Background of the Invention : A wide variety of electrical connectors have been designed for terminating flat cables or circuits, such as flat flexible cables, flexible printed circuits or the like. A typical connector for flat circuits includes a dielectric housing molded of plastic material, for instance. The housing has an elongated opening or slot for receiving an end of the flat circuit which has generally parallel, laterally spaced conductors exposed across the end. A plurality of terminals are mounted in the housing and are spaced laterally along the slot, with contact portions of the terminals engageable with the laterally spaced conductors of the flat circuit.

An actuator often is movably mounted on the housing for movement between a first position whereat the flat circuit is freely insertable into the slot and a second position whereat the actuator clamps the circuit in the housing and biases the circuit against the contact portions of the terminals.

FIGS. 18-20 show a flat circuit connector of the character described above and as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-48886. The connector includes a housing 300 having a pivotally mounted actuator 301 pivotally mounted on the housing at a pivot axis 302 (Fig. 19). Accordingly, actuator 301 can pivotally move between an open position shown in FIG. 20 to a closed position shown in FIG. 18. FIG. 20 shows that the actuator includes a rounded cam portion 303 engaging a support beam 305 of a terminal 304 which has a contact arm 306. The actuator pivots from the open position to the closed position in a continuous and smooth motion.

FIGS. 21 and 22 show a flat circuit connector as disclosed in Japanese Patent No.

2580074. The connector includes a housing 400 having a pivot socket 401 formed therein, along with an actuator 402 having a pivot shaft 403 positionable in the socket. Accordingly, the actuator pivots between its open and closed position in a continuous and smooth motion.

A terminal 404 is mounted in the housing and includes a support beam 405 having a pivot

support 406 positionable in a pivot channel 407 of the actuator to further provide continuous and smooth pivoting motion of the actuator. A rounded pressing surface 408 on the actuator engages a flat circuit 410 to bias the flat circuit into a flexible contact arm 411 of the terminal when the actuator pivots toward its closed position in the direction of arrow 412.

FIGS. 23 and 24 show a flat circuit connector as disclosed in Japanese Patent No.

2892945. The connector includes a housing 500 mounting an actuator 501 which has a pivot axis 502 providing a continuous and smooth pivoting action of the actuator between its open and closed position. As seen in FIG. 24, actuator 501 includes an additional pivot axis 503 that is engaged with an arcuate pivot support 504 on a support beam 505 of a terminal 506.

In a continuous and smooth motion of the actuator towards it closed position in the direction of arrow 507, a round pressing portion 508 biases flat circuit 509 upwardly against a contact arm 510 of the terminal.

As can be seen above in the flat circuit connectors of the prior art, it is typical and ordinary for the actuator to move from its open position to its closed position in a continuous and smooth motion and to bias the circuit with rounded camming surfaces. Unfortunately, this smooth motion does not give any indication when the actuator has reached its closed position whereby a good electrical connection between the flat circuit and the terminals of the connector has been made. Therefore, it cannot clearly be recognized by an operator whether the flat circuit has been correctly or properly connected or not. The present invention solves this problem by providing a structural combination wherein a distinct"fee"or tactile indication is given when the actuator moves from its open to its closed position, thereby signaling and operator that a connection has been made.

Summary of the Invention : An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide an electrical connector for terminating a flat electrical circuit and having a new and improved tactile-indicating actuator therefore.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connector includes a dielectric housing having an opening for receiving an end of the flat circuit in a circuit-insertion direction. A plurality of terminals are mounted on the housing in a side-by-side array and spaced laterally along the opening. An actuator is movably mounted on the housing for movement between an open position allowing the flat circuit to be inserted into the opening

and a closed position biasing the flat circuit against the terminals. Some of the terminals comprise pivot terminals having pivot means for engaging a pivot portion of the actuator to mount the actuator for pivotal movement between the open and closed positions.

According to the invention, other of the terminals comprise cam terminals having flat surfaces for engaging cam portions of the actuator. At least one cam portion of the actuator includes a first generally flat surface engaging the flat surface of one of the cam terminals and defining the open position of the actuator. The cam portion includes a second generally flat surface engageable with the flat surface of the one cam terminal for defining the closed position of the actuator. The first and second generally flat surfaces of the cam portion meet at a sharp corner which engages the flat surface of the one cam terminal as the actuator moves from the open position to the closed position to create a snapping action which gives a tactile indication that the actuator has moved from its open position to its closed position.

As disclosed herein, the pivot means on the pivot terminals comprise hook portions thereof for receiving pivot shaft portions of the actuator. Therefore, the pivot means prevents shifting movement of the actuator generally parallel to the circuit-insertion direction as well as in one direction generally perpendicular to the circuit-insertion direction. The cam means of the cam terminals prevent shifting of the actuator in a direction opposite the one direction generally perpendicular to the circuit-insertion direction.

According to one aspect of the invention, each of the pivot terminals includes a pair of arms defining a mouth therebetween for receiving the end of the flat circuit. One of the arms is a flexible contact arm for engaging the flat circuit and a second of the arms has the pivot means thereon.

According to another aspect of the invention, each of the cam terminals includes a pair of arms defining a mouth therebetween for receiving the end of the flat circuit. One of the arms is a flexible contact arm for engaging the flat circuit and a second of the arms has the flat surface thereon for engaging a respective one of the cam portions of the actuator.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description nfthe Drawings : The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with its objects and the advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements in the FIGS. and in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flat circuit connector embodying the concepts of the invention, with the actuator in its closed position; FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the connector; FIG. 3 (a) is an enlarged vertical section taken generally along line A-A of FIG. 2 and showing one of the cam terminals; FIG. 3 (b) is an enlarged vertical section taken generally along line B-B of FIG. 2 and showing one of the pivot terminals; FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the connector; FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the connector, looking toward the right-hand side thereof as viewed in FIG. 1 ; FIG. 6 (a) is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 (a), but showing the actuator in its open position; FIG. 6 (b) is a view similar to that of FIG. 3 (b), but showing the actuator in its open position; FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), 8 (a) and 8 (b), 9 (a) and 9 (b) and 10 (a) and 10 (b) are sequential views similar to those of FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), respectively, but showing the actuator in sequential positions of movement from its open position toward its closed position; FIG. 11 is an enlarged, fragmented elevational view of the pivot hook portion of one of the terminals; FIG. 12 is an enlarged, fragmented elevational view showing the cam area between the actuator and one of the cam terminals; FIG. 13 is a view similar to that of FIG. 12, but with the actuator in its open position; FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of one of the metal fittings of the connector; FIG. 15 is a bottom plan view of the metal fitting; FIG. 16 is a fragmented elevational view of one end of the actuator;

FIGS. 17 (a) and 17 (b) are views similar to that of FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), respectively, but of an alternative embodiment of the invention; and FIGS. 18-24 are views of prior art connectors as described in the"Background", above.

Detailed Descriptinn nf the Preferred Embodiments : Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention is embodied in a flat circuit electrical connector, generally designated 10, for terminating a flat electrical circuit (described hereinafter). The connector includes a dielectric housing, generally designated 12, for pivotally mounting an actuator, generally designated 14. The connector is adapted for mounting on top of a printed circuit board (not shown) and a pair of metal reinforcement fittings, generally designated 16, are mounted at opposite sides of the housing and may be affixed, as by soldering, to appropriate mounting pads on the printed circuit board. The housing includes an opening in the form of an elongated slot 18 (Fig. 1) for receiving an end of the flat circuit in a circuit-insertion direction as indicated by arrow "C". Actuator 14 includes a body portion 20 substantially covering housing 12, an engaging portion 22 extending downwardly in the form of an arc along the front edge of body portion 20, and side walls 24 depending at both sides of the body portion.

Referring to FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2, housing 12 includes a top wall 26 and a bottom wall 28 along with a plurality of alternating cavities or terminal-receiving passages 30A (Fig. 3 (a) ) and 30B (Fig. 3 (b) ) which are spaced alternatively along circuit-receiving slot 18. Passages 30A and 30B receive and mount two different types of terminals 32A and 32B, respectively, alternatingly along slot 18. Terminals 32A are inserted into passages 30A from the rear or right-hand side of housing 12 as viewed in FIG. 3 (a) in the direction of arrow"D". Terminals 32B are inserted into passages 30B from the front or left-hand side of the housing as viewed in FIG. 3 (b) in the direction of arrow "E".

Referring specifically to FIG. 3 (a), terminals 32A will be referred to as"cam" terminals herein. Each cam terminal includes a base 34 mounted in passage 30B, with an upper mounting arm 36 projecting forwardly of the base and engageable with the housing at the top or roof of passage 30A. Upper mounting arm 36 terminates in a cam portion or end 36a which has a bottom flat surface 38. Each cam terminal 30A includes a generally U-

shaped contact portion, generally designated 40, connected to the base of the terminal by a spring bend 42 at the proximal end of upper mounting arm 36. The U-shaped contact portion defines an upper flexible contact arm 44 and a lower flexible contact arm 46 which define a mouth therebetween for receiving an end of a flat circuit 48, such as a flat flexible circuit, a flexible printed circuit board or other flat circuit cable. Upper flexible contact arm 44 and lower flexible contact arm 46 define opposing contact portions 44a and 46a, respectively, for engaging circuit traces on the top surface, the bottom surface or both surfaces of the flat circuit. Finally, each cam terminal 32A has a foot portion 50 for connection, as by soldering, to an appropriate circuit trace on the printed circuit board.

Referring specifically to FIG. 3 (b), each pivot terminal 32B includes a base 52 mounted in passage 30B. An upper mounting arm 54 and a lower mounting arm 56 engage the top and bottom of housing 12 within passage 30B. The arms project forwardly from base 52 of the terminal. Lower mounting arm 56 has a foot portion 58 for connection, as by soldering, to an appropriate circuit trace on the printed circuit board. The front distal end of upper mounting arm 58 terminates in a pivot portion 60 which is in the form of a hook to define a saddle for receiving a pivot pin or shaft portion 62 on actuator 20 to pivotally mount the actuator on the connector. A U-shaped contact portion, generally designated 64, is joined by a spring bend 66 to base 52 at a proximal end of upper mounting arm 54. The legs of the U-shaped contact portion 64 define an upper flexible contact arm 68 and a lower flexible contact arm 70 defining a mouth therebetween for receiving the end of flat circuit 48. Upper flexible contact arm 68 and lower flexible contact arm 70 terminate in opposing contact portions 68a and 70a, respectively, for engaging circuit traces on the top surface, the bottom surface or both surfaces of the flat circuit.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 in conjunction with FIG. 1, each metal reinforcement fitting 16 has a bottom foot 72 for connection, as by soldering, to appropriate mounting pads on the printed circuit board. Each fitting includes an outside wall 74 having a flexible engagement flange 74a with a latching slot 74b therein for latching the fitting to housing 12.

One of the reinforcement fittings also is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, and it can be seen that the material from slot 74b (Fig. 14) is bent inwardly to define a latching ledge 76 as seen clearly in FIG. 15. A mounting plate 78 projects generally parallel to flexible engagement flange 74a.

Before proceeding with a description of the action or motion of actuator 40 in FIGS.

6-10, reference is made first to FIGS. 12 and 13 which show that actuator 14 has a pressing surface 79 for engaging flat circuit 48 and biasing the circuit against contact portion 46a of contact arm 46 of one of the cam terminals 32A. Actuator 14 also has a cam portion 80 operatively associated with each cam terminal 32a and for engaging flat surface 38 on the bottom side of cam portion 36a of the terminal. Specifically, each cam portion 80 for each cam terminal 32A includes a first generally flat surface 80a which corresponds to the fully open position of the actuator as shown in FIG. 6 (a). The cam portion includes a second flat surface 80b which corresponds to the closed position of the actuator as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 13. First and second flat surfaces 80a and 80b, respectively, meet at a sharp comer 80c of the cam portion. In the preferred embodiment, the first and second flat surfaces are generally perpendicular to each other, whereby sharp comer 80c is a 90° corner of cam portion 80.

The operation of actuator 14 now will be described, specifically, FIG. 6 (a) shows actuator 14 in its open position which allows flat circuit 48 to be freely inserted in the direction of arrow"C"into opening 18 of the connector and into a mouth 82 between upper and lower contact arms 44 and 46, respectively, of cam terminals 32A. The flat circuit simultaneously is being inserted into a mouth 84 between upper and lower contact arms 68 and 70 of pivot terminals 32B as seen in FIG. 6 (b). With the actuator in its open position as seen in FIG. 6 (a), first flat surface 80a of each cam portion 80 is in flat abutment with flat surface 38 at the bottom of cam portion 36a of upper mounting arm 36 of a respective one of the cam terminals 32A. In other words, cam portions 80 effectively engage cam terminals 32A in the open position of actuator 14 in a flat surface against flat surface engagement. This defines a very positive open position of the actuator and the actuator does not wiggle or vibrate away from this positively defined position.

Now, referring back to FIG. 3 (a), actuator 14 is in its closed position. In the closed position of the actuator, second flat surfaces 80b of cam portions 80 of the actuator are in flush or solid engagement with flat surfaces 38 of cam terminals 32A. Like the open position of the actuator, this flat surface against flat surface engagement provides a very positive identification of the fully closed position of the actuator.

With the above description and understanding of the positively defined open and closed positions of actuator 14, FIGS. 7-10 show multiple sequential positions of actuator 14 between its open position of FIG. 6 (a) and its closed position of FIG. 3 (a). These FIGS. 7-10

illustrate that during movement of the actuator from its open position to its closed position, first flat surfaces 80a of cam portions 80 separate from flat surfaces 38 on cam terminals 32A and the sole engagement between the actuator and the cam terminals is at sharp (90°) comers 80c of the cam portions. This engagement with the sharp comers of the cam portions continues throughout the pivotal movement of the actuator until the actuator reaches its closed position corresponding to an abrupt engagement of flat surfaces 38 on the cam terminals with second flat surfaces 80b of the cam terminals. In other words, there is a distinct, abrupt and positive change as the actuator smoothly pivots about the sharp comer and then experiences a definite change or stoppage of motion as the flat surfaces come into engagement. The operator senses or feels a distinct"clicking"or tactile indication that the actuator has reached its closed position.

FIG. 16 shows that actuator 14 includes side walls 90 which have a recessed latching shoulder 92 which engages latching ledge 76 (Fig. 15) to hold the actuator in its closed position. Each side wall 90 also includes a stop limit shoulder 94 for engagement by latching ledge 76.

Finally, FIGS. 17 (a) and 17 (b) show another embodiment of a connector, generally designated 10A, which includes an actuator 14 mounted on a housing 12, with the actuator including cam portions 80 and pivot pins or shaft portions 62 according to the invention described above. As best seen back in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), flexible contact arms 46 of cam terminals 32a are longer than flexible contact arms 70 of pivot terminals 32b whereby contact portions 46a and 70a are offset relative to each other in an insertion direction of the flat circuit. Similarly, contact portions 44a of cam terminals 32a are offset relative to contact portions 68a of pivot terminals 32b. Like reference numerals are applied in FIGS. 17 (a) and 17 (b), and it can be seen that contact portions 46a of cam terminals 32A are in vertical alignment with contact portions 70a of pivot terminals 32B, and contact portions 44a of cam terminals 32A are in vertical alignment with contact portions 68a of pivot terminals 32B.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein.