Patent Publication Number: US-11043771-B2

Title: Electrical connector

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a connector. 
     Related Art 
     Japanese Patent No. 6275603 discloses a connector with a connector housing having a hollow portion and terminal blocks for holding terminals. The terminal blocks are fit into the holding portion of the connector housing while being stacked one over another. Each terminal block includes terminals and an insulating member integrally formed with the terminals. Press-fit holes penetrate front and back surfaces of the insulating member along an extending direction. The terminals are press-fit respectively into the press-fit holes and are supported by the insulating member. 
     The connector of Japanese Patent No. 6275603 is configured such that each terminal is coated around by the insulating member and creepage distances between the terminals in a height direction of the terminal block are ensured. However, the terminal blocks are stacked one over another in this connector. Thus, the insulating members are interposed between the terminals between adjacent terminal blocks. Thus, the connector is enlarged in the height direction of the terminal blocks. To address with this problem, the connector is required to ensure creepage distances between the terminals in the height direction of the terminal blocks and to have a configuration capable of a height reduction. 
     The invention was completed on the basis of the above situation and aims to provide a configuration capable of a height reduction while ensuring a creepage distance between terminals in a connector in which holding portions for coating around the terminals with resin are stacked in a height direction. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention is directed to a connector with first and second terminals, and first and second holding portions configured respectively to coat around the first and second terminals with resin. The first and second holding portions are stacked one over the other in a height direction. The first terminal has an exposed surface exposed on a resin surface of the first holding portion, and the second holding portion includes a part configured to cover the exposed surface of the first terminal with the second holding portion stacked on or below the first holding portion. 
     This connector includes the first holding portion and the second holding portion is configured to coat around the first and second terminals with resin. The first and second holding portions are stacked one over the other in the height direction. Thus, the resin is interposed between the first terminal and the second terminal in the connector, and a creepage distance (insulation distance) between the first and second terminals can be ensured. In addition, the second holding portion includes the part configured to cover the exposed surface of the first terminal exposed on the resin surface of the first holding portion with the second holding portion stacked on or below the first holding portion. Thus, the first holding portion enables the resin of the second holding portion to be interposed between the first and second terminals without covering the exposed surface of the first terminal with resin. In this way, the connector can be reduced in height by as much as the exposed surface of the first terminal is not covered with resin. Therefore, the connector can be reduced in height with the creepage distance between the terminals ensured. 
     Each of the first and second terminals may include connecting portions arranged on both ends and to be connected to mating terminals. A relay portion may be arranged in a direction intersecting projecting directions of the connecting portions between the connecting portions. Each of the first and second holding portions may coat a part of the corresponding one of the first terminal and the second terminal except the connecting portions and may include a relay holding portion in a part corresponding to the relay portion. The relay portion of the first terminal may have the exposed surface. The relay holding portion of the second holding portion may include a part configured to cover the exposed surface. 
     Due to relationships with mating terminals, the connecting portions of each of the first and second terminals need to ensure a given interval between the terminals. Accordingly, the exposed surface is on the relay portion that is a part different from the connecting portions in the first terminal, and is covered by the relay holding portion of the second holding portion. The interval between the terminals is changed by the relay portion that is the part different from the respective connecting portions and is arranged in the direction intersecting the projecting directions of the connecting portions. Thus, a height reduction can be realized so as not to interfere with connection to the mating terminals. 
     Each of the first and second terminals may include a connecting portion adjacent portions that extend in the same directions as the connecting portions and located on the sides of the relay portion. The connecting portion adjacent portions are coated respectively with resin over the entire peripheries by the first and second holding portions. According to this configuration, the resin is interposed between the connecting portion adjacent portions of the respective first and second terminals in the connector, and a creepage distance (insulation distance) between the connecting portion adjacent portion is ensured. 
     The connector may include a terminal block unit having an uneven shape in which the first and second holding portions are connected integrally in a direction intersecting the height direction, and the first terminal is located on a bottom surface of a recess. Terminal block units may be stacked to fit in a convex-concave manner in the height direction. According to this configuration, the terminal block units each have an uneven shape in which the first and second holding portions are connected integrally in the direction intersecting the height direction and are stacked to fit in a convex-concave manner in the height direction. Thus, the connector can prevent positional deviations of the terminal block units from each other. In addition, each terminal block unit is configured such that the first terminal is located on the bottom surface of the recess and the exposed surface of the first terminal can be covered by the other terminal block unit. In this way, the connector can cover the exposed surfaces of the first terminals, utilizing the terminal block units fit in a convex-concave manner. Therefore, the connector can be reduced in height with the creepage distances between the terminals ensured while positional deviations of the terminal block units from each other are prevented. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view in section of a connector of an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a left side view of the connector. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a one-side terminal block unit. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an other-side terminal block unit. 
         FIG. 5  is a front view showing a stacked state of the one-side terminal block unit and the other-side terminal block unit. 
         FIG. 6  is a back view showing the stacked state of the one-side terminal block unit and the other-side terminal block unit. 
         FIG. 7  is a left side view showing the stacked state of the one-side terminal block unit and the other-side terminal block unit. 
         FIG. 8  is a right side view showing the stacked state of the one-side terminal block unit and the other-side terminal block unit. 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view showing the stacked state of the one-side terminal block unit and the other-side terminal block unit. 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom view showing the stacked state of the one-side terminal block unit and the other-side terminal block unit. 
         FIG. 11  is a front view in section along A-A of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 12  is a left side view in section along B-B of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 13  is a left side view in section schematically showing a cross-section of a stacked part of a conventional connector. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 13 . Note that, in the following description, sides in front of and behind the plane of each of  FIGS. 1, 5 and 11  are defined as a front side and a back side concerning a front-rear direction (referred to as a width direction). Upper and lower sides shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, 5 to 8, 11, 12 and 13  are directly defined as upper and lower sides concerning a vertical direction (referred to as a height direction). Left and right sides shown in  FIGS. 1, 5 and 9 to 11  are directly defined as left and right sides concerning a lateral direction. 
     A connector  10  of this embodiment includes lower and upper terminal block units  20  and  50  and a housing  80 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The lower and upper terminal block units  20  and  50  are stacked one over the other in the height direction. Specifically, the connector  10  is configured so that the lower terminal block unit  20  is located on a lower side in the height direction and the upper terminal block unit  50  is located on the upper side in the height direction. The housing  80  is molded with the lower and upper terminal block units  20  and  50  stacked one over the other inserted. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the lower terminal block unit  20  includes first terminals  31 ,  33 , a second terminal  32 , first holding portions  41 ,  43  and a second holding portion  42 . Note that the first terminals  31 ,  33  and the second terminal  32  have the same form. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the first terminal  31  is a rectangular pin made of conductive metal and elongated from upper end of  FIG. 5  to the lower end of  FIG. 5 . The first terminal  31  is formed into a crank shape by bending a straight cut wire. The first terminal  31  includes bent portions  31 A,  31 B, connecting portions  31 C,  31 D, a relay portion  31 E and adjacent portions  31 F,  31 G The bent portions  31 A,  31 B are provided at two positions of the first terminal  31 . The bent portions  31 A,  31 B are bent at a right angle. The connecting portions  31 C,  31 D are provided respectively on end parts (one end and the other end) of the first terminal  31 , and connected to mating terminals (not shown). The connecting portion  31 C extends up in the height direction. The connecting portion  31 D extends down in the height direction to extend toward a side opposite to the connecting portion  31 C. The relay portion  31 E is arranged along a lateral direction intersecting projecting directions of the connecting portions  31 C,  31 D between the connecting portions  31 C,  31 D (more specifically, between the bent portions  31 A,  31 B). As shown in  FIG. 3 , the relay portion  31 E has an exposed surface  31 H exposed upward on a resin surface of the first holding portion  41  to be described later. The exposed surface  31 H is the upper surface of the relay portion  31 E and has a rectangular shape. The adjacent portions  31 F,  31 G respectively extend in the same directions as the connecting portions  31 C,  31 D in the first terminal  31  and are located on the sides of the relay portion  31 E (respectively between the connecting portions  31 C,  31 D and the relay portion  31 E). 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the second terminal  32  has bent portions  32 A,  32 B, connecting portions  32 C,  32 D, a relay portion  32 E and adjacent portions  32 F,  32 G respectively having the same forms as the bent portions  31 A,  31 B, the connecting portions  31 C,  31 D, the relay portion  31 E and the adjacent portions  31 F,  31 G of the first terminal  31 . Note that, unlike the relay portion  31 E, the relay portion  32 E is coated with resin over the entire periphery by the second holding portion  42  to be described later. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the first terminal  33  has bent portions  33 A,  33 B, connecting portions  33 C,  33 D, a relay portion  33 E and adjacent portions  33 F,  33 G respectively having the same forms as the bent portions  31 A,  31 B, the connecting portions  31 C,  31 D, the relay portion  31 E and the adjacent portions  31 F,  31 G of the first terminal  31 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the relay portion  33 E has an exposed surface  33 H exposed upward on a resin surface of the first holding portion  43  to be described later. The exposed surface  33 H is the upper surface of the relay portion  33 E and has a rectangular shape. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first holding portions  41 ,  43  and the second holding portion  42  respectively coat around the first terminals  31 ,  33  and the second terminal  32  with resin. The first holding portions  41 ,  43  and the second holding portion  42  are resin-molded with the first terminals  31 ,  33  and the second terminal  32  as inserts (primary insert molding). Specifically, the first holding portion  41  coats a part of the first terminal  31  except the connecting portions  31 C,  31 D. The second holding portion  42  coats a part of the second terminal  32  except the connecting portions  32 D,  32 D. The first holding portion  43  coats a part of the first terminal  33  except the connecting portions  33 C,  33 D. The first holding portions  41 ,  43  and the second holding portion  42  are described in detail below. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the first holding portion  41  includes a relay holding portion  41 E and adjacent holding portions  41 F,  41 G. The relay holding portion  41 E is provided in a part corresponding to the relay portion  31 E of the first terminal  31 . The relay holding portion  41 E has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the relay portion  31 E, and holds the relay portion  31 E to coat the front, back and lower surfaces of the relay portion  31 E with resin. The relay holding portion  41 E exposes the upper surface (exposed surface  31 H) of the relay portion  31 E of the first terminal  31 . The upper surface of the relay holding portion  41 E is flush with the upper surface of the relay portion  31 E. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , each of the adjacent holding portions  41 F,  41 G has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the adjacent portion  31 F,  31 G, and coats the connecting portion adjacent portion  31 F,  31 G with resin over the entire periphery. The first holding portion  41  is formed such that the right and left ends of the relay holding portion  41 E are connected to the lower end of the adjacent holding portion  41 F and the upper end of the adjacent portion holding portion  41 G as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , and is crank-shaped in a front view as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 11 , the second holding portion  42  includes a relay holding portion  42 E, adjacent portion holding portions  42 F,  42 G and a rib  42 H. The relay holding portion  42 E is provided in a part corresponding to the relay portion  32 E of the second terminal  32  as shown in  FIG. 11 . The relay holding portion  42 E has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the relay portion  32 E, and holds the relay portion  32 E to coat the relay portion  32 E with resin over the entire periphery. Each adjacent holding portion  42 F,  42 G has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the adjacent portion  32 F,  32 G, and coats the adjacent portion  32 F,  32 G with resin over the entire periphery. The second holding portion  42  is formed such that the right and left ends of the relay holding portion  42 E are connected respectively to the lower end of the adjacent portion holding portion  42 F and the upper end of the holding portion  42 G, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 11 , and is crank-shaped in a front view, as shown in  FIG. 11 . As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 10 to 12 , the rib  42 H is a rectangular plate extends from the lower surface of the relay holding portion  42 E and the right side surface of the adjacent portion  32 G The rib  42 H is connected to a part of the relay holding portion  42 E to the left of a center in the lateral direction. The lower end of the rib  42 H is at the same height as that of the adjacent portion  32 G. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , the first holding portion  43  includes a relay holding portion  43 E and adjacent holding portions  43 F,  43 G The relay holding portion  43 E is in a part corresponding to the relay portion  33 E of the first terminal  33 . The relay holding portion  43 E has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the relay portion  33 E, and holds the relay portion  33 E to coat the front, back and lower surfaces of the relay portion  33 E with resin. The relay holding portion  43 E exposes the upper surface (exposed surface  33 H) of the relay portion  33 E of the first terminal  33 . The upper surface of the relay holding portion  43 E is flush with the upper surface of the relay portion  33 E. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , each of the adjacent holding portions  43 F,  43 G has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the adjacent portion  33 F,  33 G, and coats the connecting portion adjacent portion  33 F,  33 G with resin over the entire periphery. The first holding portion  43  is formed such that right and left ends of the relay holding portion  43 E are connected respectively to the lower end of the adjacent portion holding portion  43 F and the upper end of the adjacent portion holding portion  43 G as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , and is crank-shaped in a back view as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 12 , the first holding portions  41 ,  43  and the second holding portion  42  are connected integrally in the width direction (front-rear direction). Specifically, the first holding portion  41 , the second holding portion  42  and the first holding portion  43  are arranged from front to rear in this order. Further, the first holding portion  41 , the second holding portion  42  and the first holding portion  43  are connected so that the respective terminals  31  to  33  are at the same heights. Thus, the first holding portions  41 ,  43  are recessed down with respect to the second holding portion  42  since the relay portions  31 E,  33 E of the first terminals  31 ,  33  are not covered from above. In this way, the lower terminal block unit  20  has an uneven upper surface and the first terminals  31 ,  33  are located on the bottom surfaces of recesses (respective upper surfaces of the relay holding portions  41 E,  43 E). 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the upper terminal block unit  50  includes a first terminal  62 , second terminals  61 ,  63 , a first holding portion  72  and second holding portions  71 ,  73 . Note that the first terminal  62  and the second terminals  61 ,  63  have the same form as the first terminal  31  described above and are not described in detail. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the second terminal  61  includes bent portions  61 A,  61 B, connecting portions  61 C,  61 D, a relay portion  61 E and adjacent portions  61 F,  61 G respectively having the same forms as the bent portions  31 A,  31 B, the connecting portions  31 C,  31 D, the relay portion  31 E and the adjacent portions  31 F,  31 G of the first terminal  31  described above. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the first terminal  62  includes bent portions  62 A,  62 B, connecting portions  62 C,  62 D, a relay portion  62 E and adjacent portions  62 F,  62 G respectively having the same forms as the bent portions  31 A,  31 B, the connecting portions  31 C,  31 D, the relay portion  31 E and the adjacent portions  31 F,  31 G of the first terminal  31  described above. As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the relay portion  62 E has an exposed surface  62 H exposed downward on a resin surface of the first holding portion  72  to be described later. The exposed surface  62 H is the lower surface of the relay portion  62 E and has a rectangular shape. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the second terminal  63  includes bent portions  63 A,  63 B, connecting portions  63 C,  63 D, a relay portion  63 E and connecting portion adjacent portions  63 F,  63 G respectively having the same forms as the bent portions  31 A,  31 B, the connecting portions  31 C,  31 D, the relay portion  31 E and the connecting portion adjacent portions  31 F,  31 G of the first terminal  31  described above. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the second holding portions  71 ,  73  and the first holding portion  72  respectively coat around the second terminals  61 ,  63  and the first terminal  62  with resin. The second holding portions  71 ,  73  and the first holding portion  72  are respectively resin-molded with the second terminals  61 ,  63  and the first terminal  62  as inserts (primary insert molding). Specifically, the second holding portion  71  coats a part of the second terminal  61  except the connecting portions  61 C,  61 D. The first holding portion  72  coats a part of the first terminal  62  except the connecting portions  62 D,  62 D. The second holding portion  73  coats a part of the second terminal  63  except the connecting portions  63 C,  63 D. The second holding portions  72 ,  73  and the first holding portion  71  are described in detail below. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the second holding portion  71  includes a relay holding portion  71 E and adjacent portion holding portions  71 F,  71 G. The relay holding portion  71 E is provided in a part corresponding to the relay portion  61 E of the second terminal  61 . The relay holding portion  71 E has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the relay portion  61 E, and holds the relay portion  61 E to coat the relay portion  61 E with resin over the entire periphery. The adjacent holding portion  71 E has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the adjacent portion  61 F and coats the adjacent portion  61 F with resin over the entire periphery. The adjacent holding portion  71 G has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the connecting portion adjacent portion  61 G and coats the adjacent portion  61 G with resin over the entire periphery. The second holding portion  71  is formed such that the right and left ends of the relay holding portion  71 E are connected respectively to the lower end of the adjacent portion holding portion  71 F and the upper end of the adjacent portion holding portion  71 G and is crank-shaped in a front view as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 11 , the first holding portion  72  includes a relay holding portion  72 E, adjacent portion holding portions  72 F,  72 G and a rib  72 H. The relay holding portion  72 E is provided in a part corresponding to the relay portion  62 E of the first terminal  62 . The relay holding portion  72 E has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the relay portion  62 E, and holds the relay portion  62 E to coat the front, back and lower surfaces of the relay portion  62 E with resin. The relay holding portion  72 E exposes the lower surface (exposed surface  62 H) of the relay portion  62 E of the first terminal  62 . The lower surface of the relay holding portion  72 E is flush with the lower surface of the relay portion  62 E. The adjacent portion holding portion  72 E has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the connecting portion adjacent portion  62 F and coats the connecting portion adjacent portion  62 F with resin over the entire periphery. The adjacent portion holding portion  72 G has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the connecting portion adjacent portion  62 G and coats the connecting portion adjacent portion  62 G with resin over the entire periphery. The first holding portion  72  is formed such that the right and left ends of the relay holding portion  72 E are respectively connected to the lower end of the adjacent portion holding portion  72 F and the upper end of the adjacent portion holding portion  72 G as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 11 , and is crank-shaped in a front view as shown in  FIG. 11 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7 , the rib  72 H is a projecting piece having a rectangular shape in a front view and formed in a left recessed part of the adjacent portion holding portion  72 G. The lower end of the rib  72 H is located at the same height as that of the adjacent portion holding portion  72 G, and the left end thereof is located at the same position as that of the adjacent portion holding portion  72 G in the lateral direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the second holding portion  73  includes a relay holding portion  73 E and adjacent portion holding portions  73 F,  73 G The relay holding portion  73 E is provided in a part corresponding to the relay portion  63 E of the second terminal  63 . The relay holding portion  73 E has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the relay portion  63 E, and holds the relay portion  63 E to coat the relay portion  63 E with resin over the entire periphery. The adjacent portion holding portion  73 F has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the connecting portion adjacent portion  63 F and coats the connecting portion adjacent portion  63 F with resin over the entire periphery. The adjacent portion holding portion  73 G has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the connecting portion adjacent portion  63 G and coats the connecting portion adjacent portion  63 G with resin over the entire periphery. The second holding portion  73  is formed such that the right and left ends of the relay holding portion  73 E are respectively connected to the lower end of the adjacent portion holding portion  73 F and the upper end of the adjacent portion holding portion  73 Q and is crank-shaped in a back view as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 12 , the second holding portions  71 ,  73  and the first holding portion  72  are integrally connected in the width direction (front-rear direction). Specifically, the second holding portion  71 , the first holding portion  72  and the second holding portion  73  are arranged from front to rear in this order. Further, the second holding portion  71 , the first holding portion  72  and the second holding portion  73  are so connected that the respective terminals  61 ,  62  and  63  are at the same positions (heights) in the vertical direction. Thus, the first holding portion  72  is recessed upwardly with respect to the second holding portions  71 ,  73  since the relay portion  62 E of the first terminal  62  is not covered from above. In this way, the other-side terminal block unit  50  has an uneven lower surface and the first terminal  62  is located on the bottom surface of a recess (lower surface of the relay holding portion  72 E). 
     The lower terminal block unit  20  and the upper terminal block unit  50  configured as described above are stacked in the height direction such that the upper terminal block unit  50  covers the lower terminal block unit  20  from above as shown in  FIGS. 5 to 12 . The lower terminal block unit  20  and the upper terminal block unit  50  are fit in a convex-concave manner in the height direction. Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the upper end of the second holding portion  42  is fit between the second holding portions  71  and  73 . The upper surfaces of the respective holding portions  41  to  43  of the lower terminal block unit  20  are respectively in contact with the lower surfaces of the respective holding portions  71  to  73  of the upper terminal block unit  50 . By fitting the lower terminal block unit  20  and the upper terminal block unit  50  in a convex-concave manner in this way, positional deviations of the respective terminal block units  20 ,  50  from each other can be prevented. The second holding portions  71 ,  73  of the upper terminal block unit  50  respectively cover the exposed surfaces  31 H,  33 H of the first terminals  31 ,  33  of the lower terminal block unit  20  from above. The second holding portion  42  of the lower terminal block unit  20  covers the exposed surface  62 H of the first terminal  62  of the upper terminal block unit  50  from below. 
     Given intervals are maintained between the respective terminals  31  to  33  of the lower terminal block unit  20  and the respective terminals  61  to  63  of the upper terminal block unit  50 , and the resin is interposed between these terminals. Thus, creepage distances (insulation distances) between the respective terminals  31  to  33  and the respective terminals  61  to  63  are reliably ensured. In addition, the second holding portions  71 ,  73  and  42  respectively cover the exposed surfaces  31 H,  33 H and  62 H of the first terminals  31 ,  33  and  62  exposed on the resin surfaces of the first holding portions  41 ,  43  and  72 . Thus, the first holding portion  41 ,  43 ,  72  enables the resin of the second holding portion  71 ,  73 ,  42  to be interposed between the second terminal  61 ,  63 ,  32  and the first terminal  31 ,  33 ,  62  without covering the exposed surface  31 H,  33 H,  62 H with resin. In this way, the connector  10  can be reduced in height by as much as the exposed surfaces  31 H,  33 H and  62 H are not covered with resin. Therefore, the connector  11  can be reduced in height with the creepage distances between the terminals in the height direction ensured. 
     For example, in a conventional connector  110 , a lower terminal block unit  120  coats all terminals  130  with resin over the entire peripheries by a holding portion  140  in a stacked part as shown in  FIG. 13 . Similarly, an upper terminal block unit  150  coats all terminals  160  with resin over the entire peripheries by a holding portion  170  in the stacked part. Thus, in the connector  110 , coating parts of the respective holding portions  140 ,  170  are interposed between the terminals  130  and the terminals  160  in the height direction, wherefore a height reduction has been difficult. However, in this embodiment, the upper surface of the lower terminal block unit  20  and the lower surface of the upper terminal block unit  50  are formed into uneven shapes to expose some of the terminals and fit in a convex-concave manner, whereby the height can be reduced by as much as the terminals are not coated with resin (by a thickness denoted by T in  FIG. 13 ). 
     By fitting the lower terminal block unit  20  and the upper terminal block unit  50  in a convex-concave manner, intervals between the relay portions  31 E to  33 E and the relay portions  61 E to  63 E become narrower. However, since the connecting portions  31 C to  33 C,  61 C to  63 C extend in directions intersecting the relay portions  31 E to  33 E,  61 E to  63 E, a change in the intervals between the relay portions does not affect the intervals between the connecting portions. In this way, the height of the connector  10  can be so reduced as not to interfere with connection to the mating terminals. 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the adjacent portion holding portions  41 F,  41 G respectively overlap with the adjacent portion holding portions  71 F,  71 G in the lateral direction. As shown in  FIG. 11 , the adjacent portion holding portions  42 F,  42 G respectively overlap with the adjacent portion holding portions  72 F,  72 G in the lateral direction. A shown in  FIG. 6 , the adjacent portion holding portions  43 F,  43 G respectively overlap with the adjacent portion holding portions  73 F,  73 G in the lateral direction. In this way, the resin is interposed between the connecting portion adjacent portions  31 F to  33 F,  31 G to  33 G and the connecting portion adjacent portions  61 F to  63 F,  61 G to  63 G in the connector  10 , wherefore the creepage distances (insulation distances) between these connecting portion adjacent portions can be reliably ensured. 
     The housing  80  is resin-molded with the lower terminal block unit  20  and the upper terminal block unit  50  in the stacked state as an insert, and collectively coats around the lower terminal block unit  20  and the upper terminal block unit  50  with resin. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the housing  80  is bent into a crank shape as a whole to extend along the route forms of the respective terminals  31  to  33 ,  61  to  63 . An upwardly open tubular receptacle  81  is provided on the upper end of the housing  80 . 
     The connecting portions  31 C to  33 C,  61 C to  63 C of the respective terminals  31  to  33 ,  61  to  63  are arranged to project into the receptacle  81 . Further, the connecting portions  31 D to  33 D,  61 D to  63 D of the receptacle terminals  31  to  33  are arranged to project downward from the lower end of the housing  80 . Unillustrated mating terminals are electrically connected to the connecting portions  31 C to  33 C,  61 C to  63 C. Conductive parts or the like (mating terminals) of an unillustrated printed circuit board are, for example, electrically connected to the connecting portions  31 D to  33 D,  61 D to  63 D. 
     The connector  10  includes the first holding portions  41 ,  43  and  72  and the second holding portions  42 ,  71  and  73  that coat around the first terminals  31 ,  33  and  62  and the second terminals  32 ,  61  and  63  with resin. The first holding portions  41 ,  43  and  72  and the second holding portions  71 ,  73  and  42  are stacked one over the other in the height direction. Thus, the resin is interposed between the first terminals  31 ,  33  and  62  and the second terminals  61 ,  63  and  32  in the connector  10  so that the creepage distances (insulation distances) between the first terminals  31 ,  33  and  62  and the second terminals  61 ,  63  and  32  are ensured. In addition, the second holding portion  42 ,  71 ,  73  includes a part configured to cover the exposed surface  62 H,  31 H,  33 H of the first terminal  62 ,  31 ,  33  exposed on the resin surface of the first holding portion  72 ,  41 ,  43  with the second holding portion  42 ,  71 ,  73  stacked on or below the first holding portion  72 ,  41 ,  43 . Thus, the first holding portion  72 ,  41 ,  43  enables the resin of the second holding portion  42 ,  71 ,  73  to be interposed between the first terminal  31 ,  33 ,  62  and the second terminal  32 ,  61 ,  63  without covering the exposed surface  62 H,  31 H,  33 H of the first terminal  62 ,  31 ,  33  with resin. In this way, the connector  10  can be reduced in height by as much as the exposed surfaces  31 H,  33 H and  62 H of the first terminals  31 ,  33  and  62  are not covered with the resin. Therefore, the connector  10  can be reduced in height with creepage distances between the terminals ensured. 
     The relay portion  31 E of the first terminal  31  has the exposed surface  31 H, and the relay holding portion  71 E of the second holding portion  71  covers the exposed surface  31 H. 
     Due to relationships with the mating terminals, the both connecting portions  31 C,  61 C of the first terminal  31  and the second terminal  61  need to ensure a given interval between the terminals. Accordingly, the exposed surface  31 H is provided on the relay portion  31 E, which is a part different from the connecting portion  31 C in the first terminal  31 , and covered by the relay holding portion  71 E of the second holding portion  71 . As just described, the height of the connector  10  can be so reduced as not to interfere with connection to the mating terminals by changing the interval between the terminals by the relay portions  31 E,  61 E that are parts different from the respective connecting portions  31 C,  61 C and arranged along the height direction. 
     Effects brought about by relationships between the first and second terminal  31  and  61  are described above, but the relationships between the first and second terminals  62  and  32  and between the first and second terminal  33  and  63  exhibit similar effects. 
     Further, the first terminal  31  includes the connecting portion adjacent portions  31 F,  31 G extending in the same directions as the connecting portions  31 C,  31 D and located on the sides of the relay portion  31 E, and the connecting portion adjacent portions  31 F,  31 G are coated with resin over the entire peripheries by the first holding portion  41 . The second terminal  61  includes the connecting portion adjacent portions  61 F,  61 G extending in the same directions as the connecting portions  61 C,  61 D and located on the sides of the relay portion  61 E, and the connecting portion adjacent portions  61 F,  61 G are coated with resin over the entire peripheries by the second holding portion  71 . 
     According to this configuration, the resin is interposed between the connecting portion adjacent portions  31 F and  61 F and between the connecting portion adjacent portions  31 G and  61 G in the connector  10 , and the creepage distances (insulation distances) between the both connecting portion adjacent portions can be reliably ensured. 
     Although effects brought about by the relationship between the first terminal  31  and the second terminal  61  are described above, the relationships between the first terminal  62  and the second terminal  32  and between the first terminal  33  and the second terminal  63  also exhibit similar effects. 
     Further, the connector  10  includes the lower terminal block unit  20  having an uneven shape in which the first holding portions  41 ,  43  and the second holding portion  42  are integrally connected in the width direction (front-rear direction) and the first terminals  31 ,  33  are located on the bottom surfaces of the recesses. The connector  10  includes the upper terminal block unit  50  having an uneven shape in which the first holding portion  72  and the second holding portions  71 ,  73  are integrally connected in the width direction (front-rear direction) and the first terminal  62  is located on the bottom surface of the recess. The lower terminal block unit  20  and the upper terminal block unit  50  are stacked to fit in a convex-concave manner in the height direction. 
     According to this configuration, the connector  10  can prevent positional deviations of the lower terminal block unit  20  and the upper terminal block unit  50  from each other. In addition, the lower terminal block unit  20  and the upper terminal block unit  50  are configured such that the first terminals  31 ,  33  and  62  are located on the bottom surfaces of the recesses, and the exposed surface  31 H,  33 H,  62 H of the first terminal  31 ,  33 ,  62  can be covered by the other terminal block units. In this way, the connector  10  can cover the exposed surfaces  31 H,  33 H and  62 H of the first terminals  31 ,  33  and  62 , utilizing the lower terminal block unit  20  and the upper terminal block unit  50  fit in a convex-concave manner. Thus, the connector  10  can be reduced in height with the creepage distances between the terminals ensured while positional deviations of the lower terminal block unit  20  and the upper terminal block unit  50  from each other are prevented. 
     The present invention is not limited to the above described and illustrated embodiment. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. 
     Although the lower terminal block unit  20  has the uneven upper surface uniformly continuous in the lateral direction in the above embodiment, an uneven pattern may be reversed at an intermediate position in the lateral direction (projections may be arranged in an offset manner). For example, the upper surface of the lower terminal block unit  20  may include an area where a recess (recess where the terminal is exposed on the bottom surface), a projection (projection where the terminal is coated) and a recess are successively arranged and an area where a projection, a recess and a projection are successively arranged. In this case, the lower surface of the upper terminal block unit  50  is also formed into an uneven shape having a pattern opposite to that of the lower terminal block unit  20 . 
     Although two recesses and one projection are formed on the upper surface of the lower terminal block unit  20  in the above embodiment, the numbers of the recess(es) and the projection(s) are not limited to these. For example, the upper surface of the lower terminal block unit  20  may have such a pattern that one recess and one projection are formed (pattern constituted by the first holding portion  41  and the second holding portion  42 ). Similarly, the numbers of the recess(es) and the projection(s) of the lower surface of the upper terminal block unit  50  are also not limited. 
     One terminal (first terminal  31 ,  33 ,  62 ) is exposed from each of the first holding portions  41 ,  43  and  72  in the above embodiment, but two or more terminals may be exposed. 
     Although each terminal  31  to  33 ,  61  to  63  of the connector  10  is crank-shaped in the above embodiment, each terminal  31  to  33 ,  61  to  63  may be U-shaped. Specifically, although each terminal  31  to  33 ,  61  to  63  is formed such that two connecting portions extend toward the opposite sides, the pair of connecting portions may extend toward the same side. 
     Although the bent portions  31 A,  31 B of the first terminal  31  are bent at a right angle in the above embodiment, the bent portions  31 A,  31 B may not be bent at a right angle if they intersect the vertical direction (height direction). The same applies also to the other terminals  32 ,  33  and  61  to  63 . 
     In the above embodiment, the connector  10  is configured such that the lower terminal block unit  20  and the upper terminal block unit  50  are covered by the insert-molded housing  80 . However, the connector  10  may be a block connector composed of the lower terminal block unit  20  and the upper terminal block unit  50  in the stacked state without performing insert molding to cover with the housing  80 . 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           10  . . . connector 
           20  . . . lower terminal block unit (terminal block unit) 
           31 ,  33 ,  62  . . . first terminal 
           31 C,  31 D,  32 C,  32 D,  33 C,  33 D,  61 C,  61 D,  62 C,  62 D,  63 C,  63 D . . . connecting portion 
           31 E,  32 E,  33 E,  61 E,  62 E,  63 E . . . relay portion 
           31 H,  33 H,  62 H . . . exposed surface 
           32 ,  61 ,  63  . . . second terminal 
           31 F,  31 G  32 F,  32 G  33 F,  33 G  61 F,  61 G  62 F,  62 G  63 F,  63 G . . . adjacent portion 
           41 ,  43 ,  72  . . . first holding portion 
           41 E,  42 E,  43 E,  71 E,  72 E,  73 E . . . relay holding portion 
           42 ,  71 ,  73  . . . second holding portion 
           50  . . . upper terminal block unit (terminal block unit)