Connector for flexible substrate

Abstract

A connector for a flexible substrate of the present invention includes a housing having a board insertion port for receiving a flexible substrate, contacts of first and second types provided in parallel with each other inside the housing and supported pivotally and rotatably on an upper side of the housing and provided with cam portions, the cam portions being adapted to directly or indirectly press the contacts for bringing the contacts into pressure contact with the electrodes of the flexible substrate when the actuator is rotated to be put into a closed state. The contacts of the first and second types each has a base portion attachable to a back portion of the board insertion port of the housing, and an arm portion having a substantially U-shaped side view, being supported in midair by the base portion and being adapted to support an end portion of the flexible substrate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining an embodiment of the present invention, showing a closed state of a connector for a flexible substrate;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an opened state of the same connector for a flexible substrate;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the same connector for a flexible substrate;

FIGS. 4( a) and 4(b) are cross-sectional views showing a shape of a first contact of the same connector for a flexible substrate; and

FIGS. 5( a) and 4(b) are cross-sectional views showing a shape of a second contact of the same connector for a flexible substrate.

Claims

1. A connector for a flexible substrate comprising: a housing having a board insertion port for receiving a flexible substrate;contacts provided in parallel with each other so as to be contactable with electrodes of the flexible substrate inside of the housing; andan actuator supported pivotally and rotatably on an upper side of the housing and provided with cam portions, the cam portions being adapted to directly or indirectly press the contacts for bringing the contacts into pressure contact with the electrodes of the flexible substrate when the actuator is rotated to be put into a closed state,each of the contacts having:a base portion attachable to a back portion of the board insertion port of the housing;an arm portion having a substantially U-shaped side view, being supported in midair by the base portion and being adapted to support an end portion of the flexible substrate; anda contact point portion being arranged inside the arm portion and adapted to contact with the electrode of the flexible substrate.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the arm portion of the each contact has: an elastic supporting portion extended inward from the base portion;a lower linear portion being provided continuously from an end portion of the elastic supporting portion and adapted to receive the end portion of the flexible substrate from below;a ½ circular arc portion being provided continuously from an end portion of the lower linear portion and having a tip portion folded back in a counter board-insertion-direction; andan upper linear portion being provided continuously from an end portion of the ½ circular arc portion.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the contact point portion of the each contact is arranged on the underside of the upper linear portion of the arm portion and in a opposed position to the lower linear portion.

4. The connector according to claim 2 in the case where the base portion of the each contact is substantially U-shaped, wherein the elastic supporting portion of the arm portion of the each contact is extended from a position on an lower side and counter board-insertion-direction side of the base portion, a tip portion of the elastic supporting portion being bent in a board-insertion-direction to form a ¼ circular arc.

5. The connector according to claim 4, wherein the cam portions of the actuator comprise cam portions of a first type, each cam portion of the first type being contactable with a upper surface of a tip portion of the upper linear portion of the arm portion of each of the contacts, andthe contact point portion of the each contact is arranged in a position on the board-insertion-direction side as compared with the corresponding one of cam portions of the first type.

6. The connector according to claim 2 in the case where the base portion of the each contact is substantially U-shaped, wherein the elastic supporting portion of the arm portion of the each contact is extended from a position on the board-insertion-direction side of the base portion to the counter board-insertion-direction side, a tip portion of the elastic supporting portion being bent downward to form a ¼ circular arc.

7. The connector according to claim 6, wherein the arm portion of the each contact has the lower linear portion longer than the upper linear portion, andthe cam portions of the actuator comprise cam portions of a second type, each cam portion of the second type being contactable with a position on the flexible substrate near a tip portion of the lower linear portion of the arm portion of the corresponding one of the contacts.

8. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the each contact has a rotary shaft holding portion, the rotary shaft holding portion extending outward from a position on an upper side and counter board-insertion-direction side of the base portion and having a notched hole for holding a rotary shaft of the actuator.

9. The connector according to claim 2 in the case where the electrodes of the flexible substrate are arranged in a width direction of the flexible substrate and form at least two rows in the longitudinal direction of the flexible substrate, and the base portion of the each contact is substantially U-shaped, wherein as contacts of a first type for contacting with the electrodes in the inner row of the flexible substrate, each contact has a base portion which is substantially U-shaped and the elastic supporting portion of the arm portion of the each contact is extended from a position on an lower side and counter board-insertion-direction side of the base portion, a tip portion of the elastic supporting portion being bent in a board-insertion-direction to form a ¼ circular arc, whileas contacts of a second type for contacting with the electrodes in the outer row of the flexible substrate, each contact has a base portion which is substantially U-shaped and the elastic supporting portion of the arm portion of the each contact is extended from a position on the board-insertion-direction side of the base portion to the counter board-insertion-direction side, a tip portion of the elastic supporting portion being bent downward to form a ¼ circular arc.

10. The connector according to claim 1 in the case where board-insertion-direction-side end portions of the contacts are exposed from a surface on the opposite side of the board insertion port of the housing, wherein the actuator is provided with a dustproof cover portion on a tip end portion thereof, the dustproof cover portion being arranged so as to face said surface of the housing in the closed state.