Patent Publication Number: US-7722373-B2

Title: Electrical connector with a slidable locking member

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a connector, more particularly to a connector which electrically connects a flat object to be connected, such as an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) or an FFC (Flexible Flat Cable), and the other object to be connected with each other. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Conventionally, there has been proposed a connector for flat cables (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2007-323867). 
   This connector is comprised of a housing, a plurality of contacts, an actuator, and a pair of locking portions. 
   The housing includes an insertion opening for inserting a front end of the flat cable. The housing has opposite ends formed with auxiliary fitting-accommodating recesses. 
   A plurality of contacts are disposed in the housing at equally-spaced intervals. 
   The actuator is attached to the housing such that it is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. The actuator has opposite ends formed with locked portions which have a substantially protrusion-like shape. 
   Each of a pair of locking portions is accommodated in the associated auxiliary fitting-accommodating recess, and is fixed to the housing. The locking portion is made of a metal plate having elasticity, and has a substantially claw-like shape. 
   When the actuator is in the open position, it is possible to insert the flat cable into the insertion opening of the housing. When the actuator is in the closed position, the actuator covers the insertion opening of the housing, and pushes the flat cable against the contact. 
   When the actuator is rotated from the open position to the closed position, the locked portions of the actuator push aside the locking portions by elastically deforming the same against spring force thereof, to thereby go under the locking portions. This causes the locked portions to be hooked on the locking portions, thereby the actuator is locked in the closed position. 
   When the actuator in the locked state is rotated to the open position, the locked portions of the actuator push aside the locking portions by elastically deforming the same against the spring force thereof, whereby the actuator is unlocked. This makes it possible to make the actuator reach to the open position. 
   In the above-described connector, a locking member is formed by a metal plate having elasticity, and an area of engagement of the locked portion of the actuator and the locking portion is narrow. Therefore, if the flat cable is pulled in a direction of the height of the connector by some cause, there is a fear that the actuator is released from the locked state, whereby the flat cable comes off the connector. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a connector which makes it possible to positively maintain a locked state of an actuator even if an object to be connected is pulled in the direction of the thickness thereof. 
   To attain the above object, the present invention provides a connector comprising a housing that has an accommodating space for accommodating part of a flat object to be connected, a plurality of contacts that are fixed in the housing, an actuator which is mounted on the housing such that the actuator is pivotally movable between an open position for accommodating part of the object to be connected into the accommodating space and a closed position for pressing part of the object to be connected against the contacts, and a locking member which is mounted on the housing such that the locking member is slidable between a locked position to inhibit the actuator in the closed position from opening and an unlocked position to allow the actuator in the closed position to open, along a direction which is orthogonal to a direction of thickness of part of the object to be connected. 
   With the arrangement of the connector according to the present invention, the locking member is slidable between the unlocked position and the locked position along the direction which is orthogonal to the direction of the thickness of part of the object to be connected which is accommodated in the accommodating space. Therefore, even if the object to be connected is pulled in the direction of the thickness thereof, the locking member is not moved in the direction of the thickness of the object to be connected. 
   Preferably, the direction of sliding of the locking member is a direction of arrangement of the contacts. 
   Preferably, the direction of sliding of the locking member is substantially orthogonal to both of the direction of the thickness of part of the object to be connected and a direction of arrangement of the contacts. 
   According to this invention, it is possible to positively maintain the locked state of the actuator, even if the object to be connected is pulled. 
   The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1A  is a front view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 1B  is a plan view of the same; 
       FIG. 1C  is a side view of the same; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 1  connector in a state in which a locking portion of the  FIG. 1  connector is in a locked position, and an actuator in a closed position is locked; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 1  connector in a state in which the locking portion of the  FIG. 1  connector is in the unlocked position, and the actuator is in an open position; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the locking member of the  FIG. 1  connector; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 1  connector in a state in which an FPC is accommodated in an accommodating space of the  FIG. 1  connector, the actuator is in the open position, and the locking member is in the unlocked position; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 1  connector in a state in which the FPC is accommodated in the accommodating space of the  FIG. 1  connector, the actuator is in the closed position, and the locking member is in the unlocked position; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken on line VII-VII of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 1  connector in a state in which the FPC is accommodated in the accommodating space of the  FIG. 1  connector, the actuator is in the closed position, and the locking member is in a locked position; 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken on line IX-IX of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10A  is front view of a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10B  is a plan view of the same; 
       FIG. 10C  is a side view of the same; 
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 10  connector in a state in which a locking member of the  FIG. 10  connector is in a locked position, and an actuator in a closed position is locked; 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 10  connector in a state in which the locking member of the  FIG. 10  connector is in an unlocked position, and the actuator is in the open position; 
       FIG. 13  is a perspective view of one end of the  FIG. 10  connector; 
       FIG. 14  is a view taken in the direction of an arrow A in  FIG. 13 ; 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the locking member of the  FIG. 10  connector; 
       FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 10  connector in a state in which the FPC is accommodated in an accommodating space of the  FIG. 10  connector, the actuator is in the open position, and the locking member is in the unlocked position; 
       FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 10  connector in a state in which the FPC is accommodated in the accommodating space of the  FIG. 10  connector, the actuator is in the closed position, and the locking member is in the unlocked position; 
       FIG. 18   a  cross-sectional view taken on line XVIII-XVIII of  FIG. 10B  in a state in which the FPC is accommodated in the accommodating space of the  FIG. 10  connector, the actuator is in the closed position, and the locking member is in the unlocked position; 
       FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 10  connector in a state in which the FPC is accommodated in the accommodating space of the  FIG. 10  connector, the actuator is in the closed position, and the locking member is in the locked position; and 
       FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of the  FIG. 10  connector in a state in which the FPC is accommodated in the accommodating space of the  FIG. 10  connector, the actuator is in the closed position, and the locking member is in the locked position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing preferred embodiments thereof. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  1 C, the connector is comprised of a housing  3 , a plurality of contacts  5  and  6 , an actuator  7 , and locking members  9 . The connector is mounted on a printed board (not shown) which is one of objects to be connected, and electrically connects an FPC (flat object to be connected)  21  which is the other of objects to be connected appearing in  FIG. 5 , to the printed board. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the housing  3  includes a base portion  31 , a rear wall portion  32 , side wall portions  33 , and locking portions  34 , and is made of a synthetic resin. 
   The base portion  31  has an upper surface formed with a plurality of accommodating portions  31   a . The accommodating portions  31   a  extend in the front-rear direction of the housing  3 . First recesses  31   b  are formed in lower surfaces of opposite ends of the base portion  31  (see  FIGS. 1A and 7 ). The first recesses  31   b  extend in a contact arranging direction DC. Each of the first recesses  31   b  receives part of a bottom board  91   b  of a locking portion  91  of the locking member  9 . Further, second recesses (not shown) are formed in the lower surfaces of the opposite ends of the base portion  31 . The second recesses are at a location rearward of the first recesses  31   b , and extend in the contact arranging direction DC. Each of the second recesses has an inner surface formed with three pairs of engaging recesses (not shown). Each of the second recesses receives an attitude stabilizing board  94  (see  FIG. 4 ) of each locking member  9 . The three pairs of engaging recesses are engaged with first engaging protrusions  94   a  and second engaging protrusions  94   b  of the attitude stabilizing board  94  to thereby hold the associated locking member  9  in a locked position or an unlocked position. 
   The rear wall portion  32  is continuous with a rear of the base portion  31 . The rear wall portion  32  has a plurality of accommodating portions (not shown) formed therein which are continuous with the accommodating portions  31   a  of the base portion  31 . The accommodating portions of the rear wall portion  32  extend in the front-rear direction of the housing  3 . The accommodating portions  31   a  of the base portion  31  and the accommodating portions of the rear wall portion  32  form contact accommodating portions. The rear wall portion  32  has opposite ends formed with rail portions  32   a . The rail portions  32   a  extend in the contact arranging direction DC. Further, the rear wall portion  32  has a front surface formed with a recess  32   b . The recess  32   b  receives part of a front end of the FPC  21  (see  FIG. 5 ). 
   The side wall portions  33  are continuous with the opposite ends of the base portion  31 . One end of each of the side wall portions  33  is continuous with the rear wall portion  32 . Each side wall portion  33  has a front portion formed with a cutout  33   a . The cutout  33   a  avoids being brought into contact with an upper board  91   a  of the locking portion  91  of each locking member  9 . 
   The locking portions  34  are continuous with a front portion of the base portion  31 . Each of the locking portion  34  has a prismatic shape and extends in the contact arranging direction DC. An upper surface of each locking portion  34  is flush with a bottom surface of the cutout  33   a  of each side wall portion  33 . Each locking portion  34  has a rear surface formed with a cutout  34   a.    
   The base portion  31 , the rear wall portion  32 , and the side wall portions  33  define an accommodating space  35 . The accommodating space  35  accommodates the front end of the FPC  21 . 
   Each of the contacts  5  includes a contact portion (not shown) and a supporting portion  5   b , and is made of a metal. The contact portion of each contact  5  is brought into contact with a conductor (not shown) formed in the FPC  21 . The supporting portion  5   b  supports the actuator  7  (see  FIG. 3 ) such that the actuator is pivotally movable. 
   Each of the contacts  6  has a contact portion  6   a  and a presser portion  6   b , and is made of a metal. The contact portion  6   a  is brought into contact with the conductor (not shown) formed in the FPC  21 . The presser portion  6   b , as described hereinafter, pushes the actuator  7  downward at a cutout  7   b  when the actuator  7  is in the closed position. The contacts  5  and the contacts  6  are alternately accommodated in the contact accommodating portions of the housing  3  (see  FIG. 1B ). 
   The actuator  7  has a substantially plate-like shape, includes cutouts  7   a , the cutouts  7   b , recesses  7   c , and a shaft (not shown) (see  FIG. 2 ), and is made of a synthetic resin. The cutouts  7   a  and the cutouts  7   b  are alternately formed in the rear of the actuator  7 . Each cutout  7   a  receives the supporting portion  5   b  of the associated contact  5 . Each cutout  7   b  receives the presser portion  6   b  of the associated contact  6 . The recesses  7   c  are formed in the upper surface of the opposite ends of the actuator  7 . The shaft extends across the cutouts  7   a . The shaft is rotatably supported by the supporting portions  5   b  of the contacts  5 . Therefore, the actuator  7  is capable of pivotally moving about the shaft between the open position and the closed position. When the actuator  7  is in the open position (position of the actuator  7  shown in  FIG. 3 ), it is possible to accommodate the front end of the FPC  21  in the accommodating space  35 . When the actuator  7  is in the closed position (position of the actuator  7  shown in  FIG. 2 ), the actuator  7  presses the front end of the FPC  21  to the contact portions of the contacts  5  and the contact portions  6   a  of the contacts  6 . 
   Each of the locking members  9  has the locking portion  91 , an attitude maintaining portion  92 , an connecting portion  93 , and the attitude stabilizing board  94  (see  FIG. 4 ), and is made of a synthetic resin. 
   The locking portion  91  is substantially casing-shaped, and includes the upper board  91   a , the bottom board  91   b , and a front board  91   c . The locking portions  91  are mounted on the housing  3  in a manner sandwiching the respective front portions of the opposite ends of the housing  3  from above and below, and is movable in the contact arranging direction DC (the direction which is orthogonal to both of the direction of the thickness of the front end of the FPC  21  which is accommodated in the accommodating space  35 , and the direction in which the FPC  21  is inserted in the accommodating space  35 ). 
   The attitude maintaining portion  92  includes an upper board  92   a  and a rear board  92   b . The upper board  92   a  is brought into contact with an upper surface of the rail portion  32   a  of the housing  3 , and the rear board  92   b  is brought into contact with a rear surface of the rail portion  32   a . The attitude maintaining portion  92  is brought into contact with the rail portion  32   a , whereby a change in the attitude of the locking portion  91  is reduced when the locking portion  91  slides, and hence the locking portion  91  smoothly slides. 
   The connecting portion  93  has a substantially prismatic shape, and connects between the locking portion  91  and the attitude maintaining portion  92 . 
   The attitude stabilizing board  94  is continuous with a lower part of the center of the connecting portion  93 . The attitude stabilizing board  94  is formed with the first engaging protrusions  94   a  and the second engaging protrusions  94   b . The attitude stabilizing board  94  is accommodated in the second recess, not shown, of the housing  3  so as to be brought into contact with the housing  3 , as described above, thereby cooperating with the attitude maintaining portion  92  to stabilize the attitude of the locking portion  91  during sliding thereof. 
   The locking members  9  are mounted on the opposite ends of the housing  3  such that they are each slidable between the locked position (position of the locking member  9  shown in  FIG. 2 ) and the unlocked position (position of the locking member  9  shown in  FIG. 3 ) along the connector arranging direction DC. If the locking members  9  are each moved from the unlocked position to the locked position when the actuator  7  is in the closed position, part of the upper board  91   a  of each locking member  9  is inserted in the recess  7   c  of the actuator  7 , whereby the opening movement of the actuator  7  is blocked (locked). If the locking members  9  are each moved from the locked position to the unlocked position, the upper board  91   a  of each locking member  9  is removed from the recess  7   c  of the actuator  7 , whereby the opening movement of the actuator  7  is allowed (unlocked). 
   A description will be given of how to use this connector with reference to  FIG. 5  and other related figures. 
   First, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the front end of the FPC  21  is inserted in the accommodating space  35  of the housing  3 . At this time, protruding pieces  21   a  which are formed at the front end of the FPC  21  are hooked on the locking portions  34  of the housing  3 . 
   Next, the actuator  7  in the open position is pivotally moved in a manner tilted forward. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the actuator  7  stops when it comes to the closed position. At this time, the actuator  7  presses the FPC  21  toward the contacts. 
   Then, each locking member  9  in the unlocked position is slid toward the actuator  7 . As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , each locking member  9  stops when it comes to the locked position. At this time, part of the upper board  91   a  of each locking member  9  is inserted in the recess  7   c  of the actuator  7 . 
   In this state, if force acts part of the FPC  21  protruding from the accommodating space  35  in a manner lifting the part up in the direction of the height of the connector, the actuator  7  attempts to pivotally move toward the open position. However, the upper board  91   a  of each locking member  9  is located in the pivotal orbit of the actuator  7 , and hence the actuator  7  is brought into abutment with the upper board  91   a  of each locking member  9 , which prevents the actuator  7  from pivotal motion. Therefore, the locked state of the actuator  7  is maintained. 
   Further, the protruding pieces  21   a  formed at the front end of the FPC  21  are hooked on the locking portions  34  of the housing  3 . Therefore, even when force acts on the FPC  21  in a pull-out direction, the FPC  21  cannot be pulled out from the accommodating space  35 . 
   As described above, according to the first embodiment, even if the FPC  21  is pulled in the direction of the height of the connector, or pulled in the pull-out direction, it is possible to positively maintain the locked state of the actuator  7 . 
   Next, a connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 10A  to  FIG. 15 . 
   Component parts identical to those of the connector according to the first embodiment are denoted by identical reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted, while only main component parts different in construction from those of the first embodiment will be described hereinafter. 
   The connector according to the second embodiment is distinguished from the connector according to the first embodiment in which the sliding direction of the locking member  9  coincides with the contact arranging direction DC, in that the sliding direction of a locking member  209  coincides with a front-rear direction DF of a housing  203  (direction which is substantially orthogonal to both of the direction of the thickness of part of the object to be connected and the contact arranging direction). 
   Although in the connector according to the first embodiment, the rail portions  32   a  are formed at the opposite ends of the rear wall portion  32  of the housing  3 , in the connector according to the second embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 12 , no rail portions are formed on a rear wall portion  232  of the housing  203 , but instead, rail portions  233   b  are formed on respective front portions of side wall portions  233 . The rail portions  233   b  extend in the front-rear direction DF. 
   Further, each of the side wall portions  233  is formed with an accommodating space  233   a . The accommodating space  233   a  extends in the front-rear direction DF. 
   Furthermore, as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , each of the side wall portions  233  is formed with a slit  233   c  opening in a side surface thereof. The slit  233   c  includes a first recess  233   ca , a second recess  233   cb , and a third recess  233  cc, and these recesses are arranged at equally-spaced intervals. 
   As shown in  FIG. 15 , each locking member  209  according to the second embodiment includes a locking portion  291 , an insertion portion  292 , a first pin portion  293 , and a second pin portion  294 , and is made of a synthetic resin. 
   Each locking portion  291  is substantially casing-shaped, and includes an upper board  291   a , a bottom board  291   b , a front board  291   c  and a side board  291   d . Each locking portion  291  is mounted in the housing  203  in a manner sandwiching the front portion of each end of the housing  203 , and is movable in the front-rear direction DF. 
   The insertion portion  292  has a substantially prismatic shape, and is continuous with the rear of the locking portion  291 . The insertion portion  292  is slidably inserted in the accommodating space  233   a  of the housing  203 . This causes the locking portions  209  to be mounted on the opposite ends of the housing  203 , respectively, such that they are each slidable between the locked position (position of the locking portion  209  shown in  FIG. 11 ) and the unlocked position (position of the locking member  209  shown in  FIG. 12 ) along the front-rear direction DF. 
   The first pin portion  293  and the second pin portion  294  are arranged on the side surface of the insertion portion  292  in a manner spaced from each other. When the first pin portion  293  and the second pin portion  294  are engaged with the first recess  233   ca  and the second recess  233   cb  of the housing  203 , respectively, each locking member  209  is maintained in the locked position, whereas when the first pin portion  293  and the second pin portion  294  are engaged with the second recess  233   cb  and the third recess  233   cc , respectively, each locking member  209  is maintained in the unlocked position. 
   If the locking members  209  are each moved from the unlocked position to the locked position when the actuator  7  is in the closed position, part of the upper board  291   a  of each locking member  209  is inserted in the recess  7   c  of the actuator  7  to thereby inhibit the actuator  7  from opening. If the locking members  209  are each moved from the locked position to the unlocked position, the upper board  291   a  of each locking member  209  is removed from the recess  7   c  of the actuator  7  to thereby allow the actuator  7  to open. 
   A description will be given of how to use this connector with reference to  FIG. 16  and other related figures. 
   First, as shown in  FIG. 16 , the front end of the FPC  21  is inserted in the accommodating space  35  of the housing  203 . At this time, the protruding pieces  21   a  formed at the front end of the FPC  21  are hooked on the locking portions  34  of the housing  203 . 
   Next, the actuator  7  in the open position is rotated in a manner tilted forward. As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the actuator  7  stops when it comes to the closed position. 
   Then, each locking member  209  in the unlocked position is slid. As shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , each locking member  209  stops when it comes to the locked position. At this time, part of the upper board  291   a  of each locking member  209  is inserted in the recess  7   c  of the actuator  7 . 
   In this state, if force acts on part of the FPC  21  protruding from the accommodating space  35  of the housing  203  in a manner lifting up the part in the direction of the height of the connector, the actuator  7  attempts to pivotally move toward the open position. However, the actuator  7  is brought into abutment with the upper board  291   a  of each locking member  209 , and hence it is impossible to rotate the actuator  7 . Therefore, the locked state of the actuator  7  is maintained. 
   As described above, according to the second embodiment, the same advantageous effects as provided by the first embodiment are obtained. 
   Although in the above-described embodiments, the actuator  7  is mounted in the housings  3  and  203  such that they are pivotally movable on the contacts  5 , shafts may be formed at the opposite ends of the actuator  7 , and the shafts may be rotatably supported by bearings which are directly formed on the housing, or the actuator  7  may be rotatably supported by the contacts and the housing. 
   Further, although in the above-described embodiments, the FPC  21  is employed as the flat object to be connected, the flat object to be connected is not limited to the FPC  21 , but for example, an FFC or the like may be used. 
   It is further understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing are the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and that various changes and modification may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.