Patent US5934932A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5934932A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical connector for flat cables
Assignee: Molex LLC
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Filing: 1997-03-03
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Granted: 1999-08-10
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Expires: 2017-03-03
Abstract
Abstract An electrical connector is adapted for terminating a flat cable. The connector includes an elongated dielectric housing defining an elongated opening for receiving a flat electrical cable. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing and have contact portions spaced along the opening. An actuator is mounted on the housing for movement between a first position allowing free insertion of the flat cable into the opening and a second position wherein a pressure plate of the actuator biases the cable against the contact portions of the terminals. The actuator includes at least one narrow projection at a leading edge of the pressure plate for preliminarily engaging a narrow portion of the flat cable to bias the cable against only some of the contact portions before the actuator is fully moved to its second position.
Inventors
- 👤 Tomoaki Ito
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 23:39
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01R; H01R12/00; H01R12/70; H01R12/77; H01R12/79; H01R12/82
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
An electrical connector for a flat cable, comprising: an elongated dielectric housing defining an elongated opening for receiving a flat electrical cable, with a plurality of terminals mounted on the housing and having an in line row of contact portions spaced along the opening; and an actuator mounted on the housing for movement between a first position allowing free insertion of the flat cable into the opening and a second position wherein a pressure plate of the actuator biases the cable against the contact portions of all of the terminals, and including at least one narrow projection at a leading end of the pressure plate for preliminarily engaging a narrow portion of the flat cable to bias the cable against only the contact portions in said in line row which are opposite the at least one narrow projection, the cable being free of being biased against the contact portions of most of the plurality of terminals in said in line row on each side of the at least one narrow projection before the actuator is fully moved to its second position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
An electrical connector for a flat cable, comprising: an elongated dielectric housing defining an elongated opening for receiving a flat electrical cable, with a plurality of terminals mounted on the housing and having an in line row of contact portions spaced along the opening; and an actuator mounted on the housing for movement between a first position allowing free insertion of the flat cable into the opening and a second position wherein a pressure plate of the actuator biases the cable against the contact portions of all of the terminals, and including at least one narrow projection at a leading end of the pressure plate for preliminarily engaging a narrow portion of the flat cable to bias the cable against only the contact portions in said in line row which are opposite the at least one narrow projection, the cable being free of being biased against the contact portions of most of the plurality of terminals in said in line row on each side of the at least one narrow projection before the actuator is fully moved to its second position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical connector of claim 1, including a plurality of said narrow projections spaced along the pressure plate longitudinally of the opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrical connector of claim 2 wherein two of said narrow projections are located near opposite ends of the pressure plate for engaging narrow portions of the flat cable near opposite edges of the cable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises a one-piece structure, with said narrow projection being integral with the leading end of the pressure plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical connector of claim 4, including a plurality of said narrow projections spaced along the pressure plate longitudinally of the opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electrical connector of claim 5 wherein two of said narrow projections are located near opposite ends of the pressure plate for engaging narrow portions of the flat cable near opposite edges of the cable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
173 words
An electrical connector for flat cable, comprising: an elongated dielectric housing defining an elongated opening for receiving a flat electrical cable, with a plurality of terminals mounted on the housing and having an in line row of contact portions spaced along the opening; and an actuator mounted on the housing for movement between a first position allowing free insertion of the flat cable into the opening and a second position biasing the cable against the contact portions of all of the terminals, the actuator including at least one narrow projection at a leading end of the actuator for tentatively engaging a narrow portion of the flat cable to bias the cable against only the contact portions in said in line row which are opposite the at least one narrow projection, the cable being free of being biased against the contact portions of most of the plurality of terminals in said in line row on each side of the at least one narrow projection before the actuator is fully moved to its second position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
173 words
An electrical connector for flat cable, comprising: an elongated dielectric housing defining an elongated opening for receiving a flat electrical cable, with a plurality of terminals mounted on the housing and having an in line row of contact portions spaced along the opening; and an actuator mounted on the housing for movement between a first position allowing free insertion of the flat cable into the opening and a second position biasing the cable against the contact portions of all of the terminals, the actuator including at least one narrow projection at a leading end of the actuator for tentatively engaging a narrow portion of the flat cable to bias the cable against only the contact portions in said in line row which are opposite the at least one narrow projection, the cable being free of being biased against the contact portions of most of the plurality of terminals in said in line row on each side of the at least one narrow projection before the actuator is fully moved to its second position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical connector of claim 7, including a plurality of said narrow projections spaced along the actuator longitudinally of the opening.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrical connector of claim 8 wherein two of said narrow projections are located near opposite ends of the actuator for engaging narrow portions of the flat cable near opposite edges of the cable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical connector of claim 7 wherein said actuator comprises a one-piece structure, with said narrow projection being integral with a leading end thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The electrical connector of claim 10, including a plurality of said narrow projections spaced along the actuator longitudinally of the opening.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The electrical connector of claim 11 wherein two of said narrow projections are located near opposite ends of the actuator for engaging narrow portions of the flat cable near opposite edges of the cable.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-09 | 2003-02-08 | 2003-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-09 | 2007-02-08 | 2007-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-09 | 2011-02-08 | 2011-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |