Abstract:
A connector according to the present invention comprises a housing and a plurality of contacts. The housing includes a mating portion having a plate shape. The mating portion projects forward and has an upper surface and a bottom surface. The plurality of contacts is held by the housing. Each of the contacts comprises a contact portion, an end portion and a flat portion. The contact portion extends in a connection direction and is exposed at the upper surface of the mating portion. The end portion is embedded in the mating portion. The flat portion forms a boundary between the contact portion and the end portion and does not projects from the upper surface. The flat portion is able to be viewed from above the upper surface of the mating portion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2011-142287 filed Jun. 27, 2011. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an electrical connector such as a card-edge connector. The electrical connector is connected with a connection object which has mating portion having a plate-like shape. The connection object is, for example, a semiconductor module such as a memory module. 
         [0003]    Electrical connectors of the above-mentioned type are disclosed in JP-A H9-139261 and JP-A H9-45437, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. The electrical connector disclosed in JP-A H9-139261 is a card-edge connector connected with a card. The card is inserted to the card-edge connector in an obliquely direction and is brought down till the card is in parallel with a horizontal direction so that the card-edge connector is connected with the card. The card is engaged with an engaged portion (a latch portion) of the card-edge connector so that a connection between the card-edge connector and the card is maintained. The electrical connector disclosed in JP-A H9-45437 is connected with a cable connector. The cable connector is inserted to the electrical connector in an oblique direction and is brought down till the cable connector is in parallel with the horizontal direction so that the electrical connector is connected with the cable connector. An engage portion of the cable connector is engaged with an engaged portion (recessed portion) of the electrical connector so that connection between the electrical connector and the cable connector is maintained. 
         [0004]    Connection objects (the card and the cable connector) mentioned above can be inserted to the electrical connectors with low insertion force even when the electrical connectors have a plurality of contacts. 
         [0005]    However, the connection object receives restoring force by the contacts of the electrical connector when the connection object is connected with the electrical connector. Because of the restoring force by the contacts, the connection object may be bent and deformed. Therefore, the connection objects connected with the above electrical connectors are required to be strong. In other words, a thin connection objects can not be used for the above electrical connectors. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electrical connector which does not apply excessive force to a connection object while the electrical connector and a connection object are connected with each other. 
         [0007]    One aspect of the present invention provides an electrical connector configured to be connected with a connection object which has a mating portion having a plate shape. The electrical connector comprises: an insertion opening into which the connection object is inserted in an oblique direction; a contacted portion with which the mating portion inserted through the insertion opening is brought into contact; a receiving portion receiving the mating portion and having a first support portion, the receiving portion being positioned at a back of the contacted portion; a contact portion positioned forward and upward of the first support portion and being displaceable in an up-down direction; and a second support portion positioned forward and downward of the contact portion. The mating portion is inserted through the insertion opening so as to be positioned at a first position where the mating portion is in contact with the contacted portion, the mating portion being brought down so as to be positioned at a second position where the mating portion is in parallel with a front-back direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, the mating portion being moved backward so as to be positioned at a third position where the mating portion is received by the receiving portion and supported by the first support portion, the second support portion, and the contact portion. 
         [0008]    An appreciation of the objectives of the present invention and a more complete understanding of its structure may be had by studying the following description of the preferred embodiment and by referring to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an oblique view showing an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front view showing the electrical connector of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top view showing the electrical connector of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a side view showing the electrical connector of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view showing the electrical connector of  FIG. 2 , taken along lines V-V. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view showing the electrical connector of  FIG. 2 , taken along lines VI-VI. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is an oblique view showing a cross section of the electrical connector of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view showing the electrical connector and the connection object. The connection object is not inserted into the insertion opening. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view showing a first step of a connection process. The connection object is positioned at a first position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view showing a second step of the connection process. The connection object is positioned at a second position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view showing a third step of the connection process. The connection object is positioned at a third position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is an oblique view showing a cross section of a first variation example of the electrical connector of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of a second variation example of the electrical connector of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view showing the electrical connector and a connection object of  FIG. 13 . The connection object is positioned at the third position. 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view showing a third variation example of the electrical connector of  FIG. 5 . The connection object is not inserted into the insertion opening. 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view showing the electrical connector of  FIG. 15 . The connection object is positioned at the first position. 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view showing the electrical connector of  FIG. 15 . The connection object is positioned at the third position. 
       
    
    
       [0026]    While the invention is susceptible to various alternative embodiments and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all alternative embodiments, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
       DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    With reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 7 , an electrical connector  100  of the embodiment according to the present invention comprises a plurality of upper contacts  110 , a plurality of lower contacts  120 , two hold downs  130  and a holding member  140 . The upper contacts  110  and the lower contacts  120  are made of a conductive material. The holding member  140  is made of an insulative material. As shown in  FIG. 8  to  FIG. 11 , the electrical connector  100  is a card-edge connector connected with a connection object  200 . The connection object  200  of the embodiment is a module which has a substrate provided with a circuit and a semiconductor package. The module is for example a memory module. The connection object  200  of the embodiment has a mating portion  210  having a plate-like shape. The mating portion  210  is inserted into the electrical connector  100 . The mating portion  210  has a plurality of upper contacts (not shown) formed on an upper surface  202  and a plurality of lower contacts (not shown) formed on a lower surface  204 . The upper contacts and the lower contacts of the mating portion  210  are arranged near a front end portion  212  of the mating portion  210 . 
         [0028]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , the upper contact  110  has an upper contact portion (contact portion)  112 , an upper spring portion  114 , an upper held portion  116  and an upper fixed portion  118 . The upper spring portion  114  extends forward (in a +X direction) and elastically supports the upper contact portion  112 . The upper held portion  116  is press-fitted into the holding member  140  so that the upper contact  110  is held by the holding member  140 . The upper fixed portion  118  is soldered to a substrate (not shown) on which the electrical connector  100  is installed. The upper contact portion  112  is positioned near a free end of the upper spring portion  114 . The upper contact portion  112  is displaceable along an up-down direction (a Z direction) in a surface (in an XZ surface) defined by the up-down direction (a Z direction) and a front-back direction (an X direction). The upper contact portion  112  is brought into contact with a corresponding upper contact (not shown) of the mating portion  210 . In this embodiment, the hold down  130  has only the upper held portion  116  and the upper fixed portion  118 . The hold down  130  is soldered to the substrate so that the electrical connector  100  is fixed on the substrate. 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , the lower contact  120  has a lower contact portion  122 , a lower spring portion  124 , a lower held portion  126  and a lower fixed portion  128 . The lower spring portion  124  has J-like shape and elastically supports the lower contact portion  122 . The lower held portion  126  is press-fitted into the holding member  140  so that the lower contact  120  is held by the holding member  140 . The lower fixed portion  128  is soldered to the substrate. The lower contact portion  122  is positioned near a free end of the lower spring portion  124 . The lower contact portion  122  is displaceable along the up-down direction in the XZ surface and connected with the lower contact (not shown) of the mating portion  210 . The lower contact portion  122  is brought into contact with a corresponding lower contact (not shown) of the mating portion  210 . 
         [0030]    With reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 7 , the holding member  140  has an insertion opening  142  into which the mating portion  210  is inserted. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the mating portion  210  is inserted along an oblique direction indicated with “D” in  FIG. 8 . The oblique direction of the embodiment is in a −X direction and a −Z direction). In other words, the mating portion  210  is inserted into the insertion opening  142  at a predetermined angle indicated with “A” in  FIG. 8  with respect to the front-back direction. 
         [0031]    As best shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7 , the holding member  140  has a plurality of first accommodation portions (accommodation portions)  150  formed at a back of the insertion opening  142 . The first accommodation portion  150  communicates with the insertion opening  142  and opens backward of the holding portion  140 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the holding member  140  has a plurality of partition walls  152 . The partition walls  152  are arranged along a pitch direction (a Y direction) perpendicular to the front-end direction and the up-down direction and are in parallel with the XZ surface. The first accommodation portion  150  is positioned between neighboring partition walls  152  in the pitch direction. 
         [0032]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , the upper contact  110  is inserted into the holding member  140  so that the upper spring portion  114  is partially positioned in the first accommodation portion  150 . As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the holding member  140  holds the upper contacts  110  so that the upper contact portions  112  are arranged in a line in the pitch direction. The upper contact portions  112  are positioned in the insertion opening  142  when seen along the front-back direction. As understood from  FIG. 3 , the hold downs  130  are attached to opposite ends of the holding member  140  in the pitch direction. Similarly to the upper contacts  110 , each of the hold downs  130  are press-fitted into and held by the holding member  140 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 , each of the partition walls  152  has a projection portion and a recessed portion. The projection portion is formed at a lower part of the partition wall  152  and projecting forward. The recessed portion is formed upward and backward of the projection portion and recessed backward. As shown in  FIG. 7 , each of front surfaces of the projection portions serves as a contacted portion  154 , and each of the recessed portions serves as a receiving portion  156 . When the mating portion  210  is inserted through the insertion opening  142 , the front end portion  212  of the mating portion  210  is brought into contact with the contacted portions  154  as described in detail afterwards. 
         [0034]    With reference to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7 , each of the receiving portions  156  has a flat surface formed at a bottom surface of the receiving portion  156 . In other words, the flat surface of the embodiment is an upper surface of the above-projection portion of the partition wall  152 . The flat surface of the receiving portions  156  is perpendicular to the up-down direction, i.e. in parallel with a horizontal surface (an XY surface). The flat surface serves as a first support portion  158 . The first support portion  158  is positioned backward and downward of the upper contact portions  112 . In other words, the upper contact portion  112  is positioned forward and upward of the first support portion  158 . In this embodiment, a guide portion  160  is formed between the contacted portion  154  and the first support portion  158  in the front-back direction. The guide portion  160  has a smooth surface. The guide portion  160  may have a curved surface when seen along the pitch direction. The guide portion  160  may have an oblique surface oblique to the front-back direction and the up-down direction. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , a plurality of second accommodation portions  170  is formed at a front and lower part of the holding member  140 . The second accommodation portion  170  communicates with the insertion opening  142  and opens forward of the holding member  140 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , a plurality of ribs  172  is formed at a front and lower part of the holding member  140 . The rib  172  is positioned between the neighboring second accommodation portions  170  in the pitch direction. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 , each of the ribs  172  has an upper surface and an oblique surface  176 . The upper surface is in parallel with the horizontal surface. The oblique surface  176  is sloped down backward from the upper surface. The upper surface of the rib  172  serves as a second support portion  174 . The second support portion  174  is positioned forward and downward of the upper contact portion  112 . As understood from  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the first support portion  158  and the second support portion  174  are positioned on a same horizontal surface. In other words, positions of the first support portion  158  and the second support portion  174  in the up-down direction are equal with each other. The oblique surfaces  176  constitute a part of the insertion opening  142 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , when seen along the pitch direction, the oblique surface  176  and the contacted portion  154  cross each other. In other words, the first support portion  158  is positioned apart from the second support portion  174  in the pitch direction. The first support portion  158  and the second support portion  174  are not positioned on the same XZ surface. 
         [0037]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , the lower contact  120  is inserted into the second accommodation portion  170 . The lower held portion  126  is press-fitted into the holding member  140  so that the lower contact  120  is held by the holding member  140 . As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the holding member  140  holds the lower contacts  120  so that the lower contacts  120  are arranged in a line in the pitch direction. When the lower contact  120  is attached to the holding member  140 , the lower contact portion  122  is projected upward from the upper surface (i.e. the second support portion  174 ) of the rib  172 . The lower contact portion  122  is positioned in the insertion opening  142  when seen along the front-back direction. The lower contact portion  122  is elastically supported by the lower spring portion  124  so as to be displaceable in the up-down direction. 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , the upper contacts  110  and the lower contacts  120  are grouped into two groups (a right group R and a left group L). In other words, the first accommodation portions  150  and the second accommodation portions  170  are also grouped into the right group R and the left group L. The holding member  140  has a key  180  formed between the right group R and the left group L in pitch direction. As is clear from  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the key  180  is not positioned at the center of the holding portion  140  in the pitch direction. In other words, the right group R and the left group L are not symmetric about the center of the hold member  140  in the pitch direction. The mating portion  210  of the connection object  200  has a key (a notch: not shown) which corresponds to the key  180 . By adjusting the key of the mating portion  210  with the key  180  of the mating portion  210 , the mating portion  210  can be inserted into the insertion opening  142  properly. 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 6 , the holding member  140  has two locating bosses  184 . The locating bosses  184  are positioned near both ends of the holding member  140  in the pitch direction and project downward. The substrate (not shown) has two holes which correspond to the locating bosses  184 . The electrical connector  100  is suitably located on the substrate by inserting the locating bosses  184  into the holes of the substrate. The upper fixed portions  118  of the upper contacts  110 , the lower fixed portions  128  of the lower contacts  120  and the hold downs  130  are fixed to the substrate and connected with a conductive pattern or a soldering portion. 
         [0040]    In this embodiment, the connection object  200  is connected with the electrical connector  100  as follows. As shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , the mating portion  210  of the connection object  200  is inserted into the insertion opening  142  along the oblique direction. The mating portion  210  is brought into contact with the contacted portion  154  ( FIG. 9 : a first position). As understood from a movement of the mating portion  210  shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , when the mating portion  210  is inserted into the electrical connector  100  through the insertion opening  142 , the mating portion  210  does not push the upper contact portion  112  nor the lower contact portion  122 , in other words, the mating portion  210  does not receive restoring force of the upper contact  110  nor the lower contact  120 . Thus, the mating portion  210  can be inserted into the insertion opening  142  with low insertion force. 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , the mating portion  210  is brought down until the mating portion  210  is in parallel with the horizontal direction ( FIG. 10 : a second position). In the state shown in  FIG. 10 , the mating portion  210  pushes the upper contact portion  112  upward and the lower contact portion  122  downward. The mating portion  210  received the restoring forces from the upper contact  110  and the lower contact  120 . 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , the mating portion  210  is moved backward so that the receiving portion  156  receives the mating portion  210  ( FIG. 11 : a third position). The guide portion  160  guides the mating portion  210  to smoothly move from the second position to the third position. Because of the guide portion  160 , the mating portion  210  is not obstructed by an upper end part of the contacted portion  154 . As a variation example of the guide portion  160 , the mating portion  210  may have a curved surface formed at the front end portion  212  ( FIG. 8 ), thus the guide portion  160  of the holding member  140  may be omitted. With this structure, the curved surface of the mating portion  210  guides the mating portion  210  to smoothly move from the second position to the third position. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , when the mating portion  210  is positioned at the third position, the first support portion  158 , the second support portion  174  and the upper contact portion  112  support the mating portion  210 . The upper contact portion  112  is electrically connected with the upper contact (not shown) of the mating portion  210 . The lower contact portion  122  is electrically connected with the lower contact (not shown) of the mating portion  210 . 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , the electrical connector  100  is supported by three points (the first support portion  158 , the second support portion  174  and the upper contact portion  112 ) seen along the pitch direction. In detail, the upper contact portion  112  pushes the upper surface  202  of the mating portion  210  while the first support portion  158  and the second support portion  174  support the lower surface  204  of the mating portion  210 . The upper contact portion  112  is positioned between the first support portion  158  and the second support portion  174  in the front-back direction. In other words, for the mating portion  210 , a pushed area pushed by the upper contact portion  112  is positioned between a supported area supported by the first support portion  158  and a supported area supported by the second support portion  174  in the front-back direction. Therefore, the mating portion  210  does not receive undesired force which may bend and deform the mating portion  210 . Even if the mating portion  210  has a thin shape, the mating portion  210  can be inserted smoothly, and the electrical connector  100  can maintain a connection with the connection object  200 . 
         [0045]    In the above embodiment, the contacted portion  154  and the receiving portion  156  are integrally formed with the partition wall  152  (see  FIG. 7 ). However, the contacted portion  154  and the receiving portion  156  may be formed apart from the partition wall  152  in the pitch direction.  FIG. 12  shows a first variation example. As understood from  FIG. 12 , the electrical connector  100  has two contacted portions  154  and two receiving portions  156 . The contacted portions  154  and the receiving portions  156  are formed near both ends of the insertion opening  142  in the pitch direction. 
         [0046]    The upper surface of the rib  172  serves as the second support portion  174 . However, for example, the lower contact portion  122  may serve as the second support portion. In this case, the lower spring portions  124  of the lower contacts  120  may be strengthened so as to support the mating portion  210 . In another example, the upper surface of the rib  172  and the lower contact portion  122  may serve as the second support portion. 
         [0047]      FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14  show a second variation example. An electrical connector  100   a  does not have the lower contact portion  120  ( FIG. 6 ). The connector  100   a  is connected with a mating portion  210  which has no contacts at the lower surface  204 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , a holding member  140   a  of the electrical connector  100   a  does not have the second accommodation portions  170  nor the ribs  172  ( FIG. 12 ) but has a first accommodation portions  150   a  a lower support portions  172   a.    
         [0048]    A shape of the lower support portion  172   a  is similar to the rib  172  ( FIG. 12 ) in cross-section seen along the pitch direction. The lower support portion  172   a  has an upper surface and a slope  176   a . The upper surface is perpendicular to the up-down direction and serves as a second support portion  174   a.    
         [0049]    As shown in  FIG. 13 , the holding member  140   a  has contacted portion  154   a  and receiving portion  156   a . The receiving portion  156   a  is positioned backward and upward of the contacted portion  154   a . The receiving portion  156   a  has a bottom surface which serves as a first support portion  158   a . A guide portion  160   a  is formed between the contacted portion  154   a  and the first support portion  158   a  in the front-back direction. The first support portion  158   a  and the second support portion  174   a  are positioned on a same horizontal surface. 
         [0050]    As shown in  FIG. 14 , the electrical connector  100   a  supports the mating portion  210  at three points (the first support portion  158   a , the second support portion  174   a  and the upper contact portion  112 ). In other words, for the mating portion  210   a , a pushed area pushed by the upper contact portion  112  is positioned between a supported area supported by the first support portion  158   a  and a supported area supported by the second support portion  174   a  in the front-back direction. Therefore, the mating portion  210  does not receive undesired force which may bend or deform the mating portion  210 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 15  to  FIG. 17  show a third variation example. The electrical connector  100   b  does not have the lower contact  120  ( FIG. 11 ) but has a lower support portion  172   b  which has a projection  173 . The holding member  140   b  of the electrical connector  100   b  has first accommodation portions  150   b  and an insertion opening  142   b . The lower support portion  172   b  is positioned forward and downward of the insertion opening  142   b.    
         [0052]    As shown in  FIG. 15 , an upper surface of the projection  173  serves as the second support portion  174   b . As shown in  FIG. 16 , the upper surface of the projection  173  has a front edge  173   f  and a rear edge  173   r . The rear edge  173   r  makes the lower limit of the insertion opening  142   b . The lower surface  204  of the mating portion  210  slides on the rear edge  173   r  when the mating portion  210  is inserted into the insertion opening  142   b.    
         [0053]    The holding member  140   b  has contacted portion  154   b  and receiving portion  156   b . The receiving portion  156   b  is positioned backward and upward of the contacted portion  154   b . The receiving portion  156   b  has a bottom surface which serves as a first support portion  158   b . A guide portion  160   b  is formed between the contacted portion  154   b  and the first support portion  158   b  in the pitch direction. The first support portion  158   b  and the second support portion  174   b  are positioned on a same horizontal surface. As shown in  FIG. 15 , the guide portion  160   b  of the embodiment has a curved surface. 
         [0054]    As shown in  FIG. 15  to  FIG. 17 , the mating portion  210  is connected with the electrical connector  100   b  as follows. The mating portion  210  is inserted into the insertion opening  142   b  in the oblique direction. The lower surface  204  of the mating portion  210  slides on the rear edge  173   r  of the second support portion  174   b  and moves till the mating portion  210  is brought into contact with the contacted portion  154   b  ( FIG. 16 : a first position). The mating portion  210  is brought down till the mating portion  210  is in parallel with horizontal direction (a second position). The mating portion  210  is moved backward and is received by the receiving portion  156   b  ( FIG. 17 : a third position). In this embodiment the guide portion  160   b  has the curved surface. As understood from  FIG. 16  and  FIG. 17 , when the mating portion  210  is brought down, the front end portion  212  of the mating portion  210  slides on the curved portion of the guide portion  160   b  and is guided to the receiving portion  156   b . In this embodiment, the mating portion  210  is immediately moved from the second position to the third position. The electrical connector  100   b  supports the mating portion  210  at three points (the first support portion  158   b , the second support portion  174   b  and the upper contact portion  112 ). Therefore, the mating portion  210  does not receive undesired force which may bend or deform the mating portion  210 . 
         [0055]    Each of the first support portions  158 ,  158   a ,  158   b  and the second support portions  174 ,  174   a ,  174   b  has the upper surface in parallel with the horizontal surface. However, at least one of the first support portion  158 ,  158   a ,  158   b  or the second support portion  174 ,  174   a ,  174   b  may have a projection shape. Even in this case, it is preferred that the first support portion and the second support portion are positioned at the same horizontal surface. 
         [0056]    In above-described embodiment, each of the second support portions  174 ,  174   a ,  174   b  is a part of the holding member  140 ,  140   a ,  140   b . However, the lower contact portion  122  may serve as the second support portion. In other words, the only lower contact portion  122  of the lower contact  120  may support the mating portion  210 , and the upper surface of the rib  172  ( FIG. 7 ) and the lower support portion  172   a ,  172   b  ( FIG. 13  and  FIG. 15 ) does not support the mating portion  210 . In this case, it is preferred that the lower contact portion (the second support portion)  122  and the first support portion  158 ,  158   a  or  158   b  is positioned on the same horizontal surface. 
         [0057]    The electrical connectors  100 ,  100   a ,  100   b  of the embodiments can be connected with the connection  200  object without the engage portion (the latch portion) of the JP-A H9-139261. However, the electrical connector of the present invention may use a latch means accessorily. 
         [0058]    The present application is based on a Japanese patent application of JP 2011-142287 filed before the Japan Patent Office on Jun. 27, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0059]    While there has been described what is believed to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further alternative embodiments may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such embodiments that fall within the true scope of the invention.