Electrical connector for flat flexible circuitry

• US 6,086,412 A
• Filed: 04/22/1998
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Molex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated
• Inventors: Fuerst, Robert M., Watt, Russell J., LePottier, Yves
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUVERNE, JEAN F
• Application Number:
  US09/064,444
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 439/495, 439/496, 439/354
• US Class Current: 439/496
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/79 connecting to rigid printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/87 acting automatically by insertion of rigid printed or like structures

Abstract

A connector (10,10A,10B) is provided for electrically interconnecting the conductors (12,40) of a flat mating connecting device. The connector includes a body member (22,48,50) having an edge about which the flexible circuit is wrapped. Locating pegs (20) on the body member engage and hold the flexible circuit (14,42) about the edge. A resilient strip (30) on the body member at the edge thereof spring loads the flexible circuit to enhance engagement thereof with the locating pegs.

Claims

1. A male connector for electrically interconnecting conductors of a flat flexible circuit to conductors of a complementary mating connecting device, comprising:

a male body member having an edge about which the flexible circuit is wrapped with the conductors of the circuit facing away from the body member;

locating means in the form of pegs integrally formed on the body member projecting into respective locating holes in the flexible circuit for engaging and holding the flexible circuit about the edge of body member; and

resilient means integrally formed on the body member at the edge thereof for spring loading the flexible circuit to enhance the engagement thereof with said locating means.

2. The male connector of claim 1, including at least one of said locating pegs and a respective locating hole on each opposite side of said resilient means.

3. The male connector of claim 1 wherein said male body member is elongated and said resilient means comprises a longitudinal resilient strip along said edge.

4. The male connector of claim 3 wherein said locating means are disposed on each opposite side of said resilient strip.

5. The male connector of claim 1 wherein said resilient means comprises a molded-in-place component.

6. The male connector of claim 5 wherein said body member is unitarily molded of plastic material and said molded-in-place component is of an elastomeric material.

7. The male connector of claim 5 wherein said resilient component is molded substantially about the edge of the body member.

8. The male connector of claim 1 wherein said body member is molded of relatively rigid plastic material.

9. The male connector of claim 1 wherein said resilient means is of an elastomeric material.

17. The connector of claim 1 wherein said resilient means is of an elastomeric material.

10. A male connector for electrically interconnecting conductors of a flat flexible circuit to conductors of a complementary mating connecting device, comprising:

an elongated male body member unitarily molded of relatively rigid plastic material and having an edge about which the flexible circuit is wrapped, with the conductors of the circuit facing away from the body member;

locating means in the form of pegs integrally formed on the body member projecting into respective locating holes in the flexible circuit for engaging and holding the flexible circuit about the edge of body member; and

an elongated resilient strip molded-in-place along the edge of the body member, the strip being of elastomeric material for spring loading the flexible circuit to enhance the engagement thereof with said locating means.

11. The male connector of claim 10 wherein said resilient strip is of silicone rubber.

12. The male connector of claim 10, including at least one of said locating pegs and a respective locating hole on each opposite side of said resilient strip.

13. A connector for electrically interconnecting conductors of a flat flexible circuit to conductors of a complementary mating connecting device, comprising:

a body member on which the flexible circuit is positioned;

locating means in the form of pegs integrally formed on the body member projecting into respective locating holes in the flexible circuit for engaging and holding the flexible circuit thereon; and

resilient means integrally formed on the body member engageable with the flexible circuit for spring loading the flexible circuit to enhance the engagement thereof with said locating means.

14. The connector of claim 13 wherein said resilient means comprises a molded-in-place component.

15. The connector of claim 14 wherein said body member is unitarily molded of plastic material and said molded-in-place component is of an elastomeric material.

16. The connector of claim 13 wherein said body member is molded of relatively rigid plastic material.