Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A zero insertion force electrical connector for a flat cable (30), comprising: a dielectric housing (1) mounting a plurality of conductive terminals (2), the housing having a front end (1a) adapted for receiving the flat cable in engagement with the terminals, a rear end (1b) and opposite sides (8a,8b); an actuator (3) mounted to the housing (1) for movement between a first position allowing free insertion of the flat cable (30) into engagement with the terminals (2) and a second position biasing the cable against the terminals; complementary interengaging mounting means (13,14,27,28,29) between the housing (1) and the actuator (3) at the opposite sides of the housing intermediate the front and rear ends thereof; complementary interengaging stop means (12a,29a) between the housing (1) and the actuator (3) near the rear end (1b) of the housing for limiting rotation of the actuator relative to the housing in a first direction; and complementary interengaging latch means (16a,24a,40,42) between the housing and the actuator near the front end (1a) of the housing for preventing rotation of the actuator relative to the housing in a second direction opposite said first direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
34 words
The zero insertion force electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said complementary interengaging stop means (12a,29a) are adapted to stop rotation of the actuator (3) relative to the housing (1) beyond said second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The zero insertion force electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said complementary interengaging latch means (16a,24a) are adapted to prevent rotation of the actuator (3) relative to the housing (1) from said second position back to said first position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The zero insertion force electrical connector of claim 1, including means (13,27a) between the housing (1) and the actuator (3) for providing generally linear movement of the actuator relative to the housing from said second position to a third, final position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The zero insertion force electrical connector of claim 1, including mounting arms (27) at opposite sides of said actuator (3), the arms having said mounting means (28) and said stop means (29a) thereon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The zero insertion force electrical connector of claim 5 wherein said arms (27) are generally J-shaped and said stop means (29a) being on the distal end of the J-shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The zero insertion force electrical connector of claim 1, including complementary interengaging support means (19,23) between the housing (1) and the actuator (3) at a rear end of the actuator intermediate opposite sides thereof to prevent bending of the actuator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The zero insertion force electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said actuator (3), in said first position, is disposed generally perpendicular to the plane of the flat cable (30) to allow visual inspection of the engagement of the cable and the terminals (2).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The zero insertion force electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said complementary interengaging latch means includes a pair of L-shaped latch arms (40) at opposite sides of the actuator (3) for engaging latch projections (42) at opposite sides of the dielectric housing (1).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The zero insertion force electrical connector of claim 9 wherein said latch projections (42) on opposite sides of the housing also are generally L-shaped but smaller than the L-shaped latch arms (40) for nesting within the arms.