and an inner surface of the cable holding portion  35 . The thus filled adhesive is cured or solidified, so that the FFC  7  is fixedly secured to the holder body  31 . 
     Broken lines  76  in FIG. 6 indicate the direction of extending of the cable body  75 , led out of the lead-out opening  351 , when the holder body  31  is mounted on the plate member. 
     FIG. 7 is a front-elevational view of a fourth embodiment of a cable holder of the invention. 
     A holder body  41  of this embodiment has the same outer shape as obtained when the holder auxiliary portion  22  is fixed in position to the holder main body  21  of the second embodiment, with the notches  123  omitted. Therefore, those portions identical to those shown in FIG. 4 will be designated by identical reference numerals, and detailed explanation thereof will be omitted. 
     A cable holding portion  45  (which is shown in broken lines since it is an internal structure) is identical in shape to the cable holding portion of the second embodiment except that any protuberances are not formed in the cable holding portion. More specifically, the cable holding portion  45  has a uniform slit-like cross-sectional shape throughout its length from its upper end to lower end. A holder guide portion  43  identical in shape to the holder guide portion  13  of the second embodiment is formed in the lower end portion of the holder body  41 . When the holder body  41  is mounted on a plate member, a lead-out opening  451  for leading a cable body  75  out of the cable holding portion  45  is disposed on that side of the plate member facing away from the holder guide portion  43 . 
     A pouring hole  411  is formed through a front wall portion  413 , disposed on the front side of the cable holding portion  45 , at a generally central portion thereof, and extends from an outer surface of the front wall portion  413  to the cable holding portion  45 , while a pouring hole (not shown) is formed through a rear wall portion (not shown), disposed on the rear side of the cable holding portion  45 , at a generally central portion thereof, and extends from an outer surface of the rear wall portion to the cable holding portion  45 . An FFC  7  used in this embodiment is identical to the FFC used in the third embodiment. A fixing method of fixing the FFC  7  to this embodiment of the above construction is the same as the fixing method of fixing the FFC  7  to the third embodiment, and therefore explanation thereof will be omitted. 
     As described above, in the third and fourth embodiments, the holder body can be molded into an integral construction. Therefore, the holder body can be produced at a lower cost. And besides, since there is no need to form the notches  74  in the reinforcement portion  73 , the processing of the FFC  7  is simplified. 
     The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and in the first and second embodiments, although the notches  74  have a generally U-shape, these notches can have any other suitable shape such as a semi-circular shape with a radius of about 0.6 mm in so far as these notches will not cut or sever the wires  711  disposed respectively at the opposite side edge portions of the cable, and more than two notches may be formed if the required strength is secured. 
     In the cable holder according to the first aspect of the invention which holds the flexible flat cable including the cable body having the reinforcement sheet bonded to the distal end portion thereof over a predetermined area to form the reinforcement portion, the notches are formed respectively in the opposite side edges of the reinforcement portion, and the holder body has the holder guide portion whose inner shape corresponds to the outer shape of the connector, and the cable holding portion for holding the reinforcement portion, with the distal end portion projected into the holder guide portion, and the protuberances for being engaged respectively in the notches are formed in the cable holding portion. 
     In the cable holder according to the second aspect of the invention, the holder body has the holder guide portion whose inner shape corresponds to the outer shape of the connector, and the holder body has the cable holding portion for holding that portion of the cable body, disposed adjacent to the distal end portion thereof, over a predetermined area, with the distal end portion projected into the holder guide portion, and the pouring holes are formed in the walls of the cable holding portion, and the cable body is fixedly secured to the holder body by the adhesive poured into the cable holding portion through the pouring holes. 
     In the first and second aspects, any fixing holes for fixing the cable do not need to be formed in the cable body, and therefore the wires will not be cut or severed, and even if the FFC is held by the cable holder, the rate of utilization of the cable is prevented from being lowered. 
     In the cable holder according to the third aspect of the invention, the holder body has the holder holding portion for holding the holder body on the plate member when the holder body is extended through the holder holding hole formed through the plate member. The holder body is held on the plate member by the holder holding portion, and therefore the holder body can be mounted on the plate member such as a chassis. 
     In the cable holder according to the fourth aspect of the invention, when the holder body is held on the plate member by the holder holding portion, the lead-out opening for leading the cable body from the cable holding portion is disposed on that side of the plate member where the holder guide portion is disposed. Therefore, when the holder body is mounted on the plate member, the cable body can be led out on that side where the connector, to which the flexible flat cable is connected, is disposed. 
     In the fixing method of the invention for fixing the flexible flat cable to the cable holder, the holder body has the holder guide portion whose inner shape corresponds to the outer shape of the connector, and the cable holding portion for holding that portion of the flexible flat cable, disposed adjacent to the distal end portion thereof, over a predetermined area, with the distal end portion projected into the holder guide portion, and the pouring hole is formed in the wall of the cable holding portion, the holder guide portion is engaged with the positioning adaptor having the outer shape corresponding to the inner surface of the holder guide portion, the positioning adaptor having the positioning slit of a predetermined depth formed at the position corresponding to the insertion slit in the connector, and the distal end portion is inserted into the lead-out opening, which leads the flexible flat cable out of the cable holding portion, until the distal end portion reaches the bottom of the positioning slit, and the adhesive is poured through the pouring hole, with the distal end portion held in contact with the bottom of the positioning slit. When the holder guide portion is engaged with the positioning adaptor, the holder body is held by the positioning adaptor, and therefore the flexible flat cable can be easily inserted into the lead-out opening. Merely by inserting the flexible flat cable until the distal end reaches the bottom of the positioning slit, a predetermined length of the flexible flat cable is projected into the holder guide portion, and therefore a separate step of determining this cable-projecting length is not necessary. Therefore, the fixing operation for fixing the flexible flat cable to the cable holder by the adhesive can be carried out easily.