Abstract:
A connector device is formed of a case, first and second sockets housed within the case, each having on its front surface side a recess portion into which a modular connector is inserted and having a plurality of modular terminals disposed within the recess portion and a plurality of contacts conducted to the plurality of modular terminals, respectively and resiliently protruded to different positions of a rear surface side, the first socket being rotatable within the case, and a connection member whose one surface and the other surface are respectively opposed to the rear surface sides of the first and second sockets, the connection member being disposed within the case so as to become coaxial with the first and second sockets, the connection member having on the one surface a plurality of second terminals which continuously contact with the plurality of contacts of the first socket when the first socket is rotated and having on the other surface a plurality of third terminals which are respectively conducted to the plurality of second terminals and which contact with the plurality of contacts of the second socket. Thus, the connector device becomes simple in arrangement and can be mass-produced inexpensively.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a connector device for use with a connector device of a telephone cord for connecting a telephone body and a handset, for example. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     Except so-called cordless telephones, a telephone body and a handset are joined by a cord comprising a bundle of a plurality of conductors, and circuits within the telephone body and circuits within the handset are connected electrically. 
     Most of telephone cords are of curl cord type in which a cord is molded in a coil-like shape in advance so as to become expanded and contracted when a telephone is in use. 
     However, the above-mentioned curl cord is easily twisted. In particular, when the curl cord is twisted like a so-called double coil, it becomes cumbersome for a user to extend the twisted curl cord up to the full length that the curl cord can be extended. Further, when the joint portion of the telephone body and the curl cord is twisted, there is the risk that the curl cord will be broken. 
     In order to prevent a bad effect from being caused when the curl cord is twisted as described above, heretofore, there have been developed a variety of telephone connector devices which are referred to as a handset cord twist prevention device. This connector device is of the type fitted into the cord (curl cord) for joining the telephone body and the handset. 
     FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a perspective view illustrating an example of such a prior-art connector device. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, this connector device, generally depicted by reference numeral  100 , comprises a connector case  101  having approximately a cylindrical shape, a connection member  110  which can be freely rotated around the axis of the case  101 , a modular cord  102  comprising four conductors extendable from the rear end portion of the connection member  110  and a modular connector  103  joined to the rear end portion of this modular cord  102 . In the following description, the side of the modular connector  103  of the connector device  100  will be referred to as the rear side, and the opposite side of the modular connector  103  will be referred to as the front side. In this case, an insertion aperture  101   a  having a predetermined inner diameter is defined in the inner peripheral surface of the rear end side of the connector case  101 . The connection member  110  is located such that apart of a connection member rear portion  111  forming the rear half portion of the connection member  110  is projected from the insertion aperture  101   a . The projected portion of the connection member  110  is a rear half portion  111   a  of the connection member rear portion  111 . The transverse section of the rear half portion  111   a  has an outer form which is shaped as approximately an oval-shaped cylinder. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the connector device  100  has a housing  130  secured to the inside of the connector case  101  to support the connection member  110  together with the connector case  101 . The front half portion of the housing  130  is formed with a modular socket  131 , and the modular socket  131  includes four modular terminals  132 ,  133 ,  134 ,  135 . Also, the housing  130  includes four terminal arrangement slots  136   a ,  136   b ,  136   c ,  136   d  in which the modular terminals  132 ,  133 ,  134 ,  135  are located respectively. From the terminal arrangement slots  136   a  to  136   d , there are projected the modular terminals  132 ,  133 ,  134 ,  135  in substantially the rear direction to form inclined portions  132   b ,  133   b ,  134   b ,  135   b  of the same length. 
     The in construction of the connection member  110  and the housing  130  comprising the connector device  100  will be described with reference to FIG.  3 . As shown in FIG. 3, the connection member  110  is formed of three portions each molded by a synthetic resin and which are connected together coaxially. The connection member  110  comprises the connection member rear portion  111  including the rear half portion  111   a , a cylindrical front half portion  111   b  and a disk-like flange  111   c  located at approximately an intermediate position of the outer peripheral surface of the front half portion  111   b , a connection member front portion  112  including a disk portion  112   a  and a thin disk-like fitting protruded portion  112   b  formed at the rear surface of the disk portion  112   a  and a connection member intermediate portion  113  including a disk portion  113   a  whose size is the same as that of the disk portion  112   a.    
     Moreover, the connection member  110  includes disk-band-like terminal plates  114 ,  115 ,  116 ,  117  having outer diameters which are approximately the same as those of the disk portions  112   a ,  113   a  and the flange portion  111   c  at predetermined positions between the disk portion  112   a , the disk portion  113   a  and the flange portion  111   c . To terminal plates  114  to  117 , there are respectively connected one ends of four conductors  102   a ,  102   b ,  102   c ,  102   d  of the modular cord  102  by soldering in the inside. The connection member  110  has respective support rings  118 ,  118 ′ of approximately annular shapes seen in the front to rear direction outwardly fitted into the front portion of a connection member intermediate portion  113  and the front portion of the flange portion  111   c . The respective support rings  118 ,  118 ′ have lower half portions  118   a ,  118 ′ a  in which four engagement protrusions  119   a ,  119   b ,  119   c ,  119   d  are protruded at respective ends in the circumferential directions of the outer peripheral surfaces. In the support rings  118 ,  118 ′, the upper half portion  118   b ,  118 ′ b  and the lower half portions  118   a ,  118 ′ a  have different predetermined thickness and predetermined radius at the outer peripheral surface. 
     In the housing  130 , respective portions are integrally molded by synthetic resin. The front portion of the housing  130  is comprised of a modular socket  131  and other portions are comprised of a support portion  137  which support the support rings  118 ,  118 ′ and the connection member  110 . The support portion  137  comprises an intermediate wall  138  and a connection member arrangement portion  139 . The intermediate portion  138  comprises a circular support aperture  138   a  defined at approximately a central portion, a recess groove  138   b  extended in the upper and lower direction and whose lower end is extended to the support aperture  138   a  and whose upper end is extended to the upper end of the intermediate wall  138 , two recess grooves  138   c ,  138   d  extended in the upper and lower direction and which are located at right and left positions of the recess  138   b  and an engagement pawl  138   e . On an inner peripheral surface  139   a  of the connection member arrangement portion  139 , there are formed two engagement grooves  140   a ,  140   b  spaced apart from each other in the front and rear direction and extended along the peripheral direction and which are engaged with outer peripheral portions of the lower half portions  118   a ,  118 ′ a  of the support rings  118 ,  118 ′. Further, the connection member arrangement portion  139  has on its peripheral wall formed four engagement apertures  141   a ,  141   b ,  141   c ,  141   d  of approximately rectangular shapes which are engaged with the four engagement protrusions  119   a ,  119   b ,  119   c ,  119   d , respectively. 
     The connection member arrangement portion  139  has at its predetermined positions formed four terminal insertion apertures  142 ,  143 ,  144 ,  145  (only the terminal insertion aperture  144  is shown in FIG. 3) corresponding to the four modular terminals  132 ,  133 ,  134 ,  135 . From these terminal insertion apertures  142 ,  143 ,  144 ,  145 , there are projected erect portions  132   c ,  133   c ,  134   c ,  135   c  of approximately the same length which are upwardly extended from the rear ends of the respective modular terminals  132 ,  133 ,  134 ,  135 . 
     FIG. 4 shows a main portion of the internal arrangement of the connection member  110 . As shown in FIG. 4, four relatively small spring arrangement holes  120   a ,  121   a ,  122   a ,  123   a  are bored on the support rings  118 ,  118 ′ at their surfaces opposite to each other along the axis direction of the bottom portions in such a manner that their transverse sections are circular and that they are extended in the direction parallel to the axis direction. The four spring arrangement holes  120   a ,  121   a ,  122   a ,  123   a  are used to locate four springs  120 ,  121 ,  122 ,  123  therein. These spring arrangement holes  120   a ,  121   a ,  122   a ,  123   a  are disposed by the pair on the support rings  118 ,  118 ′ at predetermined positions spaced apart from one another. 
     On the surfaces in which the spring arrangement holes  120   a  to  123   a  are defined, there are formed slits  120   b ,  121   b ,  122   b ,  123   b  which are extended in the upper and lower direction in correspondence with the spring arrangement holes  120   a  to  123   a , respectively. The slits  120   b ,  121   b ,  122   b ,  123   b  are formed on the surface opposite to the surfaces in which the spring arrangement holes  120   a  to  123   a  are opened. The upper and lower ends of the slits  120   b ,  121   b ,  122   b ,  123   b  are extended up to the inner peripheral surfaces of the support rings  118 ,  118 ′ and the outer peripheral surfaces of the lower half portions  118   a ,  118 ′ a , and the deep end portions thereof are positioned so as to cross the deep end portions of the spring arrangement holes  120   a  to  123   a . A protruded portion  112   c , which is cylindrical in the axis direction and which is protruded from the central portion of the front surface is formed on the connection member front portion  112  of the connection member  110 . 
     The connection member  110  and the housing  130  are arranged as described above. The connection member  110  is supported to the housing  130  in such a manner that the protruded portion  112  protruded from the connection member front portion  112  is fitted into a support aperture  13   a  of the housing  130  so as to become freely rotatable, the outer peripheral portions of the lower half portions  118   a ,  118 ′ a  of the support rings  118 ,  118 ′ are engaged with the engagement grooves  140   a ,  140   b  and the respective engagement protrusions  119   a  to  119   d  are respectively engaged with engagement apertures  141   a  to  141   d  defined on the peripheral all of the connection member arrangement portion  139 . Then, the rear portion of the flange portion  111   c  of the connection member  110  is rotatably supported to the insertion aperture  101   a  of the connector case  101 , whereby the connection member  110  is supported to the housing  130  and the connector case  101  so as to become freely rotatable around is the axis direction. 
     FIG. 5 shows the internal arrangement of the connector device  100 . As shown in FIG. 5, with respect to the terminal plates  114  to  117  of the connection member  110 , the terminal plate  114  is outwardly fitted into the engagement protruded portion  113   b  of the front side of the connection member intermediate portion  113 ; the terminal plate  115  is outwardly fitted into the engagement protruded portion  112   b  of the connection member front portion  112 ; the terminal plate  116  is outwardly fitted into the engagement protruded portion  113   c  of the rear side of the connection member intermediate portion  113 ; and the terminal plate  117  is outwardly fitted into the engagement protruded portion  111   d  of the connection member rear portion  111 , respectively. Also, the terminal plates  114 ,  115 ,  116 ,  117  include connection tabs  114   a ,  115   a ,  116   a ,  117   a  which are extended from the inscribed circles of these terminal plates  114 ,  115 ,  116 ,  117  in the direction parallel to the axis direction. One ends of the four conductors  102   a ,  102   b ,  102   c ,  102   d  of the modular cord  102  are separately soldered to these connection tabs  114   a ,  115   a ,  116   a ,  117   a.    
     Four modular terminals  132 ,  133 ,  134 ,  135  of the housing  130  comprise intermediate portions  132   a ,  133   a ,  134   a ,  135   a  of different lengths extended in the front and rear direction, inclined portions  132   b ,  133   b ,  134   b ,  135   b  of the same length extended from the front end to approximately the rear direction and erect portions  132   c ,  133   c ,  134   c ,  135   c  of approximately the same length extended from the rear ends of the intermediate portions  132   a ,  133   a ,  134   a ,  135   a  to the upper direction. The erect portions  132   c ,  133   c ,  134   c ,  135   c  are separately inserted into the slit  5   120   b ,  121   b ,  122   b ,  123   b  formed on the support rings  118 ,  118 ′, and their portions near the upper ends are positioned at the deep end portions of the corresponding spring arrangement holes  120   a ,  121 ,  122   a ,  123   a , respectively. Also, respective coil springs  120 ,  121 ,  122 ,  123  are placed such that they are contracted between the erect portions  132   c ,  133   c ,  134   c ,  135   c  positioned at the deep end faces of the spring arrangement holes  120   a ,  121   a ,  122   a ,  123   a  and the corresponding assemblies  132 ,  133 ,  134 ,  135 . 
     Specifically, the respective erect portions  132   c ,  133   c ,  134   c ,  135   c  are respectively brought in contact with loops of one ends of the respective coil springs  120 ,  121 ,  122 ,  123 , and are inserted into the slits  120   b ,  121   b ,  122   b ,  123   b  while slightly urging the other ends of the coil springs  120 ,  121 ,  122 ,  123  against the terminal plates  132 ,  133 ,  134 ,  135 . Accordingly, the modular terminals  132 ,  133 ,  134 ,  135 , disposed within the corresponding housings  130  and the respective conductors  102   a ,  102   b ,  102   c ,  102   d  of the modular cord  102  disposed in the connection member  110  are electrically connected together through the terminal plates  132 ,  133 ,  134 , 135  and the contracted coil springs  120 ,  121 ,  122 ,  123 . 
     According to the above-mentioned arrangement, the modular cord  102  can be freely rotated in the axis rotating direction with respect to the connector case  101  and another modular cord coupled to the modular cord  102 . When the modular cord  102  is rotated, the respective terminal plates  132 ,  133 ,  134 ,  135  and the respective coil springs  120 ,  121 ,  122 ,  123  are relatively slid so that they can be brought in constant contact with each other. Thus, when the modular cord  102  and another modular cord or one of them is applied with a twisting force, the modular cord  102  is integrally rotated with the connection member  101  and thereby prevented from being twisted. 
     However, since the above-mentioned connector device has a number of assemblies and a complicated structure, it is unavoidable that much labors and efforts are required when such connector device is manufactured. Furthermore, since the expensive materials such as the coil springs are indispensable to the above-mentioned connector device, the connector device becomes expensive and cannot be mass-produced accordingly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the aforesaid aspect, it is an object of the present invention to provide a connector device of a simple arrangement which can be made suitable for mass-production. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a connector device which is comprised of a case, first and second sockets housed within the case, each having on its front surface side a recess portion into which a modular connector is inserted and having a plurality of modular terminals disposed within the recess portion and a plurality of contacts connected to the plurality of modular terminals, and resiliently protruded to different positions of a rear surface side, the first socket being rotatable within said case, and a connection member whose one surface and the other surface are respectively opposed to the rear surface sides of the first and second sockets, the connection member being disposed within the case so as to become coaxial with the first and second sockets, the connection member having on the one surface a plurality of second terminals which continuously contact with the plurality of contacts of the first socket when the first socket is rotated and having on the other surface a plurality of third terminals which are respectively connected to the plurality of second terminals and which contact with the plurality of contacts of the second socket. 
     According to the present invention, a telephone cord can be prevented from being twisted by the simple arrangement having less assemblies. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a connector device according to the prior art; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the connector device according to the prior art; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating examples of a connection member and a housing of the connector device according to the prior art; 
     FIG. 4 is a partly cutaway plan view illustrating an example of a connection member of the connector device according to the prior art; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V—V in FIG. 1, and illustrating an example of the connector device according to the prior art; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an arrangement of a connector device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating examples of arrangements of a modular socket and a connection member according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a rear view illustrating an example of an arrangement of a modular socket according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an arrangement of a terminal portion according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X—X in FIG. 8, and illustrating an example of an arrangement of a modular socket according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an arrangement of a connection member from the front side according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an arrangement of a connection member from the rear side according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an arrangement of a case front portion according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XIV—XIV in FIG. 13, and illustrating an example of an arrangement of a case front portion according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an arrangement of a case rear portion according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XVI—XVI in FIG. 15, and illustrating an example of an arrangement of a case rear portion according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the condition that the connector device is connected according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A connector device according to an embodiment of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to  17 . 
     The connector device according to this embodiment is able to prevent a curl cord from being twisted by connecting a handset connecting modular socket of a telephone body, for example, and a modular connector of the other end of the curl cord whose one end is connected to the handset. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a connector device  1  in the assembled state and a plug device  6  which is connected to the connector device  1  when in use. As shown in FIG. 6, the connector device  1  comprises two cases  4 ,  5 , fastened by a suitable means (not shown), in which there are disposed two modular sockets  2 ,  2 ′ and a connection member  3  for joining the two modular sockets  2 ,  2 ′. The two modular sockets  2 ,  2 ′ respectively have on their end portions formed connector coupling recesses  14 ,  14 ′ (the recess  14 ′ is located at the rear-side position in FIG. 6) into which modular connectors are inserted, respectively. 
     When this connector device  1  is used as a twisting prevention device, there is prepared a plug device  6 . As shown in FIG. 6, this plug device  6  comprises a modular cord  61  having a length of approximately several centimeters and modular connectors  62 ,  63  connected to respective ends of the modular cord  61 . Then, the modular connector of the curl cord is inserted into one connector coupling recess  14  of the connector device  1 , for example, and one modular connector  62  of the plug device  6  is inserted into the other connector coupling recess  14 ′ of the connector device  1 . Then, the other modular connector  63  of the plug device  6  is inserted into the handset connection modular socket of the telephone body when the connector device  1  is in use. In the connector device  1  according to this embodiment, one modular socket  2  within the cases  4 ,  5  is made freely rotatable with respect to the connection member  3  and the other modular socket  2 ′, and the curl cord can be prevented from being twisted by the rotation of this modular socket  2 . 
     FIG. 7 shows the modular sockets  2 ,  2 ′ and the connection member  3  disposed within the cases  4 ,  5 . As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the modular sockets  2  and  2 ′ have approximately the same configuration and the connection member  3  joins these modular sockets  2 ,  2 ′ in such a manner that the modular sockets  2 ,  2 ′ are kept to be coaxial. In the following description, with respect to the modular sockets  2 ′, elements and parts identical to those of the modular socket  2  are marked with reference numerals of the modular socket  2  with a prime mark, (′). Moreover, in the following description, the side of the modular socket  2  represents the front side, the side of the modular socket  2 ′ represents the rear side, and the upper and lower direction is represented in exactly the same manner as that shown in FIG.  7 . 
     The modular socket  2  is integrally molded by a synthetic resin, for example. The outer configuration of the modular socket  2  comprises a rear half portion (hereinafter referred to as a modular socket rear portion)  10  of approximately a cylindrical shape, a rear end portion  11  of an annular shape with an outer diameter smaller than that of the modular socket rear portion  10  and whose inner diameter is slightly smaller than that of the modular socket rear portion  10 , the rear end portion  11  being slightly protruded from the modular socket rear portion  10  in the rearward, a front half portion (hereinafter referred to as a modular socket front portion)  12  of approximately a cylindrical shape having an outer diameter slightly smaller than that of the modular socket rear portion  10 , a front end portion  13  having an outer diameter slightly smaller than that of the modular socket front portion  12  and which is projected from the modular socket front portion  12  in the front direction and the connector coupling recess  14  opened at a front end surface  13   a  of the front end portion  13  and which can detachably couple the modular connector (not shown) of the curl cord, for example. Incidentally, the rear end portion  11 , the modular socket rear portion  10 , the modular socket front portion  12  and the front end portion  13  are formed so as to become coaxial with one another and have predetermined stepped differences at their boundary portions. The modular socket  2  has at upper predetermined portions predetermined holes  12   a ,  12   b  bored in the vertical direction across the boundary portion between the front portion  12  and the front end portion  13 . 
     As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the modular socket  2  includes a terminal portion  20  having four modular terminals  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 . Also, the modular socket  2  includes four long terminal arrangement grooves  16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c ,  16   d  in which the respective modular terminals  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  are disposed. Inclined portions  21   b ,  22   b ,  23   b ,  24   b  of the modular terminals  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  and which are the same length extended in approximately the rear direction are protruded from the terminal arrangement grooves  16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c ,  16   d.    
     As shown in FIG. 8, the terminal portion  20  of the modular socket  2  includes four terminal arrangement grooves  25   a ,  25   b ,  25   c ,  25   d  in which the modular terminals  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  are disposed, respectively. In this embodiment, there are protruded erect portions  21   c ,  22   c ,  23   c ,  24   c  of the modular terminals  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  approximately upward from the terminal arrangement grooves  25   a ,  25   b ,  25   c ,  25   d , and which are substantially the same in length extended so as to draw approximately a part of a concentric circle. Also, the modular socket  2  has on its rear surface a protruded portion  17  of approximately a cylindrical shape projected rearwardly from the axis of approximately the circular rear surface. In this embodiment, the tip end portions of the erect portions  21   c ,  22   c ,  23   c ,  24   c  include hook-like sliding contact portions  21   d ,  22   d ,  23   d ,  24   d , respectively. In this embodiment, each of the sliding contact portions  21   d ,  22   d ,  23   d ,  24   d  is bifurcated from the tip end by a break, for example. 
     The terminal portion  20  of the modular socket  2  will be described with reference to FIG. 9, for example. As shown in FIG. 9, the terminal portion  20  comprises a terminal portion front portion  20   a  forming approximately a housing having a side surface of a predetermined thickness without an upper surface and a bottom surface, a terminal portion rear portion  20   b  in which a lower portion forms a part of a disk having approximately the same outer diameter as the inner diameter of the rear end portion  11  of the modular socket  2 , an intermediate portion forms approximately a rectangular parallelepiped and an upper portion forms approximately a plate and the four modular terminals  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 . Also, the modular terminals  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  include intermediate portions  21   a ,  22   a ,  23   a ,  24   a  penetrating the inside of the terminal portion front portion  20   a  and the terminal portion rear portion  20   b  in the front and rear direction, the inclined portions  21   b ,  22   b ,  23   b ,  24   b  and the erect portions  21   c ,  22   c ,  23   c ,  24   c . In this embodiment, the rear portions of the intermediate portions  21   a ,  22   a ,  23   a ,  24   a  are respectively bent or curved to pass through terminal arrangement grooves  25   a ,  25   b ,  25   c ,  25   d  provided at the desired positions. In this embodiment, the terminal portion rear portion  20   b  has on its bottom portion provided an engagement protrusion  26 . 
     Moreover, as shown in FIG. 10, in the modular socket  2 , the engagement protrusion  26  formed on the lower portion of the terminal portion  20  is engaged with the inner surface of an engagement hole  10   a  bored in the lower portion of the modular socket rear portion  10  and the terminal portion front portion  20   a  is engaged with an engagement groove  12   c  which forms a groove of approximately a rectangular parallelepiped shape which is substantially the same in shape as that of the terminal portion  20   a , thereby resulting in the terminal portion  20  being attached to the lower portion of the modular socket front portion  12 . In this case, in this embodiment, of the front surface of the terminal portion front portion  20   a , the left and right surfaces or the like except the surface of the central portion to which the modular terminals  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  are protruded are engaged with the engagement groove  12   a . In this embodiment, a band-shaped reinforcing plate  27  is disposed from each of the intermediate portions  21   a ,  22   a ,  23   a ,  24   a  of the modular terminals  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  to each of the inclined portions  21   b ,  22   b ,  23   b ,  24   b  as shown in FIG.  10 . 
     As shown in FIG. 11, for example, with respect to the surface of the side to which the modular socket  2  is joined, the connection member  3  comprises a cylindrical portion  31  having an outer diameter slightly larger than the rear end portion  11  of the modular socket  2  and whose inner diameter is substantially the same as that of the rear end portion  11  of the modular socket  2 , a protruded portion  32  of a cylindrical shape having a vertical width approximately the same as that of the cylindrical portion  31  formed at the central portion of the axis of the connection member  3  and which has a joint hole  32   a  having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the protruded portion  17  of the modular socket  2  and four terminal plates  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36  of disk-like shapes formed on the inner wall of approximately the central positions of the front and rear direction of the cylindrical portion  31  and which are positioned concentrically. Incidentally, the cylindrical portion  31  has on its front surface formed a contact portion  31   a  of approximately a circular-band shape which contacts with the rear end portion  11  of the modular socket  2  upon assembly. Further, an outer wall portion  31   b  which is an outer wall portion of the cylindrical portion  31  includes five rotation-prevention protrusions  37   a ,  37   b ,  37   c ,  37   d ,  37   e . The rotation-prevention protrusions  37   a ,  37   b ,  37   c ,  37   d ,  37   e  have predetermined widths shorter than the vertical width of the cylindrical portion  31  in the direction from the front end of the cylindrical portion  31  to the rear direction. Also, the respective terminal plates  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36  are formed at positions corresponding to the respective sliding contact portions  21   d ,  22   d ,  23   d ,  24   d  of the modular terminals  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24 . 
     As shown in FIG. 12, the connection member  3  has on its surface of the side to which the modular socket  2 ′ is joined a joining portion  31   c  which is a portion where the connection member  3  is joined to the modular socket  2 ′ On the surface of this joining portion  31   c  side, there are formed maze-like wall portions  38  by a synthetic resin, for example. The positions at which the wall portions  38  are formed are approximately the half of the surface to which the modular socket  2 ′ is joined. In the range of approximately the remaining half, there are exposed the four terminal plates  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36  which are shaped as concentric circles. A member for holding the terminal plates  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36  is integrally molded with the connection member  3  by a synthetic resin. 
     As earlier described with reference to FIG. 6, the connector device  1  according to this embodiment includes the case front portion  4  for housing the modular socket  2  and the front half portion of the connection member  3  in a desired state and the case rear portion  5  for housing the rear half portion of the connection member  3  and the modular socket  2 ′ in a desired state. These two cases  4 ,  5  house the two modular sockets  2 ,  2 ′ and the connection member  3  in a desired state to construct the connector device according to this embodiment. 
     The case front portion  4  is integrally molded by a synthetic resin in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 13, the case front portion  4  has an outer configuration of approximately a frustum of circular cone in the front and rear direction and is hollow in the front and rear direction. The case front portion  4  comprises a front end portion  41  having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the front end portion  13  of the modular socket  2 , a socket housing portion  42  for housing themodular socket front portion  12 , the modular socket rear portion  10  and the portion of the rear end portion  11  and a rear end portion  43  having a predetermined inner diameter. A boundary portion between the socket housing portion  42  and the rear end portion  43  has on its inner wall a predetermined stepped difference portion  42   a . The rear end portion  43  forms portions rearwardly extended from other portions at the two positions in the upper and lower direction. Engagement holes  43   a ,  43   b  for joining the case front portion  4  to the case rear portion  5  are bored through such extended portions, respectively. In this embodiment, at a desired position of the inner wall of the rear end portion  43 , there is formed a positioning protrusion  44  protruded toward the center of the axis. This positioning protrusion  44  is rearwardly protruded from a predetermined one portion of the stepped difference portion  42   a  and is formed on the inner wall surface of the rear end portion  43 . 
     As shown in a cross-sectional view of FIG. 14, in the case front portion  4 , the inner wall surface of the front end portion  41  is slightly protruded backwardly around the whole circumference thereof to form a protruded portion  41   a . This protruded portion  41   a  comes in contact with a circular-band-shaped surface formed by the stepped difference between the modular socket front portion  12  and the front end portion  13  of the modular socket  2  when the modular socket  2  is housed in the case front portion  4 . The inner diameter of a socket housing portion front portion  42   b  forming the front half portion of the socket housing portion  42  is made slightly larger than the outer diameter of the modular socket front portion  12 . The socket housing portion front portion  42   b  houses approximately the front half portion of the modular socket front portion  12  when the modular socket  2  is housed. The width of the socket housing portion  42  in the front and rear direction is determined in such a manner that the positions of the stepped difference portion  42   a  and the rear end of the modular socket  2  become coincident with each other with respect to the front and rear direction when the modular socket  2  is housed. The inner diameter of the stepped difference portion  42   a  is made slightly larger than the outer diameter of the rear end portion  11  of the modular socket  2 . 
     The case rear portion  5  is integrally molded by a synthetic resin in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 15, the case rear portion  5  has an outer configuration of approximately a frustum of circular cone in the front and rear direction and is hollow in the front and rear direction. The case rear portion  5  according to this embodiment comprises a rear end portion  51 , a socket housing portion  52  and a front end portion  53 . In this embodiment, in this case rear portion  5 , in order to house the modular socket  2 ′ which is approximately the same as that modular socket  2 , the rear end portion  51  is shaped in substantially the same manner as the front end portion  41  of the case front portion  4 , and the socket housing portion  52  is shaped in substantially the same manner as the socket housing portion  42  of the case front portion  4 . The front end portion  53  has approximately a cylindrical shape having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the rear end portion  53  and which has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion  31  of the connection member  3 . Incidentally, the front end portion  53  has upper and lower two portions wider than those of other portions in the rearward direction, and coupling protrusions  53   a ,  53   b  for coupling the case rear portion  5  to the case front portion  4  are formed on such wide portions. 
     The boundary portion between the socket housing portion  52  and the front end portion  53  forms a predetermined stepped difference portion  52   a  along the outer wall. This stepped difference portion  52  is shaped in such a manner as to contact with the end face  43   c  of the rear end portion of the case front portion  4  without a substantial clearance therebetween. Also, in this embodiment, on the inner wall of the socket housing portion  52 , there are formed five rotation-prevention grooves  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   c ,  54   d ,  54   e  in correspondence with the rotation-prevention protrusions  37   a ,  37   b ,  37   c ,  37   d ,  37   e  of the connection member  3 . The front end of the front end portion  53  is shaped in such a manner as to contact with the stepped difference portion  42   a  of the case front portion  4  without a substantial clearance. Further, in this embodiment, on the inner wall of the front end portion  53 , there is formed a positioning groove  55  corresponding to the positioning protrusion  44  of the case front portion  4 . Also, on the inner wall of the socket housing portion  52 , there is formed a protruded portion  56  which is fitted into the groove  18 ′ of the housed modular socket  2 ′. 
     As shown in a cross-sectional view of FIG. 16, the case rear portion  5  has a protruded portion  51   a  which is formed by slightly protruding the inner wall surface of the rear end portion  51  around the whole circumference in the front direction. The protruded portion  51   a  has approximately the same shape as that of the protruded portion  41   a  of the case front portion  4 . The housing portion rear portion  52   b  forming the rear half portion of the socket housing portion  52  has approximately the same shape as that of the housing portion front portion  42   b  of the case front portion  4 . Incidentally, the socket housing portion  52  determines its width and so on in the front and rear direction in exactly the same manner as the socket housing portion  42  of the case front portion  4 . 
     The assemble process of the connector device according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.  17 . As shown in FIG. 17, the front surface of the modular socket  2 ′ and the rear surface of the connection member  3  are joined to each other. In this joint, the protruded portion  17 ′ of the modular socket  2 ′ is inserted into the joint hole  32   a  of the connection member  3  so as to keep the same coaxial, and the joining portion  31   c  of the connection member  3  is bonded to the rear end portion  11 ′ of the modular socket  2 ′ by a suitable means such as an adhesive. At that time, the sliding contact portions  21   d ′,  22   d ′,  23   d ′,  24   d ′ of the modular terminals  21 ′,  22 ′,  23 ′,  24 ′ are respectively brought in contact with the corresponding terminal plates  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36  and then connected together electrically. 
     Then, the modular socket  2 ′ and the connection member  3  that are made integral by the bonding are housed into the case rear portion  5 . When themodular socket  2 ′ and the connection member  3  are housed into the case rear portion  5 , the rotation-prevention protrusions  37   a ,  37   b ,  37   c ,  37   d ,  37   e  of the connection member  3  are engaged with the rotation-prevention grooves  54   a ,  54   b ,  54   c ,  54   d ,  54   e  of the case rear portion  5 , respectively. At that time, the stepped difference surface between the modular socket front portion  12  and the front end portion  13  of the modular socket  2 ′ contacts with the protruded portion  51   a  of the case rear portion  5 , and the rear end of the case rear portion  5  and the rear end of the modular socket  2 ′ agree with each other approximately. Also, the end face  53   c  of the case rear portion  5  and the connection portion  31   a  of the connection member  3  agree with each other in the front and rear direction. Further, the protruded portion  56  on the inner wall of the case rear portion  5  is fitted into the groove  18 ′ of the modular socket  2 ′, whereby the modular socket  2 ′ and the connection member  3  are housed in the case rear portion  5  of the modular socket  2 ′ in such a manner that they can be prevented from being rotated. 
     Then, the protruded portion  17  of the modular socket  2  is inserted into the joint hole  32  of the connection member  3  housed in the case rear portion  5  to thereby keep the both coaxial. Then, the case front portion  4  is coupled to the case rear portion  5  in such a manner that the case front portion  4  covers the modular socket  2 . When the case front portion  4  is coupled to the case rear portion  5 , the positioning protrusion  44  of the case front portion  4  is engaged with the positioning groove  55  of the case rear portion  5 , and at the same time the coupling holes  43   a ,  43   b  of the case front portion  4  are engaged with the coupling protrusions  53   a ,  53   b  of the case rear portion  5 , respectively. At that time, the circular-band-shaped surface of the rear end of the modular socket  2  and the sliding contact portion  31   a  of the connection member  3  are brought in contact with each other, and the sliding contact portions  21   d ,  22   d ,  23   d ,  24   d  of the modular terminals  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  of the modular socket  2  are brought in contact with the corresponding terminal plates  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36  at two points, respectively. Also, the modular socket  2  can be freely rotated with respect to the cases  4 ,  5  and the like around the axis direction. When the modular socket  2  is rotated, the terminal plates  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36  and the sliding contact portions  21   d ,  22   d ,  23   d ,  24   d  are constantly contacted with one another at two points, respectively. 
     The connector device thus assembled is shaped like a barrel as shown in FIG.  6 . In this embodiment, in the inside of the case front portion  4  and the case rear portion  5  thus jointed, there are provided the connection member  3  and the modular connector  2 ′ which are prevented from being rotated with respect to the case front portion  4  and the case rear portion  5 , and the modular connector  2  connected to the connection member  3  in such a manner that it can be freely rotated with respect to the case front portion  4  and the case rear portion  5 . Also, the front and rear connector coupling recesses  14 ,  14 ′ are exposed to be contacted to the outside. 
     The manner in which the connector device  1  is used will be described below. For example, the modular socket  2  is coupled to the modular connector provided at one end of the curl cord, and the modular connector  2 ′ is connected to the telephone body through the plug device  6  having the modular connectors  62 ,  63  at the front and rear portions. In this manner, the curl cord can be freely rotated around the axis direction with respect to the modular connector coupled to the modular socket  2 ′. When the curl cord is rotated, the terminal plates  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36  and predetermined contact portions of the sliding contact portions  21   d ,  22   d ,  23   d ,  24   d  of the corresponding modular terminals  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  are constantly brought in contact with one another in such a manner that they may be slid relatively. That is, when a twisting force is applied to the curl cord or the modular connector coupled to the modular socket  2 ′ or either of them, the curl cord can be rotated together with the modular socket  2  while keeping an electrical connection, thereby preventing the curl cord from being twisted. 
     According to the above-mentioned arrangement, without using expensive assemblies, it is possible to prevent the telephone cord from being twisted by the simple arrangement. Also, since the sliding contact portions  21   d ,  22   d ,  23   d ,  24   d  of the modular terminals  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  are bifurcated and brought in contact with the corresponding terminal plates  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36  at two points, respectively, even when the contact of any one point is broken and the sliding contact portions  21   d ,  22   d ,  23   d ,  24   d  can be satisfactorily contacted with the terminal plates  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36 , thereby making it possible to prevent a noise from being caused due to the unsatisfactory contacts between the contact portions. Further, since the contact portions of the front and rear modular terminals  21 ,  22 ,  23 ,  24  and  21 ′,  22 ′,  23 ′,  24 ′ are formed as the same assemblies (front and rear of the terminal plates  33 ,  34 ,  35 ,  36  in this embodiment) and the two modular sockets  2 ,  2 ′ are formed as approximately the same structure, it is possible to suppress the number of interposed assemblies to the minimum, and the occurrence of noises can be prevented. 
     Also, in the case of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, since the connector device  1  and the plug device  6  are formed as the separate devices, only the connector device  1  is used and two telephone cords are connected to the front and the rear of the connector device  1 , whereby the telephone cord can be extended to a desired length. Also in this case, it is possible to prevent the telephone cord from being twisted. 
     While the above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention includes the two modular sockets in the front and rear sides as described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and instead of one modular socket, the modular socket, for example, is arranged such that the connector portion may be protruded from the case and may be directly connected to the telephone body. In this case, any modular connector may be used as long as the modular connector can be housed in the case and can be positively connected to the terminal plates of the connection a member electrically. Incidentally, while the sliding contact portions are bifurcated as described above, the sliding contact portions are not limited to the bifurcated sliding contact portions and the sliding contact portions may be divided into more than two so as to have many contacts. Alternatively, the sliding contact portions need not be bifurcated. 
     While the two modular sockets having approximately the same arrangement are used in the above-mentioned embodiment, the two modular sockets need not always be arranged in exactly the same manner. When one modular socket is coupled to the case and the connection member so as not to rotate, as long as the modular socket maybe connected electrically with a reliability, the modular socket may not have sliding contact portions of the modular terminals or the like. 
     The connector device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment and can of course take various modifications and variations. 
     Having described a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications could be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.