Flexible cable connector

• US 4,975,068 A
• Filed: 12/04/1989
• Issued: 12/04/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines SA (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Squires, John J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PIRLOT, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/446,574
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 439/492-499, 439/67, 439/77, 439/260-267, 439/377, 439/378, 439/372
• US Class Current: 439/67
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/78 connecting to other flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/88 acting manually by rotating or pivoting connector housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/365 by abutting, i.e. without alloying process

Abstract

An electrical connector for electrically connecting the circuitry on a pair of flexible cables, the connector including a base member for having the two cables located thereon, means for aligning the two cables in precise alignment (e.g., a pair of pins on the base member), a clamp member for occupying first and second positions relative to the base member (the flexible cables being compressed and the circuitry thereof being in direct contact when the clamp is in the second position), compressible means (e.g., an elastomeric member) located between the clamp and base members for engaging at least one of the flexible cables to exert a force thereagainst when compressed, and retention means for retaining the clamp member in the second (clamping) position such that a high density connection is provided between both flexible cables. In one embodiment, the clamp is pivotally located on the base member, while in another embodiment the retention means is rotationally located on the clamp member. In both embodiments, a cam type of engagement is used.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for electrically connecting the circuitry on first and second flexible cables each having a pair of spaced-apart apertures therein, said connector comprising:

a base member adapted for having said first and second flexible cables located thereon such that said circuitry thereof is oriented in a facing relationship;

means on said base member for aligning said circuitry of said first and second flexible cables in precise alignment with respect to each other, said means including first and second upstanding pins, each of said pins adapted for being positioned within a respective one of said apertures of each of said flexible cables;

a clamp member movably positioned on said base member and adapted for occupying first and second positions with respect thereto, said clamp and base members clamping said first and second flexible cables together when said clamp member occupies said second position such that the circuitry on said first flexible cable directly contacts the circuitry on said second flexible cable;

compressible means located between said base member and said clamp member for engaging at least one of said flexible cables during said clamping thereof and for being compressed during said clamping, said compressible means exerting a predetermined force against said engaged flexible cable when so compressed; and

retention means for retaining said clamp member in said second position with respect to said base member, said electrical connector providing high density connection between said flexible cables, said connector including a quantity of reinforcement material located substantially about each of said apertures in said flexible cables and extending along the sides of said flexible cables to thereby substantially prevent deformation to said sides of said flexible cables.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said compressible means comprises an elastomeric member, said elastomeric member being located on said base member.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said circuitry of at least one of said flexible cables includes a plurality of contact elements as part thereof and positioned on said cable in a predetermined pattern, each of said contact elements possessing a raised configuration to thereby provide enhanced connection with said circuitry of the other of said flexible cables.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said base member is of elongated configuration and includes a substantially flat surface thereon, said first flexible cable being located on said flat surface and said second flexible cable being positioned on said first cable.

5. The electrical connector according to claim 4 wherein said first and second upstanding pins are spacedly positioned on said substantially flat surface of said base member.

6. The electrical connector according to claim 5 wherein said circuitry of each of said flexible cables is positioned within said cable in precise registration with respect to said pair of spaced apart apertures therein.

7. The electrical connector according to claim 6 wherein said quantity of reinforcement material located substantially about each of said apertures is adapted for providing supplemental strain relief for said flexible cables when said cables are clamped together by said base and clamp members.

8. The electrical connector according to claim 7 wherein said reinforcement material comprises a layer of metallic material.

9. The electrical connector according to claim 8 wherein said metallic material is copper.

10. The electrical connector according to claim 1 wherein said retention means is located on said clamp member and said base member includes at least one upstanding pin thereon, said retention means engaging said pin member in a camming manner when said clamp member occupies said second position with respect to said base member.

11. The electrical connector according to claim 10 wherein said retention means is slidably located on said clamp member and includes a cam surface as part thereof, said pin engaging said cam surface, causing said clamp member to compress against said flexible cables when said retention means is slidably moved on said clamp member.

12. The electrical connector according to claim 10 wherein said clamp member is pivotally positioned on said base member.

13. An electrical connector for electrically connecting the circuitry on first and second flexible cables each having a pair of spaced-apart apertures therein, said connector comprising:

a base member adapted for having said first and second flexible cables located thereon such that said circuitry thereof is oriented in a facing relationship;

means on said base member for aligning said circuitry of said first and second flexible cables in precise alignment with respect to each other, said means including first and second upstanding pins, each of said pins adapted for being positioned within a respective one of said apertures of each of said flexible cables;

a clamp member positioned atop said flexible cables located on said base member and adapted for occupying first and second positions with respect to said base member, said clamp member and said base member clamping said first and second flexible cables together when said clamp member occupies said second position such that the circuitry on said first flexible cable directly contacts the circuitry on said second flexible cable;

compressible means located between said base member and said clamp member for engaging at least one of said flexible cables during said clamping thereof and for being compressed during said clamping, said compressible means exerting a predetermined force against said engaged flexible cable when so compressed; and

retention means movably positioned on said clamp member for retaining said clamp member against said flexible cables when said clamp member occupies said second position, said electrical connector providing high density connection between said flexible cables, said connector including a quantity of reinforcement material located substantially about each of said apertures in said flexible cables and extending along the sides of said flexible cables to thereby substantially prevent deformation to said sides of said flexible cables.

14. The electrical connector according to claim 13 wherein said compressible means comprises an elastomeric member, said elastomeric member being located on said base member.

15. The electrical connector according to claim 13 wherein said circuitry of at least one of said flexible cables includes a plurality of contact elements as part thereof and positioned on said cable in a predetermined pattern, each of said contact elements possessing a raised configuration to thereby provide enhanceed connection with said circuitry of the other of said flexible cables.

16. The electrical connector according to claim 13 wherein said base member is of elongated configuration and includes a substantially flat surface thereon, said first flexible cable being located on said flat surface and said second flexible cable being positioned on said first cable.

17. The electrical connector according to claim 16 wherein said first and second upstanding pins are spacedly positioned on said substantially flat surface of said base member.

18. The electrical connector according to claim 17 wherein said circuitry of each of said flexible cables is positioned within said cable in precise registration with respect to said pair of spaced apart apertures therein.

19. The electrical connector according to claim 18 wherein said quantity of reinforcement material located substantially about each of said apertures is adapted for providing supplemental strain relief for said flexible cables when said cables are clamped together by said base and clamp members.

20. The electrical connector according to claim 19 wherein said reinforcement material comprises a layer of metallic material.

21. The electrical connector according to claim 20 wherein said metallic material is copper.

22. The electrical connector according to claim 13 wherein said retention mean sis rotationally located on said clamp member and includes a cam surface as part thereof, said cam surface engaging said base member during rotational movement of said retention member to cause said clamp member to move from said first position to said second position, thereby causing said clamp and base members to compress said flexible cables.

23. The electrical connector according to claim 22 wherein said retention means comprises an arm member including a projecting pin therein, said clamp member including a hole therein in which said projecting pin is located during said rotational movement of said arm.