EP0597710A2 - Connecteur - Google Patents

Connecteur Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0597710A2
EP0597710A2 EP93309026A EP93309026A EP0597710A2 EP 0597710 A2 EP0597710 A2 EP 0597710A2 EP 93309026 A EP93309026 A EP 93309026A EP 93309026 A EP93309026 A EP 93309026A EP 0597710 A2 EP0597710 A2 EP 0597710A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
housing
actuator
electrical connector
connector according
cable
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP93309026A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0597710A3 (fr
Inventor
Keng Thai Giam
Kok Soon Wong
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ABB Installation Products Inc
Original Assignee
Thomas and Betts Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Thomas and Betts Corp filed Critical Thomas and Betts Corp
Publication of EP0597710A2 publication Critical patent/EP0597710A2/fr
Publication of EP0597710A3 publication Critical patent/EP0597710A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00—Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
    • H01R12/77—Coupling devices for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
    • H01R12/79—Coupling devices for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a connector.
  • it relates to a zero insertion force, or ZIF, connector for engaging conductors on a flat flexible cable with an electrical contact or contacts.
  • Connectors of this type are known in which a reciprocating actuator having a protruding portion moves the cable conductors into engagement with contacts within a housing cavity.
  • the actuator has a slot for receipt of the cable and the protruding portion or cable backer enters the housing cavity with the cable and holds the cable conductors against the contacts. Once in this position, the actuator is locked to the housing by a latching structure.
  • Latching structures for these connectors are typically provided on two short sides of the connector, on the exterior of the housing. This arrangement inevitably leads to a substantial increase in the size of the connector. Further problems arise in releasing the latching structures in order to unlock the actuator and remove the cable from the connector. Generally, it is necessary to release both latching structures at once, for example by lifting locking levers on both sides using a screwdriver or similar implement, and whilst the latching structures are released the actuator is pulled manually out of the housing. Not only does this operation require a certain amount of dexterity but there is also the danger that the latching structures and/or the connector itself will be damaged during the operation, particularly if too much uneven force is used.
  • the cable is inserted into the housing and the actuator is then rotated down and pushed in until the actuator presses the cable down onto the contacts.
  • a top contact serves as a retention device to ensure that the actuator is gripped although there is no locking mechanism per se and retention force is low.
  • the actuator is pulled out and rotated up so as to release the cable.
  • This invention seeks to provide a connector which overcomes these problems of connector volume and latching/release of the actuator.
  • an electrical connector for connecting a flat cable to one or more contacts and comprising a housing being generally rectangular in cross section and having a first pair of generally parallel spaced long sides connected by a second pair of generally parallel spaced short sides, and an actuator movable in the housing, the housing defining a cavity to receive a cable backing member, which forms part of the actuator, and the flat cable, wherein the housing includes first locking means which co-operates with second locking means on the actuator for locking the actuator in an inserted position in the housing, the first locking means being located intermediate the short sides.
  • the actuator further includes one or more protruding members and the housing includes one or more channels for co-operating with the protruding members, whereby the actuator is held on the housing by locating the protruding member or members in the channel or channels.
  • the actuator is held on the housing by locating the protruding member or members in the channel or channels.
  • Each channel preferably includes a stop at one end whereby the actuator is prevented from complete removal from the housing when the cable is released.
  • Each protruding member may thus move along its respective channel when the locking means are released until the protruding member engages the stop.
  • the connector may further include biasing means for urging the actuator in a direction out of the housing when the locking means are released.
  • the biasing means may include a cantilever element on the or each contact arranged to act against the actuator when the actuator is in the inserted position in the housing.
  • the biasing means may further include means for urging each protruding member along its channel, which means are preferably mounted on the housing and include retention means to hold the urging means on the housing.
  • the retention means may comprise, for example, raised portions which engage with depressions in the housing, or vice versa.
  • the urging means typically includes a spring lever which may be deflected by the protruding member as it moves along the channel. Usually the spring lever is fully deflected when the actuator is locked. When the locking means are released, the spring lever releases its energy, thereby pushing the protruding member back along the channel to a released position.
  • the first locking means may comprise a lever and the second locking means may comprise a recess.
  • the lever preferably includes a tooth which engages with the recess to lock the actuator to the housing.
  • the second locking means may be a lever and the first locking means a recess.
  • the housing preferably receives the cable and cable backing member through a slot which may be stepped.
  • a wider part of the slot preferably receives the cable backing member and a narrower part receives the cable.
  • the contact(s) may be substantially L-shaped or inverted L-shaped with a portion extending out of the housing.
  • the actuator will preferably be configured in a complementary manner so that the cable backing member forces the cable against the contact(s).
  • the contact(s) may also include a point which extends towards the cable for creating improved contact pressure when the actuator is locked in position.
  • Figure 1 shows a housing 10 and actuator 20 prior to assembly.
  • the actuator 20 includes a slot 30 for receipt of a cable 40 and a cable backing member or cable backer 50.
  • An upper portion of the actuator 20 includes a central recess 60 and two protruding members 70. Each protruding member 70 extends both outwardly from the upper portion and down into a tooth 80.
  • the cable 40 includes conductors 90 on its upper surface which are to be engaged with contacts 100 (only one shown) in the assembled connector.
  • Housing 10 defies a cavity with a stepped slot 110 at one end for receipt of the cable backing member 50 and the cable 40.
  • An upper long side 120 of the housing includes a central locking lever 130.
  • a slot 140 beneath the lever enables the lever 130 to be depressed.
  • the lever 130 includes a tooth 150 at its free end for locking the actuator and housing together.
  • Opposing sides of the upper long side 120 have channels 160 with stops 165 at the end nearest slot 140.
  • Each biasing component 170 fits around cut-aways 180 (one only shown) and each biasing component includes two bumps 190 for engaging with recesses in the housing. Each component 170 also includes a spring lever 200 at its upper end which rotates in the direction of the arrows when loaded.
  • Figure 2 shows a plan view of the housing 10, from which a sample five contacts 100 extend and with biasing components 170 in position, and the actuator 20 partly engaged in the housing through the slot 30 (not shown in figure 2).
  • the protruding members 70 carrying the teeth 80 lie in the channels 160 of the housing 10. It can be appreciated from figure 2 that as the actuator is pushed into the housing, the protruding members 70 will be forced against the spring levers 200 of the biasing components 170.
  • the spring levers 200 exert a force on the protruding members 70 to urge the actuator 20 in a direction out of the housing 10 when the actuator is released from a loaded position in the housing 10.
  • the actuator 20 is retained in the housing by the teeth 80 of the protruding members 70 which can slide in the channels 160 in the housing 10.
  • Each contact 100 includes a body portion 101 from which extends an arm 102 carrying a contact point 105 which is embedded in the cable as the cable is pushed against it by the cable backing member 50.
  • Each contact 100 has a limb 210 for use in making a connection by, for example, soldering or crimping. In this manner, improved contact between the cable conductors 90 and contacts 100 is achieved.
  • Each contact body portion 101 has a slit 103 defining a finger 104, which acts against the free end of the cable backing member 50 as will be described later.
  • Figure 4 shows an intermediate position in which the cable 40 has reached a fully inserted position, and the actuator 20 is partly inserted into the housing 10.
  • the tapered cable backing member 50 engages the finger 104 of each contact 100 (figure 5). This causes the arm 102 and contact point 105 to be urged towards the cable 40, but the cable 40 offers resistance to such movement of the contact point 105.
  • the finger 104 of each contact resists bending. This combination of forces results in a force exerted on the cable backing member 50 to urge the actuator out of the housing 10.
  • the contact point 105 acts on the cable 40 and then to the cable backing member 50, the taper of which causes the force exerted by the contact point 105 to have a component in a direction to urge the actuator 20 out of the housing 10.
  • Both forms of contact 100 include an additional limb 210 which extends from the housing and to which further connections may be made, for example by soldering or crimping.
  • lever 130 provides easy access and single point of locking/release, thus allowing easy outward removal of the actuator. Furthermore, the spring lever provides active assistance in the removal process once the lever is depressed. The whole connector is compact and lacks the cumbersome locking devices of the prior art.

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
EP93309026A 1992-11-12 1993-11-11 Connecteur. Withdrawn EP0597710A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9223689 1992-11-12
GB9223689A GB2272583B (en) 1992-11-12 1992-11-12 Connector

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0597710A2 true EP0597710A2 (fr) 1994-05-18
EP0597710A3 EP0597710A3 (fr) 1995-11-22

Family

ID=10724938

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93309026A Withdrawn EP0597710A3 (fr) 1992-11-12 1993-11-11 Connecteur.

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0597710A3 (fr)
CA (1) CA2102966A1 (fr)
GB (1) GB2272583B (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2301492A (en) * 1995-05-19 1996-12-04 Nec Corp Flexible-board connector
EP0851539A3 (fr) * 1996-12-27 1999-07-07 Molex Incorporated Connecteur pour des câbles plats
DE102017214151B4 (de) 2017-08-14 2020-01-16 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Flachleiter mit mehreren nebeneinander in einem Isoliermaterial verlaufenden Leiterbahnen sowie Buchsengehäuse

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2285893A (en) * 1994-01-05 1995-07-26 Whitaker Corp Connector for interconnecting a flexible circuit to a circuit board
JPH07230860A (ja) * 1994-02-09 1995-08-29 Molex Inc 電気コネクタ
JP3014611U (ja) * 1994-12-16 1995-08-15 モレックス インコーポレーテッド 平型柔軟ケ−ブルの為のコネクタ
DE19531208A1 (de) * 1995-08-24 1997-02-27 Gore W L & Ass Gmbh Bandkabel-Steckverbindungsanordnung
JP3140683B2 (ja) * 1996-05-27 2001-03-05 矢崎総業株式会社 フラットケーブルの接続構造
DE102005022291B4 (de) * 2005-05-13 2013-06-06 Yamaichi Electronics Deutschland Gmbh Verbinder für ein Bandkabel
JP6002636B2 (ja) * 2013-06-17 2016-10-05 矢崎総業株式会社 フラットケーブル端末接続具

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH512833A (de) * 1969-09-03 1971-09-15 Keller Walter Vielfachsteckverbindung an einem Flachkabel mit mehreren Flachleitern
US4373766A (en) * 1980-04-29 1983-02-15 Connector Technology Corporation Electrical connector assembly
US4618201A (en) * 1984-07-16 1986-10-21 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Connector for establishing electrical contact with a high count twisted pair cable
JPH0411346Y2 (fr) * 1986-03-28 1992-03-19
US4921442A (en) * 1989-04-14 1990-05-01 Amp Incorporated Housing for flat power cable connector
JPH0330378U (fr) * 1989-07-21 1991-03-26
US5009607A (en) * 1989-07-24 1991-04-23 Rogers Corporation Flexible circuit connector
US4975076A (en) * 1990-03-01 1990-12-04 Molex Incorporated Contact wiping electrical connector
JP2509743Y2 (ja) * 1990-08-28 1996-09-04 矢崎総業株式会社 コネクタ

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2301492A (en) * 1995-05-19 1996-12-04 Nec Corp Flexible-board connector
GB2301492B (en) * 1995-05-19 1997-11-26 Nec Corp Flexible-board connector
EP0851539A3 (fr) * 1996-12-27 1999-07-07 Molex Incorporated Connecteur pour des câbles plats
DE102017214151B4 (de) 2017-08-14 2020-01-16 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Flachleiter mit mehreren nebeneinander in einem Isoliermaterial verlaufenden Leiterbahnen sowie Buchsengehäuse

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9223689D0 (en) 1992-12-23
GB2272583B (en) 1996-07-24
GB2272583A (en) 1994-05-18
EP0597710A3 (fr) 1995-11-22
CA2102966A1 (fr) 1994-05-13

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