Connector for a flat cable and method of assembling it

Claim 2

A connector for a plurality of wires, at least one of said wires being a shielded wire having a shielding layer, at least portions of said wires being substantially juxtaposed such that conductive cores of the respective wires are held substantially side by side in a housing, the housing having a rear end and portions of the wires being drawn out of the connector at the rear end of the housing, the connector comprising: a shielding shell including a base shell covering a first portion of the housing and a lid shell moveably disposed with respect to the base shell for covering a second portion of the housing; and locks extending between the base shell and the lid shell at the rear end of the housing where the wires are drawn out for keeping the base and lid shells substantially closed around the housing the locks comprising at least one lock provided in a substantially widthwise middle at the rear end of the housing.

Claim 3

The connector of claim 1 , wherein the shielding shell comprises at least one wire pressing portion for being held in contact with the wires at the rear end of the housing and preventing the wires from being displaced.

Claim 4

The connector of claim 1 , comprising at least two of the wire pressing portions provided respectively at the base and lid shells, and the wires being held tightly between the wire pressing portions.

Claim 5

The connector of claim 3 , wherein the wire pressing portions are formed unitarily with the shielding shell by bending a rear end of at least one of the base and lid shells to extend backward.

Claim 6

The connector of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the base and lid shells comprises at least one strengthening portion for enhancing bending strength with respect to a thickness direction.

Claim 7

The connector of claim 5 , wherein the at least one of the locks is provided at least partly on the strengthening portion.

Claim 8

A connector for a plurality of wires, at least one of said wires being a shielded wire having a shielding layer, at least portions of said wires being substantially juxtaposed such that conductive cores of the respective wires are held substantially side by side in a housing, the housing having a rear end and portions of the wires being drawn out of the connector at the rear end of the housing, the connector comprising: a shielding shell including a base shell covering a first portion of the housing and a lid shell moveably disposed with respect to the base shell for covering a second portion of the housing; and locks extending between the base shell and the lid shell at the rear end of the housing where the wires are drawn out for keeping the base and lid shells substantially closed around the housing the locks comprising at least one lock provided in a substantially widthwise middle at the rear end of the housing, the locks comprises at least one lock plate inserted between adjacent wires upon closing the base and lid shells.

Claim 9

A connector for a plurality of wires, at least one of said wires being a shielded wire having a shielding layer, at least portions of said wires being substantially juxtaposed such that conductive cores of the respective wires are held substantially side by side in a housing, the housing having a rear end and portions of the wires being drawn out of the connector at the rear end of the housing, the connector comprising: a shielding shell including a base shell covering a first portion of the housing and a lid shell moveably disposed with respect to the base shell for covering a second portion of the housing; and locks extending between the base shell and the lid shell at the rear end of the housing where the wires are drawn out for keeping the base and lid shells substantially closed around the housing the locks comprising at least one lock provided in a substantially widthwise middle at the rear end of the housing, the locks comprises at least one lock plate inserted between adjacent wires upon closing the base and lid shells.

Claim 10

A connector for a plurality of wires, each of said wires having a conductive core and at least one of said wires being a shielded wire having a shielding layer, comprising: a housing having opposed front and rear ends, portions of said housing between said front and rear ends being configured for holding portions of the wires substantially side by side and for holding portions of the wires in a plane extending between opposite side of the housing, said rear end of the housing being configured for permitting the wires to be drawn out of the connector; and a shielding shell unitarily formed from a conductive material and having a base shell disposed substantially adjacent a first part of the housing and a lid shell moveable with respect to the base shell between an open position where the housing can be positioned on the base shell and a closed position where the base and lid shells substantially enclose the housing, the shielding shell further comprising locks at the rear end of the housing, for keeping the base and lid shells substantially closed, the locks comprising at least one lock plate intermediate the opposite sides of the housing and disposed for insertion between adjacent wires upon moving the lid shell into the closed position of the base shell.

Claim 11

A connector for a plurality of wires, each of said wires having a conductive core and at least one of said wires being a shielded wire having a shielding layer, comprising: a housing having opposed front and rear ends, portions of said housing between said front and rear ends being configured for holding portions of the wires substantially side by side and for holding portions of the wires in a plane extending between opposite side of the housing, said rear end of the housing being configured for permitting the wires to be drawn out of the connector; and a shielding shell unitarily formed from a conductive material and having a base shell disposed substantially adjacent a first part of the housing and a lid shell moveable with respect to the base shell between an open position where the housing can be positioned on the base shell and a closed position where the base and lid shells substantially enclose the housing, the shielding shell further comprising locks at the rear end of the housing, for keeping the base and lid shells substantially closed, the locks comprising at least one lock plate intermediate the opposite sides of the housing and disposed for insertion between adjacent wires upon moving the lid shell into the closed position of the base shell.

Claim 12

The connector of claim 8 , wherein the shielding shell comprises at least one wire pressing portion configured for contacting the wires at the rear end of the housing and preventing the wires from being displaced.

Claim 13

The connector of claim 9 , comprising at least two of the wire pressing portions provided respectively at the base and lid shells and the wires being held tightly between the wire pressing portions.

Claim 14

The connector of claim 10 , wherein the wire pressing portions are formed unitarily with the shielding shell by bending a rear end of at least one of the base and lid shells to extend backward.

Claim 15

The connector of claim 11 , wherein the base and lid shells each has a main portion aligned substantially parallel to the portions of the wires held in the housing, and at least one strengthening wall aligned substantially normal to the main portions at the rear end of the housing for enhancing bending strength with respect to a thickness direction.

Claim 16

The connector of claim 12 , wherein the locking means extends unitarily from the strengthening wall.