Connectors

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a connector. In a first contactor of the connector, an insulation displacement connection portion has two insulation displacement blades and has a narrow slit and a wide slit. The positions of the insulation displacement blades in a first direction are different from each other and correspond to the narrow slit. The insulation displacement blades obliquely intersect the first direction. The narrow slit and the wide slit extend in a front-to-back direction. In the first direction, the insulation displacement blade is located between the narrow slit 362 and the wide slit 364. In the second direction, the position of the middle of the wide slit 364 is different from the position of the middle of the narrow slit 362. When the coated wire is pushed into the narrow slit, the coated wire is pressed on the insulation displacement blade in sequence at different times.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a connector, in particular to a connector provided with a contactor having an insulation displacement connection portion. Background Art

[0002] A connector provided with a contactor having an insulation displacement connection (IDC) portion is well known. The insulation displacement connection portion is formed in a tuning fork shape and has two tines. A cable is pushed into a slit formed between the two tines to break the coating of the cable, so that the conductor of the cable can be connected to the contactor without peeling off the coating. An example of such a connector is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application Publication No. S63(1988)-23775U (Patent Document 1).

[0003] like Fig.21 and Fig. 22 As shown, in the connector disclosed in Patent Document 1, steps 911 and 913 are respectively provided on the inner edge portions of the pointed teeth 901 and 903 of the insulation displacement connection portion 90. In other words, the insulation displacement connection portion 90 has a narrow slit 92 and a wide slit 94 having different widths from each other. Fig.21 As shown, the narrow slit 92 is used to connect to the cable 95A having a core wire with a relatively small diameter. Fig. 22 As shown, the wide slit 94 is used to connect to the cable 95B having a core wire of a relatively large diameter. Therefore, the connector of Patent Document 1 can be appropriately connected to each of the cables 95A and 95B having core wires of different diameters. Summary of the invention

[0004] There is a case where a core wire composed of multiple conductors such as a twisted wire is used as the core wire of the cable 95A. The problem of the connector 90 of Patent Document 1 is that when the cable 95A having a core wire composed of multiple conductors is pushed into the narrow slit 92, some of the conductors forming the core wire may be cut.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a connector in which it is difficult to cut a conductor forming a core wire of a cable and the reliability of insulation displacement connection is improved.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention provides a connector, which includes a contactor and a housing for holding the contactor. The contactor is provided with an insulation displacement connection portion to connect to a cable. The insulation displacement connection portion has two insulation displacement blades and has a narrow slit and a wide slit. The positions of the insulation displacement blades in a first direction are different from each other and correspond to the narrow slit. Each of the insulation displacement blades obliquely intersects the first direction. Each of the narrow slit and the wide slit extends in the first direction. In a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the size of the narrow slit is smaller than the size of the wide slit. In the first direction, one of the insulation displacement blades is located between the narrow slit and the wide slit. In the second direction, the position of the middle of the wide slit is different from the position of the middle of the narrow slit.

[0007] In the insulation displacement connection portion of the connector of the present invention, the positions of the two insulation displacement blades corresponding to the narrow slits in the first direction are different from each other. Therefore, when the cable is pushed into the narrow slit of the insulation displacement connection portion, the cable will not be pressed against the two insulation displacement blades at the same time. Therefore, it is difficult to apply an excessive cutting force to the core wire of the cable, and when the core wire is composed of a plurality of conductors, the possibility of the conductor being cut is reduced.

[0008] 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

[0009] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. The connector is attached to the end of a cable.

[0010] Figure 2 It is shown Figure 1 The insulation displacement connection parts of the first contactor and the second contactor and a part of the positioner are shown in an enlarged manner.

[0011] Figure 3 It is shown Figure 2 A perspective view of a first contactor included in a connector.

[0012] Figure 4 It is shown Figure 2 A perspective view of a second contactor included in a connector.

[0013] Figure 5 It is shown Figure 3 A plan view of a first contactor of FIG. 1. The insulation displacement connection is shown in an enlarged manner.

[0014] Figure 6 It is shown Figure 3 The insulation displacement connection is shown in an enlarged manner.

[0015] Figure 7 It is shown Figure 2 A perspective view of a housing included in a connector of FIG. The housing holds a first contactor and a second contactor, but the first contactor and the second contactor cannot be seen.

[0016] Figure 8 Yes Display Figure 7 Front view of the housing.

[0017] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a section taken along line AA Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of the housing.

[0018] Fig.10 is a diagram showing a section taken along line BB Figure 8 A cross-sectional view of the housing.

[0019] Fig.11 It is shown Figure 2 A perspective view of a locator included in a connector.

[0020] Fig.12 It is shown Fig.11 Front view of the positioner.

[0021] Fig.13 It shows the interception along line CC Fig.12 Cross-sectional view of the positioner.

[0022] Fig.14 is a diagram showing a section taken along line DD Fig.12 Cross-sectional view of the positioner.

[0023] Fig.15 It is shown Figure 1 Front view of the connector.

[0024] Fig.16 is a diagram showing a section taken along line EE Fig.15 Using the wide grooves of the insulation displacement connecting parts of the first contactor and the second contactor, covered wires (cables) are connected to the first contactor and the second contactor, respectively.

[0025] Fig.17 It is shown Fig.16 A partial enlarged view of the portion of the connector outlined by the dashed circle.

[0026] Fig.18 is a diagram showing a section taken along line FF Fig.15sectional view of a connector. The coated wire (cable) has a relatively large diameter. A retainer corresponds to each coated wire having a large diameter. Using the wide grooves of the insulation displacement connecting parts of the first contactor and the second contactor, the coated wires held by the retainers are connected to the first contactor and the second contactor, respectively. However, the second contactor and the coated wires connected thereto cannot be seen.

[0027] Fig.19 It is shown Fig.16 The overlaid wires (cables) are connected to the first contactor and the second contactor respectively using the wide grooves of the insulation displacement connecting parts of the first contactor and the second contactor.

[0028] Fig. 20 is a diagram showing a section taken along line FF Fig.15 sectional view of a connector. The coated wire (cable) has a relatively small diameter. A retainer corresponds to each coated wire having a small diameter. Using the narrow grooves of the insulation displacement connecting parts of the first contactor and the second contactor, the coated wires held by the retainers are connected to the first contactor and the second contactor, respectively. However, the second contactor and the coated wire connected thereto cannot be seen.

[0029] Fig.21 is a plan view showing an insulation displacement connection portion disclosed in Patent Document 1. A cable is connected to the insulation displacement connection portion using a narrow slit.

[0030] Fig. 22 It is shown Fig.21 Another plan view of the insulation displacement connection of FIG. A wide slot is used to connect the cable to the insulation displacement connection.

[0031] Although the present invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments of the present invention are shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the drawings and their detailed description are not intended to limit the present invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the purpose is to cover all modifications, equivalent forms and alternative forms that fall within the concept and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Reference Figure 1 , the connector 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is an LC type connector for single pair Ethernet (SPE). The connector 10 is matable with a mating connector (not shown) along the front-to-back direction. In the present embodiment, the front-to-back direction is the Y direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention is applicable to any type of connector having an insulation displacement connection portion. The present invention is not only applicable to plug connectors but also to socket connectors.

[0033] Reference Figure 2 , the connector 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided with a first contactor 12A, a second contactor (additional contactor) 12B, a housing 14, a retainer 16, a base housing 18, a cover housing 20 and a cover 22. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The connector of the present invention can be modified as long as the connector is provided with at least one contactor and a housing for holding the contactor. In addition, the shape and size of each component are not limited but can be freely designed.

[0034] like Figure 3 As shown, the first contactor 12A has a contact portion 30, a held portion 32 and an insulation displacement connecting portion 34. The contact portion 30 is when the connector 10 (see Figure 1 ) is a portion that contacts a mating contact portion (not shown) when mating with a mating connector (not shown). The held portion 32 is a portion that is held by the housing 14 (see Figure 2 ) is a portion for holding. The insulation displacement connection portion 34 is used to connect to the double-strand cable 50 (see Figure 2 ) is a portion of the coated wire (cable) 52A included in the first contactor 12A. The first contactor 12A may be made by punching a metal sheet and has a long, narrow, flat shape extending in the front-rear direction (first direction).

[0035] As per Figure 3 and Figure 4 It is understood that the second contactor 12B has a shape different from that of the first contactor 12A. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The second contactor 12B may have the same shape as that of the first contactor 12A.

[0036] As per Figure 3 and Figure 4 As understood, the second contactor 12B has the same basic structure as that of the first contactor 12A. In other words, the second contactor 12B also has a contact portion 30, a held portion 32, and an insulation displacement connection portion (additional insulation displacement connection portion) 34. In addition, the second contactor 12B has a connection portion 38 that connects the held portion 32 and the insulation displacement connection portion 34 to each other. The connection portion 38 extends in an up-and-down direction perpendicular to the front-and-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the up-and-down direction is the Z direction. The second contactor 12B can be made by stamping a metal sheet and bending the metal sheet.

[0037] As per Figure 5 and Figure 6It is understood that the shape of the contact portion 30 of the first contactor 12A is the same as the shape of the contact portion 30 of the second contactor 12B. In addition, the shape of the held portion 32 of the first contactor 12A and the shape of the insulation displacement connecting portion 34 of the first contactor 12A are mirror images of the shape of the held portion 32 of the second contactor 12B and the shape of the insulation displacement connecting portion 34 of the second contactor 12B, respectively. The contact portion 30, the held portion 32, and the insulation displacement connecting portion 34 of the first contactor 12A are substantially the same in function as the contact portion 30, the held portion 32, and the insulation displacement connecting portion 34 of the second contactor 12B, respectively. Therefore, the following description about the first contactor 12A is applicable to the second contactor 12B.

[0038] like Figure 5 As shown, the contact portion 30 of the first contactor 12A has a pair of contact points 301 and support portions 303 that respectively support the contact points 301. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The shape of the contact portion 30 can be freely designed according to the shape of the mating contact portion (not shown).

[0039] like Figure 5 As shown, the held portion 32 of the first contactor 12A has a plurality of protrusions 321 protruding in the lateral direction (second direction). In the present embodiment, the lateral direction is a direction perpendicular to both the front-to-back direction and the up-down direction, i.e., the X direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The protrusions 321 are not always necessary. The number and shape of the protrusions 321 can be freely set. The held portion 32 can be modified as long as the held portion 32 can be held by the housing 14.

[0040] like Figure 5 As shown, the insulation displacement connection portion 34 of the first contactor 12A is formed in a tuning fork shape and has two tines 341 and 343. Between the tines 341 and 343, a slit 360 extending in the front-rear direction is formed. The slit 360 has a narrow slit 362 and a wide slit 364. In other words, the insulation displacement connection portion 34 has a narrow slit 362 and a wide slit 364.

[0041] like Figure 5 As shown, the narrow slit 362 is defined by the inner edge portion 351 of the tine 341 and the inner edge portion 353 of the tine 343. In addition, the wide slit 364 is defined by the inner edge portion 355 of the tine 341 and the inner edge portion 357 of the tine 343. Each of the narrow slit 362 and the wide slit 364 extends in the front-to-back direction. The narrow slit 362 and the wide slit 364 are adjacent to each other.

[0042] As per Figure 5It is understood that, in the transverse direction, the size of the narrow slit 362 is smaller than the size of the wide slit 364. In addition, in the transverse direction, the middle of the narrow slit 362 is different in position from the middle of the wide slit 364. In the present embodiment, the positions of the inner edge portion 351 and the inner edge portion 355 in the transverse direction are the same, and the positions of the inner edge portion 353 and the inner edge portion 357 in the transverse direction are different from each other. With this structure, in the transverse direction, the middle of the narrow slit 362 is located inside the middle of the wide slit 364.

[0043] like Figure 5 As shown, the insulation displacement connection portion 34 of the first contactor 12A has two insulation displacement blades 371 and 373. The insulation displacement blades 371 and 373 correspond to the narrow slit 362. In other words, the end of the insulation displacement blade 371 is located on the extension of the inner edge portion 351 defining the narrow slit 362, and the end of the insulation displacement blade 373 is located on the extension of the inner edge portion 353 defining the narrow slit 362.

[0044] like Figure 5 As shown, the positions of the insulation displacement blades 371 and 373 in the front-to-back direction are different from each other. The insulation displacement blade 373 is located between the narrow slit 362 and the wide slit 364 in the front-to-back direction. In addition, the insulation displacement blades 371 and 373 obliquely intersect the front-to-back direction. Specifically, the insulation displacement blades 371 and 373 point rearward in the front-to-back direction and are inclined inward in the lateral direction.

[0045] like Figure 5 As shown, the insulation displacement connecting portion 34 of the first contactor 12A further has two insulation displacement blades (additional insulation displacement blades) 375 and 377 corresponding to the wide slit 364. The end of the insulation displacement blade 375 is located on the extension of the inner edge portion 355 defining the wide slit 364, and the end of the insulation displacement blade 377 is located on the extension of the inner edge portion 357 defining the wide slit 364. In addition, the insulation displacement blades 375 and 377 intersect obliquely with the front-to-back direction. Specifically, the insulation displacement blades 375 and 377 point to the rear in the front-to-back direction and are inclined inwardly in the lateral direction. In the present embodiment, the insulation displacement blade 375 is also used as the insulation displacement blade 371. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In addition to the two insulation displacement blades 371 and 373 corresponding to the narrow slit 362, two insulation displacement blades (additional insulation displacement blades) 375 and 377 corresponding to the wide slit 364 can also be provided. Furthermore, the first contactor 12A may not have the insulation displacement blades 375 and 377 corresponding to the wide slit 364 .

[0046] Reference Figure 7The housing 14 is provided with a front portion 141, a rear portion 143, and a lock release lever 145. The housing 14 may be made of an insulating resin.

[0047] like Figure 7 As shown, the front portion 141 of the housing 14 has a shape of a rectangular parallelepiped that is longer in the front-to-back direction. In the front surface of the front portion 141, an opening portion 147 is provided. The rear portion 143 is located behind the front portion 141 in the front-to-back direction. The rear portion 143 defines a receiving portion 149 that opens rearward. In the up-down direction, the size of the rear portion 143 is larger than that of the front portion 141. In the lateral direction, the size of the rear portion 143 is larger than that of the front portion 141. A locking release lever 145 is provided on the front portion 141. The locking release lever 145 extends obliquely rearward and upward. The locking release lever 145 is provided with locking portions 151 protruding on both sides in the lateral direction.

[0048] As per Figures 8 to 10 As will be understood, the housing 14 holds the first contactor 12A and the second contactor 12B. Specifically, the housing 14 holds the held portion 32 of the first contactor 12A and the held portion 32 of the second contactor 12B. In the present embodiment, each of the first contactor 12A and the second contactor 12B is pressed into the housing 14 from the rear in the front-to-back direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The housing 14 may be formed integrally with the first contactor 12A and the second contactor 12B.

[0049] like Fig. 9 and Fig.10 As shown, the insulation displacement connection portion 34 of the first contactor 12A and the insulation displacement connection portion 34 of the second contactor 12B are at least partially located in the receiving portion 149 of the housing 14, so that the slit 360 of the first contactor 12A and the slit 360 of the second contactor 12B are located in the receiving portion 149. The positions of the insulation displacement connection portion 34 of the first contactor 12A and the insulation displacement connection portion 34 of the second contactor 12B in the front-to-back direction are the same as each other. The positions of the insulation displacement connection portion 34 of the first contactor 12A and the insulation displacement connection portion 34 of the second contactor 12B in the transverse direction are different from each other. The insulation displacement connection portion 34 of the first contactor 12A and the insulation displacement connection portion 34 of the second contactor 12B are mirror images of each other with respect to a plane perpendicular to the transverse direction and located between the insulation displacement connection portion 34 of the first contactor 12A and the insulation displacement connection portion 34 of the second contactor 12B.

[0050] Reference Fig.11The retainer 16 has an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape. The retainer 16 is formed to be partially inserted into the receiving portion 149 of the housing 14. The retainer 16 can be made of insulating resin. The retainer 16 is provided with retaining grooves 161 and 161, which accommodate the ends of the coated wires 52A and 52B of the double-strand cable 50.

[0051] As per Figure 12 to Figure 14 As will be understood, each of the positioning grooves 161 and 161 opens downward in the up-down direction and opens forward in the front-rear direction. The position and size of the positioning groove 161 are determined according to the diameter of the coated wire (cable) 52A or 52B included in the double-strand cable 50. Therefore, the positioning groove 161 of the positioner 16 for the coated wire having a relatively large diameter is different in position and size from the positioner 16A for the coated wire having a relatively small diameter (refer to Fig. 20 ) of the positioning groove 161A (refer to Fig. 20 ). In the present embodiment, it should be noted that the coated wires 52A and 52B respectively have core wires 521A and 521B, each of which has a relatively large diameter, and alternatively, the coated wires 52A and 52B respectively have core wires 521A and 521B, each of which has a relatively small diameter.

[0052] like Figures 11 to 14 As shown, in the inner wall of each of the positioning grooves 161 and 161, a plurality of retaining protrusions 163 are formed to protrude into the positioning groove 161. The retaining protrusions 163 retain the ends of the coating wires 52A or 52B of the double-strand cable 50 accommodated in the positioning groove 161 in the positioning groove 161. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The retaining protrusions 163 are not always necessary as long as each of the positioning grooves 161 and 161 regulates the movement of the coating wires 52A or 52B in the front-rear direction and in the lateral direction.

[0053] As per Figure 2 , Fig.18 and Fig. 20 As will be understood, the positioner 16 or 16A holds the ends of the coating wires 52A and 52B to adjust the movement of the coating wires 52A and 52B in the front-rear direction and in the lateral direction. Each of the ends of the coating wires 52A and 52B extends forward from the rear of the positioner 16 or 16A and then extends upward. The positioner 16 or 16A holds the ends of the coating wires 52A and 52B so that the coating wires 52A and 52B are perpendicular to the insulation displacement connecting parts 34 and 34. Therefore, when the positioner 16 or 16A is attached to the housing 14, the positioner 16 or 16A positions the coating wires 52A and 52B relative to the housing 14.

[0054] like Fig.11 , Fig.13 and Fig.14 As shown, in the inner wall of each of the positioning grooves 161 and 161, a guide groove 165 is formed. In the present embodiment, the guide groove 165 is arranged in an inner wall in each of the positioning grooves 161 and 161 in the lateral direction. Specifically, the guide groove 165 is arranged in a flat surface of the inner wall in each of the positioning grooves 161 and 161, wherein the inner walls face each other in the second direction. The guide groove 165 is recessed in the lateral direction and extends in the front-to-back direction. When the housing 14 and the locator 16 are combined with each other, the guide groove 165 guides the insulation displacement connecting portion 34 of the first contactor 12A or the second contactor 12B. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The guide groove 165 can be arranged in each of the inner walls of the positioning groove 161 in the second direction. In other words, the guide groove 165 is arranged in at least one of the inner walls of the positioning groove 161 in the second direction.

[0055] As per Figures 15 to 17 As understood, the retainer 16 is partially accommodated in the accommodation portion 149 of the housing 14 to be attached to the housing 14. At the same time, the insulation displacement connection portion 34 of the first contactor 12A and the insulation displacement connection portion 34 of the second contactor 12B are respectively guided by the guide grooves 165 and 165 and respectively move in the positioning grooves 161 and 161. The insulation displacement connection portion 34 of the first contactor 12A and the insulation displacement connection portion 34 of the second contactor 12B move at a fixed angle relative to the coating wires 52A and 52B held by the retainer 16.

[0056] As per Figures 16 to 18 As understood, when the retainer 16 is inserted into the accommodating portion 149 of the housing 14, the coated wire 52A of the double-strand cable 50 held by the retainer 16 is pushed by the retainer 16 and inserted into the slit 360 of the insulation displacement connecting portion 34 of the first contactor 12A. Here, the retainer 16 for holding the coated wire 52A having a relatively large diameter is formed so that the middle position of the positioning groove 161 and the middle position of the wide slit 364 are identical to each other in the lateral direction. Therefore, the coated wire 52A having a relatively large diameter is pressed roughly uniformly on the insulation displacement blades 375 and 377. In the lateral direction, the size of the core wire 521A is slightly larger than the size of the wide slit 364. Therefore, when the coated wire 52A is pushed into the wide slit 364, the insulation displacement blades 375 and 377 break the covering layer 523A. Then, the core wire 521A is inserted into the wide slit 364 and contacts the inner edge portions 355 and 357. Therefore, the insulation displacement connection portion 34 of the first contactor 12A is electrically connected to the coated wire 52A positioned by the positioning groove 161 of the positioner 16. In a similar manner, the insulation displacement connection portion 34 of the second contactor 12B is electrically connected to the coated wire 52B having a relatively large diameter.

[0057] As per Fig.16, Fig.19 and Fig. 20 As understood, the retainer 16A for holding the coated wire 52A having a relatively small diameter is formed so that the middle position of the retaining groove 161A and the middle position of the narrow slit 362 are identical to each other in the lateral direction. Accordingly, the retainer 16A for holding the coated wire 52A having a relatively small diameter is formed so that the middle position of the retaining groove 161A and the middle position of the wide slit 364 are different from each other in the lateral direction. In this structure, when the retainer 16A is accommodated in the accommodating portion 149 of the housing 14, the coated wire 52A held by the retainer 16A is pressed relatively more strongly on the insulation displacement blade 371 than on the insulation displacement blade 377. Therefore, the coated wire 52A is subjected to a force in the lateral direction that moves the core wire 521A away from the insulation displacement blade 371. Although the movement of the coated wire 52A in the lateral direction is regulated by the retainer 16A, the cross-sectional shape of the coated wire 52A is allowed to be deformed. Therefore, when the core wire 521A is composed of a plurality of conductors, the possibility of the conductors being subjected to cutting force is reduced. Then, the coated wire 52A is pressed on the insulation displacement blade 373. The coated wire 52A is pressed on the insulation displacement blade 371 and the insulation displacement blade 373 in sequence, thereby destroying the covering layer 523A. Therefore, when entering the narrow slit 362, the core wire 521A contacts the inner edge portions 351 and 353. Therefore, the insulation displacement connecting portion 34 of the first contactor 12A is electrically connected to the coated wire 52A positioned by the positioning groove 161A of the positioner 16A. In a similar manner, the insulation displacement connecting portion 34 of the second contactor 12B is electrically connected to the coated wire 52B having a relatively small diameter.

[0058] like Fig.17 and Fig.19 As shown, since the middle of the narrow slit 362 is located inside the middle of the wide slit 364 in the lateral direction, the distance between the coated wires 52A and 52B, each of which has a relatively small diameter and connected to the connector 10, is smaller than the distance between the coated wires 52A and 52B, each of which has a relatively large diameter and connected to the connector 10. In other words, according to the present embodiment, the distance between the coated wires 52A and 52B is changed according to the diameter of each of the coated wires 52A and 52B, so that the differential impedance between the coated wires 52A and 52B can be appropriately maintained.

[0059] As per Figure 2 It is understood that the base shell 18 is formed to have a square U-shape when viewed in the front-rear direction. The base shell 18 may be made by punching a metal sheet and bending the metal sheet. Fig.18 and Fig. 20 As shown, the base shell 18 covers the rear portion 143 of the housing 14 and the retainer 16 or 16A from below. Fig.16 As shown, the base shell 18 covers the rear portion 143 of the housing 14 and the retainer 16 from both sides in the lateral direction.

[0060] like Figure 2 As shown, the cover shell 20 has a main body 201 and a cylindrical portion 203. When viewed in the front-rear direction, the main body 201 is formed to have a square inverted U-shape. The cover shell 20 can be made by punching a metal sheet and bending the metal sheet. Fig.18 and Fig. 20 As shown, the main body 201 of the cover shell 20 covers the rear portion 143 of the housing 14 and the retainer 16 or 16A from above. Fig.16 As shown, the cover shell 20 covers the rear portion 143 of the housing 14 and the retainer 16 from both sides in the lateral direction. Fig.16 , Fig.18 and Fig. 20 It is understood that the barrel portion 203 of the cover shell 20 is fixed to the twin-wire cable 50 .

[0061] As per Figure 2 , Fig.16 , Fig.18 and 20 As will be appreciated, the cover 22 is attached to the twin cables 50 to cover the base shell 18 and the cover shell 20. Fig.18 and Fig. 20 As shown, the cover 22 is provided with an operating portion 221 extending forward. The front end of the operating portion 221 covers the rear end of the lock release lever 145 from above. The cover 22 may be made of insulating resin. When the front end of the operating portion 221 is moved downward in the up-down direction, the operating portion 221 abuts against the rear end of the lock release lever 145 to elastically deform the lock release lever 145. Therefore, the lock portion 151 (see Figure 1 ) moves downward in the up-down direction.

[0062] Although the present invention has been specifically described above with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto, but various modifications and alternative forms are possible without departing from the concept of the present invention. For example, although the insulation displacement connection portion 34 extends in the same front-to-rear direction as the mating direction in the aforementioned embodiments, the insulation displacement connection portion 34 may extend in a direction different from the mating direction. In other words, the first direction in the present invention may be a direction different from the mating direction.

[0063] While there has been described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the present 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.

Claims

1. A connector comprising a contactor and a housing for holding the contactor, wherein: The contactor is provided with an insulation displacement connection for connecting to a cable; The insulation displacement connecting portion has two insulation displacement blades (371, 373) and has a narrow slit and a wide slit; The positions of the insulation displacement edges in the first direction are different from each other; Each of the insulation displacement edges obliquely intersects the first direction; Each of the narrow slit and the wide slit extends in the first direction; In a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the size of the narrow slit is smaller than the size of the wide slit; In the first direction, one of the insulation displacement blades (373) is located between the narrow slit and the wide slit; In the second direction, the position of the middle of the wide slit is different from the position of the middle of the narrow slit; For the narrow slit, the tip of one of the insulation displacement blades (373) is located on an extension of an inner edge portion defining the narrow slit, and the tip of the other of the insulation displacement blades (371) is located on an extension of another inner edge portion defining the narrow slit; The insulation displacement connection portion further has two additional insulation displacement edges (375, 377) corresponding to the wide slit; The tip of one (375) of the additional insulation displacement blades is located on an extension of an inner edge portion defining the wide slit, and the tip of another (377) of the additional insulation displacement blades is located on an extension of another inner edge portion defining the wide slit; and When an extension portion of an inner edge portion defining the wide slit, where the one (375) of the additional insulation displacement blades is located, overlaps with an extension portion of an inner edge portion defining the narrow slit, where the other (371) of the insulation displacement blades is located, the one (375) of the additional insulation displacement blades also serves as the other (371) of the insulation displacement blades corresponding to the narrow slit.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: The connector further includes a locator, the locator locating the cable; The positioner is formed with a positioning groove, and the positioning groove adjusts the movement of the cable in the first direction and the second direction to position the cable; The insulation displacement connection portion is connected to the cable positioned by the positioning groove; and In the second direction, a position of a middle portion of the positioning groove is different from a position of a middle portion of the wide slit.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein: In the second direction, a middle portion of the positioning groove is identical to a middle portion of the narrow slit.

4. The connector according to claim 2, wherein: The positioner is formed with a guide groove into which the insulation displacement connecting part is inserted; The guide groove is provided in at least one of the inner walls of the positioning groove in the second direction; and The guide groove is recessed in the second direction and extends in the first direction.

5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: The connector further includes additional contacts; The additional contactor is provided with an additional insulation displacement connection, the shape of the additional insulation displacement connection being a mirror image of the shape of the insulation displacement connection; In the first direction, the position of the insulation displacement connection is the same as the position of the additional insulation displacement connection; and In the second direction, the position of the insulation displacement connection is different from the position of the additional insulation displacement connection.

Images