Electrical connector assembly for flat flexible circuitry

DETAILED DESCRIPTION An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved connector assembly for flat flexible circuitry.
In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connector assembly is provided for interconnecting first conductors of a flat flexible circuit to a plurality of second conductors without the use of conductive terminals.
The assembly includes a male connector having a relatively rigid male body member with an edge about which the flexible circuit is wrapped, with the first conductors of the circuit facing away from the body member at the edge.
A female connecting device includes a receptacle for receiving the male connector inserted into the receptacle.
Means are provided on the device for positioning the second conductors in engagement with the first conductors of the flexible circuit at the edge of the male body member.
According to one aspect of the invention, the female connecting device comprises an adapter including the receptacle for receiving the male connector inserted edge-first into the receptacle.
The adapter includes a second receptacle for receiving the second conductors in position for engaging the first conductors of the flexible circuit at the edge of the male body member.
According to another aspect of the invention, the male body member includes a forward part having the edge about which the flexible circuit is wrapped, and a rearward part latched to the adapter.
A spring is disposed between the forward and rearward parts to bias the forward part and, thereby, the first conductors of the flexible circuit against the second conductors.
As disclosed herein, a relatively yieldable backing structure is provided on the male body member at the edge thereof beneath the flexible circuit for resiliently biasing the first conductors of the circuit against the second conductors.
The male body member is elongated and the yieldable backing structure comprises a longitudinal resilient strip along the edge of the body member.
Positioning means also are provided on the male body member for locating the flexible circuit wrapped about the edge of the body member