US6089904A — FFC connector

Claim 1

Independent Claim 180 words

An FFC connector, comprising: a dielectric housing having top and bottom faces, said top face defining an elongate slot extending into said housing and said bottom face defining an entrance in communication with said elongate slot for insertion of an FFC cable, a plurality of terminal cells defined in said housing and each being in communication with said elongate slot; a plurality of terminals assembled in said terminal cells, each terminal including a base portion received in said housing and a spring arm extending from said terminal cell into said elongate slot, said terminal further forming a soldering tail for mounting to a printed circuit board; and an actuator assembled to said housing for facilitating electrical connections between an inserted FFC cable and said terminals, including a cover assembled to said top face of said housing thereby providing sealing effect thereto, wherein said cover includes a tongue extending into said elongate slot thereby facilitating electrical connections between said inserted FFC cable and said terminals and defines a retaining slot at a bottom face thereof for receiving said inserted FFC cable.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 180 words

An FFC connector, comprising: a dielectric housing having top and bottom faces, said top face defining an elongate slot extending into said housing and said bottom face defining an entrance in communication with said elongate slot for insertion of an FFC cable, a plurality of terminal cells defined in said housing and each being in communication with said elongate slot; a plurality of terminals assembled in said terminal cells, each terminal including a base portion received in said housing and a spring arm extending from said terminal cell into said elongate slot, said terminal further forming a soldering tail for mounting to a printed circuit board; and an actuator assembled to said housing for facilitating electrical connections between an inserted FFC cable and said terminals, including a cover assembled to said top face of said housing thereby providing sealing effect thereto, wherein said cover includes a tongue extending into said elongate slot thereby facilitating electrical connections between said inserted FFC cable and said terminals and defines a retaining slot at a bottom face thereof for receiving said inserted FFC cable.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 33 words

The FFC connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said elongate slot having a first surface for supporting said inserted FFC cable and a second surface inclined with respect to said first surface.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 32 words

The FFC connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said tongue includes a flat surface for abutting against said inserted FFC cable and an inclined surface with respect to said flat surface.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 30 words

The FFC connector as recited in claim 1, wherein said cover includes a pair of retaining lugs on opposite ends thereof for engaging with retaining wedges formed on said housing.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 175 words

An FFC connector, comprising: a dielectric housing having top and bottom faces, said top face defining an elongate slot extending into said housing, a plurality of terminal cells defined in said housing and each terminal cell being in communication with said elongate slot; a plurality of terminals assembled in said terminal cells, each terminal including a base portion received in said housing and a spring arm extending from said terminal cell into said elongate slot, said terminal further forming a soldering tail for mounting to a printed circuit board; and an actuator assembled to said housing facilitating electrical connections between said terminals and an inserted FFC cable by vertical and horizontal movements, said actuator having a biasing face for urging said inserted FFC cable, wherein said biasing face and an inner wall of said elongate slot, in which said spring arms extend through, together define therebetween a first distance when said actuator is at a first position and a second distance, which is different to said first distance, when said actuator reaches a second position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 175 words

An FFC connector, comprising: a dielectric housing having top and bottom faces, said top face defining an elongate slot extending into said housing, a plurality of terminal cells defined in said housing and each terminal cell being in communication with said elongate slot; a plurality of terminals assembled in said terminal cells, each terminal including a base portion received in said housing and a spring arm extending from said terminal cell into said elongate slot, said terminal further forming a soldering tail for mounting to a printed circuit board; and an actuator assembled to said housing facilitating electrical connections between said terminals and an inserted FFC cable by vertical and horizontal movements, said actuator having a biasing face for urging said inserted FFC cable, wherein said biasing face and an inner wall of said elongate slot, in which said spring arms extend through, together define therebetween a first distance when said actuator is at a first position and a second distance, which is different to said first distance, when said actuator reaches a second position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

The FFC connector as recited in claim 5, wherein said first distance is larger than said second distance.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

The FFC connector as recited in claim 5, wherein said actuator defines a passage for entrance of said FFC cable.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 129 words

An electrical connector comprising: a dielectric housing defining an elongated slot extending thereinto and a plurality of terminals projecting into said slot; an actuator assembled to the housing; and means for facilitating guidable movement of the actuator in both perpendicular and horizontal directions with regards to the hosing so that when moved vertically with regard to the housing, said actuator is also moved horizontally to have an FFC, which is inserted into the slot, approach the terminals in both said two directions and obtain a smooth wiping action thereof, said means including a first inclined surface located beside and facing to said elongate slot, and a second inclined surface located on said actuator cooperating with and moveable along said first inclined surface for implementing said horizontal and vertical movements.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 129 words

An electrical connector comprising: a dielectric housing defining an elongated slot extending thereinto and a plurality of terminals projecting into said slot; an actuator assembled to the housing; and means for facilitating guidable movement of the actuator in both perpendicular and horizontal directions with regards to the hosing so that when moved vertically with regard to the housing, said actuator is also moved horizontally to have an FFC, which is inserted into the slot, approach the terminals in both said two directions and obtain a smooth wiping action thereof, said means including a first inclined surface located beside and facing to said elongate slot, and a second inclined surface located on said actuator cooperating with and moveable along said first inclined surface for implementing said horizontal and vertical movements.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 120 words

An electrical connection system comprising: a substrate defining at least an opening therein; a connector assembled to said substrate, said connector including a dielectric housing and an actuator assembled to said housing, said housing defining top and bottom faces oppositely and respectively forming an elongated slot and a bottom entrance; a plurality of terminals disposed in the housing extending into the slot, respectively; and a tongue extending downwardly from said actuator into the slot, and facing to said terminals; wherein said slot and said bottom entrance are generally aligned with and communicates with each other in a vertical direction whereby an FFC is upwardly inserted from the bottom entrance into the slot and sandwiched between the terminals and the tongue.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 120 words

An electrical connection system comprising: a substrate defining at least an opening therein; a connector assembled to said substrate, said connector including a dielectric housing and an actuator assembled to said housing, said housing defining top and bottom faces oppositely and respectively forming an elongated slot and a bottom entrance; a plurality of terminals disposed in the housing extending into the slot, respectively; and a tongue extending downwardly from said actuator into the slot, and facing to said terminals; wherein said slot and said bottom entrance are generally aligned with and communicates with each other in a vertical direction whereby an FFC is upwardly inserted from the bottom entrance into the slot and sandwiched between the terminals and the tongue.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 61 words

The connection system as recited in claim 9, wherein a tip portion of said FFC initially extends above the top face of the housing, and successively moves downwardly along with the downwardly moved actuator to have said tip portion of the FFC generally received within the slot for engagement with the terminals due to abutment from the tongue of the actuator.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-07-18	2004-01-17	2004-07-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-07-18	2008-01-17	2008-07-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-07-18	2012-01-17	2012-07-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

FFC connector

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