Molex Corporation

Yves LePottier

Robert M Fuerst

Russell J Watt

Jonathan D Lohman

David A Pfaffinger

Robert J Flowers

Harry N Etters

Vijy Koshy

Robert Pust

Brian Richard Moser

A connector assembly is provided for removably interconnecting first conductors of a flat flexible circuit to a plurality of second conductors without the use of conductive terminals. The assembly includes a male connector having a relatively rigid male body member with an edge about which the flexible circuit is wrapped, and with the first conductors of the circuit facing away from the body member at the edge thereof. An adapter or other female connecting device includes a first receptacle for receiving the male connector inserted edge-first into the first receptacle. A second receptacle receives the second conductors in position for engaging the first conductors of the flexible circuit at the edge of the male body member.

Electrical connector assembly for flat flexible circuitry

An electrical connector includes a housing having a front mating end, a rear terminating end and at least one terminal-receiving passage extending in a direction defining an insertion axis extending between the ends. The passage has a rear open end communicating with the rear terminating end of the housing. A TPA device is engageable with the housing at the front mating end thereof in a pre-load position. The TPA device includes a through passage communicating with the terminal-receiving passage in the housing. The TPA device is movable rearwardly from the pre-load position to a locking position. A terminal is insertable through the rear terminating end of the housing into the rear open end of the terminal-receiving passage along the insertion axis and into the through passage in the TPA device. The terminal moves conjointly with the TPA device from the pre-load position to the locking position. A terminal lock includes a locking surface on the housing at the terminal-receiving passage engageable with the locking shoulder on the terminal Complementary interengaging ramp surfaces are provided between the TPA device and the housing and extend at an angle to the insertion axis for moving the locking shoulder of the terminal transversely of the axis onto the locking surface on the housing as the TPA device and the terminal move conjointly from the pre-load position to the locking position angularly of the axis.

Electrical connector with terminal position assurance device

A connector is provided for electrically interconnecting the conductors of a flat flexible circuit to a plurality of discrete terminal pins. The connector includes a dielectric housing having a front mating face and a rear terminating face. A plurality of terminal pin-receiving passages are provided in the mating face. A flat circuit-receiving receptacle is provided in the terminating face in communication with the passages. A circuit carrier or spring member is insertable into the receptacle of the housing and includes an attachment portion for attaching the flat flexible circuit of the carrier with the conductors of the circuit facing away from the carrier toward the terminal pin receiving passages. Insertion of the pins in the passages causes the pins to engage the conductors of the circuit. The circuit carrier or spring member includes a spring loaded mouth into which the terminal pins are inserted into engagement with the conductors of the circuit. Cam means are provided to open the spring loaded mouth a given amount to apply a given contact force between the terminal pins and the conductors of the circuit.

Electrical connector for connecting flat flexible circuitry to discrete terminal pins

A polarizing system is provided in a connector for electrically interconnecting the conductors of a flat flexible circuit to the conductors of a complementary connecting device. The flat flexible circuit has a longitudinal center-line and a pattern of polarizing holes therein asymmetrical to the center-line. A connector body member positions the flat flexible circuit thereon and has an asymmetrical pattern of polarizing posts insertable into the polarizing holes of the flat flexible circuit.

Polarized connector for flat flexible circuitry

A keying system is provided in a connector assembly for electrically interconnecting the conductors of a flat flexible circuit to the conductors of a complementary connecting device. The assembly includes a first connector having a body member for positioning the flat flexible circuit thereon. A second connector mates with the first connector and includes a pattern of keying projections insertable into a corresponding pattern of keying holes in the flat flexible circuit on the first connector.

Keyed connector assembly for flat flexible circuitry

A connector assembly for interconnection to conductors of a flat circuit, wherein the conductors are in a pattern of varying widths. A dielectric housing has a receptacle with an opening communicating the receptacle to the exterior of the housing. A plurality of terminal blocks of conductive material are positionable in the receptacle. The terminal blocks have varying sizes with corresponding varying planar surfaces exposed at the opening in the housing for engaging the conductors of the flat circuit. The blocks are arranged in the receptacle so that they present a pattern of varying sized planar surfaces matching the pattern of varying width conductors.

Connector system for interconnection with flat flexible circuitry

A connector assembly is provided for a flat flexible circuit having a plurality of first conductors. The assembly includes an adapter for mating with a complementary connecting device having a plurality of second conductors. The adapter includes a receptacle. A relatively rigid male body member has an edge about which the flat flexible circuit is wrapped, with the first conductors facing away from the body member at the edge thereof. The male body member is insertable into the receptacle of the adapter. A spring member is mounted on the male body member for biasing the male body member in a mating direction relative to the adapter. A cam member is operatively associated between the male body member and the adapter. The cam member is movable between an inoperative position and an operative position. The cam member includes a cam surface engageable with the spring member for loading the spring member in response to movement of the cam member to its operative position.

A connector is provided for electrically interconnecting the conductors of a flat flexible circuit to the conductors of a complementary mating connecting device. The connector includes a body member on which the flexible circuit is positioned. A latch arm projects from the body member for latching the connector to the complementary mating connecting device. A resilient web joins the latch arm to the body member for performing the functions of providing an anti-overstress structure and a spring device for the latch arm, as well as an anti-snagging feature for the connector.

Male electrical connector for flat flexible circuit

An electrical connector assembly is provided for interconnecting a plurality of discrete electrical wires to the conductors of a flat flexible circuit. The assembly includes a first connector having a dielectric housing. A plurality of discrete conductive terminals are mounted on the housing and are adapted for termination to the electrical wires. The terminals have contact portions for engaging the conductors of the flat flexible circuit. A second connector is adapted for mating with the first connector. The second connector includes a body member for positioning the flat flexible circuit, with the conductors of the circuit positioned for engaging the conductive terminals when the connectors are mated. A yieldable backing structure is provided on the body member beneath the flexible circuit for resiliently biasing the conductors of the circuit against the terminals of the first connector.

Electrical connector assembly for connecting flat flexible circuitry to

A connector (10,10A,10B) is provided for electrically interconnecting the conductors (12,40) of a flat mating connecting device. The connector includes a body member (22,48,50) having an edge about which the flexible circuit is wrapped. Locating pegs (20) on the body member engage and hold the flexible circuit (14,42) about the edge. A resilient strip (30) on the body member at the edge thereof spring loads the flexible circuit to enhance engagement thereof with the locating pegs.

Electrical connector for flat flexible circuitry

A connector (10,10A) is provided for electrically interconnecting the conductors (12) of a flat flexible circuit (14)to the conductors of a complementary mating connecting device. The connector includes a body member (22) on which a first length (14a) of the flexible circuit (14) is fixed. A second length (14b) of the circuit extends away from the body member. A resilient strain relief component (33) on the body member (22) is engageable with the flexible circuit (14) to locate the second length (14b) of the flexible circuit in a plane offset from the plane of the first length (14a) of the circuit. Therefore, pulling forces on the second length (14b) of the flexible circuit away from the body member biases the circuit against the resilient strain relief component (33). The body member may be a two-part housing (46) relatively movable between open and closed positions. A flexible molded-in-place (56) hinge joins the housing parts to accommodate their movement.

A connector system for terminating a shielded flat flexible circuit includes a connector body member on which the circuit is positionable. The body member is conductive and includes at least one projection. A flat flexible circuit includes a plurality of signal conductors and at least one grounding conductor. The circuit includes a hole for receiving the projection of the body member in engagement with the grounding conductor to thereby common the grounding conductor with the conductive connector body member.

Electrical connector system for shielded flat flexible circuitry

A connector is provided for electrically interconnecting the conductors of a flat flexible circuit to the conductors of a complementary mating connecting device. The connector includes a carrier on which the flexible circuit is positioned with the conductors of the circuit facing away from the carrier. A housing has an opening for receiving the carrier. The carrier is slidably mounted into the opening in the housing to a preliminary loading position for receiving the mating connecting device between the carrier and the housing. The carrier is pivotable from the preliminary loading position to a final connecting position whereat the conductors of the flat circuit are biased against the conductors on the mating connecting device.

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Grosse Pointe, MI, United States of America

Yves LePottier