US 9,853,382 B2 · Connector

Abstract

It is the object of the present invention to provide a connector 10 which provides a stable connection that is resistant to the rocking motion of a connecting object in insertion direction, longitudinal pitch direction, or the direction of the thickness of the connector, while maintaining the low-profile level so as to prevent the deflection of the connecting object even when the connector is mounted on a flexible board e.g., an FPC.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims15

Dependent claims

A connector for detachably plugging a connecting object, comprising:

a plurality of contacts, each having a contact portion for contacting the connecting object, and a pressure receiving portion subjected to action of a pivoting member;
a housing holding and arranging the plurality of contacts and having a fitting opening for inserting the connecting object, wherein the pivoting member is pivotally mounted on a side of the housing opposite from the fitting opening;
a plurality of locking members arranged at either end in a longitudinal pitch direction of the connector, wherein each locking member includes:
an engaging portion for engaging with one of anchoring portions provided by the connecting object,
a connection portion for connecting to a board, an elastic portion and a fulcrum portion provided between the engaging portion and the connection portion, and
a pressure receiving portion extending from the elastic portion in a direction opposite from that of the engaging portion;
wherein the housing is provided with a first recess portion on an upper side of the housing that allows the pressure receiving portions of both the contacts and the locking members to be moved, and grooves on the upper side of the housing extending from the fitting opening;
wherein the pivoting member is provided with a plurality of second recess portions that recess only part of the way through a face of the pivoting member, wherein the face of the pivoting member is viewable from the opposite side of the fitting opening when the pivoting member is in an open position, and wherein each of the plurality of second recess portions accommodates at least each of the connection portions of the locking members when the pivoting member is in a closed position, and
wherein the pivoting member is provided with a plurality of anchoring holes that go through the face of the pivoting member, wherein each of the plurality of anchoring holes accommodates at least each of the pressure receiving portions of the locking members when the pivoting member is in the closed position;
fixtures, each of which has an engaging portion for engaging with one groove each and a connection portion for connecting to the board, are arranged on a side of the housing where the fitting opening is located;
and
wherein each contact is at least provided with a first elastic portion and a first fulcrum portion provided between a first contact portion, which is the contact portion, and a first connection portion such that the first contact portion, the first elastic portion, the first fulcrum portion and the first connection portion are arranged according to a U-shape configuration and with a first pressure receiving portion, which is the pressure receiving portion, extending from the first elastic portion in the direction opposite from the first contact portion.

9 more elements

A connector for detachably plugging a connecting object, comprising:

a plurality of contacts, each having a contact portion for contacting the connecting object, and a pressure receiving portion subjected to action of a pivoting member;
a housing holding and arranging the contacts and having a fitting opening for inserting the connecting object, wherein the pivoting member is pivotally mounted on a side of the housing opposite from the fitting opening;
and
locking means having an engaging portion for engaging with at least one anchoring portion provided by the connecting object, a connection portion for connecting to a board, an elastic portion and a fulcrum portion provided between the engaging portion and the connection portion, and a pressure receiving portion subjected to action of the pivoting member and extending from the elastic portion in a direction opposite from that of the engaging portion;
wherein the pivoting member includes at least one recess portion that recesses only part of the way through a face of the pivoting member, wherein the face of the pivoting member is viewable from the opposite side of the fitting opening when the pivoting member is in an open position, and wherein the at least one recess portion accommodates at least each of the connection portions of the locking means when the pivoting member is in a closed position;
wherein the pivoting member includes at least one anchoring hole that goes through the face of the pivoting member, and wherein the at least one anchoring hole accommodates at least each of the pressure receiving portions of the locking means when the pivoting member is in the closed position;
and
wherein each contact is at least provided with a first elastic portion and a first fulcrum portion provided between a first contact portion, which is the contact portion, and a first connection portion such that the first contact portion, the first elastic portion, the first fulcrum portion and the first connection portion are arranged roughly in a U-shape and with a first pressure receiving portion, which is the pressure receiving portion, extending from the first elastic portion in the direction opposite from the first contact portion.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description10,816 words

Summary1,100 words

#Technical Field

#The present invention relates to a connector used for communication equipment, electric devices, or electronic appliances, such as mobile terminals, projectors, television sets, etc., and it relates particularly to measures against the rocking motion of a connecting object in insertion direction, longitudinal pitch direction or upward direction, which are realized with a simple structure designed to achieve a connector with reduced profile height.

#Background Art

Brief description of the drawings21 figures

#FIG. 1(A) is a perspective view of a connector and an FPC, viewed from above the fitting opening, with the pivoting member opened.

#FIG. 1(B) is a perspective view of the connector, viewed from above the fitting opening, with the pivoting member closed.

#FIG. 1(C) is a cross-sectional view of the connector, cut along a certain portion of the contact, with the pivoting member closed.

Detailed description9,284 words

#5 Fitting opening 10 Connector 12 Housing 121 Insertion groove (for contact) 122 Insertion groove (for locking member) 123 First recess portion 124 Second recess portion 125 Roof portion 126 Groove 127 Bearing 14 Contact 141 First contact portion 142 First fixing portion 143 First connection portion 144 First elastic portion 145 First fulcrum portion 146 First pressure receiving portion 147 First extending portion 148 Recess portion 149 First protruding portion 16 Pivoting member 161 Operating portion 162 Shaft 163 Pressing portion 164 Anchoring hole 165 Partition wall 166 Recess 18 Locking member 181 Engaging portion 182 Fixing portion 183 Connection portion 184 Elastic portion 185 Fulcrum portion 186 Pressure receiving portion 20 Fixture 201 Connection portion 202 Engaging portion 203 Fixing portion 204 Extending portion 30 Lower end 32 Upper end 34 Rotation axis 70 FPC (flexible printed circuit board) 72 Anchoring portion 80 Board

#In recent years, the miniaturization of communication equipment, electric devices, electronic appliances, etc. as well as the miniaturization of connectors has been in progress. Therefore, there is a need for a stable connection that is resistant to the rocking motion of a connecting object in insertion direction, longitudinal pitch direction or upward direction (the thickness direction of the connector) while providing further reduction in profile height or maintaining the current low-profile level. There is also a need for the deflection of the connecting object being prevented and a stable connection being obtained even when the connector is mounted on a flexible board, e.g., an FPC.

#However, the aforementioned inventions have the following problems.

Facts

Application

14/464,371Filed 20 Aug 2014 · continuation

Priority

JP 2011-00961720 Jan 2011

Published

US 2014/0357111 A14 Dec 2014

Granted

26 Dec 2017

Term ends

6 Apr 2032

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 78 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification5 codes

H01R 12/78
For flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures: connecting to other flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or…
H01R 12/79
For flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures: connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
H01R 13/62933
Additional means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. aligning or guiding means, levers, gas pressure electrical…:…
H01R 12/88
Contact pressure producing means, contacts activated after insertion of printed circuits or like structures: acting manually by rotating or…

Family

Application13/354,157Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Jan 2012

US 2014/0357111 A1Pre-grant publication · published 4 Dec 2014

US 8,840,411 B2Parent of this continuation

US 2012/0231646 A1Published application

US 9,853,382 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Timeline

20 Jan 2011Priority claimedJP 2011-009617
20 Aug 2014Application filedUS 14/464,371
4 Dec 2014PublishedUS 2014/0357111 A1
26 Dec 2017GrantedUS 9,853,382 B2
5 Jan 2026Assigned to Fujikura Ltd.merger
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
6 Apr 2032Term endsEstimated, includes 78 days of adjustment

Connector

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Connector

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Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims15

Description10,816 words

Drawings

Classification5 codes

Life of this patent

Description10,816 words