US7344399B2 — Flat circuit connector

Claim 1

Independent Claim 319 words

An electrical connector ( 22 ) for connecting a flat electrical circuit ( 24 ) to a printed circuit board, comprising: a dielectric housing ( 26 ) having an opening ( 28 ) at a front portion ( 26 a ) thereof for receiving an end of the flat circuit; a plurality of terminals ( 32 , 38 ) mounted on the housing in a side-by-side array and spaced along the opening; an actuator ( 30 ) movably mounted for pivotal movement at a rear portion ( 26 b ) of the housing between an open position allowing the flat circuit to be inserted into said opening and a closed position biasing at least some of the terminals against the flat circuit, the actuator having a cam portion ( 30 a ) with first ( 30 b ) and second ( 30 c ) cam surfaces; some of said terminals comprising contact terminals ( 32 ) having flexible contact arms ( 32 c ), with opposed first and second edges, the first edge engageable by the first cam surface ( 30 b ) of the cam portion ( 30 a ) of the actuator ( 30 ) to bias the second edge of the contact arms into engagement with the flat circuit, and tail portions ( 32 b ) for connection to appropriate circuit traces on the printed circuit board; and some of said terminals comprising pivot/cam terminals ( 38 ) having pivot means ( 42 ) to mount the actuator for pivotal movement between said open and closed positions, and a cam surface ( 38 g ) for engaging the second cam surface ( 30 c ) of the cam portion of the actuator to provide a back-up for the cam portion as the first cam surface ( 30 b ) of the cam portion biases the flexible contact arms of the contact terminals against the flat circuit.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 319 words

An electrical connector ( 22 ) for connecting a flat electrical circuit ( 24 ) to a printed circuit board, comprising: a dielectric housing ( 26 ) having an opening ( 28 ) at a front portion ( 26 a ) thereof for receiving an end of the flat circuit; a plurality of terminals ( 32 , 38 ) mounted on the housing in a side-by-side array and spaced along the opening; an actuator ( 30 ) movably mounted for pivotal movement at a rear portion ( 26 b ) of the housing between an open position allowing the flat circuit to be inserted into said opening and a closed position biasing at least some of the terminals against the flat circuit, the actuator having a cam portion ( 30 a ) with first ( 30 b ) and second ( 30 c ) cam surfaces; some of said terminals comprising contact terminals ( 32 ) having flexible contact arms ( 32 c ), with opposed first and second edges, the first edge engageable by the first cam surface ( 30 b ) of the cam portion ( 30 a ) of the actuator ( 30 ) to bias the second edge of the contact arms into engagement with the flat circuit, and tail portions ( 32 b ) for connection to appropriate circuit traces on the printed circuit board; and some of said terminals comprising pivot/cam terminals ( 38 ) having pivot means ( 42 ) to mount the actuator for pivotal movement between said open and closed positions, and a cam surface ( 38 g ) for engaging the second cam surface ( 30 c ) of the cam portion of the actuator to provide a back-up for the cam portion as the first cam surface ( 30 b ) of the cam portion biases the flexible contact arms of the contact terminals against the flat circuit.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 52 words

The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said pivot means of the pivot/cam terminals ( 38 ) comprise a pivot socket ( 42 ) for receiving the cam portion ( 30 a ) of the actuator ( 30 ) to pivotally mount the actuator for movement between said open and closed positions.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 23 words

The electrical connector of claim 2 wherein said cam surface on the pivot/cam terminals is defined by one side of the pivot socket.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 55 words

The electrical connector of claim 2 wherein said pivot socket ( 42 ) has an open mouth ( 42 a ) to allow the cam portion ( 30 a ) of the actuator ( 30 ) to be positioned thereinto when the actuator is assembled to the housing ( 26 ) in its open position.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 53 words

The electrical connector of claim 4 wherein said contact terminals ( 32 ) have blocking portions ( 32 f ) to prevent the cam portion ( 30 a ) of the actuator ( 30 ) from pulling out of the pivot socket ( 42 ) when the actuator is in its closed position.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 98 words

The electrical connector of claim 5 wherein said cam portion ( 30 a ) of the actuator ( 30 ) has a narrow dimension in cross-section and a wide dimension generally perpendicular to the narrow dimension, whereby the narrow dimension can pass through the mouth ( 42 a ) of the pivot socket ( 42 ) when the actuator is in its open position, and the blocking portions ( 32 f ) of the flexible contact terminals ( 32 ) prevent the wide dimension from moving out of the mouth when the actuator is in its closed position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 73 words

The electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the flexible contact arms ( 32 c ) of said contact terminals ( 32 ) engage one side of the flat circuit, and said pivot/cam terminals ( 38 ) include generally rigid contact arms ( 38 b ) for engaging an opposite side of the flat circuit along with tail portions ( 38 d ) for connection to appropriate circuit traces on the printed circuit board.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 82 words

The electrical connector of claim 7 wherein said pivot/cain terminals ( 38 ) are rigidly mounted at a bottom of the housing ( 26 ) such that the rigid contact arms ( 38 b ) are engageable with a bottom side of the flat circuit, and said contact terminals ( 32 ) are mounted on the housing with the flexible contact arms ( 32 c ) located at a top of the housing for engaging a top side of the flat circuit.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 229 words

An electrical connector ( 22 ) for terminating a flat electrical circuit ( 24 ), comprising: a dielectric housing ( 26 ) having an opening ( 28 ) for receiving an end of the flat circuit; a plurality of terminals ( 32 , 38 ) mounted on the housing in a side-by-side array and spaced along the opening; an actuator ( 30 ) movably mounted on the housing for movement between an open position allowing the flat circuit to be inserted into said opening and a closed position biasing at least some of the terminals against the flat circuit, the actuator having a cain portion ( 30 a ); some of said terminals comprising contact terminals ( 32 ) having flexible contact arms ( 32 c ), with opposed first and second edges, the first edge engageable by the cam portion of the actuator to bias the second edge of contact arms into engagement with the flat circuit; and some of said terminals comprising pivot/cam terminals ( 38 ) having pivot means ( 42 ) to mount the actuator for pivotal movement between said open and closed positions, and a cam surface ( 38 g ) for engaging the cam portion of the actuator to provide a back-up for the cam portion as the cam portion biases the flexible contact antis of the contact terminals against the flat circuit.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 229 words

An electrical connector ( 22 ) for terminating a flat electrical circuit ( 24 ), comprising: a dielectric housing ( 26 ) having an opening ( 28 ) for receiving an end of the flat circuit; a plurality of terminals ( 32 , 38 ) mounted on the housing in a side-by-side array and spaced along the opening; an actuator ( 30 ) movably mounted on the housing for movement between an open position allowing the flat circuit to be inserted into said opening and a closed position biasing at least some of the terminals against the flat circuit, the actuator having a cain portion ( 30 a ); some of said terminals comprising contact terminals ( 32 ) having flexible contact arms ( 32 c ), with opposed first and second edges, the first edge engageable by the cam portion of the actuator to bias the second edge of contact arms into engagement with the flat circuit; and some of said terminals comprising pivot/cam terminals ( 38 ) having pivot means ( 42 ) to mount the actuator for pivotal movement between said open and closed positions, and a cam surface ( 38 g ) for engaging the cam portion of the actuator to provide a back-up for the cam portion as the cam portion biases the flexible contact antis of the contact terminals against the flat circuit.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 52 words

The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein said pivot means of the pivot/cam terminals ( 38 ) comprise a pivot socket ( 42 ) for receiving the cam portion ( 30 a ) of the actuator ( 30 ) to pivotally mount the actuator for movement between said open and closed positions.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 33 words

The electrical connector of claim 10 wherein said cam surface ( 38 g ) on the pivot/cam terminals ( 38 ) is defined by one side of the pivot socket ( 42 ).

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 55 words

The electrical connector of claim 10 wherein said pivot socket ( 42 ) has an open mouth ( 42 a ) to allow the cam portion ( 30 a ) of the actuator ( 30 ) to be positioned thereinto when the actuator is assembled to the housing ( 26 ) in its open position.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 53 words

The electrical connector of claim 12 wherein said contact terminals ( 32 ) have blocking portions ( 32 f ) to prevent the cam portion ( 30 a ) of the actuator ( 30 ) from pulling out of the pivot socket ( 42 ) when the actuator is in its closed position.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 98 words

The electrical connector of claim 13 wherein said cw portion ( 30 a ) of the actuator ( 30 ) has a narrow dimension in cross-section and a wide dimension generally perpendicular to the narrow dimension whereby the narrow dimension can pass through the mouth ( 42 a ) of the pivot socket ( 42 ) when the actuator is in its open position, and the blocking portions ( 32 f ) of the flexible contact terminals ( 32 ) prevent the wide dimension from moving out of the mouth when the actuator is in its closed position.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 54 words

The electrical connector of claim 9 wherein the flexible contact arms ( 32 c ) of said contact terminals ( 32 ) engage one side of the flat circuit, and said pivot/cam terminals ( 38 ) include generally rigid contact arms ( 38 b ) for engaging an opposite side of the flat circuit.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 82 words

The electrical connector of claim 15 wherein said pivot/cam terminals ( 38 ) are rigidly mounted at a bottom of the housing ( 26 ) such that the rigid contact anus ( 38 b ) are engageable with a bottom side of the flat circuit, and said contact terminals ( 32 ) are mounted on the housing with the flexible contact arms ( 32 c ) located at a top of the housing for engaging a top side of the flat circuit.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2011-03-18	2011-09-17	2012-03-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2015-03-18	2015-09-17	2016-03-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2019-03-18	2019-09-17	2020-03-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Flat circuit connector

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