Electrical connector with retaining member

Abstract

An electrical connector for connecting a sheet-like connection member (5) comprises an insulative housing (1) defining an insertion cavity (10); a plurality of conductive terminals (2) disposed in the housing and each terminal having a contact beam (211, 221) with a contact portion (210, 220) exposed to the insertion cavity; and a pressing member (3) associated with the housing and movable between an opened position and a closed position. The electrical connector further comprises a retaining member (4, 100) defining a latching surface (440, 1001). When the pressing member is shifted into the closed position, the sheet-like connection member is not only blocked by the latching surface but also retained by the pressing member and contact portions of the conductive terminals.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of an electrical connector in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electrical connector shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along line 4-4, wherein a pressing member is removed;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along line 4-4, showing a sheet-like connection member inserted and the pressing member placed in an opened position;

FIG. 6 is a similar view of FIG. 5, but the pressing member is placed in a closed position;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a plurality of conductive terminals and the sheet-like connection member, intending to show the electrical connection status therebetween;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the electrical connector, intending to show the configurations of retaining tubers and a latching member;

Claims

1. An electrical connector for connecting with a sheet-like connection member, comprising: an insulative housing defining an insertion cavity extending along a longitudinal direction of the housing;a plurality of conductive terminals disposed in the housing and each terminal having a contact beam with a contact portion exposed to the insertion cavity;a pressing member associated with the housing and movable between an opened position where the sheet-like connection is permitted into the insertion cavity and a closed position where the pressing member urges the sheet-like connection member to electrically connect with the contact portions of the terminals; anda retaining member connected with the housing for latching with the sheet-like connection member.

2. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining member has a pair of latching members respectively mounted to lengthwise ends of the housing, each latching member has a latching beam located at the same side of housing as the contact beams of the terminals.

3. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the latching beam has a projection extending into the insertion cavity and having a latching surface extending perpendicular to an insertion direction of the sheet-like connection member and the longitudinal direction for retaining the sheet-like connection member in its proper position.

4. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the projection has a first guiding surface formed at a certain angle to the latching surface so as to guide the sheet-like connection member being removed out of the housing.

5. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the projection has a second guiding surface formed at a certain angle to the first guiding surface for guiding the sheet-like being inserted into the insertion cavity.

6. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the latching member has a retention beam extending substantially parallel to the latching beam.

7. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the latching member has a solder portion for connecting to a printed circuit board where the electrical connector is mounted.

8. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retaining member comprises at least one retaining tuber projecting into the insertion cavity and located beside the all contact beams of the terminals.

9. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein the retaining tuber has a latching surface extending perpendicular to an insertion direction of the sheet-like connection member and the longitudinal direction for retaining the sheet-like connection member in its proper position.

10. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein the retaining tuber integrally projecting from one wall of the housing in which the contact beams of the terminals are received.

11. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sheet-like connection member is previously urged to electrically connect with the contact portions of the terminals and then latched by the retaining member during the pressing member moving from the opened position to the closed position.

12. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressing member is movable along an insertion direction of the sheet-like connection member and comprises a tongue plate inserted into the insertion cavity, a pair of latching arm located two lateral sides of the tongue plate and a base plate connecting the tongue plate and the latching arms together.

13. An electrical connector assembly comprising: an insulative housing defining an elongated slot along a first direction;a flexible printed circuit board together with a pressing member inserted into the slot;a plurality of contacts dispose in the housing and having contact portions extending into the slot and engaged with the flexible printed circuit board in a second direction essentially perpendicular to said first direction; andat least one latching member assembled to the housing and defining a latching claw extending along said second direction to grip a rearward edge of the flexible printed circuit board; whereinthe flexible printed circuit board is released from the latching claw only after the pressing member is at least partially withdrawn from the slot to not only disengage the contact portions from the flexible printed circuit board and but also result in a space in the slot available for the flexible printed circuit board to move in the second direction.

14. The assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the rearward edge is located on an lateral enlarged section of the flexible printed circuit board.

15. The assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein said rearward edge is fully exposed toward an exterior in a third direction perpendicular to both said first and second directions when said flexible printed circuit board is not inserted into the slot.