JPH0935827A - Connector for flexible circuit board - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connector for flexible circuit board of such a structure as exerting a certain resistance against a prying force developed between a housing and a slider, with which the strength can well be maintained and the construction be made small. SOLUTION: A projection 15 is provided on the base 12 as the root of a engaging arm 14a of a slider 11 to be engaged by a housing 16 so that the strength of the part is heightened. The housing 16 is furnished with a notch 16a to be detained with the projection 15 at the time of engagement with the slider 11, which should prevent generation of swinging between the two members in the engaging state.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to a flexible circuit board connector for connecting a flexible circuit board such as an FPC (flexible printed circuit).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a flexible circuit board such as an FPC has been known as one for electrically connecting a movable portion such as an optical system in a copying machine and the like to other fixed portions and movable portions.

Further, the exposed ends of the conductors of these flexible circuit boards are brought into contact with the movable portion and the fixed portion to obtain electrical continuity, and various flexible circuit board connectors for fixing them are also available. Formats are popular.

These flexible circuit board connectors communicate with a contact chamber in which leaf-spring-shaped electric contacts are provided, and an opening is formed in the housing to allow insertion of the flexible circuit board or the tip of a flat cable. The tip of a flexible circuit board or the like is inserted into the contact chamber through this opening, and the tip is brought into contact with the contact in the contact chamber.

By the way, this contact makes contact with the tip portion of the flexible circuit board or the like by its elastic force, and the contact state is maintained by the frictional force that presses the flexible circuit board or the like against the inner wall surface of the contact chamber. Has become.

However, in such a structure, even if the elastic force of the contact is strong, when the flexible circuit board or the like is caught by another member, the circuit board is pulled in the detaching direction and easily pulled from the contact. I was pulled out,
The contact state between the two was easily released.

Therefore, in order to prevent the contact state from being easily released, a flexible circuit board or the like is crimped to the contact, and itself is fixed to the housing. A separate member is generally used.

That is, the slider extends from the base portion along the direction in which the flexible circuit board and the like are inserted into the contact chamber, and is inserted from the opening of the housing.
The flexible circuit board is configured to include a tongue piece that presses the contact against the contact to fix the contact state between the two. Further, on both sides of the base portion, engaging arms that extend in the insertion direction and engage with the housing are formed. It was done.

According to this slider, the flexible circuit board inserted into the contact chamber is pressed by the tongue piece and pressed against the contact, and the engaging arm is elastically engaged with the housing in this state. Since the housing and the slider are integrally locked, it is possible to prevent the flexible circuit board from being easily pulled out from the contact.

[0010]

By the way, also in the above-mentioned connector, further miniaturization and weight reduction are desired. For example, as an effective measure, the thickness of the base portion of the slider, particularly the thickness in the insertion direction of the slider, is made thin. It is possible to do it.

However, if the thickness of the base portion of the slider is simply reduced, the strength of the base portion of the engaging arm, which is elastically deformed until the slider and the housing are engaged, is insufficient and cracks occur in this portion. Or cracks may occur.

On the other hand, when the housing and the slider are engaged with each other, a twisting force may act in a direction perpendicular to the inserting direction of the slider and an unreasonable force may be applied to the engaging arm or the like. It is also necessary that such a twisting force does not adversely affect the arm or the like.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and increases the strength in the vicinity of the engaging arm portion to reduce the wall thickness to enable miniaturization of the connector as a whole and to reduce the space between the housing and the slider. It is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible circuit board connector having a structure that increases the resistance against the twisting force generated in the.

[0014]

A connector for a flexible circuit board according to the present invention is provided with an engaging projection on a fixed end of an engaging arm of a slider to be engaged with a housing, that is, a base which is a base of the arm. In addition, the housing is provided with an engaging concave portion that engages with the engaging convex portion at the time of engaging with the slider, and prevents a shake between the both in an engaged state.

That is, the connector for a flexible circuit board of the present invention is formed with an opening through which the flexible circuit board can be inserted, and a housing which internally has a contact capable of contacting the flexible circuit board inserted through the opening, A slider having a base and a tongue extending from the base in the insertion direction and inserted through the opening of the housing to press the flexible circuit board against the contact to fix the contact state between the slider. And two engaging arms extending from both side portions of the base portion of the slider in the insertion direction and engaged portions formed on both side portions of the housing are engaged with each other, whereby the slider is A flexible circuit board connector in which the housing is locked, wherein the housing and the Engagement recesses and engagement protrusions that are engaged with each other are formed in the housing and the slider, respectively, so as to prevent the rider from swinging in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction when engaged with the rider. The engaging projection is formed in the vicinity of the fixed end of the base so as to improve the strength in the vicinity of the fixed end of the engaging arm.

It should be noted that the engaging projection is formed only on the base portion near the fixed end of the engaging arm, not on the engaging arm itself.

The strength of the engaging arm in the vicinity of the fixed end is the resistance to the load applied to the vicinity of the fixed end by the bending of the engaging arm while the slider and the housing are brought from the separated state to the engaged state. It means the strength to do.

[0018]

According to the flexible circuit board connector of the present invention, since the engaging convex portion is formed on the base portion of the engaging arm, the section modulus of this portion can be locally increased, and the flexible circuit board connector Sufficient strength is secured against the stress generated by the bending of the engaging arm when engaging with the housing. As a result, the wall thickness of the base portion, which is the base portion of the arm, can be reduced as a whole, and the connector as a whole can be downsized.

Moreover, by providing the housing with the engaging concave portion which engages with the engaging convex portion at the time of engaging with the slider, it is possible to prevent the shake such as prying between the both in the engaged state. It is possible to prevent the deformation and erroneous release of engagement.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a flexible circuit board connector of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment of a connector for a flexible circuit board of the present invention, FIGS. 2 and 3 are views showing a slider and a housing constituting the connector, and FIG. 4 is connected by this connector. It is a figure which shows a flexible circuit board.

The illustrated connector 10 comprises a housing 16 in which a plurality of contacts 30 are arranged, and a slider 11 for fixing a flexible circuit board (hereinafter referred to as FPC) 20 to the contacts 30 of the housing 16 by contact. The housing 16 and the slider 11 can be engaged and separated freely.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 16 is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section, and its end wall 19 is formed.
A plurality of cavities 19a for holding the above-mentioned plurality of contacts 30 are formed therein, and the contact 30 held in the cavities 19a is a contact chamber surrounded by the peripheral wall 18 and the end wall 19.
A part of it is exposed to 17.

A slider is provided on the short side of the peripheral wall 18
A first raised portion 18a is formed on the front side in the fitting direction with 11, and a second raised portion 18b having a lower height than the first raised portion 18 is formed on the rear side in the fitting direction. Has been formed. Here, the relative concave portion formed between the first raised portion 18a and the second raised portion 18b is temporarily held in the direction in which the tip claw 14a of the engagement arm 14 of the slider 11 described later is fitted. And a relative concave portion formed on the rear side in the fitting direction of the second raised portion 18b is a temporary fitting position.
Is a completely fitted position in which it is completely held in the fitting direction.

The long side of the peripheral wall 18 is
A notch (engagement recess) 16a that engages with a protrusion (engagement protrusion) 15 formed on a base 12 of a slider 11 described later is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the slider 11 has a base 12 having an opening 12a through which the FPC 20 can be inserted.
And a tongue piece 13 that communicates with the opening 12a of the base portion 12 and extends in the insertion direction of the FPC 20 and is inserted into the contact chamber 17 of the housing 16 to press the FPC 20 against the contact 30. Further, the slider 11 is provided. Two engaging arms 14 extending substantially parallel to the extending direction of the tongue 13 are formed on both sides of the tongue 13 sandwiching the tongue 13. The free end of the arm 14 has an acute angle toward the center of the slider 11. Is formed with a tip claw 14a.

Further, in the vicinity K of the fixed end of each engaging arm 14 of the base 12, the strength of the vicinity K of the fixed end is improved, and the notch 16 formed in the housing 16 described above.
A convex piece 15 that extends substantially parallel to the extending direction of the engaging arm 14 that engages with a is formed. When the housing 16 and the slider 11 are engaged with each other, the protruding piece 15 has a housing 16
A portion 15a is formed so as to extend to the inner wall surface 18c side of the peripheral wall 18, and the entire protruding piece 15 is formed in a substantially L shape (see FIG. 3).

The FPC 20 connected to the contact 30 by the connector 10 of this embodiment is, as shown in FIG.
An electrical circuit 22 is formed on the flexible substrate 21 so as to come into electrical contact with the contact 30, and a protective layer 23 for protecting the electrical circuit 22 is formed on the surface of the electrical circuit 22.
The protective layer 23 is provided for the area corresponding to the part inserted into 0.
A reinforcing plate 24 is provided to reinforce the substrate 21 while removing the above.

Next, the operation of the FPC connector 10 of this embodiment will be described.

The housing 16 is provided with a plurality of contacts 30 in advance.
Are held in the cavities 19 a, and the tip ends of the contacts 30 are inserted and exposed in the contact chamber 17.

As shown in FIG. 1 (5), the contact 30 used here has a fork-shaped bifurcation on the front side, and this contact is formed at the substantially central portion of the rear end.
A notch 31 for applying a tool for pushing the 30 into the cavity 19a of the housing 16 is formed. This notch
31 is not only for applying a tool, but also for transporting the housing 16 having the contact 30 inserted therein in a manufacturing process, a packing process, or the like, for example, the housing having the contact 30 inserted therein as shown in FIG. 1 (1). When the 16 (hereinafter, simply referred to as an assembly) is conveyed in the direction of the arrow L, the conveyance guide member 100 is applied to the notch 31 of the contact 30 so that the assembly is guided by the conveyance guide member 100 along a predetermined conveyance path. Can guide you.

A tongue piece is placed in the contact chamber 17 of the housing 16.
The slider 11 is moved in the direction of the arrow M so that 13 is inserted, and the slider 11 and the housing 16 are engaged with each other. At this time, first, the tip claw 14a of the engaging arm 14 of the slider 11 rides on the first raised portion 18a of the housing 16. As a result, the arm 14 warps outward (in the direction of the arrow R) around the fixed end portion thereof, and stress concentrates in the vicinity K of the fixed end portion of the base portion 12, so that cracks or the like are likely to occur there. In 10, the convex piece 15 is provided in the vicinity K of the fixed end portion and the portion K is reinforced, so that cracks and the like do not occur.

When the tip claw 14a passes over the first raised portion 18a, the tip claw 14a is moved to the first raised portion 18a and the second raised portion 18a.
This position is referred to as a temporary engagement position S because it becomes stable in the relative concave portion with respect to b. At the temporary engagement position S, only a part of the tip of the tongue piece 13 is inserted into the contact chamber 17.

In this temporarily engaged state, the FPC 20 is inserted into the contact chamber 17 of the housing 16 through the opening 12a formed in the base portion 12 of the slider 11. In this state, each contact 30 and FPC 20 in the contact chamber 17
Although the circuit 22 is in contact with the circuit 22, it does not reliably maintain the contact state, and thus the conduction between them is uncertain.

Next, the slider 11 at the temporary engagement position S is further moved in the fitting direction with the housing 16. At this time, the tip claw 14a of the engaging arm 14 of the slider 11 rides on the second raised portion 18b of the housing 16. As a result, the arm 14 warps outward (in the direction of the arrow R) about the fixed end, but a protrusion 15 is provided in the vicinity K of the fixed end to reinforce the part K, which may cause cracks or the like. There is no.

When the tip claw 14a rides over the second raised portion 18b, the tip claw 14a is stabilized in a relative recessed portion over the second raised portion 18b. Then, this position is defined as a complete engagement position E. Since the tongue piece 13 is inserted into the contact chamber 17 at the complete engagement position E, the tongue piece 13 presses the FPC 20 inserted into the contact chamber 17 against the contact 30, whereby the circuit of each contact 30 and the FPC 20. The contact with 22 becomes reliable, and the conduction between the two becomes stable. Further, since the tip end claw 14a is stable at the completely engaged position E, the slider 11 and the housing 16 maintain the engaged state, and therefore the contact between the contact 30 and the circuit 22 of the FPC 20 is also stably maintained. .

Since the tip claw 14a is formed so as to wrap around further than the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction (angle θ> 0 ° in FIG. 3), the tip claw 14a is the second with respect to the pull-out direction of the slider 11. It becomes difficult to ride on the raised portion 18b, and the engagement between the two can be made more stable.

At the completely engaged position E, the reinforcing projection 15 provided in the vicinity K of the fixed end and the notch 16a of the housing 16 are fitted to each other, and the portion around which the projection 15 surrounds. 15a substantially abuts on the inner wall surface 18c of the peripheral wall 18 of the housing 16. With this structure, the movement between the two members during handling is restricted in the plane perpendicular to the engagement direction.
It is possible to prevent swaying such as twisting between them, and prevent deformation of the connector, incomplete contact between the contact 30 and the circuit 22 of the FPC 20, incorrect release of engagement, and the like.

As described above, according to the FPC connector of the present embodiment, by providing the convex piece at the base of the engaging arm, the section modulus increases and the strength of the part can be increased. With this, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the base portion, reduce the size and weight of the connector as a whole, and improve the resistance against the twisting force generated between the housing and the slider.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing an embodiment of a flexible circuit board connector of the present invention, (1) a plan view and a partial cross-sectional view (cross-section taken along line YY of (3)), (2) front view, (3). Sectional view showing a rear view, (4) side view, and (5) (3) cross section taken along line XX.

2 is a view showing a housing constituting the connector shown in FIG. 1, (1) a plan view and a partial cross-sectional view (A in (3)).
-A line cross section), (2) front view, (3) rear view and partial cross-sectional view (C-C line cross section of (1)), (4) side view,
(5) Sectional drawing which shows the BB line cross section of (1).

3A and 3B are views showing a slider which constitutes the connector shown in FIG. 1, (1) a plan view, (2) a front view, (3) a rear view,
(4) Side view, (5) A sectional view showing a section taken along line ZZ of (1), (6) A sectional view showing a section taken along line VV of (1)

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flexible circuit board connected by the connector shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Flexible circuit board connector (FPC connector) 11 Slider 12 Base 12a Opening 13 Tongue piece 14 Engaging arm 14a Tip claw 15 Convex piece 16 Housing 16a Notch 17 Contact chamber 18a First raised portion 18b Second raised portion 20 Flexible circuit board (FPC) 30 contacts

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A housing having an opening through which a flexible circuit board can be inserted and having a contact capable of contacting the flexible circuit board inserted through the opening, a base, and a direction from the base to the insertion direction. A slider engaged with the housing, having a tongue extending from the opening of the housing and pressing the flexible circuit board against the contact to fix the contact state between the two. The two engaging arms extending in the insertion direction from both sides of the housing and the engaged portions formed on the both sides of the housing engage with each other, whereby the slider and the housing are locked. In the circuit board connector, the insertion method in a state where the housing and the slider are engaged with each other. Engaging concave portions and engaging convex portions that engage with each other are formed in the housing and the slider, respectively, so as to prevent both from swinging in a direction perpendicular to the A connector for a flexible circuit board, which is formed in the vicinity of the fixed end of the arm so as to improve the strength in the vicinity of the fixed end.