Patent Publication Number: US-8529302-B2

Title: Electrical connector for flat conductor

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is based on, and claims priority from, JP Application Number 2009-132169, filed Jun. 1, 2009, and PCT Application Number PCT/JP10/057250, filed Apr. 23, 2010, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a connector used to connect, for example, a flexible printed circuit (FPC) or a flexible flat cable (FFC). 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     As this type of connector, there has conventionally been known a connector provided with a connector main body into the front side of which one end of an object to be connected (hereinafter referred to as a flexible circuit), such as an FPC or an FFC, can be inserted, a plurality of contacts disposed in the connector main body in the width direction thereof, and a freely rotatable press member for pressing the flexible circuit inserted into the connector main body toward respective contacts (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). 
     This connector is adapted so that when the press member is rotated in one direction with the flexible circuit inserted into the connector main body, the flexible circuit and the respective contacts are brought into pressure contact and electrical conduction with each other by the press member and, when the press member is rotated in the other direction, pressure contact between the respective contacts and the flexible circuit is cancelled, thereby enabling the flexible circuit to be inserted/removed into/from the connector main body.
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Publication 2005-78908   

     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Problem to be Solved by the Invention 
     Incidentally, in the above-described connector, a rotation fulcrum is provided at one end of the press member. When the other end of the press member is pressed in one direction to rotate the press member, respective contacts are pressed toward the flexible circuit. Accordingly, the other end of the press member needs to be pulled upwardly with fingertips when rotating the press member in the other direction. However, if, for example, the connector is mounted on a board, only a small space to insert fingertips into is available between the other end of the press member and the board. Thus, the connector has been problematic in that the press member cannot be operated easily. The connector has also been problematic in that if a space between the other end of the press member and the board is made larger, the connector itself increases in size in the height direction thereof, thus being disadvantageous in mounting on small-sized electronic equipment. 
     The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a connector in which the operability of the press member can be improved without increasing the size of the connector itself in the height direction thereof. 
     Means for Solving the Problem 
     In order to achieve the aforementioned object, a connector of the present invention is provided with a connector main body into which an object to be connected is inserted, a plurality of contacts disposed at intervals from one another within the connector main body in the width direction thereof, and a freely rotatable press member for pressing respective contacts against the object to be connected inserted into the connector main body, so that when the press member is rotated in one direction, respective contacts are pressed toward the object to be connected by the press member and, when the press member is rotated in the other direction, the press of the respective contacts by the press member is cancelled, wherein rotation fulcrums of the press member are provided between one and the other ends thereof, so that when one end of the press member is pressed, the press member rotates in one direction and, when the other end of the press member is pressed, the press member rotates in the other direction. 
     Consequently, when one end of the press member is pressed to rotate the press member in one direction, the respective contacts are pressed toward the object to be connected by the press member and, when the other end of the press member is pressed to rotate the press member in the other direction, the press of the respective contacts by the press member is cancelled. Thus, the press member can be rotated by press operation in whichever direction the press member is rotated. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the present invention, the press member can be rotated by press operation in whichever direction the press member is rotated. Thus, it is possible to improve the operability of the press member. In this case, the press member need not be pulled up with fingertips as is done conventionally. Accordingly, there is no need to increase the size of the connector itself in the height direction thereof, in an attempt to improve the operability. Thus, the connector is extremely advantageous in mounting on small-sized electronic equipment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front side perspective view of a closed state connector showing first embodiment of this invention, 
         FIG. 2  is rear side perspective view of the closed state connector, 
         FIG. 3  is a front side perspective view of an opened state connector, 
         FIG. 4  is a rear side perspective view of the opened state connector, 
         FIG. 5A  is a side sectional view showing a closing operation of the connector, 
         FIG. 5B  is a side sectional view showing the closing operation of the connector, 
         FIG. 5C  is a side sectional view showing the closing operation of the connector, 
         FIG. 6A  is a side sectional view showing the opening operation of the connector, 
         FIG. 6B  is a side sectional view showing the opening operation of the connector, 
         FIG. 6C  is a side sectional view showing the opening operation of the connector, 
         FIG. 7A  is an explanatory view of an operation of a contact, 
         FIG. 7B  is an explanatory view of an operation of the contact, 
         FIG. 8  is a partial plan view of the connector showing an operation of a lock member, 
         FIG. 9  is a partial plan view of the connector showing an operation of the lock member, 
         FIG. 10  is a partial plan view of the connector showing an operation of the lock member, 
         FIG. 11  is a partial plan view of the connector showing an operation of the lock member. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1 through 11  show a first embodiment of the present invention. A connector shown in said FIGS. comprises a connector main body  10  into which a flexible circuit  1  to be inserted as an object to be connected, a plurality of contacts  20  arranged with spaces in the width direction of the connector main body  10 , a press member  30  capable of rotating for pushing each contacts toward the flexible circuit  1  side which is inserted into the connector main body  10 , a pair of left/right fixing members  40  for fixing the connector main body  10  to a circuit board which is not shown in any of FIGS., and a pair of left/right lock members  50  with which the flexible circuit  1  is engaged. 
     The flexible circuit  1  is configured of what is called a flexible flat cable (FFC) or a flexible printed circuit (FPC), a plurality of electrical metal terminals (not shown) is provided at an upper face of a tip side of the flexible circuit  1  with spaces in the width direction. Also, dented portions la as the engagement portion for being engaged with the lock members  50  is provided at both end sides in the width direction of the flexible circuit  1 . When the flexible circuit  1  is inserted into a predetermined position of the connector main body  10  (position for connecting with the contacts  20 ), each of the lock members  50  is engaged with the dented portions respectively. 
     The connector main body  10  is made of a synthetic resin molding, and an insertion slot  10   a  for inserting the flexible circuit  1  is provided at a front face of the connector main body  10 . The connector main body  10  comprises an upper face portion  11 , a bottom face portion  12 , and left and right side face portions  13 , the upper face portion  11  is configured only at the front end side of the upper face of the connector main body  10 . Also, both of the left and right sides of the upper face portion  11  are opened to expose the inside of the connector main body  10 , and the lock members  50  are disposed at the exposed portions. 
     Each of the contacts  20  is made of a conductive metal plate which is arranged at the bottom face portion  12  of the connector main body  10  with spaces in the width direction. Each of the contacts  20  comprises a fixing piece portion  21  for fixing with the bottom face portion  12 , a first movable piece portion  22  pushed by the press member  30 , a second movable piece portion  23  arranged at the lower side of the first movable piece portion  22 , and a springy piece portion  24  formed between the second movable portion  23  and the fixing piece portion  21 . 
     The fixing piece portion  21  extends in the front-rear direction of the connector main body  10 , a front end portion  21   a  thereof is pushed into a slit at the bottom face portion  12  side. A connecting portion  21   b  for connecting to a circuit board, which is not shown in any of FIGS., is provided at the rear end of the fixing piece portion  21 , the connecting portion  21   b  extends toward backward of the connector main body  10 . A first convex portion  21   c  capable of rotatably engaging with the press member  30  is provided at the rear end side of the fixing piece portion  21 , and a first concave portion  21   d  is provided at the front side of the first convex portion  21   c.    
     The first movable piece portion  22  extends in the vertical direction of the connector main body  10 , a first contacting portion  22   a  for contacting the upper face of the flexible circuit  1  is provided so as to protrude downwardly at the front end of the movable piece portion  22 . A first abutting portion  22   b  and a second abutting portion  22   c  for abutting against the press member  30  are provided at the rear end of the first movable piece portion  22 , the first contacting portion  22   b  is provided at the rear end side of the first movable piece portion  22  downwardly inclining from upper side to the lower side, the second abutting portion  22   c  is formed approximately horizontally in the front-rear direction at the bottom end face of the first movable piece portion  22 . 
     The second movable piece portion  23  extends toward the front-rear direction of the connector main body  10 , a second contacting portion  23   a  for contacting the upper side of the flexible circuit  1  is provided to protrude downwardly at the front end of the second movable piece portion  23 . In this embodiment, the second movable piece portion  23  is shorter than the first movable piece portion  22  in the front-rear direction of the connector main body  10 , and the width of the second movable piece portion  23  is smaller in the front-rear direction than the width of the first movable piece portion  22 . Also, the second contacting portion  23   a  is placed at the rear side of the first contacting portion  22   a , the lower end of the second contacting portion  23   a  is the same height as the lower end of the first contacting portion  22   a  (contacting point). The rear end side of the second movable piece portion  23  bends upwardly and extends toward the rear end side of the first movable piece portion  22  (ahead of the second abutting portion  22   c ), the first movable piece portion  22  is supported by the rear end side of the second movable piece portion  23 . 
     The springy piece portion  24  extends in the vertical direction from an approximate center in the front-rear direction of the fixing piece portion  21  to an approximate center in the front-rear direction of the second movable piece portion  23 , the first movable piece portion  22  and the second movable piece portion  23  are respectively supported so that the front end sides and rear end sides of the first movable piece portion  22  and the second movable piece portion  23  are respectively movably in the vertical direction. 
     The press member  30  is made of a synthetic resin molding the press member  30  covers the upper face in the rear end side of the connector main body  10 . A rotation support portion  31  protruding toward the inside of the connector main body  10  is provided at the rear end side of the press member  30 . A second convex portion  31   a  for engaging with the first concave portion  21   c  of the contacts  20  is provided at the tip of the rotation support portion  31 . A second convex portion  31   b  for engaging with the first concave portion  21   d  of the contacts  20  is provided at the front part of the second concave portion  31   a . In other words, the press member  30  rotates on a fulcrum where the second concave portion  31   a  contacts the first convex portion  21   c  by engaging the second concave portion  31   a  with the first convex portion  21   c , and the press member  30  rotates on a fulcrum where the second convex portion  31   b  is contacted with the first concave portion  21   d  by engaging the second convex portion  31   b  with the first concave portion  21   d . In this embodiment, the fulcrum is located between the front end side and the rear end side of the press member  30 , when the front end side of the press member  30  is pushed downwardly, the rear end side thereof moves upwardly and locks the press member  30 , and when the rear end side of the press member  30  is pushed downwardly, the front end side thereof moves upwardly and releases the press member  30 . Also, a press portion  31   c  for abutting against the first abutting portion  22   b  and the second abutting portion  22   c  of the contacts  20  is provided at the rotation support portion  31 , the press portion  31   c  protrude in a chevron shape. Protruding portions  32  for regulating the lock members  50  from moving in the width direction are provided at both end sides in the width direction of the press member  30 , and each of the protruding portions  32  protrude downwardly. 
     The fixing members  40  are made of a metal plate arranged at the both end sides in the width direction of the connector main body  10 , each of the fixing members  40  are fixed to the both side face portions  13  of the connector main body  10 . Connecting portions  41  which connect to a circuit board, which is not shown, are provided at the bottom end side of the fixing member  40 , each of the connecting portions  41  extend outside in the width direction of the connector main body  10 . 
     Each of the lock members  50  are made of a metal plate integrally formed with the fixing members  40 , each of the lock members  50  is arranged at both ends side in the width direction of the connector main body  10 . The lock members  50  comprise an engagement portion  51  for being engaged with the dented portion la of the flexible circuit  1 , a movable portion  52  extending backwardly from the engagement portion  51 , and a springy portion  53  extending to the fixing members  40  from the rear end of the movable portion  53 . The engagement portion  51  and the movable portion  52  move toward the width direction of the connector main body  10  by the springy portion  53  deforming springy. Compared to the movable portion  52 , the engagement portion  51  is formed in a chevron shape so as to protrude toward inside in the width direction of the connector main body  10 , the movable portion  52  extends straight in the front-rear direction of the connector main body  10 . The springy portion  53  extends toward the inside in the width direction of the connector main body  10  from the rear end of the movable portion  52 , and the springy portion  53  is bent to extend toward the outside in the width direction of the connector main body  10  to the fixing members  40 , the engagement portion  51  and the movable portion  52  move in the width direction of the connector main body  10  by deforming the springy portion  53  springy toward the front-rear direction of the connector main body  10 . In this embodiment, when the springy portion  53  is not deformed, a slit into which the protruding portion  32  of the press member  30  can be inserted is provided between the movable portion  52  and the side face portion  13  of the connector main body  10 , and when the movable portion  52  is moved toward the outside in the width direction of the connector main body  10 , the protruding portion  32  abuts against the movable portion  52  so that the protruding portion  32  is regulated from being inserted in the slit. 
     For the above configured connector, as shown in  FIG. 5A , while the press member  30  is released, the flexible circuit  1  is inserted into a predetermined position in the connector main body  10  from the insertion slot  10   a , as shown in  FIG. 5B , when the front end side of the press member  30  is pushed downwardly, while the second concave portion  31   a  of the press member  30  is engaged with the first convex portion  21   c , the press member  30  rotates on a place where the second concave portion  31   a  contacts with the first convex portion  21   c  as a first rotation fulcrum P 1 , the press portion  31   c  of the press member  30  abuts with the first abutting portion  22   b  of the first movable piece portion  22  toward the front direction. At that time, the first abutting portion  22   b  inclines downwardly toward the front direction, thus, the rear end side of the first movable piece portion  22  is pushed upwardly and the front end side thereof is inclined due to the press portion  31   c , and, in accordance with this, the rear end side of the second movable piece portion  23  is pushed upwardly and the front end side thereof is inclined. By this, the first contacting portion  22   a  and the second contacting portion  23   a  touch tightly the upper face of the flexible circuit  1 , and each of the movable piece portions  22  and  23  is electrically connected to the flexible circuit  1 . Next, as shown in  FIG. 5C , when the front end side of the press member  30  is pushed further downwardly, the second convex portion  31   b  is engaged with the first concave portion  21   d , the second concave portion  31   a  is detached from the first convex portion  21   c , the press member  30  rotates on a place where the second convex portion  31   b  contacts with the first concave portion  21   d  as a second rotation fulcrum P 2 . By this, the rotation fulcrum of the press member  30  is shifted to the second rotation fulcrum P 2  which is further from the press portion  31   c  than the first rotation fulcrum P 1 , thus, a press force of the press member  30  becomes larger, and the rear end side of the first movable piece portion  22  is pushed further upwardly. At this time, since an abutting position of the press portion  31   c  is shifted to the second abutting portion  22   c , which is approximately horizontal from the first abutting portion  22   b , by an abutting of the press portion  31   c  and the second contacting portion  22   c , each of the movable piece portions  22  and  23  is held as being deformed, and the rotation of the press member  30  toward an opening direction is regulated. Also, due to a change in angles of each of the contacting portions  22   b  and  22   c , it is possible to feel that the press member  30  is closed when the contacting position of the press portion  31   c  is shifted. 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 6A , when the rear end side of the press member  30  is pushed downwardly, the second convex portion  31   a  of the press member  30  is engaged with the first convex portion  21   c  as shown in  FIG. 6B , the press member  30  rotates on the first rotation fulcrum P 1 , the front end side of the press member  30  moves upwardly. At this time, the abutting position of the press portion  31   c  is shifted to the first abutting portion  22   b  from the second abutting portion  22   c . Moreover, when the rear end side of the press member  30  is pushed further downwardly, the pushing member  30  rotates toward the opening direction as shown in  FIG. 6C , and the abutting between the press portion  31   c  and the first abutting portion  22   b  is released. By this, the front end portions of the movable piece portions  22  and  23  are moved upwardly by a restoration force of the springy piece portion  24 , the contacting portions  22   a  and  23   a  are detached from the flexible circuit  1  and each of the contacts is released, and the flexible circuit  1  can be extracted from the connector main body  10 . 
     Operations of the contacts  20  when the press member  30  is closed is further explained, as shown in  FIG. 7A , when an upward directed force F toward upwards is generated at the rear end side of the first movable piece portion  22 , the first contacting portion  22   a  and the second contacting portion  23   a  are pressed to the upper face of the flexible circuit  1 . After that, as shown in  FIG. 7B , when a further upward directed force F is generated, the rear end side of the second movable piece portion  23  is moved up by the first movable piece portion  22 , and a moment M around a fulcrum Q of the springy piece portion  24  as a center thereof is generated. By this, even after the contacting portions  22   a  and  23   a  are touched tightly the flexible circuit  1  respectively, a downward directed pressing force to the front end side of the second movable piece portion  23  increases, and a contact pressure of the second contacting portion  23   a  becomes higher. 
     Also, when the flexible circuit  1  is inserted into the insertion slot  10   a  of the connector main body  10 , the tip of the flexible circuit  1  abuts against the inclined face of the engagement portion  51  of the lock members  50 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , the engagement portion  51  and movable portion  52  are moved toward outside in the width direction of the connector main body  10 . Further, when the flexible circuit  1  is inserted into a predetermined position, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the engagement portion  51  is engaged with the dented portion  1   a  of the flexible circuit  1 , and the engagement portion  51  and the movable portion  52  are moved toward inside in the width direction. By this, the connector main body  10  temporarily holds the flexible circuit  1  by the lock members  50 . Next, when the press member  30  is rotated to the closed position, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the protrude portion  32  of the press member  30  is inserted between the movable portion  52  and the side face portion  13  of the connector main body  10 . By this, a movement of the lock members  50  toward outside in the width direction of the lock member  50  is regulated by the protrude portion  32 , the flexible circuit  1  becomes completely locked by the lock members  50 . As is shown in  FIG. 11 , when the engagement portion  51  is not engaged with the dented portion la of the flexible circuit  1  because of an imperfect insertion of the flexible circuit  1 , the press member  30  is rotated to the closed direction while the engagement portion  51  and the movable portion  52  are moved toward the outside in the width direction of the connector main body  10 , the protrude portion  32  of the press member  30  abuts the movable portion  52 , and the rotation of the press member  30  to the closed direction becomes regulated. This prevents the press member  30  from being rotated to the closed position when the flexible circuit  1  is imperfectly inserted. 
     As described above, according to the connector of the present embodiment, rotation fulcrums P 1  and P 2  of the press member  30  are provided between the anterior and posterior ends thereof, so that when the anterior end of the press member  30  is pressed to rotate the press member  30  in one direction, respective contacts  20  are pressed against the flexible circuit  1  by the press member  30  and, when the posterior end of the press member  30  is pressed to rotate the press member  30  in the other direction, the press of the respective contacts  20  by the press member  30  is cancelled. Thus, the press member  30  can be rotated by press operation in whichever direction the press member  30  is rotated. Consequently, it is possible to improve the operability of the press member  30 . In this case, the press member need not be pulled up with fingertips as is done conventionally. Accordingly, there is no need to increase the size of the connector itself in the height direction thereof, in an attempt to improve the operability. Thus, the connector is extremely advantageous in mounting on small-sized electronic equipment. 
     In addition, the rotation fulcrum of the press member  30  shifts from the first rotation fulcrum P 1  to the second rotation fulcrum P 2  in the course of the press member  30  being rotated to one rotational position. Since the second rotation fulcrum P 2  is provided in a position where a pressing force exerted upon the contacts  20  by the press member  30  is greater than in the position of the first rotation fulcrum P 1 , the posterior end of a first movable piece portion  22  can be pushed up further at the time of rotating the press member  30  to a closed position. Thus, it is possible to more securely connect the flexible circuit  1  and the respective contacts  20 . 
     Furthermore, the abutting position of the press member  30  shifts from a first abutting portion  22   b  of the contacts  20  to a second abutting portion  22   c  thereof in the course of the press member  30  being rotated to one rotational position. In addition, the respective movable piece portions  22  and  23  of the contacts  20  are displaced by the abutment of the first abutting portion  22   b  and the press member  30 , and the respective movable piece portions  22  and  23  are kept displaced by the abutment of the second abutting portion  22   c  and the press member  30 . Thus, the press member  30  can be prevented from rotating in an opening direction by the abutment of the press member  30  and the second abutting portion  22   c . Consequently, it is possible to securely maintain the closed state of the press member  30 . At that time, a sense of operation that the press member  30  has been closed can be gained when the abutting position of the press member  30  shifts due to the angular changes of the respective abutting portions  22   b  and  22   c . Consequently, it is possible to confirm by the sense of operation that the press member  30  has been securely closed. 
     Yet furthermore, the first convex portion  21   c  and the first concave portion  21   d  with which the press member  30  rotatably engages are provided in the fixing piece portion  21  of the contacts  20 . Consequently, it is possible to securely maintain the relative positions of the contacts  20  and the press member  30 . Thus, the respective movable piece portions  22  and  23  of the contacts  20  can be precisely operated by the press member  30 . 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
         
           
               1  . . . Flexible circuit  1 , 
               1   a  . . . Dented portion, 
               20  . . . Contact, 
               21  . . . Fixing piece portion, 
               21   c  . . . First convex portion, 
               21   d  . . . First concave portion, 
               22  . . . First movable piece portion, 
               22   a  . . . First contacting portion, 
               22   b  . . . First abutting portion, 
               22   c  . . . Second abutting portion, 
               23  . . . First movable piece portion, 
               23   a  . . . Second contacting portion, 
               24  . . . Springy piece portion, 
               40  . . . Fixing member, 
               50  . . . Lock member.