Connector and connection structure

A connector comprises a housing, a contact and a connection structure. The connection structure is a structure other than the housing and comprises a conductive member, a protection portion and an electric-shock prevention portion. The conductive member has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is attached to or integrally formed with the contact. The protection portion covers a part of the conductive member, which is positioned between the first end portion and the second end portion. The housing has an accommodation portion formed therewithin. The accommodation portion has an opening. The contact is accommodated in the accommodation portion together with the first end portion of the conductive member. The electric-shock prevention portion, at least in part, blocks the opening of the accommodation portion and obstructs entrance of a finger into the accommodation portion beyond the electric-shock prevention portion.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No. JP2016-014836 filed Jan. 28, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a large current connector which is, for example, used in an electric vehicle such as an electric car.

For example, this type of connector is disclosed in JP A 2014-238929 (Patent Document 1), the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Referring toFIG. 26, Patent Document 1 discloses a second connector (connector)900which comprises a second housing (housing)910made of insulator, two second power terminals (contacts)920each made of conductor and two cables930each coated with insulation. The cables930are connected to the contacts920, respectively. The housing910has two accommodation portions912formed therewithin, wherein the accommodation portions912correspond to the contacts920, respectively. Each of the accommodation portions912has an opening (not shown) which is positioned at a lower end, or the negative Z-side end, thereof. Each of the contacts920is inserted into the corresponding accommodation portion912from below together with an upper end, or the positive Z-side end, of the cable930and accommodated within the accommodation portion912, so that electric shock, which might be caused because of contact with the conductive body such as the contacts920and the core wires of the cables930, can be prevented.

Referring toFIGS. 26 and 27, the contact920is connected to a connection structure other than the cable930depending on usage of the connector900. For example, the contact920is sometimes connected to a bus bar940.

As described above, the contact may be connected to a variety of connection structures such as a cable and a bus bar depending on usage of the connector. The accommodation portion of the housing is preferred to have a shape which allows easy insertion of the specific connection structure which is actually connected to the contact. Therefore, the housing of the existing connector is formed so as to be suitable to the shape of the specific connection structure. However, there is a request that the housing is standardized for various connection structures so that manufacturing cost can be reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector which meets the aforementioned request.

When the housing is merely standardized, electric shock might be insufficiently prevented depending on the shape of the connection structure. For example, after a plate-like connection structure such as a bus bar is inserted in the accommodation portion, a gap might exist at the opening of the accommodation portion, and the gap might allow passage of a finger. In this case, the connector needs to comprise an insulating body (electric-shock prevention portion) which blocks the gap of the accommodation portion. This electric-shock prevention portion needs to be formed separately from the housing so that the housing can be standardized. In addition, from a view point of easy insertion of the connection structure into the accommodation portion, the electric-shock prevention portion needs to be provided so as to correspond to the connection structure. The present invention provides a connector which meets these various requests. Specifically, the present invention provides a connector described below.

An aspect of the present invention provides a connector having a fit portion fittable to a mating connector. The connector comprises a housing, a contact and a connection structure. The connection structure is a structure other than the housing and comprises a conductive member, a protection portion and an electric-shock prevention portion. The conductive member has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is attached to or integrally formed with the contact. The protection portion covers a part of the conductive member, which is positioned between the first end portion and the second end portion. The housing has an accommodation portion formed therewithin. The accommodation portion has a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is positioned at the fit portion. The second opening is positioned at a part other than the fit portion. The contact is accommodated in the accommodation portion together with the first end portion of the conductive member. The electric-shock prevention portion, at least in part, blocks the second opening of the accommodation portion and obstructs entrance of a finger into the accommodation portion beyond the electric-shock prevention portion.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a connector having a fit portion fittable to a mating connector. The connector comprises a housing, two or more contacts and two or more connection structures. The connection structures are separated from one another and correspond to the contacts, respectively. Each of the connection structures is a structure other than the housing and comprises a conductive member, a protection portion and an electric-shock prevention portion. In each of the connection structures, the conductive member has a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion is attached to or integrally formed with the corresponding contact, and the protection portion covers a part of the conductive member, which is positioned between the first end portion and the second end portion. The housing has two or more accommodation portions formed therewithin. The accommodation portions correspond to the contacts, respectively, and are separated from one another. Each of the accommodation portions has a first opening and a second opening. Each of the first openings is positioned at the fit portion. Each of the second openings is positioned at a part other than the fit portion. Each of the contacts is accommodated in the corresponding accommodation portion together with the first end portion of the conductive member of the corresponding connection structure. Each of the electric-shock prevention portions, at least in part, blocks the second opening of the corresponding accommodation portion and obstructs entrance of a finger into the accommodation portion beyond the electric-shock prevention portion.

Still another aspect of the present invention provides a connection structure attachable to a housing of a connector. The housing is formed with an accommodation portion having an opening. The connection structure comprises a conductive member, a protection portion and an electric-shock prevention portion. The conductive member has a first end portion and a second end portion. The protection portion covers a part of the conductive member, which is positioned between the first end portion and the second end portion. Under a state where the connection structure is attached to the housing, the first end portion is accommodated in the accommodation portion, and the electric-shock prevention portion, at least in part, blocks the opening of the accommodation portion and obstructs entrance of a finger into the accommodation portion beyond the electric-shock prevention portion.

The connection structure according to an aspect of the present invention is a structure other than the housing. Moreover, the first end portion of the conductive member is attached to or integrally formed with the contact. For example, when the second opening of the accommodation portion is formed to be sufficiently large, any connection structure can be inserted into the accommodation portion through the second opening together with the contact. The housing with the aforementioned second opening can be standardized for various connection structures.

Moreover, according to an aspect of the present invention, the electric-shock prevention portion prevents electric shock. In detail, the electric-shock prevention portion, at least in part, blocks the opening of the accommodation portion and obstructs the entrance of the finger into the accommodation portion beyond the electric-shock prevention portion. Moreover, the electric-shock prevention portion is provided so as to correspond to the connection structure other than the housing. Therefore, the connection structure can be easily inserted into the accommodation portion while the housing is standardized.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG. 1, a connector10according to an embodiment of the present invention is a large current connector which is used, for example, in an electric vehicle such as an electric car. Further referring toFIGS. 18 and 19, the connector10is mateable with a mating connector80along a mating direction (Z-direction). Under a mated state where the connector10and the mating connector80are mated with each other, a large current flows through the connector device comprising the connector10and the mating connector80. However, the present invention can be applicable to various connectors different from the aforementioned connector10.

Referring toFIG. 18, the mating connector80comprises a mating housing810made of insulator and an operation member820made of insulator. The operation member820is supported by the mating housing810so as to be operable. Referring toFIG. 19, the mating connector80is mated with the connector10by an operation such as a turning operation applied to the operation member820. Further referring toFIG. 6, the mating connector80comprises a mating contact830made of conductor. The mating contact830according to the present embodiment is a pin which is held by the mating housing810.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 5 and 7, the connector10according to the present embodiment comprises a housing20made of insulator, two contacts30each made of conductor and two connection structures40.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 7, the two connection structures40include a connection structure42and a connection structure44. The connection structure42and the connection structure44have shapes different from each other. However, as describe later, the connection structure42and the connection structure44have basic structures same as each other. In the following explanation, except in explanation in which the connection structure42and the connection structure44need to be distinguished from each other, each of the connection structure42and the connection structure44is referred to as the connection structure40.

Referring toFIG. 7, the two connection structures40correspond to the contacts30, respectively. Thus, the connector10according to the present embodiment comprises two connection sets each of which consists of one of the contacts30and one of the connection structures40corresponding to each other. The connector10may comprise three or more of the connection sets or may comprise only one of the connection sets. In other words, the connector10may comprise two or more of the contacts30and two or more of the connection structures40which correspond to the contacts30, respectively, or may comprise only one of the contacts30and only one of the connection structures40.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 6, the housing20has an outer wall210. The outer wall210is provided to an upper part, or the positive Z-side part, of the housing20and has a rectangular cylindrical shape which is long in a front-rear direction (X-direction) and is short in a lateral direction (Y-direction). Referring toFIGS. 1 and 18, the connector10has a fit portion12, and the mating connector80has a mating fit portion82. In the present embodiment, the fit portion12is a space enclosed by the outer wall210, and the mating fit portion82is formed of the most part of the mating housing810excluding an upper end portion, or the positive Z-side end portion, thereof.

Referring toFIG. 19together withFIG. 1, under the mated state of the connector10with the mating connector80, the mating fit portion82is received in the fit portion12. In other words, the fit portion12according to the present embodiment receives the mating fit portion82to be fit to the mating connector80. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the fit portion of the connector may be the whole of an upper part of the connector10including the outer wall of the housing, and the mating fit portion of the mating connector may be a space formed within the mating housing. In this case, the fit portion is received into the mating fit portion to be fit to the mating connector.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 6, the housing20has a holding portion220. The holding portion220is formed of two upper holding portions222and one lower holding portion224. The upper holding portions222are enclosed by the outer wall210in the XY-plane, and the lower holding portion224is positioned below the outer wall210, or positioned at the negative Z-side of the housing20beyond the outer wall210. In other words, the upper holding portions222are positioned within the fit portion12, and the lower holding portion224is positioned at a side opposite to the fit portion12in the Z-direction. The two upper holding portions222are apart from each other in the X-direction. Each of the upper holding portions222and the lower holding portion224has a rectangular cylindrical shape as a whole and extends along the Z-direction.

Referring toFIG. 6, the housing20is formed with two accommodation portions230which correspond to the two contacts30, respectively. Each of the accommodation portions230is a space formed within the holding portion220and extends along the Z-direction. The two accommodation portions230are apart from each other in the X-direction and particularly separated from each other. In detail, the two accommodation portions230have upper parts, respectively, wherein the upper parts are formed within the two upper holding portions222, respectively, and this formation separates the two accommodation portions230from each other. Moreover, the two accommodation portions230have lower parts, or the negative Z-side parts, respectively, wherein the lower parts are formed within the lower holding portion224and separated from each other by a separation wall228.

According to the present embodiment, since the number of the contacts30is two, the number of the accommodation portions230is two. However, the housing20may be formed with two or more of the accommodation portions230which correspond to two or more of the contacts30, respectively. Moreover, when the connector10is provided with only one of the contacts30, only one of the accommodation portions230may be formed to correspond to the one contact30.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 4 to 6, each of the accommodation portions230opens at an upper end of the corresponding upper holding portion222and opens at a lower end, or the negative Z-side end, of the lower holding portion224. In other words, each of the accommodation portions230has a first opening232and a second opening (opening)234, wherein the first opening232is positioned at the upper end of the corresponding upper holding portion222, and the second opening234is positioned at the lower end of the lower holding portion224. Each of the first openings232is positioned at the fit portion12. Each of the second openings234is positioned at a side opposite to the fit portion12in the Z-direction. Thus, in each of the accommodation portions230, the first opening232and the second opening234are positioned at opposite sides in the Z-direction, respectively.

Referring toFIGS. 6 and 7, in the present embodiment, the two contacts30have shapes which are mirror symmetric to each other with respect to the YZ-plane. Each of the contacts30has a body portion310, a contact portion320and an attached portion330. The body portion310has a rectangular cylindrical shape. The body portion310is provided with a locked portion314which protrudes inward in the X-direction. The contact portion320is provided within the body portion310. The attached portion330is positioned below the body portion310and has a flat-plate shape. The attached portion330is formed with an attachment hole332. The attachment hole332passes through the attached portion330in the Y-direction.

Referring toFIG. 6, each of the contacts30according to the present embodiment is a socket in which the mating contact830is receivable. However, the contact may be a pin which is receivable in the mating contact. Moreover, the two contacts30may have shapes same as each other.

Referring toFIGS. 7, 8 and 14, each of the connection structures40comprises a conductive member50made of metal and a protection member60made of insulator. The two conductive members50are separated from each other, and the two protection members60are separated from each other. Moreover, each of the conductive members50is separable from the housing20, and each of the protection members60is separable from the housing20. In other words, each of the connection structures40is a structure other than the housing20. Moreover, each of the connection structures40is a structure other than each of the contacts30.

Referring toFIG. 7, each of the conductive members50is formed by bending a single metal plate having flat-plate shape. In other words, each of the conductive members50is a single metal plate with bends. The two conductive members50of the connection structure42and the connection structure44are punched out and bent to have shapes different from each other. However, the two conductive members50have basic structures same as each other. More specifically, the conductive member50of each of the connection structures40has a first end portion (end portion)510, a second end portion520and a body portion530. In each of the connection structures40, the body portion530extends long with bends, and the first end portion510and the second end portion520are provided at opposite ends of the body portion530, respectively.

The body portions530of the two conductive members50have shapes different from each other. In detail, the body portion530of the connection structure42is bent so that the first end portion510is positioned in the XZ-plane and the second end portion520is positioned in the XY-plane. The body portion530of the connection structure44is bent so that each of the first end portion510and the second end portion520is positioned in the XZ-plane.

The first end portions510of the two conductive members50have shapes same as each other and sizes same as each other. In detail, each of the first end portions510has a flat-plate shape which is in parallel to the XZ-plane and is formed with an attachment hole512. The attachment hole512passes through the first end portion510in the Y-direction. The second end portions520of the two conductive members50have shapes same as each other and sizes same as each other but are arranged differently. In detail, each of the second end portions520, excluding its end portion, has a flat-plate shape which is in parallel to a predetermined plane (the XY-plane or the XZ-plane) and is formed with an attachment hole522. The attachment hole522passes through the second end portion520in a direction (the Z-direction or the Y-direction) perpendicular to the predetermined plane.

Referring toFIGS. 7, 8 and 14, in each of the connection structures40, the protection member60is molded of a material such as resin to have a shape corresponding to the conductive member50. Therefore, the two protection members60have shapes different from each other. However, the two protection members60have basic structures same as each other. More specifically, the protection member60of each of the connection structures40has a protection portion610and an electric-shock prevention portion650. Thus, each of the connection structures40comprises the protection portion610and the electric-shock prevention portion650. In each of the protection members60, the protection portion610extends long with bends like the body portion530of the corresponding conductive member50, and the electric-shock prevention portion650is provided at one of ends of the protection portion610.

According to the present embodiment, in each of the connection structures40, the electric-shock prevention portion650is integrally formed with the protection portion610. In other words, in each of the connection structures40, each of the protection portion610and the electric-shock prevention portion650is a part of the protection member60. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the electric-shock prevention portion650may be formed separately from the protection portion610. In other words, the electric-shock prevention portion650may be a member other than the protection member60. In this case, the electric-shock prevention portion650may be or may not be attached to the protection portion610of the protection member60.

Referring toFIGS. 12 and 16, the protection portions610of the two protection members60are formed to have shapes correspond to the body portions530of the conductive members50, respectively. Therefore, the protection portions610have shapes different from each other. In detail, further referring toFIGS. 8 and 14, each of the protection portions610has two plate-like portions620and one coupling portion630. In each of the connection structures40, each of the plate-like portions620has a plate shape with bends like the body portion530of the conductive member50. In each of the protection portions610, the plate-like portions620extend in parallel to each other, and the coupling portion630couples a predetermined edge of one of the two plate-like portions620to a predetermined edge of a remaining one of the two plate-like portions620. As a result, each of the protection portions610is formed with a channel62. Each of the channels62opens at edges opposite to the predetermined edges of the two plate-like portions620and opens at opposite ends of the protection portion610.

The electric-shock prevention portions650of the two protection members60have shapes similar to each other and sizes similar to each other. In detail, each of the electric-shock prevention portions650has a flat-plate shape as a whole and extends in parallel to the XY-plane. Each of the electric-shock prevention portions650is formed with a cut652. In each of the protection members60, the cut652is a space which has a cross-sectional shape same as that of the channel62in the XY-plane, so that the channel62opens upward, or in the positive Z-direction, via the cut652.

Referring toFIG. 7, each of the conductive members50is inserted in the channel62of the corresponding protection member60. Referring toFIGS. 12 and 16, in each of the connection structures40, the body portion530of the thus-inserted conductive member50is accommodated within the channel62, while the first end portion510and the second end portion520of the conductive member50project out of the opposite ends of the protection portion610, respectively.

Referring toFIGS. 12, 13, 16 and 17, in each of the connection structures40, the protection portion610of the protection member60has a U-like shaped cross-section64in a perpendicular plane perpendicular to an extending direction along which the conductive member50extends. As can be seen from the positional relation between the cross-section64and the body portion530shown inFIGS. 13 and 17, in each of the connection structures40, a part of the conductive member50, or the body portion530, is positioned in the cross-section64, or within the protection portion610in the perpendicular plane perpendicular to the extending direction along which the conductive member50extends. In other words, in each of the connection structures40, the conductive member50is partially positioned within the channel62. In particular, in each of the connection structures40according to the present embodiment, the body portion530of the conductive member50is wholly positioned within the channel62.

Referring toFIGS. 3, 8, 12, 13, 14, 16 and 17, the protection portion610of each of the protection members60has a plurality of holding sets each of which consists of two holding projections622. The two holding projections622of each of the holding sets are provided to the two plate-like portions620of the protection portion610, respectively, and project toward each other within the channel62. In each of the connection structures40, each of the thus-formed holding sets sandwiches the conductive member50in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the conductive member50and holds the conductive member50within the channel62.

According to the present embodiment, since each of the protection portions610is provided with the holding projections622, the corresponding conductive member50can be securely held within the channel62. Moreover, in each of the connection structures40, the conductive member50can be smoothly inserted into the channel62while surface contact between the conductive member50and the plate-like portion620can be avoided. Moreover, the provision of the protection portions610prevents collision noise between the conductive member50and the protection portion610, which might be generated because of vibration.

The protection portion610of each of the protection members60has a plurality of coming-off prevention projections624in addition to the holding projections622. In detail, each of the plate-like portions620of each of the protection members60is provided with one of the coming-off prevention projections624which is positioned within the channel62. In each of the protection members60, each of the coming-off prevention projections624projects from one of the plate-like portions620toward a remaining one of the plate-like portions620beyond the holding projection622. In each of the connection structures40, the thus-formed coming-off prevention projection624prevents the conductive member50, which is held within the channel62, from coming off the channel62of the protection portion610.

Referring toFIGS. 13 and 17, each of the coming-off prevention projections624has a perpendicular surface624P which is positioned within the channel62. The perpendicular surface624P is perpendicular to a body-portion-insertion direction, or an insertion direction along which the body portion530of the conductive member50is inserted into the channel62, wherein the body-portion-insertion direction according to the present embodiment is one of the positive X-direction and the negative X-direction. The thus-formed perpendicular surface624P further reliably prevents the conductive member50from coming off the channel62.

Referring toFIGS. 3, 13, 16 and 17, each of the coming-off prevention projections624is provided so as to correspond to the two holding projections622of one of the holding sets. In detail, each of the coming-off prevention projections624is positioned outward of one of the corresponding two holding projections622in the aforementioned body-portion-insertion direction and has a tapered surface624T which is a surface opposite to the perpendicular surface624P. Moreover, a remaining one of the two holding projections622corresponding to the coming-off prevention projection624has a tapered surface622T corresponding to the tapered surface624T. The tapered surface622T and the tapered surface624T, which correspond to each other, slope toward an opening of the channel62so as to away from each other. Since the tapered surface622T and the tapered surface624T are thus formed, the tapered surface622T and the tapered surface624T guide the insertion of the body portion530into the channel62together with tapered surfaces620T of the two plate-like portions620.

Referring toFIGS. 1, 3 and 9, in each of the protection members60, the coupling portion630is formed with a plurality of apertures632. Referring toFIGS. 3 and 9, some of the holding projections622and the coming-off prevention projections624are visible through the apertures632.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, each of the protection members60is provided with the holding projections622and the coming-off prevention projections624, so that the body portion530of the corresponding conductive member50can be smoothly inserted into the channel62and can be reliably held within the channel62. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, each of the holding projections622and the coming-off prevention projections624may have a shape different from that of the present embodiment. Moreover, the protection member60may hold the corresponding conductive member50with use of a portion other than the holding projections622and the coming-off prevention projections624. Moreover, the conductive member50may be held by the corresponding protection member60via insert-molding.

Referring toFIGS. 10 to 12 and 14 to 16, each of the electric-shock prevention portions650has an accommodated surface660and an exposed surface670. The accommodated surface660is an upper surface, or the positive Z-side surface, of the electric-shock prevention portion650while the exposed surface670is a lower surface, or the negative Z-side surface, of the electric-shock prevention portion650. Referring toFIGS. 10, 12, 14 and 16, the accommodated surface660is a smooth plane with no irregularities. In contrast, referring toFIGS. 11, 12, 15 and 16, the exposed surface670is a plane with irregularities. In detail, the exposed surface670is formed with a projecting portion672which projects downward. The projecting portion672extends along each of the two directions (the X-direction and the Y-direction) perpendicular to each other in the XY-plane.

According to the present embodiment, each of the electric-shock prevention portions650is hardly damaged since having the projecting portion672. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in a case where there is no need to consider the damage of the electric-shock prevention portion650, the electric-shock prevention portions650does not need to be provided with a portion for preventing the damage such as the projecting portion672.

Referring toFIGS. 6 and 7, each of the connection structures40is attached to the corresponding contact30with use of a bolt380and a nut390. In detail, in each of the connection structures40according to the present embodiment, the bolt380is inserted into the attachment hole512and the attachment hole332and subsequently screwed into the nut390, so that the first end portion510of the conductive member50is attached to the corresponding contact30. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the first end portion510may be integrally formed with the corresponding contact30. In other words, each of the contact30and the conductive member50, which correspond to each other, may be a part of a single member. Moreover, even in a case where the contact30and the conductive member50, which correspond to each other, are members other than each other, the contact30and the conductive member50may be connected to each other via method different from that of the present embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 6, each of the contacts30is inserted into the corresponding accommodation portion230via the second opening234of the accommodation portion230and is accommodated in the corresponding accommodation portion230together with the first end portion510of the conductive member50of the corresponding connection structure40. The locked portion314of the contact30accommodated in the accommodation portion230is locked by a lance226of the housing20, so that the contact30is prevented from coming off the housing20. In other words, each of the connection structures40is attached to the housing20. Under a state where the connection structure40is attached to the housing20, the first end portion510of the connection structure40is accommodated in the corresponding accommodation portion230.

In the present embodiment, each of the accommodation portions230extends in the Z-direction, and each of the second openings234is positioned at a lower end (i.e. a side opposite to the fit portion12) of the accommodation portion230. This structure enables the smooth insertion of the contact30and the first end portion510into the corresponding accommodation portion230regardless of the shape of the protection portion610(seeFIG. 7) of the connection structure40. However, the position of each of the second openings234is not limited to the lower end of the accommodation portion230, but each of the second openings234may be positioned at a part other than the fit portion12. For example, each of the second openings234may be formed in a side surface of the lower holding portion224, or a surface enclosing the accommodation portion230in the XY-plane.

Referring toFIG. 1, when the connector10is used, the second end portion520of the connection structure42is connected to an object72, and the second end portion520of the connection structure44is connected to an object74. Further referring toFIG. 6, under the mated state, the contact portions320of the two contacts30are connected to the mating contact830, so that the object72and the object74are electrically connected with each other.

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 3 and 7, in each of the connection structures40, the protection portion610of the protection member60covers the body portion530, or a part of the conductive member50, which is positioned between the first end portion510and the second end portion520. This cover prevents electric shock which might be caused because of contact with the body portion530. Referring toFIGS. 4 and 6, each of the electric-shock prevention portions650, at least in part, blocks the second opening234of the corresponding accommodation portion230and obstructs entrance of a finger into the accommodation portion230beyond the electric-shock prevention portion650. In detail, even if an end of the finger slightly enters into the accommodation portion230beyond the electric-shock prevention portion650, the finger cannot enter into the accommodation portion230so deep as the finger is brought into contact with the conductive body such as the contact30and the first end portion510. Therefore, the electric shock, which might be caused because of contact with the contact30or the first end portion510, is prevented.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 6, in the present embodiment, each of the electric-shock prevention portions650is inserted into and accommodated in the corresponding accommodation portion230. Referring toFIG. 4, any part of each of the electric-shock prevention portions650has a minimum distance (C1, C2, C3, etc.) of equal to or less than 12 mm, wherein the minimum distance is a distance between the part of the electric-shock prevention portion650and the wall which consists of the lower holding portion224and the separation wall228of the housing20. In other words, the connector10has a clearance of 12 mm or less which is provided between each of the electric-shock prevention portions650and the housing20, so that the finger is prevented from passing the electric-shock prevention portion650.

However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, each of the electric-shock prevention portions650may be attached to the housing20in a manner different from that of the present embodiment, provided that the electric-shock prevention portions650are provided so that the connector10meets the protection level of IP-XXB of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 60529. For example, each of the electric-shock prevention portions650may cover the second opening234of the corresponding accommodation portion230from below.

Referring toFIG. 7, in the present embodiment, each of the conductive members50is made of a material which is bendable and is capable of keeping a bent shape. For example, each of the conductive members50is made of a plate-like metal member. Therefore, each of the conductive members50can be shaped in various shapes in accordance with usage of the connector10. Thus, each of the connection structures40may have various shapes.

As previously described, the two connection structures40according to the present embodiment, namely, the connection structure42and the connection structure44, have bent shapes different from each other. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the two connection structures40may have bent shapes similar to each other. Moreover, each of the connection structures40may have a linear shape with no bend. Moreover, the conductive member50may have a rod shape such as a rounded rod shape or a rectangular rod shape. In this case, the conductive member50may have an end which works as a pin contact.

The connector10according to the present embodiment can be further variously modified in addition to the already explained modifications.

Referring toFIGS. 20 and 21, a connector10A according to a modification of the present embodiment comprises the housing20and the contacts30same as those of the connector10(seeFIG. 7), while comprising a connection structure46and a connection structure48which are different from the connection structure42and the connection structure44of the connector10.

Referring toFIGS. 22 and 23, the connection structure46has bends different from those of the connection structure42(seeFIGS. 9 and 11) and the connection structure44(seeFIGS. 14 and 15), while having a basic structure similar to those of the connection structure42and the connection structure44. Similarly, referring toFIGS. 24 and 25, the connection structure48has bends different from those of the connection structure42and the connection structure44, while having a basic structure similar to those of the connection structure42and the connection structure44.

Referring toFIG. 24, the electric-shock prevention portion650of the connection structure48is formed with the cut652which is a hole passing through the electric-shock prevention portion650unlike the cut652of the connection structure42(seeFIG. 9). As can be seen from the above description, the protection member60of the connection structure40may be shaped into various shapes in accordance with the shape of the conductive member50. For example, although both the protection portion610and the electric-shock prevention portion650described above are formed of a single member, each of the protection portion610and the electric-shock prevention portion650may be formed by combining two or more members.