Abstract:
A connector includes i) a plug including a pair of connecting members configured to connect the plug to a socket, a through-hole formed at a portion between the pair of connecting members, and plug contacts arranged on outer side faces of the respective connecting members, ii) a socket including a recess portion configured to receive the plug, and socket contacts arranged on inner side faces of the recess portion, and iii) a locking member configured to lock the plug into the socket, expanding the pair of the connecting members outward so as to contact each of the outer side faces of the connecting members onto a corresponding one of the inner side faces of the recess portion by inserting between the pair of the connecting members via the through-hole, and thereby bringing the plug contacts into contact with the socket contacts.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a connector and a method of connecting the connector, and particularly to a connector mounted on a printed wiring board and a method of connecting the connector. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A connector has heretofore been used as means which connects electrical circuits formed respectively on printed wiring boards to each other.  FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional connector. A connector  100  includes a male plug  101  and a female socket (a receptacle)  103 . The plug  101  is mounted on a surface of a printed wiring board  105 , and the socket  103  is mounted on a surface of another printed wiring board  106 . The plug  101  includes a plurality of contacts (connections)  102  used for electrical connection on each of outer side faces  101   a  of the plug  101 . On the other hand, the socket  103  includes a plurality of contacts (connections)  104  used for the electrical connection on each of inner side faces  103   a  of the socket  103 . 
     Next, descriptions will be given of a method of connecting the plug  101  to the socket  103 .  FIGS. 5A and 5B  are cross-sectional views showing a procedure for connecting the plug  101  to the socket  103  of the connector  100  shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIGS. 5A and 5B  are cross-sectional views each taken along the line V-V in  FIG. 4 . Firstly, as shown in  FIG. 5A , a male portion of the plug  101  is arranged so as to face a female portion of the socket  103 . Next, as shown in  FIG. 5B , the male portion of the plug  101  is inserted into the female portion of the socket  103 . Accordingly, each of the contacts  102  and a corresponding one of the contacts  104  are connected to each other, i.e., come into contact with each other. 
     In a connector, it is generally required to reduce contact resistance between contacts on the plug and contacts on the socket for the purpose of reducing electrical losses in the connection between the plug and the socket. The gap between the contacts  102  and the contacts  104  in the connector  100  is made small enough to fulfill the requirement. However, in such a structure, when the plug  101  is inserted into the socket  103 , an edge of any one of the contacts  102  may possibly abut on an edge of the corresponding one of the contacts  104 .  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view showing a problem associated with a conventional connector. When an edge of any one of the contacts  102  abuts on an edge of the corresponding one of the contacts  104  as described above, each of the contacts  104  of the socket  103  may possibly be crushed and thereby deformed, as indicated by reference numeral  111 . In addition, even when an edge of each of the contacts  102  does not abut on an edge of the corresponding one of the contacts  104 , each of the contacts  104  may possibly be deformed due to a friction applied to the surface of the contacts  102  and the surface of the contacts  104 . Moreover, the contacts  104 , if not deformed, may possibly be damaged. It should be noted that, not only the contacts  104  but also the contacts  102  of the plug  101  may possibly be crushed or deformed. For this reason, a conventional connector has a problem of reliability at the time of connection. 
     For the purpose of solving the above described problem, for example, a configuration as shown in  FIG. 7  has been proposed. In the configuration shown in  FIG. 7 , upper portions of contacts  204  of a socket  203  are bent outward. The bending of the upper portions of the contacts  204  outward is a countermeasure taken to prevent an edge of each of the contacts  102  of the plug  101  from abutting on an edge of a corresponding one of the contacts  204  of the socket  203  when a plug  101  is inserted into the socket  203 . In addition, in the related document 1 “Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-86083”, particularly, in FIGS. 3 and 4, a connector having a configuration similar to that of the connector shown in  FIG. 7  is disclosed. In this configuration, edge portions of contacts of a socket (receptacle) are bent outward so as to prevent edge faces of contacts of the plug from abutting respectively on edge faces of the contacts of the socket. 
     However, in recent years, a connector mounted on a printed wiring board has been downsized more than ever as an electronic circuit on the printed wiring board has been miniaturized. For this reason, the surface area of each contact has necessarily been reduced. In order to suppress increase in contact resistance between contacts associated with the reduction in the surface area of each contact, it is required to further increase contact pressure between the contacts. For this reason, even in the connector shown in  FIG. 7  and in the connector disclosed in the related document 1, a large friction may be generated between one of the contacts of the plug and the corresponding one of the contacts of the socket when the plug is inserted into the socket. Accordingly, a large mechanical stress may possibly be generated between the contact of the plug and the corresponding contact of the socket. As a result, the contacts may possibly be deformed or damaged. Moreover, in the configuration shown in  FIG. 7  and the configuration disclosed in the related document 1, when the connector is repeatedly attached and detached, the contacts on both sides may be rubbed with each other and thus wear so that contact pressure may possibly be decreased. As a result, a problem may occur in which electrical connection loss is increased due to an increase in contact resistance. Moreover, in the configuration disclosed in the related document 1, the contacts on both sides are brought into contact with each other by means of the spring-like characteristic of the contacts. For this reason, contact pressure may possibly be reduced due to the passage of time. 
     Accordingly, a problem may occur in which electrical losses in the connection is increased due to increase in contact resistance. As described above, the aforementioned connectors have problems in assurance and reliability at the time of connection. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing and other exemplary problems, drawbacks, and disadvantages of the related art methods and structures, exemplary feature of the present invention is to provide a connector and a method of connecting the connector, with which it is possible to prevent mechanical stress from being generated between contacts when a plug is inserted into a socket. 
     A connector according to the present invention includes a plug ( 11 ) having a first part ( 31 ) with an upper surface and a lower surface, a pair of connecting members ( 12 ) extending downward from the lower surface, a set of plug contacts ( 13 ) located on an outer face side ( 12   a ) of each connecting member, and a through-hole ( 32 ) open to the upper surface and extending through to the lower surface, a socket ( 21 ) having an upper end face ( 21   b ), a recess portion ( 23 ) open to the upper end face and having a pair of inner side faces ( 21   a ), a set of socket contacts ( 22 ) located on each of the inner side faces, the recess portion configured to accept the connecting members with each of the connecting members facing a corresponding one of the inner side faces and a gap formed between each set of socket contacts and a corresponding set of plug contacts, and a locking member ( 14 ) for locking the plug within the socket by insertion of the locking member in an insertion direction, via the through-hole, into the recess portion, the insertion of the locking member pressing outer faces of the locking member against inner faces of the connecting members and thereby expanding the outer face side of each connecting member towards the inner side faces of the socket a distance that eliminates the gap and bringing each set of socket contacts into contact with the corresponding set of plug contacts. 
     In another expression, a connector according to the present invention includes I) a plug including a pair of connecting members configured to connect the plug to a socket, a through-hole formed at a portion between the pair of connecting members, and plug contacts arranged on outer side faces of the respective connecting members, ii) a socket including a recess portion configured to receive the plug, and socket contacts arranged on inner side faces of the recess portion, and iii) a locking member configured to lock the plug into the socket, expanding the pair of the connecting members outward so as to contact each of the outer side faces of the connecting members onto a corresponding one of the inner side faces of the recess portion by inserting between the pair of the connecting members via the through-hole, and thereby bringing the plug contacts into contact with the socket contacts. 
     A method of electrically connecting a plug into a socket according to the present invention, the method includes inserting a pair of connecting members of a plug into a recess portion of a socket, inserting a locking member into a through-hole formed between the pair of connecting members, and pressing the locking member in an insertion direction between the pair of connecting members and into the recess portion to bend outward the connecting members with the insertion direction movement of the locking member into the recess portion. The bending outward of the connecting members I) presses outer side faces of the connecting members respectively onto inner side faces of the recess portion, and ii) brings plug contacts arranged on the outer side faces of the connecting members into contact respectively with socket contacts arranged on the inner side faces of the recess portion, and thereby electrically connecting the plug contacts respectively to the socket contacts. 
     Accordingly, the connector and the method of connecting the connector according to the present invention provide the following effects by employing the above described configurations and method. More specifically, it is possible to prevent mechanical stress from being generated between contacts when a plug is inserted into a socket, and thus to prevent a contact from being damaged. As a result, the connector and the method of connecting the connector according to the present invention further provide an effect in which it is possible to improve assurance and reliability at the time of connection. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The preferred embodiments, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a configuration of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIA-IIA in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIB-IIB in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C are cross-sectional views showing a procedure for connecting a plug to a socket in the connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional connector; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are cross-sectional views showing a procedure for connecting a plug to a socket in the connector shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view showing a problem associated with the conventional connector; and 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a countermeasure against the problem associated with the conventional connector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The preferred embodiments described below show only illustrative examples in understanding the present invention, and the claims of the invention are not limited to these preferred embodiments. 
     Descriptions of a preferred embodiment of a connector and a method of connecting the connector according to the present invention will be given below. 
     Firstly, descriptions of a configuration of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be given in detail below. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a configuration of a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIA-IIA in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIB-IIB in  FIG. 1 . A connector  10  includes a plug  11 , a socket  21  and a locking member  14  for locking the plug  11  into the socket  21 . The plug  11  is mounted on a surface of a printed wiring board  31 , while the socket  21  is mounted on a surface of another printed wiring board  41 . Each of the printed wiring boards  31  and  41  may be any one of a flexible printed wiring board, a rigid printed wiring board, or a rigid flexible printed wiring board. It should be noted that in the embodiment, a case where the connector  10  is bilaterally symmetric is taken as an example. Accordingly, in  FIG. 2A , each reference numeral is provided on only one side of the connector  10 . In addition, a direction in which the plug  11  is inserted into the socket  21  is shown by an arrow in  FIG. 2A  (hereinafter referred to as an insertion direction). 
     The plug  11  includes connecting members  12 , a through-hole  32  and a plurality of plug contacts (connections)  13 . The connecting members  12  are arranged side by side in two rows. The through-hole  32  is formed between the connecting members  12 . The plurality of plug contacts  13  is arranged on an outer side face  12   a  of each of the connecting members  12 . In addition, each of the connecting members  12  is flexible. Moreover, the connecting members  12  may be a pair of elongated members which extend in parallel to each other. Each plurality of plug contacts  13  is arranged in a line along a direction in which the outer side faces  12   a  of the connecting members  12  extend. In addition, each of the plurality of plug contacts  13  is connected to a circuit on the printed wiring board  31 . The through-hole  32  is formed by cutting out a part of the printed wiring board  31  so as to be located between the pair of connecting members  12 . The through-hole  32  has a rectangular shape, for example. Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 2A , the width of the through-hole  32  is substantially-equal to the width between inner side faces  12   b  of the connecting members  12  in a portion where the connecting members  12  are attached to the printed wiring board  31 . In other words, inner side faces of the through-hole  32  continue respectively to the inner side faces  12   b  of the connecting members  12 . The connecting members  12  shown in  FIG. 2A  are formed of two separate parts respectively on the right and left sides. However, it should be noted that the connecting members  12  may be integrally formed in a manner that the connecting members  12  on the right and left sides are joined to each other at the front and back sides of the through-hole  32  so as to be formed into one connecting member. Then, the through-hole  32  may be formed in the middle portion of the integrated connecting members  12 . 
     In the plug  11 , each of the outer side faces  12   a  of the connecting members  12  is formed in the same direction as the insertion direction. In other words, each of the outer side faces  12   a  of the connecting members  12  is formed approximately perpendicular to the printed wiring board  31 . On the other hand, the inner side faces  12   b  of the connecting members  12  are formed in a manner that each of the inner side faces  12   b  is inclined at an angle of θ 1  with respect to the insertion direction. In other words, the inner side faces  12   b  of the connecting members  12  are formed in a manner that each of the inner side faces  12   b  is inclined at the angle of θ 1  with respect to a plane perpendicular to the printed wiring board  31 . Accordingly, the width distance between the inner side faces  12   b  of the connecting members  12  gradually decreases from a portion adjacent the printed wiring board  31 , so that the lower edge faces  12   c  of the respective connecting members  12  have the narrowest width distance. 
     The locking member  14  includes a main body  14   a  and a top section  33 . The top section  33  is joined to the printed wiring board  31  at one side of the top section  33 , as shown in  FIG. 2B . In the case where the printed wiring board  31  is a flexible printed wiring board, the printed wiring board  31  has flexibility. Therefore, the top section  33  may be formed by cutting the printed wiring board  31  along three lines corresponding to three sides of the top section  33  except the one side. The top section  33  is joined to the printed wiring board  31  by that one side with flexibility. With such a configuration, it is possible to effectively use, as the top section  33 , a part that is cut out of the printed wiring board  31  for the purpose of forming the through-hole  32 . In the case where the printed wiring board  31  is a rigid printed wiring board, the top section  33  is joined to the printed wiring board  31  with another flexible member interposed in-between. As described above, since the top section  33  is joined to the printed wiring board  31 , it is possible to prevent the locking member  14  from being lost. In addition, the operability is also improved. The main body  14   a  and the top section  33  of the locking member  14  are fixed to each other with an adhesive or the like. In addition, the width of the locking member  14  is substantially the same as the width of the through-hole  32 . In other words, the width of the locking member  14  is substantially the same as the width between the inner side faces  12   b  in a portion where the connecting members  12  are attached to the printed wiring board.  31 . Incidentally, the locking member  14  may have an elongated shape, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The bottom face of the locking member  14  has substantially the same shape as the through-hole  32 . The locking member  14  can be rotated about the portion where the locking member  14  is joined to the printed wiring board  31 , as indicated by reference numeral  15  in  FIG. 1 . By rotating the locking member  14  in this manner, the locking member  14  can be inserted into a space between the pair of connecting members  12  via the through-hole  32 . It should be noted that the locking member  14  may be formed of only the main body  14   a  without the top section  33 . In addition, the locking member  14  may not be joined to the printed wiring board  31 . 
     The socket  21  includes a recess portion  23  and a plurality of socket contacts (connections)  22 . The recess portion  23  is configured so as to be able to house the pair of connecting members  12  of the plug  11 . Each plurality of socket contacts  22  is arranged on one of the inner side faces  21   a  of the recess portion  23 . In addition, the plurality of socket contacts  22  is each arranged in lines along a longitudinal direction of the inner side faces  21   a  of the recess portion  23 . Moreover, each of the plurality of socket contacts  22  is connected to a circuit formed on the printed wiring board  41 . The socket  21  does not have flexibility. As shown in  FIG. 2A , the width of the opening of the recess portion  23  is substantially equal to the distance between the outer side faces  12   a  of the pair of connecting members  12 . In addition, the width distance of the recess portion  23  gradually increases from the narrowest width distance at the opening to the widest width distance at a portion adjacent the printed wiring board  41 . 
     Moreover, in the socket  21 , each of the inner side faces  21   a  is formed in a manner that each of the inner side faces  21   a  is inclined at an angle of θ 2  with respect to the insertion direction. In other words, each of the inner side faces  21   a  of the socket  21  is formed in a manner that each of the inner side faces  21   a  is inclined at the angle of θ 2  with respect to a plane perpendicular to the printed wiring board  41  (or perpendicular to the bottom face of the recess portion  23 ). The distance between the pair of inner side faces  21   a  gradually increases, from the smallest distance at a portion corresponding to the upper end faces  21   b  to the largest distance at a portion adjacent the printed wiring board  41  (or at the bottom face of the recess portion  23 ). The inclination angle θ 2  of each of the inner side faces  21   a  of the socket  21  has substantially the same absolute value as that of the inclination angle θ 1  of each of the inner face sides  12   b  of the connecting members  12 . Adjusting the absolute values of the respective inclination angles θ 1  and θ 2 , the plug  11  can be made less likely to come out of the socket  21 . More specifically, the larger the absolute values are made, the more difficult it is for the plug  11  to come out of the socket  21 . However, each of the absolute values of the inclination angles θ 1  and θ 2  needs to be within a range with which the connecting members  12  can be elastically deformed. Moreover, by adjusting the difference between the inclination angles θ 1  and θ 2 , it is possible to adjust the contact pressure between each of the plurality of plug contacts  13  and a corresponding one of the plurality of socket contacts  22 . More specifically, the larger the inclination angle θ 1  is made as compared with the inclination angle θ 2 , the larger the contact pressure becomes. In this way, the contact pressure between each of the plurality of plug contacts  13  and a corresponding one of the plurality of socket contacts  22  can be appropriately adjusted to an appropriate value. By forming the plug  11  and the socket  21  respectively into such shapes, when the connecting members  12  are bent outward (respectively in the right and left directions), the outer side faces  12   a  of the connecting members  12  abut respectively on the inner side faces  21   a  of the recess portion  23 . Accordingly, each of the inner side faces  12   b  of the connecting members  12  becomes perpendicular to the printed wiring boards  31  and  41 . In addition, the length of the recess portion  23  of the socket  21  in the longitudinal direction is substantially the same as that of each of the connecting members  12  in the longitudinal direction. 
     The height of the locking member  14  is substantially the same as that obtained by adding the height of the printed wiring board  31  and the height of each of the connecting members  12 . In other words, the height of the locking member  14  is substantially equal to the distance from the upper face of the printed wiring board  31  to the lower edge face  12   c  of each of the connecting members  12 . The height of each of the connecting members  12  of the plug  11  is about equal to the depth of the recess portion  23  of the socket  21 . However, the height of each of the connecting members  12  is slightly shorter than the distance from the upper end face  21   b  of the socket  21  to the bottom face of the recess portion  23 . This is for the purpose of avoiding the lower edge face  12   c  of each of the connecting members  12  from rubbing against the bottom face of the recess portion  23  when the connecting members  12  are bent outward. In addition, the lower edge face  12   c  of each of the connecting members  12  may be inclined in a manner that the inner side face  12   b  is shorter than that shown in  FIG. 2A  in each of the connecting members  12 . With this configuration, the lower edge face  12   c  of each of the connecting members  12  is unlikely to rub against the bottom face of the recess portion  23  when the connecting members  12  are bent outward (respectively in the right and left directions). 
     It should be noted that the locking member  14  and the socket  21  are preferably made of a rigid material with limited flexibility, and the connecting members  12  of the plug  11  are made of a flexible and deformable material. More specifically, as a material for the locking member  14  and the socket  21 , a synthetic resin or a plastic, each being largely inflexible, may be used, for example. As a material for the connecting members  12  of the plug  11 , it is possible to use an elastic synthetic resin or a soft plastic, such as nylon, glass-filled nylon, PPS (Poly Phenylene Sulfide), glass-filled PPS or PBT (Poly Buthylene Terephthalete), for example. The plug contacts  13  and the socket contacts  22  are made of a metal, such as copper, tin, gold, silver or nickel; or an alloy thereof. In addition, the connecting members  12  are fixed to the printed wiring board  31  with an adhesive, and the socket  21  may be also fixed to the printed wiring board  41  with an adhesive. 
     Next, descriptions of a method of connecting the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention will be given in detail.  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C are cross-sectional views showing a procedure for connecting a plug to a socket in the connector shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Firstly, as shown in  FIG. 3A , the plug  11  is placed so as to make the connecting members  12  face the recess portion  23  of the socket  21  in a state where the locking member  14  is separated from the plug  11 . 
     Next, as shown in  FIG. 3B , the connecting members  12  of the plug  11  are inserted into the recess portion  23  of the socket  21 . At this time, since the inner side faces  21   a  of the socket  21  are inclined, the outer side faces  12   a  of the connecting members  12  are not brought into full contact respectively with the inner side faces  21   a . For this reason, a gap  51  is formed between each of the plug contacts  13  and a corresponding one of the socket contacts  22 . Accordingly, each of the plug contacts  13  and the corresponding one of the socket contacts  22  do not fully contact to each other. As a result, when the plug  11  is inserted into the socket  21 , mechanical stress is not generated between each of the plug contacts  13  and the corresponding one of the socket contacts  22 . 
     Subsequently, as shown in  FIG. 3C , the locking member  14  has been inserted between the pair of connecting members  12  via the through-hole  32  of the plug  11 . At this time, side faces of the locking member  14  abut respectively on the inner side faces  12   b , each of which is inclined, of the connecting members  12 , and thereby press the inner side faces  12   b  outward. Accordingly, the pair of connecting members  12  is expanded outward (respectively in the right and left directions). As described above, the inclination angle θ 1  of each of the inner face sides  12   b  of the connecting members  12  has substantially the same absolute value as that of the inclination angle θ 2  of each of the inner side faces  21   a  of the recess portion  23 . In addition, each of the outer side faces  12   a  of the connecting members  12  is formed approximately perpendicular to the printed wiring boards  31  and  41 . For this reason, the outer side faces  12   a  of the connecting members  12  are brought into contact respectively with the inner side faces  21   a  of the recess portion  23  in a state where the locking member  14  is fully inserted between the pair of connecting members  12 . Therefore, the plug contacts  13  are brought into contact respectively with the socket contacts  22  with an appropriate pressure. As a result, electrical connection is achieved between the plug  11  and the socket  21 . 
     The plug  11  is detached from the socket  21  in the reverse procedure to that of the attaching of the plug  11  that has been described above. More specifically, the locking member  14  is firstly removed from between the pair of connecting members  12  via the through-hole  32 . The locking member  14  can be removed from the through-hole  32  by, for example, lifting up the top section  33  with a tool or the like. Once the locking member  14  is removed, the connecting members  12  return to the original shape as shown in  FIG. 3B  since the locking member  14  is elastic. As the connecting members  12  return to the original shape, the plug contacts  13  are separated respectively from the socket contacts  22 . Next, the plug  11  is removed from the socket  21 , and thereby the connector  10  returns to the state shown in  FIG. 3A . Accordingly, since the gap  51  exists between the plug contacts  13  and the socket contacts  22  when the plug  11  is removed from the socket  21 , mechanical stress is not generated. 
     The connector and the method of connecting the connector according to the embodiment of the present invention provide the following effects. 
     According to the connector  10  of this embodiment, when the plug  11  is inserted into the socket  21 , the plug contacts  13  of the plug  11  are not brought into contact respectively with the socket contacts  22  of the socket  21 . This makes it possible to prevent mechanical stress from being generated between the plug contacts  13  and the corresponding socket contacts  22 . Therefore, the connector  10  of this embodiment make it possible to prevent the plug contacts  13  of the plug  11  and the socket contacts  22  of the socket  21  from being deformed, wearing and being broken. Moreover, even in a case where the connection and disconnection of the connector is repeated, it is possible to prevent the contacts of the plug and the socket from being rubbed with each other and the wearing, and thus to reduce in the contact pressure between the contacts. As a result, it is possible to prevent increase in the electrical losses in the connection between the contacts due to increase in the contact pressure. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 3C , when the locking member  14  is inserted between the pair of connecting members  12 , each of the outer side faces  12   a  of the connecting members  12  is pressed to expand outward more greatly as approaching the lower edge portions  12   c . Accordingly, the plug is not easily pulled out of the socket as compared with the connectors shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7 . As a result, even in a case where the connector is vibrated, it is possible to prevent the plug from being dropped out of the socket. 
     Moreover, the locking member  14  presses the pair of connecting members  12  respectively onto the inner side faces  21   a  of the socket  21 . Accordingly, contact pressure between the plug contacts  13  and the socket contacts  22  is enhanced. As a result, it is possible to sufficiently reduce the contact resistance between the plug contacts  13  and the socket contacts  22 . 
     Furthermore, in the connector  10  according to the present embodiment, each of the plug contacts  13  and the corresponding one of the socket contacts  22  are not elastically brought into contact with each other. For this reason, the connector according to the present embodiment is resistant to deterioration with the passage of time, and thus the contact pressure can be prevented from being reduced. As a result, it is possible to prevent increase in electrical connection loss due to increase in contact resistance. 
     As described above, the connector and the method of connecting the connector according to the present embodiment have an effect in improving assurance and reliability at the time of connection. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the subject matter encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended for the subject matter of the invention to include all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the following claims. 
     Further, the inventor&#39;s intent is to retain all equivalents of the claimed invention even if the claims are amended later during prosecution.