Flexible printed circuit (FPC) electric connector

Abstract

The utility model provides a flexible printed circuit (FPC) flexible bar electric connector, which comprises a base and a cover body arranged on the base body from top to bottom, and is characterized in that the base comprises an insulating body, a plurality of terminals accommodated in the insulating body and a pair of fixing pieces fixed at two ends of the insulating body; the cover body comprises a metal shell and an FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) soft bar fixed on the inner surface of the metal shell, the metal shell is provided with a main cover plate and a pair of inverted U-shaped buckling arms positioned at two ends of the main cover plate, and the buckling arms are buckled and matched with the fixing pieces from top to bottom. Compared with the prior art, by optimizing the structures of the metal shell and the fixing piece, the FPC soft row can be plugged and installed along the vertical direction by utilizing the detachable metal shell, meanwhile, the FPC soft row is firmly fixed on the inner side of the metal shell by utilizing the metal shell, so that the contact stability of the FPC soft row and the terminal is ensured, and the whole structure is relatively simple and convenient to operate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of electrical connection, in particular to an FPC flexible row electrical connector. Background Art

[0002] With the development trend of miniaturization and lightness of consumer electronic products such as notebooks, tablets, and mobile phones, the requirements for the design and manufacturing process of their components are becoming higher and higher. As the products become lighter and thinner, the internal space becomes very narrow, which requires a dense layout inside the product. The size of each electronic component is also getting smaller and smaller, and thinner and lighter. The requirements for the reliability of the process technology and product connections are getting higher and higher. For example, the FPC soft row (flexible board or wire row) connector is a commonly used small electrical connector, which is used to plug in the FPC soft row (flexible board or wire row) to achieve electrical connection. The insertion method of the FPC soft row is currently mainly horizontal insertion. The FPC soft row is inserted and then fixed by flipping the cover. However, this insertion method has certain angle restrictions. In some application scenarios, there is no operating space, so it has some limitations. Utility Model Content

[0003] The technical problem solved by the present invention is to provide an FPC flexible bus electrical connector to improve the limitations of the FPC flexible bus insertion method in the prior art.

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: an FPC flexible strip electrical connector, comprising a base and a cover body installed on the base from top to bottom, the base comprising an insulating body, a plurality of terminals accommodated in the insulating body, and a pair of fixing members fixed at both ends of the insulating body, the cover body comprising a metal shell and an FPC flexible strip fixed to the inner surface of the metal shell, the metal shell being provided with a main cover plate and a pair of inverted U-shaped snap-fitting arms located at both ends of the main cover plate, the snap-fitting arms being snap-fitted with the fixing members from top to bottom.

[0005] Furthermore, the insulating body is provided with a front side wall, a rear side wall and a pair of end walls, the front side wall, the rear side wall and the end walls form a frame structure and a frame opening is formed on the inner side of the frame structure, which passes through the insulating body from top to bottom, and the terminal is provided with a contact arm extending into the frame opening and being suspended.

[0006] Furthermore, the fixing member is provided with a base, a guide piece integrally extending upward from the base, a front snap plate and a rear snap plate integrally extending from the front and rear sides of the base, and the front snap plate and the rear snap plate are snap-fitted with the snap-fit arm.

[0007] Furthermore, an insertion arm extending downward is formed on the base, and the insertion arm is inserted into the insulating body to achieve fixation, and protrusions that cooperate with the locking arm are formed on the front buckle piece and the rear buckle piece.

[0008] Furthermore, the top of the guide piece is provided with an inclined surface extending obliquely outward, and the guide piece is higher than the end wall in the vertical direction.

[0009] Furthermore, a support platform integrally connected to the front side wall and the rear side wall is provided on the inner side of the end wall, the support platform carries the fixing part, and a mounting socket is formed on the top surface of the support platform, and the mounting socket extends downward into the interior of the insulating body to accommodate the insertion arm; and the top surface of the support platform is lower than the end wall and also lower than the front side wall and the rear side wall.

[0010] Furthermore, the front edge and the rear edge of the main cover are both provided with an upturned flange, and the rear side wall of the insulating body is provided with a concave notch located below the flange of the rear edge.

[0011] Furthermore, both ends of the main cover are provided with a through hole and a folding piece located in the through hole and extending downward, and the folding piece protrudes downward on the inner surface of the main cover and is fixedly combined with the FPC flexible row.

[0012] Furthermore, the terminal is fixed on the rear side wall, and a retaining groove for accommodating the fixing member is formed between the longitudinal ends of the rear side wall and the end wall.

[0013] Compared with the existing technology, the present invention optimizes the structure of the metal shell and the fixing parts, and uses a detachable metal shell to enable the FPC soft row to be plugged in and installed vertically. At the same time, the metal shell is used to firmly fix the FPC soft row on its inner side to ensure the contact stability between the FPC soft row and the terminal. The overall structure is relatively simple and easy to operate. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional view of the base of the FPC flexible electrical connector of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional view of the cover of the FPC flexible electrical connector of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional diagram of the assembled base and cover of the FPC flexible electrical connector of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the FPC flexible electrical connector of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 5This is a partial view of the base of the FPC flexible electrical connector of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] See also Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the present invention provides an FPC flexible row electrical connector, comprising: a base 100 and a cover 200, wherein the base 100 is mounted on a circuit board (not shown), and the cover 200 is used to be assembled to the base 100 and connect the FPC flexible row to the base 100, that is, the FPC flexible row needs to be crimped to the base 100 through the cover 200 to achieve electrical connection.

[0020] The base 100 includes an insulating body 10, a plurality of terminals 20 housed in the insulating body 10, and a pair of fixing members 30 fixed at both ends of the insulating body 10. The insulating body 10 is used to support the terminals 20 and the fixing members 30, and the fixing members 30 are used to solder the insulating body 10 to the circuit board. The terminals 20 are used to press-fit with the FPC flexible row. Specifically:

[0021] like Figure 1 and Figure 4 The insulating body 10 is provided with a front side wall 11, a rear side wall 12, and a pair of end walls 13. Preferably, the front side wall 11, the rear side wall 12, and the end walls 13 are integrally injection molded to form a frame structure, and a vertically penetrating frame opening 14 is formed inside the frame structure. The frame opening 14 is located between the front side wall 11, the rear side wall 12, and the end walls 13. The front side wall 11 and the rear side wall 12 are both longitudinally extended, and the pair of end walls 13 are integrally connected to the longitudinal ends of the front side wall 11 and the rear side wall 12. The front side wall 11 and the rear side wall 12 are arranged parallel to each other. Preferably, the rear side wall 12 is higher than the front side wall 11, and a concave notch 15 is formed on the top surface of the rear side wall 12, and the concave notch 15 extends inwardly to the frame opening 14, and a clamping groove 16 is formed between the longitudinal ends of the rear side wall 12 and the end wall 13, for clamping the fixing piece 30, preferably, a support platform 17 integrally connected to the front side wall 11 and the rear side wall 12 is provided on the inner side of the end wall 13, the support platform 17 is used to carry the fixing piece 30, and a mounting socket 18 is formed on the top surface of the support platform 17 for fixed cooperation with the fixing piece 30, and the top surface of the support platform 17 is lower than the end wall 13, and also lower than the front side wall 11 and the rear side wall 12, and the mounting socket 18 is set upward for the fixing piece 30 to be inserted from top to bottom.

[0022] The terminal 20 is provided with a horizontal arm 21, an arcuate contact arm 22 extending forward from the horizontal arm 21, and a soldering arm 23 extending rearward from the horizontal arm 21. The horizontal arm 21 is integrally embedded in the rear side wall 12 to secure the terminal 20 to the insulating body 10, while the arcuate contact arm 22 extends into the frame opening 14 in a suspended position to crimp with the FPC strip 50. The soldering arm 23 extends rearward and protrudes from the rear side wall 12 for soldering to a circuit board (not shown).

[0023] The fixing member 30 is provided with a base 31, a guide piece 32 integrally extending upward from the base 31, a front clip 33 and a rear clip 34 integrally extending from the front and rear sides of the base 31. The base 31 is provided on the support platform 17, and the base 31 is provided with an insert arm 35 extending downward for plugging into the mounting socket 18 to achieve a fixed combination of the fixing member 30 and the insulating body 10. The front clip 33 and the rear clip 34 are respectively clamped in the clamping groove 16, and the front clip 33 and the rear clip 34 are provided with a protrusion 36, and the protrusion 36 is used to clamp and cooperate with the metal shell 40. Preferably, as Figure 5 As shown, the top of the guide piece 32 is provided with an inclined surface 37 extending outwardly, which can play a guiding role when the metal shell 40 is assembled downward, and the guide piece 32 is higher than the end wall 13 in the vertical direction.

[0024] The cover 200 includes a metal shell 40 and an FPC flexible strip 50 installed below the metal shell 40 . The metal shell 40 and the FPC flexible strip 50 are assembled together to form a whole and then assembled to the base 100 .

[0025] The metal housing 40 is provided with a horizontally extending main cover plate 41 and snap-fit arms 42 integrally connected to both ends of the main cover plate 41. The front and rear edges of the main cover plate 41 are each provided with an upwardly tilted flange 43, which serves as an operating portion of the metal housing 40 to facilitate installation and removal. Preferably, each end of the main cover plate 41 is provided with a through hole 44 and a downwardly extending flap 45 located within the through hole 44. The flap 45 protrudes downwardly from the inner surface of the main cover plate 41 and is used to securely engage with the FPC strip 50 to secure the FPC strip 50 to the inner surface of the metal housing 40. The snap-fit arms 42 are in an inverted U-shape and are press-fitted from top to bottom into the retaining groove 16. The snap-fit arms 42 are provided with a pair of retaining holes 46 distributed front to back for retaining engagement with the protrusions 36 on the front and rear retaining plates 33 and 34 of the fixing member 30.

[0026] During assembly, the FPC row 50 is first combined with the metal shell 40. The two ends of the FPC row 50 are provided with openings 51. The FPC row 50 is fixed to the inner surface of the metal shell 40 through the folding piece 45 on the metal shell 40 and the openings 51 (as shown in FIG. Figure 2 As shown), the two are then assembled onto the base 100 in a vertical downward direction, and the snap-fit arms 42 of the metal shell 40 are snap-fitted with the front snap pieces 33 and the rear snap pieces 34 of the fixing member 30, thereby crimping the FPC row 50 and the terminals 20, thereby achieving a top-down installation of the FPC row 50.

[0027] To sum up, the FPC flexible row electrical connector of the present invention optimizes the structure of the metal shell 40 and the fixing part 30, and uses a detachable metal shell 40 to enable the FPC flexible row 50 to be plugged in and installed vertically. At the same time, the metal shell 40 is used to firmly fix the FPC flexible row 50 on its inner side, ensuring the contact stability between the FPC flexible row 50 and the terminal 20, and the overall structure is relatively simple and easy to operate.

[0028] The above description is only the best embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the present invention in any form. Any technician familiar with the field can make many possible changes and modifications to the technical solution of the present invention using the above-disclosed method content without departing from the scope of the technical solution of the present invention, which all fall within the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. An FPC flexible strip electrical connector, comprising a base and a cover mounted on the base from top to bottom, the base comprising an insulating body, a plurality of terminals received in the insulating body, and a pair of fixing members fixed at both ends of the insulating body, characterized in that: The cover body includes a metal shell and an FPC flexible strip fixed on the inner surface of the metal shell. The metal shell is provided with a main cover plate and a pair of inverted U-shaped buckling arms located at both ends of the main cover plate. The buckling arms are snap-fitted with the fixing parts from top to bottom.

2. The FPC flexible strip electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The insulating body is provided with a front side wall, a rear side wall and a pair of end walls. The front side wall, the rear side wall and the end walls form a frame structure and a frame opening is formed on the inner side of the frame structure, which passes through the insulating body from top to bottom. The terminal is provided with a contact arm extending into the frame opening and in a suspended state.

3. The FPC flexible strip electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein: The fixing member is provided with a base, a guide piece integrally extending upward from the base, a front buckle piece and a rear buckle piece integrally extending from the front and rear sides of the base, and the front buckle piece and the rear buckle piece are snap-fitted with the buckling arm.

4. The FPC flexible strip electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein: An insertion arm extending downward is formed on the base, and the insertion arm is inserted into the insulating body to achieve fixation. The front buckle piece and the rear buckle piece are formed with protrusions that cooperate with the buckling arm.

5. The FPC flexible strip electrical connector according to claim 4, wherein: The top of the guide piece is provided with an inclined surface extending obliquely outward, and the guide piece is higher than the end wall in the vertical direction.

6. The FPC flexible strip electrical connector according to claim 5, wherein: A support platform integrally connected to the front side wall and the rear side wall is provided on the inner side of the end wall, the support platform carries the fixing part, and a mounting socket is formed on the top surface of the support platform, and the mounting socket extends downward into the interior of the insulating body to accommodate the insertion arm; and the top surface of the support platform is lower than the end wall and also lower than the front side wall and the rear side wall.

7. The FPC flexible strip electrical connector according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein: The front and rear edges of the main cover are both provided with an upturned flange, and the rear side wall of the insulating body is provided with a concave notch located below the flange of the rear edge.

8. The FPC flexible strip electrical connector according to claim 7, wherein: Both ends of the main cover are provided with a through hole and a folding piece located in the through hole and extending downward. The folding piece protrudes downward on the inner surface of the main cover and is fixedly combined with the FPC flexible row.

9. The FPC flexible strip electrical connector according to claim 8, wherein: The terminal is fixed on the rear side wall, and a retaining groove for accommodating the fixing member is formed between the longitudinal ends of the rear side wall and the end wall.

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