To provide a multi-pole connector in which projected male connectors are protected from interference from the outside, and a smooth fitting of the connectors can be achieved. In the multi-pole connector, male connectors are mounted on one frame in such a manner that the male connectors are projected from the frame, and female connectors for the male connectors are mounted on the other frame. Connector-protecting ribs are formed at a peripheral portion of the one frame, and are projected to a height equal to or higher than a height of distal ends of the male connectors, and rib reception guides for the ribs are formed on the other frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of Invention 
This invention relates to a multi-pole connector which has ribs for 
protecting projected male connectors, and rib-reception guides for guiding 
the ribs so as to smoothly effecting the fitting of the connectors. 
2. Related Art 
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a multi-pole connector disclosed 
in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 62-145671, and FIG. 5 is a 
perspective view showing this connector in its assembled condition. 
In this multi-pole connector 31, a square frame 33 is formed integrally on 
a peripheral portion of a main connector 32, and split-type sub-connectors 
35 are inserted into openings 34 of the frame 33, and are retained 
relative to these openings. Distal ends 35a of the sub-connectors 35 are 
projected to be flush with a distal end of the main connector 32. Terminal 
retaining spacers (not shown) are inserted respectively to sides 36, and 
in this condition the sub-connectors 35 are fitted, together with the main 
connector 32, in a mating multi-pole connector (not shown) through a 
threaded operation. 
In the above conventional construction, however, when the multi-pole 
connector 31 having the sub-connectors 35 attached thereto drops, or when 
something strikes against the sub-connector 35, the sub-connector 35 is 
disengaged from the frame 33, and is broken. Furthermore, when the 
multi-pole connector 31 is to be fitted through a threaded operation, the 
mating multi-pole connector is liable to be shifted out of phase in a 
direction of angular movement about a central nut boss 37, which results 
in a problem that a smooth fitting of the connector can not be effected. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
With the foregoing in view, it is an object of this invention to provide a 
multi-pole connector in which a male connector projected from a frame will 
not drop or will not be disengaged or broken by interference from the 
outside, and a smooth fitting of the connector can be carried out. 
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a split 
multi-pole connector wherein male connectors are mounted on one frame in 
such a manner that the male connectors are projected from the frame, and 
female connectors for the male connectors are mounted on the other frame, 
wherein connector-protecting ribs are formed at a peripheral portion of 
the one frame, and are projected to a height equal to or higher than a 
height of distal ends of the male connectors; and rib reception guides for 
the ribs are formed on the other frame. 
The connector-protecting ribs surround the male connectors to protect them 
against interference from the outside. When the connectors are to be 
fitted together, the ribs provided at the peripheral portion of the frame 
are fitted respectively in the rib reception guides of the other frame to 
prevent the angular movement of the connectors, thereby enabling a smooth 
fitting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one preferred embodiment of a 
multi,pole connector of the present invention. 
This multi-pole connector 1 comprises a male multi-pole connector 3 having 
a plurality of split-type male connectors 2 attached thereto, and a female 
multi-pole connector 5 having a plurality of split-type female connectors 
4. The two multi-pole connectors 3 and 5 are fitted together through a 
threaded operation by a bolt 6, rotatably extending through the male 
multi-pole connector 3, and a nut 7 fixedly mounted on the female 
multi-pole connector 5. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the male multi-pole connector 3 has a generally 
rectangular frame 8 of a synthetic resin into which the plurality of 
split-type male connectors 2 are inserted in such a manner that these 
connectors 2 are projected from the frame 8. The frame 8 has an integral 
bolt boss 9 at its central portion, and also has a plurality of connector 
insertion openings 10 around this bolt boss. Ribs 11 of a triangular 
prism-shape (which are a first feature of the present invention) for 
protecting the male connectors are integrally formed upright at four 
corners of the frame 8, respectively. Distal ends 11a of the ribs 11 are 
projected slightly beyond distal ends 2a of the male connectors 2, and 
outer surfaces 11b of the ribs 11 are disposed outwardly of side surfaces 
2b of the male connectors 2 in generally surrounding relation to the male 
connectors 2. The distal end 11a of the rib 11 is at least set to a height 
equal to that of the distal end 2a of the male connector 2. 
A lock pawl 13 for retaining projections 12 on the side wall 2b of the male 
connector 2 is formed integrally on an inner wall 10a of the opening in 
the frame 8. The male connector 2 is inserted into the opening 10, and a 
stop projection 14 at a rear end of this connector is abutted against a 
step portion (not shown) in the opening 10, and at the same time the 
retaining projections 12 slides over the lock pawl 13, and are engaged 
therewith, so that the male connector is retained against upward and 
downward movement. The male connector 2 is much projected from the frame 8 
in the inserting direction, but is protected by the protective ribs 11 
from a striking force or interference at the time of drop. 
On the other hand, the female multi-pole connector 5 into which the male 
multi-pole connector 3 is fitted through a threaded operation has a frame 
15 of a synthetic resin having openings 16 in which the plurality of 
female connectors for the male connectors 2 are provided. Like the male 
connector 2, the female connector 4 has retaining projections 17 which are 
engaged with a lock pawl 18 in the frame opening 16 so as to retain the 
female connector. 
Rib reception guides 19 for the ribs 11 of the male multi-pole connectors 3 
are formed integrally at four corners of the frame 15, respectively. The 
rib reception guides 19 form a second feature of the present invention, 
and the rib reception guide 19 is formed by extending an outer wall 22 to 
a height about half of that of the frame 15, the outer wall 22 forming one 
side of a triangle defined by this outer wall and 
perpendicularly-intersecting side walls 20 and 21 of the frame 15. 
Further, a bottom wall 23 is formed integrally with these walls, so that 
the rib reception guide has a generally pocket-like configuration. The rib 
11 can be fitted in the rib reception guide 19 without shaking. 
Provisionally-retaining projection 24 (FIG. 3) of the female multi-pole 
connector 5 are engaged respectively in engagement holes 25 of the male 
multi-pole connector 3, thereby provisionally retaining the two multi-pole 
connectors 3 and 5 relative to each other, and in this condition the bolt 
6 is rotated to be threaded into the nut 7, so that the ribs 11 are 
engaged in the rib reception guides 19, respectively. As a result a phase 
shift in the direction of angular movement of the connectors is prevented, 
thereby achieving a smooth fitting of the connectors. 
As described above, in the present invention, the ribs provided at the 
peripheral portion of the frame protect the male connectors, and therefore 
even when the connector drops or when an interference from the outside 
occurs, the male connectors will not be disengaged or broken. Moreover, 
when the connectors are to be fitted together, the ribs are guided by and 
engaged in the rib reception guides of the mating multi-pole connector, 
respectively, thereby preventing a phase shift in the direction of angular 
movement of the connector. Therefore, the fitting of the connectors can be 
effected smoothly without pinching the terminals. Since the ribs are 
provided at the peripheral portion of the frame, the shaking of the 
multi-pole connector can be kept to a minimum, and the connectors can be 
accurately positioned relative to each other.