Patent Publication Number: US-7914312-B1

Title: Connector having a support board moving upward to ensure contact between a flexible circuit board contacts and electrical terminals

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a connector for a flexible printed circuit (FPC hereinafter for simplification) board. 
     2. The Related Art 
     A traditional FPC connector includes an insulating housing, a plurality of terminals disposed in the insulating housing and an actuator. The actuator is pivotally mounted to the insulating housing and defines two pivoting portions pivoted in two opposite sides of the insulating housing so that the actuator can be opened or closed freely. After inserting an FPC board into the FPC connector, the actuator can rotate from an open position to a closed position. However, there always exists a distance between the pivoting portions of the actuator and the insulating housing, while at the closed position, the actuator is apt to move under shaking that causes the FPC board and the terminals electrically contact each other unsteadily. Moreover, the FPC board may be held between the insulating housing and the actuator without any fixtures, so the FPC board may slide out of the FPC connector when the FPC connector is under shaking. As a result, the electrical connection between the FPC board and the terminals is not steady. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a connector adapted for receiving a longitudinally inserted flexible printed circuit board therein. The connector includes an insulating housing, a plurality of electrical terminals and a slidable cover. The insulating housing defines a receiving recess for receiving the flexible printed circuit board therein and a pair of receiving cavities at two sides of the receiving recess in a front surface thereof. The electrical terminals are disposed in the insulating housing and stretch into the receiving recess for contacting with the flexible printed circuit board. The slidable cover is mounted to the insulating housing and has a base board attached to the front surface of the insulating housing. A portion of the base board forms a gap corresponding to the receiving recess for allowing the flexible printed circuit board to be inserted therefrom. A supporting board is extended towards the insulating housing from a portion of the base board adjacent to an inmost edge of the gap for supporting the inserted flexible printed circuit board. Two opposite ends of the base board extend towards the same direction as the supporting board to form a pair of fixing arms located at two sides of the supporting board and spaced apart from the supporting board for being inserted into the corresponding receiving cavities. When free ends of the fixing arms are inserted into fronts of the corresponding receiving cavities, the flexible printed circuit board is inserted into the receiving recess from the gap and supported on the supporting board. After the flexible printed circuit board is inserted in the receiving recess, the fixing arms continue to slide rearward in the corresponding receiving cavities to make the fixing arms have an upward displacement by displacing structures formed between the corresponding the receiving cavities and the fixing arms. The fixing arms drive the supporting board to move upward so as to ensure a steady contact of the flexible printed circuit board contact and the electrical terminals. 
     As described above, when free ends of the fixing arms are inserted into fronts of the corresponding receiving cavities, the flexible printed circuit board is inserted into the receiving recess from the gap and supported on the supporting board. And then, the fixing arms continue to slide rearward in the corresponding receiving cavities to make the fixing arms have an upward displacement by displacing structures formed between the corresponding the receiving cavities and the fixing arms. The fixing arms further drive the supporting board to move upward so as to ensure a steady electrical connection of the flexible printed circuit board contact and the electrical terminals. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an FPC connector in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the FPC connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is another exploded view of the FPC connector of  FIG. 1  from another direction; 
         FIG. 4  is a top sectional view of the FPC connector of  FIG. 1 , when a slidable cover is partially assembled with an insulating housing of the FPC connector; 
         FIG. 5  is another top sectional view of the FPC connector of  FIG. 1 , when the slidable cover is fully assembled with the insulating housing of the FPC connector; 
         FIG. 6  is lateral sectional views of the slidable cover mounted on the insulating housing of the FPC connector, showing two statuses of the slidable cover partially assembled with the insulating housing and the slidable cover fully assembled with the insulating housing; and 
         FIG. 7  is another perspective view of the FPC connector of  FIG. 1 , in which an FPC board is inserted. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , an FPC connector  1  according to the present invention is shown. The FPC connector  1  includes an insulating housing  10 , a slidable cover  20  mounted to the insulating housing  10 , a plurality of electrical terminals  30  and a pair of fastening members  40  disposed in the insulating housing  10  respectively. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , the insulating housing  10  is of substantially rectangular shape and disposed levelly. The insulating housing  10  defines a rectangular receiving recess  11  extending transversely and passing through a front surface  12  thereof to receive an FPC board  5  therein (shown in  FIG. 7 ). Upper portions of a rear wall of the receiving recess  11  are recessed rearward to form a plurality of first passageways  111  and a plurality of second passageways  112  alternately arranged at regular intervals along a transverse direction thereof and each extending longitudinally to pass through a rear surface  13  of the insulating housing  10 . Lower portions of the rear wall of the receiving recess  11  are recessed rearward to form a plurality of first receiving grooves  113  and a plurality of second receiving grooves  114  alternately arranged at regular intervals along a transverse direction thereof and each extending longitudinally to pass through the rear surface  13  of the insulating housing  10 . The first receiving grooves  113  and the second receiving grooves  114  correspond to the first passageways  111  and the second passageways  112 , respectively. A plurality of first and second connecting slots  115 ,  118  are formed in the rear surface  13  of the insulating housing  10  each extending vertically to connect the corresponding first passageways  111  and the corresponding first receiving grooves  113 , the corresponding second passageways  112  and the corresponding second receiving grooves  114 , respectively. A top wall of the receiving recess  11  defines a plurality of first fixing slots  116  and a plurality of second fixing slots  117  alternately arranged at regular intervals along a transverse direction thereof to respectively communicate with the corresponding passageways  111 ,  112 . 
     A pair of rectangular holding grooves  14  are formed at two sides of the rear surface  13  of the insulating housing  10 , respectively, with the connecting slots  115 ,  118  located therebetween. The insulating housing  10  further defines a pair of rectangular receiving cavities  15  located at two sides of the receiving recess  11  and with the holding grooves  14  located therebetween. Each of the receiving cavities  15  extends longitudinally to pass through the front surface  12  and the rear surface  13  of the insulating housing  10  respectively. A portion of a side wall of the receiving cavity  15  is protruded inwardly to form a projection  151 . A rear portion of a bottom wall of the receiving cavity  15  is protruded upward to form a substantially rectangular supporting block  152 . A first guiding surface  154  is formed to smoothly connect the bottom wall of the receiving cavity  15  and a front surface  12  of the insulating housing  10 . A second guiding surface  153  is formed to smoothly connect a front part of the supporting block  152  to the bottom wall of the receiving cavity  15 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6  again, the slidable cover  20  has a substantially rectangular base board  21 . A substantially middle of a side the base board  21  is cut to form a rectangular gap  211  extending transversely corresponding to the receiving recess  11  of the insulating housing  10 . A rectangular and transverse supporting board  22  is extended perpendicularly from a portion of the base board  21  adjacent to an inmost edge of the gap  211  A rear end of the supporting board  22  is bent a little to form a preventing board  221  facing the gap  211 . Two opposite ends of the base board  21  extend rearward to form a pair of fixing arms  23  beyond the supporting board  22 . The supporting board  22  is located between the fixing arms  23  and spaced apart from the fixing arms  23 . An inner surface of each of the fixing arms  23  which is adjacent to the supporting board  22  defines a first locating groove  231  adjacent to a free end of the corresponding fixing arm  23  and a second locating groove  232  adjacent to the base board  21 , a lump  233  formed between the first and second locating grooves  231 ,  232 . A portion of the fixing arm  23  adjacent to the base board  21  is protruded towards a direction opposite to the preventing board  221  to form a sliding block  234 . The thickness of the sliding block  234  is substantially the same as that of the supporting block  152  so as to keep balance when the FPC board  5  is fully inserted into the insulating housing  10 . One end of the sliding block  234  is connected with the base board  21 , the other end of the sliding block  234  forms a first slope  236  to connect with the fixing arm  234 . A second slope  235  is formed at a lower corner of a free end of the fixing arm  23 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the electrical terminals  30  includes a plurality of first electrical terminals  31  and a plurality of second electrical terminals  32 . Each of the first electrical terminals  31  has a first connecting plate  311  extending vertically. Two opposite ends of the first connecting plate  311  are bent towards the same direction to form a first contact arm  312  and a first lower arm  313 . The first contact arm  312  and the first lower arm  313  are spaced from parallel to each other. The end of the first connecting plate  311  from which the first contact arm  312  is extended extends outward to form a first soldering portion  314  biased from the first connecting plate  311  and a first fixing portion  315  located between the first soldering portion  314  and the first contact arm  312 . A free end of the first contact arm  312  is protruded towards the first lower arm  313  to form a first contact lump  316 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4  again, each of the second electrical terminals  32  has a second connecting plate  321 . Two opposite ends of the second connecting plate  321  are bent towards the same direction to form a second contact arm  322  and a second lower arm  323 . The second contact arm  322  and the second lower arm  323  are spaced from and parallel to each other. The end of the second connecting plate  321  from which the second lower arm  323  is extended extends outward to form a second soldering portion  324  biased from the second connecting plate  321 . The end of the second connecting plate  321  from which the second contact arm  322  is extended is protruded outward to form a second fixing portion  325 . A free end of the second contact arm  322  is protruded towards the second lower arm  323  to form a second contact lump  326 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , each of the fastening members  40  has a base bar  41  extending vertically. A substantially middle portion of the base bar  41  extends forward to form a retention portion  42 . The base bar  41  and the retention portion  42  cooperate to show a substantial T shape. A plurality of teeth  421  are formed at two opposite side edges of the retention portion  42 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , in assembly, the first electrical terminals  31  are inserted forward with the first connecting plates  311  being inserted into the corresponding first connecting slots  115  of the insulating housing  10 , rear portions of the first contact arms  312  being fastened in the corresponding first passageways  111 , front portions of the first contact arms  312  being fastened in the corresponding first fixing slots  116 , rear portions of the first lower arm  313  being received in the corresponding first receiving grooves  113  and front portions of the first lower arms  313  stretching into the receiving recess  11  and under the first contact arms  312 . The first soldering portions  314  are exposed out of a top of the insulating housing  10  for being soldered with a printed circuit board (not shown). The first fixing portions  315  are abutted against corresponding inner walls of the corresponding first passageways  111  for forming a firmer connection between the insulating housing  10  and the first electrical terminals  31 . The second electrical terminals  32  are inserted forward with the second connecting plates  321  being inserted into the corresponding second connecting slots  118  of the insulating housing  10 , rear portions of the second contact arms  322  being fastened in the corresponding second passageways  112 , front portions of the second contact arms  322  being fastened in the corresponding second fixing slots  117 , rear portions of the second lower arm  323  being received in the corresponding second receiving grooves  114  and front portions of the second lower arms  323  stretching into the receiving recess  11  and under the second contact arms  322 . The second soldering portions  324  are exposed out of a bottom of the insulating housing  10  for being soldered with the printed circuit board. The second fixing portions  325  are abutted against corresponding inner walls of the corresponding second receiving grooves  114  for forming a firmer connection between the insulating housing  10  and the second electrical terminals  32 . The first soldering portions  314  and the second soldering portions  324  are alternately arranged at the rear of the insulating housing  10  so as to strengthen the soldering between the FPC connector  1  and the printed circuit board. The fastening members  40  are inserted forward with the base bars  41  inserted into the corresponding holding grooves  14  and the retention portion  42  abutting against the rear surface  13  of the insulating housing  10 . Two ends of the base bar  41  are soldered with the printed circuit board. The teeth  421  are abutted against inner surfaces of the holding groove  14  for forming a firmer engagement between the fastening member  40  and the insulating housing  10 . The slidable cover  20  is mounted to the insulating housing  10  with the fixing arms  23  inserted into the corresponding receiving cavities  15 , the supporting board  22  stretching into the receiving recess  11  and the base board  21  abutting against the front surface  12  of the insulating housing  10 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-7  again, in use, the slidable cover  20  is pushed rearward with the supporting board  22  partially stretching into the receiving recess  11  and located between the contact arms  312 ,  322  and the lower arms  313 ,  323 , and the fixing arms  23  being inserted into the corresponding receiving cavities  15 . The fixing arms  23  slide along the corresponding receiving cavities  15  till the second slope  235  contacting with the second guiding surface  153  and the first slope  236  contacting with the first guiding surface  154 , and in the meantime the projections  151  of the receiving cavities  15  are located in the corresponding first locating grooves  231  of the slidable cover  20 . Then the FPC board  5  is inserted rearward into the receiving recess  11  of the insulating housing  10  through the gap  211  of the slidable cover  20  with a front end thereof being restricted by the preventing board  221  and part of the FPC board  5  located on the supporting board  22 . Meantime, the FPC board  5  is non-contact with the contact lumps  316 ,  326  of the electrical terminals  31 ,  32 . Then the slidable cover  20  is further pushed rearward to form an upward displacement of the supporting board  22  by means of the second slopes  235  sliding along the corresponding second guiding surfaces  153  and the first slopes  236  of the sliding blocks  234  sliding along the corresponding first guiding surfaces  154  till the base board  21  of the slidable cover  20  abutting against the front surface  12  of the insulating housing  10 . Meantime, the projections  151  of the receiving cavities  15  slide into the corresponding second locating grooves  232  by way of the lumps  233 , the free ends of the fixing arms  23  being located on the corresponding supporting blocks  152  and the sliding blocks  234  being located on the bottom walls of the corresponding receiving cavities  15  that drives the supporting board  22  to move upward for a distance so that make the FPC board  5  electrically contacting with the contact lumps  316 ,  326  of the electrical terminals  31 ,  32  more firmly. 
     When the FPC board  5  is to be withdrawn from the FPC connector  1 , the slidable cover  20  is pulled forward to make the second slopes  235  sliding downward along the second guiding surfaces  153  and the first slopes  236  of the sliding blocks  234  sliding downward along the first guiding surfaces  154  to make the fixing arms  23  supported on the bottoms of the receiving cavities  15  again that drives the supporting board  22  to move downward for a distance for making the FPC board  5  be non-contact with the contact arms  312 ,  322  of the electrical terminals  30  so that make the FPC board  5  be withdrawn from the receiving recess  11  of the insulating housing  10  easily. And meantime the projections  151  of the receiving cavities  15  slide into the corresponding first locating grooves  231  of the slidable cover  20  by way of the lumps  233   
     As described above, when free ends of the fixing arms  23  are inserted into fronts of the corresponding receiving cavities  15 , the FPC board  5  is inserted into the receiving recess  11  from the gap  211  and supported on the supporting board  22 . And then, the fixing arms  23  continue to slide rearward in the corresponding receiving cavities  15  to make the fixing arms  23  have an upward displacement by the sliding blocks  234 , the first slopes  236 , the first guide surfaces  154 , the supporting blocks  152 , the second guiding surfaces  153  and the second slope  235   s  formed between the corresponding the receiving cavities  15  and the fixing arms  23 . The fixing arms  23  further drive the supporting board  22  to move upward so as to ensure a steady electrical connection of the FPC board  5  and the electrical terminals. 
     The forgoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. Such modifications and variations that may be apparent to those skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined by the accompanying claims.