Flexible circuit connector assembly with strain relief

A connector assembly including a base including a plurality of base contacts;

• and a flexible circuit comprising an elongate flat body having opposed edges, a plurality of conductors extending along the body, a central portion at one end of the body, a plurality of circuit contacts on the central portion and joined to the conductors, the circuit contacts in overlying engagement with the base contacts to form electrical connections therewith, a pair of stress relief arms at the end of the body, each stress relief arm located between the central portion and an adjacent body edge, a pair of elongate metal force transmitting members in the body, each such member extending along an arm and along the length of the body adjacent one edge thereof, an aperture through each arm and the force transmitting member in the arm, a pair of tabs, each tab joined to the central portion and extending toward an adjacent edge of the body, mounting openings extending through the tabs for locating the central portion on a support member, and a pair of slots in the body, each slot including a first slot portion extending from an edge of the body toward the central portion between an arm and a tab and a second portion extending from the first portion generally away from the end of the body between the arm and the central portion to separate the adjacent arm and force transmitting member from the central portion and tab, wherein a force applied to the body away from the central portion is communicated through the force transmitting members to the arms and is not communicated to the central portion of the flexible circuit.

A flexible circuit assembly comprising:

• an elongate flexible circuit, a backing member on an end portion of the flexible circuit, and a spring between the backing member and the flexible circuit;
• the end portion of the flexible circuit comprising a back side facing the backing member, an opposite front side, and opposed edges;
• the front side comprising a central contact field between the edges and a plurality of contacts on the contact field for electrically interconnecting the flexible circuit to another contact field;
• and
• the end portion of the flexible circuit further comprising a pair of strain relief arms, each arm along a respective edge, a pair of connecting members, each connecting member attaching a respective strain relief arm to the backing member, and a gap between each arm and the contact field to resist transmission of loads applied to the connecting members to the contact field.