IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,580,333
Granted Patent B2
US 12,580,333 · App. 18/497,504 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Flat conductor electric connector

Inventor: Shoichiro Tamaki (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: HIROSE ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
H01R12/79H01R12/88H01R12/89H01R13/639
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,580,333
App. No.
18/497,504
Granted
Mar 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A flat conductor electric connector to hold a flat conductor inserted in a front-back direction includes: terminals arrayed in a flat conductor width direction; and a housing holding the terminals. Each terminal includes an attachment portion attached, on one end side, in a fixed manner to the housing, a contact arm portion extending in the front-back direction on the other end side to contact a circuit portion of the flat conductor, and an elastically-displaceable elastic portion provided between the attachment portion and the contact arm portion. The elastic portion is elastically displaceable at least in one of the front-back direction, the terminal alignment direction, or an upper-lower direction which is a flat conductor thickness direction. The contact arm portion is elastically displaceable at least in the upper-lower direction. When the elastic portion is elastically displaced, the contact arm portion is displaceable together with the elastic portion.

Claims (31)

1 . A flat conductor electric connector configured such that a flat conductor extending in a front-back direction is inserted and connected forward to the flat conductor electric connector, comprising:

a plurality of terminals arrayed in a flat conductor width direction which is a terminal alignment direction; and

a housing holding the plurality of terminals,

wherein each terminal includes an attachment portion attached, on one end side, in a fixed manner to the housing, a contact arm portion extending in the front-back direction on the other end side and contacting a circuit portion of the flat conductor, and an elastically-displaceable elastic portion provided between the attachment portion and the contact arm portion,

the elastic portion is elastically displaceable at least in one of the front-back direction, the terminal alignment direction, or an upper-lower direction which is a flat conductor thickness direction,

the contact arm portion is elastically displaceable at least in the upper-lower direction, and when the elastic portion is elastically displaced, is displaceable together with the elastic portion,

the contact arm portion includes an upper contact arm portion and a lower contact arm portion provided lower than the upper contact arm portion in the upper-lower direction, and

the upper contact arm portion and the lower contact arm portion are configured to contact the circuit portion of the flat conductor from below in the upper-lower direction with contact pressure while elastically displacing downward in the upper-lower direction.

2 . The flat conductor electric connector according to claim 1 , wherein

the elastic portion has a bent portion bent at an intermediate position in a longitudinal direction of the elastic portion.

3 . The flat conductor electric connector according to claim 1 , wherein

each terminal includes a pressing portion, and

on an opposite side of the flat conductor from the contact arm portion in the upper-lower direction, the pressing portion directly or indirectly presses the flat conductor toward the contact arm portion.

4 . The flat conductor electric connector according to claim 2 , wherein

each terminal includes a pressing portion, and

on an opposite side of the flat conductor from the contact arm portion in the upper-lower direction, the pressing portion directly or indirectly presses the flat conductor toward the contact arm portion.

5 . A flat conductor electric connector configured such that a flat conductor extending in a front-back direction is inserted and connected forward to the flat conductor electric connector, comprising:

a plurality of terminals arrayed in a flat conductor width direction which is a terminal alignment direction; and

a housing holding the plurality of terminals,

wherein each terminal includes an attachment portion attached, on a front side in the front-back direction, in a fixed manner to the housing, a contact arm portion extending in the front-back direction and contacting a circuit portion of the flat conductor on a back side in the front-back direction, and an elastically-displaceable elastic portion provided between the attachment portion and the contact arm portion in the front-back direction,

the elastic portion is elastically displaceable at least in one of the front-back direction, the terminal alignment direction, or an upper-lower direction which is a flat conductor thickness direction,

the contact arm portion is elastically displaceable at least in the upper-lower direction, and when the elastic portion is elastically displaced, is displaceable together with the elastic portion, and

the elastic portion includes a front leg portion positioned on the front side and extending in the upper-lower direction, a back leg portion positioned on the back side and extending in the upper-lower direction, and a bent portion bent downward in the upper-lower direction and coupling upper end portions of the front leg portion and the back leg portion to each other.

6 . The flat conductor electric connector according to claim 5 , wherein

the bent portion is bent at an intermediate position in a longitudinal direction of the elastic portion.

7 . The flat conductor electric connector according to claim 5 , wherein

each terminal includes a pressing portion, and

on an opposite side of the flat conductor from the contact arm portion in the upper-lower direction, the pressing portion directly or indirectly presses the flat conductor toward the contact arm portion.

8 . The flat conductor electric connector according to claim 6 , wherein

each terminal includes a pressing portion, and

on an opposite side of the flat conductor from the contact arm portion in the upper-lower direction, the pressing portion directly or indirectly presses the flat conductor toward the contact arm portion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: TAMAKI, SHOICHIRO
To: HIROSE ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 065603/0578 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-175400 · Nov 1, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240145965A1 · May 2, 2024
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