EP0397075A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Printed circuit board edge connector
Assignee: Whitaker LLC
•
Filing: 1990-05-07
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2010-05-07
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector (2) for electrically connecting a printed circuit board (6) to a cable (8) has terminals (4) which are provided therein. The cable (8) is maintained in the connector (2) in a recess provided between a housing (10) and a shroud (12) of the connector (2). An end of the cable extends into a board receiving channel. the end of the cable having exposed conductors provided thereon. An edge of the printed circuit board (6) is inserted into a board receiving channel of the connector (2) under reduced insertion force conditions. The connector is then rotated relative to the board, causing the terminals to resiliently engage the board. The resilient engagement causes the circuit board (6) to be placed in electrical connection with the cable (8). The board is maintained in position relative to the connector by locking projections 32, thereby insuring that a positive, reliable electrical connection will be effected.
Inventors
- 👤 Billy Erik Olsson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:45
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/71; H01R12/72; H01R12/82; H01R12/83
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
An electrical connector (2) for connecting a flexible cable (8) to a circuit board (6), the circuit board (6) being movable between a first position and a second position; a board receiving area (36) being dimensioned to receive the circuit board (6) therein, the electrical connector (2) being characterized in that: a cable receiving means (76) provided proximate the board receiving area (36), the cable receiving means (76) cooperate with the cable (8) to retain the cable (8) with respect to the electrical connector (2); support means (24,54) proximate the board receiving area (36), the support means provided to cooperate with the circuit board (6) and a respective end (74) of the cable (8), thereby insuring that the circuit board (6) and cable (8) will be retained in position relative to the electrical connector (2); and resilient means (32,46) positioned to cooperate with the circuit board (6) when the circuit board (6) is moved from the first position to the second position, the resilient means (32,46) applying a force to the circuit board (6), thereby maintaining the circuit board (6) in cooperation with the support means (24,54) and insuring that a positive electrical connection is effected between the circuit board (6) and the cable (8).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
An electrical connector (2) for connecting a flexible cable (8) to a circuit board (6), the circuit board (6) being movable between a first position and a second position; a board receiving area (36) being dimensioned to receive the circuit board (6) therein, the electrical connector (2) being characterized in that: a cable receiving means (76) provided proximate the board receiving area (36), the cable receiving means (76) cooperate with the cable (8) to retain the cable (8) with respect to the electrical connector (2); support means (24,54) proximate the board receiving area (36), the support means provided to cooperate with the circuit board (6) and a respective end (74) of the cable (8), thereby insuring that the circuit board (6) and cable (8) will be retained in position relative to the electrical connector (2); and resilient means (32,46) positioned to cooperate with the circuit board (6) when the circuit board (6) is moved from the first position to the second position, the resilient means (32,46) applying a force to the circuit board (6), thereby maintaining the circuit board (6) in cooperation with the support means (24,54) and insuring that a positive electrical connection is effected between the circuit board (6) and the cable (8).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
109 words
An electrical connector (2) as recited in claim 1 wherein the circuit board (6) has conductive areas (86) provided on a surface thereof which is proximate the support means (24,54), and the end (74) of the cable (8) has exposed conductors which are provided proximate the support means (24,54), so that as the resilient means (32,46) applies the force to the circuit board (6), the conductive areas (86) of the circuit board (6) are forced into engagement with respective exposed conductors at the end (74) of the cable (8), thereby insuring that a positive electrical connection is effected and maintained between the circuit board (6) and the cable (8).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
67 words
An electrical connector (2) as recited in any of claims 1 and 2 wherein the electrical connector (2) has a housing (10) which has the board receiving area (36) provided therein, and a shroud (12) which cooperates with the housing (10) to provide the cable receiving means (76) therebetween, the cable receiving means (76) being a cable receiving channel (76) dimensioned to receive the cable (8) therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electrical connector (2) as recited in claim 3 wherein the housing (10) of the electrical connector (2) has terminal receiving cavities (14) provided therein, the terminal receiving cavities (14) having terminals (4) which are maintained in the terminal receiving cavities (14).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
An electrical connector (2) as recited in claim 4 wherein the support means (24,54) has first support members (54) and second support members (24), the first support members (54) are provided on the terminals (4) and are camming surfaces, the second support members (24) are shoulders (24) provided on walls (20) which extend between the terminals (4).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
An electrical connector (2) as recited in claims 4 or 5 wherein the resilient means (32,46) has first resilient members (46) and second resilient members (32), the first resilient members (46) provided on the terminals (4) and the second resilient members (32) provided on the housing (10).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
An electrical connector (2) as recited in claim 6 wherein the first resilient members (46) have enlarged portions (56) at the end thereof, the enlarged portions (56) cooperate with the circuit board (6) when the circuit board (6) is inserted into the board receiving area (36) of the connector (2).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
An electrical connector (2) as recited in claim 7 wherein the first resilient members (46) have electrical characteristics, the enlarged portions (56) are provided in electrical engagement with conductive areas (86) provided on a surface of the circuit board (6) and the camming surfaces (32) of the terminals (4) are provided in electrical engagement with conductor of the cable (8), such that the first resilient members (46) provide the means to place the circuit board (6) in electrical engagement with the cable (8).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
An electrical connector (2) as recited in claim 8 wherein the second resilient members (32) have locking projections (32) provided thereon, the locking projections (32) cooperate with openings (84) provided on the circuit board (6) when the circuit board (6) is fully inserted into the connector (2), the locking projections (32) cooperate with the openings (84) to insure that the circuit board (6) will not be disengaged from the connector (2).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electrical connector (2) as recited in any of claims 1 to 9 wherein the electrical connector (2) is placed in a template (88) when the electrical connector is positioned in engagement with the circuit board (6), the template (88) provides the alignment means required to insure that the circuit board (6) will be provided in electrical engagement with the cable (8).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.