Locking flat flexible cable to circuit board connector

Claim 1

An electrical connector for interconnecting flat flexible cable with a printed circuit board comprising: a receptacle member having an elongated housing with a mounting surface, a mating face, a plurality of terminal recesses extending therein from said mounting surface to said mating face, and at least one locking means extending from an outer surface of said receptacle member; a plurality of receptacle terminals each mounted in a respective one of said recesses with each said receptacle terminal having a body portion including means for holding said receptacle terminal in said recess, a receptacle portion directed towards said mating face and a mounting tail portion extending from mounting surface of said elongated, housing; a plug member having an elongated body of insulative material defining a mating face, a rear surface, a chamber intermediate said plug member mating face and said rear surface, a cable receiving slot in said rear surface opening into said chamber, a plurality of apertures in said chamber opening on said plug member mating face, an integral shroud surrounding and extending forwardly of said plug member mating face, pairs of opposed inwardly directed teeth profiling said cable receiving slot in a balanced arrangement, and means for engaging said locking means of said receptacle member; and a multi-conductor flat flexible cable having a plurality of pin terminals each crimped to a respective conductor thereof, said cable being mounted through said slot with said pin terminals projecting from said apertures and said teeth engaging rear portions of said terminals to prevent the rearward withdrawal of said cable from said plug member, whereby upon mating of said connector said plug member and receptacle member are locked together by said locking means and said means for engaging said locking means and strain relief is provided for said cable by engagement of said pairs of teeth behind respective pin terminals.