• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    A terminal holding structure of a flat circuit body includes: a flat circuit body having a plurality of conductors and insulating; a plurality of terminals provided on a terminal portion of the flat circuit body; and a connector housing having a plurality of terminal housing chambers for housing the plural terminals. In the above structure, the flat circuit body is formed with holding openings on portions on the terminal portion where the conductors are not located. Furthermore, the connector housing is detachably provided with a spacer which has engagement portions for engaging with the holding openings.
    公开号:US20010009821A1
    申请号:US09/768,303
    申请日:2001-01-25
    公开日:2001-07-26
    发明作者:Kentaro Nagai
    申请人:Yazaki Corp；
    IPC主号:H01R12-69
    专利说明:
    [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0001]
    [0002] The present invention relates to a terminal holding structure of a flat circuit body such as a flexible flat cable (FFC) and a flexible print circuit (FPC). [0002]
    [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0003]
    [0004] In general, in the case where circuits are electrically connected with one another by using a flat circuit body such as FFC, a connector is attached to a terminal of the flat circuit body, and this connector is connected to a mating connector. [0004]
    [0005] As a prior terminal holding structure of a flat circuit body, a technique shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2549583, is known. As shown in FIG. 1, this terminal holding structure of a flat circuit body is such that terminals [0005] 1 are connected to conductors 3 at a terminal portion of FFC 2 (so-called piercing connection), and as shown in FIG. 2, the terminals 1 are housed in respective terminal housing chamber 4A of a connector housing 4. Slits 2A are formed between the conductors 3 at the terminal of the FFC 2 so that substantially whole of the terminals 1 are housed in the terminal housing chambers 4A of the connector housing 4.
    [0006] However, in the above-mentioned prior technique, for example when a wire harness is manufactured and assembled, an external force is easily applied to the connection portions between the terminals [0006] 1 and FFC 2 due to grinding of FFC 2. As a result, the terminals 1 and the conductors 3 at the connection portions are possibly deformed or broken. For this reason, at the step of manufacturing or assembling a wire harness using FFC2, it is necessary to pay attention to its handling so that excessive tension is not applied to FFC 2. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
    [0007] The present invention has been achieved with such points in mind. [0007]
    [0008] It therefore is an object of the present invention to provide a terminal holding structure of a flat circuit body in which connection portions between terminals and a flat circuit body can be protected and deformation and breakage of conductors are prevented. [0008]
    [0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a terminal holding structure of a flat circuit body, comprising: a flat circuit body includes: a plurality of conductors arranged with predetermined intervals; and insulating films for fixing the plural conductors so as to sandwich the plural conductors; a plurality of terminals provided on a terminal portion of the flat circuit body, the plural terminals being electrically connected to the plural conductors respectively; and a connector housing having a plurality of terminal housing chambers for housing the plural terminals, wherein the flat circuit body is formed with holding openings on portions on the terminal portion where the conductors are not located; and wherein the connector housing is detachably provided with a spacer which has engagement portions for engaging with the holding openings. [0009]
    [0010] In the invention of the first aspect having such a structure, the terminals are held to be electrically connected to the conductors at the terminal portion of the flat circuit body. The spacer is attached to the connector housing, and the engagement portions of the spacer are engaged into the holding openings formed on the flat circuit body so as to hold the flat circuit body. Since the flat circuit body is held at the engagement portions of the spacer, even if an external force is applied to the flat circuit body, the external force is applied to the insulating films so as not to influence the conductors. As a result, deformation, breakage and the like of the conductors can be prevented, and the terminal holding structure of the flat circuit body with high durability can be obtained. [0010]
    [0011] A second aspect of the present invention provides the terminal holding structure of the flat circuit body according to the first aspect, wherein the holding openings are holding holes which are opened on the insulating films on both sides of the respective conductors of the flat circuit body. [0011]
    [0012] Therefore, according to the second aspect, since the holding openings are holding holes, the holding openings can be formed on the terminal portion of the flat circuit body easily. Moreover, since the holding openings are formed on both sides of the conductors at the terminal portion of the flat circuit body, an external force which was applied to the flat circuit body in its whole widthwise direction can be unified. An influence upon the conductors can be decreased as small as possible. [0012]
    [0013] A third aspect of the present invention provides the terminal holding structure of the flat circuit body depending from the first aspect, wherein: the spacer has: partition walls being arranged in positions corresponding to the holding openings to serve as engagement portions with the holding openings; and a worktop formed integrally with the partition walls; and the connector housing is formed with a spacer attachment hole for attaching the spacer. [0013]
    [0014] Therefore, according to the third aspect, the partition walls of the spacer are first inserted into the spacer attachment hole of the connector housing and the worktop is pushed from outside so that the spacer can be attached extremely easily. For this reason, in a state that the terminal portion of the flat circuit body with which the terminals are previously connected are housed in the connector housing, the spacer is attached. As a result, the terminal holding structure of the flat circuit body can be formed quickly. Therefore, working time required for the assembly steps can be shortened. [0014] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
    [0015] The above and further objects and novel features of the present invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: [0015]
    [0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state that terminals are attached to a terminal portion of a conventional flat circuit body; [0016]
    [0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a terminal holding structure of the conventional flat circuit body; [0017]
    [0018] FIG. 3 is a partial exploded perspective view showing a terminal holding structure of a flat circuit body according to an embodiment of the present invention; [0018]
    [0019] FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing a state that a spacer is attached in the embodiment; and [0019]
    [0020] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 4. [0020] DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
    [0021] There will be detailed below a terminal holding structure of a flat circuit body according to the present invention based on an embodiment shown in the drawings. Here, in the present embodiment, FFC (flexible flat cable) is used as a flat circuit body. [0021]
    [0022] As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal holding structure of the flat circuit body according to the present embodiment is substantially composed of FFC [0022] 11, a plurality of terminals 12 connected to the FFC 11, and a connector housing 13 made of synthetic resin for housing the terminals 12.
    [0023] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the FFC [0023] 11 is constituted so that a plurality of conductors 14 which are rolled and made of copper foil or the like are sandwiched between a pair of base films (insulating films) 15, 15 by using adhesive.
    [0024] In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, rectangular holding holes (holding openings) [0024] 16 are bored through laminated portion of the paired base films 15, 15 between the conductors 14 and on the outer side of the widthwise direction of the conductors 14 positioned on the outermost side of the widthwise direction at the terminal portion of the FFC 11. At the terminal of the FFC 11, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the conductors 14 are connected to the terminals 12 (so-called piercing connection). Here, reference numerals 12A in the drawings show connection portions between the terminals 12 and the conductors 14.
    [0025] The connector housing [0025] 13 is formed into a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape by using synthetic resin, and a plurality of terminal housing chambers 13A are formed at the front portion, and a wiring attachment hole 17 into which the terminals 12 and the FFC 11 are inserted is formed at a rear end surface. Moreover, a spacer attachment hole 19 into which a spacer 18, mentioned later, is attached is formed on an upper portion of the connector housing 13. Rectangular connection holes 20 into which mating terminals are inserted are formed respectively on front end surfaces of the terminal housing chambers 13A. Further, flexible engagement arms (flexible lances) 21 for engaging with lower portions of the terminals 12 are extended integrally with bottom portions of the terminal housing chambers 13A.
    [0026] The spacer [0026] 18 is formed so that a plurality of partition walls (engagement portions) 23 which are parallel with one another are projected integrally with and at right angles to a lower surface of a worktop 22 with predetermined intervals. Here, the intervals between the adjacent partition walls 23, 23 are set so as to be approximately equal to a width dimension of the terminal housing chambers 13A, 13A.
    [0027] In a state that the spacer [0027] 18 is attached into the spacer attachment hole 19 of the connector housing 13, spaces formed by the partition walls 23 are connected with the terminal housing chambers 13A. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5, the partition walls 23 are engaged respectively with the rectangular holding holes 16 opened in the FFC 11 housed in the connector housing 13.
    [0028] Next, there will be explained below a procedure for attaching the FFC [0028] 11 to the connector housing 13. At first, the terminals 12 are put into the terminal of the FFC 11 so as to electrically connect with the conductors 14 via predetermined means (so-called piercing connection). Thereafter, the terminals 12 are inserted from the wiring attachment hole 17 into the connector housing 13 so as to be inserted into the terminal housing chambers 13A respectively. At this time, the terminals 12 are engaged with the flexible engagement arms 21 so as not to come out of the terminal housing chambers 13A.
    [0029] Next, when the spacer [0029] 18 which is temporarily engaged in the spacer attachment hole 19 is inserted completely into the spacer attachment hole 19 (complete engagement), the partition walls 23 of the spacer 18 are engaged with the holding holes 16 of the FFC 11. Here, the spacer 18 is completely engaged with the connector housing 13 at engagement claws (engagement portions) 24 when attachment.
    [0030] In the present embodiment, the partition walls [0030] 23 of the spacer 18 are engaged with the holding holes 16 formed on the paired base films 15, 15 on the terminal portion of the FFC 11. As a result, even if a stress is applied due to grinding of the FFC 11, the stress does not influence the connection portions 12A between the FFC 11 and the terminals 12. For this reason, the connection portions can be protected securely. For this reason, deformation and breakage of the conductors 14 of the FFC 11 can be prevented more securely.
    [0031] The embodiment was described above, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications may be made within the scope of a gist of the structure. For example, in the embodiment, FFC is used as a flat circuit body, but FPC may be used. Further, the holding holes as the holding openings are formed so as to be located on both sides of all the conductors, but a number of the holding holes can be changed suitably. [0031]
    [0032] The entire contents of Japanese Patent Application P2000-17178 (filed on Jan. 26, 2000) are incorporated herein by reference. [0032]
    [0033] Although the invention has been described above by reference to certain embodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Modifications and variations of the embodiments descried above will occur to those skilled in the art, in light of the above teachings. The scope of the invention is defined with reference to the following claims. [0033]
    权利要求:
    Claims (3)
    [1" id="US-20010009821-A1-CLM-00001] 1. A terminal holding structure of a flat circuit body, comprising:
    a flat circuit body includes:
    a plurality of conductors arranged with predetermined intervals; and
    insulating films for fixing the plural conductors so as to sandwich the plural conductors;
    a plurality of terminals provided on a terminal portion of the flat circuit body, the plural terminals being electrically connected to the plural conductors respectively; and
    a connector housing having a plurality of terminal housing chambers for housing the plural terminals, wherein the flat circuit body is formed with holding openings on portions on the terminal portion where the conductors are not located; and
    wherein the connector housing is detachably provided with a spacer which has engagement portions for engaging with the holding openings.
    [2" id="US-20010009821-A1-CLM-00002] 2. A terminal holding structure of a flat circuit body according to
    claim 1 ,
    wherein the holding openings are holding holes which are opened on the insulating films on both sides of the respective conductors of the flat circuit body.
    [3" id="US-20010009821-A1-CLM-00003] 3. A terminal holding structure of a flat circuit body according to
    claim 1 ,
    wherein the spacer has: partition walls being arranged in positions corresponding to the holding openings to serve as engagement portions with the holding openings; and a worktop formed integrally with the partition walls; and
    wherein the connector housing is formed with a spacer attachment hole for attaching the spacer.
    类似技术:
    公开号 | 公开日 | 专利标题
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    JP2817083B2|1998-10-27|Connector structure
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    US6503096B2|2003-01-07|Connector
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    JP2549799Y2|1997-09-30|Flat circuit connection structure
    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    US6443758B2|2002-09-03|
    JP2001210408A|2001-08-03|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    DE202004001083U1|2004-01-23|2005-06-09|Lear Corporation Electrical And Electronics Gmbh & Co. Kg|Electrical connector housing|
    DE112011102503B4|2010-07-26|2019-03-14|Yazaki Corporation|Waterproof connector|US3691509A|1970-08-17|1972-09-12|Malco Mfg Co Inc|Shielded flat cable connector assembly|
    US3904261A|1971-05-10|1975-09-09|Ncr Co|Electrical cable connector|
    US5860832A|1997-01-29|1999-01-19|Ut Automotive Dearborn, Inc.|Method for connecting flat flexible cable and a connector|FR2800520B1|1999-10-28|2001-12-14|Fci Automotive France|IMPROVEMENT IN CONNECTION DEVICES FOR FLEXIBLE CIRCUIT|
    US6749456B1|2003-05-20|2004-06-15|Yazaki North America, Inc.|Insulation piercing connector|
    JP2005122988A|2003-10-15|2005-05-12|Jst Mfg Co Ltd|Flat cable contact, electric connector, and flat cable with electric connector|
    US7585180B2|2006-10-30|2009-09-08|Group Dekko, Inc.|Method and apparatus for containing a conductor carrier in an electrical connector|
    KR100868950B1|2007-03-30|2008-11-17|한국단자공업 주식회사|Housing of connector|
    US7955106B1|2010-03-12|2011-06-07|Haworth, Inc.|Flex connector and manufacturing process|
    WO2012151372A2|2011-05-03|2012-11-08|Cardioinsight Technologies, Inc.|High-voltage resistance and retention of printed flex circuits|
    JP6317929B2|2014-01-17|2018-04-25|矢崎総業株式会社|Flat cable with connector and flat cable|
    JP6286012B1|2016-11-08|2018-02-28|株式会社オートネットワーク技術研究所|Control circuit device for vehicle automatic transmission and connector for vehicle|
    US10900859B2|2019-06-14|2021-01-26|Pica Product Development, Llc|Conductive fluid sensor cable|
    法律状态:
    2001-01-25| AS| Assignment|Owner name: YAZAKI CORPORATION, JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:NAGAI, KENTARO;REEL/FRAME:011483/0921 Effective date: 20010119 |
    2006-03-22| REMI| Maintenance fee reminder mailed|
    2006-09-05| LAPS| Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees|
    2006-10-04| STCH| Information on status: patent discontinuation|Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
    2006-10-31| FP| Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee|Effective date: 20060903 |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    JP2000-017178||2000-01-26||
    JP2000017178A|JP2001210408A|2000-01-26|2000-01-26|Terminal retaining structure of flat circuit body|
    JPP2000-17178||2000-01-26||
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