Flexible circuit connector assembly

Claim 2

A connector assembly for electrically connecting a substantially flat, flexible first circuit element including a flat conductive cable to a second circuit element, said connector assembly comprising: a housing of insulation material including a terminal receiving cavity formed therein having an opening through which the first circuit element is received into the cavity and a floor over which the first circuit element is supported; a generally resilient terminal mounted in said cavity, said terminal including opposing, normally spaced apart first and second portions for receiving said first circuit element therebetween, said first portion being mounted adjacent said floor and said second portion being movable from its normal position downwardly toward said floor to a contact position to mechanically press the first and second portions against the cable for ensuring good electrical contact and preventing withdrawal of said first circuit element; and actuating means associatable with said terminal for moving said second portion from its normal position to the contact position.

Claim 3

The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said first circuit element includes a plurality of parallel spaced apart cables on a flexible support surface, said housing including a plurality of terminal receiving cavities formed therein having a common slot opening through which the first circuit element is received over a common floor so that each cable is insertable into one cavity, said connector assembly including a plurality of said resilient terminals, one mounted in each cavity to contact and press against the respective cable received therein.

Claim 4

The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said terminal is generally loop-shaped with an upper contact surface defining said second portion and a lower surface defining said first portion, said second circuit element comprising a printed circuit board.

Claim 5

The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes a door hinged to the top of the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position, said door having a depending protrusion adapted to engage said second portion of said terminal to move said second portion to a contact position when said door is moved from its open position to its closed position.

Claim 6

The connector assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing includes a second opening through which said pin is receivable into said cavity to engage said second terminal portion, said pin defining said actuating means when it is inserted into the second opening into the cavity, whereby the second portion is moved to the contact position in response to the insertion of said pin.

Claim 7

The connector assembly of claim 1 including strain relief means to aid in preventing withdrawal of said first circuit element after insertion.

Claim 8

The connector assembly of claim 6 wherein said strain relief means is mounted on said housing and includes first slot means above the cavity opening through which said first circuit element is received in a direction the same as the direction of insertion into the cavity opening and a second slot means intermediate said first slot means and said cavity opening through which said first circuit element is received from said first slot means in a direction opposite the direction of insertion into the cavity opening, after which said first circuit element is inserted into said cavity opening.

Claim 9

A connector assembly for electrically connecting a substantially flat, flexible first circuit element having a plurality of flat conductive cables to a second circuit element, said connector assembly comprising: a housing of insulation material including a plurality of terminal receiving cavities formed therein having a common opening through which said first circuit element is received so that each cable is located in one cavity and a bottom wall over which said first circuit element is supported; a plurality of generally resilient terminals, one mounted in each of said cavities, each terminal including opposing, normally spaced apart first and second portions for receiving said first circuit element therebetween, said first portion being mounted adjacent said floor and said second portion being movable from its normal position downwardly toward said bottom wall to a contact position to mechanically press the first and second portions against the cable for ensuring good electrical contact and preventing withdrawal of said first circuit element; a door hinged on top of the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position over said cavities, said door having a plurality of depending protrusions each adapted to engage said second portion of said terminal to move said second portion to a contact position when said door is moved from its open position to its closed position.

Claim 10

A connector assembly for electrically connecting a substantially flat, flexible first circuit element having a plurality of flat conductive cables to a second circuit element, said connector assembly comprising: a housing of insulation material including a plurality of terminal receiving cavities formed therein having a common opening through which said first circuit element is received so that each cable is located in one cavity and a bottom wall over which said first circuit element is supported; a plurality of generally resilient terminals, one mounted in each of said cavities, each terminal including opposing, normally spaced apart first and second portions for receiving said first circuit element therebetween, said first portion being mounted adjacent said floor and said second portion being movable from its normal position downwardly toward said bottom wall to a contact position to mechanically press the first and second portions against the cable for ensuring good electrical contact and preventing withdrawal of said first circuit element; a door hinged on top of the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position over said cavities, said door having a plurality of depending protrusions each adapted to engage said second portion of said terminal to move said second portion to a contact position when said door is moved from its open position to its closed position.

Claim 11

The connector assembly of claim 8 wherein each terminal is generally loop-shaped with an upper contact surface defining said second portion and a lower contact surface defining said first portion, said second circuit element comprising a printed circuit board.

Claim 12

The connector assembly of claim 8 wherein said door has latch means for removably holding said door in a closed position.

Claim 13

A connector assembly for electrically connecting the substantially flat, flexible first circuit element having a plurality of flat conductive cables to a second circuit element having a plurality of conductive pins, one for each cable, said connector assembly comprising: a housing of insulation material including a plurality of terminal receiving cavities formed therein having a common opening through which said first circuit element is received so that each cable is located in one cavity, a bottom wall over which said first circuit element is supported, and an opening in each cavity for receiving a conductive pin therethrough; and a plurality of generally resilient terminals, one mounted in each of said cavities, each terminal including opposing, normally spaced apart first and second portions for receiving said first circuit element therebetween, said first portion being mounted adjacent said floor and said second portion being movable from its normal position downwardly toward said bottom wall to a contact position to mechanically press the first and second portions against the cable for ensuring good electrical contact and preventing the withdrawal of said first circuit element, each conductive pin engaging one second terminal portion when inserted into a cavity so that said one second portion moves to its contact position in response to the insertion of the conductive pin into the cavity.

Claim 14

A connector assembly for electrically connecting the substantially flat, flexible first circuit element having a plurality of flat conductive cables to a second circuit element having a plurality of conductive pins, one for each cable, said connector assembly comprising: a housing of insulation material including a plurality of terminal receiving cavities formed therein having a common opening through which said first circuit element is received so that each cable is located in one cavity, a bottom wall over which said first circuit element is supported, and an opening in each cavity for receiving a conductive pin therethrough; and a plurality of generally resilient terminals, one mounted in each of said cavities, each terminal including opposing, normally spaced apart first and second portions for receiving said first circuit element therebetween, said first portion being mounted adjacent said floor and said second portion being movable from its normal position downwardly toward said bottom wall to a contact position to mechanically press the first and second portions against the cable for ensuring good electrical contact and preventing the withdrawal of said first circuit element, each conductive pin engaging one second terminal portion when inserted into a cavity so that said one second portion moves to its contact position in response to the insertion of the conductive pin into the cavity.

Claim 15

The connector assembly of claim 11 wherein each terminal is loop-shaped with a lower contact surface defining said first terminal portion and an upper contact surface defining the second terminal portion.

Claim 16

The connector assembly of claim 11 including strain relief means to aid in preventing withdrawal of said first circuit element after insertion.

Claim 17

The connector assembly of claim 13 wherein said strain relief means is mounted on said housing includes first slot means above the cavity opening through which said first circuit element is received in a direction the same as the direction of insertion into the cavity opening, and a second slot means intermediate said first slot means and said cavity opening through which said first circuit element is received from said first slot means in a direction opposite the direction of insertion into the cavity opening, after which said first circuit element is inserted into said cavity opening.