Patent Publication Number: US-9893480-B2

Title: Connector

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-174353 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-033283 filed Feb. 24, 2016. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a connector suitable for connection between circuit boards. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In recent years, some uses for connectors have required a further reduction in size, a further reduction in width of the connectors. A board-to-board connector used for connection between circuit boards contained in a portable device is taken as an example. In the case of a connector for this application, a connector having tens of contacts arranged and having considerably small dimensions, for example, a length of 10 mm or less, and a width of 1.5 mm or less, is required. 
     In this regard, patent literature PTL1: JP2015-135806A discloses a connector provided with a housing having an upstanding wall upstanding from a mating face and a shell along a side face of the upstanding wall. For the connector disclosed, a further reduction in width of the connector is difficult because the structure of the housing constitutes an obstacle. In addition, as a reduction in size and a reduction in width of a connector advances, alignment for mating connectors with each other becomes more difficult. That is, how to make easy and safe mating possible, while achieving a reduction in size and a reduction in width, is also a problem. 
     In view of these circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector reduced in width and facilitating mating with a mating connector. 
     SUMMARY 
     A connector, according to the present invention, includes an insulative housing having a mating face, a plurality of contacts arranged in a longitudinal direction and supported by the insulative housing, and a metal shell adapted to support a widthwise inner face of a mating connector. The metal shell has a base portion extending along a peripheral edge of the mating face of the insulative housing. The metal shell is upstanding from the peripheral edge of the mating face of the insulative housing and encloses circumferentially the mating face of the insulative housing. The metal shell also has a curved portion continuous to an upper end of the base portion and curved inward in a semicircular shape adapted to guide a mating connector. The metal shell further has a supporting portion hanging from the curved portion toward the mating face of the insulative housing along an inner wall face of the base portion adapted to support a mating connector and extends along the peripheral edge of the mating face of the insulative housing enclosing the mating face of the insulative housing circumferentially. The connector of the present invention does not have an upstanding wall extending along a side face of a portion of the metal shell extending in the longitudinal direction of the metal shell such that the metal shell supports a widthwise inner face of a mating connector. This construction of a connector allows a further reduction in width. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an external perspective view of a connector as a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an external perspective view of a mating connector; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a state before mating, showing the connector shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  and the mating connector shown in  FIG. 3  situated in their mating positions; 
         FIGS. 5A and 5B  are sectional views of the two connectors taken along arrow A-A and arrow B-B shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a mating state of the connector shown in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and the mating connector shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are sectional views of the two connectors taken along arrow A-A and arrow B-B shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  are external perspective views of a second embodiment of a connector of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B ; 
         FIG. 10  is an external perspective view of a mating connector; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a state before mating, showing the connector shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B ,  FIG. 9  and the mating connector shown in  FIG. 10  in their mating positions; 
         FIGS. 12A and 12B  are sectional views of the two connectors taken along arrow A-A and arrow B-B shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a mating state of a connector shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B ,  FIG. 9  and the mating connector shown in  FIG. 10 ; and 
         FIGS. 14A and 14B  are sectional views of the two connectors taken along arrow A-A and arrow B-B shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the connector  1  is provided with an insulative housing  10 . The insulative housing  10  has, in an upper face shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , a mating face  11  formed in a substantially rectangular shape configured to be mated with a mating connector. 
     In addition, this insulative housing  10  is formed with a mating ridge  12  projecting upward (toward the mating connector during mating) from the mating face  11  and extending in a longitudinal direction of the mating face  11 . In the mating ridge  12 , a plurality of contacts  20  are arranged. These contacts  20  are integrally molded with the insulative housing  10 . In a lower face, not shown, of the insulative housing  10 , soldering portions  21  of these contacts  20  are aligned. The soldering portions  21  extend alternately right and left in the lower face of the insulative housing  10  along the arrangement of the contacts  20 . The soldering portions  21  are soldered to a circuit board (not shown) on which this connector  1  is mounted. 
     In addition, this connector  1  is provided with a metal shell  30 . The metal shell  30  in this embodiment is composed of a single part that is entirely integrally continuous and it is formed via a drawing process and a bending process. The metal shell  30  has a base portion  31 , a curved portion  32 , and supporting portions  33 . The base portion  31  has a shape upstanding from a peripheral edge of the mating face  11  of the insulative housing  10 , extending along the peripheral edge, and enclosing the mating face  11  circumferentially in a substantially rectangular shape. In addition, the curved portion  32  is continuous from an upper end of the base portion  31  and curved inward in a semicircular shape. Since having this semicircular curved shape, the curved portion  32  plays a role that guides the mating connector that is about to be mated easily to a correct mating position. 
     As indicated above, in this preferred embodiment of the present invention, metal shell  30  is an integrally formed single part. When the metal shell is composed of a single part, alignment with higher precision with the insulative housing  10  is allowed as compared with a case where the metal shell is composed of a combination of a plurality of parts, so that it is possible to guide the mating connector to a more precise position. 
     Further, the supporting portions  33  each have a shape hanging from the curved portion  32  toward the mating face  11  of the insulative housing  10  along an inner wall face of the base portion  31 . The supporting portions  33  play a role that supports the mating connector mated. The supporting portions  33  each form a metal plate having a double thickness in combination with the base portion  31 , thereby reinforcing this portion. Thereby, a structure that supports the mating connector further firmly is made. 
     In addition, the curved portion  32  and the supporting portion  33  of this metal shell  30  are formed in regions excluding four corners of the substantially rectangular shape of the base portion  31 . The regions at the four corners of this metal shell  30  are formed only of the base portion  31  excluding the curved portion  32  and the supporting portion  33 . For this reason, a mating connector receiving width is wider in both longitudinal end portions composed only of the base portion  31  than in a middle portion. 
     Furthermore, at supporting portions  33   a  in both the longitudinal end portions of this metal shell  30 , lock portions  34  projecting inward (see  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7  in combination) are formed. These lock portions  34  play a role that locks the mating connector in a mating state. Furthermore, at both the longitudinal end portions of this metal shell  30 , soldering portions  35 , continuous to a lower end of the base portion  31  and extending horizontally, are formed. The soldering portions  35  are soldered to a circuit board (not shown) on which this connector  1  is mounted together with the soldering portions  21  of the contacts  20 . Then, the soldering portions  35  firmly fix the connector  1  to the circuit board by soldering. 
     In this regard, both widthwise side portions of the mating connector mated are supported so as to be held from both sides by longitudinally extending supporting portions  33   b , namely, supporting portions  33   b  located on both widthwise sides of the supporting portions  33  of the metal shell  30 . However, in the insulative housing  10  of the present embodiment, upstanding walls extending along side faces of the supporting portions  33   b  of the metal shell  30  that support both side faces of the mating connector are not formed. That is, the supporting portions  33   b  of the metal shell  30  of this portion each has a structure that supports both the widthwise side faces of the mating connector alone without support from the insulative housing  10 . 
     The connector  1  of the present embodiment realizes a reduction in width by achieving this structure, that is, a structure that supports the mating connector from both the widthwise sides by means of the metal shell  30  without forming upstanding walls along the side faces of the supporting portions  33   b  of the metal shell  30  in the insulative housing  10 . 
     In addition, since the connector  1  of the present embodiment achieves a structure that guides the mating connector to a correct mating position by providing the above-described curved portion  32  in the metal shell  30 , a structure that facilitates mating with the mating connector is realized while realizing a reduction in width is achieved. 
     In the insulative housing  10 , L-shaped mounting portions  13  sectioning four corners of the substantially rectangular mating face and upstanding therefrom, respectively, are formed. The metal shell  30  is fixed to the insulative housing  10  in an attitude where four corners of the base portion  31  thereof are placed on these mounting portions  13 . In the insulative housing  10 , at four corner portions that are located closer to the four corners than the L-shaped mounting portions  13  at the four corners, holding portions  14  that hold the metal shell  30  are formed. The metal shell  30  is a little firmly fitted into a region defined these holding portions  14  at the four corners in a clamping manner. Then, outer faces of the four corners of the base portions  31  of the metal shell  30  are pressed by the holding portions  14 , so that the metal shell  30  is held by the insulative housing  10 . The metal shell  30  is soldered to the circuit board (not shown) via soldering portions  35  at both the longitudinal ends. For this reason, holding the metal shell  30  by the insulative housing  10  is sufficiently fulfilled only by holding performed by the holding portions  14  at the four corners. 
       FIG. 3  is an external perspective view of the mating connector. This mating connector  2  is a connector configured to be mated with the connector of the present embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 3 , the mating connector  2  is shown in an attitude where a mating portion configured to be mated with the connector  1  shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  faces up. 
     The mating connector  2  is provided with an insulative housing  40 , a plurality of contacts  50 , and reinforcing metal fittings  60  at both longitudinal ends. In the insulative housing  40 , a longitudinally extending mating groove  41  is formed. When the mating connector  2  is mated to the connector  1  shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the mating ridge  12  disposed in the insulative housing  10  of the connector  1  is fitted into the mating groove  41  disposed in the insulative housing  40  of this mating connector  2 . 
     In the mating groove  41 , a plurality of contacts  50  are press-fitted and arranged. When the mating ridge  12  of the connector  1  of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  is fitted into this mating groove  41 , the plurality of contacts  20  of the connector  1  of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  and the plurality of contacts  50  of this mating connector  2  are electrically connected in contact with each corresponding contacts  20  and  50 . 
     The mating connector  2  is mounted on a circuit board, not shown, in an attitude where a lower face in an attitude shown in  FIG. 3  is in contact with the circuit board. The circuit board on which the mating connector  2  is mounted is a circuit board different from the circuit board on which the connector  1  shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  is mounted. On each of the contacts  50 , a solder connection portion  51  projecting like a pin (see  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 6 ) is disposed. When the mating connector  2  is mounted on the circuit board (not shown), the solder connection portion  51  of the contact  50  is inserted into a hole disposed in the circuit board, and in this state the solder-connection portion  51  is soldered to the circuit board. 
     In addition, the reinforcing metal fittings  60  are fixed at both longitudinal end portions of the housing  40 . In the reinforcing metal fittings  60 , lock holes  61  are disposed in longitudinally outward faces. The lock hole  61  is entered by the lock portion  34  disposed in the metal shell  30  of the connector  1  when this mating connector  2  is mated to the connector  1  shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . Then, the entering of the lock portion  34  into the lock hole  61  locks the mating of the connector  1  and the mating connector  2  so that they are not easily parted. 
     In addition, in the reinforcing metal fittings  60 , soldering portions  62  extending horizontally are disposed. The soldering portions  62  are soldered to the circuit board (not shown) on which this mating connector  2  is mounted together with the soldering portions  51  of the contact  50 . Then, the soldering portions  62  of the reinforcing metal fittings  60  firmly fix the mating connector  2  to the circuit board by soldering. 
     In this regard, widthwise dimensions of this mating connector  2  in both the longitudinal end portions having the reinforcing metal fittings  60  attached are wider than a widthwise dimension in a longitudinal middle portion. Both the end portions are fitted into wider portions where the metal shell  30  is formed only of the base portion  31  in both the end portions of the connector  1  shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . Since both the longitudinal end portions of this mating connector  2  are wider, they cannot be fitted into a portion of the metal shell  30  of the connector  1  where the longitudinally extending supporting portions  33   b  are formed. Imagine that both the longitudinal end portions of the mating connector have the same widthwise dimensions as the longitudinal middle portion. That is, imagine that a longitudinal end portion of the mating connector has a widthwise dimension that allows it to fit into the middle portion that is off from both the end portions of the connector  1 . Then, while the mating connector  2  is being longitudinally misaligned from the connector  1 , the mating connector  2  may be inclined and one end portion of the mating connector  2  may be erroneously mated to the connector  1 . When this erroneous mating occurs, the mating ridge  12  or the contacts  20  of the connector  1  may be deformed, which may cause a failure. In the case of the present embodiment, since the four corners of the metal shell  30  are connected only via the base portion  31 , both the end portions of the connector  1  are wider, and both the end portions of the mating connector can be fitted only into the wider portions. That is, in the case of the present embodiment, the connectors are prevented from being mated in a longitudinally misaligned state. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a state before mating, showing the connector shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , and the mating connector shown in  FIG. 3  situated in their mating attitudes. In  FIG. 4 , since the connectors are situated in their mating attitudes, a lower face of the mating connector  2  is shown facing up. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  are sectional views of the two connectors taken along arrow A-A and arrow B-B shown in  FIG. 4 . In this regard,  FIG. 5A  is a longitudinal sectional view of the two connectors taken along arrow A-A. On the other hand,  FIG. 5B  is a widthwise sectional view of the two connectors taken along arrow B-B. The widthwise sectional view of  FIG. 5B  is shown in an enlarged manner, as compared with in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5A , for the purpose of clarity. 
     In addition,  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a mating state of the connector shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  and the mating connector shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     Furthermore,  FIGS. 7A and 7B  are sectional views of the two connectors taken along arrow A-A and arrow B-B shown in  FIG. 6 . In this regard,  FIGS. 7A and 7B  are views similar to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , respectively, except for a difference between the states before and after mating. The sectional view of  FIG. 7B  is also shown in an enlarged manner, like  FIG. 5B , for the purpose of clarity. In  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 7A , the lock portions  34  disposed in the metal shell  30  of the connector  1  and the lock holes  61  disposed in the reinforcing metal fittings  60  of the mating connector  2  and entered by the lock portions  34  can be seen. 
     When the mating connector  2  is mated to the connector  1 , in terms of the longitudinal direction, the mating is performed such that the reinforcing metal fittings  60  of the mating connector  2  are guided in contact with the curved portions  32  in both the longitudinal ends of the metal shell  30  of the connector  1 . Once the connector  1  and the mating connector  2  are mated to each other, the lock portion  34  is fitted into the lock hole  61 , so that the mating of the connector  1  with the mating connector  2  is not easily released. 
     When the mating connector  2  is mated to the connector  1 , in terms of the widthwise direction, as shown in  FIG. 5B  and  FIG. 7B , the mating is performed such that the housing  40  of the mating connector  2  is guided in contact with the curved portions  32  in both the widthwise sides of the metal shell  30  of the connector  1 . This mating causes the contacts  20  of the connector  1  to fit into the mating groove  41  of the mating connector  2  together with the mating ridge  12  (see  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 ). Then, the contacts  20  of the connector  1  come into contact with the contacts  50  of the mating connector  2  such that they are pinched from both sides by the contacts  50  of the mating connector  2 . It should be noted that, in  FIG. 7B , the contact  50  of the mating connector  2  is shown so as to bite into the contact  20 , but this is because  FIG. 7B  shows a shape before elastic deformation. In practice, the contact  50  of the mating connector  2  is caused to elastically expand by the fitting-in of the contact  20 , and these contacts  20  and  50  come into contact with each other with a predetermined contact pressure. 
     Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.  FIGS. 8A and 8B  are external perspective views of a connector as a second embodiment of the present invention. In this regard,  FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of an attitude in which a mating face mated with a mating connector (described later) faces up. In addition,  FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of an attitude in which a lower face which the connector is mounted on a circuit board (not shown) faces up. 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B . The connector  101  is provided with an insulative housing  110 . The insulative housing  110  has, on an upper face shown in  FIG. 8A  and  FIG. 9 , a mating face  111  formed in a substantially rectangular shape configured to be mated with the mating connector. 
     Further, the insulative housing  110  is formed with a mating ridge  112  projecting upward (toward the mating connector during mating) from the mating face  111  and extending in a longitudinal direction of the mating face  111 . In the mating ridge  112 , a plurality of contacts  120  are arranged. The contacts  120  are molded integrally with the insulative housing  110 . On the lower face of the insulative housing  110  (see  FIG. 8B ), soldering portions  121  of the contacts  120  are aligned. The soldering portions  121  extend alternately right and left in the lower face of the insulative housing  110  along the arrangement of the contacts  120 . The soldering portions  121  are soldered to a circuit board (not shown) on which the connector  101  is mounted. 
     In addition, the connector  101  is provided with a metal shell  130 . The metal shell  130  in the present embodiment is formed via a stamping process and a bending process, unlike the metal shell  30  of the connector  1  of the first embodiment described above. However, the metal shell  30  in the first embodiment described above is a metal shell composed of a single part that is entirely integrally continuous. In contrast, in this preferred embodiment in the present invention, the metal shell  130  is composed of a combination of a plurality of parts (two parts  130   a  and  130   b  as illustrated and being described) separated at centers of both longitudinal ends thereof. These two parts  130   a ,  130   b  have the same shapes as each other. Further, these two parts  130   a  and  130   b  are disposed such that these two parts  130   a  and  130   b  jointly enclose the mating face  111  circumferentially. 
     When the metal shell  30  is formed as a single part, a drawing process or the like for forming a structure of an opening portion enclosing the mating face of the insulative housing  10  requires man-hours. When the metal shell  130  is composed of a combination of a plurality of parts, it facilitates the manufacture. 
     The metal shell  130  has a base portion  131 , a curved portion  132 , and supporting portions  133 . The base portion  131  has a shape upstanding from a peripheral edge of the mating face  111  of the insulative housing  110 , extending along the peripheral edge, and enclosing the mating face  111  circumferentially in a substantially rectangular shape. In addition, the curved portion  132  is continuous to an upper end of the base portion  131  and curved inward in a semicircular shape. Since having this semicircular curved shape, the curved portion  132  plays a role that guides the mating connector that is about to be mated easily to a correct mating position. 
     Further, the supporting portion  133  has a shape hanging from the curved portion  132  toward the mating face  111  of the insulative housing  110  along an inner wall face of the base portion  131 . The supporting portion  133  plays a role that supports the mating connector mated. The supporting portion  133  forms a metal plate having a double thickness in combination with the base portion  131 , thereby reinforcing this part. Thereby, a structure that supports the mating connector further firmly is made. 
     In addition, the curved portion  132  and the supporting portion  133  of the metal shell  130  are formed in regions excluding four corners of the substantially rectangular shape of the base portion  131 . The regions at the four corners of this metal shell  130  are formed only of the base portion  131  excluding the curved portion  132  and the supporting portion  133 . For this reason, a mating connector receiving width is wider in both longitudinal end portions composed only of the base portion  131  than in a middle portion. 
     Further, in supporting portions  133   a  in both the longitudinal end portions of this metal shell  130 , recessed portions  134  recessed outward (see  FIGS. 12A and 12B , and  FIGS. 14A and 14B  in combination) are formed. The recessed portions  134  play a role that locks the mating connector in a mating state. 
     Furthermore, at both the longitudinal end portions of this metal shell  130  and at both side portions in the vicinity of both the end portions, soldering portions  135  extending further downward from a lower end of the base portions  131  are formed. The soldering portions  135  are soldered to a circuit board (not shown) on which this connector  101  is mounted together with the soldering portions  121  of the contacts  120 . Then, the soldering portions  135  firmly fix the connector  101  to the circuit board by soldering. 
     In this regard, both widthwise side portions of the mating connector mated are supported so as to be held from both sides by supporting portions  133   b  extending longitudinally, namely, supporting portions  133   b , on both widthwise sides, of the supporting portions  133  of the metal shell  130 . However, upstanding walls extending along side faces of the supporting portions  133   b  of the metal shell  30  that support both side faces of the mating connector are not formed in the insulative housing  110  of this embodiment. That is, the supporting portions  133   b  of the metal shell  130  of this portion each has a structure that supports both the widthwise side faces of the mating connector alone without support from the insulative housing  110 . 
     The connector  101  of the present embodiment realizes a reduction in width by achieving this structure, that is, a structure that supports the mating connector from both the widthwise sides by means of the metal shell  130  without forming vertical walls formed along side faces of the supporting portions  133   b  of the metal shell  130  in the insulative housing  110 . In addition, since the connector  101  of this embodiment achieves a structure that guides the mating connector to a correct mating position by providing the above curved portion  132  in the metal shell  130 , a structure that facilitates mating with the mating connector while realizing a reduction in width is achieved. 
     In the insulative housing  110 , L-shaped mounting portions  113  sectioning four corners of the substantially-rectangular mating face and upstanding therefrom, respectively, are formed. The metal shell  130  is fixed to the insulative housing  110  in an attitude where four corners of the base portion  131  are placed on these mounting portions  113 . In the insulative housing  110 , holding grooves  114  holding the metal shell  130  are disposed on both the side portions in respective positions adjacent to the L-shaped mounting portions  113  at the four corners. In the holding grooves  114 , a total of four soldering portions  135   a  of the soldering portions  135  described above, which are formed on the both side portions in the vicinity of longitudinal both end portions, are fitted by light press-fitting into the holding grooves  114  individually corresponding thereto. Thus, the two parts  130   a  and  130   b  constituting the metal shell  130  are held by the insulative housing  110 . The soldering portions  135  of the metal shell  130  are soldered to the circuit board (not shown). For this reason, holding of each of the parts  130   a  and  130   b  of the metal shell  130  performed by the insulative housing  110  is sufficiently fulfilled only by holding performed by the two holding grooves  114 . 
       FIG. 10  is an external perspective view of the mating connector. This mating connector  102  is a connector configured to be mated with the connector of the present embodiment shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B  and  FIG. 9 . In  FIG. 10 , the mating connector  102  is shown in an attitude where a mating portion configured to be mated with the connector  101  shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B  and  FIG. 9  faces up. The mating connector  102  is provided with an insulative housing  140 , a plurality of contacts  150 , and reinforcing metal fittings  160  at longitudinal both ends. In the insulative housing  140 , a mating groove  141  extending longitudinally is formed. When the mating connector  102  is mated to the connector  101  shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B  and  FIG. 9 , the mating ridge  112  disposed in the insulative housing  110  of the connector  101  is fitted into the mating groove  141  disposed in the insulative housing  140  of the mating connector  102 . In the mating groove  141 , the plurality of contacts  150  are press-fitted and arranged. When the mating ridge  112  of the connector  101  of  FIGS. 8A and 8B  and  FIG. 9  is fitted into the mating groove  141 , the plurality of contacts  120  of the connector  101  of  FIGS. 8A and 8B  and  FIG. 9  and the plurality of contacts  150  of this mating connector  102  are electrically connected in contact with respective corresponding contacts  120  and  150 . 
     The mating connector  102  is mounted on a circuit board, not shown, in an attitude where a lower face in the position shown in  FIG. 10  is in contact with the circuit board. The circuit board on which this mating connector  102  is mounted is a circuit board different from the circuit board on which the connector  101  shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B  and  FIG. 9  is mounted. On the respective contacts  150 , solder connection portions  151  (see  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 13 ) extending alternately right and left in a widthwise direction of the insulative housing  140  along a lower face  142  of the insulative housing  140  are provided. When the mating connector  102  is loaded on the circuit board (not shown), the solder connection portions  151  of the contacts  150  are soldered to a surface of the circuit board. 
     In addition, the reinforcing metal fittings  160  are fixed to both the longitudinal end portions of the housing  140 . In the reinforcing metal fittings  160 , projecting portions  161  projecting outward are disposed in longitudinally outward faces. The projecting portions  161  enter the recessed portions  134  disposed in the metal shell  130  of the connector  101  when this mating connector  102  is mated to the connector  101  shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B  and  FIG. 9 . Then, the entering of the projecting portion  161  into the recessed portions  134  locks the mating of the connector  101  and the mating connector  102  so that the mating between the connector  101  and the mating connector  102  are not easily released. 
     In addition, in the reinforcing metal fittings  160 , soldering portions  162  extending horizontally are disposed. The soldering portions  162  are soldered to the circuit board (not shown) on which this mating connector  102  is mounted together with the soldering portions  151  of the contact  150 . Then, the soldering portions  162  of the reinforcing metal fittings  160  firmly fix the mating connector  102  to the circuit board by soldering. In this regard, widthwise dimensions of this mating connector  102  in both the longitudinal end portions having the reinforcing metal fittings  160  attached are wider than widthwise dimensions in a longitudinal middle portion. Both the end portions are fitted into wider portions in both end portions of the connector  101  shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B  and  FIG. 9  where the metal shell  130  is formed only of the base portion  131 . Since both the longitudinal end portions of this mating connector  102  are wider, they cannot be fitted into portions of the metal shell  130  of the connector  101  where the longitudinally extending supporting portions  133   b  are formed. Imagine that both the longitudinal end portions of the mating connector have the same widthwise dimensions as the longitudinal middle portion. That is, imagine that both the longitudinal end portions of the mating connector have widthwise dimensions allowing them to fit into the middle portion that is off from both the end portions of the connector  101 . Then, while the mating connector  102  is being longitudinally misaligned from the connector  101 , the mating connector  102  may be inclined and one end portion of the mating connector  102  may be erroneously mated to the connector  101 . When this erroneous mating occurs, the mating ridge  112  or the contacts  120  of the connector  101  may be deformed, which may cause a failure. In the case of the present embodiment, since the four corners of the metal shell  130  are formed only of the base portion  131 , the connector  101  is wider in both the end portions and both the end portions of the mating connector can be fitted only into the wider portions. That is, in the case of the present embodiment, the connectors are prevented from being mated in a longitudinally misaligned state. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a state before mating, showing the connector shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B , and  FIG. 9 , and the mating connector shown in  FIG. 10  situated in their mating attitudes. In  FIG. 11 , since the connectors are situated in their mating attitudes, the lower face of the mating connector  102  is shown facing up. 
       FIGS. 12A and 12B  are sectional views of the two connectors taken along arrow A-A and arrow B-B shown in  FIG. 11 . In this regard,  FIG. 12A  is a longitudinal sectional view of the two connectors taken along arrow A-A. On the other hand,  FIG. 12B  is a widthwise sectional view of the two connectors taken along arrow B-B. The widthwise sectional view of  FIG. 12B  is shown in an enlarged manner, as compared with in  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12A , for the purpose of clarity. 
     In addition,  FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a mating state of the connector shown in  FIGS. 8A and 8B  and  FIG. 9  and the mating connector shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     Furthermore,  FIGS. 14A and 14B  are sectional views of the two connectors taken along arrow A-A and arrow B-B shown in  FIG. 13 .  FIGS. 14A and 14B  are views similar to  FIGS. 12A and 12B , respectively, except for a difference between the states before and after mating. The sectional view of  FIG. 14B  is also shown in an enlarged manner, like  FIG. 12B , for the purpose of clarity. 
     In  FIG. 12A  and  FIG. 14A , the recessed portions  134  disposed in the metal shell  130  of the connector  101  and the projecting portions  161 , disposed on the reinforcing metal fittings  160  of the mating connector  102  and entering the recessed portions  134 , can be seen. When the mating connector  102  is mated to the connector  101 , in terms of the longitudinal direction, the mating is performed such that the reinforcing metal fittings  160  of the mating connector  102  are guided in contact with the curved portions  132  in both the longitudinal ends of the metal shell  130  of the connector  101 . Once the connector  101  and the mating connector  102  are mated with each other, the projecting portions  161  are fitted into the recessed portions  134 , so that the mating of the connector  101  with the mating connector  102  is not easily released. 
     When the mating connector  102  is mated to the connector  101 , in terms of the widthwise direction, as shown in  FIG. 12B  and  FIG. 14B , the mating is performed such that the housing  140  of the mating connector  102  is guided in contact with the curved portions  132  in both the widthwise sides of the metal shell  130  of the connector  101 . This mating causes the contacts  120  of the connector  101  to fit into the mating groove  141  of the mating connector  102  together with the mating ridge  112  (see  FIGS. 8A and 8B  and  FIG. 9 ). Then, the contacts  120  of the connector  101  come into contact with the contacts  150  of the mating connector  102  such that the contacts  120  are pinched from both sides by the contacts  150  of the mating connector  102 . It should be noted that, in  FIG. 14B , the contact  150  of the mating connector  102  is shown so as to bite into the contact  120 , but this is because  FIG. 14B  shows a shape before elastic deformation. In practice, the contact  150  of the mating connector  102  is caused to elastically expand by the fitting-in of the contact  120 , and these contacts  120  and  150  come into contact with each other with a predetermined contact pressure. 
     It should be noted that, in the first embodiment described before, the connector  1  having twenty contacts  20  arranged in the longitudinal direction is shown. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the connector  101  having ten contacts  120  arranged in the longitudinal direction is shown. However, the number of contacts arranged is not limited to twenty or ten, but any number of contacts may be disposed. A longitudinal dimension of a connector is adjusted according to the number of contacts arranged. On the other hand, in terms of a widthwise dimension of the connector, a reduction in width is maintained regardless of the number of contacts arranged in the longitudinal direction.