BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to an electric connector configured so as to fix a
signal transmission medium by moving an actuator.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] In general, in various electric apparatuses and others, various electric connectors
are widely used as a device for electrically connecting various signal transmission
media such as a flexible printed circuit (FPC) and a flexible flat cable (FFC). For
example, in an electric connector for use as being mounted on a printed wiring board
as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2004-71160, a signal transmission medium formed of an FPC, an FFC, or the like is inserted into
the inside of an insulating housing (an insulator) from its opening on a front end
side, and then an actuator (connecting operation device) held at a "connection release
position" for freeing the signal transmission medium at the time of insertion is rotated
so as to be, for example, pushed down, toward a connecting action position on a front
side or a rear side of the connector with an operating force of an operator.
[0003] When the actuator (connecting operation device) is operated to be rotated to a "connection
acting position" for interposing the signal transmission medium, a cam member provided
in the actuator presses conductive conducts. With this, the conductive contacts are
displaced to be in press-contact with the signal transmission medium (such as FPC
or FFC), thereby fixing the signal transmission medium. On the other hand, when the
actuator at the "connection acting position" is rotated toward the original "connection
release position" so as to, for example, rise upward, the conductive contacts are
displaced in a direction of being spaced apart by their elasticity from the signal
transmission medium (such as FPC or FFC), thereby causing the signal transmission
medium to become in a free state.
[0004] As such, the actuator for the electric connector is configured to be operated to
reciprocate between the "connection release position" and the "connection acting positions"
as, for example, being operated to rotate about a rotation center extending in a longitudinal
direction of the actuator. As the size of the electric connector as a whole has been
decreased in recent years, the size and height of the actuator itself has been decreased,
and the stiffness of the actuator tends to decrease, thereby posing the following
problems, for example. That is, when an actuator with its stiffness decreased due
to decrease in size and height receives an operating force leaning to one direction
in the longitudinal direction of the actuator, the actuator as a whole is deformed
as being twisted, and the original operating force is not transmitted to a part of
conductive contacts, thereby possibly causing a state in which the conductive contacts
are not press-contacted and connected to the signal transmission medium (such as FPC
or FFC) in a good condition.
[0005] Also, as downsizing of the actuator together with the entire electric connector is
advanced, it becomes difficult to visually recognize to which position the actuator
has been rotated, in particular, the state of the actuator rotated to the "connection
acting position", thereby making it disadvantageously difficult to check the connection
state of the conductive contacts.
[0006] US 2008/0081501 A1 discloses a base mounted with connecting terminals at a predetermined pitch and an
operating lever turnably supported on the base. The operating lever presses and connects
a tip end portion of a flexible printed circuit board against and to fixed contacts
of the connecting terminals. Mounting protrusions provided to opposite end portions
of the operating lever are moved along first slide faces, tapered faces, and second
slide faces. The faces are formed in an uninterrupted manner on upper end faces of
partition walls provided to opposite side end portions of the base. Turning shaft
portions coaxially provided in an interrupted manner to remaining one side edge portion
of the operating lever push up elastic finger portions of the connecting terminals.
The turning shaft portions are turnably fitted in bearing recessed portions formed
at the elastic finger portions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric connector
capable of preventing, with a simple structure, deformation such as a twist of an
actuator at the time of moving operation and easily checking the operation state of
the actuator, thereby allowing an electrical connection to be easily and reliably
established.
[0008] The invention is defined by claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described by the
dependent claims.
[0009] To achieve the above-described object, in the present invention, in an electric connector
in which an actuator pinching or freeing a signal transmission medium is provided
so as to be rotatable about a rotation center extending in a longitudinal direction
of the actuator, a structure is adopted in which inclined surface parts extending
to form an appropriate angle with respect to the longitudinal direction are provided
in outer end faces in a radial direction regarding the rotation center of the actuator
and at both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the actuator.
[0010] According to the present invention with the above-described structure, to rotate
the actuator from the "connection release position" to the "connection acting position",
when a fingertip of an operator presses a rising wall when, for example, the actuator
stands at the "connection release position", the fingertip of the operator is difficult
to be hooked at the inclined surface parts provided at both end portions in the longitudinal
direction. With this, the pressing force tends to be added to the center portion in
the longitudinal direction of the actuator. On the other hand, the pressing force
added to each of the inclined surface parts provided at both end portions in the longitudinal
direction also acts in a direction at an approximately right angle with respect to
the inclined surface of the inclined surface part, that is, from both ends side to
a center side in the longitudinal direction of the actuator. For this reason, the
operation pressing force added from the operator as a whole tends to uniformly act
on a full length of the actuator. Thus, a situation that the actuator is pressed as
being twisted, which conventionally occurs, is difficult to occur, and the actuator
is rotated as a whole by keeping an approximately flat plane. With this, the action
of pinching the signal transmission medium by the rotation of the actuator is excellently
performed.
[0011] Furthermore, the outer shape is such that the inclined surface parts are disposed
at both end parts in the longitudinal direction of the actuator. Thus, when the entire
outer appearance of the actuator is viewed, it is visually recognized as a characteristic
odd form having an approximately trapezoidal shape. Therefore, the rotation state
of the actuator is easily and reliably checked in a visual manner.
[0012] Also, in the present invention, a flat part extending in the longitudinal direction
is provided in a portion between the inclined surface parts provided at the both end
portions in the longitudinal direction, and the inclined surface parts are formed
so as to smoothly continue from both end parts in a longitudinal direction of the
flat part.
[0013] According to the present invention with the above-described structure, when the
operating force is added to the actuator, a corner that causes concentration of stress
at a boundary between the inclined surface parts and the flat part is not present.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent possible damage due to the rotating operation
of the actuator and others.
[0014] Still further, in the present invention, rising wall parts extending in an approximately
flat shape along a rotational radial direction of the actuator are provided at both
end edge parts in the longitudinal direction of the actuator, and the inclined surface
parts are provided so as to continue from outer end edges in a rotational radial direction
of the rising wall parts.
[0015] According to the present invention with the above-described structure, compared with
the case in which no rising wall part is provided, the stiffness of the actuator is
increased by the rising wall parts. Thus, damage when the operating force is added
to the actuator and others can be prevented.
[0016] Still further, preferably in the present invention, the appropriate angle formed
by the inclined surface parts with respect to the longitudinal direction is set in
a range of 4 degrees to 15 degrees.
[0017] According to the present invention with the above-described structure, it has been
found that when the actuator is actually operated as being rotated, excellent uniformity
of the operation pressing force over the full length of the actuator and stiffness
of the full length of the actuator can be both obtained simultaneously.
[0018] Still further, each of the inclined surface parts in the present invention is provided
with an operation prevention aiding part formed of a separate inclined surface adjacently
disposed along the inclined surface part, and the inclined surface configuring the
operation prevention aiding part extends from the inclined surface part to an outer
end edge in a radial direction of a rising wall part extending in an approximately
flat shape along a rotational radial direction of the actuator and along the longitudinal
direction of the actuator to form an appropriate angle with respect to the rotational
radial direction of the actuator.
[0019] According to the present invention with the above-described structure, the tendency
that the fingertip of the operator is difficult to be hooked at the inclined surface
parts at the time of operating the actuator as described above becomes more apparent
with the operation prevention aiding part additionally provided to the inclined surface
part, and the operation pressing force added from the operator further uniformly acts
over the full length, making it difficult to cause a situation that the actuator is
pressed as being twisted. The actuator is rotated as a whole by keeping an approximately
flat plane, and the action of pinching the signal transmission medium by the rotation
of the actuator is excellently performed.
[0020] Still further, preferably in the present invention, the operation prevention aiding
part is disposed so as to face an operating force added to the actuator when the actuator
is operated in a pinching direction from a state of freeing the signal transmission
medium.
[0021] According to the present invention with the above-described structure, when the actuator
is operated in a pinching direction, the fingertip of the operator is reliably difficult
to be hooked at the inclined surface parts.
[0022] Still further, in the present invention, an operation support part formed of a concave
part or a convex part extending along the longitudinal direction of the actuator is
provided at a center portion in a longitudinal direction, the rising wall part extending
in an approximately flat shape along a rotational radial direction of the actuator
and along the longitudinal direction of the actuator, the operation support part being
provided in a portion where an operating force is added in a pinching direction from
a state of freeing the signal transmission medium or a portion where an operating
force is added in a freeing direction from a state of pinching the signal transmission
medium. Here, the concave part or the convex part configuring the operation support
part is preferably formed in a shape allowing engagement of a fingertip part or a
nail part of an operator of the actuator.
[0023] According to the present invention with the above-described structure, at the time
of operating the actuator, the nail part or the fingertip part of the operator of
the actuator is easily hooked at the operation support part at the center portion
in the longitudinal direction, and the operation pressing force added from the operator
is positively received at the center portion of the actuator. With this, uniform operability
can be reliably obtained.
[0024] Still further, preferably in the present invention, the operation support part is
formed so as to extend in a curve or a straight line along the longitudinal direction
of the actuator.
[0025] According to the present invention with the above-described structure, the nail part
of the operator easily and reliably engages with the curved operation support part,
and the fingertip part of the operator easily and reliably engages with the linear
operation support. Therefore, the curved or liner operation support part is disposed
as appropriate according to the state of the rotating operation, thereby obtaining
excellent operability.
[0026] As described above, in the electric connector according to the present invention,
inclined surface parts are provided in end faces outside of a rotation radius of the
actuator pinching or freeing a signal transmission medium to approximately uniformly
act the entire pressing force of the operator over the full length of the actuator.
With this, a situation that the actuator is pressed as being twisted is eliminated,
the action of pinching the signal transmission medium is excellently performed, and
the rotation state of the actuator is easily and reliably checked in a visual manner.
Thus, it is possible to prevent, with a simple structure, deformation such as a twist
of an actuator at the time of moving operation and easily check the operation state
of the actuator, thereby allowing an electrical connection to be easily and reliably
established and significantly increasing the quality and reliability of the electric
connector at low cost.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027]
Fig. 1 is a descriptive external perspective view of an electric connector according
to a non-claimed embodiment that does not form part of the invention, showing an entire
structure when viewed from a front side in the state where an actuator stands at a
connection release position with a signal transmission medium not being inserted;
Fig. 2 is a descriptive external perspective view of the entire structure when viewed
from the front side in the state where the signal transmission medium is inserted
in the electric connector depicted in Fig. 1 and then the actuator is rotated so as
to be pushed down to a connection acting position;
Fig. 3 is a descriptive external perspective view of the electric connector in a connection
release state depicted in Fig. 1 when viewed from a rear side;
Fig. 4 is a descriptive front view of the electric connector in the connection release
state depicted in Fig. 1 when viewed from a front side;
Fig. 5 is a descriptive plan view of the electric connector in the connection release
state depicted in Fig. 1 when viewed from an upper side;
Fig. 6 is a descriptive external perspective view of the electric connector in a connection
acting state depicted in Fig. 2 when viewed from a rear side;
Fig. 7 is a descriptive external perspective view of the electric connector in a connection
acting state depicted in Fig. 2 when viewed from an upper side;
Fig. 8 is a descriptive enlarged external perspective view of an end portion in a
longitudinal direction of the electric connector in the connection release state depicted
in Fig. 3;
Fig. 9 is a descriptive enlarged external perspective view of an end portion in a
longitudinal direction of the electric connector in the connection acting state depicted
in Fig. 6;
Fig. 10 is a descriptive cross-sectional view along an X-X line in Fig. 5;
Fig. 11 is a descriptive cross-sectional view along an XI-XI line in Fig. 7;
Fig. 12 is a descriptive cross-sectional view showing an operation of pulling up the
actuator depicted in Fig. 2 and Fig. 9 pushed down to the connection acting position
with a nail of an operator;
Fig. 13 is a descriptive enlarged cross-sectional view of a region denoted as a reference
character III in Fig. 12, showing one conductor contact;
Fig. 14 is a descriptive cross-sectional view of the state where, from the state of
being pushed down to the connection acting position in Fig. 13, the actuator is slightly
pulled up;
Fig. 15 is a descriptive cross-sectional view corresponding to Fig. 13, showing the
state where the actuator is pulled up to the connection release position;
Fig. 16 is a descriptive cross-sectional view corresponding to Fig. 15, the view showing
the state where the actuator is pulled up to the connection release position and showing
another conductive contact;
Fig. 17 is a descriptive partial bottom view of the state where the actuator is pushed
down to the connection acting position, when viewed from a lower side;
Fig. 18 is a descriptive external perspective view of an electric connector according
to a claimed embodiment of the present invention, showing an entire structure when
viewed from a front side in the state where an actuator stands at a connection release
position with a signal transmission medium not being inserted;
Fig. 19 is a descriptive external perspective view of the electric connector in the
connection release state depicted in Fig. 18 when viewed from a rear side; and
Fig. 20 is a descriptive side view of the electric connector depicted in Fig. 18 and
Fig. 19.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0028] An embodiment is described in detail below based on the drawings, in which the present
invention is applied to an electric connector for use as being mounted on a wiring
board for connecting a signal transmission medium formed of a flexible printed circuit
(FPC), a flexible flat cable (FFC), or the like.
[0029] That is, an electric connector 10 depicted in Fig. 1 to Fig. 17 according to a non-claimed
embodiment that does not form part of the invention has a so-called back-flip-type
structure in which an actuator 12 as connecting operation device is provided on a
rear end edge portion (a right end edge portion in Fig. 10) of an insulating housing
11. The actuator 12 described above is configured to be rotated so as to be pushed
down toward a connector rear side (a right side in Fig. 10) opposite to a connector
front end side (a left end side in Fig. 10) in which a terminal portion of a signal
transmission medium (such as FPC or FFC) F is inserted.
[0030] Here, while the insulating housing 11 is formed of a hollow-frame-shaped insulating
member extending in an elongated shape, a longitudinal breadth direction of the insulating
housing 11 is hereinafter referred to as a connector longitudinal direction, and a
direction in which the terminal portion of the signal transmission medium (such as
FPC or FFC) F is inserted or disengaged is hereinafter referred to as a connector
front-back direction.
[0031] In the inside of the insulating housing 11 described above, a plurality of conductive
contacts 13 and 14 having two different shapes each formed of a thin-platelike metal-made
member having an appropriate shape are mounted. The conductive contacts 13 and 14
are disposed in a multi-contact manner as being spaced apart from each other along
the connector longitudinal direction inside the insulating housing 11. The conductive
contacts 13 on one side and the conductive contacts 14 on the other side that have
different shapes are alternately arranged in the connector longitudinal direction,
which is a direction of multi-contact arrangement. These conductive contacts 13 and
14 are each used as either a contact for signal transmission or a contact for ground
connection as being mounted by solder joint on a conductive path (not shown) formed
on a main printed wiring board (refer to a reference character P in Fig. 12 and Fig.
13).
[0032] In a front end edge portion of the insulating housing 11 (a left end edge portion
in Fig. 10), a medium insertion opening 11a in which the terminal portion of the signal
transmission medium F formed of a flexible printed circuit (FPC), a flexible flat
cable (FFC), or the like as described above is inserted is provided so as to form
an elongated shape in the connector longitudinal direction. In its opposite rear end
edge portion (a right end edge portion in Fig. 10) in the connection front-back direction,
a component mount opening 11b for mounting the conductive contacts 13 on one side
described above, the actuator (connecting operation device) 12, and others is provided
so as also to form an elongated shape.
[0033] Note that while the conductive contacts 13 on one side described above are mounted
by being inserted from the component mount opening 11b provided on the connector rear
end side of the insulating housing 11 toward a front side (a left side in Fig. 10),
the conductive contacts 14 on the other side are mounted by being inserted from the
medium insertion opening 11a provided on the connector front end side of the insulating
housing 11 toward a rear side (a right side in Fig. 10). Each of these conductive
contacts 13 and 14 mounted inside the insulating housing 11 as described above is
disposed at a position corresponding to a wiring pattern Fa of the signal transmission
medium (such as FPC or FFC) F inserted inside of the insulating housing 11 via the
medium insertion opening 11a. The wiring pattern Fa formed on the signal transmission
medium F is formed by disposing conductive paths for signal transmission (signal line
pads) or conductive paths for shielding (shield line pads) with appropriate pitch
spaces.
[0034] On the other hand, the conductive contacts 13 and 14 have a pair of a movable beam
13a and a fixed beam 13b and a pair of a movable beam 14a and a fixed beam 14b, respectively,
each formed of an elongated beam member extending approximately in parallel along
the front-back direction, which is an insertion/removal direction of the signal transmission
medium F (a lateral direction in Fig. 10). These movable beams 13a and 14a and the
fixed beams 13b and 14b are disposed so as to face each other as being appropriately
spaced apart from each other in an inner space of the insulating housing 11 described
above in a vertical direction in the drawings. Of these, the fixed beams 13b and 14b
are fixed to be in an approximately unmovable state along an inner wall surface of
a bottom plate of the insulating housing 11, and the movable beams 13a and 14a extending
approximately in parallel at upper positions in the drawing of the fixed beams 13b
and 14b are integrally coupled to the fixed beams 13a and 13b via coupling support
parts 13c and 14c, respectively.
[0035] The coupling support parts 13c and 14c are each formed of a plate-shaped member having
a narrow width, and are disposed so as to extend in the vertical direction in the
drawings in an approximately center portion in a direction in which both of the beams
13a and 14a and 13b and 14b extend. The movable beams 13a and 14a coupled to upper
end portions in the drawing of the coupling support parts 13c and 14c, respectively,
are configured to be able to be elastically displaced with respect to the fixed beams
13b and 14b, respectively, based on elastic flexibility of the coupling support parts
13c and 14c. The movable beams 13a and 14a are configured to be able to swing by taking
the coupling support parts 13c and 14c or nearby as a rotation center. Here, the swinging
of the movable beams 13a and 14a is performed in a vertical direction on paper in
Fig. 10.
[0036] Also, front-end-side portions (left-end-side portions in Fig. 10) of the movable
beams 13a and 14a described above are provided with upper terminal contact convex
portions 13a1 and 14a1, respectively, to be connected to any wiring pattern (conductive
path for signal transmission or for shielding) Fa formed on an upper side of the signal
transmission medium (such as FPC or FFC) F in the drawings so as to form a downward
projected shape in the drawings.
[0037] On the other hand, the fixed beams 13b and 14b are disposed so as to extend in the
front-back direction along the inner wall surface of the bottom plate of the insulating
housing 11 as described above. Front-side portions (a left-side portion in Fig. 10)
of these fixed beams 13b and 14b are provided with lower terminal contact convex parts
13b1 and 14b1, respectively, to be connected to the wiring pattern (conductive path
for signal transmission or for shielding) Fa formed on a lower side of the signal
transmission medium (such as FPC or FFC) F in the drawings so as to form an upward
projected shape in the drawings. These lower end contact convex parts 13b1 and 14b1
are disposed so as to face positions straight below the upper terminal contact convex
parts 13a1 and 14a1 on movable beams 13a and 14a sides, respectively, in the drawings.
Between these upper and lower terminal contact convex parts 13a1 and 13b1 and upper
and lower terminal contact convex parts 14a1 and 14b1, the signal transmission medium
F is pinched.
[0038] Note that these upper and lower terminal contact convex parts 13a1 and 13b1 of the
movable beam 13a and the fixed beam 13b and upper and lower terminal contact convex
parts 14a1 and 14b1 of the movable beam 14a and the fixed beam 14b can be disposed
so as to be shifted in position to a connector front side (a left side in Fig. 10)
or a connector rear side (a right side in Fig. 10). Also, while the fixed beams 13b
and 14b are fixed basically in an unmovable state, their tip portion can be formed
so as to be able to be elastically displaced for the purpose of facilitating insertion
of the signal transmission medium (such as FPC or FFC) F or other purposes. The front
end portion of each of the fixed beams 13b and 14b can also be formed so as to slightly
float from the inner wall surface of the bottom plate of the insulating housing 11.
[0039] Furthermore, a rear-end-side portion (a right-end-side portions in Fig. 10) of the
fixed beam 13b and a front-end-side portion (a left-end-side portion in Fig. 10) of
the fixed beam 14b described above are provided with board connecting parts 13b2 and
14b2, respectively, to be connected by solder to a conductive path formed on the main
wiring board (refer to the reference character P in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13).
[0040] Still further, rear-end-side portions (right-end-side portions in Fig. 10) of the
movable beams 13a and 14a are provided with cam receiving portions 13a2 and 14a2,
respectively, and rear-end-side portions (right-end-side portions in Fig. 10) of the
fixed beams 13b and 14b are provided with cam receiving concave portions 13b3 and
14b3, respectively formed so as to each form a concave shape. In these cam receiving
parts 13a2 and 14a2 and cam receiving concave parts 13b3 and 14b3, a pressing cam
part 12a of the actuator (connecting operation device) 12 mounted at the rear end
portion of the insulating housing 11 described above is disposed in contact. A cam
surface formed along an outer perimeter of this pressing cam part 12a is slidably
in contact with the cam receiving parts 13a2 and 14a2 of the movable beams 13a and
14a and the cam receiving concave parts 13b3 and 14b3 of the fixed beams 13b and 14b.
With this contact arrangement relation, the actuator 12 is rotatably supported about
a rotation center X of the pressing cam part 12a (refer to Fig. 10 and Fig. 11).
[0041] Here, for example, as depicted in Fig. 11, the cam receiving parts 13a2 and 14a2
of the movable beams 13a and 14a and the cam receiving concave parts 13b3 and 14b3
of the fixed beams 13b and 14b described above are configured to lightly fit in the
pressing cam part 12a rotated to the "connection acting position", thereby holding
the pressing cam part 12a in the state of being rotated up to the "connection acting
position" in Fig. 11.
[0042] On the other hand, the entire actuator (connecting operation device) 12 disposed
as being rotated at the rear end portion (the right-end-side portion in Fig. 10 and
Fig. 11) of the insulating housing 11 as described above is formed so as to extend
in an elongated shape along the connector longitudinal direction, and is disposed
over an approximately same length as the full width of the insulating housing 11.
This actuator 12 is mounted so as to be above to move about a rotation center extending
in a longitudinal direction of the actuator 12, that is, the rotation center X (refer
to Fig. 10 and Fig. 11) of the pressing cam part 12a described above, with a portion
outside the rotation radius regarding the rotation center X (a right-end-side portion
in Fig. 11) is formed as an open/close operating part 12b. With an appropriate operating
force being added by the operator to the open/close operating part 12b, the entire
actuator 12 is rotated so as to reciprocate between the "connection release position"
at which the actuator 12 stands approximately upright as depicted in Fig. 10 and the
"connection acting position" at which the actuator 12 is fallen down approximately
horizontally toward a connector rear side as depicted in Fig. 11.
[0043] Here, in a portion of the open/close operating part 12b coupled to the pressing cam
part 12a, a slit-shaped through hole part 12c is formed for avoiding interference
with the conductive contacts 13 and 14. When the actuator 12 is rotated to the "connection
release position" (refer to Fig. 10), the rear end portions of the movable beams 13a
and 14a of the conductive contacts 13 and 14 enter the inside of the slit-shaped through
hole part 12c.
[0044] On the other hand, it is configured that when the open/close operating part 12b of
the actuator (connecting operation device) 12 is operated to be rotated by hand of
the operator so as to be pressed down from the "connection release position" (refer
to Fig. 10) toward the "connection acting position" (refer to Fig. 11), the rotation
radius of the pressing cam part 12a described above is changed in a direction of increasing
between the fixed beams 13b and 14b and the movable beams 13a and 14a, respectively.
Then, according to the change of increasing the radius of the pressing cam part 12a,
the cam receiving parts 13a2 and 14a2 provided on the rear end sides of the movable
beams 13a and 14a, respectively are displaced so as to be lifted up to an upper side
in the drawings. Accordingly, the upper terminal contact convex parts 13a1 and 14a1
provided on a side (a connector front end side) opposite to the cam receiving parts
13a2 and 14a2 are pushed downward.
[0045] If the actuator (connecting operation device) 12 has been completely rotated to the
"connection acting position", which is a final rotation position (refer to Fig. 11),
the upper terminal contact convex parts 13a1 and 14a1 of the movable beams 13a and
14a and the lower terminal contact convex parts 13b1 and 14b1 of the fixed beams 13b
and 14b, respectively, described above vertically press-contact the signal transmission
medium (such as FPC or FFC) F inserted therebetween to pinch the signal transmission
medium F. At this time, the upper terminal contact convex parts 13a1 and 14a1 and
the lower terminal contact convex parts 13b1 and 14b1 are press-contacted with the
wiring pattern of the signal transmission medium (conductive path for signal transmission
or for shielding) Fa, thereby establishing an electrical connection.
[0046] On the other hand, with the actuator 12 being rotated so as to be pushed down from
the "connection release position" (refer to Fig. 10) toward the rear side and moved
to the "connection acting position" (refer to Fig. 11) as described above, a lower-surface-side
portion of the open/close operating part 12b of the actuator 12 in the drawings are
disposed so as to have a relation of facing close to a main wiring board P. Here,
on the lower-surface-side portion of the open/close operating part 12b of the actuator
12, protective projections 12d protruding toward the main wiring board are provided.
These plurality of protective projections 12d are disposed a predetermined space apart
from each other in the multi-contact arrangement direction of the conductive contacts
13 and 14 (connector longitudinal direction) described above. The protective projections
12d each formed as a block body having a shape of an approximately quadrangular prism
are integrally rotated according to the rotating operation of the actuator 12.
[0047] More specifically, each protective projection 12d is disposed at a position corresponding
to the conductive contact 14 having the shape on the other side described above in
the connector longitudinal direction, that is, in the multi-contact arrangement direction
of the conductive contacts 13 and 14. That is, the protective projection 12d is disposed
between the board connecting parts 13b2 of adjacent conductive contacts 13 having
the shape on one side in the multi-contact arrangement direction. Therefore, when
the protective projections 12d are rotated together with the entire actuator 12, the
state of non-interference is always kept with respect to the board connecting part
13b2 of each conductive contact 13 on one side.
[0048] Also, for each conductive contact 14 having the shape on the other side, an inner
end face 12d1 inside of the rotation radius of each protective projection 12d is disposed
at a non-interfering position corresponding to the rear side (the right side in Fig.
16) of the conductive contact 14. That is, with the actuator 12 being at the "connection
acting position", the inner end face 12d1 of the protective projection 12d is disposed
so as to face at a position slightly away from a rear end face (an upper end face
in Fig. 17) 14b4 of the fixed beam 14b configuring the conductive contact 14 on the
other side, to a rear side (an upper side in Fig. 17). With this facing arrangement
relation in which both end faces are spaced apart from each other, a non-interference
state with respect to the conductive contact 14 on the other side can be kept.
[0049] Furthermore, an arrangement relation is such that the position of a rear end edge
part (an upper end edge part in Fig. 17) 11c of the bottom plate of the insulating
housing 11 in which the conductive contact 14 on the other side held is positioned
in the connector front-back direction (a horizontal direction in Fig. 16) to approximately
match with a rear end face (an upper end face in Fig. 17) 14b4 of the conductive contact
14 on the other side. Therefore, also for the rear end edge part (the upper end edge
part in Fig. 17) 11c of the bottom plate of the insulating housing 11, the inner end
face 12d1 of the protective projection 12d described above is disposed so as to face
at a position slightly away to the rear side (the upper side in Fig. 17). With this
facing arrangement relation in which both end faces are spaced apart from each other,
a non-interference state of each protective projection 12d with respect to the insulating
housing 11 is kept.
[0050] Still further, an outer end face 12d2 of each protective projection 12d provided
outside the rotation radius is disposed at a position drawn slightly inward (leftward
in Fig. 10 and Fig. 13) from an operation-side outer end face (a right end face in
Fig. 10 and Fig. 13) of the open/close operating part 12b of the actuator 12 also
outside the rotation radius. The outer end face 12d2 of each protective projection
12d is provided so as to form a step on the operation-side outer end face of the open/close
operating part 12b of the actuator 12. In particular, as depicted in Fig. 13, a nail
S of the operator is easily hooked, from a lower side, at the step formed of the protective
projection 12d described above and a portion outside the rotation radius from that
step.
[0051] The outer end face 12d2 of the protective projection 12d forming this step is disposed
at a position slightly protruding from the rear end face (the right end face in Fig.
10 and Fig. 13) of the board connecting part 13b2 provided on each conductive contact
13 on one side described above toward the rear side of the actuator 12 (the right
side in Fig. 10 and Fig. 13), that is, toward an operation-side outer end face side
of the actuator 12 with the actuator 12 being moved to the "connection acting position".
Therefore, when the nail S of the operator is inserted toward the inside of the connector
(a left side in Fig. 13), the nail S of the operator abuts on the outer end face 12d2
of the protective projection 12d. Therefore, the nail S of the operator is prevented
from being in contact with the board connecting part 13b2 of the conductive contact
13.
[0052] Also, the nail S of the operator abuts on the outer end face 12d2 of the protective
projection 12d. Therefore, when the actuator 12 is rotated from the "connection acting
position" to the "connection release position", a situation is prevented that the
nail S of the operator enters a pressing cam portion 12a side from the outer end face
12d2 to become contact with the movable beams 13a and 14a of the conductive contact
protruding from the slit-shaped through hole part 12c of the actuator 12.
[0053] As such, the gap formed between the actuator 12 and the main printed wiring board
P is covered with the protective projection 12 provided to the actuator 12 from the
rear side (the right side in Fig. 13) of the actuator 12. With this, a chance is eliminated
that the nail S of the operator is in contact with a connector component such as the
conductive contacts 13 and 14 disposed inside the gap between the actuator 12 and
the main printed wiring board P.
[0054] Also, the protective projection 12d is provided so as to form a step on the operation-side
outer end face of the open/close operating part 12b provided in the actuator 12. With
this, when an operation of rotating the actuator 12 is performed, a nail tip part
of the operator is easily hooked at the step between the actuator 12 and the protective
projection 12d, and thus the operation of rotating the actuator 12 is safely and reliably
performed.
[0055] Furthermore, the protective projection 12d is disposed at a portion between board
connecting parts 13b2 of adjacent ones of the conductive contacts 13 in the multi-contact
arrangement direction. With this, when the actuator 12 is moved to the "connection
acting position", the protective projection 12d of the actuator 12 enters the portion
between the board connecting parts 13b2 of the conductive contacts 13 to prevent interference
between the actuator 12 and the conductive contacts 13. Therefore, even if the actuator
12 is reduced in a length direction of the conductive contacts 13 orthogonal to the
multi-contact arrangement direction, no interference occurs. Also, the portion between
the board connecting parts 13b2 of the conductive contacts 13 is covered with the
protective projection 12d of the actuator 12, and thus a situation is prevented that
a foreign substance such as dust enters that portion to cause an electric short circuit.
[0056] Still further, the protective projection 12d is disposed so as to protrude to an
operator side of the actuator 12 from the rear end face of the board connecting part
13b2 of each conductive contact 13. With this, the tip of the nail S of the operator
is in contact with the protective projection 12d of the actuator 12 to disable further
insertion, and therefore the tip of the nail S of the operator is reliably prevented
from being in contact with the end face of the board connecting part 13b2 of the conductive
contact 13.
[0057] In addition, the protective projection 12d is disposed at a position not interfering
with the insulating housing 11 in the reciprocating rotation direction of the actuator
12. With this, it is not required to decrease the size of the insulating housing 11
to avoid interference with the protective projection 12d of the actuator 12 and, accordingly,
the agility of holding the conductive contacts 13 and 14 is excellently kept.
[0058] On the other hand, as described above, the open/close operating part 12b of the
actuator 12 extends long along the connector longitudinal direction. On an operation-side
end face disposed outside of a radial direction regarding the rotation center X of
the open/close operating part 12b, that is, an upper end face with the actuator 12
standing at the "connection release position" (refer to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5), inclined
surface parts 12b1 are provided on both end portions in the connector longitudinal
direction. These inclined surface parts 12b1 are each formed so as to go down toward
outside in the connector longitudinal direction, which is an extending direction of
the actuator 12, and so as to extend to form an appropriate angle with respect to
the connector longitudinal direction. On a portion between these inclined surface
parts 12b1, a flat part 12b2 is provided to extend in the connector longitudinal direction,
which is the extending direction of the actuator 12.
[0059] Here, the appropriate angle of each inclined surface part 12b1 with respect to the
connector longitudinal direction, that is, an angle in a downward direction with respect
to a horizontal line obtained by extending the flat part 12b described above, is set
in a range of 4 degrees to 15 degrees in the present embodiment. The reason for this
setting of the inclined angle is that it has been found that when the actuator 12
is actually operated as being rotated, excellent uniformity of the operation pressing
force over the full length of the actuator 12 and stiffness of the full length of
the actuator 12 can be both obtained simultaneously.
[0060] Still further, the inclined surface parts 12b1 disposed on both end sides in the
connection longitudinal direction described above are formed so as to smoothly continue
from both end parts of the flat part 12b2 provided on the center side in the connector
longitudinal direction, and no corner is formed at a boundary between between the
surface parts 12b1 and 12b2.
[0061] Still further, on both end edge parts of the open/close operating part 12b provided
to the actuator 12 in the connector longitudinal direction, both-end-side rising wall
parts 12b3 forming an approximately flat shape are provided. These both-end-side rising
wall parts 12b3 are each formed so as to extend along a rotational radial direction
of the actuator 12. That is, with the actuator 12 standing at the "connection release
position" (refer to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5), each both-end-side rising wall part 12b3 is
formed so as to extend upward approximately in a vertical direction from the upper
surface of the insulating housing 11 described above. From an upper end part of each
rising surface part 12b3, the inclined surface part 12b1 is contiguously provided.
[0062] As such, in the present embodiment that does not form part of the invention, since
the inclined surface parts 12b1 are provided on both end parts of the open/close operating
part 12b of the actuator 12, the following advantages can be obtained. That is, when
the actuator 12 is rotated from the "connection release position" to the "connection
acting position", the rising wall part on a front side, which is the front end face
(the left-side end face in Fig. 10) with the actuator 12 standing at the "connection
release position" (refer to Fig. 10), is pressed with a fingertip of the operator.
If the inclined surface parts 12b1 are provided on both end portions of the open/close
operating part 12b of the actuator 12 as described above, the pressing force of the
operator is difficult to be exerted onto portions on both end sides in the longitudinal
direction where the inclined surface parts 12b1 are provided. With this, the pressing
force tends to be added onto a center portion of the actuator 12 in the longitudinal
direction.
[0063] On the other hand, the pressing force added onto portions where the inclined surface
parts 12b1 on both sides of the actuator 12 in the longitudinal direction are provided
is added in an approximately right angle direction with respect to the inclined surfaces
of the inclined surface parts 12b1. For this reason, the pressing force of the operator
approximately uniformly acts over the full length of the actuator 12, preventing the
occurrence of a situation that the entire actuator 12 is pressed as being twisted.
The actuator 12 is rotated as a whole by keeping an approximately flat plane. As a
result, the action of pinching the signal transmission medium (such as FPC or FFC)
F by the rotation of the actuator 12 is excellently performed.
[0064] Furthermore, when the entire external view of the actuator 12 is visually checked,
in particular, as depicted with a two-dot-chain line denoted as a reference character
A in Fig. 7, it is visually recognized as having an odd form with an approximately
trapezoidal shape. In particular, with the actuator 12 being rotated to the "connection
acting position" (refer to Fig. 7), the entire external view of the actuator 12 is
visually conspicuous as having an approximately trapezoidal shape in a planar view.
Therefore, the rotation state of the actuator 12 to the "connection acting position"
is easily and reliably checked.
[0065] Still further, as in the present embodiment that does not form part of the invention,
with the structure in which the inclined surfaces configuring the inclined surface
parts 12b1 smoothly continue from the flat part 12b2, if the operating force is added
onto the actuator 12, no corner part is present that causes concentration of stress
at a boundary between the surface parts 12b1 and 12b2, and therefore damage on the
actuator 12 due to the operation of rotating the actuator and others can be prevented.
[0066] In addition, as in the present embodiment that does not form part of the invention,
with the inclined surface parts 12b1 being provided via the both-end-side rising wall
parts 12b3, the stiffness in the open/close operating part 12b of the actuator 12
can be increased accordingly to the provision of the both-end-side rising wall parts
12b3, thereby making it possible to prevent damage and others when the operating force
is added onto the actuator 12.
[0067] By contrast, in a claimed embodiment depicted in Fig. 18 to Fig. 20 with same components
provided with the same reference character as that of the non-claimed embodiment that
does not form part of the invention, described above, in addition to the inclined
surface parts 12b1, operation prevention aiding parts 12b4 each formed of a separate
inclined surface is provided at both end side portions in the connector longitudinal
direction of the actuator 12. Each of these operation prevention aiding parts 12b4
is disposed at an upper end portion with the actuator 12 standing at the "connection
release position" (refer to Fig. 20) and closer to the front on both side in the longitudinal
direction. The operation prevention aiding part 12b4 is disposed at a position facing
the operating force added to the actuator 12 when the actuator 12 is pushed down in
a pinching direction from the state of freeing the signal transmission medium (such
as FPC or FFC) F.
[0068] That is, each operation prevention aiding part 12b4 is formed of a separate inclined
surface adjacently disposed along the inclined surface part 12b1. The inclined surface
configuring the operation prevention aiding part 12b4 is disposed so as to be along
a front side of the inclined surface part 12b1. More specifically, one end edge of
the inclined surface of the operation prevention aiding part 12b4 is adjacently disposed
so as to configure an end edge that is common as an end edge of the inclined surface
on a front end side forming the inclined surface part 12b1, and extends from one end
edge (common edge) of the operation prevention aiding part 12b1 to an outer end edge
of a front-side rising wall part 12b5 in a radial direction, the front-side rising
wall part 12b5 extending in an approximately flat shape along the rotational radial
direction of the actuator 12 and also along the longitudinal direction of the actuator
12. The inclined angle of the operation prevention aiding part 12b4 at which it extends
is set as appropriate downward with respect to the rotational radial direction of
the actuator 12.
[0069] Also, the front-side rising wall part 12b5 described above extends so as to form
a front end face (a left end face in Fig. 20) with the actuator 12 standing at the
"connection release position" (refer to Fig. 20). An upper end edge of the front-side
rising wall part 12b5 and the other end edge of the inclined surface of each operation
prevention aiding part 12b4 are adjacently disposed so as to configure a common edge
edge. As such, each operation prevention aiding part 12b4 is inclined so as to go
down toward outside in the connector longitudinal direction together with the inclined
surface forming each inclined surface part 12b1, and is also inclined so as to go
down toward the front side.
[0070] As such, according to the claimed embodiment including the operation prevention aiding
parts 12b4 extending so as to be inclined toward the front side in addition to the
inclined surface parts 12b1 according to the non-claimed embodiment described above,
the fingertip of the operator further tends not to be hooked at the front portion
on both side in the longitudinal direction of the actuator 12. As a result, at the
time of operation of rotating the actuator 12, the operation pressing force added
from the operator tends to further uniformly act over the full length, and the action
of pinching the signal transmission medium (such as FPC or FFC) F by the rotation
of the actuator 12 is excellently performed.
[0071] Furthermore, first and second operation support parts 12b6 and 12b7 each formed of
a concave part are provided on an approximately center portion in the longitudinal
direction of the actuator 12. These first and second operation support parts 12b6
and 12b7 are provided so as to extend along the longitudinal direction on front and
rear rising walls of the actuator 12, that is, the front-side rising wall part 12b5
described above and a rear-side rising wall part on an opposite side, respectively.
[0072] Of these, the concave part configuring the first operation support part 12b6 is formed
in the front-side rising wall part 12b5, that is, a front end face (a left-side end
face in Fig. 20) with the actuator 12 standing at the "connection release position"
(refer to Fig. 20), and is formed of an elongated groove approximately linearly extending
along the connector longitudinal direction. The concave part is formed to have a shape
allowing engagement of a fingertip of the operator of the actuator 12 when the actuator
12 is operated as being rotated from the state of freeing the signal transmission
medium (such as FPC or FFC) F to a pinching direction.
[0073] By contrast, the second operation support part 12b7 is formed in the rear-side rising
wall part of the actuator 12, that is, a lower end face (a lower-side end face in
Fig. 11) with the actuator 12 being laid at the "connection acting position" (refer
to Fig. 11), and is formed of a recessed part extending in an approximately curved
line along the connector longitudinal direction. The curved line forming an outer
line of this second operation support part 12b7 is shaped with its center portion
in the longitudinal direction swells approximately in the shape of an arc toward inside
in the rotational radial direction of the actuator 12, and is shaped so that a nail
part of the operator of the actuator 12 can be engaged when the actuator 12 is operated
from the state of pinching the signal transmission medium (such as FPC or FFC) F to
a freeing direction.
[0074] According to the present embodiment with the above-structured first and second operation
support parts 12b6 and 12b7, at the time of operation of rotating the actuator 12,
the finger tip part or the nail part of the operator of the actuator 12 is easily
hooked at the first and second operation support parts 12b6 and 12b7 at the center
portion in the longitudinal direction. That is, the fingertip part of the operator
can be easily and reliably engaged with the linearly-shaped first operation support
part 12b6, and the nail part of he operator can be easily and reliably engaged with
the curve-shaped second operation support part 12b7. Therefore, with these linear
and curved operation support parts 12b6 and 12b7 disposed as appropriate on the front
and rear rising walls according to the state of rotating operation of the actuator
12, excellent rotation operability can be obtained. Also, since operation pressing
force added from the operator is positively received at the center portion of the
actuator 12, uniform operability can be reliably obtained over the full length.
[0075] Note that the first and second operation support parts 12b6 and 12b7 in the present
embodiment are each formed of a concave part, similar operations and effects can be
obtained by configuring these parts each with the use of a convex part.
[0076] For example, in the embodiment described above, while a flexible printed circuit
(FPC) or a flexible flat cable (FFC) is adopted as a signal transmission medium to
be fixed to the electric connector, the present invention can be similarly applied
to the case in which another medium for signal transmission or the like is used.
[0077] Also, while the actuator according to the embodiments described above is disposed
in the rear end portion of the insulating housing, the present invention can also
be applied to an electric connector with the actuator disposed in a front end portion
and an electric connector with the actuator disposed in a portion between the front
and rear end portions.
[0078] Furthermore, while the conductive contacts having different shapes are used in the
electric connector according to the embodiment described above, the present invention
can be similarly applied even when conductive contacts having the same shape are used.
[0079] The present invention can be widely applied to various types of electric connectors
for use in various electric apparatuses.