Low insertion force connector
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A connector assembly comprising:
- a first connector comprising an insulative housing having a cavity disposed therein, said first connector further comprising a plurality of conductive terminals each having a first end portion and a second end portion, said second end portion including a first contact arm and a second contact arm, each of said plurality of terminals being mounted within said housing, each of said second end portions extending into said cavity forming generally parallel rows of first and second contact arms;
a flexible flat cable including an end portion having exposed conductive portions along a surface thereof; and
a second connector comprising an insulative housing, said end portion of said flexible flat cable being clamped inside said second connector housing, said second connector housing having a plurality of openings for providing access to said conductive portions, wherein said second connector and said end portion of said flexible flat cable being received in said cavity, each of said first contact arms extending into one of said openings, said second connector abutting said row of second contact arms pressing said conductive portions against said first contact arms making an electrical connection between said terminals and said conductive portions.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention includes a low insertion force connector assembly capable of providing an electrical interface to a circuit board. The connector assembly includes a housing and electrically conductive terminals mounted in the housing. The connector assembly further includes slide and wedge members which are inserted into the housing along with a connective end portion of a flexible flat cable pressing exposed conductors on the flexible flat cable against terminal contact arms.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A connector assembly comprising:
-
a first connector comprising an insulative housing having a cavity disposed therein, said first connector further comprising a plurality of conductive terminals each having a first end portion and a second end portion, said second end portion including a first contact arm and a second contact arm, each of said plurality of terminals being mounted within said housing, each of said second end portions extending into said cavity forming generally parallel rows of first and second contact arms;
a flexible flat cable including an end portion having exposed conductive portions along a surface thereof; and
a second connector comprising an insulative housing, said end portion of said flexible flat cable being clamped inside said second connector housing, said second connector housing having a plurality of openings for providing access to said conductive portions, wherein said second connector and said end portion of said flexible flat cable being received in said cavity, each of said first contact arms extending into one of said openings, said second connector abutting said row of second contact arms pressing said conductive portions against said first contact arms making an electrical connection between said terminals and said conductive portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A connector assembly comprising:
-
a flat cable assembly comprising a flexible flat cable member, said flexible flat cable member having exposed conductive contact pads along a first cable surface thereof, said flat cable assembly further comprising an insulative slide member and an insulative wedge member, said slide member having a plurality of first slots formed therein, said flexible flat cable member being secured between said slide member and said wedge member, said contact pads facing said first slots;
a connector comprising an insulative housing having a cavity disposed therein, a plurality of terminal receiving passageways being formed in said housing; and
a plurality of conductive terminals each having a first end portion and a second end portion, each said second end portion including a deflectable first contact arm and a second contact arm, each of said plurality of terminals being mounted within a respective one of said terminal receiving passageways, said second end portions extending into said cavity forming generally parallel rows of first and second contact arms, said first end portions extending outside said housing;
wherein said flat cable assembly is received in said cavity, each of said first contact arms is received in one of said first slots, said wedge member abutting said row of second contact arms pressing said contact pads of said flexible flat cable member against said first contact arms making an electrical connection between said terminals and said contact pads. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A connector assembly for providing an electrical interface to a flexible flat cable, the flexible flat cable including an end portion having exposed electrically conductive portions disposed along a surface thereof, said connector assembly comprising:
-
a first connector comprising an insulative housing having a cavity formed therein, said first connector further comprising a plurality of conductive terminals, each having a first end portion and a second end portion, said second end portion including a deflectable first contact arm and a second contact arm, each of said plurality of terminals being mounted within said housing forming generally parallel rows of first and second contact arms within said cavity, said first end portion protruding outside said housing; and
a second connector comprising an insulative housing, the end portion of the flexible flat cable being clamped inside said second connector housing, said second connector housing having a plurality of openings for providing access to the conductive portions, wherein said second connector and the end portion of the flexible flat cable being received in said cavity, each of said first contact arms extending into one of said openings, said second connector abutting said row of second contact arms pressing the conductive portions against said first contact arms making an electrical connection between said terminals and the conductive portions. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
-
Specification