Connector

Abstract

Connector (10) comprising: a housing (11) comprising a base section (21) and a circumferential wall section (22) extending from the base section (21) in an assembly direction (D) with a mating connector, the housing (11) being open towards a front side in the assembly direction (D) with the mating connector; a connector (12) supported in the housing (11), the connector (12) being in the form of a flat plate extending in the assembly direction (D); a shielding element (13) made of a metal, the shielding element (13) being supported in the housing (11), the shielding element (13) surrounding the connector (12) in such a way as to be directed orthogonally to the connector (12) in a direction in the assembly direction (D);and a protective cap (14) comprising a front covering section (41) for covering a front end part (12d) of the connector (12) in the assembly direction (D) and a locking section (44) which is locked to the shielding member (13), wherein the protective cap (14) is fixed to the shielding member (13) by locking the locking section (44), wherein the connector is configured such that, in a state in which the connector (10) is coupled with the mating connector, the protective cap (14) is fixed to the shielding member (13), the front end part (12d) of the connector (12) is covered by the front covering section (41), and a contact point with a mating terminal of the mating connector is formed on a plate surface (12a) of the connector (12).

Description

Technical FieldThe present invention relates to a connector.Prior ArtConventionally, a high voltage connector used in, for example, a hybrid or electric vehicle needs to be provided with a surge prevention structure so that a worker(s) who(s) handles the connector does not receive a surge due to the contact of a terminal by his / her finger, a tool, or the like. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a connector that prevents a tool or a finger of a worker from touching male terminals by moving a plate configured to slide between a front position where the front ends of the male terminals are drawn into the plate and a rear position where the male terminals project forward.Patent Literature 2 further shows a connector including: a housing, a plurality of first terminals, a plurality of second terminals, and a terminal positioning seat. The housing has an upright stand and a tongue plate.Patent Literature 3 discloses an electrical connector including: an insulating housing; and a number of contacts held in the insulating housing. The insulating housing includes a first body portion and a first tongue extending from the first body portion. The first tongue defines a number of first receiving slots. The contacts include a plurality of first contacts molded into the insulative housing and a number of second contacts.Patent Literature 4 and Patent Literature 5 disclose other connectors.List of ReferencesPatent LiteraturePatent Literature 1: JP 2017-84486 APatent Literature 2: US 2013 / 0323978 A1Patent Literature 3: US 2009 / 0258514 A1Patent Literature 4: EP 2 355 260 A1Patent Literature 5: JP 2014-78402 ASUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTechnical ProblemIn an electric shock preventing structure by the moving plate as described above, there is a problem that the structure is complicated. Thus, there was room for improvement at this point.The present invention has been developed to solve the above problem, and aims to provide a connector capable of preventing an electric shock by a simple configuration.Solution to the ProblemA connector for solving the above problem includes a housing including a base portion and a peripheral wall portion securely extending from the base portion in an assembly direction with a mating connector, the housing being open toward a front side in the assembly direction with the mating connector, a terminal supported in the housing, the terminal being in the form of a flat plate extending in the assembly direction, a shield member made of a metal, the shield member being supported in the housing, the shield member surrounding the terminal to face the terminal in a direction orthogonal to the assembly direction, and a protective cap, which includes a front covering portion for covering a front end part of the terminal in the assembling direction and a locking portion locked to the shield member, the protection cap is fixed to the shield member by locking the locking portion, the connector is formed such that, in a state in which the connector is coupled to the mating connector, the protection cap is fixed to the shield member, the front end part of the terminal is covered by the front covering portion, and a contact point with a mating terminal of the mating connector is formed on a plate surface of the terminal.According to the above aspect, an electric shock due to the contact of the terminal by a finger of a worker, a tool, or the like can be prevented by a simple configuration by only assembling and fixing the protective cap having the front covering portion for covering the front end part of the terminal to the shield member. Further, the connector can be coupled to the mating connector with the protective cap assembled.A connector for solving the above problem includes a housing including a base portion and a peripheral wall portion securely extending from the base portion in an assembly direction with a mating connector, the housing being open toward a front side in the assembly direction with the mating connector, a terminal supported in the housing, the terminal being in the form of a flat plate extending in the assembly direction, and a protection cap including a front covering portion for covering a front end part of the terminal in the assembly direction and a locking portion locked to the housing, the protection cap being fixed to the housing by locking the locking portion, the locking portion being locked to an end edge of a terminal insertion hole, wherein the connector is configured such that, in a state where the connector is coupled to the mating connector, the protection cap is fixed to the housing, the front end part of the terminal is covered by the front covering portion, and a contact point with a mating terminal of the mating connector is formed on a plate surface of the terminal.According to the above aspect, a surge due to the contact of the terminal by a finger of a worker, a tool, or the like can be prevented by a simple configuration by only assembling and fixing the protective cap having the front covering portion for covering the front end part of the terminal to the housing. Further, the connector can be coupled to the mating connector with the protective cap assembled.In the above connectors, the protection cap includes a pair of side covering portions which extend from the front covering portion to respectively cover both end parts of the terminal in a direction orthogonal to the assembly direction, and the locking portion is provided on each side covering portion.According to the above aspect, since the both end parts of the terminal are covered by the side covering portions of the protection cap, it can be made less likely that a finger of a worker, a tool, or the like contacts the terminal.In the above connectors, the protection cap includes protruding portions that protrude along a plate thickness direction of the terminal from both end parts of the front covering portion in a direction orthogonal to the assembly direction and parallel to the plate surface of the terminal.According to the above aspect, the protruding portions of the protection cap can make it less likely that a finger of a worker, a tool, or the like contacts the terminal.Effect of the InventionAccording to the connector of the present invention, it is possible to prevent surge current by a simple configuration.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGFIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector of an embodiment, FIG. 2 is a side view of the connector of FIG. 1 as viewed from an extending direction of terminals, FIG. 3 is a section taken along 3-3 in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a section taken along 4-4 in FIG. 2; and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a connector of a modification.Embodiment of the InventionHereinafter, an embodiment of a connector will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that XYZ axes in the drawings are based on an orthogonal coordinate system of FIG. 1, wherein the X axis represents a width direction of the connector, the Y axis represents a depth direction of the connector orthogonal to the X axis, and the Z axis represents a height direction of the connector orthogonal to an XY plane.The connector 10 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a high voltage connector used in, for example, a hybrid or electric vehicle and connected to, for example, a matching connector provided on an end part of a wiring harness. Note that an assembling direction (direction along a Z-axis direction) of the connector 10 with the mating connector is indicated by an arrow D (hereinafter referred to as the assembling direction D).The connector 10 includes a housing 11 made of a resin such as an insulating resin, a pair of terminals 12 (male terminals) provided in the housing 11, a pair of shield members 13 provided in the housing 11 to respectively correspond to the pair of terminals 12, and a pair of protection caps 14 fixed to the shield members 13 to respectively partially cover the pair of terminals 12.As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the two terminals 12 have the same shape. Each terminal 12 is in the form of a flat plate extending in the Z-axis direction and arranged such that a plate surface 12 a(main surface) thereof is orthogonal to an X-axis direction (width direction of the connector 10). Further, the terminals 12 are provided side by side in the X-axis direction. The plate surface 12 aof each terminal 12 forms a contact point with an unillustrated mating terminal (female terminal) of the mating connector. Note that the pair of terminals 12 are electrically connected to a plus-side wire and a minus-side wire, respectively. Further, the pair of terminals 12 and peripheral structures (the pair of shielding members 13, the pair of protection caps 14, and a housing shape) thereof are symmetrical to each other relative to the width direction of the connector 10.The housing 11 includes a base portion 21 in the shape of a flat plate extending along the XY plane, a peripheral wall portion 22 extending in the assembling direction D from the base portion 21, and a shield holding walls 23 extending in the assembling direction D from the base portion 21 inside the peripheral wall portion 22. The base portion 21 includes a pair of terminal insertion holes 24 that pass through in the Z-axis direction (see FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The respective terminals 12 are inserted into and held in the respective terminal insertion holes 24.The peripheral wall portion 22 is formed into a partially cut annular shape and open toward a front side in the fitting direction D with the mating connector. Each terminal 12 extends in the assembly direction D from the terminal insertion hole 24 of the base portion 21 and is disposed inside the peripheral wall portion 22. The mating connector is fitted to the peripheral wall portion 22, and the plate surfaces 12 aof the respective terminals 12 are in contact with the mating terminals of the mating connector in this fitted state. Note that the mating terminal is configured to contact the plate surface 12 aof the terminal 12 with a resilient force acting in the X-axis direction.The shield holding walls 23 are respectively provided on both sides of the respective terminals 12 in the X-axis direction (width direction of the connector 10). Specifically, a pair of shield holding walls 23 is provided for each of the plus and minus terminals 12, and the terminal 12 is disposed between the pair of shield holding walls 23.Each shielding member 13 is made of a metal plate material which is a conductive material, and the two shielding members 13 have the same shape. The shield member 13 has a surrounding portion 31 having a circular shape (circular shape when viewed in the Z-axis direction parallel to the assembly direction D) to surround the terminal 12. The surrounding portion 31 includes a pair of first side parts 31 aorthogonal to a Y-axis direction (depth direction of the connector 10) and a pair of second side parts 31 borthogonal to the X-axis direction (width direction of the connector 10) and has a substantially rectangular annular shape when viewed in the Z-axis direction by being composed of the respective first side parts 31 aand the second side parts 31 b. In the terminal 12, a part protruding in the assembly direction D from the base portion 21 (terminal insertion hole 24) serves as a protruding part 12 b(see FIGS. 3 and 4 ), and the surrounding portion 31 surrounds a base end part (fixed end part) of the protruding part 12 b.The respective first side parts 31 aof the surrounding portion 31 are normal to the plate surface 12 aof the terminal 12 and face both end parts 12 cin the Y-axis direction of the terminal 12. Further, the second side parts 31 bof the surrounding portion 31 are parallel to the plate surface 12 aof the terminal 12. Each extending locking portion 32 passes through the base portion 21 in the Z-axis direction, and a tip part (rear end part in the assembly direction D) thereof is bent on the rear side (side opposite to the surrounding portion 22) of the base portion 21. In this way, each extending locking portion 32 is locked to the base portion 21 in the Z-axis direction.The shield member 13 includes extending portions 33 that extend along the assembly direction D from the respective second side parts 31 bof the surrounding portion 31. The respective extending portions 33 are provided on both sides in the X-axis direction of the terminal 12. The respective extending portions 33 are provided along the outer side surfaces (side surfaces opposite to inner side surfaces facing the terminal 12) of the shield holding walls 23. Further, each extending portion 33 includes a plurality of locking claws 33 athat are locked to a tip part (front end part in the assembly direction D) of the shield holding wall 23.The shield holding wall 23 is formed with extending walls 23 athat extend inward (toward the terminal 12) in the X-axis direction from both end parts in the Y-axis direction thereof. The respective first side parts 31 aof the surrounding portion 31 are provided along the outer side surfaces of the extending walls 23 a.The protective cap 14 is provided to prevent electric shock, and is made of a synthetic resin such as an insulating resin. The protective cap 14 includes a front covering portion 41 for covering a front end part 12 din the assembly direction D of the terminal 12. a thickness in the X-axis direction of the front covering portion 41 is equal to a plate thickness of the terminal 12. further, a side surface in the X-axis direction of the front covering portion 41 is flush with the plate surface 12 a(surface, which has the contact point with the mating connector) of the terminal 12. a rear end surface in the assembly direction D of the front covering portion 41 is in contact with the front end part 12 dof the terminal 12. further, in the Z-axis direction, a length from the base portion 21 to a front end part in the assembly direction D of the front covering portion 41 is set substantially the same as lengths of the shield holding walls 23 and the extending portions 33 of the shield member 13.As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the protective cap 14 includes a pair of side covering portions 42 that extend along end parts 12 c(end parts in the Y-axis direction) of the terminal 12 from both end parts in the Y-axis direction of the front covering portion 41. The respective side covering portions 42 are in contact with the respective end parts 12 cin the Y-axis direction of the terminal 12.As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, protruding portions 43 protruding toward one side in the X-axis direction are formed on both end edges in the Y-axis direction of the protective cap 14, respectively. Each protruding portion 43 protrudes along the plate thickness direction of the terminal 12. The protruding portion 43 is formed from one end to the other end in the Z-axis direction of the protective cap 14. Specifically, the protruding portion 43 is formed from the front end part in the assembly direction D of the front covering portion 41 to a rear end part in the assembly direction D of the side covering portion 42. Note that a protruding length of the protruding portion 43 from the plate surface 12 aof the terminal 12 is set smaller than the plate thickness of the terminal 12.In an assembled state of the protective cap 14, the side covering portions 42 are inserted between the end parts 12 cin the Y-axis direction of the terminal 12 and the first side parts 31 a(surrounding portion 31) of the shield member 13 (see FIG. 2 ). Further, the side covering portion 42 is disposed between a pair of the extending walls 23 adirected to each other in the X-axis direction.As shown in FIG. 4, a locking claw 44 protruding outward in the Y-axis direction (toward a side opposite to the terminal 12) is formed on the rear end part in the assembly direction D of each side covering portion 42. The locking claw 44 is inserted into a locking hole 34 formed to pass through the first side part 31 aof the shield member 13 in the Y-axis direction to be locked. In this way, the protective cap 14 is fixed to the shield member 13 while partially covering the terminal 12. Note that in the assembled state of the protective cap 14, spaces are formed between the rear end parts of the side covering portions 42 and the base portion 21 of the housing 11.Further, an inclined surface 45 inclined so as to be separated from the terminal 12 toward a rear end side (free end side) is formed on the inner side surface in the Y-axis direction of the side covering portion 42, and a clearance is formed between this inclined surface 45 and the end part 12 cof the terminal 12. In this way, when the protective cap 14 is assembled in the Z-axis direction (direction opposite to the assembly direction D), each side covering portion 42 can be temporarily deflected inward in the Y-axis direction (toward the terminal 12) by contact with the first side part 31 aof the shield member 13, and the locking claw 44 can be inserted from each side covering portion 42 into the locking hole 34 of the first side part 31 ato be locked by the side covering portion 42 that returns resiliently. Further, when the locking claws 44 are unlocked from the locking holes 34 by deflecting the side covering portions 42 inward in the Y-axis direction, the protective cap 14 can be removed.Functions of this embodiment will be described.The front covering portion 41 of the protective cap 14 and the shield holding walls 23 face each other in the X-axis direction, and distances between this front covering portion 41 and these shield holding walls 23 are set to such a dimension that a test finger (not shown) cannot contact the terminal 12 based on safety standards. In this way, it is suppressed that a worker(s) receives a surge current due to the contact of the terminal 12 by his / her finger, a tool, or the like. Further, when the protecting caps 14 are fixed to the shielding members 13 (with the front end parts 12 dof the terminals 12 being covered by the front covering portions 41), the connector 10 can be coupled to the mating connector, and the mating terminals can be brought into contact with the plate surfaces 12 aof the terminals 12 of the connector 10.Effects of this embodiment will be described.(1) The protective cap 14 includes the front covering portion 41 for covering the front end part 12 din the assembly direction D of the terminal 12 and the locking claws 44 locked to the shielding member 13, and the protective cap 14 is fixed to the shielding member 13 by the locking of the locking claws 44. Therefore, a surge due to the contact of the terminal 12 by a finger of a worker, a tool, or the like can be prevented by a simple configuration by only assembling and fixing the protective cap 14 including the front covering portion 41 for covering the front end part 12 dof the terminal 12 with the shield member 13.(2) The connector 10 can be coupled to the mating connector with the protecting caps 14 fixed to the shielding members 13 (with the front end parts 12 dof the terminals 12 being covered by the front covering portions 41). Thus, at the time of coupling the connector 10 to the mating connector, the protection caps 14 do not need to be removed, and a surge due to the contact of the terminal 12 can be more suitably prevented.(3) The protective cap 14 includes the pair of side covering portions 42 extending from the front covering portion 41 to respectively cover the both end parts 12 cof the terminal 12 in the direction (Y-axis direction) orthogonal to the assembly direction D, and the locking claw 44 is provided on each side covering portion 42. Since the both end parts 12 cof the terminal 12 are covered by the one-side covering portions 42 of the protection cap 14 in this manner, a finger of a worker, a tool, or the like can be made less likely to contact the terminal 12.(4) The protective cap 14 includes the protruding portions 43 that protrude along the plate thickness direction (X-axis direction) of the terminal 12 from the both end parts of the front covering portion 41 in the direction (Y-axis direction) orthogonal to the assembly direction D and parallel to the plate surface 12 aof the terminal 12. Thus, the protruding portions 43 of the protective cap 14 make it less likely that a finger of a worker, a tool, or the like contacts the terminal 12.This embodiment can be modified and executed as follows. This embodiment and the following modifications can be made in combination without being mutually conflicting in technical terms.• The configuration such as the shape of the protective cap 14 of the above embodiment is illustrative and can be changed as appropriate. For example, the respective side covering portions 42 may be omitted from the protective cap 14 of the above embodiment, and the front covering portion 41 may be configured to be locked to the shield member 13 (the front covering portion 41 may be configured to include a locking portion).• Although the protective cap 14 is fixed to the shield member 13 in the above embodiment, there is no limitation thereto. For example, the protective cap 14 may be fixed to the housing 11 as shown in FIG. 5, for example.In a configuration shown in FIG. 5, the terminal insertion hole 24 formed in the base portion 21 of the housing 11 is formed to be longer in the Y-axis direction by thicknesses in the Y-axis direction of the respective side covering portions 42, and the terminal 12 and the respective side covering portions 42 are inserted into the terminal insertion hole 24. The locking claws 44 of the respective side covering portions 42 are locked at end edges in the Y-axis direction of the terminal insertion hole 24. In this way, the protective cap 14 is fixed to the housing 11.According to this configuration, a surge due to the contact of the terminal 12 by a finger of a worker, a tool, or the like can be prevented by a simple configuration by only assembling and fixing the protective cap 14 including the front covering portion 41 for covering the front end part 12 dof the terminal 12 to the housing 11. Further, as in the above embodiment, the connector 10 can be coupled to the mating connector with the protecting caps 14 assembled.Note that, in the configuration shown in FIG. 5, protection walls 51 surrounding the locking claws 44 in a locking state protrude on the rear surface (surface opposite to the circumferential wall portion 22) of the base portion 21, thereby suppressing unlocking of the locking claws 44. Further, in the configuration for fixing the protective cap 14 to the housing 11, the one-side covering portions 42 do not need to be in contact with the first side parts 31 aof the shield member 13. In an example shown in FIG. 5, the side covering portions 42 and the first side members 31 aare separated from each other. Further, in the configuration for fixing the protective cap 14 to the housing 11, the shield member 13 may be omitted.Further, although the side covering portions 42 penetrate the base portion 21 in the Z-axis direction, and the locking claws 44 provided on the rear end parts (free end parts) of the side covering portions 42 are locked on the rear surface side of the base portion 21 in the example shown in FIG. 5, there is no particular limitation thereto. For example, locked portions may be formed on the housing 11 side to be locked by the locking claws 44 of the protective cap 14 on the front side in the assembly direction D (circumferential wall 22 side) of the base portion 21.• Although the one side surface in the X-axis direction of the front covering portion 41 of the protective cap 14 is flush with the plate surface 12 aof the terminal 12 in the above embodiment, there is no particular limitation thereto. When the mating terminal can climb over the front covering portion 41 and contact the plate surface 12 aof the terminal 12 when the connector 10 is assembled with the mating connector, the one side surface of the front covering portion 41 can protrude further than the plate surface 12 aof the terminal 12 (the front covering portion 41 can be wider than the terminal 12). Further, both side surfaces in the X-axis direction of the front covering portion 41 may protrude further than the both plate surfaces (the plate surface 12 athat forms the contact point with the mating terminal and the back side of the plate surface 12 a). Alternatively, the two side surfaces in the X-axis direction of the front covering portion 41 may be respectively flush with the two plate surfaces (the plate surface 12 aand the back side of the plate surface 12 a) of the terminal 12.According to the front covering portion 41 of the protective cap 14 configured to protrude from the plate surface of the terminal 12, a finger of a worker, a tool, or the like is less likely to contact the terminal 12. However, the mating terminal needs to climb over the front covering portion 41 when the connector 10 is assembled with the mating connector. Accordingly, by forming an inclined surface on a part of the front covering portion 41 protruding from the plate surface of the terminal 12 so that a thickness in the X-axis direction of the front covering portion 41 becomes larger toward the front end part 12 din the Z-axis direction, the mating terminal can be guided along the inclined surface of the front covering portion 41 and easily climb over the front covering portion 41 when the connector 10 is assembled with the mating connector.• Although the protruding portions 43 protrude toward one side in the X-axis direction from the both end edges in the Y-axis direction of the protective cap 14 in the above embodiment, there is no particular limitation thereto. For example, the protruding portion 43 may be provided only on one end edge in the Y-axis direction of the protective cap 14. Further, the protruding portions 43 may respectively protrude from both sides in the X-axis direction. Further, a combination of these protruding portions 43 (the protruding portion 43 provided on an end edge in the Y-axis direction of the protective cap 14 and the protruding portions 43 protruding on both sides in the X-axis direction, respectively) can be set.• Although the protruding lengths of the protruding portions 43 from the plate surface 12 aof the terminal 12 are set smaller than the plate thickness of the terminal 12 in the above embodiment, there is no limitation thereto, and the protruding lengths of the protruding portions 43 may be greater than or equal to the plate thickness of the terminal 12.• When a surge due to the contact of the terminal 12 by a finger of a worker, a tool, or the like can be prevented by correspondingly setting the distances (clearances) between the shield holding walls 23 and the protective cap 14, the protruding portions 43 can be omitted from the protective cap 14 of the above embodiment.• Although neither of the plate surfaces (the plate surface 12 athat forms the contact point with the mating terminal and the back side of the plate surface 12 a) of the terminal 12 is covered by the protective cap 14 in the above embodiment, there is no limitation thereto. The protection cap 14 may be provided with a covering portion for covering the back surface of the plate surface 12 a, and only the plate surface 12 aforming the contact point may be exposed.• Although the connector of the above embodiment is suitable for a high voltage application of the vehicle, the technique of the present disclosure is not particularly limited to the above embodiment and can be applied to connectors used in other than vehicles and can be applied in other than a high voltage application.A technical idea that can be grasped from the above embodiment and the modifications will be described.(A) The protruding portion of the protective cap is formed from the front covering portion to the side covering portion.According to the above manner, a finger of a worker, a tool, or the like can be made less likely to contact the terminal.List of Reference Numerals10 Connector 11 Housing 12 Terminal 12 aPlate surface 13 Shield member 14 Protective cap 41 Front covering portion 42 Side covering portion 43 Protruding portion 44 Locking claw (locking portion)

Claims

A connector (10) comprising: a housing (11) comprising a base portion (21) and a peripheral wall portion (22) extending from the base portion (21) in a mating connector assembling direction (D), the housing (11) being open toward a front side in the mating connector assembling direction (D); a terminal (12) supported in the housing (11), the terminal (12) being in the form of a flat plate extending in the assembling direction (D); a shielding member (13) made of a metal, the shielding member (13) being supported in the housing (11), the shielding member (13) surrounding the terminal (12) to face the terminal (12) in a direction orthogonal to the assembling direction (D); A protective cap (14) including a front covering portion (41) for covering a front end part (12d) of the terminal (12) in the assembly direction (D) and a locking portion (44) locked to the shielding member (13), wherein the protective cap (14) is fixed to the shielding member (13) by locking the locking portion (44), wherein the connector is formed such that, in a state where the connector (10) is coupled to the mating connector, the protective cap (14) is fixed to the shielding member (13), the front end part (12d) of the terminal (12) is covered by the front covering portion (41), and a contact point with a mating terminal of the mating connector is formed on a plate surface (12a) of the terminal (12).A connector (10) comprising: a housing (11) comprising a base portion (21) and a peripheral wall portion (22) extending from the base portion (21) in a mating connector assembling direction (D), the housing (11) being open toward a front side in the mating connector assembling direction (D), a terminal (12) supported in the housing (1) wherein the terminal (12) is in the form of a flat plate extending in the assembling direction (D); and a protection cap (14) including a front covering portion (41) for covering a front end part (12d) of the terminal (12) in the assembling direction (D) and a locking portion (44) locked to the housing (11), wherein the protective cap (14) is fixed to the housing (11) by locking the locking portion (44), the locking portion (44) is locked to an end edge of a terminal insertion hole (24), the connector is formed such that, in a state in which the connector (10) is coupled to the mating connector, the protective cap (14) is fixed to the housing (11), the front end part (12d) of the terminal (12) is covered by the front covering portion (41), and a contact point with a mating terminal of the mating connector is formed on a plate surface (12a) of the terminal (12).The connector (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: the protective cap (14) includes a pair of side covering portions (42) extending from the front covering portion (41) to respectively cover both end parts of the terminal (12) in a direction orthogonal to the assembly direction (D), and the locking portion (44) is provided on each side covering portion (42).The connector (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the protective cap (14) includes protruding portions (43) that protrude along a plate thickness direction of the terminal (12) from both end parts of the front covering portion (41) in a direction orthogonal to the assembly direction (D) and parallel to the plate surface of the terminal (12).

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