US4936792A — Flexible printed cable connector

Claim 1

Independent Claim 203 words

An electrical connector for connecting a flexible printed cable to a circuit board, comprising; a dielectric housing having electrical contact members secured in opposing sides of the housing, the contact members having contact sections inside of said housing for electrical connection to exposed conductors of the flexible printed cable when a section of the cable is positioned in the housing; a cover member pivotally mounted on the housing to move from an open position to enable the cable to be positioned in the housing and a closed position with the contact sections electrically engaging the exposed conductors of the cable; latch means provided on the cover member and the housing for latching the cover member in said closed position; leg members of the contact members extending outwardly from the housing with some of the leg members being electrically connectable to conductive areas of the circuit board while the other of the leg members are mechanically connectable to metal areas of the circuit board and further some of said leg members include sections extending along the bottom of the housing and other of said leg members include sections extending outwardly from the housing in the same plane of the bottom surface of the housing.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 203 words

An electrical connector for connecting a flexible printed cable to a circuit board, comprising; a dielectric housing having electrical contact members secured in opposing sides of the housing, the contact members having contact sections inside of said housing for electrical connection to exposed conductors of the flexible printed cable when a section of the cable is positioned in the housing; a cover member pivotally mounted on the housing to move from an open position to enable the cable to be positioned in the housing and a closed position with the contact sections electrically engaging the exposed conductors of the cable; latch means provided on the cover member and the housing for latching the cover member in said closed position; leg members of the contact members extending outwardly from the housing with some of the leg members being electrically connectable to conductive areas of the circuit board while the other of the leg members are mechanically connectable to metal areas of the circuit board and further some of said leg members include sections extending along the bottom of the housing and other of said leg members include sections extending outwardly from the housing in the same plane of the bottom surface of the housing.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 48 words

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leg members have sections with some of the sections extending outwardly from the housing in the same plane of the bottom surface of the housing while other of the sections extend parallel to the sides of the housing.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leg members have sections with some of the sections extending outwardly from the housing in the same plane of the bottom surface of the housing while other of the sections are cut off.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 26 words

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein projections extend outwardly from the bottom of the housing for insertion into holes in the circuit board.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 38 words

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing has pivot projections and said cover member has rectangular openings in which said pivot projections are disposed enabling said cover member to slidably move along the housing.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 35 words

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein the latch means comprise inwardly directed projections at the ends of legs of the cover member that engage surfaces on the other sides of the housing.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 190 words

An electrical connector for electrically connecting electrical conductors of a flat cable to a printed circuit board, comprising: a dielectric housing having electrical contact members secured therein at spaced intervals corresponding to the spacing of the electrical conductors of the flat cable, said contact members having spring contact sections and leg sections, said spring contact sections being within said housing for electrical connection to exposed conductors of the flat cable when a section of the flat cable is positioned within the housing while said leg sections extend outwardly from said housing for electrical connection to conductive areas of the printed circuit board; a cover member; mounting means on said housing and said cover member enabling said cover member to pivot between an open position so that the section of the flat cable can be positioned between said housing and said cover member and a closed position with the exposed conductors in electrical engagement with the spring contact sections whereafter said cover member is slidable along said housing to a latching position; and latch means on the cover member and the housing for latching the cover member in the closed position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 190 words

An electrical connector for electrically connecting electrical conductors of a flat cable to a printed circuit board, comprising: a dielectric housing having electrical contact members secured therein at spaced intervals corresponding to the spacing of the electrical conductors of the flat cable, said contact members having spring contact sections and leg sections, said spring contact sections being within said housing for electrical connection to exposed conductors of the flat cable when a section of the flat cable is positioned within the housing while said leg sections extend outwardly from said housing for electrical connection to conductive areas of the printed circuit board; a cover member; mounting means on said housing and said cover member enabling said cover member to pivot between an open position so that the section of the flat cable can be positioned between said housing and said cover member and a closed position with the exposed conductors in electrical engagement with the spring contact sections whereafter said cover member is slidable along said housing to a latching position; and latch means on the cover member and the housing for latching the cover member in the closed position.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 32 words

An electrical connector as claimed im claim 7, wherein said mounting means comprise pivot projections on said housing and said cover member has rectangular openings in which said pivot projections are exposed.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 25 words

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein said latch means comprise inwardly-directed projections on said cover member that engage surfaces of said housing.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 30 words

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein some of said leg sections are connectable to metal areas on printed circuit board serving to mechanically secure the connector thereonto.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 26 words

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein projections extend outwardly from the bottom of the housing for insertion into holes in the circuit board.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 167 words

An electrical connector for electrically connecting electrical conductors of a flat cable to a printed circuit board, comprising; spaced electrical contact members having contact sections and leg sections; a rectangular-shaped dielectric housing molded onto parts of the leg sections so that exterior parts of the leg sections extend outwardly from front and rear surfaces of the housing and the contact sections are positioned within said housing, some of the exterior parts of the leg sections being electrically connectable to conductive areas of the printed circuit board while the other of the exterior parts of the leg sections are mechanically connectable to metal areas of the printed circuit board; a cover member pivotally mounted on the housing to move from an open position to enable the cable to be positioned in the housing and a closed position with the contact sections electrically engaging exposed conductors of the flat cable; and latch means on the cover member and the housing for latching the cover member in the closed position.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 167 words

An electrical connector for electrically connecting electrical conductors of a flat cable to a printed circuit board, comprising; spaced electrical contact members having contact sections and leg sections; a rectangular-shaped dielectric housing molded onto parts of the leg sections so that exterior parts of the leg sections extend outwardly from front and rear surfaces of the housing and the contact sections are positioned within said housing, some of the exterior parts of the leg sections being electrically connectable to conductive areas of the printed circuit board while the other of the exterior parts of the leg sections are mechanically connectable to metal areas of the printed circuit board; a cover member pivotally mounted on the housing to move from an open position to enable the cable to be positioned in the housing and a closed position with the contact sections electrically engaging exposed conductors of the flat cable; and latch means on the cover member and the housing for latching the cover member in the closed position.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 25 words

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein the exterior parts of the leg sections have sections extending along the bottom of the housing.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 51 words

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein the exterior parts of the leg sections have sections with some of the sections extending along the bottom of the housing while other of the sections extend outwardly from the housing in the same plane of the bottom surface of the housing.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 36 words

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein the exterior parts of the leg sections have sections that extend parallel to the respective sides of the housing for disposition in holes in the circuit board.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 59 words

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein the exterior parts of the leg sections have sections with some of the sections extending outwardly from the housing in the same plane of the bottom surface of the housing while the other of the sections extend parallel to the sides of the housing and below the bottom surface plane.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 48 words

An electrical connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein some of the exterior parts of the leg sections extend outwardly from the housing in the same plane of the bottom surface of the housing while the other of the exterior parts of the leg sections are cut off.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 148 words

An electrical contact assembly for electrical and mechanical connection to conductive and metal areas of a printed circuit board, comprising; spaced electrical contact members having contact sections and leg sections; a dielectric housing molded onto parts of the leg sections so that exterior parts of the leg sections extend outwardly from front and rear surfaces of the housing and the contact sections are positioned within the housing; some of the exterior parts of said leg sections being electrically connectable to the conductive areas of the circuit board while the other of the exterior parts of the leg sections are mechanically connectable to the metal areas of the circuit board; a cover member is pivotally mounted onto said housing and is movable from an open to a closed position; and latch means are provided on said housing and cover member to latch said cover member in said closed position.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 148 words

An electrical contact assembly for electrical and mechanical connection to conductive and metal areas of a printed circuit board, comprising; spaced electrical contact members having contact sections and leg sections; a dielectric housing molded onto parts of the leg sections so that exterior parts of the leg sections extend outwardly from front and rear surfaces of the housing and the contact sections are positioned within the housing; some of the exterior parts of said leg sections being electrically connectable to the conductive areas of the circuit board while the other of the exterior parts of the leg sections are mechanically connectable to the metal areas of the circuit board; a cover member is pivotally mounted onto said housing and is movable from an open to a closed position; and latch means are provided on said housing and cover member to latch said cover member in said closed position.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 28 words

An electrical contact assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the contact sections are cut from interior parts of the leg sections thereby forming cantilever spring contact sections.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 44 words

An electrical contact assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein the exterior parts of the leg sections that are part of the spring contact sections have sections that extend outwardly from the housing in the same plane of the bottom surface of the housing.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 44 words

An electrical contact assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein the exterior parts of the leg sections that are unconnected to the spring contact sections have sections that extend outwardly from the housing in the same plane of the bottom surface of the housing.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 52 words

An electrical contact assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein the exterior parts of the leg sections that are unconnected to the spring contact sections have some sections that extend outwardly from the housing in the same plane as the bottom of the housing while other of the sections are cut off.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 38 words

An electrical contact assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein said housing has pivot projections and said cover member has rectangular openings in which said pivot projections are disposed enabling said cover member to move along said housing.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-06-25	1993-12-25	1994-06-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-06-25	1997-12-25	1998-06-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-06-25	2001-12-25	2002-06-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Flexible printed cable connector

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