BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electrical connector. More specifically, this invention relates to an electrical connector that is used to engage a flexible flat cable.
Conventional electrical systems commonly use groups of electrical wires to route electrical power and signals. Conventional round electrical wires are typically connected to electrical terminals which are inserted into connectors. Groups of the wires are may then be bundled together for easier handling. There has been an interest in using flexible flat cables instead of conventional wire bundles in some applications. The flexible flat cables can be easier to handle.
Conventional electrical terminals are often connected to round electrical wires by a crimped connection. The electrical terminal includes a first set of crimp wings that are deformed to engage an inner conductor on the wire to provide an electrical connection. A second set of crimp wings are also deformed to engage an outer insulator on the wire to provide a stronger mechanical connection. However, these crimped connections used to attach electrical terminals to conventional round wires are not necessarily compatible with the flexible flat cables. It would be desirable to provide an improved way to connect the electrical terminal to the flat flexible cable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an electrical connector. The electrical connector includes a body with a terminal cavity. The terminal cavity defines a terminal axis and is also adapted to accommodate an electrical terminal. The terminal cavity has a contact area that includes a terminal lock. The terminal cavity also has a connection area that is open in a block direction. The block direction is perpendicular to the terminal axis. The electrical connector also includes a block that is movable relative to the body to a latched position. When the block is in the latched position, it is located in the block direction from the connection area.
In another embodiment, the terminal cavity extends through a connector end that is adjacent to the connection area. Further, the terminal cavity is open at the connector end. The electrical connector also includes a plurality of hooks that extend from the body in the block direction. The hooks are adapted to engage a flexible flat cable. Also, the block includes a plurality of spaces wherein each of the hooks is located in one of the spaces when the block is in the latched position. Additionally, when the block in the latched position, a catch is defined between the block and the body. The catch is a channel that extends at an angle relative to the terminal axis.
This invention also relates to an electrical connector assembly. The electrical connector assembly includes an electrical terminal located in the terminal cavity and retained in the terminal cavity by a terminal lock. The electrical terminal includes deformed crimp wings. The electrical connector assembly also includes a flexible flat cable. The flexible flat cable is located at least in part between the block and the electrical terminal when the block is in the latched position. The flexible flat cable includes a conductor that is engaged with the electrical terminal. When the block is in the latched position, the crimp wings are in a stressed position and the electrical terminal applies a spring force against the block.
Various aspects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a prior art electrical terminal.
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view similar to FIG. 1, showing the prior art electrical terminal attached to an electrical wire.
FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an electrical connector is accordance with this invention.
FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of an electrical terminal in a deformed state for use in the electrical connector illustrated in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the electrical connector illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein the electrical terminal illustrated in FIG. 4 is visible in a terminal cavity of the electrical connector.
FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of a flexible flat cable that includes a stripped portion that exposes parts of four electrical conductors.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken through the electrical connector from FIGS. 3 and 5, with four electrical terminals positioned in the electrical connector and the flexible flat cable positioned adjacent to the electrical terminals.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 7 showing an electrical connector assembly that includes the electrical connector in a latched position wherein the flexible flat cable is pressed against the electrical terminals.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9.
FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the electrical connector assembly from FIG. 9 and a corresponding connector.
FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view similar to FIG. 11 showing the electrical connector assembly mated with the corresponding connector.
FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view similar to FIG. 11 showing the electrical connector attached to four conventional round wires rather than the flexible flat cable.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 13.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view from below showing the electrical connector attached to the flexible flat cable as well as round wires.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a front perspective view of a prior art electrical terminal, indicated generally at 10. The electrical terminal 10 includes a crimp portion, indicated generally at 12, and is adapted to be crimped onto an electrical wire, as is known in the art. The electrical terminal 10 also includes a contact portion, indicated generally at 14, that is attached to the crimp portion 12 and that is adapted to engage a corresponding electrical terminal (not shown).
The crimp portion 12 includes two conductor wings 16, as well as two insulator wings 18. As shown in FIG. 2, when the electrical terminal 10 is crimped onto a conventional round electrical wire 20, the conductor wings 16 engage a conductor 22 of the wire 20 and the insulator wings 18 engage an outer insulator 24 of the wire 20. By engaging the conductor 22, the electrical terminal 10 is in electrical communication with the conductor 22. Further, by engaging the insulator 24, a stronger mechanical bond is created between the electrical terminal 10 and the wire 20. The electrical terminal 10 may be crimped to the wire 20 by hand or by machine, using a crimping device (not shown) as is known in the art.
An electrical connector in accordance with this invention is shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 and is indicated generally at 26. The illustrated electrical connector 26 is a single piece and is molded from plastic. However, the electrical connector 26 may be made of multiple components if desired and may be composed of any desired material or combination of materials and may be manufactured using any desired process. The electrical connector 26 includes a body 28. Terminal cavities 30 extend through the body 28 and each terminal cavity 30 defines a respective terminal axis 32. The illustrated electrical connector 26 includes four terminal cavities 30 but may include any desired number of terminal cavities 30.
Illustrated in FIG. 4, An electrical terminal similar to the previously described prior art electrical terminal 10 is indicated generally at 34. The electrical terminal 34 includes a crimp portion, indicated generally at 36 and a contact portion, indicated generally at 38, that is attached to the crimp portion 36 and that is adapted to engage a corresponding electrical terminal (not shown). The crimp portion 36 includes two conductor wings 40, as well as two insulator wings 42. As shown in FIG. 4, the electrical terminal 34 is in a deformed state, wherein the conductor wings 40 are bent toward inwardly toward each other and the insulator wings 42 are also bent inwardly toward each other. The electrical terminal 34 may be deflected to the deformed state by subjecting the electrical terminal 34 to a crimping process (similarly to the prior art electrical terminal as illustrated in FIG. 2), without engaging the wire 20. The electrical terminal 34 may be deflected to the deformed state by hand or by machine, using a crimping device (not shown) as is known in the art.
As best shown in FIG. 5, the deformed electrical terminal 34 is positioned in one of the terminal cavities 30. Although only one electrical terminal 34 is shown in FIG. 5, each terminal cavity 30 can accommodate one electrical terminal 34. Each terminal cavity 30 includes a contact area 44 and a connection area 46. When the electrical terminal 34 is positioned in the terminal cavity 30, the contact portion 38 of the electrical terminal 34 is located in the contact area 44. The body 28 surrounds the contact area 44 on four sides and serves to protect the contact portion 38 of the electrical terminal 30 from damage. Further, when the electrical terminal 34 is positioned in the terminal cavity 30, the crimp portion 36 of the electrical terminal 34 is located in the connection area 46. The connection area 46 of each terminal cavity 30 is a channel that is at least partially open in a block direction 48. The illustrated electrical terminal 34 is positioned in the terminal cavity 30 with the conductor wings 40 and the insulator wings 42 exposed in the block direction 48. However, the electrical terminal 34 may be positioned in the terminal cavity 30 with any desired orientation.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, a flexible flat cable 50 includes conductors 52 that are sandwiched between two insulators 54. The illustrated flexible flat cable 50 includes four conductors 52 but may include any desired number. The flexible flat cable 50 includes a stripped portion 56 wherein one of the insulators 54 is removed to expose part of each of the conductors 52.
The cross-sectional views in FIGS. 7 and 8 show the electrical connector 26 holding four electrical terminals 34, one in each of the terminal cavities 30. As shown in FIG. 8, a locking lance 58 on the illustrated electrical terminal 34 engages a ledge 60 on the electrical connector 26 in order to retain the electrical terminal 34 in the respective terminal cavity 30. However, any desired terminal lock mechanism may be used to retain the electrical terminal 34 in the terminal cavity 30. Also shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the flexible flat cable 50 is located in an initial position adjacent to the electrical connector 26, with the stripped portion 56 adjacent to the connection area 46 so that the exposed part of each conductor 52 is located in the block direction 48 from one of the electrical terminals 34.
As shown in FIG. 5, the electrical connector 26 includes a plurality of hooks 62 that serve to hold the flexible flat cable 50 in the initial position relative to the electrical connector 26. Each of the hooks 62 is a projection from the body 28 that extends in the block direction 48. The illustrated hooks 62 are located in the connection area 46 and are between adjacent terminal cavities 30. However, the hooks 62 may be in any desired location on the electrical connector 26.
As shown in FIG. 6, the flexible flat cable 50 includes a plurality of slots 64 that extend through the flexible cable 50. The illustrated slots 64 are located in the stripped portion 56 of the flexible flat cable 50 between adjacent conductors 52 and extend through one of the insulators 54. However, the slots 64 may be in any desired location on the flexible flat cable 50. When the flexible flat cable 50 is placed in the initial position, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, each of the hooks 62 extends through one of the slots 64 in order to properly position the flexible flat cable 50 relative to the electrical connector 26.
As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the electrical connector 26 includes a block 66 that is movable relative to the body 28. The illustrated block 66 is molded with the body 28 as a single-piece electrical connector 26 and the block 66 is attached to the body 28 by a living hinge 68 which allows the block 66 to be rotated relative to the body 28. However, the block 66 may be separate piece if desired. In order to attach the flexible flat cable 50 to the electrical connector 26, the block 66 is placed in a latched position to create the electrical connector assembly illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. In the latched position, the block 66 is located adjacent to the connection area 46 and in the block direction 48 from the electrical terminals 34. The stripped portion 56 of the flexible flat cable 50 is located between the block 66 and the electrical terminals 34. Part of the flexible flat cable 50 is moved opposite the block direction 48 relative to the connection area 46 by the block 66, and each of the conductors 52 is pressed into engagement with the respective electrical terminal 34. As shown in FIG. 5, the block 66 includes multiple spaces 70 that are positioned so that each hook 62 enters a space 70 when the block 66 is in the latched position.
When the block 66 is in the latched position, the electrical terminal 34 is compressed between the block 66 and the opposed side of the terminal cavity 30. This causes the insulator wings 42 to be moved from the deformed state (illustrated in FIGS. 4, 7, and 8) to a stressed state (illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10). In the stressed state, each electrical terminal 34 applies a spring force against the block 66, which maintains contact between the electrical terminal 34 and the respective conductor 52. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the stressed insulator wings 42 are pressed into engagement with the respective conductor 52, which provide electrical communication between the conductor 52 and the contact portion 38 of the electrical terminal 34. The spring force exerted by the insulator wings 42 provides a mechanical force to maintain this electrical connection.
The block 66 is held in the latched position relative to the body 28 by a stop 72 on the block 66 that engages a lock 74 on the body 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the body 28 includes two locks 74 located on opposed sides of the connection area 46 and two stops 72 extend from opposed sides of block 66. However, the electrical connector 26 may include any desired number and arrangement of stops 72 and locks 74.
As best shown in FIG. 10, when electrical connector 26 is latched onto the flexible flat cable 50, the flexible flat cable 50 enters the electrical connector 26 a connector end 76 and extends into a connection part 78 that is generally parallel to the terminal axes 32. The electrical terminal 34 engages the flexible flat cable 50 in the connection part 78. The flexible flat cable 50 also includes a hooked part 80 that is also generally parallel to the terminal axes 32. The hooks 62 on the electrical connector 26 engage the flexible flat cable 50 in the hooked part 80. The flat flexible cable 50 includes an offset 82 that is located between the connection part 78 and the hooked part 80 and is not generally parallel to the terminal axes 32. The illustrated offset 82 is generally perpendicular to the terminal axes 32 but may have any desired orientation. The offset is located in a catch on the electrical connector 26, that is indicated generally at 84. The catch 84 includes a body catch 86 and a block catch 88. When the block 66 is in the latched position, the body catch 86 and the block catch 88 cooperate to define a channel that is generally perpendicular to the terminal axes 32, but the channel may have any desired orientation. When the block 66 is in the latched position, the offset 82 is pinned in the catch 84, which prevents the flat flexible cable 50 from being pulled out of the connector end 76.
FIG. 11 illustrates the electrical connector 26 and the attached flexible flat cable 50 positioned to be mated with a corresponding connector 90. When the electrical connector 26 is mated with the corresponding connector 90, as shown in FIG. 12, the block 66 is located at least partially between the body 28 and the corresponding connector 90, which further locks the block 66 in place relative to the body 28. As shown in FIG. 11, the corresponding connector 90 includes a connector latch 92 The connector latch 92 is adapted to engage a connector catch 94 on the electrical connector 26, that is shown on FIG. 10, in order to retain the electrical connector 26 in place relative to the corresponding connector 90.
The illustrated electrical connector 26 may also be used with conventional round wires 96, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. As illustrated, each of the electrical terminals 34 may be crimped to a respective wire 96 (similarly to the previously described electrical terminal 10). The illustrated terminal cavities are open at the connector end 76 to allow each of the wires 96 to extend out of the respective terminal cavity 32. As further illustrated in FIG. 15, the electrical connector 26 may also be used with both the flexible flat cable 50 and one or more of the wires 96 simultaneously. This allows one or more of the terminals 32 to be in electrical communication with the wires 96, while one or more other of the terminals 32 are in electrical communications with the conductors 52 in the flexible flat cable 50.
The principle and mode of operation of this invention have been explained and illustrated in its preferred embodiment. However, it must be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.
Patent Application
20240178624
