Patent Publication Number: US-11646522-B2

Title: Male connector and connector device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a national phase of PCT application No. PCT/JP2019/036531, filed on 18 Sep. 2019, which claims priority from Japanese patent application No. 2018-189507, filed on 4 Oct. 2018, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a male connector provided with a hand-contact preventing function and a connector device using the same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, a structure for bringing terminals into conduction by connecting a pair of male and female connectors holding the terminals in housings to each other is adopted in a connector device used in an electrical system of an automotive vehicle or the like. When the male and female connectors are not connected, connecting portions (conductive portions) of the terminals are exposed to outside. Thus, particularly in a connector device or the like for large current, high safety measures such as a hand-contact preventing function for preventing the hand contact of a worker with exposed connecting portions of terminals are required. 
     For example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2016-062699 (Patent Document 1), a structure is proposed in which an insulating member is provided on a tip part of a male connecting portion and a tubular body extending while surrounding the male connecting portion projects further in an axial direction than the tip part of the male connecting portion. According to this, hand contact with the male connecting portion can be prevented by restricting the intrusion of a hand by a tip part of the tubular body and the insulating member provided on the tip part of the male connecting portion. 
     A connector device in which an opening is formed in a side surface of a tubular body surrounding a male terminal or a housing, and a female connector can be accommodated in an opening formed part of a male connector is proposed in Japanese National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2016-522550 (Patent Document 2). 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     Patent Document 1: JP 2016-062699 A 
     Patent Document 2: JP 2016-522550 A 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved 
     In the structure of Patent Document 1, an increase in a projecting dimension in the axial direction of the male connector is unavoidable. Additionally, a wire extending from a female terminal of the female connector fit to the male connecting portion of the male connector in the axial direction further projects in the axial direction. Therefore, in the connector device described in Patent Document 1, a large installation space is necessary in the axial direction and vehicle space saving in recent years cannot be dealt with. 
     In the structure of Patent Document 2, a height in the axial direction of the connector device can be reduced, but the opening provided in the housing or the tubular body of the male connector has a large area to enable the accommodation of the female connector. In this way, the contact of a worker&#39;s hand with the male connecting portion exposed to outside through the opening is unavoidable. Therefore, the insulating member is extended from a base part to a tip part of an exposed part of the male connecting portion to prevent hand contact with the male connecting portion. 
     Accordingly, it is aimed to provide a male connector and a connector device having novel structures capable of reducing a projecting height of a female connector connected to a male connector from the male connector and realizing a hand-contact preventing function of preventing hand contact with a male terminal while advantageously ensuring a cross-sectional area of a male connecting portion by a simple structure. 
     Means to Solve the Problem 
     A male connector of the present disclosure includes a male terminal held in a male housing, a tubular body projecting on the male housing and surrounding a male connecting portion of the male terminal, an insulating cover portion for covering a tip part of the male connecting portion, a female terminal accommodation gap formed between the male connecting portion and a facing surface of the tubular body, and a female terminal accommodation hole open in a projecting end surface and a side surface of the tubular body, the female terminal accommodation gap and the female terminal accommodation hole being configured to allow insertion of a female terminal including a female connecting portion to be connected to the male connecting portion in a mating female connector while hindering hand contact with the male connecting portion. 
     A connector device of the present invention includes the male connector of the present disclosure and a female connector to be connected to the male connector, wherein the female connector includes a female terminal having a female connecting portion to be connected to the male connecting portion of the male terminal and a female housing for accommodating the female terminal, and the female housing includes a male connecting portion inserting portion and a tubular body inserting portion and the female terminal including the female connecting portion is held positioned between the male connecting portion inserting portion and the tubular body inserting portion. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     According to the male connector and the connector device of the present disclosure, a projecting height of the female connector connected to the male connector from the male connector can be reduced. Further, a hand-contact preventing function of preventing hand contact with the male terminal can be realized while a cross-sectional area of the male connecting portion is advantageously ensured by a simple structure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view showing a connector device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of  FIG.  1    viewed from a bottom surface side. 
         FIG.  3    is an enlarged section along in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is an enlarged section along IV-IV in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  5    is an enlarged exploded perspective view showing the connection of a male connector and a female connector of the one embodiment. 
         FIG.  6    is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the male connector and the female connector shown in  FIG.  5    respectively viewed from the bottom surface side. 
         FIG.  7    is an enlarged perspective view of the male connector shown in  FIG.  5   . 
         FIG.  8    is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the male connector shown in  FIG.  7    viewed from the bottom surface side. 
         FIG.  9    is an enlarged perspective view showing a female terminal used in the female connector of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  10    is an exploded perspective view showing a state where the female terminal shown in  FIG.  9    is being mounted into a female housing body of the female connector. 
         FIG.  11    is an exploded perspective view of  FIG.  10    viewed from the bottom surface side. 
         FIG.  12    is an exploded perspective view showing a state where a female lower cover is assembled with the female housing body having the female terminals shown in  FIG.  10    mounted therein. 
         FIG.  13    is a partial enlarged perspective view showing an assembly of the female lower cover with the female housing body shown in  FIG.  12    and having the female terminals mounted therein when viewed from the bottom surface side. 
         FIG.  14    is an exploded perspective view showing a state where the female connector is completed by assembling a female upper cover and the like with the assembly of the female lower cover with the female housing body shown in  FIG.  12   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION TO EXECUTE THE INVENTION 
     Description of Embodiments of Present Disclosure 
     First, embodiments of the present disclosure are listed and described. 
     (1) A male connector of the present disclosure includes a male terminal held in a male housing, a tubular body projecting on the male housing and surrounding a male connecting portion of the male terminal, an insulating cover portion for covering a tip part of the male connecting portion, a female terminal accommodation gap formed between the male connecting portion and a facing surface of the tubular body, and a female terminal accommodation hole open in a projecting end surface and a side surface of the tubular body, the female terminal accommodation gap and the female terminal accommodation hole being configured to allow insertion of a female terminal including a female connecting portion to be connected to the male connecting portion in a mating female connector while hindering hand contact with the male connecting portion. 
     According to the male connector of the present disclosure, the female terminal accommodation hole open in the projecting end surface and the side surface is provided in the tubular body surrounding the male connecting portion, and the female terminal accommodation gap is formed between the male connecting portion and the facing surface of the tubular body. In this way, the female terminal can be accommodated in an axially projecting region of the male connecting portion, and projecting dimensions of the female terminal and the female connector including the female terminal from the male connector can be reduced. Therefore, a height reduction of a connector device can be advantageously realized. 
     Further, the female terminal accommodation gap and the female terminal accommodation hole are dimensioned to allow the insertion of the female terminal including the female connecting portion to be connected to the male connecting portion in the female connector while hindering hand contact with the male connecting portion. Thus, even if the female terminal accommodation hole open in the side surface of the tubular body is formed, a hand comes into contact with the tubular body without being able to pass through the female terminal accommodation hole. In this way, hand contact with the male connecting portion from the female terminal accommodation hole is reliably prevented. Further, the tip part of the male connecting portion is covered by the insulating cover portion. The outer peripheral surface of the male connecting portion is surrounded across the female terminal accommodation gap dimensioned to hinder hand contact. In this way, even if a hand approaches from a tip side of the male connecting portion, the hand comes into contact with the tip surfaces of the insulating cover portion and the tubular body to hinder contact with the male connecting portion. Therefore, a reduction in the projecting height of the female connector from the male connector and a height reduction of the connector device can be advantageously realized by a simple structure. 
     In addition, the insulating cover portion may be provided at least on the tip part of the male connecting portion. Thus, the structure of the male terminal can be simplified as compared to a conventional structure in which an insulating member needs to extend from a base end to a tip part of a male connecting portion. Further, a cross-sectional area of the male connecting portion in the male terminal can also be advantageously ensured. In this way, a cost reduction of the male connector, a reduction in the diameter of the male terminal and, eventually, the miniaturization of the male connector can be advantageously realized. 
     (2) Preferably, a part of the male connecting portion of the male terminal except the tip part is not covered by an insulating member. 
     It is possible not to cover the entire outer peripheral surface of the male connecting portion including a part exposed to outside from the female terminal accommodation hole of the tubular body by the insulating member. In this way, a contact area of the male connecting portion and the female connecting portion of the female terminal can be advantageously ensured, and conduction safety can be improved. In addition, a cross-sectional area of the male connecting portion itself can be more advantageously ensured, which can more advantageously contribute to a reduction in the diameter of the male connecting portion and the miniaturization of the male connector. 
     (3) Preferably, a pair of contact preventing ribs are provided which project toward an outer peripheral side of the tubular body from a pair of circumferential edge parts defining the female terminal accommodation hole in the tubular body, and the female terminal accommodation hole is configured to include the pair of contact preventing ribs. 
     The female terminal accommodation hole is configured to include the pair of contact preventing ribs respectively projecting toward the outer peripheral side from the pair of circumferential edge parts defining the female terminal accommodation hole. In this way, a hand can be kept more away from the male terminal by projecting dimensions of the contact preventing ribs. By providing the contact preventing ribs, a large separation dimension in a circumferential direction of the pair of circumferential edge parts in the female terminal accommodation hole can be ensured while the hand-contact preventing function is ensured. Further, a degree of freedom in designing the female terminal of the mating partner of the male connector can be improved. By providing the pair of contact preventing ribs, the rigidity and durability of the tubular body reduced by providing the female terminal accommodation hole in the form of a cutout can also be improved. 
     (4) Preferably, the male housing includes a body portion for accommodating a base end part of the male terminal, the body portion has a female connector mounting surface on which the female connector is to be mounted, the male connecting portion of the male terminal and the tubular body surrounding the male connecting portion are provided to project in a central part of the female connector mounting surface, a male-side housing fitting portion projecting in the same direction as the tubular body is provided to project on a peripheral edge part of the female connector mounting surface, and a region between the tubular body and the male-side housing fitting portion serves as a female housing accommodating portion for accommodating a female housing of the female connector. 
     The body portion of the male housing for accommodating the base end part of the male terminal has the female connector mounting surface, and the male connecting portion and the tubular body are provided to project outward from the female connector mounting surface. Further, the housing fitting portion is provided to project on the peripheral edge part of the female connector mounting surface, and the female housing accommodating portion is formed, utilizing a space between the tubular body and the housing fitting portion. In this way, in addition to the female terminal, the female housing of the female connector for accommodating the female terminal can also be accommodated in axially projecting regions of the male connecting portion and the tubular body. The projecting dimension of the female connector including the female terminal from the male connector can be reliably reduced, and a height reduction of the connector device can be advantageously realized. 
     (5) Preferably, a projecting dimension of the male-side housing fitting portion from the female connector mounting surface is larger than projecting dimensions of the male connecting portion and the tubular body from the female connector mounting surface, and the male-side housing fitting portion is fit to a female-side housing fitting portion provided in the female housing, whereby the female terminal of the female connector is positioned in the female terminal accommodation gap and the female terminal accommodation hole. 
     By making the projecting height of the male-side housing fitting portion larger than those of the male connecting portion and the tubular body, the fitting of the male-side housing fitting portion of the male connector to the female-side housing fitting portion of the female connector can be guided. As a result, the female terminal can be advantageously and easily positioned into the female terminal accommodation gap and the female terminal accommodation hole. Even if the female terminal accommodation gap and the female terminal accommodation hole are dimensioned to be narrow to prevent hand contact, an assembling operation of the male and female connectors can be stably realized. 
     (6) A connector device of the present disclosure includes the male connector according to any one of (1) to (5) described above, and a female connector to be connected to the male connector, wherein the female connector includes a female terminal including a female connecting portion to be connected to the male connecting portion of the male terminal and a female housing for accommodating the female terminal, and the female housing includes a male connecting portion inserting portion and a tubular body inserting portion and the female terminal including the female connecting portion is held positioned between the male connecting portion inserting portion and the tubular body inserting portion. 
     According to the connector device of the present disclosure, the male connecting portion inserting portion and the tubular body inserting portion are formed in the female housing constituting the female connector to be connected to the male connector of the present disclosure, and the female connecting portion of the female terminal is held positioned between the male connecting portion inserting portion and the tubular body inserting portion. In this way, the insertion of the male connecting portion and the tubular body into the female housing of the female connector is allowed by assembling the female connector from above in an axial direction of the male connecting portion and the tubular body of the male connector. As a result, the female terminal including the female connecting portion held positioned between the male connecting portion inserting portion and the tubular body inserting portion can be accommodated in the female terminal accommodation gap and the female terminal accommodation hole of the male connector. Therefore, the compact connector device reduced in height can be advantageously realized by a simple structure. 
     (7) In (6) described above, preferably, the female connecting portion of the female terminal and a region near the female connecting portion are accommodated in the female terminal accommodation gap and the female terminal accommodation hole provided in the male connector, and a wire connecting portion of the female terminal is accommodated outside the tubular body. 
     The female connecting portion that can be formed to be relatively thin and a region near the female connecting portion in the female terminal are accommodated into the female terminal accommodation gap and the female terminal accommodation hole. The wire connecting portion that is formed to be relatively thick is accommodated outside the tubular body. In this way, dimensions of the female terminal accommodation gap and the female terminal accommodation hole can be maximally reduced while the connection of the male connecting portion and the female connecting portion of the female terminal is allowed. Therefore, the hand-contact preventing function can be advantageously realized. 
     (8) In (7) described above, preferably, the female connecting portion of the female terminal is accommodated into the female terminal accommodation gap and pressed into contact with an outer peripheral surface of the male connecting portion, and a wire extending from the wire connecting portion of the female terminal extends outwardly of the female terminal accommodation hole in a direction orthogonal to a projecting direction of the tubular body. 
     The female connecting portion to be pressed into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the male connecting portion can be accommodated into the female terminal accommodation gap. Further, the wire extending from the wire connecting portion of the female terminal extends outward in an axis-orthogonal direction orthogonal to the projecting direction of the tubular body from the female terminal accommodation hole. In this way, the extension of the wire extending from the female connector axially upwardly of the tubular body of the male connector and the like can be avoided. A height reduction of the entire connector device using the male connector can be more advantageously realized, utilizing the female terminal accommodation gap and the female terminal accommodation hole. 
     (9) In (8) described above, preferably, the female terminal of the female connector includes a male terminal insertion tube portion constituting the female connecting portion by an inner surface to which the male connecting portion is to be press-fit, a pair of overlapping plate portions connected to a pair of first separated portions provided by separating one part in a circumferential direction of the male terminal insertion tube portion over an entire length in an axial direction, separated from each other and projecting outward, and a biasing means held in the female terminal for biasing the pair of overlapping plate portions in a direction to overlap the overlapping plate portions each other and holding the male terminal insertion tube portion in a diameter reduced state, the male terminal insertion tube portion is resiliently deformed in a diameter enlarging direction against a biasing force of the biasing means and the male connecting portion is allowed to be press-fit into the male terminal insertion tube portion when the male connecting portion is press-fit into the male terminal insertion tube portion, and the biasing means of the female terminal is accommodated outside the tubular body of the male connector. 
     The female connecting portion of the female terminal is constituted by the male terminal insertion tube portion. The male terminal insertion tube portion includes the pair of first separated portions separated over the entire length in the axial direction in one circumferential part. The pair of overlapping plate portions separated from each other and projecting outward are connected to the pair of first separated portions. The biasing means held in the female terminal biases the pair of overlapping plate portions in such a direction that the overlapping plate portions approach and are overlapped each other. In this way, the pair of first separated portions of the male terminal insertion tube portion are resiliently deformed in the direction to be brought closer to each other and overlapped, and the male terminal insertion tube portion is held in the diameter reduced state by the biasing force of the biasing means. Besides, when the male connecting portion is press-fit into the male terminal insertion tube portion, the male terminal insertion tube portion is resiliently deformable in the diameter enlarging direction against the biasing force, wherefore the male connecting portion is allowed to be press-fit into the male terminal insertion tube portion. In the female terminal of the present disclosure, a force in the diameter reducing direction is applied to the male terminal insertion tube portion by the biasing force of the biasing means. Therefore, the female connecting portion configured by the inner surface of the male terminal insertion tube portion can be pressed into contact with the male connecting portion press-fit into the male terminal insertion tube portion with a large contact pressure. 
     In addition, since the biasing means is held in the female terminal, a separate spring member or the like needs not be mounted to sandwich a connected part after the male terminal is connected to the female terminal. Therefore, an operation process can be simplified, and a high contact pressure between the male and female terminals can be realized by excellent workability. 
     Further, when the male connecting portion is press-fit into the male terminal insertion tube portion, the resilient deformation of the male terminal insertion tube portion in the diameter enlarging direction is allowed against the biasing force of the biasing means. In this way, a press-contact state can be stably maintained while an insertion force in inserting the male connecting portion into the female connecting portion of the female terminal is advantageously reduced. 
     Moreover, the biasing means of the female terminal that is relatively large in size is accommodated outside the tubular body of the male connector. Thus, even in the case of employing the female terminal of the present disclosure, it is not necessary to make the dimensions of the female terminal accommodation gap and the female terminal accommodation hole provided in the tubular body of the male connector large. Therefore, both an improvement of the press-contact state of the male and female terminals and a reduction of the insertion force can be achieved. 
     (10) In (8) or (9) described above, preferably, the male connector is configured by using the male connector of the fifth mode of the present invention relating to the male connector, the female housing is formed with a female-side housing fitting portion to which the male-side housing fitting portion is to be fit, and when the male connector and the female connector are connected, the male-side housing fitting portion and the female-side housing fitting portion are fit, whereby the female terminal of the female connector is positioned with respect to the female terminal accommodation gap and the female terminal accommodation hole of the male connector and the male connecting portion inserting portion and the tubular body inserting portion of the female connector are positioned with respect to the male connecting portion and the tubular body of the male connector. 
     When the male connector and the female connector are connected, the male-side housing fitting portion and the female-side housing fitting portion are first fit. In this way, the female terminal of the female connector is positioned with respect to the female terminal accommodation gap and the female terminal accommodation hole of the male connector. Further, the male connecting portion inserting portion and the tubular body inserting portion of the female connector are positioned with respect to the male connecting portion and the tubular body of the male connector. A guiding function by the mutual fitting of the male-side housing fitting portion and the female-side housing fitting portion is achieved, and the insertion of each of the female terminal, the male connecting portion and the tubular body into a narrow gap is stably realized. Both a height reduction of the connector device and ease of fitting are advantageously realized by a simple structure. 
     Details of Embodiment of Present Disclosure 
     Specific examples of a male connector and a connector device of the present disclosure are described with reference to the drawings below. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to these illustrations and is intended to be represented by claims and include all changes in the scope of claims and in the meaning and scope of equivalents. 
       FIGS.  1  to  6    show a connector device  10  as one embodiment of the present disclosure. The connector device  10  is illustrated to be applied to a connector for supplying power to an unillustrated in-vehicle device (e.g. motor, inverter or the like mounted in a hybrid vehicle or the like). The connector device  10  includes a male connector  12  to be fixed to a device side and a female connector  14 , the connectors  12 ,  14  being connectable to each other. This device includes a mounting body  16  made of metal and having a shielding function, and the mounting body  16  is formed with a connector mounting hole  18  (see  FIG.  2   ) penetrating through the mounting body  16  in an in-out direction. Note that, in the following description, an upper side means an upper side in  FIGS.  1  and  3   , a lower side means a lower side in  FIGS.  1  and  3   , a front side means a right side in  FIGS.  1  and  4    and a rear side means a left side in  FIGS.  1  and  4   . Further, a longitudinal direction means a lateral direction in  FIGS.  1  and  4   , and a width direction means a lateral direction in  FIG.  3   . Further, the mounting body  16  is shown in an imaginary line in  FIGS.  5  and  6    to facilitate understanding. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  7  and  8   , the male connector  12  is molded with parts of two male terminals  22  made of a conductive metal material embedded in a male housing  20  made of insulating synthetic resin. In  FIG.  8   , one of the male terminals  22  partially embedded in the male housing  20  is taken out from the male housing  20  to facilitate understanding. The two male terminals  22  have the same shape, and a tip side (back side in  FIG.  8   ) of each serves as a male connecting portion  24  having a substantially solid cylindrical shape. A base end part  26  of the male connecting portion  24  has a substantially solid cylindrical shape having a larger diameter than the male connecting portion  24 . A device-side connecting portion  28  substantially in the form of a flat plate projecting toward a rear end side and to be connected to the device side is provided on an end side (front side in  FIG.  8   ) behind the base end part  26 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , an insulating cover portion accommodation hole  30  open toward a tip side (upper side in  FIG.  3   ) is provided in a tip part of the male connecting portion  24 . A base end side of an insulating cover portion  32  substantially in the form of a rivet and made of insulating synthetic resin is press-fit into or molded in the insulating cover portion accommodation hole  30  to be fixedly held. In this way, the tip part of the male connecting portion  24  is covered by the insulating cover portion  32 . Only the tip part of the male connecting portion  24  of the male terminal  22  is covered by the insulating cover portion  32  having an insulation property, and a part thereof except the tip part is not cover by an insulating member. Therefore, as compared to a conventional structure in which a part except a tip part is covered by an insulating member, conduction safety can be improved by advantageously ensuring a contact area between the male connecting portion  24  and a female connecting portion  70  of a female terminal  72  to be described later. Further, since a cross-sectional area of the male connecting portion  24  itself can be advantageously ensured by the insulating member, the miniaturization of the male connecting portion  24  and that of the male connector  12  are also possible. 
     The male housing  20  includes a plate-like body portion  34  having a substantially elliptical shape in a plan view. The base end parts  26  of the two male terminals  22  are held embedded at two positions separated in the longitudinal direction (lateral direction in  FIG.  7   ) in a central part of the body portion  34 . The male connecting portion  24  of each male terminal  22  projects on a surface of the body portion  34 . A peripheral wall  36  projecting upward, i.e. in the same projecting direction as the male connecting portions  24 , is provided over the entire periphery on an outer peripheral edge part of the body portion  34 . Mounting leg portions  38  projecting outward in the width direction of the body portion  34  from two positions separated in the longitudinal direction of the body portion  34  are formed on each of parts of the outer peripheral surface on both sidewise sides of the peripheral wall  36  facing each other in the width direction (vertical direction in  FIG.  7   ) of the body portion  34 . A bolt insertion hole  40  penetrates through each mounting leg portion  38 . The surface of the body portion  34  constitutes a female connector mounting surface  42 , on which a female housing body  66   a  constituting the female connector  14  to be described later is to be mounted. A pair of tubular bodies  44 ,  44  surrounding the male connecting portions  24  of the two male terminals  22  arranged at a distance in the longitudinal direction of the body portion  34  from an outer peripheral side are respectively provided to project upward in a central part of the female connector mounting surface  42 . Each tubular body  44  includes a pair of semicircular plate portions  44   a ,  44   b  curved substantially along the outer peripheral surface of the male connecting portion  24  of the male terminal  22 . The pair of semicircular plate portions  44   a ,  44   b  are facing each other across a gap in a radial direction of the male connecting portion  24 , circumferential edge parts of the semicircular plate portion  44   a  and those of the semicircular plate portion  44   b  are facing each other across gaps in a circumferential direction. A female terminal accommodation gap  46  is formed between each male connecting portion  24  and the facing surface of each tubular body  44 . A pair of female terminal accommodation holes  48 ,  48  open in the side surface and projecting end surface of the tubular body  44  are formed at two positions (upper and lower sides in  FIG.  7   ) facing each other in a radial direction of the tubular body  44  by gaps across which the pair of semicircular plate portions  44   a ,  44   b  are facing each other in the circumferential direction. The female terminal accommodation gap  46  and the female terminal accommodation holes  48  are dimensioned to allow the insertion of the female terminal  72  including the female connecting portion  70  in the mating female connector  14  to be described later while preventing hand contact with the male connecting portion  24 . In this embodiment, the tip surface of each tubular body  44  is located above the tip surface of the male connecting portion  24  and below the tip surface of the insulating cover portion  32  (see  FIG.  3   ). Therefore, if a hand approaches from the tip side of the male connecting portion  24 , the hand comes into contact with the tip surfaces of the insulating cover portion  32  and the tubular body  44 , thereby hindering hand contact with the male connecting portion  24 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  7   , in each tubular body  44 , the respective circumferential edge parts of the semicircular plate portions  44   a ,  44   b  defining each female terminal accommodation hole  48  are provided with a pair of contact preventing ribs  50 ,  50  projecting radially outward, i.e. toward an outer peripheral side of each tubular body  44 . Since the female terminal accommodation hole  48  is configured to include the pair of contact preventing ribs  50 ,  50  in this embodiment, a hand can be kept more away from the male connecting portion  24  by a projecting dimension of the contact preventing ribs  50  toward the outer peripheral side. By providing the contact preventing ribs  50 , a large separation dimension in the circumferential direction between the circumferential edge parts of the semicircular plate portions  44   a ,  44   b  defining each female terminal accommodation hole  48  can be ensured while the hand-contact preventing function is ensured. Therefore, a degree of freedom in designing the mating female terminal  72  of the mating partner of the male connector  12  can be ensured. In addition, by providing the pair of contact preventing ribs  50 ,  50 , the rigidity and durability of the tubular body  44  reduced by providing the female terminal accommodation holes  48  in the form of cutouts can be improved. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG.  7   , plate-like male-side housing fitting portions  52   a ,  52   a  connected to the peripheral wall  36 , projecting further upward than the peripheral wall and curved into an arcuate shape are provided to project in parts of the peripheral wall  36  facing each other in the longitudinal direction of the body portion  34 . Furthermore, a male-side housing fitting portion  52   b  in the form of a flat plate connected to the peripheral wall  36  and projecting further upward than the peripheral wall is also provided to project in a part of the peripheral wall  36  located on one widthwise side (upper side in  FIG.  7   ) of the body portion  34 . A region between the tubular bodies  44  and the male-side housing fitting portions  52   a ,  52   a  and  52   b  serves as a female housing accommodating portion  53  for accommodating the female housing body  66   a  constituting a female housing  66  of the female connector  14  to be described later. In the male housing  20 , the male connecting portions  24  and the tubular bodies  44  surrounding the male connecting portions  24  are provided to project from the central part of the female connector mounting surface  42 . The male-side housing fitting portions  52   a ,  52   a  and  52   b  are provided to project on the peripheral edge part of the female connector mounting surface  42 , and the female housing accommodating portion  53  is formed, utilizing the space between the tubular bodies  44  and the male-side housing fitting portions  52   a ,  52   a  and  52   b.    
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , projecting dimensions of the male-side housing fitting portions  52   a ,  52   a  and  52   b  from the female connector mounting surface  42  are equal to each other and larger than projecting dimensions of the male connecting portions  24  and the tubular bodies  44  from the female connector mounting surface  42 . The female housing  66  includes male connecting portion inserting portions  116  and tubular body inserting portions  118  to be described later, and the female terminals  72  including the female connecting portions  70  are held positioned between the male connecting portion inserting portions  116  and the tubular body inserting portions  118 . Projecting heights of the male-side housing fitting portions  52   a ,  52   a  and  52   b  are set larger than those of the male connecting portions  24  and the tubular bodies  44 . In this way, a guiding function of guiding the fitting of the male-side housing fitting portions  52   a ,  52   a  and  52   b  to later-described female-side housing fitting portions  146   a ,  146   a  and  146   b  provided on the female connector  14  is achieved. Thus, the male terminals  22  can be advantageously and easily positioned in the female terminal accommodation gaps  46  and the female terminal accommodation holes  48 . Therefore, even if the female terminal accommodation gaps  46  and the female terminal accommodation holes  48  have to be narrowed to prevent hand contact, the smooth assembling of the male connector  12  and the female connector  14  can be stably realized. 
     A substantially block-like embedding portion  54  in which the base end parts  26  of the two male terminals  22  and the device-side connecting portions  28  are embedded is provided to project on the back surface of the body portion  34  of the male housing  20  opposite to the female connector mounting surface  42 . The embedding portion  54  is formed with a pair of openings  58 ,  58  and the device-side connecting portions  28  of the respective male terminals  22  are exposed to outside through the respective openings  58 . A nut  60  made of metal and arranged to overlap the device-side connecting portion  28  is accommodated in each opening  58 . A lid body  62  made of synthetic resin for covering the pair of openings  58  is assembled with the embedding portion  54 , and the nuts  60  accommodated in the respective openings  58  are held accommodated. A through hole for bolt-fixing the mating connecting portion to the nut  60  penetrates through any of the device-side connecting portions  28 , the nuts  60  and the lid body  62 . A ring-shaped waterproof member  64  extending substantially over the entire periphery of the outer peripheral edge part is mounted on the back surface opposite to the female connector mounting surface  42 . 
     In the female connector  14 , two female terminal-equipped wires  68  are positioned and accommodated in the female housing  66  made of insulating synthetic resin. As shown in  FIG.  9   , the female terminal-equipped wire  68  includes the female terminal  72  made of conductive metal and having the female connecting portion  70  to be connected to the male connecting portion  24  of the male terminal  22  having a substantially cylindrical pin shape. The female terminal-equipped wire  68  includes a spring accommodation case  74  to be assembled with the female terminal  72  and having an accommodation space. In this embodiment, the female terminal  72  is formed, using a strip-like metal flat plate, and one longitudinal end part of the metal flat plate is folded into two toward the other end part. By curving longitudinal intermediate parts of overlapping surfaces in directions separating from each other, a substantially hollow cylindrical male terminal insertion tube portion  76  is formed. The female connecting portion  70  is constituted by the inner surface of this male terminal insertion tube portion  76 . 
     One end side of the female terminal  72  where the part of the metal flat plate folded into two is located serves as a wire connecting portion  78 , and a core  82  of a wire  80  is connected to the wire connecting portion  78 . The wire  80  is structured such that the core  82  formed by stranding a plurality of metal wires made of copper, aluminum or another metal, which is a conductor, is covered by an insulation coating  82  made of ethylene resin, styrene resin or the like having an electrical insulation property. The core  82  exposed by stripping the insulation coating  84  on an end of the wire  80  is fixed to the wire connecting portion  78  of the female terminal  72  using a known technique such as resistance welding, whereby the core  82  of the wire  80  is connected to the female terminal  72 . 
     The spring accommodation case  74  is assembled with the female terminal  72 . The spring accommodation case  74  is so assembled with the female terminal  72  that the accommodation space is disposed above the part of the female terminal  72  where the one longitudinal end part of the metal flat plate is folded into two toward the other end part. A coil spring  86  made of metal is accommodated in a compressed state in the accommodation space of the assembled spring accommodation case  74 , and the overlapping one and other end parts of the metal flat plate are biased in a direction to approach each other by the coil spring  86 . 
     Specifically, the female terminal  72  constituting the female terminal-equipped wire  68  includes the male terminal insertion tube portion  76  into which the male connecting portion  24  is to be press-fit, and the female connecting portion  70  is constituted by the inner surface of the male terminal insertion tube portion  76 . Thus, by pressing the male connecting portion  24  of the male terminal  22  into contact with the inner surface of the male terminal insertion tube portion  76  of the female terminal  72 , the female terminal  72  is connected to the male terminal  22 . The female terminal  72  is provided with a pair of first separated portions  88 ,  88  by separating one circumferential part (left side in  FIG.  9   ) of the male terminal insertion tube portion  76  over the entire length in an axial direction. A pair of overlapping plate portions  90 ,  90  substantially in the form of flat plates projecting outward (toward an oblique left-lower side in  FIG.  9   ) while being separated from each other are connected to the pair of first separated portions  88 ,  88 . The coil spring  86  constituting a biasing means for biasing the pair of overlapping plate portions  90 ,  90  in a direction to overlap the overlapping plate portions  90 ,  90  each other and held in the spring accommodation case  74  is mounted on the pair of overlapping plate portions  90 ,  90  substantially in the form of flat plates. The male terminal insertion tube portion  76  is held in a diameter reduced state by this biasing means. Specifically, in press-fitting the male connecting portion  24  into the male terminal insertion tube portion  76 , the male terminal insertion tube portion  76  is resiliently deformed in a diameter enlarging direction against a biasing force of the coil spring  86  constituting the biasing means to allow the male connecting portion  24  to be press-fit into the male terminal insertion tube portion  76 . 
     According to the female terminal  72  of this embodiment, a force in a diameter reducing direction is applied to the male terminal insertion tube portion  76  by the biasing force of the coil spring  86  constituting the biasing means. Thus, the female connecting portion  70  constituted by the inner surface of the male terminal insertion tube portion  76  can be pressed into contact with the male connecting portion  24  press-fit into the male terminal insertion tube portion  76  with a large contact pressure. Since the coil spring  86  constituting the biasing means is assembled with the female terminal  72  in advance, it is not necessary to mount a separate spring member or the like as before to ensure a contact pressure between the male and female terminals after the male terminal  22  is connected to the female terminal  72 . Therefore, connection by a high contact pressure of the male terminal  22  and the female terminal  72  can be realized by excellent workability. In addition, the male terminal insertion tube portion  76  is allowed to be resiliently deformed in the diameter enlarging direction against the biasing force of the coil spring  86 . In this way, a press-contact state can be stably maintained while an insertion force in press-fitting the male connecting portion  24  into the female connecting portion  70  is advantageously reduced. 
     The two female terminal-equipped wires  68  are held positioned with respect to the female housing  66 , thereby configuring the female connector  14 . As shown in  FIGS.  3 ,  12 ,  14    and the like, the female housing  66  is configured to include the female housing body  66   a  for accommodating and holding the two female terminal-equipped wires  68 , a female lower cover  66   b  for covering the female housing body  66   a  from below and a female upper cover  66   c  for covering the female housing body  66   a  from above. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  10  and  11   , the female housing body  66   a  includes two substantially hollow cylindrical female terminal accommodation tube portions  92  for respectively accommodating and holding the two female terminal-equipped wires  68 , and a coupling tube portion  94  coupling the two female terminal accommodation tube portions  92 . Each female terminal accommodation tube portion  92  has an open base end side to enable the female terminal-equipped wire  68  to be accommodated inside. The coupling tube portion  94  is provided to straddle between the two female terminal accommodation tube portions  92  so that lengthwise intermediate parts of the two female terminal accommodation tube portions  92  arranged in parallel across a gap are coupled. Engaging portions  96  are provided to project at two positions separated in a length direction of the female terminal accommodation tube portion  92  on a side surface of each female terminal accommodation tube portion  92  located on an outer side in a juxtaposition direction of the two female terminal accommodation tube portions  92 . The engaging portions  96  are cantilevered upward (right side in  FIG.  10   ), toward which the female upper cover  66   c  is to be mounted, and engaging projections are formed on projecting end parts. As shown in  FIGS.  10  and  12   , the coupling tube portion  94  includes a central coupling portion  97  coupling facing side surfaces of the two female terminal accommodation tube portions  92  in the juxtaposition direction, a ceiling wall portion  98  connected to the central coupling portion  97  and expanding over the upper surfaces of the two female terminal accommodation tube portions  92  (surfaces on projecting sides of the engaging portions  96 ), and a tubular receptacle  99  connected to the central coupling portion  97  and expanding over the lower surfaces of the two female terminal accommodation tube portions  92  (surfaces on which the female lower cover  66   b  is to be mounted). A recess  100  provided in the central coupling portion  97  is open in a central part of the ceiling wall portion  98 . The tubular receptacle  99  has a substantially elliptical shape in a bottom view of the female housing body  66   a  (see  FIGS.  11  and  13   ), and opening windows  101  provided in the lower surfaces of the respective female terminal accommodation tube portions  92  are surrounded by the tubular receptacle  99 . A ring-shaped waterproof member  102  made of rubber is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular receptacle  99 . The female terminal  72  of the female terminal-equipped wire  68  is press-fit into each female terminal accommodation tube portion  92  of the female housing body  66   a  through an opening on the base end side of the female terminal accommodation tube portion  92 . A substantially ring-shaped waterproof member  104  made of synthetic resin and a pair of substantially semicylindrical fixing members  106 ,  106  made of synthetic resin are assembled on the insulation coating  84  of the wire  80  of the female terminal-equipped wire  68  successively from the side of the female terminal  72 . As shown in  FIG.  11   , the female terminal  72  is so accommodated that an axial direction of the male terminal insertion tube portion  76  is aligned with a vertical direction of the female terminal accommodation tube portion  92 , and one opening of the male terminal insertion tube portion  76  is exposed to outside via the opening window  101 . 
     Subsequently, the female lower cover  66   b  is assembled with the tubular receptacle  99  in the coupling tube portion  94  of the female housing body  66   a , and the opening windows  101  provided in the respective female terminal accommodation tube portions  92  are covered by the female lower cover  66   b . As shown in  FIGS.  12  and  13   , the female lower cover  66   b  includes a substantially elliptical bottom wall portion  108  formed to have a size capable of being accommodated into the tubular receptacle  99  and covering the opening of the tubular receptacle  99 . A pair of separation walls  110 ,  110  separated and facing each other in a longitudinal direction are provided to project in a central part in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction in  FIG.  12   ) of the bottom wall portion  108 . Each separation wall  110  extends in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the bottom wall portion  108  over the entire length in a width direction of the bottom wall portion  108  and has a substantially rectangular flat plate shape projecting upwardly of the bottom wall portion  108  toward the tubular receptacle  99 . Engaging portions  112  cantilevered and formed with engaging projections on projecting end parts are provided near the separation walls  110  on both widthwise edge parts of the bottom wall portion  108 . A pair of fitting walls  114 ,  114  projecting upward while being curved along an outer peripheral edge part are provided on both side edge parts in the longitudinal direction of the bottom wall portion  108 . A circumferential central part of each fitting wall  114  is cut. An engaging portion  112  cantilevered and formed with an engaging projection on a projecting end part is also provided in this cut part. As shown in  FIG.  13   , male connecting portion inserting portions  116  having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape into which the male connecting portions  24  are to be inserted are provided to penetrate through central parts of regions surrounded by the separation walls  110  and the fitting walls  114  in the bottom wall portion  108 . Tubular body inserting portions  118 , into which the tubular body  44  is to be inserted and which has a substantially arcuate cross-sectional shape, are provided to penetrate on both sides across the male connecting portion inserting portion  116 . The female lower cover  66   b  is assembled while being inserted into the tubular receptacle  99 . At that time, the engaging portions  112  provided on the female lower cover  66   b  are engaged with engaged portions  120  (see  FIG.  3   ) provided on the female housing body  66   a . In this way, the female lower cover  66   b  is fixed to the female housing body  66   a . As shown in  FIG.  13   , the female terminals  72  including the female connecting portions  70  are held positioned between the male connecting portion inserting portions  116  and the tubular body inserting portions  118 . The male terminal insertion tube portions  76  of the female terminals  72  exposed through the opening windows  101  are arranged below and substantially coaxially with the male connecting portion inserting portions  116 . 
     Subsequently, the female upper cover  66   c  is assembled with the female housing body  66   a  assembled with the female lower cover  66   b . As shown in  FIG.  14   , the female upper cover  66   c  includes a ceiling wall portion  130  substantially in the form of a rectangular flat plate and a peripheral wall  132  projecting toward the female housing body  66   a  from an outer peripheral edge part of the ceiling wall portion  130 . The peripheral wall  132  is composed of a pair of side walls  132   a ,  132   a  (upper and lower walls in  FIG.  14   ) for surrounding both side surfaces of the female housing body  66   a  and a front wall  132   b  (right wall in  FIG.  14   ) for covering the tip surface of the female housing body  66   a . No peripheral wall  132  is provided on a rear side (left side in  FIG.  14   ) of the ceiling wall portion  130  corresponding to base end sides of the female terminal accommodation tube portions  92 ,  92 . Engaged portions  134  having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape are provided to penetrate at four positions corresponding to the engaging portions  96  of the female housing body  66   a  on the outer peripheral edge part of the ceiling wall portion  130 . A projection  136  having a substantially triangular cross-sectional shape and extending forward from behind the ceiling wall portion  130  is formed in a central part of the ceiling wall portion  130 . A bolt fixing portion  138  is provided to project in a central part of a rear side of the ceiling wall portion  130 . The female upper cover  66   c  is mounted from above the female housing body  66   a  (lower side in  FIG.  14   ) to cover the female housing body  66   a  with the female upper cover  66   c . At this time, the projection  136  of the female upper cover  66   c  is accommodated into the recess  100  of the central coupling portion  97  of the female housing body  66   a . In this way, the engaging portions  96  of the female housing body  66   a  are engaged with the engaged portions  134  of the female upper cover  66   c  and the female housing body  66   a  is held on the female upper cover  66   c . Subsequently, an intermediate member  140  including a pair of wire insertion tube portions and externally fit to the female terminal accommodation tube portions  92  to be fixed are assembled with the female terminal accommodation tube portions  92  of the female housing body  66   a . A mounting member  144  configured to mount a shield member  142  (see  FIGS.  1  and  2   ) for covering the wires  80  and including a pair of wire insertion tube portions is externally fit to the intermediate member  140  to be fixed. The female connector  14  is completed in which the female terminal-equipped wires  68  are accommodated and arranged in the female housing body  66   a , the female lower cover  66   b  and the female upper cover  66   c  constituting the female housing  66 . In this female connector  14 , as shown in  FIG.  4   , the pair of female-side housing fitting portions  146   a ,  146   a  are formed in facing gaps between the pair of side walls  132   a ,  132   a  of the female upper cover  66   c  and both side surfaces of the female housing body  66 . The female-side housing fitting portion  146   b  is also formed between the front wall  132   b  of the female upper cover  66   c  and the tip surface of the female housing body  66   a.    
     With the female lower cover  66   b  of the female connector  14  caused to face the female connector mounting surface  42  of the male connector  12 , the female connector  14  is fit into the male connector  12 . At this time, the male-side housing fitting portions  52   a ,  52   a  and  52   b  are first fit to the female-side housing fitting portions  146   a ,  146   a  and  146   b  (see  FIG.  4   ). In this way, the female connecting portions  70  of the female terminals  72  of the female connector  14  and regions near the female connecting portions  70  are positioned with respect to the female terminal accommodation gaps  46  and the female terminal accommodation holes  48  of the male connector  12 . In addition, the male connecting portion inserting portions  116  and the tubular body inserting portions  118  of the female connector  14  are positioned with respect to the male connecting portions  24  and the tubular bodies  44  of the male connector  12 . By fitting the female connector  14  to the male connector  12  with such a positioned state maintained, the female connecting portions  70  of the female terminals  72  are accommodated into the female terminal accommodation gaps  46  and pressed into contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the male connecting portions  24 . The male connecting portions  24  and the tubular bodies  44  of the male connector  12  are accommodated into the male connecting portion inserting portions  116  and the tubular body inserting portions  118  of the female connector  14 . With the male connector  12  and the female connector  14  connected, the wire connecting portions  78  of the female terminals  72  are accommodated outside the tubular bodies  44  (left side in  FIG.  4   ) as shown in  FIG.  4   . The wires  80  extending from the wire connecting portions  78  of the female terminals  72  extend outward of the female terminal accommodation holes  48  in a direction orthogonal to the projecting direction of the tubular bodies  44  (see  FIGS.  1  and  4   ). The coil springs  86  of the female terminals  72  are also accommodated outside the tubular bodies  44  of the male connector  12  (right side in  FIG.  4   ). The coil springs  86  constituting the biasing means may become larger, but the biasing means can be accommodated outside the tubular bodies  44 . In this way, both an improvement of the press-contact state of the female terminals  72  and the male terminals  22  and a reduction of an insertion force can be achieved while the hand contact preventing function by the tubular bodies  44  is maintained. With the male connector  12  and the female connector  14  connected, through holes of a fixing portion  148  (see  FIG.  14   ) provided on the intermediate member  140  and the bolt fixing portion  138  provided on the female upper cover  66   c  are aligned with each other, and a bolt is fastened to a fastening part of the mounting body  16 . In this way, the intermediate member  140  and the female upper cover  66   c  are mounted on the mounting body  16 . As a result, the male connector  12  and the female connector  14  are mounted on the mounting body  16  while being connected. 
     According to the male connector  12  and the connector device  10 , the tubular bodies  44  surrounding the male connecting portions  24  are provided to project on the body portion  34  of the male connector  12  on which the male connecting portions  24  of the male terminals  22  project. The tubular body  44  is provided with the female terminal accommodation holes  48  open in the projecting end surface and the side surface (at two positions in this embodiment). The female terminal accommodation gap  46  is formed between the male connecting portion  24  and the facing surface of the tubular body  44 . The female terminal accommodation gap  46  and the female terminal accommodation holes  48  are configured to allow the insertion of the female terminal  72  including the female connecting portion  70  to be connected to the male connecting portion  24  in the female connector  14  while hindering hand contact with the male connecting portion  24 . The female terminal  72  including the female connecting portion  70  can be accommodated and arranged in the female terminal accommodation gap  46  and the female terminal accommodation holes  48 . In this way, projecting dimensions of the female terminals  72  and the female connector  14  including the female terminals  72  from the male connector  12  can be reduced, and a height reduction of the connector device  10  can be advantageously realized. In addition, the female terminal accommodation gap  46  and the female terminal accommodation holes  48  are dimensioned to hinder hand contact with the male connecting portion  24 . In this way, even if the tubular body  44  is formed with the female terminal accommodation holes  48  as in this embodiment, hand contact with the male connecting portion  24  is reliably prevented. Since the tip part of the male connecting portion  24  is covered by the insulating cover portion  32 , even if a hand approaches from the tip side of the male connecting portion  24 , hand contact with the male connecting portion  24  is prevented by the cooperation of the insulating cover portion  32  and the tubular body  44 . 
     According to the connector device  10  of this embodiment, the female terminals  72  including the female connecting portions  70  are held positioned between the male connecting portion inserting portions  116  and the tubular body inserting portions  118  in the female connector  14 . In this way, the insertion of the male connecting portions  24  and the tubular bodies  44  of the male connector  12  into the female housing  66  of the female connector  14  is allowed in assembling the female connector  14  from above in the axial direction of the male connecting portions  24  and the tubular bodies  44  of the male connector  12 . Thus, the female terminals  72  including the female connecting portions  70  can be smoothly accommodated and arranged in the female terminal accommodation gaps  46  and the female terminal accommodation holes  48  of the male connector  12 . The compact connector device  10  reduced in height can be advantageously realized by a simple structure. The female connecting portion  70  that can be formed to be relatively thin and the region near the female connecting portion  70  in the female terminal  72  are accommodated and the arranged in the female terminal accommodation gap  46  and the female terminal accommodation holes  48 . The wire connecting portion  78  that is formed to be relatively thick and the spring accommodation case  74  are accommodated and arranged outside the tubular body  44 . In this way, the dimensions of the female terminal accommodation gap  46  and the female terminal accommodation holes  48  can be maximally reduced and the hand-contact preventing function can be reliably realized. 
     The wire  80  extending from the wire connecting portion  78  of the female terminal  72  is arranged to extend outwardly of the female terminal accommodation hole  48  in the direction orthogonal to the projecting direction of the tubular body  44 . In this way, the extension of the wire  80  axially upwardly of the tubular body  44  and the like can be avoided. Thus, a height reduction of the entire connector device  10  using the male connector  12  can be more advantageously realized. In addition, when the male connector  12  and the female connector  14  are connected, the male-side housing fitting portions  52   a ,  52   a  and  52   b  and the female-side housing fitting portions  146   a ,  146   a  and  146   b  are first fit. In this way, the female terminals  72  of the female connector  14  are positioned with respect to the female terminal accommodation gaps  46  and the female terminal accommodation holes  48  of the male connector  12 . The male connecting portion inserting portions  116  and the tubular body inserting portions  118  of the female connector  14  are positioned with respect to the male connecting portions  24  and the tubular bodies  44  of the male connector  12 . Specifically, the guiding function by the mutual fitting of the male-side housing fitting portions  52   a ,  52   a  and  52   b  and the female-side housing fitting portions  146   a ,  146   a  and  146   b  is achieved, and the insertion of the female terminals  72 , the male connecting portions  24  and the tubular bodies  44  into narrow gaps is stably realized. Both the realization of a height reduction of the connector device  10  and ease of fitting are advantageously realized by a simple structure. 
     &lt;Miscellaneous&gt; 
     Although the embodiment has been described in detail above as a specific example of the present disclosure, the present disclosure is not limited to this specific description. Modifications, improvements and the like within a range capable of achieving the aim of the present disclosure are included in the present disclosure. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure. 
     (1) Although the male connecting portion  24  is in the form of a pin in the above embodiment, a male connecting portion having a flat shape or the like can be employed. 
     (2) Although the female terminal accommodation holes  48  are provided at two positions in the above embodiment, female terminal accommodation hole(s) may be provided at one or three positions. 
     (3) The present disclosure may be configured such that the female terminal accommodation gap  46  and the female terminal accommodation holes  48  defined by the tubular body  44  are dimensioned to allow the insertion of the female connecting portion  70  and hinder hand contact with the male terminal  22 . It goes without saying that arbitrary configurations can be adopted for the other housings, male and female terminals, wires and the like. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       10 : connector device,  12 : male connector,  14 : female connector,  20 : male housing,  22 : male terminal,  24 : male connecting portion,  32 : insulating cover portion,  34 : body portion,  42 : female connector mounting surface,  44 : tubular body,  44   a ,  44   b : semicircular plate portion (tubular body),  46 : female terminal accommodation gap,  48 : female terminal accommodation hole,  50 : contact preventing rib,  52   a ,  52   b : male-side housing fitting portion,  53 : female housing accommodating portion,  66 : female housing,  66   a : female housing body (female housing),  66   b : female lower cover (female housing),  66   c : female upper cover (female housing),  70 : female connecting portion,  72 : female terminal,  76 : male terminal insertion tube portion,  78 : wire connecting portion,  80 : wire,  86 : coil spring (biasing means),  88 : first separated portion,  90 : overlapping plate portion,  116 : male connecting portion inserting portion,  118 : tubular body inserting portion