Patent Publication Number: US-11398689-B2

Title: Connecting method, connecting structure, contact and connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a connecting method, in particular, to a connecting method for electrically connecting a contact having conductivity to a flexible conductor extending in a given direction. 
     The present invention also relates to a connecting structure, a contact and a connector. 
     As a structure of connecting a contact to a conductive portion of a flexible substrate, for example, JP2017-182897A discloses a connector as shown in  FIG. 31 . The connector comprises a base member  1  in a circular disk shape and a frame member  2  in an annular shape, and cloth  3  of a garment is sandwiched from opposite sides by the base member  1  and the frame member  2 , whereby the connector is attached to the cloth  3 . 
     In the cloth  3 , a circular opening portion  4  is formed, and on the rear surface of the cloth  3 , a plurality of band-shaped conductive portions  5  are arranged radially about the opening portion  4 . The frame member  2  is also provided with a circular opening portion  6  having a substantially same size as that of the opening portion  4  in the cloth  3 . 
     The base member  1  holds a plurality of contacts  7 , and each of the contacts  7  is provided with a contact portion  7 A at one end thereof and an external connection portion  7 B at the other end thereof. Contact portions  7 A of the contacts  7  are exposed on the front surface of the base member  1  while being arranged in the circumferential direction to form a circle with a smaller diameter than those of the opening portion  4  of the cloth  3  and the opening portion  6  of the frame member  2 . External connection portions  7 B of the contacts  7  are exposed on and project from the front surface of the base member  1  in a vicinity of the outer periphery of the base member  1 . 
     In the vicinity of the outer periphery of the base member  1  on its front surface, a plurality of projections  8  are formed to project from the front surface of the base member  1 , whereas the rear surface of the frame member  2  is provided with a plurality of fitting holes (not shown) corresponding to the external connection portions  7 B of the contacts  7  and the projections  8 . 
     The front surface of the base member  1  is brought into contact with the rear surface of the cloth  3 , the base member  1  is aligned to the frame member  2 , and the rear surface of the frame member  2  is brought into contact with the front surface of the cloth  3  such that one end of each of the conductive portions  5  near the opening portion  4  of the cloth  3  comes into contact with the corresponding external connection portion  7 B of the base member  1 ; in this state, the frame member  2  is firmly pressed to the base member  1 . Accordingly, the external connection portions  7 B and the projections  8  of the base member  1  are fitted in the corresponding fitting holes of the frame member  2 , with the cloth  3  being sandwiched therebetween, whereby the connector is attached to the cloth  3 . 
     In this process, the conductive portions  5  of the cloth  3  are pressed into the corresponding fitting holes of the frame member  2  while being in contact with the external connection portions  7 B of the corresponding contacts  7  of the base member  1  and are thus electrically connected to the contacts  7 . 
     Meanwhile, the external connection portions  7 B of the contacts  7  disposed in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the front surface of the base member  1  are connected to one ends of the corresponding band-shaped conductive portions  5  that are radially arranged on the rear surface of the cloth  3 , resulting in a problem that the arrangement pitch of the contacts  7  becomes large. 
     Although it would be possible to reduce the arrangement pitch of the contacts  7  by reducing the width of the band-shaped conductive portions  5  that are arranged on the rear surface of the cloth  3 , it is required to ensure a certain width of the conductive portions  5  from the perspective of an amount of electrical conduction and conduction reliability, and therefore it has been difficult to configure a miniaturized connector. 
     In particular, since the conductive portions  5  comprising cloth conductors made of, for example, conductive fibers have the lower conductivity compared to a metallic conductor and have the smaller effective contact area compared to the occupancy area of the conductive portions  5  due to the uneven profile of its contact surface, the conductive portions  5  need to have a sufficient width, and therefore it is difficult to narrow the arrangement pitch of the contacts  7 . 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in order to solve the conventional problem described above and is aimed at providing a connecting method for electrically connecting a contact having conductivity to a flexible conductor while realizing a narrower arrangement pitch when a plurality of contacts are arranged. 
     The present invention also aims at providing a connecting structure obtained by use of the connecting method, as well as a contact and a connector for use in the connecting method. 
     A connecting method according to the present invention is a connecting method for electrically connecting a contact having conductivity to a flexible conductor extending in a given direction, the connecting method comprising: 
     forming a first connection portion at an end portion of the flexible conductor by folding the end portion of the flexible conductor in halves along a folding line extending in the given direction; and 
     pressing the first connection portion with a contact-side connection portion of the contact from opposite sides in a thickness direction of the first connection portion to thereby electrically connect the contact to the flexible conductor. 
     A connecting structure according to the present invention is a connecting structure in which a contact having conductivity is electrically connected to a flexible conductor extending in a given direction, 
     wherein the flexible conductor includes a first connection portion that is formed by folding an end portion of the flexible conductor in halves along a folding line extending in the give direction, 
     wherein the contact includes a contact-side connection portion, and 
     wherein the first connection portion is pressed with the contact-side connection portion from opposite sides in a thickness direction of the first connection portion to thereby electrically connect the contact to the flexible conductor. 
     A contact according to the present invention is a contact having conductivity that is to be electrically connected to a flexible conductor extending in a given direction, the contact comprising: 
     a contact-side connection portion to be connected to a first connection portion that is formed at an end portion of the flexible conductor by folding the end portion of the flexible conductor in halves along a folding line extending in the given direction, 
     wherein the contact-side connection portion presses the first connection portion from opposite sides in a thickness direction of the first connection portion to be electrically connected to the flexible conductor. 
     A connector according to the present invention comprises: 
     a plurality of contacts having conductivity; 
     a plurality of flexible conductors connected to the plurality of contacts and each extending in a given direction; and 
     a housing for holding the plurality of contacts, 
     wherein each contact of the plurality of contacts includes: 
     a contact-side connection portion that is disposed at an end of the each contact and connected to a corresponding flexible conductor; 
     a contact portion that is disposed at another end of the each contact and comes into contact with a corresponding contact of a counter connector when the connector is fitted with the counter connector along a fitting axis; and 
     a holding portion that is disposed between the contact-side connection portion and the contact portion and is embedded in and held by the housing, 
     wherein each flexible conductor of the plurality of flexible conductors includes: 
     a first connection portion that is formed by folding an end portion lying in the given direction of the each flexible conductor in halves along a folding line extending in the given direction; and 
     a second connection portion that is disposed at another end portion in the given direction of the each flexible conductor, and 
     wherein the contact-side connection portion of the each contact presses the first connection portion of a corresponding flexible conductor from opposite sides in a thickness direction of the first connection portion, whereby the plurality of contacts are electrically connected to the plurality of flexible conductors. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a connecting structure according to Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view showing the connecting structure according to Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view showing the connecting structure according to Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a flexible conductor for use in the connecting structure of Embodiment 1 when viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the flexible conductor for use in the connecting structure of Embodiment 1 when viewed from an obliquely lower position. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the flexible conductor for use in the connecting structure of Embodiment 1 with an end portion thereof being folded in halves. 
         FIG. 8  is a side view showing the flexible conductor for use in the connecting structure of Embodiment 1 with the end portion thereof being folded in halves. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a contact for use in the connecting structure of Embodiment 1 in an unconnected state. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing the contact for use in the connecting structure of Embodiment 1 in a connected state. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a connector using the connecting structure of Embodiment 1 when viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG. 12  is a plan view showing the connector using the connecting structure of Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the connector using the connecting structure of Embodiment 1 when viewed from an obliquely lower position. 
         FIG. 14  is a side view showing the connector using the connecting structure of Embodiment 1. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a plurality of connecting structures arranged in the connector when viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG. 16  is a plan view showing the plurality of connecting structures arranged in the connector. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the plurality of connecting structures arranged in the connector when viewed from an obliquely lower position. 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view showing a lower insulator of a housing used in the connector. 
         FIG. 21  is a plan view showing the lower insulator of the housing used in the connector. 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective view of an upper insulator of the housing used in the connector when viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view of the upper insulator of the housing used in the connector when viewed from an obliquely lower position. 
         FIG. 24  is a perspective view of an exterior member used in the connector when viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the exterior member used in the connector when viewed from an obliquely lower position. 
         FIG. 26  is a perspective view showing a connecting structure according to Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 27  is a side view showing the connecting structure according to Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 28  is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in  FIG. 27 . 
         FIG. 29  is a perspective view showing a contact for use in the connecting structure of Embodiment 2. 
         FIG. 30  is a perspective view showing a connecting structure according to Embodiment 3. 
         FIG. 31  is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional connector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention are described below based on the appended drawings. 
     Embodiment 1 
       FIGS. 1 to 3  illustrate a connecting structure according to Embodiment 1. In the connecting structure, a contact  21  having conductivity is connected to an end portion (tip portion)  11 A of a flexible conductor  11  extending in a given direction. 
     The flexible conductor  11  comprises conductive fibers formed into a band shape extending from the end portion  11 A to the other end portion  11 B, and a first connection portion  12  is disposed at the end portion  11 A, while a second connection portion  13  is disposed at the other end portion  11 B. The first connection portion  12  is formed of the end portion  11 A of the flexible conductor  11  that is folded in halves along a folding line BL extending in the given direction. The second connection portion  13  disposed at the other end portion  11 B of the flexible conductor  11  is not folded in halves but planarly extends. 
     The contact  21  includes a contact-side connection portion  22  formed at one end of the contact  21 , and the first connection portion  12  of the flexible conductor  11  is pressed with the contact-side connection portion  22  from opposite sides in the thickness direction of the first connection portion  12 , whereby the contact  21  is electrically connected to the flexible conductor  11 . 
     For ease of understanding, a plane along which the other end portion  11 B of the flexible conductor  11  extends is called “XY plane,” the given direction in which the flexible conductor  11  extends from the other end portion  11 B toward the end portion  11 A of the flexible conductor  11  “+Y direction,” and a direction extending perpendicularly to the XY plane “Z direction.” 
     The flexible conductor  11  is folded in halves along the folding line BL so that the resulting first connection portion  12  formed at the end portion  11 A of the flexible conductor  11  has a flat plate shape extending along the YZ plane. Accordingly, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , while the second connection portion  13  disposed at the other end portion  11 B of the flexible conductor  11  and planarly extending along the XY plane without being folded has a width W 2  in the X direction, the first connection portion  12  formed at the end portion  11 A of the flexible conductor  11  has a width W 1  in the X direction that is narrower than the width W 2  of the second connection portion  13 . 
     The contact-side connection portion  22  of the contact  21  includes a pair of nipping pieces  22 A independently disposed on the +X direction side and on the −X direction side of the first connection portion  12  of the flexible conductor  11 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the first connection portion  12  of the flexible conductor  11  is sandwiched between and pressed by the pair of nipping pieces  22 A from opposite sides in the X direction that is the thickness direction of the first connection portion  12 , so as to be in contact with the pair of nipping pieces  22 A while being compressed in the X direction. 
     Next, a method of manufacturing a connecting structure according to Embodiment 1 is described. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , at the end portion  11 A of the flexible conductor  11  comprising conductive fibers formed into a band shape extending in the Y direction, the folding line BL is defined to extend in the Y direction on the center line of the X directional width of the flexible conductor  11 . Here, the rear surface, facing the −Z direction, of the end portion  11 A of the flexible conductor  11  is coated with an adhesive  14 . 
     Then, the end portion  11 A of the flexible conductor  11  is folded in halves along the folding line BL such that the front surface, facing the +Z direction, of the flexible conductor  11  forms a convex shape, and halves of the rear surface of the flexible conductor  11  are superposed to face each other. The flexible conductor  11  made of conductive fibers have the fiber direction in the Y direction that coincides with the folding line BL, which helps the flexible conductor  11  to be readily folded. Since the rear surface of the end portion  11 A of the flexible conductor  11  is coated with the adhesive  14 , the halves of the rear surface are bonded together to form the first connection portion  12  in a flat plate shape extending along the YZ plane at the end portion  11 A of the flexible conductor  11 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     The contact  21  is formed of a metal sheet that is bent into a substantially L shape and includes a first extension portion  21 A extending in the Y direction and a second extension portion  21 B extending from the +Y directional end of the first extension portion  21 A in the +Z direction, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The contact-side connection portion  22  is disposed at the −Y directional end of the first extension portion  21 A, a contact portion  23  is disposed on the +Z direction side in the second extension portion  21 B, and a holding portion  24  is disposed between the contact-side connection portion  22  and the contact portion  23 . 
     The pair of nipping pieces  22 A of the contact-side connection portion  22  separately extend in opposite directions, i.e., in the +X direction and the −X direction. 
     The end portion of the contact portion  23  is bent into a U shape at the +Z directional end of the second extension portion  21 B. 
     While the contact  21  is aligned with respect to the flexible conductor  11  such that the contact-side connection portion  22  including the pair of nipping pieces  22 A that separately extend in opposite directions comes into contact with the +Y directional end of the first connection portion  12  of the flexible conductor  11  at the edge of the first connection portion  12  on the +Z direction side, the pair of nipping pieces  22 A are bent in the −Z direction to nip the first connection portion  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 10  to press the first connection portion  12  from opposite sides in the thickness direction of the first connection portion  12  that is the X direction. Accordingly, the connecting structure in which the contact  21  is electrically connected to the flexible conductor  11  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4  is obtained. 
     Since the flexible conductor  11  is connected to the contact  21  in such a manner that the end portion  11 A of the flexible conductor  11  is folded in halves along the folding line BL to form the first connection portion  12  in a flat plate shape extending along the YZ plane and that the contact-side connection portion  22  of the contact  21  presses the first connection portion  12  from opposite sides in the thickness direction of the first connection portion  12  that is the X direction, the occupancy area of the first connection portion  12  as viewed from the Z direction can be reduced, while the effective contact area between the flexible conductor  11  and the contact  21  can be secured. 
       FIGS. 11 to 14  illustrate a connector that is configured using the connecting structure according to Embodiment 1. The connector is to be fitted with a counter connector that is not shown along a fitting axis C 1  extending in the Z direction and includes a plurality of contacts  21  arranged in the X direction in two rows and a housing  31  for holding the contacts  21 . In each row, the contacts  21  are arranged in the X direction that is orthogonal to the fitting axis C 1  at an arrangement pitch P. To the contacts  21 , independently connected are a plurality of flexible conductors  11  that are arranged substantially radially about the fitting axis C 1  within the XY plane that is perpendicular to the fitting axis C 1 . Each of the contacts  21  is connected to the corresponding flexible conductor  11  by means of the connecting structure as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 . 
     A value of the arrangement pitch P of the contacts  21  is set such that the arrangement pitch P is wider than the width W 1  of each of the first connection portions  12  of the flexible conductors  11  and narrower than the width W 2  of each of the second connection portions  13  of the flexible conductors  11  when viewed in the direction along the fitting axis C 1 . 
     In addition, the connector includes an exterior member  41  covering the periphery of the housing  31  from the +Z direction, a circular upper cover  51  entirely covering the radially-arranged flexible conductors  11  from the +Z direction, and a circular lower cover  61  covering the first connection portions  12  of the radially-arranged flexible conductors  11  from the −Z direction. 
     The housing  31  and the exterior member  41  are made of an insulating resin, while the upper cover  51  and the lower cover  61  are made of flexible insulating fibers or a flexible insulating resin film. 
     The lower cover  61  has a diameter smaller than that of the upper cover  51 , and as illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the second connection portions  13  disposed at the other end portions  11 B of the flexible conductors  11  are not covered by the lower cover  61  but are exposed. The upper cover  51  and the lower cover  61  together constitute a cover member that covers the first connection portions  12  of the flexible conductors  11  but allows the second connection portions  13  of the flexible conductors  11  to be exposed. 
       FIGS. 15 to 17  illustrate only a plurality of connecting structures that are arranged in the connector, where illustration of the housing  31 , the exterior member  41 , the upper cover  51  and the lower cover  61  of the connector shown in  FIGS. 11 to 13  is omitted. In each connecting structure, the contact-side connection portion  22  of the contact  21  is connected to the first connection portion  12  of the corresponding flexible conductor  11 . While the contacts  21  are arranged in the X direction in two rows, the first connection portions  12  of the flexible conductors  11  connected to the contacts  21  are each bent within the XY plane so that the second connection portions  13  of the flexible conductors  11  are arranged in a circumferential direction so as to form a substantially circular shape about the fitting axis C 1  within the XY plane that is perpendicular to the fitting axis C 1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the housing  31  comprises a lower insulator  32  and an upper insulator  33  that is disposed on the lower insulator  32 . 
     The first connection portions  12  of the flexible conductors  11 , to which the contact-side connection portions  22  of the corresponding contacts  21  are separately connected, are held by the lower insulator  32 , and the second extension portions  21 B of the contacts  21  are held by the upper insulator  33 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 20 and 21 , the lower insulator  32  has a circular disk shape extending along the XY plane, and a part of the lower insulator  32  on the +Y direction side and another part on the −Y direction side are each provided with a plurality of slots  32 A extending in the Y direction and arranged in the X direction at equal intervals. The slots  32 A are for receiving and holding the first connection portions  12  of the flexible conductors  11 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 22 and 23 , the upper insulator  33  includes a base portion  33 A in a flat plate shape extending along the XY plane and a projection portion  33 B in a substantially cuboid shape projecting from the base portion  33 A in the +Z direction and extending in the X direction. A part of the projection portion  33 B on the +Y direction side and another part on the −Y direction side are each provided with a plurality of contact-holding grooves  33 C extending in the Z direction, and the base portion  33 A is provided with a plurality of through holes  33 D independently communicating with the contact-holding grooves  33 C of the projection portion  33 B. The contact-holding grooves  33 C and the through holes  33 D are for holding the second extension portions  21 B of the contacts  21 . 
     The contact-holding grooves  33 C and the through holes  33 D are provided in the upper insulator  33  so as to independently correspond to the slots  32 A of the lower insulator  32 . In other words, the upper insulator  33  and the lower insulator  32  are configured such that, when the upper insulator  33  is disposed on the lower insulator  32 , the slots  32 A of the lower insulator  32  independently communicate with the corresponding through holes  33 D and the corresponding contact-holding grooves  33 C of the upper insulator  33 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 24 and 25 , the exterior member  41  covering the periphery of the housing  31  from the +Z direction has a circular disk shape extending along the XY plane and is provided at the center part thereof with a rectangular opening portion  41 A extending in the X direction and at the outer periphery thereof with an annular projection  41 B projecting in the −Z direction. The opening portion  41 A has a size that allows the projection portion  33 B of the upper insulator  33  of the housing  31  to be inserted therethrough. 
     With the contacts  21  independently connected to the corresponding flexible conductors  11  being arranged in the X direction in two rows as illustrated in  FIGS. 15 to 17 , the upper insulator  33  can be formed integrally with the contacts  21  using a mold that is not shown. The holding portion  24  of each contact  21  is placed in the corresponding through hole  33 D in the upper insulator  33 , and the contact portion  23  is held in the corresponding contact-holding groove  33 C of the upper insulator  33  and is exposed outward from the projection portion  33 B of the upper insulator  33 . 
     The lower insulator  32  preliminarily formed by molding an insulating resin is moved from the −Z direction toward the +Z direction until the lower insulator  32  comes into contact with the surface of the upper insulator  33  on the −Z direction side, and the first connection portions  12  of the flexible conductors  11  connected to the contact-side connection portions  22  of the contacts  21  are independently inserted into the corresponding slots  32 A of the lower insulator  32 , whereby the housing  31  holding the contacts  21  is formed. 
     Subsequently, as illustrated in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , all the flexible conductors  11  extending substantially radially about the fitting axis C 1  are covered by the circular upper cover  51  from the +Z direction, the first connection portions  12  of the flexible conductors  11  are covered by the circular lower cover  61  from the −Z direction, and the exterior member  41  is placed on the upper cover  51  from the +Z direction, while the projection portion  33 B of the upper insulator  33  projects from the opening portion  41 A of the exterior member  41  in the +Z direction. 
     At the center of the upper cover  51 , an opening portion  51 A to receive the base portion  33 A of the upper insulator  33  is formed, and the upper cover  51  is disposed over the lower insulator  32 , the first extension portions  21 A of the contacts  21  and the flexible conductors  11 , while the exterior member  41  is disposed over the base portion  33 A of the upper insulator  33  and the upper cover  51 . In addition, the lower cover  61  is disposed on the −Z direction side of the lower insulator  32  and the first connection portions  12  of the flexible conductors  11 . 
     The connector as illustrated in  FIGS. 11 to 14  is manufactured in this manner. 
     The connecting structure used in the connector manufactured in this manner connects the flexible conductor  11  to the contact  21  by pressing the first connection portion  12  in a flat plate shape that is formed by folding the end portion  11 A of the flexible conductor  11  in halves along the folding line BL, from opposite sides in the thickness direction of the first connection portion  12 , with the contact-side connection portion  22  of the contact  21  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 . Accordingly, when the plurality of contacts  21  independently connected to the corresponding flexible conductors  11  are arranged in a direction orthogonal to the fitting axis C 1  so that the flexible conductors  11  are arranged substantially radially about the fitting axis C 1  within a plane perpendicular to the fitting axis C 1 , the arrangement pitch P of the contacts  21  can be narrower than the width W 2  of the second connection portion  13  of each flexible conductor  11 , thus enabling to narrow the arrangement pitch of the contacts  21 . 
     The connector shown in  FIGS. 11 to 14  can be used, for example, as a connector for a so-called wearable device when the connector is attached to a garment and the second connection portions  13  of the flexible conductors  11  are electrically connected to a plurality of conductive members provided on the garment. 
     While the halves of the rear surface of the flexible conductor  11  that is folded along the folding line BL are bonded together with the adhesive  14  coated on the rear surface of the end portion  11 A of the flexible conductor  11 , the adhesive  14  may be replaced by, for example, a double-sided adhesive tape to bond the halves of the rear surface together. 
     Although the folded halves of the rear surface of the flexible conductor  11  need not be bonded together, it is preferable that the halves of the rear surface of the flexible conductor  11  are bonded together in order to prevent the first connection portions  12  of neighboring flexible conductors  11  from short-circuiting when the contacts  21  independently connected to the corresponding flexible conductors  11  are arranged at the arrangement pitch P. 
     The upper insulator  33  of the housing  31  is integrally formed with the plurality of contacts  21 , but this is not the sole case. Also, by pressing the contacts  21  into the upper insulator  33  that has been preliminarily formed by molding an insulating resin, the configuration where the plurality of contacts  21  are held by the upper insulator  33  can be realized. 
     To the contacts  21  that have been incorporated into the upper insulator  33 , the first connection portions  12  of the flexible conductors  11  independently corresponding to the contact-side connection portions  22  of the contacts  21  may be connected. 
     Embodiment 2 
       FIGS. 26 to 28  illustrate a connecting structure according to Embodiment 2. In the connecting structure, the first connection portion  12  of the flexible conductor  11  used in Embodiment 1 is connected to a contact  71  having conductivity. 
     The contact  71  includes a contact-side connection portion  72  formed at one end of the contact  71 , and the first connection portion  12  of the flexible conductor  11  is inserted into a slit  72 A formed in the contact-side connection portion  72 , whereby the contact  71  is electrically connected to the flexible conductor  11 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 29 , the contact  71  is provided with, in place of the contact-side connection portion  22  of the contact  21  used in Embodiment 1, the contact-side connection portion  72  at the −Y directional end of the first extension portion  21 A and otherwise has the same configuration as that of the contact  21 . 
     The contact-side connection portion  72  bends from the −Y directional end of the first extension portion  21 A toward the −Z direction to extend in the Z direction, and the slit  72 A is formed from the −Z directional end of the contact-side connection portion  72  and extends in the Z direction. 
     When the first connection portion  12  of the flexible conductor  11  is inserted into the slit  72 A, the first connection portion  12  is pressed with the inner faces of the slit  72 A from opposite sides in the thickness direction of the first connection portion  12  that is the X direction, whereby the flexible conductor  11  and the contact  71  are electrically connected to each other. 
     With use of the connecting structure of Embodiment 2, it is also possible to narrow the arrangement pitch of a plurality of contacts  71  in the same manner as in Embodiment 1. 
     Embodiment 3 
       FIG. 30  illustrates a connecting structure according to Embodiment 3. In the connecting structure of Embodiment 3, the first connection portion  12  of the flexible conductor  11  used in Embodiment 1 is connected to a contact  81  having conductivity. 
     The contact  81  includes, in place of the second extension portion  21 B of the contact  21  used in Embodiment 1, a second extension portion  81 B having a shorter length in the Z direction than that of the second extension portion  21 B, which second extension portion  81 B is joined to the +Y directional end of the first extension portion  21 A, and otherwise has the same configuration as that of the contact  21 . 
     The +Z directional end of the second extension portion  81 B bends toward the +Y direction and is provided with a planar contact portion  83  facing the +Z direction. The contact portion  83  is to be connected to a conductive portion of a circuit board (not shown) that extends along the XY plane on the +Z direction side of the contact  81  through soldering, for example. 
     With use of the connecting structure of Embodiment 3, the flexible conductor  11  can be connected to a circuit board and, at the same time, it is possible to narrow the arrangement pitch of a plurality of contacts  81  in the same manner as in Embodiment 1. 
     Note that the contact  81  achieves electrical connection with the flexible conductor  11  by pressing the pair of nipping pieces  22 A of the contact-side connection portion  22  against the first connection portion  12  of the flexible conductor  11  from opposite sides in the thickness direction of the first connection portion  12  that is the X direction, as with the contact  21  used in Embodiment 1. In the meantime, the contact  81  may include, in place of the contact-side connection portion  22 , the contact-side connection portion  72  having the slit  72 A as with the contact  71  in Embodiment 2. Also with such configuration, the flexible conductor  11  can be connected to a circuit board, and at the same time, it is possible to narrow the arrangement pitch of a plurality of contacts  81 . 
     Moreover, the shape of the contact portion  83  of the contact  81  is not limited to that illustrated in  FIG. 30  and can take on a variety of shapes.