The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 14, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 12, 1997
Kenichiro Nishikigi, Miyagi-ken, JP;
Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A flat cable connecting structure including a flat cable having a film, a connecting portion, and securing portions; and an external connecting part having a body, a connecting terminal, and engaging portions. The connecting terminal is connected to the connecting portion at a conductor portion, and the engaging portions are made to engage the securing portions, in order to connect the external connecting part to the flat cable 10. The flat cable further includes a bent portion formed so as to be disposed between the connecting portion and the engaging portions. The flat cable connecting structure further includes a strain relief portion disposed between the connecting portion and the engaging portions. The flat cable connecting structure of the invention overcomes a problem in conventional flat cable connecting structures. In the conventional connecting structures, when a pulling force, with a torque greater than a predetermined value, is exerted on the connecting portion at a conductor portion of a flat cable and a connecting terminal of an external connecting part even once, the reliability with which the flat cable and the external connecting part are connected together at the connecting portion is reduced. Therefore, those products found to have unsuitable rotation ranges, during shipment inspection, are thrown away, instead of being adjusted.