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US 12,676,435 B2Granted
Spring clip and connector for a flat flexible cable
AssigneeTE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
InventorsChristopher Raybold, John Mark Myer, RYan David Hetrick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spring clip has a first beam and a second beam connected to the first beam. The second beam is resiliently deflectable toward the first beam from a relaxed position distal from the first beam to a compressed position proximal to the first beam. The second beam has a spring latch disposed at an end of the second beam and extending toward the first beam. The spring latch engages the first beam to secure the second beam in the compressed position.
Claims18
A spring clip, comprising:
- a first beam, including:
- a contact section having a base beam and a folded structure that extends from the base beam and is folded over the base beam, the folded structure forms a contact surface in the contact section;
- and
- a latch section extending from the contact section along a longitudinal direction, wherein a folded extension extends from the folded structure into the latch section, the folded extension is positioned above the base beam in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction;
- and
- a second beam connected to the first beam and resiliently deflectable toward the first beam from a relaxed position distal from the first beam to a compressed position proximal to the first beam, the second beam has a spring latch disposed at an end of the second beam and extending toward the first beam, the spring latch engages with the folded extension of the first beam in the latch section in the compressed position, the contact surface in the contact section of the folded structure faces the second beam.
3 more elements
A connector for a flat flexible cable, comprising:
- a housing having a base and a cover, the base has a closed section with a plurality of receiving passageways and an open section extending from the closed section, the cover is movable with respect to the base between an open position exposing the open section and a closed position enclosing the open section, the cover has a main body with a pressing surface;
- and
- a plurality of spring clips disposed in the receiving passageways, each of the spring clips having:
- a first beam including a contact section having a base beam and a folded structure that extends from the base beam and is folded over the base beam, the folded structure forms a contact surface in the contact section, and a latch section extending from the contact section along a longitudinal direction;
- and
- a second beam connected to the first beam, the pressing surface contacts the second beam as the cover moves from the open position to the closed position and deflects the second beam toward the first beam into a compressed position, the second beam including:
- a spring latch extending toward the first beam, the spring latch engages the first beam in the compressed position, the cover includes a plurality of windows extending through the cover from the pressing surface to an exterior surface of the cover opposite the pressing surface, each window exposing the second beam of a respective one of the plurality of spring clips to an area outside the connector in the closed position, the second beams exposed in areas of abutting contact between respective ones of the first beams and the second beams;
- and
- a contact bend extending toward the first beam and aligned with the contact section, the spring latch engaging the folded structure of the first beam maintains a contact force of the contact bend toward the contact section in the compressed position.
6 more elements
A connector assembly, comprising:
- a flat flexible cable having an insulation material and a conductor embedded in the insulation material, the conductor is exposed through a portion of the insulation material;
- a connector including a housing and a spring clip disposed in the housing, the spring clip has a first beam and a second beam connected to the first beam, the first beam providing a contact section with a base beam and a folded structure that extends from the base beam and is folded over the base beam, the folded structure forms a contact surface in the contact section;
- the flat flexible cable is disposed between the first beam and the second beam, the second beam is resiliently deflectable toward the first beam into a compressed position in which the conductor is electrically connected to the spring clip, the second beam has a spring latch engaging the folded structure of the first beam to maintain a contact force in the compressed position, the housing has a base and a cover, the cover is attached to the base by a hinge, such that the cover is rotatable about the hinge and is movable with respect to the base between an open position exposing an open section of the base and a closed position enclosing the open section;
- and
- a retention plate disposed on at least one of an upper side and a lower side of the flat flexible cable, the cover of the housing extends through the retention plate in a direction transverse to a longitudinal direction of the flat flexible cable in the closed position.
2 more elements
A spring clip, comprising:
- a first beam, including:
- a contact section having a base beam and a folded structure that extends from the base beam and is folded over the base beam, the folded structure forms a contact surface in the contact section;
- and
- a latch section extending from the contact section along a longitudinal direction, the latch section is positioned above the contact section in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the latch section has a pair of support legs extending in the vertical direction;
- and
- a second beam connected to the first beam and resiliently deflectable toward the first beam from a relaxed position distal from the first beam to a compressed position proximal to the first beam, the second beam has a spring latch disposed at an end of the second beam and extending toward the first beam, the spring latch engages the first beam in the latch section in the compressed position, the contact surface in the contact section of the folded structure faces the second beam.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.