Patent Publication Number: US-11050186-B2

Title: Connection structure, forming method of connection structure and cable of connection structure

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. JP2019-131181 filed Jul. 16, 2019, the content of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a connection structure comprising a cable and a connection object. 
     For example, this type of connection structure is disclosed in JP2018-152244A (Patent Document 1), the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , Patent Document 1 discloses a connection structure  90  comprising a cable  92  and a connector (connection object)  94 . The cable  92  includes a plurality of wires  922 . The connection object  94  comprises a board  96  and a locator  98 . The board  96  is formed with a plurality of electrodes  962  which correspond to the wires  922 , respectively. The electrodes  962  are arranged in a pitch direction. The locator  98  is formed with a plurality of insertion holes  982  which correspond to the wires  922 , respectively. The insertion holes  982  are arranged in the pitch direction. Each of the wires  922  is inserted into the corresponding insertion hole  982 , so that the wires  922  are positioned in the pitch direction. Each of the thus-positioned wires  922  is connected to the corresponding electrode  962 . As described above, the locator  98  positions the wires  922  in the pitch direction. 
     According to the existing technique, wires of a connection structure are positioned typically by using a locator such as that of Patent Document 1. However, the positioning of the wires with the use of the existing locator is a cumbersome work. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connection structure with a structure that enables easy positioning of wires. 
     An aspect of the present invention provides a connection structure comprising a cable and a connection object. The cable comprises two wires, two coverings, two coupling strips and a hollow. The coverings correspond to the wires, respectively. Each of the coverings covers a corresponding one of the wires. Each of the coupling strips couples the two coverings to each other in a cable cross-section perpendicular to an extending direction of the cable. The hollow is a space enclosed by the coverings and the coupling strips in the cable cross-section. The connection object comprises a base portion and a pressing member. The base portion has an attachment surface, a catch portion, two side portions and two pads. The side portions correspond to the coverings, respectively. The pads correspond to the wires, respectively. The catch portion is provided on the attachment surface and is located between the two side portions in a lateral direction. Each of the side portions extends to be away from the attachment surface in an upper-lower direction perpendicular to the lateral direction. Each of the pads is provided on the attachment surface and is located forward of the catch portion in a front-rear direction perpendicular to both the lateral direction and the upper-lower direction. The pressing member is attached to the base portion. The cable has a pressed section. The pressed section is sandwiched and pressed between the pressing member and the catch portion in the upper-lower direction and is located between the two side portions in the lateral direction. One of the coupling strips of the pressed section is in contact with the pressing member. A remaining one of the coupling strips of the pressed section is in contact with the catch portion. At least one of the coverings of the pressed section is in contact with a corresponding one of the side portions. Each of the wires has an exposed portion exposed from the covering. Each of the exposed portions is connected to a corresponding one of the pads. The cable has a rear section. The rear section is located rearward of the pressing member. In the lateral direction, a distance between the two wires of the pressed section is longer than another distance between the two wires of the rear section. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, the two coverings of the cable cover the two wires, respectively, and enclose the hollow together with the two coupling strips in the cable cross section. According to this structure, the cable which extends along the front-rear direction can be resiliently deformed by a vertical pressure applied to the cable so that the two wires are away from each other in the lateral direction. In detail, when a part of the cable, namely the pressed section, is arranged between the two side portions and is resiliently deformed as described above, at least one of the coverings is pressed against the corresponding side portion. As a result, two wires can be positioned in the lateral direction. As described above, according to an aspect of the present invention, the wires can be positioned only by arranging the pressed section of the cable between the two side portions and by pressing the thus-arranged pressed section. Thus, an aspect of the present invention provides the connection structure with a structure that enables easy positioning of the wires. 
     An appreciation of the connection objectives of the present invention and a more complete understanding of its structure may be had by studying the following description of the preferred embodiment and by referring to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a connection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein cables of the connection structure are connected to a connection object of the connection structure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the connection structure of  FIG. 1 , wherein pressure members of the connection object are detached. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a part of the connection structure of  FIG. 2  enclosed by dashed line A. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view showing the connection structure of  FIG. 1 , taken along line IV-IV, wherein the line IV-IV is perpendicular to a front-rear direction and passes the middle of the pressing member in the front-rear direction. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the connection structure of  FIG. 4  enclosed by chain dotted lines B, wherein positions of wires of a rear section of the cable are illustrated with dashed line. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing an example of a forming method for forming the connection structure of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is an end view showing a part of the connection structure of  FIG. 4  enclosed by dashed line C, wherein the connection structure is under a state where an arrangement step of the forming method of  FIG. 6  is ended. 
         FIG. 8  is an end view showing the connection structure of  FIG. 7 , wherein the connection structure is under a state where an attachment step of the forming method of  FIG. 6  is started. 
         FIG. 9  is an end view showing the connection structure of  FIG. 7 , wherein the connection structure is under a state where the attachment step is performed. 
         FIG. 10  is an end view showing the connection structure of  FIG. 7 , wherein the connection structure is under a state where the attachment step is ended. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing a connection structure of Patent Document 1. 
     
    
    
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a connection structure  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises four cables  20  and a connection object  50 . The cables  20  have structures same as one another and are connected to the connection object  50  in the same way. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the cables  20  may have structures different from one another. Moreover, the number of the cables  20  of the connection structure  10  may be one or more. 
     Hereafter, explanation will be made about the structure of one of the cables  20 . The following explanation is applicable to each of the cables  20  according to the present embodiment. 
     The cable  20  of the present embodiment includes an inner member  30  and an outer member  40 . The inner member  30  is an inner structure of the cable  20  and extends along an extending direction of the cable  20 . The outer member  40  covers the inner member  30  in a cable cross-section perpendicular to the extending direction of the cable  20 . The inner member  30  has an end that is exposed from the outer member  40 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the outer member  40  of the present embodiment includes a shielding member  42  made of metal and a jacket  44  made of insulator. The shielding member  42  covers the inner member  30  in the cable cross-section. The jacket  44  covers the shielding member  42  in the cable cross-section. The shielding member  42  has an end that is folded back to be disposed on the jacket  44 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto, but the structure of the outer member  40  can be modified variously as necessary. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the inner member  30  is formed of two wires  32  each made of conductor such as metal, two coverings  34  each made of insulator such as resin, two coupling strips  36  each made of insulator such as resin and a hollow  38 . The coverings  34  correspond to the two wires  32 , respectively. Thus, the cable  20  includes the two wires  32 , the two coverings  34  corresponding to the wires  32 , respectively, the two coupling strips  36  and the hollow  38 . The cable  20  of the present embodiment includes only two of the wires  32 . The two wires  32  work as a differential pair for transmitting differential signals. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the two wires  32  may be members for transmitting signals independent from each other. 
     Each of the wires  32  of the present embodiment is formed of a plurality of fine metal wires (not shown) which are spirally twisted and has a circular shape in the cable cross-section. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, each of the wires  32  may be a single metal wire. The shape of the wire  32  in the cable cross-section is not specifically limited. 
     Each of the coverings  34  of the present embodiment covers the corresponding wire  32  in the cable cross-section and has an annular shape in the cable cross-section. Each of the wires  32  is located at the center of the corresponding covering  34  in the cable cross-section. Thus, each of the coverings  34  entirely covers the corresponding wire  32  in the cable cross-section. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the covering  34  may have an oval ring shape or the other shape in the cable cross-section. 
     Each of the coupling strips  36  couples the two coverings  34  to each other in the cable cross-section. Thus, the coverings  34  and the coupling strips  36  are coupled to one another to form a closed ring in the cable cross-section. The thus-coupled two coverings  34  enclose the hollow  38  together with the two coupling strips  36  in the cable cross-section while covering the two wires  32 , respectively. In other words, the hollow  38  is a space enclosed by the coverings  34  and the coupling strips  36  in the cable cross-section. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , when the cable  20  is under an initial state in which no force is applied to the cable  20 , each of the coupling strips  36  has a half-elliptical shape in the cable cross-section, and each of the coverings  34  protrudes into the hollow  38  and protrudes outward from the hollow  38 . Under the initial state of the cable  20 , the coverings  34  are close to or in contact with each other in a predetermined direction, or the Y-direction in  FIG. 7 . Under the initial state of the cable  20 , the coupling strips  36  project from the coverings  34  in opposite directions each perpendicular to the predetermined direction, or the positive Z-direction and the negative Z-direction in  FIG. 7 . When the cable  20  is under the initial state, the coverings  34  are arranged in a lateral direction (Y-direction), and the cable  20  extends along a front-rear direction (X-direction) perpendicular to the Y-direction. Referring to  FIGS. 7 to 10 , when the cable  20  under the initial state is sandwiched and pressed in an upper-lower direction (Z-direction) perpendicular to both the X-direction and the Y-direction, the cable  20  is resiliently deformed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , according to the present embodiment, a thickness dimension TC of the coupling strip  36  in the cable cross-section is one sixth or less than an outer diameter dimension DC of the covering  34  in the cable cross-section. According to these dimensions, the coupling strips  36  of the present embodiment can be easily deformed relative to the coverings  34 . Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5  together with  FIG. 7 , according to this structure, each of the coupling strips  36  can be easily deformed without substantial deformation of each of the coverings  34  by sandwiching and pressing the cable  20  under the initial state in the Z-direction. In accordance with this deformation of the coupling strips  36 , the cable  20  can be deformed so that the two wires  32  are away from each other in the Y-direction. 
     In detail, when the cable  20  is sandwiched and pressed vertically, each of the coupling strips  36  is easily deformed while each of the coverings  34  is hardly deformed. Each of the coupling strips  36  of the connection structure  10  is partially deformed as described above, so that a part thereof has a rectangular shape in parallel to a horizontal plane (XY-plane) in the cable cross-section. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The shape of each of the coupling strips  36  is not limited to that of the present embodiment, provided that the coupling strips  36  are resiliently deformable relative to the coverings  34 . 
     Hereafter, explanation will be made about the structure of the connection object  50 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the connection object  50  of the present embodiment comprises a connector  60 , a base portion  70  and two pressing members  80 . The base portion  70  is attached to a rear end (negative X-side end) of the connector  60 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the connection object  50  may comprise only the base portion  70  and the pressing members  80 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the connector  60  of the present embodiment comprises a housing  62  made of insulator, a shell  64  made of metal and a plurality of terminals (not shown) each made of conductor. Each of the terminals is accommodated in the housing  62  and held by the housing  62 . The shell  64  encloses the housing  62  in a perpendicular plane (YZ-plane) perpendicular to the X-direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, but the structure of the connector  60  can be modified variously as necessary. 
     The base portion  70  of the present embodiment comprises a first member  702  made of insulator and a second member  704 . The first member  702  is attached to the rear end of the connector  60 . The second member  704  is a member formed separately from the first member  702  and is attached to a rear end of the first member  702 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the first member  702  and the second member  704  may be a single member inseparable from each other. The base portion  70  may be a paddle attachable to a universal serial bus (USB) Type-C connector. Thus, the connector  60  may be compliant with USB TYPE-C standard. 
     The second member  704  of the present embodiment comprises a body portion  706  made of insulator and two plate-like portions  708  each formed of a metal plate. The body portion  706  has a flat plate-like shape in parallel to the XY-plane. One of the plate-like portions  708  is attached on an upper surface (positive Z-side surface) of the body portion  706  and covers the most part of the upper surface of the body portion  706 . A remaining one of the plate-like portions  708  is attached on a lower surface (negative Z-side surface) of the body portion  706  and covers the most part of the lower surface of the body portion  706 . The thus-provided plate-like portions  708  electromagnetically shield the inner member  30  exposed from the outer member  40  of the cable  20 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto, but the plate-like portions  708  may be provided as necessary. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , according to the present embodiment, two of the cables  20  are attached to an upper side (positive Z-side) of the base portion  70 , and the other two of the cables  20  are attached to a lower side (negative Z-side) of the base portion  70 . Thus, the base portion  70  of the present embodiment has two attachment surfaces  70 S to which the cables  20  are attached. One of the attachment surfaces  70 S includes an upper surface of the first member  702  and the upper surface of the body portion  706  of the second member  704 . A remaining one of the attachment surfaces  70 S includes a lower surface of the first member  702  and the lower surface of the body portion  706  of the second member  704 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the base portion  70  may have only one of the attachment surfaces  70 S. More specifically, the attachment surface  70 S may be located only on the upper side of the base portion  70 . In other words, the cables  20  may be attached only to the upper side of the base portion  70 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , each of the attachment surfaces  70 S of the present embodiment is provided with two positioning mechanisms  70 P, two pad pairs  76 P and two cable-holding portions  78  for the two cables  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the positioning mechanisms  70 P have structures same as each other. The two positioning mechanisms  70 P provided on one of the attachment surfaces  70 S are arranged to be a mirror image of the other two positioning mechanisms  70 P provided on a remaining one of the attachment surfaces  70 S with respect to the XY-plane. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the pad pairs  76 P have structures same as each other and are arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to the XY-plane. The cable-holding portions  78  have structures same as each other and are arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to the XY-plane. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, each of the number of the positioning mechanisms  70 P, the number of the pad pairs  76 P and the number of the cable-holding portions  78  may be equal to the number of the cables  20  and thereby may be one or more. The arrangement of the positioning mechanisms  70 P, the pad pairs  76 P and the cable-holding portions  78  is not limited to that of the present embodiment but can be modified variously. 
     Hereafter, explanation will be made about one of the positioning mechanisms  70 P, one of the pad pairs  76 P and one of the cable-holding portions  78  for one of the cables  20 . The following explanation is applicable to each of the positioning mechanisms  70 P, the pad pairs  76 P and the cable-holding portions  78  according to the present embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the positioning mechanism  70 P of the present embodiment includes a catch portion  72 , two side portions  74  and two reinforcement portions  742 . Each of the pad pairs  76 P of the present embodiment includes two pads  76 . The two side portions  74  correspond to the coverings  34  of the cable  20 , respectively. The two reinforcement portions  742  correspond to the two side portions  74 , respectively. The two pads  76  correspond to the wires  32  of the cable  20 , respectively. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the cable-holding portion  78  of the present embodiment is a part for holding the cable  20 . As can be seen from the above description, for each of the cables  20 , the base portion  70  of the present embodiment has the catch portion  72 , the two side portions  74  corresponding to the coverings  34 , respectively, the two reinforcement portions  742  corresponding to the side portions  74 , respectively, the two pads  76  corresponding to the wires  32 , respectively, and the cable-holding portion  78 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4  together with  FIG. 3 , each of the catch portion  72  and the side portions  74  of the present embodiment is formed of a part of the plate-like portion  708  of the second member  704 . In particular, each of the side portions  74  is partially cut off from the plate-like portion  708  and is then bent to be away from the attachment surface  70 S. Each of the reinforcement portions  742  of the present embodiment is a part of the body portion  706  of the second member  704 . Each of the reinforcement portions  742  extends through the cut-off part of the plate-like portion  708  to be away from the attachment surface  70 S. According to the present embodiment, the catch portion  72 , the side portions  74  and the reinforcement portions  742  can be provided without increasing the number of the members of the connection structure  10 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, each of the catch portion  72 , the side portions  74  and the reinforcement portions  742  may be a member formed separately from the second member  704 . In another modification, a part of the attachment surface  70 S may work as the catch portion  72 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the catch portion  72  is provided on the attachment surface  70 S and is located between the two side portions  74  in the Y-direction. Each of the side portions  74  extends to be away from the attachment surface  70 S in the Z-direction. The catch portion  72  and the side portions  74  of the present embodiment are arranged in a line in the Y-direction. The thus-arranged positioning mechanism  70 P is formed with a receiving space  72 R. The receiving space  72 R is a space enclosed by the catch portion  72  and the side portions  74  in the YZ-plane. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the catch portion  72  may be apart from the side portions  74  in the X-direction. The receiving space  72 R according to this arrangement is a space located between the side portions  74  in the Y-direction. 
     Each of the side portions  74  of the present embodiment is bent in the YZ-plane so as to protrude outward in the Y-direction. Each of the thus-formed side portions  74  has a shape into which a part of the corresponding covering  34  of the cable  20  can be received. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, each of the side portions  74  may linearly extend to be away from the attachment surface  70 S in the Z-direction. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the pads  76  correspond to the terminals (not shown) of the connector  60 , respectively. Each of the pads  76  is provided on the attachment surface  70 S and is connected to the corresponding terminal of the connector  60 . The pads  76  are arranged in the Y-direction. Each of the pads  76  is located forward of the catch portion  72  (see  FIG. 4 ) in the X-direction. In the present embodiment, the middle position between the two pads  76  in the Y-direction is matched with the middle position of the catch portion  72  in the Y-direction. Each of the thus-arranged pads  76  is provided on the attachment surface  70 S of the first member  702 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, each of the pads  76  may be provided on the attachment surface  70 S of the second member  704 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  together with  FIG. 5 , the cable-holding portion  78  of the present embodiment is located rearward of the catch portion  72 , or faces toward the negative X-side of the catch portion  72 . The cable-holding portion  78  is formed of a part of the plate-like portion  708  of the second member  704 . In detail, the cable-holding portion  78  is partially cut off from the plate-like portion  708  and is then bent to be away from the attachment surface  70 S. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the cable-holding portion  78  may be a member formed separately from the second member  704 . 
     The cable-holding portion  78  is crimped around the cable  20  and thereby holds the cable  20 . The cable-holding portion  78  of the present embodiment is attached around the shielding member  42  of the cable  20  to be in contact with the shielding member  42 . Thus, the shielding member  42  is grounded to the base portion  70 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the cable-holding portion  78  may be attached around the jacket  44  of the cable  20 . 
     The cable-holding portion  78  of the present embodiment holds the outer member  40  of the cable  20  so that the two coverings  34  are arranged in the Y-direction. The middle position of the cable-holding portion  78  in the Y-direction is matched with the middle position of the catch portion  72  in the Y-direction. When the thus-arranged cable-holding portion  78  holds the cable  20 , the middle position between the two coverings  34  of the cable  20  in the Y-direction is matched with the middle position of the catch portion  72  in the Y-direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the cable-holding portion  78  may hold the inner member  30  of the cable  20 . 
     Hereafter, explanation will be made about the pressing members  80 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the two pressing members  80  of the present embodiment have shapes same as each other. Each of the pressing members  80  is a single metal plate with bends and has a pressing portion  82 , two protruding portions  83  and two arms  84 . 
     The pressing portion  82  has a flat plate-like shape which extends in parallel to the XY-plane. The protruding portions  83  are located at opposite sides of the pressing portion  82  in the X-direction, respectively. Each of the protruding portions  83  extends along the pressing portion  82  in the Y-direction. Each of the protruding portions  83  protrudes outward in the X-direction from the pressing portion  82  while being away from the base portion  70  in the Z-direction. The arms  84  are located at opposite ends of the pressing portion  82  in the Y-direction, respectively. Each of the arms  84  extends from the pressing portion  82  toward the base portion  70  in the Z-direction. Each of the arms  84  is formed with an attachment projection  86  and an attachment hole  88 . The attachment projection  86  projects inward in the Y-direction. The attachment hole  88  passes through the arm  84  in the Y-direction. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  together with  FIG. 1 , the two pressing members  80  of the present embodiment are attached to the base portion  70  so as to vertically sandwich the base portion  70 . The attachment projection  86  of one of the pressing members  80  is received in the attachment projection  86  of a remaining one of the pressing members  80 , so that the two pressing members  80  are coupled to each other while the pressing portion  82  presses a part of the inner member  30  of the cable  20  against the base portion  70 . Each of the pressing members  80  of the present embodiment is attached to the base portion  70  without direct fixation thereof to the base portion  70 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Neither the structure of the pressing member  80  nor the attachment method thereof to the base portion  70  is specifically limited, provided that the pressing member  80  can be attached to the base portion  70  so as to resiliently deform a part of the inner member  30 . For example, each of the pressing members  80  may be directly fixed to the base portion  70 . 
     Hereafter, explanation will be made about the function of one of the positioning mechanisms  70 P for one of the cables  20 . The following explanation is applicable to each of the positioning mechanisms  70 P according to the present embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the cable  20  has a pressed section  22 . The pressed section  22  is a part of the inner member  30  of the cable  20 . The pressed section  22  is pressed by the pressing portion  82  of the pressing member  80  toward the base portion  70  along the Z-direction to be resiliently deformed. In other words, the pressed section  22  is a part of the cable  20  which is sandwiched and pressed between the pressing portion  82  and the base portion  70  in the Z-direction. Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the pressed section  22  of the present embodiment is partially located at a position same as that of the side portions  74  in the X-direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the pressed section  22  may be entirely located at a position same as that of the side portions  74  in the X-direction. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the pressing portion  82  of the pressing member  80  presses the pressed section  22  against the catch portion  72  in the Z-direction. Thus, the pressed section  22  is sandwiched and pressed between the pressing member  80  and the catch portion  72  in the Z-direction. The thus-sandwiched pressed section  22  is located between the two side portions  74  in the Y-direction. The two coverings  34  of the pressed section  22  are arranged in the Y-direction. The two coupling strips  36  of the pressed section  22  are arranged in the Z-direction. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 to 10 , when the pressed section  22  is pressed against the catch portion  72 , the coupling strips  36  of the pressed section  22 , which are arranged as described above, are resiliently deformed. In detail, a part of one of the coupling strips  36  of the pressed portion, which is located at the middle of the coupling strip  36  in the Y-direction, is pressed against the catch portion  72 . A friction force generated between the thus-pressed part of the coupling strip  36  and the catch portion  72  prevents a movement of the pressed part in the XY-plane. As a result, each of the coupling strips  36  is resiliently deformed relative to the pressed portion so as to be spread in opposite directions in the Y-direction. Thus, the coverings  34  are moved to be away from each other in the Y-direction. When the attachment of the pressing member  80  to the base portion  70  is ended, the aforementioned deformation is ended. As a result of the aforementioned deformation, one of the coupling strips  36  of the pressed section  22  is in contact with the pressing portion  82  of the pressing member  80 , and a remaining one of the coupling strips  36  of the pressed section  22  is in contact with the catch portion  72 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , as a result of the aforementioned deformation according to the present embodiment, each of the coverings  34  of the pressed section  22  is pressed against the corresponding side portion  74  to be in contact with the corresponding side portion  74 . When the coverings  34  are arranged as described above, each of the wires  32  is located at a position same as that of the corresponding pad  76  in the Y-direction. Thus, the two wires  32  are simultaneously positioned to each other in the Y-direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, only one of the coverings  34  of the pressed section  22  may be in contact with the corresponding side portion  74 . Thus, at least one of the coverings  34  of the pressed section  22  may be in contact with the corresponding side portion  74 . 
     According to the present embodiment, when a part of the cable  20 , namely the pressed section  22 , is located between the two side portions  74  and is resiliently deformed as described above, at least one of the coverings  34  can be pressed against the corresponding side portion  74 . As a result, the two wires  32  can be simultaneously positioned in the Y-direction. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the wires  32  can be positioned in the Y-direction only by arranging the pressed section  22  of the cable  20  between the two side portions  74  and by pressing the thus-arranged pressed section  22 . Thus, the present embodiment provides the connection structure  10  with a structure that enables easy positioning of the wires  32 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , each of the wires  32  has an exposed portion  322  exposed from the covering  34 . Each of the exposed portions  322  is positioned as described above and is then fixed on and connected to the corresponding pad  76  via soldering, etc. As a result, each of the wires  32  is electrically connected with the corresponding terminal (not shown) of the connector  60  via the corresponding pad  76 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the cable  20  has a rear section  28 . The rear section  28  is a part of the inner member  30  of the cable  20  which is located rearward of the pressed section  22 . The rear section  28  is located rearward of the pressing member  80  and does not directly receive the force applied from the pressing member  80 . Therefore, the rear section  28  is hardly deformed. Referring to  FIG. 5 , in the Y-direction, a distance between the two wires  32  of the pressed section  22  is longer than another distance between the two wires  32  of the rear section  28 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , when the cable  20  of the present embodiment is seen along the Z-direction, the two coverings  34  extend between the pressed section  22  and the rear section  28  with no intersection with each other. In other words, the inner member  30  of the cable  20  is not twisted while extending along the X-direction. The inner member  30  of the present embodiment has a structure that is hard to be twisted. However, from a view point of more secure prevention of a twist of the inner member  30 , a recess may be formed between the cable-holding portion  78  and the catch portion  72  in the X-direction in order to receive the projection of the coupling strip  36  (see  FIG. 7 ) of the inner member  30 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , each of the pressing members  80  has the protruding portions  83  which slopes to be away from the pressed section  22  of the cable  20 . The protruding portions  83  strengthen the pressing member  80 . Each of the pressing members  80  is hard to be bent since being provided with the protruding portions  83 . In addition, since the protruding portions  83  are provided as described above, the pressed section  22  can be pressed by each of the pressing members  80  with no damage. For example, even in a case where each of the pressing members  80  presses three or more of the cables  20  arranged in the Y-direction, the pressed sections  22  can be pressed by forces same as one another. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the protruding portions  83  may be provided as necessary. The structure for strengthening the pressed section  22  is not limited to the protruding portions  83  of the present embodiment but can be modified variously. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , each of the reinforcement portions  742  of the present embodiment is located outward of the corresponding side portion  74  in the Y-direction and is partially in contact with the corresponding side portion  74 . Referring to  FIG. 5 , each of the side portions  74  of the present embodiment is reinforced by the reinforcement portion  742 . Each of the thus-reinforced side portions  74  securely receive and position the corresponding covering  34  when the corresponding covering  34  is pressed against the side portion  74 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto, but the reinforcement portions  742  may be provided as necessary. 
     Hereafter, explanation will be made about an example of forming method which forms the connection structure  10  comprising the cables  20  and the connection object  50 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the forming method of the present embodiment comprises at least six steps, namely a cable preparation step (STEP  1 ), a connection-object preparation step (STEP  2 ), an exposure step (STEP  3 ), an arrangement step (STEP  4 ), an attachment step (STEP  5 ) and a connection step (STEP  6 ). Hereafter, explanation will be made about the forming method of the present embodiment along starting order of these steps. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in the first step, or in the cable preparation step (see  FIG. 6 ), a necessary number of the cables  20  each having the previously described structure is prepared. Thus, referring to  FIG. 3 , the forming method of the present embodiment comprises preparing the cable  20 , the cable  20  comprising the two wires  32 , the two coverings  34 , the two coupling strips  36  and the hollow  38 , the coverings  34  corresponding to the wires  32 , respectively, each of the coverings  34  covering the corresponding wire  32 , each of the coupling strips  36  coupling the two coverings  34  to each other in the cable cross-section perpendicular to the extending direction of the cable  20 , the hollow  38  being a space enclosed by the coverings  34  and the coupling strips  36  in the cable cross-section. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in the next step, or in the connection-object preparation step (see  FIG. 6 ), the connection object  50  having the previously described structure is prepared. Thus, referring to  FIG. 2  together with  FIG. 5 , the forming method of the present embodiment comprises preparing the connection object  50 , the connection object  50  comprising the base portion  70  and the pressing member  80 , the base portion  70  having the attachment surface  70 S, the catch portion  72 , the two side portions  74  and the two pads  76 , the two side portions  74  corresponding to the coverings  34 , respectively, the pads  76  corresponding to the wires  32 , respectively, the catch portion  72  being provided on the attachment surface  70 S and being located between the two side portions  74  in the Y-direction, each of the side portions  74  extending to be away from the attachment surface  70 S in the Z-direction, each of the pads  76  being provided on the attachment surface  70 S and being located forward of the catch portion  72  in the X-direction. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in the next step, or in the exposure step (see  FIG. 6 ), a front end (positive X-side end) of the outer member  40  of the cable  20  is removed, so that a front end of the inner member  30  is exposed. The coverings  34  of the thus-exposed front end are partially removed via laser processing, for example, so that the wires  32  are partially exposed. Thus, the forming method of the present embodiment comprises forming the exposed portion  322  of each of the wires  32 , the exposed portion  322  being exposed from the covering  34 . According to the exposure step of the present embodiment, a front end of the wire  32  is exposed. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the wire  32  may be partially exposed while a front end of the covering  34  is not removed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7  together with  FIG. 3 , in the next step, or in the arrangement step (see  FIG. 6 ), the pressed section  22  of the cable  20 , which is located rearward of the exposed portions  322 , is partially arranged in the receiving space  72 R enclosed by the catch portion  72  and the side portions  74 . Meanwhile, each of the exposed portions  322  is arranged in the vicinity of the corresponding pad  76 . For example, each of the exposed portions  322  is arranged inward of the corresponding pad  76  in the Y-direction. Instead, each of the exposed portions  322  may be arranged to face, at least in part, the corresponding pad  76  in the Z-direction. In other words, each of the exposed portions  322  is arranged so that a position of each of the exposed portions  322  in the X-direction is, at least in part, overlapped with another position of the corresponding pad  76  in the X-direction. Thus, the forming method of the present embodiment comprises arranging the exposed portions  322  of the cable  20  and the pressed section  22  of the cable  20  which is located rearward of the exposed portions  322 , the arranged pressed section  22  being located in the space enclosed by the catch portion  72  and the side portions  74 , each of the arranged exposed portions  322  being located, at least in part, at a position same as that of the corresponding pad  76  in the X-direction. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , according to the arrangement step of the present embodiment, the cable  20  is held by the cable-holding portion  78  before or after the pressed section  22  is arranged in the receiving space  72 R. As previously described, the two coverings  34  of the thus-held cable  20  are arranged in the Y-direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, but the step in which the cable  20  is held by the cable-holding portion  78  may be performed as necessary. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in the next step, or in the attachment step (see  FIG. 6 ), the pressing members  80  are attached to the base portion  70  as previously described. Thus, the forming method of the present embodiment comprises attaching the pressing member  80  to the base portion  70  to sandwich and press the pressed section  22  of the cable  20  between the pressing member  80  and the catch portion  72  in the Z-direction, the sandwiched pressed section  22  being resiliently deformed so that the two wire  32  are away from each other in the Y-direction, the resiliently deformed pressed section  22  being pressed against at least one of the side portions  74  in the Y-direction. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , as previously described, when the attachment step is ended, one of the coupling strips  36  of the pressed section  22  is in contact with the pressing member  80 , and a remaining one of the coupling strips  36  of the pressed section  22  is in contact with the catch portion  72 . In addition, at least one of the coverings  34  of the pressed section  22  is in contact with the corresponding side portion  74 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , as previously described, when the attachment step is ended, each of the wires  32  is located at a position same as that of the corresponding pad  76  in the Y-direction. In detail, each of the wires  32  faces the corresponding pad  76  in the Z-direction or is in contact with the corresponding pad  76 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in the next step, or in the connection step (see  FIG. 6 ), each of the exposed portions  322  is fixed on and connected to the corresponding pad  76  via soldering, etc. As a result, each of the wires  32  is electrically connected with the corresponding terminal (not shown) of the connector  60  via the corresponding pad  76 . Thus, the forming method of the present embodiment comprises connecting each of the exposed portions  322  to the corresponding pad  76  after the attaching the pressing member  80  to the base portion  70 . 
     While there has been described what is believed to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such embodiments that fall within the true scope of the invention.