Electrical connector assembly for flat cables

An electrical connector assembly comprising:

• a dielectric member having a first substantially planar surface;
• a plurality of conductive contact pins perpendicularly extending from said first planar surface and having contiguous therewith a like number of first electrical contact pads;
• a flat cable comprising a flexible dielectric sheet and having first and second surfaces, a portion of said first surface have disposed thereon a pattern of second electrical contact pads connected to corresponding electrical conductors in said cable, said pattern of second electrical contact pads having locations which are complementary to those of said first electrical contact pads;
• compression means confronting a portion of said second surface of said cable corresponding to said portion of said first surface and adapted to urge said first and second electrical contact pads together and thereby establish electrical continuity between said pins and the corresponding electrical conductors of said cable;
• and
• wiper means adapted to wipe at least one of said first and second contact pads when said compression means urges said first and second contact pads together.

An electrical connector for electrically connecting at least one first pattern set of contact pads terminating first electrical conductors to a flat-cable end portion having first and second sides and a second pattern set of contact pads mounted on a portion of said first side terminating second electrical conductors, said first pattern set and said second pattern set having relative positions that are complementary, comprising:

• said first set of contact pads including pins protruding therefrom;
• a receptacle including a cylinder portion terminating at one end in a base portion, said base portion including, within the area defined by said cylinder end an integral dielectric portion having a first substantially planar surface to which said first set of contact pads are mounted, said cylinder portion including a notch in the wall thereof for receiving said flat cable end portion;
• and
• securing means adapted to urge said first and second sets of contact pads together, said securing means including compression means adapted to confront a portion of said second surface of said cable corresponding to said portion of said first surface and adapted to urge said first and second sets of electrically contact pads together and thereby establish electrical continuity between said pins and the corresponding electrical conductors of said cable, said compression means comprising a resilient dielectric compression member having a planar surface which is substantially coextensive with said portion of said second surface of said cable;
• and means selectively engageable with said dielectric compression member for urging said first and second contact pads together, said resilient compression member including means adapted to receive said pins;
• wiper means adapted to forceably fit over said pins and wipe at least one of said first and second contact pads when said compression means urges said first and second contact pads together.

An electrical connector for electrically connecting at least one first pattern set of contact pads terminating first electrical conductors to a flat-cable end portion having first and second sides and a second pattern set of contact pads mounted on a portion of said first side terminating second electrical conductors, said first pattern set and said second pattern set having relative positions that are complementary, comprising:

• said first set of contact pads including pins protruding therefrom;
• a receptacle including a cylinder portion terminating at one end in a base portion, said base portion including, within the area defined by said cylinder end an integral dielectric portion having a first substantially planar surface to which said first set of contact pads are mounted, said cylinder portion including a notch in the wall thereof for receiving said flat cable end portion;
• and
• securing means adapted to urge said first and second sets of contact pads together, said securing means including compression means adapted to confront a portion of said second surface of said cable corresponding to said portion of said first surface and adapted to urge said first and second sets of electrical contact pads together and thereby establish electrical continuity between said pins and the corresponding electrical conductors of said cable, said compression means comprising a resilient dielectric compression member having a planar surface which is substantially coextensive with said portion of said second surface of said cable and means selectively engageable with said dielectric compression member for urging said first and second contact pads together, and said resilient compression member having pin contact means secured therein in a pattern complementary to said pattern of said pins and adapted to engage said first set of contact pads and pins, and
• wiper means adapted to forceably fit over said pins and wipe at least one of said first and second contact pads when said compression means urges said first and second contact pads together.

An electrical connector for electrically connecting at least one first pattern set of contact pads terminating first electrical conductors to a flat-cable end portion having first and second sides and a second pattern set of contact pads mounted on a portion of said first side terminating second electrical conductors, said first pattern set and said second pattern set having relative positions that are complementary, comprising:

• said first set of contact pads including pins protruding therefrom, said connector including disc means having conductive apertures therein positioned complementary to said pins, said conductive apertures being coupled in a preselected manner to electrically couple electrical conductors;
• a receptacle including a cylinder portion terminating at one end in a base portion, said base portion including, within the area defined by said cylinder end an integral dielectric portion having a first substantially planar surface to which said first set of contact pads are mounted, said cylinder portion including a notch in the wall thereof for receiving said flat cable end portion;
• and
• securing means adapted to urge said first and second sets of contact pads together, said securing means including compression means adapted to confront a portion of said second side of said cable corresponding to said portion of said first surface and adapted to urge said first and second sets of electrically contact pads together and thereby establish electrical continuity between said pins and the corresponding electrical conductors of said cable;
• and
• wiper means adapted to forceably fit over said pins and wipe at least one of said first and second contact pads when said compression means urges said first and second contact pads together.