Patent Publication Number: US-9413095-B2

Title: Connector

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a connector. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, a connector is known in which a plurality of terminals mounted on end parts of wires are accommodated side by side and which is fitted and connected to a device-side connector provided on a device side. 
     In some connectors of this type, a plurality of terminal accommodating members for accommodating each of a plurality of terminals are movably held in a holding member, whereby a tolerance of the device-side connector is absorbed by movements of the terminal accommodating members and two connectors can be connected. 
     A connector in which a plurality of cavities for accommodating each of a plurality of terminals are accommodated in a holder configured separately from the cavities is described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-226882. 
     In the holder of this connector, adjacent cavities are partitioned by walls of accommodation chambers and the plurality of cavities inserted into the accommodation chambers of the holder are held between the walls of the accommodation chambers for each cavity. 
     Since walls or the like need to be provided between adjacent cavities to hold the cavities in the accommodation chambers in the above configuration, there has been a problem that the configuration of the connector tends to be complicated. 
     The present invention was completed based on the above situation and aims to simplify the configuration of a connector. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is directed to a connector to be connected to a mating connector provided on a device side, including a plurality of terminals to be connected to end parts of wires, a plurality of terminal accommodating members configured to accommodate the plurality of terminals, and a holding member including a pair of side wall portions facing each other and a pair of coupling wall portions connecting end sides of the pair of side wall portions in an extending direction and configured to hold the plurality of terminal accommodating members side by side in a direction along the extending direction of the side wall portions between the pair of side wall portions, each terminal accommodating member including a pair of supporting portions projecting toward the respective side wall portions and supported on the respective side wall portions. 
     With this arrangement, the terminal accommodating member is supported on the respective side wall portions via the pair of supporting portions. Thus, the holding member can hold the terminal accommodating member via the pair of supporting portions even without partitioning the holding member by walls of accommodation chambers. Therefore, the configuration of the connector can be simplified. 
     Further, since the terminal accommodating member is held by supporting the pair of supporting portions on the side wall portions even if this arrangement is adopted, displacements of the pair of supporting portions can be easily allowed according to a tolerance when the connector is connected to the mating connector. 
     The following configurations are preferable as embodiments of the above configuration. 
     The pair of supporting portions coaxially project. 
     With this arrangement, the displacement of the terminal accommodating member during the connection to the mating connector is enabled by the rotation of the terminal accommodating member about the axes of the supporting portions. 
     The terminal accommodating member is assembled by being inserted between the pair of side wall portions, and the pair of supporting portions are arranged on a rear end side of the terminal accommodating member in an inserting direction. 
     With this arrangement, a configuration for supporting the pair of supporting portions on the pair of side wall portions can be simplified. 
     The mating connector is configured by stacking a plurality of split connector portions, the split connector portion includes a mating terminal to be connected to the terminal and a partition wall partitioning the mating terminal from outside, the partition wall of one of the plurality of split connector portions is formed into a rectangular tube surrounding the mating terminal on four sides and the partition walls of the other partition walls are formed into a U shape with one open side surrounding the mating terminal on three sides, and the mating connector is configured by stacking the plurality of split connector portions such that the one open side of the partition wall in the split connector portion is covered by the partition wall of the adjacent split connector portion. 
     With this arrangement, the mating connector configured by stacking the plurality of split connector portions can be miniaturized by reducing the partition walls for insulating the mating terminals from outside. Thus, the connector to be connected to the mating connector can also be miniaturized. 
     The terminal accommodating member is assembled by being inserted between the pair of side wall portions and includes a guide portion for guiding the terminal accommodating member in the inserting direction by being engaged with the other terminal accommodating member adjacently located in an arrangement direction of the terminal accommodating members and at least one of the pair of side wall portions. 
     With this arrangement, the insertion of the terminal accommodating member into the holding member can be facilitated. 
     Each of the plurality of terminal accommodating members includes a locking portion configured to lock the other terminal accommodating member adjacently located in an arrangement direction of the terminal accommodating members. 
     With this arrangement, adjacent terminal accommodating members can be held in position utilizing the configurations of the terminal accommodating members. 
     Further, since the locking portion is locked to the other terminal accommodating member in a direction different from the pair of supporting portions, it can be held in a stable posture. 
     The mating connector is provided on a device unit configured by stacking a plurality of flat devices. 
     For the connector to be connected to the mating connector in which a tolerance is easily generated between the terminals since the plurality of flat devices are stacked, the tolerance of the mating connector can be absorbed by providing the terminal accommodating members separately from the holding member. Since the terminal accommodating member is supported on the respective side wall portions via the pair of supporting portions in such a configuration capable of absorbing the tolerance, the configuration of the connector can be simplified. 
     According to the present invention, it is possible to simplify the configuration of a connector. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a state where a connector of an embodiment is connected to a device-side connector. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a state where the connector in a connected state is detached from the device-side connector. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a state where a case of a device unit is removed. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the device-side connector. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the device-side connector viewed in a direction different from  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view showing the device-side connector. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing a state where a plurality of devices of the device unit are separated. 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view showing the connector. 
         FIG. 9  is a section along A-A of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a section along B-B of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is a plan view in section of the connector. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing a terminal accommodating member. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing the terminal accommodating member viewed in a direction different from  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a front view showing the terminal accommodating member. 
         FIG. 15  is a rear view showing the terminal accommodating member. 
         FIG. 16  is a plan view showing the terminal accommodating member. 
         FIG. 17  is a perspective view showing a holding member. 
         FIG. 18  is a plan view showing the holding member. 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view showing the assembling of a plurality of terminal accommodating members into the holding member. 
         FIG. 20  is a view showing an order of inserting the plurality of terminal accommodating members into the holding member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 20 . 
     A connector  20  in this embodiment is to be connected to a device-side connector  10 A (example of a “mating connector”) provided on the side of devices  11 A to  11 D. In the following description, lower and upper sides of  FIG. 8  are referred to as front and rear sides concerning a front-back direction and a vertical direction is based on that of  FIG. 9 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the device-side connector  10 A is a connector provided on a device unit  10  including flat devices  11 A to  11 D such as batteries and substrates. 
     (Device Unit  10 ) 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the device unit  10  is configured by stacking a plurality of (four in this embodiment) devices  11 A to  11 D. 
     The device  11 A to  11 D includes a flat main body  12  having a flat shape and a split connector portion  13  projecting from an end surface of the flat main body  12  and formed by dividing the device-side connector  10 A into four. 
     The split connector portion  13  includes a tab-like male terminal  14 , a partition wall  15  partitioning the male terminal  14  from outside and a back wall  13 A closing the lower end of the partition wall  15 . 
     The partition wall  15  stands vertically upward from an edge part of the back wall  13 A having an upper surface extending along the upper end surface of the flat main body  12 . 
     The partition wall  15  of the device  11 A on a front end (one end in an arrangement direction) out of the devices  11 A to  11 D is formed into a rectangular tube surrounding the male terminal  14  on four sides as shown in  FIG. 6 , and a front wall  16 A and a rear wall  16 C facing each other are coupled by a pair of side walls  16 B,  16 D. 
     The partition wall  15  of the device  11 B to  11 D other than the one on the front end is formed into a substantially U shape open on one side and does not include the front wall  16 A, but includes the other rear wall  16 C and pair of side walls  16 B,  16 D. 
     This causes the rear wall  16 C of each device  11 A to  11 C to close a space open on front end parts of the side walls  16 B,  16 D (parts where the front wall  16 A is not provided) in the partition wall  15  of the device  11 B to  11 D adjacent on the rear side when the devices  11 A to  11 D are stacked. This causes all the male terminals  14  to be surrounded on four sides by the partition walls  15  and insulated from outside by the partition walls  15  when the plurality of devices  11 A to  11 D are stacked. 
     An inner surface side of an upper end part of the partition wall  15  is obliquely cut to form a guiding surface  15 A. 
     A tip part of a terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D comes into contact with the guiding surface  15 A when the connector  20  and the device-side connector  10 A are connected, whereby the tip part of the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D is displaced and guided into the inside of the partition wall  15 . 
     The plurality of devices  11 A to  11 D are stacked in such a direction that flat surfaces overlap, and the plurality of split connector portions  13  are collected to form the device-side connector  10 A in which a plurality of (four in this embodiment) male terminals  14  are held in a housing. This device-side connector  10 A projects in a direction extending along the flat surfaces from end surfaces of the devices  11 A to  11 D (device unit  10 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the device unit  10  is covered with a case  19 . 
     This case  19  includes a receptacle  19 B forming an outer peripheral wall of the device-side connector  10 A, and lock protrusions  19 A to be locked when the connector  20  is connected are formed on outer surfaces of the receptacle  19 B. 
     When the connector  20  is connected to the device-side connector  10 A, the lock protrusions  19 A are fitted into and locked to lock holes of lock receiving portions  41 B on the side of the connector  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 , whereby the two connectors  10 A,  20  are locked in a connected state. 
     (Connector  20 ) 
     The connector  20  is a connector to be connected to end parts of wires W such as a voltage detection line and a power line and includes, as shown in  FIG. 10 , a plurality of (four in this embodiment) terminals  21  to be connected to the end parts of the wires W (only one terminal is schematically shown in  FIG. 10  and the other terminals are not shown), a plurality of (four in this embodiment) terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D for individually accommodating the plurality of terminals  21 , and one holding member  41  configured such that the plurality of terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D are inserted thereinto to be held side by side. 
     The terminal  21  is a female terminal and includes a box-like terminal connecting portion into which the male terminal  14  is to be inserted for connection, and a wire connecting portion to which the wire W is to be connected. 
     (Terminal Accommodating Members  22 A to  22 D) 
     The plurality of terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D are all made of synthetic resin and identically shaped and include, as shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , a tubular portion  23  in the form of a rectangular tube into which the terminal  21  is accommodated to be held inside and a plurality of (three in this embodiment) holding portions  32  protruding outward from upper end part of the tubular portion  23 . 
     The tubular portion  23  includes plate-like front wall  24  and rear wall  25  arranged to face each other and a pair of plate-like side walls  26 ,  27  connecting the front wall  24  and the rear wall  25 . 
     An opening  23 A through which the terminal  21  is insertable is formed on the upper end of the tubular portion  23 . 
     On a lower end part of the tubular portion  23 , the both side walls  26 ,  27  are obliquely cut to form cut portions  23 B. 
     The side walls  26 ,  27  of the tubular portion  23  are respectively formed with stepped retaining portions  28 A,  29 A. 
     One retaining portion  28 A is formed by providing a thinned portion  28  by cutting the outer surface of one side wall  26 . The other retaining portion  29 A is formed by providing an elongated projection  29  extending in the front-back direction on the outer surface of the other side wall  27 . 
     The holding portions  32  are formed to be flush with the upper end surface of the tubular portion  23  and protrude outward. 
     The holding portions  32  of the terminal accommodating member  22 A (terminal accommodating member located on an end part in an arrangement direction where a locking portion  33  is locked) includes a holding member locking portion  37  to be locked to the holding member  41  by projecting forward from the upper end part of the tubular portion  23  and a pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38  supported on side wall portions  42 ,  43  of the holding member  41  by projecting to left and right from the upper end part of the tubular portion  23 . 
     The holding portions  32  of the terminal accommodating member  22 B to  22 D includes the locking portion  33  to be locked to the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 C by projecting forward from the upper end part of the tubular portion  23  and a pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38  supported on the side wall portions  42 ,  43  of the holding member  41  projecting to left and right from the upper end part of the tubular portion  23 . 
     The holding member locking portion  37  and the locking portions  33  are in the form of rectangular plates long in a lateral direction and provided in widthwise middle parts of the upper end parts of the tubular portions  23 . 
     The holding member locking portion  37  is locked to the holding member  41  to have a downward (inserting direction) movement regulated when the terminal accommodating member  22 A is inserted to a proper position into the holding member  41 . 
     Below the holding member locking portion  37 , an end-part guide protrusion  37 A extends downward from one end part of the holding member locking portion  37 . 
     The locking portion  33  is locked to the other terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 C located before (adjacent in the arrangement direction) the terminal accommodating member  22 B to  22 D to regulate a downward (inserting direction) movement of the terminal accommodating member  22 B to  22 D when the terminal accommodating member  22 B to  22 D is inserted to a proper position into the holding member  41 . 
     Below the locking portion  33 , a first guide protrusion  34  (example of a “guide portion”) extends downward from one end part of the locking portion  33 . 
     The upper end of the rear wall  25  is recessed to provide a first placing portion  35  on which the locking portion  33  of the terminal accommodating member  22 B to  22 D adjacent on the rear side is to be placed. 
     The first placing portion  35  is recessed by cutting the upper end part of the tubular portion  23  by as much as a thickness of the locking portion  33  (thickness of the holding member locking portion  37 ). 
     A width of the first placing portion  35  is set to have predetermined clearances between the first placing portion  35  and opposite lateral ends of the locking portion  33  when the locking portion  33  of the terminal accommodating member  22 B to  22 D on the rear side is placed on the first placing portion  35 . 
     The predetermined clearances are set at such dimensions that the terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D are permitted to be laterally displaced according to a dimensional tolerance when the connector  20  is connected to the device-side connector  10 A. 
     The first placing portion  35  is formed with a first guide groove portion  35 A into which the first guide protrusion  34  of the terminal accommodating member  22 B to  22 D is inserted. 
     The first guide groove portion  35 A is formed by cutting one widthwise end part of the first placing portion  35 . 
     On a lateral side of the front wall  24 , a plate-like second guide protrusion  36  (example of the “guide portion”) continuous and flush with the front surface of the front wall  24  extends laterally to the side wall  27 . 
     The pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38  are in the form of bars projecting toward opposite lateral sides from the rear end edges of upper end parts of the side walls  26 ,  27 . 
     The pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38  are symmetrically shaped with respect to a middle point therebetween and center axes thereof are coaxially arranged. 
     The supporting portion  38  includes a plate-like portion  39  in the form of a flat plate and a thickened portion  40  connected to and before the plate-like portion  39  to thicken an upper surface side of the plate-like portion  39  in a stepped manner. 
     A bottom surface  38 A of the supporting portion  38  is so formed that a middle part in the front-back direction is a flat surface, and front and rear end parts thereof are cut to be somewhat rounded. 
     When the terminal accommodating member  22 B to  22 D is mounted at a proper position in the holding member  41 , the upper end surfaces of the locking portion  33  and the supporting portions  38  are flush with the upper end surface of the tubular portion  23  of the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 C on the front side to which these upper end surfaces are locked. 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , a groove-like terminal insertion hole  30 A, into which the male terminal  14  is to be inserted, penetrates through a bottom wall  30  for closing a tip part of the tubular portion  23 . 
     (Holding Member  41 ) 
     As shown in  FIG. 17 , the holding member  41  is in the form of a frame including an insertion hole  41 A into which the terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D are to be inserted and includes a pair of side wall portions  42 ,  43  arranged to face each other and coupling wall portions  47 ,  47  coupling between the pair of side wall portions  42 ,  43 . 
     Four pairs of resilient pieces  44 ,  44  for sandwiching the respective terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D from opposite left and right sides are provided side by side in the front-back direction on the pair of side walls  42 ,  43  in correspondence with the respective terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D. 
     Each resilient piece  44  is cantilevered downwardly with an upper end part of the side wall portion  42 ,  43  as a base end and a tip side thereof is deflectable and deformable in the lateral direction. 
     A retaining protrusion  45  to be locked to the retaining portion  28 A,  29 A of the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D projects inwardly on the tip part of the resilient piece  44 . 
     A second placing portion  46 , on which the supporting portion  38  is to be placed, is recessed at a position behind and adjacent to a base end part of the resilient piece  44 . 
     The second placing portion  46  is positioned on a front side in the inserting direction in the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D by the contact with the supporting portion  38  to lock the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D when the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D is inserted to the proper position in the insertion hole  41 A. 
     A dimension of the second placing portion  46  in the front-back direction is set to have a predetermined clearance between the second placing portion  46  and the supporting portion  38  with the supporting portion  38  placed on the second placing portion  46 . 
     The predetermined clearance is set to have a dimension enabling a displacement of the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D in the front-back direction according to a dimensional tolerance when the connector  20  is connected to the device-side connector  10 A. 
     Note that since the terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D are adjacent (without being partitioned by walls) in this embodiment as shown in  FIG. 8 , displacements of the terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D in the front-back direction are limited to a range in the insertion hole  41 A where the terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D are movable in the front-back direction (range of clearances in the front-back direction formed by a difference between the length of the insertion hole  41 A in the front-back direction and the sum of the lengths of the terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D in the front-back direction). Thus, a range where the supporting portion  38  is movable (displaceable) in the front-back direction in the second placing portion  46  is smaller than the clearance in a state where the supporting portion  38  is placed on the second placing portion  46 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 17 , the upper end surface of the coupling wall  47  on the front side is recessed to form an accommodating member placing portion  48 . 
     The holding member locking portion  37  of the terminal accommodating member  22 A is placed on the bottom surface of the accommodating member placing portion  48 . 
     An end-part guide groove portion  49  into which the end-part guide protrusion  37 A of the terminal accommodating member  22 A is inserted is formed below the accommodating member placing portion  48 . 
     The side wall portion  43  is formed with second guide groove portions  51  into which the second guide protrusions  36  are inserted to vertically guide the second guide protrusions  36 . 
     The side wall portion  42  is provided with a lock portion  50  for locking the connector  20  in a state connected to the device-side connector  10 A. 
     Next, the assembling of the connector  20  is described. 
     Thee terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D are successively fitted into the insertion hole  41 A of the holding member  41  from the front side. Since the locking portions  33  of the terminal accommodating members  22 B to  22 D are arranged on the terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 C located in front as shown in  FIG. 20 , the respective terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D need to be successively inserted from the front side of the holding member  41 . 
     The terminal accommodating member  22 A is guided in the inserting direction by inserting the end-part guide protrusion  37 A and the second guide protrusion  36  into the end-part guide groove portion  49  and the second guide groove portion  51  of the holding member  41 . 
     When the terminal accommodating member  22 A is inserted to the proper position into the holding member  41 , the holding member locking portion  37  is locked to the accommodating member placing portion  48  of the holding member  41  and the pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38  are locked to the second placing portions  46 ,  46  to regulate a downward movement of the terminal accommodating member  22 A. 
     Further, when the terminal accommodating member  22 A is inserted, the pair of resilient pieces  44 ,  44  resiliently deformed by coming into contact with the terminal accommodating member  22 A are restored through the retaining portions  28 A,  29 A and locked to the retaining portions  28 A,  29 A against a force of the terminal accommodating member  22 A in an upward direction (detaching direction), whereby an upward movement of the terminal accommodating member  22 A is regulated. 
     In this way, the terminal accommodating member  22 A is vertically positioned (in the range of the clearances). 
     Subsequently, the terminal accommodating member  22 B is guided in the inserting direction by inserting the first guide protrusion  34  and the second guide protrusion  36  into the first guide groove portion  35 A provided on the terminal accommodating member  22 A located in front and the second guide groove portion  51  provided in the holding member  41 . 
     When the terminal accommodating member  22 B is inserted to the proper position into the holding member  41 , the locking portion  33  is locked to the first placing portion  35  provided on the terminal accommodating member  22 A located in front and the pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38  are locked to the second placing portions  46 ,  46  to regulate a downward movement of the terminal accommodating member  22 B. 
     Further, when the terminal accommodating member  22 B is inserted, the pair of resilient pieces  44 ,  44  resiliently deformed by coming into contact with the terminal accommodating member  22 B are restored through the retaining portions  28 A,  29 A and locked to the retaining portions  28 A,  29 A against a force of the terminal accommodating member  22 B in an upward direction (detaching direction), whereby an upward movement of the terminal accommodating member B is regulated. 
     In this way, the terminal accommodating member  22 B is vertically positioned (in the range of the clearances). 
     The terminal accommodating members  22 C,  22 D are also successively assembled into the holding member  41  similarly to the terminal accommodating member  22 B. 
     When all the terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D are assembled into the holding member  41 , the connector  20  is formed. 
     Note that, without limitation to the configuration for successively assembling the terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D, a group of the terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D may be inserted into the holding member  41  together as shown in  FIG. 19 . 
     When this connector  20  is connected to the device-side connector  10 A, each terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D is displaced according to the clearances of the holding member locking portion  37  or the locking portion  33  and the pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38  to connect the two connectors  10 A,  20  if the device-side connector  10 A is displaced due to the dimensional tolerance. 
     According to this embodiment, the following functions and effects are exhibited. 
     The connector  20  of this embodiment is provided with the plurality of terminals  21  to be connected to the end parts of the wires W, the plurality of terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D configured to accommodate the plurality of terminals  21 , and the holding member  41  including the pair of side wall portions  42 ,  43  facing each other and the pair of coupling wall portions  47 ,  47  connecting the end sides of the pair of side wall portions  42 ,  43  in the front-back direction (extending direction) and configured to hold the plurality of terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D side by side in the front-back direction (extending direction of the side wall portions  42 ,  43 ) between the pair of side wall portions  42 ,  43 , and each terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D includes the pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38  projecting toward the respective side wall portions  42 ,  43  and supported on the respective side wall portions  42 ,  43 . 
     With this arrangement, the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D is supported on the respective side wall portions  42 ,  43  via the pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38 . Thus, the holding member  41  can hold the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D via the pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38  even without partitioning the holding member  41  by the walls of the accommodation chambers. Therefore, the configuration of the connector  20  can be simplified. 
     Further, since the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D is held by supporting the pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38  on the side wall portions  42 ,  43  even if this arrangement is adopted, displacements of the pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38  can be easily allowed according to a tolerance when the connector  20  is connected to the device-side connector  10 A (mating connector). 
     Further, the pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38  coaxially project. 
     With this arrangement, the displacement of the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D during the connection to the device-side connector  10 A is enabled by the rotation of the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D about the axes of the supporting portions  38 ,  38 . 
     Further, the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D is assembled by being inserted between the pair of side wall portions  42 ,  43  and the pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38  are arranged on a rear end side of the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D in the inserting direction. 
     With this arrangement, the configuration for supporting the pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38  on the pair of side wall portions  42 ,  43  can be simplified. 
     Furthermore, the device-side connector  10 A (mating connector) is configured by stacking the plurality of split connector portions  13 , the split connector portion  13  includes the male terminal  14  (mating terminal) to be connected to the terminal  21  and the partition wall  15  partitioning the male terminal  14  from the outside, the partition wall  15  of one split connector portion  13  out of the plurality of split connector portions  13  is formed into a rectangular tube surrounding the male terminal  14  on four sides, the partition walls  15  of the other split connector portions are formed into an U shape with one open side to surround the male terminal  14  on three sides, and the device-side connector  10 A is configured by stacking the plurality of split connector portions  13  such that the open one side of the partition wall  15  of the split connector portion  13  is covered by the partition wall  15  of the adjacent split connector portion  13 . 
     With this arrangement, the device-side connector  10 A can be miniaturized by reducing the partition walls  15  for insulating the male terminals  14  from the outside for the device-side connector  10 A configured by stacking the plurality of split connector portions  13 . Thus, the connector  20  to be connected to the device-side connector  10 A can also be miniaturized. 
     Further, the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D is assembled by being inserted between the pair of side wall portions  42 ,  43  and includes the first guide protrusion  34  (guide portion) and the second guide protrusion  36  (guide portion) for guiding the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D in the inserting direction by being engaged with the other terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D adjacent in the front-back direction (arrangement direction of the terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D) and (at least one of) the pair of side wall portions  42 ,  43 . 
     With this arrangement, the insertion of the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D into the holding member  41  can be facilitated. 
     Furthermore, each of the plurality of terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D includes the locking portion  33  to be locked to the other terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D adjacent in the front-back direction (arrangement direction of the terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D). 
     With this arrangement, the adjacent terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D can be held in position utilizing the configurations of the terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D. 
     Further, since the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D is locked by the locking portion  33  in a direction different from the pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38 , it can be held in a stable posture. 
     Furthermore, the device-side connector  10 A (mating connector) is provided on the device unit  10  configured by stacking the plurality of flat devices  11 A to  11 D. 
     For the connector  20  to be connected to the device-side connector  10 A in which a tolerance is easily generated between the male terminals  14  since the plurality of flat devices  11 A to  11   d  are stacked, the tolerance of the device-side connector  10 A can be absorbed by providing the terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D separately from the holding member  41 . Since the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D is supported on the respective side wall portions  42 ,  43  via the pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38  in such a configuration capable of absorbing the tolerance, the configuration of the connector  20  can be simplified. 
     Further, since the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D has only to be processed into such a shape that the locking portion  33  and the pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38  project outwardly of the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D, the manufacturing cost of a mold can be reduced. 
     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 all the terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D are identically shaped in the above embodiment, the plurality of terminal accommodating members  22 A to  22 D may be differently shaped. 
     Further, it is not necessary to provide the locking portion  33  and the supporting portions  38  for all the terminal accommodating members  22 B to  22 D and the locking portion  33  and the supporting portions  38  may be provided on one or more of the terminal accommodating members  22 B to  22 D. 
     The number of the devices constituting the device unit  10  is not limited to four as in the above embodiment and may be another number. Further, the number of the terminal accommodating members is not limited to four as in the above embodiment and may be another number. 
     Although the pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38  coaxially project, they may not be coaxial. 
     Although the pair of supporting portions  38 ,  38  are arranged on the rear end side of the terminal accommodating member  22 A to  22 D in the inserting direction, there is no limitation to this. For example, a pair of supporting portions may be provided before the rear end part in the inserting direction and placing portions, on which these supporting portions are to be placed, may be provided on parts of the pair of side wall portions  42 ,  43  other than the upper end parts. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS 
     
         
           10  . . . device unit 
           10 A . . . device-side connector (mating connector) 
           11 A to  11 D . . . device 
           14  . . . male terminal 
           20  . . . connector 
           21  . . . terminal 
           22 A to  22 D . . . terminal accommodating member 
           23  . . . tubular portion 
           24  . . . front wall 
           25  . . . rear wall 
           26 ,  27  . . . side wall 
           32  . . . holding portion 
           33  . . . locking portion 
           34  . . . first guide protrusion (guide portion) 
           35  . . . first placing portion 
           35 A . . . first guide groove portion 
           36  . . . second guide protrusion (guide portion) 
           37  . . . holding member locking portion 
           37 A . . . end-part guide protrusion 
           38 ,  38  . . . pair of supporting portions 
           41  . . . holding member 
           42 ,  43  . . . side wall portion 
           44  . . . resilient piece 
           46  . . . second placing portion 
           48  . . . accommodating member placing portion 
           49  . . . end-part guide groove portion 
           51  . . . second guide groove portion 
         W . . . wire