Multi-lead keyhole connector

Abstract

An electrical connector for providing a watertight electrical connection between a flat, single or multi-traced, rigid and/or flexible printed circuit and a separate electronics unit. The electrical connector is comprised of a plug having one or more keyhole-shaped slots which serve to mechanically secure the connection between the one or more traces of the circuit and one or more fixed pins on the body of the separate electronics unit. The plug is placed over the one or more pins such that the pins are inserted up through the wider portion of the slots and in a push or pull action, the pins are slid into the narrower portion of the slot such that the pins are locked into place. The conductive traces are then secured into contact with the electrical contacts of the separate electronics device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the connector assembly.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the connector in an engaged configuration showing the retaining feature.

FIG. 3A is a top view of the female plug of the connector showing the keyhole-shaped slots and the ramp feature for locking the connector.

FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the female plug of the connector showing the cone feature for locking the connector.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a connector containing a plurality of connections in their unlocked and locked states respectively.

FIG. 5 shows the flat, printed circuit with electrical traces and the corresponding keyhole-shaped cutouts.

FIG. 6A shows an alternative embodiment in which the flat, flexible circuit is held in place with an encapsulating dome.

FIG. 6B is a cross section of a circuit held in place with the encapsulating dome of FIG. 6A.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show a cross section of the assembled connector including single-sided and double-sided adhesive layers respectively.

Claims

1. A connector for making an electrical connection between a flexible circuit and a separate electronic device comprised of: a female plug having a top and bottom surface wherein the plug has at least one keyhole-shaped slot;a flexible circuit, having at least one conductor, that is attached to the female plug wherein the flexible circuit contains a keyhole corresponding to a keyhole slot in the female plug, wherein the conductor is exposed around at least a portion of the keyhole slot, each slot having a portion of wider diameter that opens into a slot of narrower diameter for entirely enclosing at least one corresponding pin on the body of a separate electronics device; anda male connector body having at least one pin where said at least one pin is comprised of a head, body and base attached to the surface of the male connector body, the head being sized to fit through the large diameter portion of the keyhole-shaped slot and a narrow conductive body sized to be slidingly received within the narrow diameter of the keyhole-shaped slot such that when the keyhole-shaped slot is slid over the pin from the wider to narrower portion, the wide head locks the conductive body inside said plug thereby making an electrical contact between said male connector body and said female plug.

2. The connector according to claim 1 wherein said plug is comprised of a non conductive material.

3. The connector according to claim 1 wherein said at least one pin is comprised of plastic.

4. The connector according to claim 1 and further comprising an insulating cap which surrounds the head of said at least one pin.

5. The connector according to claim 1 wherein the top surface of said female plug is comprised of a cover.

6. The connector according to claim 5 wherein the cover is attached to the bottom surface of said female plug such that the cover is water resistant.

7. The connector according to claim 1 and further comprising a rubber gasket on the surface of said body where said at least one pin is attached such that a watertight seal is formed between said body and said female plug when connected.

8. The connector according to claim 1 and further comprising an adhesive that is applied to the bottom surface of said female plug such that the adhesive is between the plug and said flexible circuit.

9. The connector according to claim 1 and further comprising a single-sided foam adhesive that is applied to the bottom of said flexible circuit.

10. The connector according to claim 1 and further comprising a raised concave cone-shaped structure surrounding the at least one keyhole-shaped slot of said female plug, said concave cone-shaped structure corresponding to a convex base structure on said at least one pin whereby the concave and convex structures when engaged improve the strength of the physical connection of the male connector body and the female plug.

11. The connector according to claim 10 and further comprising a raised ramp structure surrounding the narrower portion of said at least one keyhole-shaped slot of said female plug such that the said at least one pin must traverse the ramp before the said cone-shaped structure while the slot and pin are engaged.

12. The connector according to claim 10 wherein the said flexible circuit trace is applied to the underside surface of said cone-shaped structure such that the circuit trace is deflected along the surface of said at least one pin while the slot and pin are engaged.

13. A water resistant connector for an electrical connection between a flexible, printed circuit and a separate electronics device comprised of: a nonconducting plug having a dome-shaped top surface and a flat bottom surface wherein the nonconducting plug has at least one keyhole-shaped slot;a single or multi-traced flexible circuit attached to the plug wherein the flexible circuit has at least one electrical trace corresponding to the at least one keyhole-shaped slot in the nonconducting plug, each slot having a portion of wider diameter that opens into a slot of narrower diameter for entirely enclosing at least one corresponding pin on a recessed portion of the body of a separate electronics device; andat least one pin attached to the surface of said body having a wide head sized to fit through the wider diameter portion of the keyhole-shaped slot and a narrow body sized to be slidingly received within the narrow diameter of the keyhole-shaped slot such that when the keyhole-shaped slot is slid over the pin from the wider to narrower portion, the wide head locks the pin inside said plug in a single orientation and makes an electrical contact between said circuit and electrical contacts located in the body of a separate electronics device; anda rubber gasket applied to the surface of said body where said at least one pin is attached such that a watertight seal is formed between said body and said plug when connected.

14. The connector according to claim 13 wherein said plug is composed of plastic.

15. The connector according to claim 13 wherein said at least one pin is composed of plastic and is molded onto the surface of said body.

16. The connector according to claim 13 and further comprising an insulating cap which surrounds the head of said at least one pin.

17. The connector according to claim 13 wherein the dome-shaped cover is attached to the bottom surface of said plug by ultrasonic welding such that the attachment is watertight.

18. The connector according to claim 13 and further comprising a double-sided foam adhesive that is applied to the bottom surface of said plug such that the foam adhesive is between the plug and said flexible circuit.

19. The connector according to claim 13 and further comprising a single-sided foam adhesive that is applied to the bottom of said flexible circuit.

20. The connector according to claim 13 and further comprising a raised cone-shaped structure surrounding the narrower portion of said at least one keyhole-shaped slot of said plug so as to better grip the said at least one pin while slot and pin are engaged.

21. The connector according to claim 20 and further comprising a raised ramp structure surrounding the narrower portion of said at least one keyhole-shaped slot of said plug such that the said at least one pin must traverse the ramp before the said cone-shaped structure while the slot and pin are engaged.

22. The connector according to claim 20 wherein the said flexible circuit trace is applied to the underside surface of said cone-shaped structure such that the circuit trace is deflected along the surface of said at least one pin while the slot and pin are engaged.

23. A connector for electrical connection between a single or multi-traced circuit and a separate electronic device comprised of: a nonconducting plug having a flat surface having at least one keyhole-shaped slot;a single or multi-traced flexible circuit attached to the plug wherein the flexible circuit has at least one electrical trace corresponding to the at least one keyhole-shaped slot in the nonconducting plug, each slot having a portion of wider diameter that opens into a slot of narrower diameter for entirely enclosing at least one corresponding pin on the body of a separate electronics device;at least one pin attached to the surface of the body having a wide head sized to fit through the wider diameter portion of the keyhole-shaped slot and a narrow body sized to be slidingly received within the narrow diameter of the keyhole slot such that when the keyhole slot is slid over the pin from the wider to narrower portion, the wide head locks the pin inside said plug in a single orientation and makes an electrical contact between said circuit and electrical contacts located in the body of a separate electronics device.

24. The connector according to claim 23 wherein said plug is composed of plastic.

25. The connector according to claim 23 wherein said at least one pin is composed of plastic and is insert-molded onto the surface of said body.

26. The connector according to claim 23 and further comprising an insulating cap which surrounds the head of said at least one pin.

27. The connector according to claim 23 and further comprising a dome-shaped cover attached to the surface of said body by a living hinge such that when said plug is connected to pins on said body, the cover may be closed over the connection in an encapsulating, watertight fashion.

28. The connector according to claim 23 and further comprising a rubber gasket on the surface of said body where said at least one pin is attached such that a watertight seal is formed between said body and said plug when connected.

29. The connector according to claim 23 and further comprising a double-sided foam adhesive that is applied to the bottom surface of said plug such that the foam adhesive is between the plug and said flexible circuit.

30. The connector according to claim 23 and further comprising a single-sided foam adhesive that is applied to the bottom of said flexible circuit.

31. The connector according to claim 23 and further comprising a raised cone-shaped structure surrounding the narrower portion of said at least one keyhole-shaped slot of said plug so as to better grip the said at least one pin while slot and pin are engaged.

32. The connector according to claim 31 and further comprising a raised ramp structure surrounding the narrower portion of said at least one keyhole-shaped slot of said plug such that the said at least one pin must traverse the ramp before the said cone-shaped structure while the slot and pin are engaged.

33. The connector according to claim 31 wherein the said flexible circuit trace is applied to the underside surface of said cone-shaped structure such that the circuit trace is deflected along the surface of said at least one pin while the slot and pin are engaged.