FPC connector convenient to plug and unplug

By introducing elastic snap-fit ​​and spring-loaded structures into the FPC connector, automatic locking and unlocking are achieved, solving the problems of easy loosening of the cover and cumbersome operation in the existing technology, and improving connection stability and insertion/removal efficiency.

CN224400823UActive Publication Date: 2026-06-23GUANGDONG SHENKAIJU ELECTRONIC TECH CO LTD
View PDF 0 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
GUANGDONG SHENKAIJU ELECTRONIC TECH CO LTD
Filing Date
2025-08-01
Publication Date
2026-06-23

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The existing FPC connector's locking structure is easily loosened by external forces, making operation cumbersome and affecting connection stability and insertion/removal efficiency.

Method used

A structure including a rubber base, a pressure cap, an elastic buckle, and a spring is designed. The elastic buckle and the slot cooperate to achieve automatic locking, and the spring drives the pressure cap to automatically pop open, simplifying the insertion and removal steps.

Benefits of technology

Ensure stable contact between the terminals and the FPC to prevent loosening, improve the continuity of electrical connections, simplify insertion and removal operations, and avoid damage to the FPC or connector components.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure CN224400823U_ABST
    Figure CN224400823U_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The utility model relates to a kind of FPC connector convenient to plug, including gum base, insertion slot is opened in gum base, limit slot is equipped in insertion slot interval, terminal is equipped in limit slot, one end of insertion slot is rotatably connected with gland, installation slot is equipped in the both sides of gland on gum base, elastic buckle is equipped in installation slot, the position of elastic buckle is opened with the card slot on the gland;The bottom of the both sides of insertion slot is equipped with step, spring piece is equipped on step, one end of spring piece is fixed on step, the other end is abutted with the edge of gland, the cooperation of elastic buckle and card slot can be automatically locked when gland covers, the close engagement of buckle and card slot can effectively prevent gland accidental loosening, ensure terminal and FPC conductive area stable contact, guarantee the continuity of electrical connection;When unlocking, the elastic potential energy released by spring piece can drive gland to automatically pop open, simplify the plugging step.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of connector technology, specifically to an FPC connector that is easy to plug and unplug. Background Technology

[0002] FPC connectors are widely used in electronic devices to achieve electrical connections between flexible circuit boards and other circuit modules. In the prior art, the locking structure of some FPC connectors requires manual operation to lock, and the locked state is susceptible to loosening due to external forces, affecting connection stability. At the same time, after unlocking, the cover usually needs to be manually lifted, which is a cumbersome process, especially in scenarios where frequent insertion and removal of FPCs are required. This not only reduces operational efficiency but may also damage the FPC or connector components due to improper force when manually lifting the cover. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of the shortcomings of the existing technology, the purpose of this utility model is to provide an FPC connector that is easy to plug and unplug.

[0004] The objective of this utility model can be achieved through the following technical solution: an easy-to-insert FPC connector includes a base, an insertion groove on the base, a limiting groove spaced apart in the insertion groove, a terminal in the limiting groove, a pressure cap rotatably connected to one end of the insertion groove, mounting grooves on both sides of the pressure cap on the base, elastic buckles in the mounting grooves, and a locking groove on the pressure cap corresponding to the position of the elastic buckle; steps are provided at the bottom of both sides of the insertion groove, and spring pieces are provided on the steps, one end of the spring piece is fixed to the step, and the other end abuts against the edge of the pressure cap.

[0005] Preferably, the elastic buckle includes a fixing part, an elastic part is provided above the fixing part, an avoidance groove is provided on the rubber base corresponding to the position of the elastic part, an engaging part is provided on one side of the elastic part, and a lug is provided on the engaging part.

[0006] Preferably, inclined guide surfaces are provided on both sides of the pressure cap at the positions corresponding to the engaging parts.

[0007] Preferably, the terminal includes a connecting arm, with a welding foot at the bottom of one side of the connecting arm, and an upper support arm and a lower support arm on the other side of the connecting arm, with a contact point at the upper part of one end of the upper support arm.

[0008] Preferably, a receiving groove is provided on the step corresponding to the position of the spring piece.

[0009] Preferably, the bottom of the cap is provided with a rubber pad.

[0010] Preferably, a handle is provided on the end of the pressure cap away from the end that is rotatably connected to the insertion slot.

[0011] The beneficial effects of this utility model are: the elastic buckle and the slot cooperate to automatically lock the cover when it is closed. The tight engagement of the buckle and the slot can effectively prevent the cover from being accidentally loosened, ensuring stable contact between the terminal and the conductive area of ​​the FPC and ensuring the continuity of the electrical connection. When unlocking, the elastic potential energy released by the spring can drive the cover to automatically pop open, simplifying the insertion and removal steps. Attached Figure Description

[0012] The present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the embodiments in the drawings do not constitute any limitation on the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the following drawings without creative effort.

[0013] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an FPC connector that is easy to plug and unplug according to the present invention.

[0014] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of an FPC connector that is easy to plug and unplug according to the present invention.

[0015] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an FPC connector base that is easy to insert and remove according to the present invention.

[0016] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an FPC connector cover that is easy to plug and unplug according to the present invention.

[0017] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an elastic snap-fit ​​FPC connector that is easy to insert and remove according to the present invention.

[0018] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an FPC connector terminal that is easy to plug and unplug according to the present invention.

[0019] The labels in the diagram represent: 1. Rubber seat; 2. Insertion groove; 3. Limiting groove; 4. Terminal; 5. Cover; 6. Mounting groove; 7. Elastic buckle; 8. Slot; 9. Step; 10. Spring; 11. Fixing part; 12. Elastic part; 13. Clearance groove; 14. Engaging part; 15. Lug; 16. Guide surface; 17. Connecting arm; 18. Welding foot; 19. Upper support arm; 20. Lower support arm; 21. Contact point; 22. Receiving groove; 23. Rubber pad; 24. Lifting handle. Detailed Implementation

[0020] It should be noted that if the embodiments of this utility model involve directional indicators (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.), the directional indicators are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicators will also change accordingly.

[0021] Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this utility model.

[0022] The technical solution of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to specific embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0023] See Figures 1 to 6As shown, the structure of this utility model is as follows: an easy-to-insert FPC connector includes a base 1, an insertion groove 2 on the base 1, a limiting groove 3 spaced apart within the insertion groove 2, a terminal 4 within the limiting groove 3, a pressure cap 5 rotatably connected to one end of the insertion groove 2, mounting grooves 6 on both sides of the pressure cap 5 on the base 1, elastic buckles 7 within the mounting grooves 6, and a locking groove 8 on the pressure cap 5 corresponding to the position of the elastic buckles 7; steps 9 are provided at the bottom of both sides of the insertion groove 2, and spring pieces 10 are provided on the steps 9, one end of the spring piece 10 is fixed to the step 9, and the other end abuts against the edge of the pressure cap 5. Specifically, the base 1, as the basic support component of the overall structure, is made of insulating material, providing an installation reference for each component and achieving electrical isolation. The insertion groove 2 on the base 1 is used to accommodate the FPC, its size is adapted to the FPC, and it can guide the FPC to be accurately inserted along a preset path, ensuring that the conductive area of ​​the FPC corresponds to the terminal 4. The limiting grooves 3 spaced apart within the insertion slot 2 are used to fix the terminal 4, preventing the terminal 4 from shifting or deforming during FPC insertion and removal, thus ensuring the stability of the terminal 4's position. The terminal 4 is made of conductive material, and after contacting the conductive lines of the FPC, it can form a current or signal conduction path, realizing the electrical connection between the FPC and the external circuit. One end of the insertion slot 2 is rotatably connected to the pressure cover 5, which can rotate around the connection end to achieve closing and opening: when the FPC is inserted into place, the pressure cover 5 closes on top of the insertion slot 2, pressing the FPC to ensure reliable contact between the terminal 4 and the FPC; when it is necessary to remove the FPC, opening the pressure cover 5 releases the constraint on the FPC. The mounting grooves 6 on both sides of the cover 5 on the adhesive base 1 are used to install the elastic clips 7, so that the elastic clips 7 are stably fixed to the adhesive base 1. The slots 8 on the cover 5 corresponding to the positions of the elastic clips 7 can cooperate with the elastic clips 7 to lock and unlock the cover 5. When the cover 5 is closed, the elastic clips 7 are engaged in the slots 8, locking the cover 5 in the closed state. When it is necessary to open the cover 5, the elastic clips 7 can be disengaged from the slots 8 by external force to release the lock. The steps 9 form support surfaces at the bottom of both sides of the insertion groove 2, which limit the cover 5 in the closed state. When the cover 5 is closed, the edge or bottom of the cover 5 will contact the steps 9. The blocking effect of the steps 9 limits the downward pressure of the cover 5, avoiding the cover 5 from excessively pressing the FPC and causing damage to the FPC, such as substrate deformation and solder pad detachment. At the same time, it ensures that the cover 5 is in good condition for the FPC. The clamping force is within the optimal range. One end of the spring piece 10 on the step 9 is fixed to the step 9, and the other end abuts against the edge of the cover 5. When the cover 5 is closed, the spring piece 10 is compressed by the cover 5 and undergoes elastic deformation and stores elastic potential energy. When the elastic buckle 7 is unlocked, the spring piece 10 releases the elastic potential energy and generates an upward thrust to drive the cover 5 to automatically pop up, making it easier for the operator to remove the FPC and improving the ease of insertion and removal.

[0024] like Figure 5As shown, the elastic buckle 7 includes a fixing part 11, an elastic part 12 is provided above the fixing part 11, a relief groove 13 is provided on the rubber base 1 corresponding to the position of the elastic part 12, a locking part 14 is provided on one side of the elastic part 12, and a lug 15 is provided on the locking part 14. Specifically, the fixing part 11 cooperates with the mounting groove 6 of the rubber base 1 to firmly install the elastic buckle 7 on the rubber base 1, preventing the elastic buckle 7 from loosening or falling off during operation. The elastic part 12 above the fixing part 11 has good elastic deformation capability. When the cover 5 is closed, the elastic part 12 deforms so that the locking part 14 can be smoothly locked into the slot 8 of the cover 5. When unlocking is required, the lug 15 applies force to the elastic part 12 to deform it in the opposite direction, which drives the locking part 14 to disengage from the slot 8 and releases the constraint on the cover 5. The clearance groove 13 provided on the rubber seat 1 at the position corresponding to the elastic part 12 provides sufficient space for the deformation of the elastic part 12, ensuring that the elastic part 12 can deform smoothly to realize the locking and unlocking functions.

[0025] like Figure 4 As shown, inclined guide surfaces 16 are provided on both sides of the pressure cap 5 corresponding to the engaging parts 14. Specifically, when the pressure cap 5 is rotated downwards to close, the engaging part 14 of the elastic buckle 7 slides along the guide surface 16, forcing the elastic part 12 to undergo elastic deformation, causing the engaging part 14 to move away from the slot 8 along with the elastic part 12. As the pressure cap 5 continues to close, when the engaging part 14 slides to the position corresponding to the slot 8, the deformation force of the elastic part 12 is released, driving the engaging part 14 to return to its original position and automatically engage into the slot 8, thus completing the locking of the pressure cap 5.

[0026] like Figure 6 As shown, terminal 4 includes a connecting arm 17. A welding foot 18 is located at the bottom of one side of the connecting arm 17. An upper support arm 19 and a lower support arm 20 are located on the other side of the connecting arm 17. A contact 21 is located at the upper part of one end of the upper support arm 19. Specifically, the connecting arm 17 of terminal 4 serves as the main structure, integrating and supporting the welding foot 18, upper support arm 19, and lower support arm 20 to ensure that the positions of each part are relatively fixed. The welding foot 18 at the bottom of one side of the connecting arm 17 is used for welding to an external circuit, achieving mechanical fixation and electrical connection between terminal 4 and the external circuit. The upper support arm 19 has a certain degree of elasticity, allowing the contact 21 to adapt to the thickness deviation of the FPC. By adjusting its own deformation, it ensures that the contact 21 always maintains a tight contact with the FPC, avoiding signal or current transmission interruption due to poor contact. The lower support arm 20 mainly serves a fixing and supporting function, forming a rigid connection with the connecting arm 17 and the upper support arm 19, fixing the installation reference of the upper support arm 19, and preventing the upper support arm 19 from shifting position during use.

[0027] like Figure 2 , Figure 3As shown, a receiving groove 22 is provided on the step 9 corresponding to the position of the spring piece 10. Specifically, when the cover 5 is closed, the spring piece 10 is compressed and undergoes elastic deformation. At this time, the receiving groove 22 can accommodate the deformed part of the spring piece 10, so as to prevent the spring piece 10 from protruding from the surface of the step 9 and thus preventing the cover 5 from being completely closed. This ensures that the cover 5 can fit tightly into the insertion groove 2 and effectively press the FPC.

[0028] like Figure 4 As shown, the bottom of the pressure cap 5 is provided with a rubber pad 23. Specifically, the flexible rubber pad 23 can increase the friction with the FPC surface, prevent the FPC from sliding under the action of external forces such as vibration and impact, enhance the fixing effect of the FPC, and at the same time buffer the pressure of the pressure cap 5 on the FPC.

[0029] like Figure 4 As shown, a handle 24 is provided on the end of the cover 5 away from the end that is rotatably connected to the insertion slot 2. Specifically, the handle 24 provides a clear force application point for the cover 5, improving the convenience of opening and closing the cover 5.

[0030] In practical use, when an FPC needs to be inserted, the operator first presses the elastic part 12 of the elastic buckle 7 in the mounting groove 6 on both sides of the adhesive base 1, causing the elastic part 12 to deform and drive the engaging part 14 to disengage from the groove 8 of the cover 5, releasing the locking constraint of the elastic buckle 7 on the cover 5; then, the spring piece 10 on the step 9 releases the previously stored elastic potential energy, generating an upward thrust acting on the edge of the cover 5, pushing the cover 5 to automatically rotate upward around the rotating connection end with the insertion groove 2 and pop up until the cover 5 is in the open state, making room for the FPC to be inserted; then, the FPC is inserted along the insertion groove 2 of the adhesive base 1, and the insertion groove 2 guides the FPC to be precisely pushed in along the preset path, so that the FPC... The conductive area corresponds to the terminal 4 in the insertion slot 2; then, manually rotate the cover 5 downwards, so that the cover 5 rotates around the rotating end towards the insertion slot 2 to close, and the edge of the cover 5 gradually approaches the step 9. At this time, the spring piece 10 begins to undergo elastic deformation under the pressure of the cover 5; finally, during the closing process of the cover 5, the engaging part 14 of the elastic buckle 7 slides along the guide surfaces 16 on both sides of the cover 5, forcing the elastic part 12 to deform and move backward. When the cover 5 is fully closed, the engaging part 14 corresponds to the position of the slot 8, and the elastic part 12 resets and drives the engaging part 14 to engage into the slot 8, realizing the self-locking of the elastic buckle 7. At the same time, the spring piece 10 is completely pressed into the receiving groove 22 of the step 9 by the cover 5, completing the pre-compression and storing elastic potential energy, and the edge of the cover 5 contacts the step 9. Under the limiting action of the step 9, the optimal clamping force on the FPC is maintained, thus completing the installation and fixing of the FPC.

[0031] The present invention has been further described above with reference to specific embodiments. However, it should be understood that the specific description herein should not be construed as limiting the substance and scope of the present invention. Various modifications made by those skilled in the art to the above embodiments after reading this specification are all within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A FPC connector which is easy to plug and unplug, characterized by: The device includes a rubber base (1), on which an insertion groove (2) is provided. A limiting groove (3) is provided in the insertion groove (2) at intervals. A terminal (4) is provided in the limiting groove (3). A pressure cap (5) is rotatably connected to one end of the insertion groove (2). An installation groove (6) is provided on both sides of the pressure cap (5) on the rubber base (1). An elastic buckle (7) is provided in the installation groove (6). A slot (8) is provided on the pressure cap (5) at the position corresponding to the elastic buckle (7). Steps (9) are provided at the bottom of both sides of the insertion groove (2). A spring piece (10) is provided on the step (9). One end of the spring piece (10) is fixed on the step (9), and the other end abuts against the edge of the pressure cap (5).

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein: The elastic buckle (7) includes a fixing part (11), an elastic part (12) is provided above the fixing part (11), a relief groove (13) is provided on the rubber seat (1) corresponding to the position of the elastic part (12), a locking part (14) is provided on one side of the elastic part (12), and a lug (15) is provided on the locking part (14).

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein: The pressure cap (5) has inclined guide surfaces (16) on both sides corresponding to the engagement part (14).

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein: The terminal (4) includes a connecting arm (17), with a welding foot (18) at the bottom of one side of the connecting arm (17), and an upper support arm (19) and a lower support arm (20) respectively on the other side of the connecting arm (17). A contact point (21) is provided at the upper part of one end of the upper support arm (19).

5. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: A receiving groove (22) is provided on the step (9) at the position corresponding to the spring piece (10).

6. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the pressure cap (5) is provided with a rubber pad (23).

7. The connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: A handle (24) is provided on the end of the pressure cap (5) away from the end that is rotatably connected to the insertion slot (2).