Patent Publication Number: US-11038287-B2

Title: Connector and cable harness

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. JP2019-132705 filed Jul. 18, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a connector attachable with a composite cable, and to a cable harness comprising the connector. 
     KR 2016-0126171A (Patent Document 1) discloses a connector  900  of this type. Referring to  FIGS. 19 to 21 , the connector  900  of Patent Document 1 is attachable with a composite cable (not shown) which comprises signal lines (not shown) and power supply lines (not shown). The connector  900  has first members  910 , terminals  920  and a second member  930 . Each of the first members  910  is attached with the composite cable. Each of the first members  910  has first cable holding portions  912  and second cable holding portions  914 . When the first member  910  is attached with the composite cable, the first cable holding portion  912  holds the signal line and the second cable holding portion  914  holds the power supply line. The terminals  920  are held by the second member  930 . Each of the terminals  920  has a contact portion  922 , a held portion  924  and a connecting portion  926 . The held portion  924  is held by the second member  930 . The connecting portion  926  is connected with the composite cable when the connector  900  is attached with the composite cable. The second member  930  is combined with the first members  910 . 
     In a connector attachable with a composite cable, automated connection of terminals of the connector with the composite cable is required in order to improve manufacturing efficiency of a cable harness comprising the connector and the composite cable. In order to connect the terminals  920  of the connector  900  of Patent Document 1 with the composite cable, the signal lines and the power supply lines are required to be inserted one by one into the first cable holding portions  912  and the second cable holding portions  914 , respectively, prior to the connection. In other words, the connector  900  of Patent Document 1 is not suitable for automated connection of the terminals  920  with the composite cable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector which has a structure suitable for automated connection of terminals with a composite cable. 
     One aspect of the present invention provides a connector which is attachable with a composite cable and which is connectable with a mating connector having a mating contact portion. The composite cable has at least one cable set which comprises a first cable and two second cables. The connector has a first member, a plurality of terminals and a second member. The first member is attachable with the composite cable. The first member has a base portion and a cable holding portion. The base portion has a flat-plate shape. The cable holding portion is provided on the base portion. The cable holding portion has at least one holding portion set which comprises a first cable holding portion and two second cable holding portions. In the at least one holding portion set, the first cable holding portion is positioned between the base portion and the second cable holding portion in a perpendicular direction perpendicular to the base portion and is positioned between the second cable holding portions in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the perpendicular direction. In the at least one holding portion set, the second cable holding portions are positioned at the same level as each other in the perpendicular direction. When the first member is attached with the composite cable, the first cable holding portion holds the first cable and the second cable holding portions hold the second cables, respectively. The plurality of terminals are held by the second member. The plurality of terminals include at least one terminal set which comprises a first terminal and two second terminals. Each of the terminals has a contact portion, a held portion and a connecting portion. The contact portion is brought into contact with the mating contact portion when the connector is connected with the mating connector. The held portion is held by the second member. The connecting portion is connected with the composite cable when the connector is attached with the composite cable. The connecting portion has an end in the perpendicular direction. In the at least one terminal set, the connecting portion of the first terminal is positioned between the connecting portions of the second terminals in the horizontal direction. The second member is combined with the first member. The second member has an accommodating portion. The accommodating portion accommodates, at least in part, the cable holding portion when the second member is combined with the first member. Under a combined state where the second member is combined with the first member, the connecting portion is exposed in the accommodating portion and protrudes toward an inside of the accommodating portion. Under the combined state, the connecting portion of the first terminal extends toward the first cable holding portion in the perpendicular direction. Under the combined state, the connecting portion of the second terminal extends toward the second cable holding portion in the perpendicular direction. Under the combined state, the end of the connecting portion of the first terminal is positioned between the end of the connecting portion of the second terminal and the base portion in the perpendicular direction. 
     In the connector of the present invention, the cable holding portion of the first member has the at least one holding portion set which comprises the first cable holding portion and the two second cable holding portions. Accordingly, the connector of the present invention is configured so that the first cable and the second cables of the composite cable can be simultaneously accommodated in the cable holding portion upon connection of the terminals with the composite cable. Thus, the connector of the present invention has a structure suitable for automated connection of the terminals with the composite cable. 
     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 partially cut-away cross-sectional, perspective view showing a mated state where a cable harness and a mating connector according to an embodiment of the present invention are mated with each other. 
         FIG. 2  is a front, perspective view showing the cable harness of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective, cross-sectional view showing the cable harness of  FIG. 2 , taken along line A-A. 
         FIG. 4  is a front end view showing the cable harness of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged end view showing a part of the cable harness which is enclosed by broken line B of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a rear, perspective view showing the cable harness of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded, perspective view showing the cable harness of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 8  is a rear, perspective view showing the cable harness of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a front, perspective view showing a part of the cable harness of  FIG. 7 , except for omission of second members. 
         FIG. 10  is a rear, perspective view showing the cable harness of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a front, perspective view showing a first member which is included in the cable harness of  FIG. 9 . In the figure, composite cable holding portions are swaged. 
         FIG. 12  is a front view showing a composite cable which is included in the cable harness of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 13  is a front view showing a part of the composite cable of  FIG. 12 , except for omission of an interposing portion and a shield portion. 
         FIG. 14  is an end view for use in explaining how to connect terminals with the composite cable in the cable harness of  FIG. 4 . In the figure, cable sets of the composite cable are not accommodated in a cable holding portion. 
         FIG. 15  is another end view for use in explaining how to connect the terminals with the composite cable in the cable harness of  FIG. 4 . In the figure, first cables of the cable sets of the composite cable are accommodated in the cable holding portion. 
         FIG. 16  is still another end view for use in explaining how to connect the terminals with the composite cable in the cable harness of  FIG. 4 . In the figure, the first cables of the composite cable are held by first cable holding portions of the cable holding portion while second cables of the composite cable are held by second cable holding portions of the cable holding portion. 
         FIG. 17  is yet another end view for use in explaining how to connect the terminals with the composite cable in the cable harness of  FIG. 4 . In the figure, connecting portions of first terminals extend toward the first cables through openings of the cable holding portion while connecting portions of second terminals extend toward the second cables through the openings of the cable holding portion. 
         FIG. 18  is yet still another end view for use in explaining how to connect the terminals with the composite cable in the cable harness of  FIG. 4 . In the figure, the connecting portions of the first terminals are connected with the first cables while the connecting portions of the second terminals are connected with the second cables. 
         FIG. 19  is an exploded, perspective view showing a connector of Patent Document 1. 
         FIG. 20  is a rear view showing the connector of  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view showing one of terminals which are included in the connector of  FIG. 19 . 
     
    
    
     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  FIG. 2 , a cable harness  600  according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a composite cable  700  and a connector  100 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the composite cable  700  of the present embodiment is attached to the connector  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 12 , the composite cable  700  has cable sets  710  and shield portions  780 . Each of the cable sets  710  has an interposing portion  770 , a first cable  720 , two second cables  740  and two coupling portions  760 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The composite cable  700  may be modified, provided that the composite cable  700  has at least one cable set  710  which comprises the single first cable  720  and the two second cables  740 . In other words, the composite cable  700  may have none of the coupling portion  760 , the interposing portion  770  and the shield portion  780 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the interposing portion  770  and the first cable  720  of the present embodiment are arranged in a perpendicular direction. In the present embodiment, the perpendicular direction is a Z-direction. Specifically, it is assumed that upward is a positive Z-direction while downward is a negative Z-direction. The interposing portion  770  is positioned between the second cables  740  in a horizontal direction. In the present embodiment, the horizontal direction is a Y-direction. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the first cable  720  of the present embodiment is used for grounding. The first cable  720  has a first conductor  722  and a first cover  724 . The first cover  724  covers the first conductor  722 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the second cables  740  of the present embodiment are used for differential signal transmission. Each of the second cables  740  has a second conductor  742  and a second cover  744 . The second cover  744  covers the second conductor  742 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , each of the coupling portions  760  of the present embodiment is elastically deformable. In each of the cable sets  710 , the coupling portions  760  couples the second covers  744 , respectively, with the first cover  724 . In each of the cable sets  710 , the first cable  720 , the second cables  740  and the coupling portions  760  are arranged in a V-shape in a plane which is defined by the perpendicular direction and the horizontal direction. The cable set  710  has a size S 1  in the horizontal direction. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , each of the shield portions  780  of the present embodiment is made of conductor. The shield portions  780  are positioned outside the cable sets  710 , respectively, in a direction perpendicular to a front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the front-rear direction is an X-direction. Specifically, it is assumed that forward is a negative X-direction while rearward is a positive X-direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 , the connector  100  of the present embodiment is attachable with the composite cable  700  having four cable sets  710  each of which comprises the first cable  720  and the two second cables  740 . The connector  100  of the present embodiment is connectable with a mating connector  800  having mating contact portions  810 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The connector  100  may be modified, provided that the connector  100  is attachable with a composite cable  700 , which has at least one cable set  710  comprising the first cable  720  and the two second cables  740 , and is mateable with the mating connector  800  having the mating contact portion  810 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the connector  100  of the present embodiment has a first member  200 , a plurality of terminals  300  and second members  400 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the first member  200  of the present embodiment is attachable with the composite cable  700 . The first member  200  has a base portion  280 , a cable holding portion  205  and composite cable holding portions  270 . Specifically, the base portion  280  has a flat-plate shape. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the base portion  280  of the present embodiment has the flat-plate shape perpendicular to the perpendicular direction. The base portion  280  has a first principal surface  282  and a second principal surface  284 . The first principal surface  282  is an upper surface of the base portion  280 . The second principal surface  284  is a lower surface of the base portion  280 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the cable holding portion  205  of the present embodiment is provided on the base portion  280 . The cable holding portion  205  has four holding portion sets  210  each of which comprises a first cable holding portion  220  and two second cable holding portions  240 . In other words, the cable holding portion  205  has a plurality of the holding portion sets  210 . The holding portion sets  210  correspond to the cable sets  710 , respectively. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The cable holding portion  205  may be modified, provided that the cable holding portion  205  has at least one holding portion set  210  which comprises the first cable holding portion  220  and the two second cable holding portions  240 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , two of the holding portion sets  210  are positioned on the first principal surface  282 , while remaining two of the holding portion sets  210  are positioned on the second principal surface  284 . However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The holding portion sets  210  may be modified, provided that one of the holding portion sets  210  is positioned on the first principal surface  282  while another of the holding portion sets  210  is positioned on the second principal surface  284 . Furthermore, if the cable holding portion  205  has only the single holding portion set  210 , the holding portion set  210  should be positioned on one of the first principal surface  282  and the second principal surface  284 . Each of the holding portion sets  210  is positioned around a front end of the base portion  280  in the front-rear direction. Each of the holding portion sets  210  is made of metal. Each of the holding portion sets  210  has a mirror-symmetrical shape with respect to a plane which is perpendicular to the horizontal direction while passing through a middle of the holding portion set  210  in the horizontal direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , in each of the holding portion sets  210 , the first cable holding portion  220  is positioned between the base portion  280  and the second cable holding portion  240  in the perpendicular direction perpendicular to the base portion  280 . Additionally, in each of the holding portion sets  210 , the first cable holding portion  220  is positioned between the second cable holding portions  240  in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the perpendicular direction. When the first member  200  is attached with the composite cable  700 , the first cable holding portion  220  holds the first cable  720 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the first cable holding portion  220  of the present embodiment has a first arc portion  230 . The first arc portion  230  has a circular arc cross-section in a predetermined plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the predetermined plane is a YZ-plane. The first arc portion  230  consists of a first bottom portion  232  and two first side portions  234 . In other words, the first cable holding portion  220  has the first bottom portion  232  and the two first side portions  234 . Each of the first bottom portion  232  and the first side portions  234  is a part of the first arc portion  230 . As understood from  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the first bottom portion  232  is positioned closer to the base portion  280  than the first side portion  234  is. In other words, the first bottom portion  232  is positioned inward of the first side portion  234  in the perpendicular direction. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the first side portions  234  are positioned at opposite outsides, respectively, of the first bottom portion  232  in the horizontal direction. 
     As understood from  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the first bottom portion  232  regulates movement of the first cable  720  toward the base portion  280 . In other words, the first bottom portion  232  regulates inward movement of the first cable  720  in the perpendicular direction. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the first side portions  234  regulate opposite outward movements, respectively, of the first cable  720  in the horizontal direction. More specifically, in the horizontal direction, the first side portion  234 , which is positioned at a positive Y-side of the first bottom portion  232 , regulates movement of the first cable  720  in a positive Y-direction. Additionally, in the horizontal direction, the first side portion  234 , which is positioned at a negative Y-side of the first bottom portion  232 , regulates movement of the first cable  720  in a negative Y-direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , in each of the holding portion sets  210 , the second cable holding portions  240  are positioned at the same level as each other in the perpendicular direction. In each of the holding portion sets  210 , the second cable holding portions  240  are positioned at opposite sides, respectively, of the first cable holding portion  220  in the horizontal direction. As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the first member  200  is attached with the composite cable  700 , the second cable holding portions  240  hold the second cables  740 , respectively. As understood from  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the first conductor  722  is positioned between the base portion  280  and the second cable holding portion  240  in the perpendicular direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , each of the second cable holding portions  240  of the present embodiment has a second arc portion  250 . The second arc portion  250  has a circular arc cross-section in the predetermined plane. The second arc portion  250  consists of a second bottom portion  252  and a second side portion  254 . In other words, each of the second cable holding portions  240  has the second bottom portion  252  and the second side portion  254 . Each of the second bottom portion  252  and the second side portion  254  is a part of the second arc portion  250 . As understood from  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the second bottom portion  252  is positioned closer to the base portion  280  than the second side portion  254  is. In other words, the second bottom portion  252  is positioned inward of the second side portion  254  in the perpendicular direction. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the second side portion  254  is positioned outward of the second bottom portion  252  in the horizontal direction. 
     As understood from  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the second bottom portion  252  regulates movement of the second cable  740  toward the base portion  280 . In other words, the second bottom portion  252  regulates inward movement of the second cable  740  in the perpendicular direction. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the second side portion  254  regulates outward movement of the second cable  740  in the horizontal direction. Specifically, in the horizontal direction, the second side portion  254  of the second arc portion  250  of the second cable holding portion  240 , which is positioned at a positive Y-side of the first cable holding portion  220 , regulates movement of the second cable  740  in the positive Y-direction. Additionally, in the horizontal direction, the second side portion  254  of the second arc portion  250  of the second cable holding portion  240 , which is positioned at a negative Y-side of the first cable holding portion  220 , regulates movement of the second cable  740  in the negative Y-direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , in each of the holding portion sets  210 , the first arc portion  230  and the second arc portion  250  are coupled with each other in the predetermined plane which is defined by the perpendicular direction and the horizontal direction. More specifically, in each of the holding portion sets  210 , the first side portion  234  of the first arc portion  230  and the second bottom portion  252  of the second arc portion  250  are coupled with each other in the predetermined plane which is defined by the perpendicular direction and the horizontal direction. In each of the holding portion sets  210 , the first arc portion  230  of the first cable holding portion  220  is sandwiched between the second arc portions  250  of the second cable holding portions  240  in the predetermined plane 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , in each of the holding portion sets  210 , the first cable holding portion  220  and the second cable holding portions  240  are integrally formed with each other. In each of the holding portion sets  210 , the first cable holding portion  220  and the second cable holding portions  240  have a common opening  260  which opens in the perpendicular direction. As shown in  FIG. 5 , in each of the holding portion sets  210 , the opening  260  is positioned between the second side portions  254  of the second arc portions  250  of the two second cable holding portions  240  in the horizontal direction. Referring to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , a size S 2  of the opening  260  in the horizontal direction is smaller than the size S 1  of the cable set  710  in the horizontal direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , each of the composite cable holding portions  270  of the present embodiment is provided on the base portion  280 . Each of the composite cable holding portions  270  is positioned around a rear end of the base portion  280  in the front-rear direction. Each of the composite cable holding portions  270  is positioned away from the cable holding portion  205  in the front-rear direction perpendicular to both the perpendicular direction and the horizontal direction. In detail, the composite cable holding portions  270  correspond to the holding portion sets  210 , respectively, and each of the composite cable holding portions  270  is positioned rearwardly away from the corresponding holding portion set  210  in the front-rear direction. Each of the composite cable holding portions  270  is made of metal. The composite cable holding portions  270  are configured to hold the composite cable  700 . When the first member  200  is attached with the composite cable  700 , the composite cable holding portions  270  are connected with the shield portions  780 , respectively, of the composite cable  700 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the plurality of terminals  300  of the present embodiment are held by the second member  400 . The plurality of terminals  300  include four terminal sets  310  each of which comprises a first terminal  320  and two second terminals  340 . The terminal sets  310  correspond to the holding portion sets  210 , respectively. The terminal sets  310  correspond to the cable sets  710 , respectively. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The plurality of terminals  300  may be modified, provided that the plurality of terminals  300  include at least one terminal set  310  which comprises the first terminal  320  and the two second terminals  340 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 5 , each of the terminals  300  of the present embodiment is made of metal. Each of the terminals  300  has a contact portion  322 ,  342 , a held portion  324 ,  344  and a connecting portion  326 ,  346 . More specifically, each of the first terminals  320  has the contact portion  322 , the held portion  324  and the connecting portion  326 , and each of the second terminals  340  has the contact portion  342 , the held portion  344  and the connecting portion  346 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the contact portion  322 ,  342  of the present embodiment is brought into contact with the mating contact portion  810  when the connector  100  is connected with the mating connector  800 . The contact portion  322 ,  342  is positioned around a front end of the connector  100  in the front-rear direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the held portion  324 ,  344  of the present embodiment is held by the second member  400 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the connecting portion  326 ,  346  of the present embodiment is connected with the composite cable  700  when the connector  100  is attached with the composite cable  700 . The connecting portion  326 ,  346  protrudes inward in the perpendicular direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , under a connected state where the connector  100  is connected with the composite cable  700 , the connecting portion  326  of the first terminal  320  pierces the first cover  724  and is connected with the first conductor  722 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , under the connected state when the connector  100  is connected with the composite cable  700 , the connecting portion  346  of the second terminal  340  pierces the second cover  744  and is connected with the second conductor  742 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , in each of the terminal sets  310 , the connecting portion  326  of the first terminal  320  is positioned between the connecting portions  346  of the second terminals  340  in the horizontal direction. Referring to  FIGS. 14 and 16 , a distance D between the connecting portions  346  of the second terminals  340  of the terminal set  310  in the horizontal direction is smaller than the size S 2  of the opening  260  in the horizontal direction. As shown in  FIG. 5  again, an end  3262  of the connecting portion  326  of the first terminal  320  is positioned inward of an end  3462  of the connecting portion  346  of the second terminal  340  in the perpendicular direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 18 , each of the second members  400  of the present embodiment is combined with the first member  200 . 
     As understood from  FIGS. 4 and 5 , under a combined state where the second member  400  is combined with the first member  200 , the end  3262  of the connecting portion  326  of the first terminal  320  is positioned between the end  3462  of the connecting portion  346  of the second terminal  340  and the base portion  280  in the perpendicular direction. Under the combined state, the end  3262  of the connecting portion  326  of the first terminal  320  is positioned closer to the base portion  280  than the end  3462  of the connecting portion  346  of the second terminal  340  is. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 17 , if the connector  100  is not connected with the composite cable  700  under the combined state, the connecting portion  326  of the first terminal  320  extends toward the first cable holding portion  220  in the perpendicular direction. More specifically, if the connector  100  is not connected with the composite cable  700  under the combined state, the connecting portion  326  of the first terminal  320  extends toward the first cable holding portion  220  through the opening  260 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 17 , if the connector  100  is not connected with the composite cable  700  under the combined state, the connecting portion  346  of the second terminal  340  extends toward the second cable holding portion  240  in the perpendicular direction. More specifically, if the connector  100  is not connected with the composite cable  700  under the combined state, the connecting portion  346  of the second terminal  340  extends toward the second cable holding portion  240  through the opening  260 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , each of the second members  400  of the present embodiment has an accommodating portion  410 , first terminal holding portions  420  and second terminal holding portions  430 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the accommodating portion  410  of the present embodiment accommodates, at least in part, the cable holding portion  205  when the second member  400  is combined with the first member  200 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 17 , if the connector  100  is not connected with the composite cable  700  under the combined state where the second member  400  is combined with the first member  200 , the connecting portion  326 ,  346  is exposed in the accommodating portion  410  and protrudes toward an inside of the accommodating portion  410 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the first terminal holding portion  420  of the present embodiment holds the held portion  324  of the first terminal  320 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the first terminal holding portion  420  of the present embodiment has a movement regulating portion  422 . In each of the holding portion sets  210  under the combined state, the movement regulating portion  422  is positioned between the second cables  740  in the horizontal direction. Under the combined state, the movement regulating portion  422  regulates inward movement of the second cable  740  in the horizontal direction. More specifically, in each of the holding portion sets  210  under the combined state, the movement regulating portion  422  regulates movement of the second cable  740 , which is positioned at a positive Y-side of the cable set  710 , in the negative Y-direction. Additionally, in each of the holding portion sets  210  under the combined state, the movement regulating portion  422  regulates movement of the second cable  740 , which is positioned at a negative Y-side of the cable set  710 , in the positive Y-direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. One of the connecting portion  326  of the first terminal  320  and the first terminal holding portion  420  may have a movement regulating portion  422  which regulates inward movement of the second cable  740  in the horizontal direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the second terminal holding portion  430  of the present embodiment holds the held portion  344  of the second terminal  340 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11 to 18 , a method of attaching the connector  100  with the composite cable  700  is described in detail hereinafter. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12 to 14 , first, the shield portion  780  of the composite cable  700  is folded rearward so that a part of the cable set  710  is exposed outside the composite cable  700 . Next, a part of the interposing portion  770 , which is exposed outside the composite cable  700 , is removed and the part of the cable set  710  is arranged outward in the perpendicular direction beyond the corresponding holding portion set  210  of the first member  200 . Meanwhile, the shield portion  780  of the composite cable  700  is positioned outward in the perpendicular direction beyond an opening (not shown) of the corresponding composite cable holding portion  270  which is not yet swaged. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , when the cable set  710  is moved toward the corresponding holding portion set  210 , the first cable  720  is accommodated in the cable holding portion  205  through the opening  260  while the second cables  740  are brought into contact with the second side portions  254  of the second arc portions  250  of the second cable holding portions  240 , respectively, in the perpendicular direction. 
     When a force is applied to the cable set  710  in this state so that cable set  710  and the corresponding holding portion set  210  approach each other in the perpendicular direction, the coupling portions  760  (see  FIG. 13 ) are elastically deformed so that the cable set  710  has a reduced distance between the second cables  740  in the horizontal direction. Then, the second cables  740  are accommodated in the cable holding portion  205  through the opening  260  so that the first member  200  and the composite cable  700  reach a state shown in  FIG. 16 . 
     Meanwhile, the first cable  720  is held by the first cable holding portion  220  while the second cables  740  are held by the second cable holding portions  240 , respectively. As described above, the size S 2  of the opening  260  in the horizontal direction is smaller than the size S 1  of the cable set  710  in the horizontal direction. Thus, the cable set  710 , which is accommodated in the cable holding portion  205 , is prevented from being moved out from the cable holding portion  205  in the predetermined direction through the opening  260 . 
     Also meanwhile, the shield portion  780  of the composite cable  700  is accommodated in the corresponding composite cable holding portion  270  through the opening (not shown). After that, each of the composite cable holding portions  270  is swaged as shown in  FIG. 9 . Then, the composite cable  700  is held by the composite cable holding portions  270  and each of the shield portions  780  of the composite cable  700  is connected with the corresponding composite cable holding portion  270 . Thus, the composite cable  700  is attached to the first member  200 . 
     Next, referring to  FIG. 16 , the second member  400  is positioned relative to the first member  200  and the composite cable  700  so that the terminal set  310  is positioned outward in the perpendicular direction beyond the corresponding cable set  710 . Meanwhile, the connecting portion  326  of the first terminal  320  of the terminal set  310  is positioned outward in the perpendicular direction beyond the first cable  720  of the corresponding cable set  710  while the connecting portion  346  of the second terminal  340  of the terminal set  310  is positioned outward in the perpendicular direction beyond the second cable  740  of the corresponding cable set  710 . 
     After that, referring to  FIG. 17 , the second member  400  is moved toward the first member  200  in the perpendicular direction. Then, the connecting portion  326  of the first terminal  320  of the terminal set  310  of the second member  400  is brought into contact with the first cable  720  of the corresponding cable set  710  in the perpendicular direction through the opening  260 , while the connecting portions  346  of the second terminals  340  of the terminal set  310  of the second member  400  are brought into contact with the second cables  740 , respectively, of the corresponding cable set  710  in the perpendicular direction through the opening  260 . As described above, the distance D (see  FIG. 16 ) between the connecting portions  346  of the second terminals  340  of the terminal set  310  in the horizontal direction is smaller than the size S 2  (see  FIG. 14 ) of the opening  260  in the horizontal direction. Thus, in the aforementioned movement of the second member  400 , the connecting portion  346  of the second terminal  340  can be brought into contact with the second cable  740  through the opening  260  without being brought into contact with the second side portion  254  of the second arc portion  250  of the second cable holding portion  240 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4, 5, 17 and 18 , a force is applied to the second member  400  in this state so that the second member  400  and the first member  200  further approach each other in the predetermined direction. Then, the connecting portion  326  of the first terminal  320  of the terminal set  310  of the second member  400  pierces the first cover  724  of the first cable  720  of the corresponding cable set  710  and is connected with the first conductor  722 , while the connecting portion  346  of the second terminal  340  of the terminal set  310  of the second member  400  pierces the second cover  744  of the second cable  740  of the corresponding cable set  710  and is connected with the second conductor  742 . Consequently, the composite cable  700  is attached to the connector  100 . 
     Although the specific explanation about the present invention is made above referring to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto and is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms. 
     The connector  100  may be modified to be used as a substitute for a relay board which is used for a connector in accordance with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) Type-C standard. 
     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.