US5213534A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector assembly for flat flexible cable
Assignee: Molex LLC
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Filing: 1992-07-31
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Granted: 1993-05-25
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Expires: 2012-07-31
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector assembly is provided for a flat flexible cable having an array of flat conductors arranged thereon at intervals generally parallel to one another and terminating near a distal edge at an end of the cable. A dielectric housing has an elongate recess with a plurality of terminals at intervals along the recess. Each terminal has a contact portion for engaging a respective one of the flat conductors of the flat flexible cable when the cable end is inserted into the recess. An adaptor includes a blade portion insertable into the recess in juxtaposition on one side of the flat flexible cable for biasing the cable conductors into engagement with the contact portions of the terminals on an opposite side of the cable. The adaptor includes at least one wing portion outside of and generally coplanar with the blade portion, with a registration boss projecting from the wing portion. The flat flexible cable includes a registration aperture engageable about the registration boss. Therefore, the adaptor and the properly registered cable can be inserted conjointly into the recess, with the conductors biasingly wiping over the contact portions of the terminals. The flat flexible cable also includes at least one notch in the distal edge thereof, and the adaptor includes a projection adapted to engage in the notch.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael J. Gardner
- 👤 Bill B. Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:10
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/50; H01R12/59; H01R12/592; H01R12/70; H01R12/77; H01R12/79
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
In an electrical connector assembly for a flat flexible cable having an array of flat conductors arranged thereon at intervals generally parallel to one another and terminating near a distal edge at an end of the cable, a dielectric housing having an elongate recess with a plurality of terminals at intervals along the recess, each terminal having a first contact portion for engaging a respective one of the flat conductors of the flat flexible cable when the cable end is inserted into the recess, and an adaptor including a planar blade portion insertable into the recess in juxtaposition on one side of the flat flexible cable at said end thereof for biasing the cable conductors into engagement with the contact portions of the terminals on an opposite side of the cable, wherein the improvement comprises said adaptor including a wing portion outside of and generally coplanar with the blade portion, the wing portion including a registration boss projecting therefrom, and said flat flexible cable including a registration aperture engageable about the registration boss, whereby the adaptor and the cable can be inserted conjointly into the recess with the conductors biasingly wiping over the contact portions of the terminals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
In an electrical connector assembly for a flat flexible cable having an array of flat conductors arranged thereon at intervals generally parallel to one another and terminating near a distal edge at an end of the cable, a dielectric housing having an elongate recess with a plurality of terminals at intervals along the recess, each terminal having a first contact portion for engaging a respective one of the flat conductors of the flat flexible cable when the cable end is inserted into the recess, and an adaptor including a planar blade portion insertable into the recess in juxtaposition on one side of the flat flexible cable at said end thereof for biasing the cable conductors into engagement with the contact portions of the terminals on an opposite side of the cable, wherein the improvement comprises said adaptor including a wing portion outside of and generally coplanar with the blade portion, the wing portion including a registration boss projecting therefrom, and said flat flexible cable including a registration aperture engageable about the registration boss, whereby the adaptor and the cable can be inserted conjointly into the recess with the conductors biasingly wiping over the contact portions of the terminals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
In an electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said registration boss surrounds a mounting hole in the wing portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
In an electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein said registration box is generally cylindrical and said registration aperture is generally circular and of a size to fit over the cylindrical boss.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
In an electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 1, including a pair of said wing portions respectively located outside opposite sides of the blade portion and each wing portion including one of said registration bosses, and said flat flexible cable includes a pair of said registration apertures engageable about the pair of registration bosses.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
In an electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said registration bosses surround a pair of mounting holes in the wing portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
70 words
In an electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein the flat flexible cable includes a pair of notches in said distal edge thereof and located inside of and spaced from the registration apertures to define a tongue portion of the cable between the notches, and the adaptor includes an elongate slot through which the tongue portion is inserted into juxtaposition with the blade portion of the adaptor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
In an electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein the adaptor includes a pair of projections adapted to engage in said notches.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
In an electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein each terminal has a second contact portion extending from the housing for engaging a respective conductive area of a printed circuit board or the like.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
In an electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein said first and second contact portions of each terminal are joined by a section of a predetermined cross-sectional area such that forces generated by engagement of flat conductors and conductive areas by first and second contact portions respectively, are not transmitted from one contact portion to the other whereby electrical integrity is maintained at all times.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
159 words
In an electrical connector assembly for a flat flexible cable having an array of flat conductors arranged thereon at intervals generally parallel to one another and terminating near a distal edge at an end of the cable, a dielectric housing having an elongate recess with a plurality of terminals at intervals along the recess, each terminal having a contact portion for engaging a respective one of the flat conductors of the flat flexible cable when the cable end is inserted into the recess, and an adaptor including a blade portion insertable into the recess in juxtaposition on one side of the flat flexible cable at said end thereof for biasing the cable conductors into engagement with the contact portions of the terminals on an opposite side of the cable, wherein the improvement comprises said flat flexible cable including at least one notch in said distal edge thereof, and said adaptor including a projection adapted to engage in the notch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
159 words
In an electrical connector assembly for a flat flexible cable having an array of flat conductors arranged thereon at intervals generally parallel to one another and terminating near a distal edge at an end of the cable, a dielectric housing having an elongate recess with a plurality of terminals at intervals along the recess, each terminal having a contact portion for engaging a respective one of the flat conductors of the flat flexible cable when the cable end is inserted into the recess, and an adaptor including a blade portion insertable into the recess in juxtaposition on one side of the flat flexible cable at said end thereof for biasing the cable conductors into engagement with the contact portions of the terminals on an opposite side of the cable, wherein the improvement comprises said flat flexible cable including at least one notch in said distal edge thereof, and said adaptor including a projection adapted to engage in the notch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
In an electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein said blade portion has a transverse width slightly smaller than the elongate dimension of the recess in the housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
In an electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein the flat flexible cable, the dielectric housing and the adaptor all have mounting holes which are in alignment when the adaptor and the cable are inserted into the recess into the housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
In an electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 10, wherein said flat flexible cable has a pair of said notches spaced outside of said array of flat conductors, and the adaptor includes a pair of said projections adapted to engage in the pair of notches.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
In an electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein the pair of notches in the flat flexible cable define a tongue portion of the cable therebetween, and the adaptor includes an elongate slot through which the tongue portion is inserted into juxtaposition with the blade portion of the adaptor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
In an electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein said blade portion extends from the elongate slot in an insertion direction of the flat flexible cable.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
In an electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 14, including a pair of latch arms projecting rearwardly of said projections, and said housing includes a pair of complementarily interengaging latches.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
In an electrical connector assembly as set forth in claim 14, wherein an end of said tongue portion defines said distal edge of the flat flexible cable, the distal edge being recessed inwardly of the end of the cable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-05-24 | 1996-11-23 | 1997-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-05-24 | 2000-11-23 | 2001-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-05-24 | 2004-11-23 | 2005-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |