FPC connector

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of FPC connectors, including insulating body and the metal cover plate of covering insulating body, insulating body is equipped with top wall, bottom wall and the two side walls connected in the top wall and the two sides of bottom wall, top wall, bottom wall and side wall are collectively surrounded and form the docking cavity. Metal cover plate is equipped with the top plate portion covered in the top surface of top wall and the two side plate portions extending downward from the two sides of top plate portion;FPC connector includes the two fixed parts held in the outside of side wall, fixed part is equipped with main body portion and the rear clamping portion that is bent and extends into side wall from the longitudinal rear end of main body portion, side plate portion is between side wall and main body portion and longitudinal rear end is pivoted on rear clamping portion, to increase the strength of the pivot joint of metal cover plate. Meanwhile, side plate portion is equipped with the protruding portion located in longitudinal front end and outwardly convex along transverse direction, main body portion is equipped with the recess corresponding to protruding portion;When top plate portion covers the top surface of top wall, protruding portion is buckled in recess to form snap structure, prevent metal cover plate from opening automatically.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of flexible circuit board connection structure technology, and in particular to a stable and fixed FPC connector. Background Technology

[0002] Flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs) are highly reliable and extremely flexible printed circuit boards made with polyimide or polyester film as the substrate. They are widely used in aerospace, military, mobile communications, laptops, computer peripherals, PDAs, digital cameras, and other fields and products. A typical FPC connector includes an insulating body, a metal cover plate over the insulating body, and a flexible printed circuit board connected to the insulating body. In traditional processes, when inserting a flexible printed circuit board, the metal cover plate is first opened, the mating part of the flexible printed circuit board is inserted into the insertion slot of the insulating body, and then the metal cover plate is closed to lock the flexible printed circuit board. However, the above-mentioned insertion and removal assembly process for flexible printed circuit boards is relatively complex.

[0003] Therefore, it is hoped that a new FPC connector can be proposed to overcome the above-mentioned defects. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide an FPC connector that is stable, easy to assemble, and has a fixed shape.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: an FPC connector for inserting an FPC board, the FPC connector comprising an insulating body extending laterally, a plurality of conductive terminals fixed within the insulating body, and a metal cover plate covering the insulating body; the insulating body having a top wall and a bottom wall arranged in parallel, and two side walls connecting the lateral sides of the top wall and the bottom wall; the top wall, the bottom wall, and the two side walls together forming a mating cavity; the FPC board being inserted into the mating cavity; the metal cover plate having a top plate portion covering the top surface of the top wall and two side plate portions extending downward from the lateral sides of the top plate portion. The FPC connector includes two fasteners fixed to the lateral outer side of the sidewall. Each fastener has a longitudinally extending main body and a rear retaining portion that bends inward from the longitudinal rear end of the main body and extends into the sidewall. A side plate is located between the sidewall and the main body, and the longitudinal rear end of the side plate is pivotally connected to the rear retaining portion. The side plate has a protrusion located at the longitudinal front end and protruding outward in the lateral direction. The main body has a groove corresponding to the protrusion. When the top plate of the metal cover is placed on the top surface of the top wall, the protrusion of the metal cover is engaged in the groove of the fastener.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment, the metal cover plate is provided with a retaining tab that tears from the top plate and extends downward, the retaining tab protruding into the mating cavity to hold the FPC plate.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the top wall is provided with a through hole extending vertically through the mating cavity. When the top plate portion of the metal cover plate covers the top surface of the top wall, the fastening piece passes through the through hole and extends into the mating cavity.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the retaining piece has a guide portion located at the longitudinal front end and a blocking portion located at the longitudinal rear end. When the FPC plate begins to be inserted into the docking cavity, the FPC plate pushes against the guide portion and the guide portion guides the insertion of the FPC plate. When the FPC plate is fully inserted into the docking cavity, the blocking portion prevents the FPC plate from being pulled out.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the sidewall is provided with a pivot portion that protrudes laterally outward from the longitudinal rear end, and the metal cover plate is provided with a pivot hole located at the longitudinal rear end of the sidewall portion. The pivot portion is engaged in the pivot hole so that the metal cover plate is pivotally connected to the insulating body.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the sidewall is provided with a rear insertion hole recessed inward from the transverse outer surface of the pivot portion, and the rear retaining portion of the fastener is inserted into the rear insertion hole.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the side wall is provided with a front insertion hole located at the longitudinal front end, and the fastener is provided with a front retaining part that bends inward from the longitudinal front end of the main body. The front retaining part is located in front of the side plate and is inserted into the front insertion hole.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the fastener has an extension that bends laterally outward from the top edge of the main body. When the extension is pressed laterally outward, the groove of the main body disengages from the protrusion of the side plate, so that the metal cover plate pivots away from the top surface of the top wall.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the conductive terminal includes a first terminal and a second terminal spaced apart laterally, and the first terminal and the second terminal are inserted in opposite directions longitudinally.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the first terminal is inserted into the insulating body from the longitudinal front end and is provided with a first holding portion fixed to the bottom wall and a first contact portion extending longitudinally forward from the first holding portion into the mating cavity. The second terminal is inserted into the insulating body from the longitudinal rear end and is provided with a second holding portion fixed to the bottom wall and a second contact portion extending longitudinally forward from the second holding portion into the mating cavity. The first contact portion and the second contact portion are located at the same height, and the second contact portion is located longitudinally rearward of the first contact portion.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages: The FPC connector includes two fixing members fixed to the outer side of the sidewall. The fixing members have a main body extending longitudinally and a rear retaining part that bends inward from the longitudinal rear end of the main body and extends into the sidewall. The side plate is located between the sidewall and the main body, and the longitudinal rear end of the side plate is pivotally connected to the rear retaining part to increase the strength of the metal cover plate pivot joint. At the same time, the side plate has a protrusion located at the longitudinal front end and protruding outward in the transverse direction, and the main body has a groove corresponding to the protrusion. When the top plate of the metal cover plate covers the top surface of the top wall, the protrusion of the metal cover plate is engaged in the groove of the fixing member to form a snap-fit ​​structure, thereby preventing the metal cover plate from opening automatically. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the FPC connector in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The diagram shown is an exploded view of the FPC connector.

[0018] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of the FPC connector from another angle.

[0019] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 The diagram shown is an exploded view of the FPC connector. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the embodiments of this utility model, and should not be construed as limiting the utility model.

[0021] Please see Figures 1 to 4As shown, a preferred embodiment of this utility model discloses an FPC connector 100, which is mainly used in the connection and installation of FPC boards to facilitate repeated hot-plugging of FPC boards. In this embodiment, the FPC connector 100 is a ZIF connector (Zero Insertion Force connector), used to plug into an FPC board (not shown) and can realize a plug-and-lock function.

[0022] The FPC connector 100 includes a laterally extending insulating body 10, a plurality of conductive terminals 20 fixed within the insulating body 10, and a metal cover plate 30 covering the insulating body 10. The insulating body 10 has a laterally extending top wall 11 and a bottom wall 12, and two side walls 13 connecting the lateral sides of the top wall 11 and the bottom wall 12. The top wall 11 and the bottom wall 12 are arranged parallel to each other. The top wall 11, the bottom wall 12, and the two side walls 13 together form a mating cavity 101. The mating cavity 101 opens toward the longitudinal front end of the insulating body 10, and the FPC board is inserted longitudinally from front to back into the mating cavity 101.

[0023] The conductive terminal 20 includes a first terminal 21 and a second terminal 22 spaced apart laterally, with the first terminal 21 and the second terminal 22 inserted in opposite directions longitudinally. Specifically, the first terminal 21 is inserted into the insulating body 10 from its longitudinal front end. The first terminal 21 has a first holding portion 211 fixed to the bottom wall 12, a first contact portion 212 extending longitudinally forward from the first holding portion 211 into the mating cavity 101, and a first solder leg 213 extending longitudinally forward from the first holding portion 211 out of the insulating body 10. In this embodiment, the first solder leg 213 extends forward beyond the first contact portion 212 and its end extends to the longitudinal front end of the bottom wall 11. A gap is formed between the first contact portion 212 and the first solder leg 213 to allow the first contact portion 212 to have deformation space in the vertical direction.

[0024] The second terminal 22 is inserted into the insulating body 10 from its longitudinal rear end. The second terminal 22 has a second holding portion 221 fixed to the bottom wall 12, a second contact portion 222 extending longitudinally forward from the second holding portion 221 into the mating cavity 101, and a second solder foot 223 extending longitudinally backward from the second holding portion 221 out of the insulating body 10. In this embodiment, the first contact portion 212 and the second contact portion 222 are located at the same height, and the second contact portion 222 is located longitudinally rearward of the first contact portion 212. The gold fingers of the FPC board are disposed on its bottom surface. When the FPC board is inserted into the mating cavity 101, the first contact portion 212 and the second contact portion 222 respectively abut against the corresponding gold fingers.

[0025] The metal cover 30 has a top plate portion 31 extending laterally, two side plate portions 32 extending downward from both sides of the top plate portion 31, and a fastening piece 33 extending downward from the top plate portion 31 after being torn. The top plate portion 31 covers the top surface of the top wall 11. The side wall 13 has a pivot portion 131 protruding laterally from its longitudinal rear end. The side plate portion has a pivot hole 321 located at its longitudinal rear end and extending laterally. The pivot portion 131 is engaged in the pivot hole 321 so that the metal cover 30 is pivotally connected to the insulating body 10. The top plate portion 31 has a flange 310 located at its longitudinal front end to facilitate opening the metal cover 30.

[0026] The retaining tab 33 of the metal cover plate 30 protrudes into the docking cavity 101 to hold the FPC board. Specifically, the top wall 11 has a through hole 110 extending vertically through it, which connects to the docking cavity 101. When the top plate portion 31 of the metal cover plate 30 covers the top surface of the top wall 11, the retaining tab 33 passes through the through hole 110 and extends into the docking cavity 101. In this embodiment, the retaining tab 33 has a guide portion 331 at the longitudinal front end and a stop portion 332 at the longitudinal rear end. When the FPC board begins to be inserted into the docking cavity 101, the FPC board pushes against the guide portion 331, at which time the guide portion 331 guides the insertion of the FPC board; when the FPC board is fully inserted into the docking cavity 101, the stop portion 332 of the retaining tab 33 abuts against the rear end of the docking portion of the FPC board, that is, the stop portion 332 prevents the FPC board from being pulled out.

[0027] The FPC connector 100 further includes two fasteners 40 fixed to the lateral outer side of the sidewall 13. Each fastener 40 has a longitudinally extending main body 41, a front retaining portion 42 bent inward from the longitudinal front end of the main body 41, and a rear retaining portion 43 bent inward from the longitudinal rear end of the main body 41. The side plate portion 32 is located between the sidewall 13 and the main body 41. Both the front retaining portion 42 and the rear retaining portion 43 extend into the sidewall 13. Specifically, the sidewall 11 has a front insertion hole 132 located at the longitudinal front end and a rear insertion hole 133 recessed inward from the lateral outer surface of the pivot portion 131. The front retaining portion 42 is inserted into the front insertion hole 132 and the rear retaining portion 43 is inserted into the rear insertion hole 133, so that the fasteners 40 are fixed to the sidewall 13 of the insulating body 10.

[0028] Furthermore, the front retaining portion 42 is located longitudinally in front of the side plate portion 32 so that the front retaining portion 42 will not interfere with the rotation of the side plate portion 32 of the metal cover plate 30. The pivot portion 131 of the side wall 13 is engaged in the pivot hole 321 of the side plate portion 32, and the rear retaining portion 43 is inserted in the rear insertion hole 133. Thus, it can be concluded that the longitudinal rear end of the side plate portion 32 is pivotally connected to the rear retaining portion 43 to increase the strength of the pivot point of the metal cover plate 30.

[0029] The side plate portion 32 has a protrusion 322 located at the longitudinal front end and extending laterally outward. The main body portion 41 has a groove 411 corresponding to the protrusion 322. When the top plate portion 31 of the metal cover plate 30 covers the top surface of the top wall 11, the protrusion 322 of the metal cover plate 30 is fastened in the groove 411 of the fixing member 40 to form a snap-fit ​​structure, thereby preventing the metal cover plate 30 from opening automatically. At the same time, the fixing member 40 has an extension 44 that bends laterally outward from the top edge of the main body portion 41. The extension 44 serves as a handle for easy opening. When the extension 44 is pressed laterally outward, the groove 411 of the main body portion 41 disengages from the protrusion 322 of the side plate portion 32, causing the metal cover plate 30 to pivot away from the top surface of the top wall 11 and simultaneously pull the FPC board outward, thereby separating the FPC board from the FPC connector 100.

[0030] In this invention, the FPC connector 100 includes two fixing members 40 fixed to the outer side of the side wall 13. Each fixing member 40 has a longitudinally extending main body 41 and a rear retaining portion 43 that bends inward from the longitudinal rear end of the main body 41 and extends into the side wall 13. A side plate portion 32 is located between the side wall 13 and the main body 41, and the longitudinal rear end of the side plate portion 32 is pivotally connected to the rear retaining portion 43 to increase the strength of the pivot joint of the metal cover plate 30. Simultaneously, the side plate portion 32 has a protrusion 322 located at the longitudinal front end and protruding outward in the transverse direction. The main body 41 has a groove 411 corresponding to the protrusion 322. When the top plate portion 31 of the metal cover plate 30 covers the top surface of the top wall 11, the protrusion 322 of the metal cover plate 30 is engaged within the groove 411 of the fixing member 40 to form a snap-fit ​​structure, thereby preventing the metal cover plate 30 from opening automatically.

[0031] In summary, the above are merely preferred embodiments of the present utility model and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present utility model. Any simple equivalent changes and modifications made in accordance with the claims and description of the present utility model should still fall within the scope of the present utility model patent.

Claims

1. An FPC connector for inserting an FPC board, the FPC connector comprising a laterally extending insulating body, a plurality of conductive terminals fixed within the insulating body, and a metal cover plate covering the insulating body; the insulating body having a parallel top wall and a bottom wall, and two side walls connecting the lateral sides of the top wall and the bottom wall, the top wall, the bottom wall, and the two side walls together forming a mating cavity, the FPC board being inserted into the mating cavity; the metal cover plate having a top plate portion covering the top surface of the top wall and two side plate portions extending downward from the lateral sides of the top plate portion; characterized in that: The FPC connector includes two fasteners fixed to the lateral outer side of the sidewall. Each fastener has a longitudinally extending main body and a rear retaining portion that bends inward from the longitudinal rear end of the main body and extends into the sidewall. A side plate is located between the sidewall and the main body, and the longitudinal rear end of the side plate is pivotally connected to the rear retaining portion. The side plate has a protrusion located at the longitudinal front end and protruding outward in the lateral direction. The main body has a groove corresponding to the protrusion. When the top plate of the metal cover is placed on the top surface of the top wall, the protrusion of the metal cover is engaged in the groove of the fastener.

2. The FPC connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The metal cover plate is provided with a retaining tab that tears from the top plate and extends downward, the retaining tab protruding into the mating cavity to hold the FPC plate.

3. The FPC connector as described in claim 2, characterized in that: The top wall is provided with a through hole that runs vertically through the mating cavity. When the top plate of the metal cover is placed on the top surface of the top wall, the fastening piece passes through the through hole and extends into the mating cavity.

4. The FPC connector as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The fastening piece has a guide portion at the longitudinal front end and a stop portion at the longitudinal rear end. When the FPC plate begins to be inserted into the docking cavity, the FPC plate pushes against the guide portion and the guide portion guides the insertion of the FPC plate. When the FPC plate is fully inserted into the docking cavity, the stop portion prevents the FPC plate from being pulled out.

5. The FPC connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The side wall is provided with a pivot portion that protrudes laterally outward from the longitudinal rear end, and the metal cover plate is provided with a pivot hole located at the longitudinal rear end of the side plate portion. The pivot portion is engaged in the pivot hole so that the metal cover plate is pivotally connected to the insulating body.

6. The FPC connector as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The side wall is provided with a rear insertion hole recessed inward from the transverse outer surface of the pivot portion, and the rear retaining portion of the fastener is inserted into the rear insertion hole.

7. The FPC connector as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The side wall is provided with a front insertion hole located at the longitudinal front end, and the fastener is provided with a front retaining part that bends inward from the longitudinal front end of the main body. The front retaining part is located in the longitudinal front of the side plate and is inserted into the front insertion hole.

8. The FPC connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The fastener has an extension that bends laterally outward from the top edge of the main body. When the extension is pressed laterally outward, the groove of the main body separates from the protrusion of the side plate, so that the metal cover plate pivots away from the top surface of the top wall.

9. The FPC connector as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The conductive terminal includes a first terminal and a second terminal spaced apart laterally, and the first terminal and the second terminal are inserted in opposite directions longitudinally.

10. The FPC connector as described in claim 9, characterized in that: The first terminal is inserted into the insulating body from the longitudinal front end and is provided with a first holding part fixed on the bottom wall and a first contact part extending longitudinally forward from the first holding part into the mating cavity. The second terminal is inserted into the insulating body from the longitudinal rear end and is provided with a second holding part fixed on the bottom wall and a second contact part extending longitudinally forward from the second holding part into the mating cavity. The first contact part and the second contact part are located at the same height, and the second contact part is located longitudinally rear of the first contact part.

Images