Connector for connecting a flat cable and for securely retaining the same

• US 7,114,988 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2001
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
• Original Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited, NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Yamauchi, Masahiro, Sato, Kazuomi
• Primary Examiner(s): Prasad, Chandrika
• Application Number:
  US10/490,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20040235339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,833 Days
• Field of Search: 439/492, 439/493, 439/494, 439/495, 439/496, 439/497, 439/499
• US Class Current: 439/492
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/592 connections to contact elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/772 Strain relieving means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/774 Retainers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/78 connecting to other flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/85 contact pressure producing means, contacts activated after insertion of printed circuits or like structures
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/112 forked sockets having two legs
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5825 the means comprising additional parts captured between housing parts and cable

Abstract

Having conductive contacts (4), a first insulator (1) retaining the contacts, and a cable-side insulator, attachable/detachable relative to the first insulator, for retaining a flat cable (6). The cable-side insulator includes a second insulator (2) for receiving the flat cable, a third insulator (3) disposed so as to confront the second insulator via the flat cable, and a clamp (7) interposed between the flat cable and the third insulator. When the cable-side insulator is mounted to the first insulator, the second and third insulators are engaged with the first insulator to approach each other so that the flat cable is sandwiched between the clamp and the second insulator. In this state, the flat cable is connected to the contacts.

Claims

1. A connector including conductive contacts, a first insulator retaining said contacts, and a cable-side insulator, attachable/detachable relative to said first insulator, for retaining a flat cable, wherein when said cable-side insulator is mounted to said first insulator, said flat cable is connected to said contacts, said connector characterized in that said cable-side insulator comprises a second insulator for receiving said flat cable, a third insulator disposed so as to confront said second insulator via said flat cable, and a clamp interposed between said flat cable and said third insulator and, when said cable-side insulator is mounted to said first insulator, said second and third insulators are engaged with said first insulator to approach each other so that said flat cable is sandwiched between said clamp and said second insulator, and said third insulator comprising a rib that pushes said clamp toward said flat cable.

2. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said first insulator has a guide groove for guiding said cable-side insulator to be attached/detached, and said second and third insulators have convex portions, respectively, which are inserted into said guide groove.

3. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said second insulator has a concave portion confronting said clamp, and said flat cable is pushed into said concave portion by said clamp.

4. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said flat cable comprises a plurality of cable elements, and said second insulator and said clamp have a function of conjointly arraying said cable elements.

5. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said third insulator is an integral body.

6. A connector according to claim 1, wherein said third insulator comprises an additional insulator having the same shape and size as said second insulator, and an additional clamp interposed between said additional insulator and said clamp and, when said cable-side insulator is mounted to said first insulator, said additional insulator along with said second insulator is engaged with said first insulator to cause said additional clamp to approach said second insulator so that the foregoing clamp is pushed toward said second insulator by said additional clamp.

7. A connector according to claim 6, wherein said additional insulator directly contacts with said additional clamp.

8. A connector according to claim 6, further comprising additional conductive contacts retained by said first insulator and connected with an additional flat cable, wherein said additional flat cable is sandwiched between said additional insulator and said additional clamp.