Patent Publication Number: US-9899756-B2

Title: Connector and connector 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. JP2016-045551 filed Mar. 9, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a connector and, in particular, relates to a connector partially accommodated in a recess of a board. 
     For example, a connector partially accommodated in a recess of a board is disclosed in CN 204144492U (Patent Document 1), the content of which is incorporated herein by reference. Referring to  FIG. 25 , Patent Document 1 discloses a connector  900  which is attached to a board  950  to form a connector structure  90 . 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 25 , the board  950  has a recess  955  which partially accommodates the connector therewithin. The recess  955  is recessed in a direction perpendicular to an upper-lower direction (Z-direction). The board  950  has an inner edge portion that defines the recess  955 . The inner edge portion is provided with board-side contact portions  957 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 25 and 26 , the connector  900  comprises a plurality of contacts  910  and a housing (holding member)  930  which holds the contacts  910 . Each of the contacts  910  has a support portion  911 , which is resiliently deformable, and a contact portion  913  held by the support portion  911 . The contact portion  913  is exposed outward from a side surface  931  of the housing  930 . The support portion  911  is, at least in part, accommodated in an indention  933  formed in the housing  930 . In particular, an end  915  of the support portion  911  is accommodated within the indention  933 . 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 25 , the connector  900  is moved into the recess  955  of the board  950  along the upper-lower direction to be partially arranged in the recess  955 . Under a state where the connector  900  is attached to the board  950 , the connector  900  partially projects upward, or in the positive Z-direction, from a principal surface (upper surface)  951  of the board  950  and partially projects downward, or in the negative Z-direction, from another principal surface (lower surface)  953  of the board  950 . The board-side contact portions  957  correspond to the contact portions  913  of the connector  900 , respectively. Under the state where the connector  900  is attached to the board  950 , each of the contact portions  913  of the connector  900  is electrically connected to the corresponding board-side contact portion  957 . 
     According to the connector  900  of Patent Document 1, the end  915  of the support portion  911  of the contact  910  is accommodated within the indention  933  of the housing  930 . This accommodation prevents the end  915  of the support portion  911  from being brought into abutment with the board  950  upon the movement of the connector  900  into the recess  955  of the board  950 . Moreover, even if the contact portion  913  of the contact  910  receives a force along a direction perpendicular to the upper-lower direction, the movement of the support portion  911  is restricted. Therefore, according to the connector  900  of Patent Document 1, the contact  910  is prevented from being buckled. However, according to the structure of the connector  900  of Patent Document 1, the end  915  of the support portion  911  of the contact  910  is required to be accommodated within the indention  933  of the housing  930  while the contact portion  913  of the contact  910  is exposed outward from the side surface  931  of the housing  930 . This requirement limits the flexibility of design of the contact  910 . 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector having a structure which is different from that of Patent Document 1 but can prevent a contact from being buckled or damaged. 
     An aspect of the present invention provides a connector attachable to a board having a principal surface, a recess and a board-side contact portion. When the connector is attached to the board, the connector is, at least in part, arranged within the recess while an upper-lower direction with respect to the connector intersects with the principal surface. The connector comprises at least one contact and a holding member which holds the contact. The contact has a held portion held by the holding member, a support portion extending from the held portion to be resiliently deformable and a contact portion supported by the support portion. When the connector is attached to the board, the contact portion is brought into contact with the board-side contact portion. The holding member has at least one protection portion which protects the contact. When the connector is attached to the board, the protection portion is, at least in part, positioned within the recess. The protection portion hides the contact portion when seen along a first horizontal direction perpendicular to the upper-lower direction. 
     Another aspect of the present invention provides a connector comprising a plurality of contacts and a holding member which holds the contacts. The contacts are arranged along a predetermined direction. Each of the contacts has a held portion held by the holding member, a support portion extending from the held portion to be resiliently deformable and a contact portion supported by the support portion. The holding member has at least one protection portion which protects the contact. The protection portion hides the contact portion when seen along the predetermined direction. 
     Still another aspect of the present invention provides a connector structure comprising the connector and the board. 
     When the connector according to an aspect of the present invention is seen along the first horizontal direction, the protection portion hides the contact portion of the contact. Thus, the protection portion protects the contact. This structure prevents or reduces an undesirable force which might be applied to the contact portion by the board when the connector is attached to the board, so that the contact can be prevented from being buckled or damaged. 
     An appreciation of the 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 connector structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein a connector of the connector structure is not attached to a board of the connector structure. 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view showing the connector structure of  FIG. 1 , wherein the connector is attached to the board. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view showing the connector structure of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view showing the connector of the connector structure of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a right side view showing the connector of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a front view showing the connector of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of  FIG. 5 , taken along line A-A. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of  FIG. 5 , taken along line B-B. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of  FIG. 6 , taken along line C-C. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a first contact of the connector of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing a second contact of the connector of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing a third contact of the connector of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing a fourth contact of the connector of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing a fifth contact of the connector of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view showing a sixth contact of the connector of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view showing a connector structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein a connector of the connector structure is not attached to a board of the connector structure. 
         FIG. 17  is another perspective view showing the connector structure of  FIG. 16 , wherein the connector is attached to the board. 
         FIG. 18  is a plan view showing the connector structure of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 19  is a bottom view showing the connector of the connector structure of  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 20  is a right side view showing the connector of  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 21  is a front view showing the connector of  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 22  is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of  FIG. 20 , taken along line D-D. 
         FIG. 23  is a perspective view showing a connector structure according to a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein a connector of the connector structure is not attached to a board of the connector structure. 
         FIG. 24  is another perspective view showing the connector structure of  FIG. 23 , wherein the connector is attached to the board. 
         FIG. 25  is a perspective view showing a connector structure of Patent Document 1, wherein a connector of the connector structure is attached to a board of the connector structure. 
         FIG. 26  is a bottom perspective view showing the connector of the connector structure of  FIG. 25 . 
     
    
    
     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 
     First Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a connector structure  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a connector  100  and a board  200 . In the present embodiment, the connector  100  is attached to the board  200  to form the connector structure  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 to 9 , the connector  100  has an accommodation portion  110  which accommodates, at least in part, a mating connector (not shown) which is a plug. The accommodation portion  110  is a space which extends in a front-rear direction (Y-direction, first horizontal direction) perpendicular to an upper-lower direction (Z-direction). The accommodation portion  110  has a circular shape in a cross-section perpendicular to the front-rear direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5 to 9 , the connector  100  comprises a plurality of contacts  120  (or  1201  to  1206 ) and a housing (holding member)  130  which holds the contacts  120 . Each of the contacts  120  is made of conductive metal plate, and the housing  130  is made of insulating resin. 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 1 to 3 and 7 , in the present embodiment, the number of the contacts  120  is six. Specifically, the connector  100  according to the present embodiment comprises the first to sixth contacts  1201  to  1206 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The number of the contacts  120  can be variously designed in accordance with the number of mating contact portions of mating contact. 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 7 to 15 , the first contact  1201  to the sixth contact  1206  have shapes different from one another. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The shape of each of the contacts  120  ( 1201  to  1206 ) can be variously designed in accordance with various factors such as the shape of the mating contact and the shape of the housing  130 . For example, a plurality of the contacts  120  may have shapes same as one another. As shown in  FIGS. 10 to 15 , each of the first contact  1201  to the sixth contact  1206 , regardless of its shape, has a held portion  121 , a first support portion (support portion)  123 , a second support portion  125 , a first contact portion (contact portion)  127  and a second contact portion (additional contact portion)  129 . The held portion  121  is held by the housing  130 . The first support portion  123  extends from the held portion  121  to be resiliently deformable. The first contact portion  127  is held by the first support portion  123  and is movable at least in a left-right direction (X-direction, second horizontal direction) because of the resilient deformation of the first support portion  123 . In the present embodiment, the left-right direction is a direction perpendicular to both the upper-lower direction and the front-rear direction. The second support portion  125  extends from the held portion  121  to be resiliently deformable like the first support portion  123 . The second contact portion  129  is held by the second support portion  125  and is movable at least in a predetermined direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction because of the resilient deformation of the second support portion  125 . In the present embodiment, the predetermined direction of each of the first contact  1201  to the fifth contact  1205  is the left-right direction, while the predetermined direction of the sixth contact  1206  is a direction intersecting with both the upper-lower direction and the left-right direction. Each of the contacts  120  can be formed by punching out a metal plate and subsequently bending the metal plate. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 7 and 9 , the housing  130  has a front portion  140  and a rear portion  150  which continuously extend in the front-rear direction. The rear portion  150  has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. In detail, the rear portion  150  has an upper surface  151 , a lower surface  153 , a front surface  155 , a rear surface  157  and a pair of side surfaces  161  and  163 . The upper surface  151  and the lower surface  153  are apart from each other in the upper-lower direction. The front surface  155  and the rear surface  157  are apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The side surfaces  161  and  163  are apart from each other in the left-right direction. The front portion  140  projects forward, or in the negative Y-direction, from the front surface  155  of the rear portion  150 . The front portion  140  has an upper surface  141 , a lower surface  143 , a pair of side surfaces  145  and a front surface  147 . Each of the upper surface  141  and the lower surface  143  is a flat plane. Each of the side surfaces  145  is bent outward. The housing  130  has the accommodation portion  110 . In detail, the accommodation portion  110  is formed within the housing  130  and opens at the front surface  147  of the front portion  140 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the accommodation portion  110  extends to the vicinity of the rear surface  157  of the rear portion  150  in the front-rear direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3, 5, 7 and 8 , each of the side surfaces  161  and  163  of the housing  130  is formed with a plurality of side recesses  170 . Each of the side recesses  170  is recessed inward in the left-right direction from one of the side surfaces  161  and  163  toward the inside of the housing  130 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , each of the side recesses  170  is a recess which has a rectangular shape when seen along the upper-lower direction. As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 , each of the side recesses  170  is surrounded on its three sides by two vertical walls (protection portions)  171  and one lateral wall (additional protection portion)  173 . In other words, each of the side recesses  170  is formed by the two vertical walls  171  and the one lateral wall  173 . Each of the two vertical walls  171  extends in the upper-lower direction. The two vertical walls  171  are apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The lateral wall  173  extends in the front-rear direction. The lateral wall  173  couples ends of the vertical walls  171  to each other. As can be seen from  FIGS. 1 to 3, 5 and 7 , in the present embodiment, the side recesses  170  correspond to the contacts  120 , respectively. Therefore, the side surface  161  is formed with three of the side recesses  170 , and the other side surface  163  is formed with remaining three of the side recesses  170 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The number and the arrangement of the side recesses  170  can be variously designed in accordance with the number and the arrangement of the contacts  120 . 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 7 to 9 , the housing  130  has two holding portions  131  each of which holds the held portions  121  of three of the contacts  120 . In other words, the holding portions  131  of the housing  130  hold the held portion  121  of each of the contacts  120 . The first contact portions  127  of the thus-held contacts  120  are arranged in two rows each of which extends along the front-rear direction. The first contact portion  127  of each of the contacts  120  is positioned within the corresponding side recess  170  and faces outward in the left-right direction. Moreover, the first support portion  123 , which supports the first contact portion  127 , is partially positioned within the corresponding side recess  170 . Each of the second contact portions  129  projects in the accommodation portion  110 . The second support portion  125 , which supports the second contact portion  129 , is partially positioned within the accommodation portion  110 . The housing  130  may be formed integrally with the contacts  120  via integral molding. 
     As can be seen from  FIG. 5 , three of the contacts  120  are positioned at the side surface  161 , and the first contact portions  127  thereof are arranged in the front-rear direction (pitch direction). Remaining three of the contacts  120  are positioned at the other side surface  163 , and the first contact portions  127  thereof are arranged in the front-rear direction (pitch direction). In the present embodiment, each of the first contact portions  127  is apart from the nearest vertical wall  171  by a distance which is shorter than the minimum one of distances each of which is a distance between the two first contact portions  127  adjacent to each other. 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 6 to 8 , under a state where no load is applied to the contact  120 , the vertical wall  171  hides the first contact portion  127  and hides, at least in part, the first support portion  123  when seen along the front-rear direction. Moreover, as can be seen from  FIG. 4 , the lateral wall  173  hides the first contact portion  127  and the first support portion  123  when seen along the upper-lower direction. In other words, the first contact portion  127  of each of the contacts  120  is positioned within the corresponding side recess  170  and does not project outward beyond the side surface  161  or  163  in the left-right direction. Therefore, at least a part of each of the vertical walls  171  works as a protection portion that protects the corresponding first contact portion  127 , and at least a part of each of the lateral walls  173  works as an additional protection portion that protects the corresponding first contact portion  127 . As described above, in the present embodiment, the housing  130  has the protection portions and the additional protection portions each of which protects the corresponding first contact portion  127 . Moreover, in the present embodiment, each of the vertical walls  171  has two parts which are apart from each other in the upper-lower direction so that a gap is formed therebetween. According to the present embodiment, when each of the vertical walls  171  is seen along the front-rear direction, none of the first support portion  123  and the first contact portion  127  is visible through the gap between the two parts thereof. However, a part of each of the first support portion  123  and the first contact portion  127  may be visible through the gap between the two parts of each of the vertical walls  171 . Moreover, the two parts of each of the vertical walls  171  may be formed into a single part with no gap. As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , each of the vertical walls  171  is separated from the corresponding holding portion  131 , which holds the corresponding contact  120 , in the left-right direction. However, each of the vertical walls  171  may be continued to the corresponding holding portion  131 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the board  200  has a principal surface  201  and a recess  210  which accommodates, at least in part, the connector  100 . The recess  210  has a size which is so large as to accommodate a corresponding part of the housing  130  of the connector  100 . In addition, the board  200  has a plurality of projecting portions  220 . According to the present embodiment, each of the projecting portions  220  projects inward in the left-right direction within the recess  210 . However, each of the projecting portions  220  may project in a direction which is perpendicular to the upper-lower direction and intersects with the first horizontal direction. The projecting portions  220  correspond to the side recesses  170  of the connector  100 , respectively. Each of the projecting portions  220  has a rectangular shape when seen along the upper-lower direction and is smaller than the corresponding side recess  170  in the front-rear direction. Each of the projecting portions  220  has an end which is provided with a board-side contact portion  221 . Thus, the board  200  has a plurality of the board-side contact portions  221  which are formed on the projecting portions  220 , respectively. The board-side contact portions  221  correspond to the contacts  120  of the connector  100 , respectively. When the connector  100  is attached to the board  200 , the first contact portions  127  of the connector  100  are brought into contact and electrically connected with the board-side contact portions  221 , respectively. In the present embodiment, each of the first contact portions  127  is brought into contact with the corresponding board-side contact portion  221  in the left-right direction. However, each of the first contact portions  127  may be brought into contact with the corresponding board-side contact portion  221  in a direction which is perpendicular to the upper-lower direction and intersects with the front-rear direction. 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the connector  100  is, at least in part, arranged within the recess  210  of the board  200  when attached to the board  200 . According to the present embodiment, the recess  210  of the board  200  partially accommodates the rear portion  150  of the connector  100 . According to the present embodiment, the recess  210  is recessed in a direction in parallel to the principal surface  201  of the board  200 , or in the positive Y-direction, and opens in another direction in parallel to the principal surface  201  of the board  200 , or in the negative Y-direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the recess  210  may be closed in every direction in parallel to the principal surface  201  of the board  200 . More specifically, the recess  210  may be a hole which is formed at a position apart from the edge of the board  200  so as to pass through the board  200  in a direction perpendicular to the principal surface  201  of the board  200 , or in the upper-lower direction. Moreover, when the board  200  has a sufficient thickness, the recess  210  may be an indention which is formed on the board  200  to have a bottom. Moreover, although the board  200  of the present embodiment is assumed to be rigid, the board  200  may have flexibility. 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 1 and 2 , when the connector  100  is attached to the board  200 , the upper-lower direction with respect to the connector  100  intersects with, preferably perpendicular to, the principal surface  201  of the board  200 . In detail, the connector  100  is first positioned under the board  200 , or positioned toward the negative Z-side of the board  200 , and subsequently moved upward, or moved in the positive Z-direction, so that the connector  100  is attached to the board  200 . During this attachment process, the first contact portions  127  and the first support portions  123  of the connector  100  are protected by the protection portions, or by the vertical walls  171 . In detail, in the attachment process of the connector  100  to the board  200 , the vertical walls  171  are moved into the recess  210  of the board  200  at first, and subsequently the first contact portions  127  of the contacts  120  are brought into contact with the board-side contact portions  221 , respectively. This process sequence prevents each of the contacts  120  from being buckled or damaged. Moreover, the vertical walls  171  are, at least in part, positioned within the recess  210  of the board  200  to prevent or restrict the movement of the connector  100  relative to the board  200  in the front-rear direction. Therefore, each of the contacts  120  receives no substantial force in the front-rear direction from the board  200 . As a result, each of the contacts  120  is prevented from being buckled or damaged. In addition, the lateral walls  173  prevent the connector  100  from being attached to the board  200  under an upside-down state. Thus, the lateral walls  173  prevent the ends of the contacts  120  from being brought into contact with the board-side contact portions  221 . As a result, each of the contacts  120  is further prevented from being buckled or damaged. 
     The mating connector (not shown) is a phone plug such as a terminal of a headphone and has the mating contact (not shown) of a cylindrical shape. The mating contact has a plurality of the mating contact portions (not shown) which are arranged in an axial direction and insulated from one another. Each of the mating contact portions is a part of a circumference surface of the mating contact. As can be seen from  FIGS. 7 and 9 , the second contact portions  129  of the contacts  120  are arranged at positions different from one another in the front-rear direction so as to correspond to the mating contact portions, respectively. As can be seen from  FIGS. 6 to 9 , each of the second contact portions  129  projects in the accommodation portion  110 . When the mating contact is accommodated in the accommodation portion  110 , each of the second contact portions  129  is brought into contact with the corresponding mating contact portion. As a result, each of the second contact portions  129  is electrically connected with the corresponding mating contact portion. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIGS. 16 to 22 , a connector structure  10 A according to a second embodiment of the present invention has a structure almost same as that of the connector structure  10  (see  FIGS. 1 to 7 ) according to the aforementioned first embodiment. Hereafter, components shown in  FIGS. 16 to 22  which are same as those of the first embodiment are referred by using reference signs same as those of the first embodiment. 
     As can be seen from comparison between  FIGS. 16 to 22  and  FIGS. 1 to 7 , the connector structure  10 A according to the present embodiment is different from the connector structure  10  of the first embodiment in a shape of a housing (holding member)  130 A of a connector  100 A and in a shape of a board  200 A. More specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 16 to 18, 20 and 22 , the housing  130 A has a rear portion  150 A which has side surfaces  161 A and  163 A each of which is formed with one side recess  170 A. Each of the side recesses  170 A is a recess which has a rectangular shape when seen along the upper-lower direction. Each of the side recesses  170 A is surrounded on its three sides by two vertical walls (protection portions)  171 A, each of which extends in the upper-lower direction, and one lateral wall (additional protection portion)  173 A extending in the front-rear direction. In other words, each of the side recesses  170 A is formed by the two vertical walls  171 A and the one lateral wall  173 A of the housing  130 A. Each of the side recesses  170 A contains the first contact portions  127  of three of the contacts  120  positioned therein. Thus, three of the first contact portions  127  are positioned between the two vertical walls  171 A of each of the side surfaces  161 A and  163 A. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 16 to 18 , the board  200 A has a recess  210 A which accommodates, at least in part, the connector  100 . In addition, the board  200 A has a pair of projecting portions  220 A each of which projects inward in the left-right direction within the recess  210 A. The projecting portions  220 A correspond to the side recesses  170 A of the connector  100 A, respectively. Each of the projecting portions  220 A has a rectangular shape when seen along the upper-lower direction. Each of the projecting portions  220 A has an end formed with a plurality of the board-side contact portions  221 . The board-side contact portions  221  correspond to the contacts  120  of the connector  100 A, respectively. 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 21 and 22 , in the present embodiment, the vertical wall  171 A hides the first contact portions  127  like the first embodiment when seen along the front-rear direction. Moreover, the vertical wall  171 A hides, at least in part, the first support portions  123 . In addition, as can be seen from  FIG. 19 , the lateral wall  173 A hides the first contact portions  127  and the first support portions  123  when seen along the upper-lower direction. In other words, the first contact portion  127  of each of the contacts  120  is positioned within one of the side recesses  170 A and does not project outward beyond the side surface  161 A or  163 A. At least a part of each of the vertical walls  171 A works as the protection portion that protects the corresponding first contact portions  127 , and at least a part of each of the lateral walls  173 A works as the additional protection portion that protects the corresponding first contact portions  127 . Therefore, in the present embodiment, each of the contacts  120  is prevented from being buckled or damaged like the first embodiment. Moreover, each of the lateral walls  173 A is positioned opposite to the first support portions  123  across the first contact portions  127  and prevents the board  200 A from being partially inserted into the side recess  170 A. Therefore, the board  200 A can be inserted into the side recesses  170 A only from a predetermined side of the connector  100 A, wherein the predetermined side is provided with the first support portions  123  with no lateral wall  173 A. Thus, the lateral walls  173 A prevent the ends of the contacts  120  from being brought into contact with the board-side contact portions  221 . As a result, each of the contacts  120  is prevented from being buckled or damaged. As shown in  FIG. 16 , according to the present embodiment, when the contact  120  receives no load, a gap is formed between the end of the contact  120  and the lateral wall  173 A. The contact  120  may be designed so that the gap between the contact  120  and the lateral wall  173 A remains even when the contact  120  is resiliently deformed. Instead, the contact  120  may be designed so as to be brought into abutment with the lateral wall  173 A when the contact  120  is resiliently deformed. 
     Third Embodiment 
     Referring to  FIGS. 23 and 24 , a connector structure  10 B according to a third embodiment of the present invention has a structure almost same as that of the connector structure  10  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) according to the aforementioned first embodiment. Hereafter, components shown in  FIGS. 23 and 24  which are same as those of the first embodiment are referred by using reference signs same as those of the first embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 23 and 24 , the connector structure  10 B comprises a connector  100 B and a board  200 B. As shown in  FIG. 23 , the connector  100 B has a plurality of contacts  120 B and a housing (holding member)  130 B which holds these contacts  120 B. The contacts  120 B have shapes different from one another. However, each of the contacts  120 B has a held portion (not shown) held by the housing  130 B, a first support portion (support portion)  123 B extending from the held portion and a first contact portion (contact portion)  127 B supported by the first support portion  123 B. The first support portion  123 B is resiliently deformable. The first contact portion  127 B is movable at least in the upper-lower direction because of the resilient deformation of the first support portion  123 B. When the first contact portions  127 B of a plurality of the contacts  120 B, which are positioned at a side surface  161 B, are seen along the left-right direction, they are positioned at positions same as one another in the upper-lower direction and arranged in the front-rear direction. The aforementioned arrangement is also applied to the first contact portions (not shown) positioned at another side surface  163 B. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 23 and 24 , the housing  130 B has a rear portion  150 B which has side recesses  170 B each of which is formed at one of the side surfaces  161 B and  163 B. The housing  130 B has vertical walls (protection portions)  171 B which form the side recesses  170 B. At the side surface  161 B, the first support portions  123 B and the first contact portions  127 B are positioned between two of the vertical walls  171 B. The aforementioned arrangement is also applied to the other side surface  163 B. The vertical wall  171 B hides the first contact portions  127 B and the first support portions  123 B when seen along the front-rear direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 23 and 24 , the board  200 B has a recess  210 B which accommodates, at least in part, the connector  100 B. The board  200 B has projecting portions  220 B each of which projects inward in the left-right direction within the recess  210 B. As can be seen from  FIGS. 23 and 24 , each of the projecting portions  220 B has a lower surface which is formed with board-side contact portions (not shown). The board-side contact portions of the projecting portions  220 B correspond to the first contact portions  127 B of the contacts  120 B, respectively. When the connector  100 B is attached to the board  200 B, each of the first contact portions  127 B of the connector  100 B is brought into contact and electrically connected with the corresponding board-side contact portion. In the present embodiment, each of the first contact portion  127 B is brought into contact with the corresponding board-side contact portion in the upper-lower direction. 
     In the present embodiment, each of the vertical walls  171 B works as the protection portion that protects the corresponding first contact portions  127 B and the corresponding first support portions  123 B. In the present embodiment, this protection prevents each of the contacts  120 B from being buckled or damaged like the first embodiment and the second embodiment. 
     While the present invention has been described with specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments but can be variously modified and changed. For example, although a plurality of the contacts  120  ( 120 ,  120 B) are provided at each of the two side surfaces  161  and  163  ( 161 A and  163 A,  161 B and  163 B) of the housing  130  ( 130 A,  130 B) according to the aforementioned embodiments, the contacts  120  ( 120 ,  120 B) may be provided at only one of the side surfaces  161  and  163  (one of  161 A and  163 A, one of  161 B and  163 B). In this case, the minimum number of the protection portions (vertical walls  171 ,  171 A or  171 B) may be two. Even in this case, the protection portions are arranged to be apart from each other in the front-rear direction, and the first contact portions  127  ( 127 ,  127 B) of the contacts  120  ( 120 ,  120 B) are arranged therebetween. In this case, the protection portion hides the first contact portions  127  ( 127 ,  127 B) of the contacts  120  ( 120 ,  120 B) when seen along the front-rear direction. Instead, the contacts  120  ( 120 ,  120 B) may be provided at the rear surface  157  of the housing  130  ( 130 A,  130 B). In this case, the protection portions are arranged to be apart from one another in the left-right direction (first horizontal direction), and the first contact portions  127  ( 127 ,  127 B) of the contacts  120  ( 120 ,  120 B) are arranged therebetween. In this case, the protection portion hides the first contact portions  127  ( 127 ,  127 B) of the contacts  120  ( 120 ,  120 B) when seen along the left-right direction. Moreover, although the connector of each of the aforementioned embodiments has no fixing portion that fixes the connector to the board, the connector may be provided with a fixing portion that fixes the connector to the board. 
     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.