# US 9,520,664 B2 · Electrical connector

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- Number: US 9,520,664 B2
- Document ID: US9520664B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/054,764
- Filed: 2016-02-26
- Published: 2016-06-23
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-22
- Assignees: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
- Applicants: Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG
- Inventors: Andreas Schrader
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520664B2

## CPC

- H01R 12/79: connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
- H01R 12/71: for rigid printing circuits or like structures
- H01R 12/77: for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
- H01R 12/772: {Strain relieving means}
- H01R 12/774: {Retainers}
- H01R 13/5812: {the cable clamping being achieved by mounting the separate part on the housing of the coupling device}
- H01R 13/62: Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
- H01R 12/78: connecting to other flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS

## Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical connector having a connecting sleeve with at least one opening, and at least one fastening element, wherein the connecting sleeve is capable of receiving at least one flexible PCB, and wherein the flexible PCB is secured to the electrical connector when the at least one fastening element is connected to the at least one opening.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electrical connector comprising:
a connecting sleeve including at least one opening; and
at least one fastening element;
wherein the connecting sleeve is capable of receiving at least one flexible PCB, and wherein the flexible PCB is configured to be placed below the at least one opening and is secured to the electrical connector when the at least one fastening element is connected to the at least one opening.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the at least one fastening element includes a first fastening spike and a second fastening spike, and wherein the first fastening spike is positioned opposite to the second fastening spike.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the connecting sleeve includes a hollow cross-section.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The electrical connector of claim 3, wherein the hollow cross-section is a rectangular hollow cross-section.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the connecting sleeve includes at least one connecting space for receiving the at least one flexible PCB.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The electrical connector of claim 4, wherein the connecting space comprises at least one electrical contact for electrically contacting at least one electrical conducting path of the at least one flexible PCB.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the fastening element is capable of being connected to the connecting sleeve by a snap-fit connection.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the at least one fastening element includes at least one snap-fit recess and wherein the connecting sleeve includes includes at least one snap-fit projection corresponding to the at least one snap-fit recess.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein when the at least one fastening element is connected to the at least one opening, the at least one fastening element is configured to deform the at least one flexible PCB in a form of one of (i) a depression and (ii) an opening to produce a form-fit fastening.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the the at least one fastening element is configured to at least one of (i) at least partially penetrate into an insulating layer of the at least one flexible PCB and (ii) perforate an insulating layer of the at least one flexible PCB to produce a form-fit fastening.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein a portion of the at least one fastening element is configured to at least one of (i) being driven through the at least one flexible PCB and (ii) perforating the at least one flexible PCB to produce a form-fit fastening.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible PCB includes an opening, and wherein a portion of the at least one fastening element is configured to be introduced into the opening to produce a form-fit fastening.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the connecting sleeve electrically contacts at least one conducting path of the at least one flexible PCB.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The electrical connector of claim 1, wherein the fastening element and the connecting sleeve, when joined together, form at least one of a housing and a water-tight housing.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A method to electrically contact at least one of (i) at least one strip-like conducting path of an LED tape and (ii) at least one of a PCB and the flexible PCB by incorporating the electrical connector of claim 1.