Flexible circuit/flat cable to circuit board edge connector for electronic wrist watches, calculators and the like

• US 4,111,510 A
• Filed: 07/11/1977
• Issued: 09/05/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Zurcher, Rudolf F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lake, Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desmond, E. F.
• Application Number:
  US05/814,370
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 339/17 F, 339/176 MF
• US Class Current: 439/67
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/06 Electric connectors, e.g. conductive elastomers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/62 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/365 by abutting, i.e. without alloying process

Abstract

A generally C-shaped or Ω-shaped elongated clamp secures a flexible circuit or flat cable to the edge of a circuit board designed for use in electronic watches, calculators, combinations thereof and like small devices such as are wearable on the user'"'"'s wrist.

Claims

1. An electrical coupling mechanism for use in electronic devices including watches, calculators, combinations thereof, and the like, adapted for wear on a wearer'"'"'s person comprising a stiff electrical termination, flexible electric circuitry adapted to be coupled thereto, and including elastomeric dielectric insulation, each said termination and said circuitry having bared conductive material thereon, a substantially rigid elongated clip of resilient material having a generally C-shaped cross-sectional configuration and including means for guiding said flexible circuitry around the termination, for bringing the respective bared conductive materials of the flexible circuitry and the termination into electrical contact, for exerting substantially straight-line pressure on said electric circuitry and thereby for mechanically clamping the flexible circuitry and the termination together, said elastomeric dielectric insulation serving as a local equalizer of any thickness variations between said electric circuitry and said termination, and bevelled sides on said clip for acting at least as said guiding means and for enabling said clip to be engaged with said circuitry and said stiff termination in an edgewise sliding manner.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said clip is of metal or plastic.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said flexible circuitry comprises flat electric cable.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said flexible circuitry comprises an active flexible circuit.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means for exerting substantially straight-line pressure on said electric circuitry comprises at least one jaw pressing linearly on said dielectric insulation.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said clip comprises, in cross-section, a first flat portion in contact with said circuitry, a second flat portion extending substantially at a right angle from said first portion, a curved portion extending from said second flat portion and curving into contact with said circuitry for forming said jaw, and a terminal flange extending outwardly from said jaw and away from said circuitry.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said first flat portion includes a continuous bead substantially parallel to said jaw for effecting a stress raiser.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said clip includes a substantially circular body.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said clip circular body terminates in a pair of jaws each pressing linearly on said dielectric insulation.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said jaws terminate in a pair of oppositely and outwardly extending terminal flanges for acting at least as said guiding means and for facilitating frontal manipulation of said clip over said circuitry and said stiff termination.

11. A mechanism as in claim 1, wherein said stiff termination comprises a circuit board, and said support means comprises at least a pair of spaced supports, with said clip being at one edge thereof, and further including a second C-shaped clip secured to said circuit board at the opposing edge thereof, said clips being resiliently engaged between said spaced supports and said circuit board for centering as well as the shock mounting of said circuit board.