Patent ID: 7264508

Claim:
A shielded connector for connection with a mating shielded connector, the shielded connector comprising: a housing with opposite front and rear ends, at least one terminal accommodating portion, a tubular fitting at least partly surrounding the terminal accommodating portion, a fitting space defined between the terminal accommodating portion and the tubular fitting, the fitting space being open at the front and rear ends of the housing, portions of the fitting space adjacent the front end of the housing being configured for receiving a mating housing of the mating shielded connector, at least one coupling rib spaced rearward of the front end of the housing and unitarily coupling an outer peripheral surface of the terminal accommodating portion and an inner peripheral surface of the tubular fitting; a substantially tubular shielding shell with a front end edge and at least one slit extending rearwardly from the front end edge, the shielding shell being mounted in the fitting space from the rear end of the housing so that the slit receives the coupling rib; and at least one erroneous connection preventing recess formed in the tubular fitting adjacent the front end of the housing and being opened into the fitting space at a position substantially corresponding to the slit and the coupling rib for preventing improper assembly of the housing with the mating housing.