Patent Publication Number: US-11658433-B2

Title: Connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a connector, particularly to a connector attached to a connection object having a flexible conductor exposed on at least one of surfaces of the connection object. 
     As a connector attached to a connection object having a flexible conductor, for instance, JP 2019-87515 A discloses a connector  1  shown in  FIG.  46   . The connector  1  has a structure in which a connection object  4  is sandwiched and held between a first insulating member  2  of flat plate shape and a second insulating member  3  of frame shape having an opening  3 A in its center. 
     In the first insulating member  2 , there are formed convex portions  2 A projecting in the opening  3 A of the second insulating member  3  and projections  2 B projecting toward the second insulating member  3  at positions closer to the lateral edge portions of the first insulating member  2  than the convex portions  2 A are. Contacts  5  are retained by the first insulating member  2  to be exposed on surfaces of the convex portions  2 A and the projections  28 . Projection accommodating portions  3 B of recess shape for accommodating the projections  2 B of the first insulating member  2  are formed at the surface of the second insulating member  3  that faces the first insulating member  2 . 
     The connection object  4  has a flexible conductor  6  exposed on the bottom surface of the connection object  4 , i.e., the surface facing the first insulating member  2 . When the first insulating member  2  and the second insulating member  3  are pushed to approach each other in the state where the connection object  4  is disposed between the first and second insulating members  2  and  3 , as shown in  FIG.  47   , the connection object  4  is inserted into the projection accommodating portion  3 B of the second insulating member  3  by the projection  2 B of the first insulating member  2 . Consequently, the connection object  4  is sandwiched between the inner surface of the projection accommodating portion  3 B and a part of the contact  5  disposed on the surface of the projection  2 B of the first insulating member  2 , so that the contact  5  is electrically connected to the flexible conductor  6  exposed on the bottom surface of the connection object  4 . 
     Meanwhile, another part of the contact  5  that is situated on the surface of the convex portion  2 A of the first insulating member  2  makes contact with and is electrically connected to the corresponding contact of a counter connector when a part of the counter connector is inserted into the opening  3 A of the second insulating member  3  and the counter connector is fitted to the connector  1 . 
     Thus, the use of the connector  1  of JP 2019-87515 A makes it possible to electrically connect the contact  5  to the flexible conductor  6  exposed on the bottom surface of the connection object  4 . 
     However, since the bottom surface of the connection object  4  makes contact with the contact  5  in the projection accommodating portion  3 B of the second insulating member  3 , in the case where the flexible conductor  6  is exposed not on the bottom surface but only on the top surface of the connection object  4 , the contact  5  cannot be electrically connected to the flexible conductor  6 . 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made to solve the foregoing problem and aims at providing a connector that enables to make an electrical connection of a contact to a flexible conductor of a connection object regardless of whether the flexible conductor is exposed on the top surface or the bottom surface of the connection object. 
     A connector according to the present invention is one attached to a connection object having a flexible conductor exposed on at least one of surfaces of the connection object, the connector comprising:
         a first insulator;   a second insulator assembled to the first insulator in a predetermined assembling direction, and   at least one contact made of a conductive material,   wherein the contact is composed of a first contact member retained by the first insulator and a second contact member retained by the second insulator,   the first contact member includes a contact portion that makes contact with a contact of a counter connector, a first connection portion that makes contact with one of the surfaces of the connection object, and a first communication portion connected to the second contact member,   the second contact member includes a second connection portion that makes contact with the other of the surfaces of the connection object, and a second communication portion facing the first communication portion and connected to the first contact member,   the connection object is sandwiched between the first connection portion and the second connection portion,   one of the first communication portion and the second communication portion includes an elastic piece protruding to the other of the first communication portion and the second communication portion,   the first communication portion and the second communication portion are in elastic contact with and thereby electrically connected to each other via the elastic piece at a position different from a place where the connection object is sandwiched between the first connection portion and the second connection portion, and   at least one of the first connection portion and the second connection portion makes contact with the flexible conductor of the connection object, whereby the contact is electrically connected to the flexible conductor of the connection object.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a connector according to Embodiment 1 attached to a connection object, as viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the connector according to Embodiment 1 attached to the connection object, as viewed from an obliquely lower position. 
         FIG.  3    is a front view of the connector according to Embodiment 1 attached to the connection object. 
         FIG.  4    is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to Embodiment 1. 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of a first insulator used in the connector according to Embodiment 1, as viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of the first insulator used in the connector according to Embodiment 1, as viewed from an obliquely lower position. 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of a second insulator used in the connector according to Embodiment 1, as viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG.  8    is a perspective view of the second insulator used in the connector according to Embodiment 1, as viewed from an obliquely lower position. 
         FIG.  9    is a perspective view of a third insulator used in the connector according to Embodiment 1, as viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG.  10    is a perspective view of the third insulator used in the connector according to Embodiment 1, as viewed from an obliquely lower position. 
         FIG.  11    is a perspective view of a tab sheet used in the connector according to Embodiment 1. 
         FIG.  12    is a perspective view of a first contact member used in the connector according to Embodiment 1, as viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG.  13    is a perspective view of the first contact member used in the connector according to Embodiment 1, as viewed from an obliquely lower position. 
         FIG.  14    is a perspective view of a second contact member used in the connector according to Embodiment 1, as viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG.  15    is a perspective view of the second contact member used in the connector according to Embodiment 1, as viewed from an obliquely lower position. 
         FIG.  16    is a perspective view of a connection object to which the connector according to Embodiment 1 is to be attached, as viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG.  17    is a perspective view of the connection object to which the connector according to Embodiment 1 is to be attached, as viewed from an obliquely lower position. 
         FIG.  18    is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  19    is an enlarged view of an important part of  FIG.  18   . 
         FIG.  20    is a perspective view of a connector according to Embodiment 2 attached to the connection object, as viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG.  21    is a front view of the connector according to Embodiment 2 attached to the connection object. 
         FIG.  22    is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to Embodiment 2. 
         FIG.  23    is a perspective view of a first insulator used in the connector according to Embodiment 2, as viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG.  24    is a perspective view of the first insulator used in the connector according to Embodiment 2, as viewed from an obliquely lower position. 
         FIG.  25    is a perspective view of a second insulator used in the connector according to Embodiment 2, as viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG.  26    is a perspective view of a third insulator used in the connector according to Embodiment 2, as viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG.  27    is a perspective view of a first contact member used in the connector according to Embodiment 2, as viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG.  28    is a perspective view of the first contact member used in the connector according to Embodiment 2, as viewed from an obliquely lower position. 
         FIG.  29    is a perspective view of a second contact member used in the connector according to Embodiment 2, as viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG.  30    is a perspective view of the second contact member used in the connector according to Embodiment 2, as viewed from an obliquely lower position. 
         FIG.  31    is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in  FIG.  21   . 
         FIG.  32    is an enlarged view of an important part of  FIG.  31   . 
         FIG.  33    is a perspective view of a connector according to Embodiment 3 attached to the connection object, as viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG.  34    is a front view of the connector according to Embodiment 3 attached to the connection object. 
         FIG.  35    is an exploded perspective view of the connector according to Embodiment 3. 
         FIG.  36    is a perspective view of a first insulator used in the connector according to Embodiment 3, as viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG.  37    is a perspective view of the first insulator used in the connector according to Embodiment 3, as viewed from an obliquely lower position. 
         FIG.  38    is a perspective view of a second insulator used in the connector according to Embodiment 3, as viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG.  39    is a perspective view of a third insulator used in the connector according to Embodiment 3, as viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG.  40    is a perspective view of a first contact member used in the connector according to Embodiment 3, as viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG.  41    is a perspective view of the first contact member used in the connector according to Embodiment 3, as viewed from an obliquely lower position. 
         FIG.  42    is a perspective view of a second contact member used in the connector according to Embodiment 3, as viewed from an obliquely upper position. 
         FIG.  43    is a perspective view of the second contact member used in the connector according to Embodiment 3, as viewed from an obliquely lower position. 
         FIG.  44    is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C in  FIG.  34   . 
         FIG.  45    is an enlarged view of an important part of  FIG.  44   . 
         FIG.  46    is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional connector. 
         FIG.  47    is an enlarged view of an important part of  FIG.  46   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Embodiment 1 
       FIGS.  1  to  3    show a connector  11  according to Embodiment 1. The connector  11  is attached to, for example, a connection object C such as a garment and used as a connector fox fitting a wearable device. The connector  11  includes a connector body  12  made of an insulating material. In the connector body  12 , a plurality of contacts  13  are retained to project perpendicularly to the connection object C in two lines parallel to each other. 
     The connector  11  is attached to the connection object C along with a tab sheet  14  for reinforcing the connection object C. 
     For convenience, the connection object C is defined as extending along an XY plane, the direction in which the contacts  13  are aligned is referred to as “Y direction,” and the direction in which the contacts  13  project is referred to as “+Z direction.” 
       FIG.  4    is an exploded perspective view of the connector  11 . The connector  11  includes a first insulator  15 , a second insulator  16  and a third insulator  17 , and these first insulator  15 , second insulator  16  and third insulator  17  constitute the connector body  12 . 
     Each of the contacts  13  is composed of a first contact member  18  and a second contact member  19 . The first contact members  18  of the plurality of contacts  13  are retained by the first insulator  15 , and the second contact members  19  of the plurality of contacts  13  are retained by the second insulator  16 . 
     With the second insulator  16  and the first insulator  15  sandwiching the connection object C and the tab sheet  14 , the second insulator  16  by which the second contact members  19  of the contacts  13  are retained is assembled to the first insulator  15  by which the first contact members  18  of the contacts  13  are retained, in the +Z direction which is a predetermined assembling direction D 1 . The third insulator  17  is configured to fix the second insulator  16  to the first insulator  15 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  5  and  6   , the first insulator  15  includes a base portion  15 A of flat plate shape extending along the XY plane and a protruding portion  158  of frame shape situated in the center of the base portion  15 A and protruding in the +Z direction from the base portion  15 A. The base portion  15 A and the protruding portion  15 B each have a substantially rectangular outer shape with long sides extending in the Y direction and short sides extending in the X direction when viewed in the Z direction. 
     At a surface on the −Z direction side of the base portion  15 A, a recessed portion  15 C opening in the −Z direction is formed, and a protruding portion  15 D protruding in the −Z direction is formed along the periphery of the recessed portion  15 C. The protruding portion  15 B of frame shape includes a pair of long side portions  15 E facing each other in the X direction and extending in the Y direction, and a plurality of retaining grooves  15 F extending in the Z direction and used to retain the first contact members  18  are formed at an outer surface and an inner surface of each of the long side portions  15 E. 
     The base portion  15 A is provided with a plurality of through-holes  15 G separately corresponding to the plurality of retaining grooves  15 F and penetrating from a surface on the +Z direction side of the base portion  15 A through the recessed portion  15 C. Although not shown in  FIG.  5   , a plurality of insertion holes separately connected to the plurality of retaining grooves  15 F are formed to extend in the −Z direction in the base portion  15 A in the region surrounded by the protruding portion  15 B of frame shape. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  7  and  8   , the second insulator  16  includes a base portion  16 A of circular disk shape extending along the XY plane and a projection portion  16 B of cuboid shape situated in the center of the base portion  16 A and projecting in the +2 direction from the base portion  16 A. 
     When the second insulator  16  is assembled to the first insulator  15 , the projection portion  16 B is inserted into the recessed portion  15 C of the first insulator  15 . The projection portion  16 B has a size slightly smaller than that of the recessed portion  15 C in the XY plane. 
     The base portion  16 A is provided with a plurality of through-holes  16 C arranged on each of opposite sides in the X direction of the projection portion  16 B and penetrating the base portion  16 A in the Z direction. The projection portion  16 B has a rectangular outer shape with long sides extending in the Y direction and short sides extending in the X direction when viewed in the Z direction, and a plurality of retaining grooves  16 D extending in the Z direction and used to retain the second contact members  19  are formed at each of lateral surfaces of long side portions of the projection portion  16 B. 
     Further, at an upper surface, which faces in the +Z direction, of the projection portion  16 B, a plurality of insertion holes  16 E separately corresponding to the plurality of retaining grooves  16 D are formed in the −Z direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  9  and  10   , the third insulator  17  includes a base portion  17 A of circular disk shape extending along the XY plane. The base portion  17 A of the third insulator  17  and the base portion  16 A of the second insulator  16  have the substantially same size as each other in the XY plane. 
     A substantially rectangular opening portion  17 B with long sides extending in the Y direction and short sides extending in the X direction is formed in the middle of the base portion  17 A. The opening portion  17 B is provided to receive the protruding portion  15 B of the first insulator  15  retaining the plurality of first contact members  18  and has a size slightly larger than that of the protruding portion  15 B in the XY plane. 
     A plurality of fixing posts  17 C projecting in the −Z direction are formed at a surface on the −Z direction side of the base portion  17 A on each of opposite sides in the X direction of the opening portion  17 B. The fixing posts  17 C separately correspond to the plurality of through-holes  16 C of the second insulator  16 , and each of the fixing posts  17 C is passed through the corresponding through-hole  16 C of the second insulator  16  assembled to the first insulator  15 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  11   , the tab sheet  14  is configured to reinforce the connection object C to which the connector  11  is attached, is made of an insulating material such as resin or cloth, and has a size larger than that of the base portion  15 A of the first insulator  15  and that of the base portion  17 A of the third insulator  17  in the XY plane. 
     A substantially rectangular opening portion  14 A with long sides extending in the Y direction and short sides extending in the X direction is formed in the middle of the tab sheet  14 . When the connector  11  is attached to the connection object C, a portion of the tab sheet  14  around the opening portion  14 A is, together with the connection object C, sandwiched between the base portion  16 A of the second insulator  16  and the base portion  17 A of the third insulator  17 , and at this time, the protruding portion  15 D along the periphery of the recessed portion  15 C at the surface on the −Z direction side of the base portion  15 A of the first insulator  15  is inserted into the opening portion  14 A. 
     A plurality of through-holes  14 B are formed at each of opposite sides in the X direction of the opening portion  14 A of the tab sheet  14 . The through-holes  14 B separately correspond to the plurality of fixing posts  17 C of the third insulator  17 , and the fixing posts  17 C separately penetrate the through-holes  148 . 
       FIGS.  12  and  13    show the configuration of the first contact member  18  retained in the retaining groove  15 F of the long side portion  15 E situated on the +X direction side of the pair of long side portions  15 E of the protruding portion  15 B of the first insulator  15  shown in  FIG.  5   . 
     The first contact member  18  is composed of a strip-like member made of a conductive material such as metal and includes a U-shaped portion  18 A bent in a U shape. The U-shaped portion  18 A is composed of a pair of extending portions  18 B and  18 C extending along a YZ plane and facing each other in the X direction and a joint portion  18 D that joins +Z directional ends of the pair of extending portions  18 B and  18 C to each other. A flat plate portion  18 F extending along a YZ plane is connected via a step portion  18   a  to a −Z directional end of the extending portion  18 B, and an elastic piece  18 G protruding in the −X direction is formed in the middle of the flat plate portion  18 F. 
     An outer surface of the U-shaped portion  18 A forms a contact portion  18 H that makes contact with a contact of a counter connector, a surface on the −X direction side of a −Z directional end of the flat plate portion  18 F forms a first connection portion  18 J that makes contact with a top surface of the connection object C, and the elastic piece  18 G forms a first communication portion  18 K to be connected to the second contact member  19 . In other words, the first connection portion  18 J and the first communication portion  18 K are arranged side by side in the Z direction. 
     A +Z directional end of the flat plate portion  18 F and a −Z directional end of the extending portion  19 C are respectively provided with press-fitted portions  18 L and  18 M protruding in a width direction of the strip-like member, i.e., the Y direction. 
     Meanwhile, the first contact member  18  retained in the retaining groove  15 F of the long side portion  15 E situated on the −X direction side of the pair of long side portions  15 E of the protruding portion  15 B of the first insulator  15  shown in  FIG.  5    has the same configuration as that of the first contact member  18  shown in  FIGS.  12  and  13    but is disposed in an opposite orientation therefrom in the X direction. 
       FIGS.  14  and  15    show the configuration of the second contact member  19  retained in the retaining groove  16 D of the long side portion situated on the +x direction side of the pair of long side portions of the projection portion  16 B of the second insulator  16  shown in  FIG.  7   . 
     The second contact member  19  is composed of a strip-like member made of a conductive material such as metal and includes a flat plate portion  19 A extending along the YZ plane. A joint portion  19 B extending in the −X direction is connected to a +Z directional end of the flat plate portion  19 A, and a fixing portion  19 C bent in the −Z direction is connected to a −X directional end of the joint portion  19 B. 
     Of a surface on the +X direction side of the flat plate portion  19 A, a portion on the −Z direction side forms a second connection portion  19 D that makes contact with a bottom surface of the connection object C, and a portion on the +Z direction side forms a second communication portion  19 E to be connected to the first contact member  18 . In other words, the second connection portion  19 D and the second communication portion  19 E are arranged side by side in the Z direction. 
     A +Z directional end of the flat plate portion  19 A and the fixing portion  19 C are respectively provided with press-fitted portions  19 F and  19 G protruding in a width direction of the strip-like member, i.e., the Y direction. 
     Meanwhile, the second contact member  19  retained in the retaining groove  16 D of the long side portion situated on the −X direction side of the pair of long side portions of the projection portion  16 B of the second insulator  16  shown in  FIG.  7    has the same configuration as that of the second contact member  19  shown in  FIGS.  14  and  15   , but is disposed in an opposite orientation therefrom in the X direction. 
     For the connection object C to which the connector  11  is attached, applicable examples include a garment having a so-called smart textile provided on its one surface with wiring formed by weaving of conductive fibers into the textile, printing of conductive ink, or other method. In the connection object C shown in  FIG.  16   , wiring made of a plurality of flexible conductors C 2  is exposed on the top surface, which faces in +Z direction, of cloth C 1  made of an insulating material. As shown in  FIG.  17   , the flexible conductors C 2  are not exposed on the bottom surface, which faces the −Z direction, of the cloth C 1 . 
     The cloth C 1  of the connection object C is provided with a rectangular opening portion C 3 , and one end of each of the plurality of flexible conductors C 2  is situated at a +X directional edge or a −X directional edge of the opening portion C 3 . When the connector  11  is attached to the connection object C, the opening portion C 3  receives the projection portion  16 B of the second insulator  16 . The opening portion C 3  is formed to have a smaller width in the X direction than that of the projection portion  16 B of the second insulator  16 . Therefore, when the projection portion  16 B of the second insulator  16  is inserted in the opening portion C 3  from the −Z direction, portions of the connection object C situated at the +X directional edge and the −X directional edge of the opening portion C 3  are pushed and bent in the +Z direction by the projection portion  16 B. 
     A plurality of through-holes C 4  are formed at each of opposite sides in the X direction of the opening portion C 3  of the cloth C 1 . The through-holes C 4  separately correspond to the plurality of fixing posts  17 C of the third insulator  17 , and the plurality of fixing posts  17 C separately penetrate the plurality of through-holes C 4 . 
     The flat plate portion  18 F of the first contact member  18  retained in the retaining groove  15 F of the first insulator  15  is disposed along an inner surface of the recessed portion  15 C of the first insulator  15 , and the flat plate portion  19 A of the second contact member  19  is inserted into the retaining groove  16 D of the projection portion  16 B of the second insulator  16 ; when the projection portion  16 B of the second insulator  16  is inserted into the recessed portion  15 C of the first insulator  15  at the time of assembling the connector  11 , the first connection portion  18 J and the first communication portion  18 K of the first contact member  18  are disposed at positions to face the second connection portion  19 D and the second communication portion  19 E, respectively. 
     Further, when the projection portion  16 B of the second insulator  16  is inserted into the recessed portion  15 C of the first insulator  15 , a distance between the first connection portion  18 J of the first contact member  18  and the second connection portion  19 D of the second contact member  19  is narrower than the thickness dimension of the connection object C. The elastic piece  18 G of the first communication portion  18 K of the first contact member  18  is pressed and electrically deformed by the second communication portion  19 E of the second contact member  19 , so that the first communication portion  18 K and the second communication portion  19 E make elastic contact with each other via the elastic piece  18 G in the X direction. 
     When the connector  11  is attached to the connection object C, first, the plurality of first contact members  18  are pressed against the protruding portion  15 B of frame shape of the first insulator  15  from +Z direction toward the −Z direction, whereby the plurality of first contact members  18  are separately retained in the plurality of retaining grooves  15 F of the first insulator  15 . At this time, the flat plate portion  18 F of the first contact member  18  is inserted into the through-hole  15 G of the first insulator  15 , and the press-fitted portion  18 L is press-fitted to an inner surface of the through-hole  15 G, while the −Z directional end of the extending portion  18 C of the first contact member  18  is inserted into the insertion hole (not shown) of the first insulator  15 , and the press-fitted portion  18 M is press-fitted to an inner surface of the insertion hole. 
     Likewise, the plurality of second contact members  19  are pressed against the projection portion  16 B of the second insulator  16  from +Z direction toward the −Z direction, whereby the plurality of second contact members  19  are separately retained in the plurality of retaining grooves  16 D of the second insulator  16 . At this time, the flat plate portion  19 A of the second contact member  19  is inserted into the retaining groove  16 D of the second insulator  16 , and the press-fitted portion  19 F is press-fitted to a lateral surface of the retaining groove  16 D, while the fixing portion  19 C of the second contact member  19  is inserted into the insertion hole  16 E of the second insulator  16 , and the press-fitted portion  19 G is press-fitted to an inner surface of the insertion hole  16 E. 
     The projection portion  16 B of the second insulator  16  by which the plurality of second contact members  19  are retained in this manner is sequentially passed through the opening portion C 3  of the connection object C and the opening portion  14 A of the tab sheet  14  from the −Z direction, and is further inserted into the recessed portion  15 C of the first insulator  15  by which the plurality of first contact members  18  are retained. At this time, the +X directional edge and the −X directional edge of the opening portion C 3  of the connection object C each enter between the projection portion  16 B of the second insulator  16  and the recessed portion  15 C of the first insulator  15  while being pushed and bent in the +Z direction by the projection portion  16 B of the second insulator  16 . 
     Subsequently, the third insulator  17  is moved from the +Z direction toward the −Z direction, the protruding portion  15 B of the first insulator  15  is inserted into the opening portion  17 B of the third insulator  17 , and the plurality of fixing posts  17 C of the third insulator  17  sequentially penetrate the plurality of through-holes  14 B of the tab sheet  14 , the plurality of through-holes C 4  of the connection object C and the plurality of through-holes  16 C of the second insulator  16 . 
     Further, −Z directional ends, which project on the −Z directional side of the second insulator  16 , of the plurality of fixing posts  17 C of the third insulator  17  are heated and deformed, whereby the second insulator  16  is fixed to the first insulator  15 . 
     Thus, attachment of the connector  11  to the connection object C is completed as shown in  FIG.  18   . 
     The connection object C is, together with the tab sheet  14 , sandwiched in the Z direction between the second insulator  16  and the third insulator  17 , the protruding portion  15 B of the first insulator  15  protrudes from the opening portion  17 B of the third insulator  17  in the +Z direction, and the contact portions  18 H of the plurality of first contact members  18  retained by the first insulator  15  are exposed on the +Z direction side of the connector  11 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  19   , the first connection portion  18 J and the first communication portion  18 K of the first contact member  18  are disposed on the inner surface, which extends in the Z direction, of the recessed portion  15 C of the first insulator  15 , and the second connection portion  19 D and the second communication portion  19 E of the second contact member  19  are disposed on an outer surface, which extends in the Z direction, of the projection portion  16 B of the second insulator  16 . 
     Upon insertion of the projection portion  16 B of the second insulator  16  into the recessed portion  15 C of the first insulator  15 , the elastic piece  18 G of the first communication portion  18 K of the first contact member  18  is pressed and elastically deformed by the second communication portion  19 E of the second contact member  19 , so that the first communication portion  18 K and the second communication portion  19 E make elastic contact with each other via the elastic piece  18 G and are thereby electrically connected to each other. 
     Further, upon insertion of the projection portion  16 B of the second insulator  16  into the recessed portion  15 C of the first insulator  15 , the +X directional edge and the −X directional edge of the opening portion C 3  of the connection object C are each sandwiched between the first connection portion  18 J of the first contact member  18  retained by the first insulator  15  and the second connection portion  19 D of the second contact member  19  retained by the second insulator  16 . 
     As a consequence, the connection object C is compressed in the thickness direction thereof, i.e., the X direction between the first connection portion  18 J of the first contact member  18  and the second connection portion  19 D of the second contact member  19 , the first connection portion  18 J of the first contact member  18  comes into contact with the top surface of the connection object C, and the second connection portion  19 D of the second contact member  19  comes into contact with the bottom surface of the connection object C. Since the flexible conductor C 2  is exposed on the top surface of the connection object C, the first connection portion  18 J of the first contact member  18  is electrically connected to the flexible conductor C 2  of the connection object C. In other words, the contact  13  composed of the first contact member  18  and the second contact member  19  is electrically connected to the flexible conductor C 2  of the connection object C. 
     As shown in  FIG.  19   , a position where the first communication portion  18 K of the first contact member  18  and the second communication portion  19 E of the second contact member  19  are in elastic contact with each other via the elastic piece  18 G is different from a place where the connection object C is sandwiched between the first connection portion  18 J of the first contact member  18  and the second connection portion  19 D of the second contact member  19 , and the position is offset from the place to the  4 Z direction side. 
     The first contact member  18  and the second contact member  19  are apart from each other by a predetermined gap around the elastic piece  18 G. 
     Since the second connection portion  19 D of the second contact member  19  comes into contact with the bottom surface of the connection object C, when the flexible conductor C 2  is not exposed on the top surface but exposed on the bottom surface of the connection object C, the second connection portion  19 D of the second contact member  19  is electrically connected to the flexible conductor C 2 . Since the second communication portion  19 E of the second contact member  19  is electrically connected to the first communication portion  18 K of the first contact member  18  via the elastic piece  18 G, the contact  13  is electrically connected to the flexible conductor C 2  of the connection object C also in this case. 
     With this configuration, the contact  13  can be electrically connected to the flexible conductor C 2  of the connection object C regardless of whether the flexible conductor C 2  is exposed on the top surface or the bottom surface of the connection object C. 
     Further, when the flexible conductor C 2  is exposed on both surfaces of the connection object C by weaving of conductive fibers to the cloth C 1  or other methods, both of the first connection portion  18 J of the first contact member  18  and the second connection portion  19 D of the second contact member  19  are connected to the flexible conductor C 2 , whereby the contact  13  is electrically connected to the flexible conductor C 2  of the connection object C. Since a contact area between the flexible conductor C 2  and the contact  13  increases when both of the first connection portion  18 J and the second connection portion  19 D contact the flexible conductor C 2 , the present invention is effective when a value of an electric current flowing between the contact  13  and the flexible conductor C 2  is large. 
     Further, even when contact failure with respect to the flexible conductor C 2  occurs in one of the first connection portion  18 J and the second connection portion  19 D, the contact  13  can be electrically connected to the flexible conductor C 2  through the other of the first connection portion  18 J and the second connection portion  19 D. 
     When the second insulator  16  is assembled to the first insulator  15  in the Z direction which is the predetermined assembling direction D 1 , the elastic piece  18 G of the first contact member  18  elastically deforms, whereby the first communication portion  18 K of the first contact member  18  and the second communication portion  19 E of the second contact member  19  make elastic contact with each other in the X direction. Thus, since the direction in which the first communication portion  18 K and the second communication portion  19 E are in elastic contact with each other is orthogonal to the predetermined assembling direction D 1 , the second insulator  16  assembled to the first insulator  15  is prevented from being detached from the first insulator  15  by an elastic force of the elastic piece  18 G, and accordingly, the connector  11  can be maintained in a stable state. The direction in which the first communication portion  18 K and the second communication portion  19 E are in elastic contact with each other does not necessarily need to be orthogonal to the predetermined assembling direction D 1  but preferably intersects the predetermined assembling direction D 1 . 
     In Embodiment 1 mentioned above, the first communication portion  18 K of the first contact member  18  includes the elastic piece  18 G, and the first communication portion  18 K of the first contact member  18  and the second communication portion  19 E of the second contact member  19  are in elastic contact with each other via the elastic piece  18 G, but the invention is not limited thereto. Even when the elastic piece  18 G is formed at the second communication portion  19 E of the second contact member  19  instead of the first communication portion  18 K of the first contact member  18 , the first communication portion  18 K and the second communication portion  19 E likewise make elastic contact with each other via the elastic piece  18 G, whereby the first contact member  18  and the second contact member  19  can be electrically connected to each other. 
     Embodiment 2 
       FIGS.  20  and  21    show a connector  21  according to Embodiment 2. As with the connector  11  of Embodiment 1, the connector  21  is attached to the connection object C and includes a connector body  22  made of an insulating material. In the connector body  22 , a plurality of contacts  23  are retained to project perpendicularly to the connection object C in two lines parallel to each other. 
     The connector  21  is attached to the connection object C together with the tab sheet  14  used in Embodiment 1. 
     For convenience, the connection object C is defined as extending along an XY plane, the direction in which the contacts  23  are aligned is referred to as “Y direction,” and the direction in which the contacts  23  each project is referred to as “+Z direction.” 
     As shown in  FIG.  22   , the connector  21  includes a first insulator  25 , a second insulator  26  and a third insulator  27 , and these first insulator  25 , second insulator  26  and third insulator  27  constitute the connector body  22 . 
     Each of the contacts  23  is composed of a first contact member  28  retained by the first insulator  25  and a second contact member  29  retained by the second insulator  26 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  23  and  24   , the first insulator  25  includes a base portion  25 A of flat plate shape extending along the XY plane and a protruding portion  25 B of frame shape situated in the center of a surface on the +Z direction side of the base portion  25 A and protruding in the +Z direction from the base portion  25 A. The base portion  25 A and the protruding portion  25 B each have a substantially rectangular outer shape with long sides extending in the Y direction and short sides extending in the X direction when viewed in the Z direction. 
     At a surface on the −Z direction side of the base portion  25 A, a pair of recessed portions  25 C extending in the Y direction, arranged in parallel with a distance therebetween in the X direction and opening in the −Z direction are formed, and a protruding portion  25 D projecting in the −Z direction is formed to surround the recessed portions  25 C. 
     The protruding portion  25 B of frame shape includes a pair of long side portions  25 E facing each other in the X direction and extending in the Y direction, and a plurality of retaining grooves  25 F for separately retaining the plurality of first contact members  28  are formed at each of an outer surface, an inner surface and an upper surface, which faces in the +Z direction, of each of the long side portions  25 E. 
     The base portion  25 A is provided with a plurality of through-holes  25 G separately corresponding to the plurality of retaining grooves  25 F and penetrating from the surface on the +Z direction side of the base portion  25 A through the corresponding recessed portion  25 C. Although not shown in  FIG.  23   , a plurality of through-holes separately connected to the plurality of retaining grooves  25 F are formed in the base portion  25 A in the region surrounded by the protruding portion  25 B of frame shape. 
     As shown in  FIG.  25   , the second insulator  26  includes a base portion  26 A of circular disk shape extending along the XY plane, and a pair of projection portions  26 B projecting in the +Z direction from a surface on the +Z direction side of the base portion  26 A. The pair of projection portions  26 B extend in the Y direction and are disposed in parallel with a distance therebetween in the X direction. 
     When the second insulator  26  is assembled to the first insulator  25 , each of the projection portions  26 B is inserted into the corresponding recessed portion  25 C of the first insulator  25 . Each of the projection portions  26 B has a size slightly smaller than that of the recessed portion  25 C in the XY plane. 
     The base portion  26 A is provided with a plurality of through-holes  26 C arranged on each of opposite sides in the X direction of the pair of projection portions  26 B. Each of the projection portions  26 B has a rectangular outer shape with long sides extending in the Y direction and short sides extending in the X direction when viewed in the Z direction, and a plurality of retaining grooves  26 D for separately retaining the second contact members  29  are formed at each of opposite lateral surfaces of long side portions and upper surfaces of the projection portions  26 B. 
     As shown in  FIG.  26   , the third insulator  27  has the same configuration as that of the third insulator  17  of Embodiment 1. In other words, the third insulator  27  includes a base portion  27 A of circular disk shape extending along the XY plane, a substantially rectangular opening portion  27 B is formed in the middle of the base portion  27 A, and a plurality of fixing posts  27 C projecting in the −Z direction are formed at a surface on the −Z direction side of the base portion  27 A on each of opposite sides in the X direction of the opening portion  27 B. 
       FIGS.  27  and  28    show the configuration of the first contact member  28  retained in the retaining groove  25 F of the long side portion  25 E situated on the +X direction side of the pair of long side portions  25 E of the protruding portion  25 B of the first insulator  25  shown in  FIG.  23   . 
     The first contact member  28  is composed of a strip-like member made of a conductive material such as metal and includes a U-shaped portion  28 A bent in a U shape. The U-shaped portion  28 A is composed of a pair of extending portions  28 B and  28 C extending along the YZ plane and facing each other in the X direction and a joint portion  28 D that joints +Z directional ends of the pair of extending portions  28 B and  28 C to each other. A flat plate portion  28 F extending along the YZ plane is connected via a step portion  28 E to a −Z directional end of the extending portion  28 B. 
     A −Z directional end of the extending portion  28 C is connected to a flat plate portion  28 G further extending in the −Z direction along the YZ plane. 
     An outer surface of the U-shaped portion  28 A forms a contact portion  28 H that makes contact with a contact of a counter connector, a surface on the −X direction side of the flat plate portion  28 F forms a first connection portion  28 J that makes contact with the top surface of the connection object C, and a surface on the +X direction side of the flat plate portion  28 G forms a first communication portion  28 K to be connected to the second contact member  29 . In other words, the first connection portion  28 J and the first communication portion  28 K are separately arranged on opposite ends of the first contact member  28  and face each other with a distance therebetween in the X direction. 
     A +Z directional end of the flat plate portion  28 F and a +Z directional end of the flat plate portion  28 G are respectively provided with press-fitted portions  28 L and  28 M projecting in a width direction of the strip-like member, i.e., the Y direction. 
     Meanwhile, the first contact member  28  retained in the retaining groove  25 F of the long side portion  25 E situated on the −X direction side of the pair of long side portions  25 E of the protruding portion  25 B of the first insulator  25  shown in  FIG.  23    has the same configuration as that of the first contact member  28  shown in  FIGS.  27  and  28    but is disposed in an opposite orientation therefrom in the X direction. 
       FIGS.  29  and  30    show the configuration of the second contact member  29  retained in the retaining groove  26 D of the projection portion  26 B situated on the +X direction side of the pair of projection portions  26 B of the second insulator  26  shown in  FIG.  25   . 
     The second contact member  29  is composed of a strip-like member made of a conductive material such as metal and includes a flat plate portion  29 A extending along the YZ plane, a joint portion  29 B extending in the −X direction is connected to a +Z directional end of the flat plate portion  29 A, and a flat plate portion  29 C extending in the −Z direction along the YZ plane is connected to a −X directional end of the joint portion  29 B. 
     The flat plate portion  29 C has formed in its middle an elastic piece  29 D protruding in the −X direction. 
     A surface on the +X direction side of the flat plate portion  29 A forms a second connection portion  29 E that makes contact with the bottom surface of the connection object C, and the elastic piece  29 D forms a second communication portion  29 F to be connected to the first contact member  28 . In other words, the second connection portion  29 E and the second communication portion  29 F are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the X direction and face in opposite directions to each other. 
     The +Z directional end of the flat plate portion  29 A is provided with a press-fitted portion  29 G protruding in a width direction of the strip-like member, i.e., the Y direction. 
     Meanwhile, the second contact member  29  retained in the retaining groove  26 D of the projection portion  26 B situated on the −X direction side of the pair of projection portions  26 B of the second insulator  26  shown in  FIG.  25    has the same configuration as that of the second contact member  29  shown in  FIGS.  29  and  30   , but is disposed in an opposite orientation therefrom in the X direction. 
     Upon insertion of the projection portion  26 B of the second insulator  26  into the recessed portion  25 C of the first insulator  25 , the elastic piece  29 D of the second communication portion  29 F of the second contact member  29  is pressed and elastically deformed by the first communication portion  28 K of the first contact member  28 , so that the first communication portion  28 K and the second communication portion  29 F make elastic contact with each other via the elastic piece  29 D in the X direction. 
     Attachment of the connector  21  to the connection object C is performed in the same manner as the connector  11  of Embodiment 1. In other words, after the plurality of first contact members  28  are separately retained in the plurality of retaining grooves  25 F of the first insulator  25 , and the plurality of second contact members  29  are separately retained in the plurality of retaining grooves  26 D of the second insulator  26 , the pair of projection portions  26 B of the second insulator  26  are sequentially passed through the opening portion C 3  of the connection object C shown in  FIG.  16    and the opening portion  14 A of the tab sheet  14  shown in  FIG.  11    from −Z direction, and are separately inserted into the pair of recessed portions  25 C of the first insulator  25 . At this time, each of the +X directional edge and the −X directional edge of the opening portion C 3  of the connection object C enters between the corresponding projection portion  26 B of the second insulator  26  and the corresponding recessed portion  25 C of the first insulator  25  while being pushed and bent in the +Z direction by the corresponding projection portion  26 B of the second insulator  26 . 
     Further, the protruding portion  25 B of the first insulator  25  is inserted into the opening portion  27 B of the third insulator  27 , the plurality of fixing posts  27 C of the third insulator  27  are sequentially inserted into the plurality of through-holes  14 B of the tab sheet  14 , the plurality of through-holes C 4  of the connection object C and the plurality of through-holes  26 C of the second insulator  26 , and −Z directional ends, which project on the −Z direction side of the second insulator  26 , of the plurality of fixing posts  27 C of the third insulator  27  are heated and deformed, whereby the connector  21  is attached to the connection object C as shown in  FIG.  31   . 
     The connection object C is, together with the tab sheet  14 , sandwiched in the Z direction between the second insulator  26  and the third insulator  27 , and the protruding portion  25 B of the first insulator  25  protrudes from the opening portion  27 B of the third insulator  27  in the +Z direction, and the contact portions  28 H of the plurality of first contact members  28  retained by the first insulator  25  are exposed on the +Z direction side of the connector  21 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  32   , the first connection portion  28 J and the first communication portion  28 K of the first contact member  28  are separately disposed on a pair of inner surfaces, which face each other in the X direction, of the recessed portion  25 C of the first insulator  25 , and the second connection portion  29 E and the second communication portion  29 F of the second contact member  29  are separately disposed on a pair of outer surfaces, which face in opposite directions to each other, of the projection portion  26 B of the second insulator  26 . 
     Upon insertion of the projection portion  26 B of the second insulator  26  into the recessed portion  25 C of the first insulator  25 , the elastic piece  29 D of the second communication portion  29 F of the second contact member  29  is pressed and elastically deformed by the first communication portion  28 K of the first contact member  28 , so that the first communication portion  28 K and the second communication portion  29 F make elastic contact with each other via the elastic piece  29 D to thereby be electrically connected to each other. 
     Further, upon insertion of the projection portion  26 B of the second insulator  26  into the recessed portion  25 C of the first insulator  25 , the +X directional edge and the −X directional edge of the opening portion C 3  of the connection object C are each sandwiched between the first connection portion  28 J of the first contact member  28  retained by the first insulator  25  and the second connection portion  29 E of the second contact member  29  retained by the second insulator  26 . 
     The connection object C is compressed in the thickness direction thereof, i.e., the X direction between the first connection portion  28 J of the first contact member  28  and the second connection portion  29 E of the second contact member  29 , the first connection portion  28 J of the first contact member  28  comes into contact with the top surface of the connection object C, and the second connection portion  29 E of the second contact member  29  comes into contact with the bottom surface of the connection object C. Since the flexible conductor C 2  is exposed on the top surface of the connection object C, the first connection portion  28 J of the first contact member  28  is electrically connected to the flexible conductor C 2  of the connection object C. In other words, the contact  23  composed of the first contact member  28  and the second contact member  29  is electrically connected to the flexible conductor C 2  of the connection object C. 
     Thus, also in the connector  21  of Embodiment 2 having the first contact member  28  shown in  FIGS.  27  and  28    and the second contact member  29  shown in  FIGS.  29  and  30   , the first connection portion  28 J of the first contact member  28  comes into contact with the top surface of the connection object C, and at the same time, the second connection portion  29 E of the second contact member  29  comes into contact with the bottom surface of the connection object C. Therefore, as with the connector  11  of Embodiment 1, the contact  23  can be electrically connected to the flexible conductor C 2  of the connection object C regardless of whether the flexible conductor C 2  is exposed on the top surface, the bottom surface, or both surfaces of the connection object C. 
     When the second insulator  26  is assembled to the first insulator  25  in the Z direction which is the predetermined assembling direction D 1 , the elastic piece  29 D of the second contact member  29  elastically deforms, whereby the first communication portion  28 K of the first contact member  28  and the second communication portion  29 F of the second contact member  29  make elastic contact with each other in the X direction. Thus, since the direction in which the first communication portion  28 K and the second communication portion  29 F are in elastic contact with each other is orthogonal to the predetermined assembling direction D 1 , the second insulator  26  assembled to the first insulator  25  is prevented from being detached from the first insulator  25  by an elastic force of the elastic piece  29 D, and accordingly, the connector  21  can be maintained in a stable state. While the direction in which the first communication portion  28 K and the second communication portion  29 F are in elastic contact with each other does not necessarily need to be orthogonal to the predetermined assembling direction D 1 , the direction preferably intersects the predetermined assembling direction D 1 . 
     While in Embodiment 2 mentioned above, the second communication portion  29 F of the second contact member  29  includes the elastic piece  29 D, even when the first communication portion  28 K of the first contact member  28  instead of the second communication portion  29 F of the second contact member  29  includes the elastic member  29 D, the first communication portion  28 K and the second communication portion  29 F likewise make elastic contact with each other via the elastic piece  29 D, whereby the first contact member  28  and the second contact member  29  can be electrically connected to each other. 
     Embodiment 3 
       FIGS.  33  and  34    show a connector  31  according to Embodiment 3. As with the connector  11  of Embodiment 1, the connector  31  is attached to the connection object C and includes a connector body  32  made of an insulating material. In the connector body  32 , a plurality of contacts  33  are retained to project perpendicularly to the connection object C in two lines parallel to each other. 
     The connector  31  is attached to the connection object C together with the tab sheet  14  used in Embodiment 1. 
     For convenience, the connection object C is defined as extending along an XY plane, the direction in which the contacts  33  are aligned is referred to as “Y direction,” and the direction in which the contacts  33  project is referred to as “+2 direction.” 
     As shown in  FIG.  35   , the connector  31  includes a first insulator  35 , a second insulator  36  and a third insulator  37 , and these first insulator  35 , second insulator  36  and third insulator  37  constitute the connector body  32 . 
     Each of the contacts  33  is composed of a first contact member  38  retained by the first insulator  35  and a second contact member  39  retained by the second insulator  36 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  36  and  37   , the first insulator  35  includes a base portion  35 A of flat plate shape extending along the XY plane and a protruding portion  35 B of frame shape situated in the center of a surface on the +Z direction side of the base portion  35 A and protruding in the +Z direction from the base portion  35 A. The base portion  35 A and the protruding portion  35 B each have a substantially rectangular outer shape with long sides extending in the Y direction and short sides extending in the X direction when viewed in the Z direction. 
     At a surface on the −Z direction side of the base portion  35 A, a pair of projection portions  35 C extending in the Y direction, arranged in parallel with a distance therebetween in the X direction and projecting in the −Z direction are formed, and a protruding portion  35 D projecting in the −Z direction is formed to surround the projection portions  35 C. 
     The protruding portion  35 B of frame shape protruding in the +Z direction from the base portion  35 A includes a pair of long side portions  35 E facing each other in the X direction and extending in the Y direction, and a plurality of retaining grooves  35 F for separately retaining the plurality of first contact members  38  are formed at each of an outer surface, an inner surface and an upper surface, which faces in the +Z direction, of each of the long side portions  35 E. 
     The plurality of retaining grooves  35 F formed at the inner surfaces of the pair of long side portions  35 E penetrate the base portion  35 A in the Z direction and extend in the Z direction along lateral surfaces, which face each other, of the pair of projection portions  35 C projecting on the −Z direction side of the base portion  35 A. 
     In the base portion  35 A, a plurality of through-holes  35 G separately corresponding to the plurality of retaining grooves  35 F and penetrating from the surface on the +Z direction side through the −Z direction side of the base portion  35 A are formed near each of outer surfaces of the pair of long side portions  35 E. A plurality of retaining grooves  35 F separately connected to the plurality of through-holes  35 G and extending in the Z direction are formed at each of outer lateral surfaces, which face in opposite directions to each other, of the pair of projection portions  35 C projecting on the −Z direction side of the base portion  35 A. 
     As shown in  FIG.  38   , the second insulator  36  includes a base portion  36 A of circular disk shape extending along the XY plane, and a pair of recessed portions  36 B opening in the +Z direction are formed at a surface on the −Z direction side of the base portion  36 A. The pair of recessed portions  36 B extend in the Y direction and are disposed in parallel with a distance therebetween in the X direction. 
     When the second insulator  36  is assembled to the first insulator  35 , each of the recessed portions  36 B receives the corresponding projection portion  35 C of the first insulator  35 . Each of the recessed portions  36 B has a size slightly smaller than that of the projection portion  35 C in the XY plane. 
     The base portion  36 A is provided with a plurality of through-holes  36 C arranged on each of opposite sides in the X direction of the pair of recessed portions  36 B. Each of the recessed portions  36 B has a rectangular outer shape with long sides extending in the Y direction and short sides extending in the X direction when viewed in the Z direction, and a plurality of retaining grooves  36 D for separately retaining the second contact members  39  are formed at each of opposite lateral surfaces of the long side portions and bottom surfaces of the recessed portions  36 B. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  39   , the third insulator  37  has the same configuration as that of the third insulator  17  of Embodiment 1. In other words, the third insulator  37  includes a base portion  37 A of circular disk shape extending along the XY plane, a substantially rectangular opening portion  37 B is formed in the middle of the base portion  37 A, and a plurality of fixing posts  37 C projecting in the −Z direction are formed at a surface on the −Z direction side of the base portion  37 A on each of opposite sides in the X direction of the opening portion  37 B. 
       FIGS.  40  and  41    show the configuration of the first contact member  38  retained in the retaining groove  35 F of the long side portion  35 E situated on the +X direction side of the pair of long side portions  35 E of the protruding portion  35 B of the first insulator  35  shown in  FIG.  36   . 
     The first contact member  38  is composed of a strip-like member made of a conductive material such as metal and includes a U-shaped portion  38 A bent in a U shape. The U-shaped portion  38 A is composed of a pair of extending portions  38 B and  38 C extending along the YZ plane and facing each other in the X direction and a joint portion  38 D that joins +Z directional ends of the pair of extending portions  38 B and  38 C to each other. A flat plate portion  38 F extending along the YZ plane is connected via a step portion  38 E to a −Z directional end of the extending portion  38 B. 
     A −Z directional end of the extending portion  38 C is connected to a flat plate portion  38 G further extending in the −Z direction along the YZ plane. 
     An outer surface of the U-shaped portion  38 A forms a contact portion  38 H that makes contact with a contact of a counter connector, a surface on the +X direction side of the flat plate portion  38 F forms a first connection portion  38 J that makes contact with the top surface of the connection object C, and a surface on the −X direction side of the flat plate portion  38 G forms a first communication portion  38 K to be connected to the second contact member  39 . In other words, the first connection portion  38 J and the first communication portion  38 K are separately arranged on opposite ends of the first contact member  38  and face in opposite directions to each other with a distance therebetween in the X direction. 
     A +Z directional end of the flat plate portion  38 F and a +Z directional end of the flat plate portion  38 G are respectively provided with press-fitted portions  38 L and  38 M protruding in a width direction of the strip-like member, i.e., the Y direction. 
     Meanwhile, the first contact member  38  retained in the retaining groove  35 F of the long side portion  35 E situated on the −X direction side of the pair of long side portions  35 E of the protruding portion  35 B of the first insulator  35  shown in  FIG.  36    has the same configuration as that of the first contact member  38  shown in  FIGS.  40  and  41    but is disposed in an opposite orientation therefrom in the X direction. 
       FIGS.  42  and  43    show the configuration of the second contact member  39  retained in the retaining groove  36 D of the recessed portion  36 B situated on the +X direction side of the pair of recessed portions  36 B of the second insulator  36  shown in  FIG.  38   . 
     The second contact member  39  is composed of a strip-like member made of a conductive material such as metal and includes a flat plate portion  39 A extending along the YZ plane, a joint portion  39 B extending in the −X direction is connected to a −Z directional end of the flat plate portion  39 A, and a flat plate portion  39 C extending in the +Z direction along the YZ plane is connected to a −X directional end of the joint portion  39 B. 
     The flat plate portion  39 C has formed in its middle an elastic piece  39 D protruding in the −X direction. 
     A surface on the −X direction side of the flat plate portion  39 A forms a second connection portion  39 E that makes contact with the bottom surface of the connection object C, and the elastic piece  39 D forms a second communication portion  39 F to be connected to the first contact member  38 . In other words, the second connection portion  39 B and the second communication portion  39 F are disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the X direction and face each other. 
     The flat plate portion  39 A is provided with a press-fitted portion  39 G protruding in a width direction of the strip-like member, i.e., the Y direction. 
     Meanwhile, the second contact member  39  retained in the retaining groove  36 D of the recessed portion  36 B situated on the −X direction side of the pair of recessed portions  36 B of the second insulator  36  shown in  FIG.  38    has the same configuration as that of the second contact member  39  shown in  FIGS.  42  and  43   , but is disposed in an opposite orientation therefrom in the X direction. 
     Upon insertion of the projection portion  35 C of the first insulator  35  into the recessed portion  36 B of the second insulator  36 , the elastic piece  39 D of the second communication portion  39 F of the second contact member  39  is pressed and elastically deformed by the first communication portion  38 K of the first contact member  38 , so that the first communication portion  38 K and the second communication portion  39 F make elastic contact with each other via the elastic piece  39 D in the X direction. 
     Attachment of the connector  31  to the connection object C is performed in the same manner as the connector  11  of Embodiment 1. In other words, after the plurality of first contact members  38  are retained in the plurality of retaining grooves  35 F of the first insulator  35 , and the plurality of second contact members  39  are retained in the plurality of retaining grooves  36 D of the second insulator  36 , the pair of projection portions  35 C of the first insulator  35  are sequentially passed through the opening portion  14 A of the tab sheet  14  shown in  FIG.  11    and the opening portion C 3  of the connection object C shown in  FIG.  16    from the +Z direction, and are separately inserted into the pair of recessed portions  36 B of the second insulator  36 . At this time, each of the +X directional edge and the −X directional edge of the opening portion C 3  of the connection object C enters between the corresponding projection portion  35 C of the first insulator  35  and the corresponding recessed portion  36 B of the second insulator  36  while being pushed and bent in the +Z direction by the corresponding projection portion  35 C of the first insulator  35 . 
     Further, the protruding portion  35 B of the first insulator  35  is inserted into the opening portion  37 B of the third insulator  37 , and the plurality of fixing posts  37 C of the third insulator  37  are sequentially inserted into the plurality of through-holes  14 B of the tab sheet  14 , the plurality of through-holes C 4  of the connection object C and the plurality of through-holes  36 C of the second insulator  36 , and −Z directional ends, which project on the −Z direction side of the second insulator  36 , of the plurality of fixing posts  37 C of the third insulator  37  are heated and deformed, whereby the connector  31  is attached to the connection object C as shown in  FIG.  44   . 
     The connection object C is, along with the tab sheet  14 , sandwiched in the Z direction between the second insulator  36  and the third insulator  37 , and the protruding portion  35 B of the first insulator  35  protrudes from the opening portion  37 B of the third insulator  37  in the +Z direction, and the contact portions  38 H of the plurality of first contact members  38  retained by the first insulator  35  are exposed on the +Z direction side of the connector  31 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  45   , the first connection portion  38 J and the first communication portion  38 K of the first contact member  38  are separately disposed on a pair of outer surfaces, which face in opposite directions to each other, of the projection portion  35 C of the first insulator  35 , and the second connection portion  39 E and the second communication portion  39 F of the second contact member  39  are separately disposed on a pair of inner surfaces, which face each other in the X direction, of the recessed portion  36 B of the second insulator  36 . 
     Upon insertion of the projection portion  35 C of the first insulator  35  into the recessed portion  36 B of the second insulator  36 , the elastic piece  39 D of the second communication portion  39 F of the second contact member  39  is pressed and elastically deformed by the first communication portion  38 K of the first contact member  38 , so that the first communication portion  38 K and the second communication portion  39 F make elastic contact with each other via the elastic piece  39 D to thereby be electrically connected to each other. 
     Further, upon insertion of the projection portion  35 C of the first insulator  35  into the recessed portion  36 B of the second insulator  36 , the +X directional edge and the −X directional edge of the opening portion C 3  of the connection object C are each sandwiched between the first connection portion  38 J of the first contact member  38  retained by the first insulator  35  and the second connection portion  39 E of the second contact member  39  retained by the second insulator  36 . 
     The connection object C is compressed in the thickness direction thereof, i.e., the X direction between the first connection portion  38 J of the first contact member  38  and the second connection portion  39 E of the second contact member  39 , the first connection portion  38 J of the first contact member  38  comes into contact with the top surface of the connection object C, and the second connection portion  39 E of the second contact member  39  comes into contact with the bottom surface of the connection object C. Since the flexible conductor C 2  is exposed on the top surface of the connection object C, the first connection portion  38 J of the first contact member  38  is electrically connected to the flexible conductor C 2  of the connection object C. In other words, the contact  33  composed of the first contact member  38  and the second contact member  39  is electrically connected to the flexible conductor C 2  of the connection object C. 
     Thus, also in the connector  31  of Embodiment 3 having the first contact member  38  shown in  FIGS.  40  and  41    and the second contact member  39  shown in  FIGS.  42  and  43   , the first connection portion  38 J of the first contact member  38  comes into contact with the top surface of the connection object C, and at the same time, the second connection portion  39 E of the second contact member  39  comes into contact with the bottom surface of the connection object C. Therefore, as with the connector  11  of Embodiment 1, the contact  33  can be electrically connected to the flexible conductor C 2  of the connection object C regardless of whether the flexible conductor C 2  is exposed on the top surface, the bottom surface, or both surfaces of the connection object C. 
     When the second insulator  36  is assembled to the first insulator  35  in the Z direction which is the predetermined assembling direction D 1 , the elastic piece  39 D of the second contact member  39  elastically deforms, whereby the first communication portion  38 K of the first contact member  38  and the second communication portion  39 F of the second contact member  39  make elastic contact with each other in the X direction. Thus, since the direction in which the first communication portion  38 K and the second communication portion  39 F are in elastic contact with each other is orthogonal to the predetermined assembling direction D 1 , the second insulator  36  assembled to the first insulator  35  is prevented from being detached from the first insulator  35  by an elastic force of the elastic piece  39 D, and accordingly, the connector  31  can be maintained in a stable state. While the direction in which the first communication portion  38 K and the second communication portion  39 F are in elastic contact with each other does not necessarily need to be orthogonal to the predetermined assembling direction D 1 , the direction preferably intersects the predetermined assembling direction D 1 . 
     While in Embodiment 3 mentioned above, the second communication portion  39 F of the second contact member  39  includes the elastic piece  39 D, even when the first communication portion  38 K of the first contact member  38  instead of the second communication portion  39 F of the second contact member  39  includes the elastic member  39 D, the first communication portion  38 K and the second communication portion  39 F likewise make elastic contact with each other via the elastic piece  39 D, whereby the first contact member  38  and the second contact member  39  can be electrically connected to each other. 
     While in Embodiments 1 to 3 described above, the plurality of contacts  13 ,  23 ,  33  are aligned in two lines parallel to each other, the invention is not limited thereto, and the contacts  13 ,  23 ,  33  may be aligned in one line. In the invention, the plurality of contacts  13 ,  23 ,  33  are not necessarily required, and it suffices if at least one contact  13 ,  23 ,  33  is included. 
     When, in Embodiments 1 to 3, the connector has such a structure that the first insulator  15 ,  25 ,  35  and the second insulator  16 ,  26 ,  36  are fixed to each other without using the third insulator  17 ,  27 ,  37 , the third insulator  17 ,  27 ,  37  can be omitted. 
     While a garment provided with smart textile is described as an example of the connection object C to which the connector  11 ,  21 ,  31  is attached, a so-called flexible substrate in which a flexible conductor is disposed on a surface of an insulating substrate can also be used as the connection object C. 
     While in Embodiments 1 to 3, the connector  11 ,  21 ,  31  is attached to the connection object C together with the tab sheet  14  for reinforcing the connection object C, the tab sheet  14  may be omitted when it is not necessary to reinforce the connection object C.