Electrical connector with improved contact

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an electrical connector, and particularly, to an electrical connector for connecting an FPC(Flexible Printed Circuit) to a PCB(printed circuit board).

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] A conventional electrical connector for connecting a flexible printed circuit typically includes a dielectric housing having a slot for receiving a connecting end or an edge of the FPC. An actuation portion is pivotally assembled on the housing for pressing the FPC. A plurality of pairs of terminals are mounted in the housing and arranged at regular spaced intervals longitudinally along the slot. The actuation portion can rotate around the housing from a closed position to an open position, in one position, where the actuation portion is substantially parallel with the housing, the FPC is connected with the electrical connector; in the other position, where the actuation portion is substantially perpendicular to the housing, the FPC is disconnected with the electrical connector. Such an electrical connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,842,883, 5,695,360, 5,895,287.

[0005] As shown in FIG. 8, a contact 6 of a conventional electrical connector 9 for connecting an FPC comprises an orientation portion 62 fastened in a housing 8, a pressing portion 64 for connecting an edge of the FPC, and a foot 66 for being soldered onto a PCB(not shown). An actuation portion 7 pivotally mounted on the housing 8 can rotate around the retention portion 62 of the contact 6. However, when inserting the FPC into the electrical connector 9 and rotating the actuation portion 7, a repeated movement between the actuation portion 7 and the retention portion 62 tends to generate a force along a direction of a separation of the contact 6 from the housing 8, which leads to an unreliable connection between the contact 6 and the PCB, and even a deformation of the contact 6 or the separation of the contact 6 from the housing 8.

[0006] Therefore, an improved electrical connector for connecting an FPC is required to overcome the aforesaid disadvantages of the prior art.

[0007] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector with improved contacts for connecting an FPC, which can effectively prevent a contact thereof from separating from a housing thereof and enables a reliable connection between the contact and the FPC.

[0008] To achieve the above-mentioned object, an electrical connector with improved contacts is provided by the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the electrical connector includes a dielectric housing, an actuation portion pivotally assembled on the housing, and a plurality of contacts received in the housing. The dielectric housing has an elongated receiving portion, a front surface of the receiving portion defines a plurality of passageways arranged at regular spaced intervals longitudinally, and a protrusion is formed between every two passageways.

[0009] The contact comprises a first arm, a second arm formed opposed to the first arm, a middle portion formed between the first arm and the second arm, a third arm formed opposite to the middle portion and a foot for being soldered onto a PCB. An end of the first arm defines a head whose profile has the same axis as the one of the protrusion. The head together with its adjacent protrusion serves as a common shaft for the actuation portion. When the electrical connector is closed, a distance from the profile of the protrusion to the PCB is greater than the one from the profile of the head to the PCB. The second arm, at its distal end opposed to the head, defines an urging portion for connecting the FPC. The third arm defines two stoppers at two distal ends thereof. The foot is formed opposed to the stopper near the second arm.

[0010] Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in details.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 7, an electrical connector 1 in accordance with the present invention includes a dielectric housing 2, an actuation portion 3 rotatablely mounted on the housing 2, a plurality of contacts 4 received in the housing 2, and two metal ears 5 inlaid in the housing 2. The housing 2 comprises an elongated receiving portion 22, a holding portion 24 perpendicularly extending from the receiving portion 22. Two retention arms 26 perpendicularly extend from the both ends of the receiving portion 22. A front surface 222 of the receiving portion 22 defines a plurality of passageways 224 arranged at regular spaced intervals longitudinally. Between every two adjacent passageways 224, a protrusion 226 is formed. An upper surface 242 of the holding portion 24 defines a plurality of grooves 244 which are parallel with each other in accordance with the passageways 224. The retention arms 26 comprise a pair of receiving recesses 262 formed in both ends of the housing 2 and two guideways 264 formed with blocks 2642 thereof defined in an outside wall of the receiving recesses 262.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 7, the actuation portion 3 comprises an elongated base 32 and two side walls 34 respectively formed at each end of the base 32. One longitudinal side of the base 32 defines a through recess 322 for mating with the protrusions 226, the other longitudinal side of the base 32 defines a pressing portion 324 for pressing an FPC. The side walls 34 accommodated in the receiving recesses 262 of the housing 2 has two pivots 342 substantially perpendicularly extending from each end thereof.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 6, a contact 4 comprises a first arm 42, and a second arm 44 formed opposed to the first arm 42. An end of the first arm 42 defines a head 420 whose profile has the same axis as the one of the protrusion 226, the head 420 together with its adjacent protrusions 226 serves as a common shaft for the actuation portion 3. When the electrical connector 1 is closed, a distance from the profile of the protrusion 226 to the PCB is greater than the one from the profile of the head 420 to the PCB. The second arm 44, at its distal end opposed to the head 420, defines an urging portion 440 for connecting the FPC. A middle portion 43 is connected the first arm 42 and the second arm 44. A third arm 45 formed opposite to the middle portion 43 defines two stoppers 450 at two distal ends thereof. A foot 46 for being soldered onto the PCB is formed opposed to the stopper 450 near the second arm 44.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, a metal ear 5 for being soldered onto the PCB is inlaid into each side of the housing 2, which can strengthen the connection of the electrical connector 1 and the PCB.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 7, an assembly of the electrical connector 1 includes several steps as following: First of all, it is to install the contact 4 into the housing 2; Secondly, it is to insert the pivots 342 along the guideways 264 and then abut them against the corresponding blocks 2642 so that the actuation portion 3 is orientated on the housing 2.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, when using the electrical connector 1, it is first to insert the FPC between the first arm 42 and the second arm 44 of the contact 4, and then to rotate the actuation portion 3. A relatively big pressure for pressing the FPC is not necessary until the actuation portion is at almost a half position between an open position and a close position.

[0026] When the actuation portion 3 is rotated from the open position to the half position, the actuation portion 3 is rotated around the protrusions 226 of the receiving portion 22, and what's more, there is no contact between the actuation portion 3 and the head 420 in said process. Therefore, there is no forces, along a direction of an separation of the contact 4 and the housing 2, that happen to the contact 4.

[0027] When the actuation portion 3 is rotated from the half position to the close position, a sufficient pressure for pressing the FPC is needed, so the actuation portion changes to rotate around the head 420 of the contact 4 because the rigid metallic contact 4 is strong enough to provide the sufficient pressure. A friction and a normal force between the contact 4 and actuation portion 3 are not along the direction of the separation of the contact 4 and the housing 2. Consequently, the contact 4 won't separate from the housing 2, and a reliable connection between the electrical connector 1 and the FPC is gained.

[0028] while a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention has been shown and described, equivalent modifications and changes known to persons skilled in the art according to the spirit of the present invention are considered within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.