Connector contacts

Abstract

The contact (110) includes a cantilever beam (150) extending along an insertion direction (I) from a beam connection end (152) to a beam free end (154) and a protective tab (160) extending in a direction (D) opposite the insertion direction (I) from a tab connection end (162) to a tab free end (164). The tab free end (164) is disposed adjacent to the beam free end (154).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector, and more particularly to a contact of a connector. An electrical connector has a contact including a contact spring that elastically abuts against a mating contact to make electrical connection. During fitting of the contact and the mating contact, particularly when the contact and the mating contact are displaced during insertion, a part of the mating contact may abut against the free end of the contact spring to damage the contact spring, which may impair the fitting and the resulting electrical connection. Attempts to address the collision of the mating contact against the free end of the contact spring include forming the contact spring as a continuous non-cantilever beam. However, such continuous contact springs are difficult to manufacture and costly, as they complicate or hinder the use of the stamping and forming processes most commonly used for contacts. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM

[0002] This problem is solved by a contact comprising a cantilever beam and a protection tab. The cantilever beam extends along an insertion direction from a beam connection end to a beam free end. The protection tab extends from a tab connection end to a tab free end in a direction opposite to the insertion direction. The tab free end is disposed adjacent to the beam free end.

[0003] The present invention will be described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to an embodiment, connected to a first cable. [Figure 2] It is a top perspective view of a contact of the connector. [Figure 3] It is a bottom perspective view of the contact. [Figure 4] It is a side sectional view of the contact. [Figure 5] This is a plan view of the connector connected to the first cable. [Figure 6] This is a detailed cross-sectional view of a connector system, including the connector and the mating connector, showing the connector being inserted into the mating connector. [Figure 7] This is a detailed cross-sectional view of a connector system in the process of inserting one connector into the other. [Figure 8] This is a side cross-sectional view of a connector system, where one connector is mated with the other connector. [Figure 9] This is a plan cross-sectional view of a connector system, where one connector is mated with the other connector. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0005] With reference to Figures 1 to 5, an embodiment of the connector 100 will be described. As shown in Figure 1, the connector 100 comprises a contact 110, a dielectric housing 180 disposed within the contact 110, an inner ferrule 192 disposed around the dielectric housing 180, and an outer ferrule 190 disposed around the inner ferrule 192. As shown in Figure 5, the connector 100 comprises a plurality of terminals 196 disposed within the dielectric housing 180.

[0006] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the contact 110 has a base end 112 and a mating end 114 opposite to the base end 112, along the insertion direction I. The contact 110 has a base portion 120 extending from the base end 112 along the insertion direction I and a transition portion 130 extending from the base portion 120 along the insertion direction I. The base portion 120 and the transition portion 130 extend circumferentially around the dielectric housing receiving space 116 defined by the contact 110. The central longitudinal axis L extends through the center of the dielectric housing receiving space 116 along the insertion direction I and the direction D opposite to the insertion direction I. The base portion 120 and the transition portion 130 are substantially continuous around the dielectric housing receiving space 116 and surround the dielectric housing receiving space 116.

[0007] In the illustrated embodiment, the base portion 120 has a substantially constant oval cross-sectional shape along the central longitudinal axis L. The transition portion 130, in the illustrated embodiment, has the same oval cross-sectional shape as the base portion 120 and is tapered in the insertion direction I from the base portion 120 to a smaller cross-sectional shape. In another embodiment, the transition portion 130 is not tapered and has the same cross-sectional shape and dimensions as the base portion 120.

[0008] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the transition portion 130 has an upper surface 132 and a lower surface 134 opposite to the upper surface 132 in the height direction H perpendicular to the insertion direction I. The transition portion 130 has a pair of side surfaces 136 that face each other in the height direction H and the width direction W perpendicular to the insertion direction I. The side surfaces 136 connect the upper surface 132 and the lower surface 134 of the transition portion 130. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper surface 132 and the lower surface 134 are substantially flat and planar, and the height direction H is perpendicular to the planes of the upper surface 132 and the lower surface 134. The side surfaces 136 are curved in shape. In the illustrated embodiment, the side surfaces 136 are semicircular in shape.

[0009] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the contact 110 has an end portion 140 at the mating end 114. The end portion 140 has the same cross-sectional shape as the base portion 120 and the transition portion 130, and is oval in the illustrated embodiment. The end portion 140 extends circumferentially around the dielectric housing receiving space 116, is substantially continuous with the dielectric housing receiving space 116, and surrounds the dielectric housing receiving space 116. In the height direction H, the end portion 140 has an upper surface 142 and a lower surface 144 opposite to the upper surface 142. The end portion 140 has a pair of side surfaces 146 facing each other in the width direction W, and the side surfaces 146 connect the upper surface 142 and the lower surface 144. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper surface 142 and the lower surface 144 are substantially flat and planar, and the height direction H is perpendicular to the planes of the upper surface 142 and the lower surface 144. The side surfaces 146 are curved in shape. In the illustrated embodiment, the side surface 146 is semicircular in shape.

[0010] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the transition portion 130 and the end portion 140 are separated from each other along the insertion direction I. The contact 110 has a plurality of cantilever beams 150 extending from the transition portion 130 toward the end portion 140 along the insertion direction I, a plurality of protective tabs 160 extending from the end portion 140 toward the transition portion 130 along the direction D opposite to the insertion direction I, and a plurality of connecting beams 170 extending between the transition portion 130 and the end portion 140 and connecting them.

[0011] For clarity in the drawings, only one of the cantilever beams 150, protective tabs 160, and connecting beams 170 is referenced in Figures 1 to 4; however, the reference numerals in the drawings and descriptions herein apply to each of several similar elements shown in the drawings.

[0012] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the cantilever beam 150 extends along the insertion direction I from the beam connection end 152 to the beam free end 154. The beam connection end 152 is connected to the transition portion 130, and the cantilever beam 150 extends away from the transition portion 130 along the insertion direction I. The term “free end” as used throughout the specification means that the end is not connected to another element and can move freely in three dimensions under external forces and subject to the structural and material properties of the element having the free end. Due to the cantilever shape with the beam free end 154 and the material properties of the contact 110, the cantilever beam 150 is able to elastically flex in and out of the dielectric housing receiving space 116, both towards the central longitudinal axis L and away from the central longitudinal axis L, around the beam connection end 152.

[0013] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, each cantilever beam 150 has a cantilever contact portion 156 between the beam connection end 152 and the beam free end 154. The cantilever contact portion 156 is formed by the portion of the cantilever beam 150 that is bent away from the dielectric housing receiving space 116. The cantilever contact portion 156 is located further from the central longitudinal axis L than the beam connection end 152 and the beam free end 154.

[0014] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, in this embodiment, a first plurality of cantilever beams 150 extend from the upper surface 132 of the transition section 130 along the insertion direction I, and a second plurality of cantilever beams 150 extend from the lower surface 134 of the transition section 130 along the insertion direction I, with the cantilever beams 150 extending from the upper surface 132 positioned on the opposite side in the height direction H from the cantilever beams 150 extending from the lower surface 134. In this illustrated embodiment, four cantilever beams 150 extend from the upper surface 132 and four cantilever beams 150 extend from the lower surface 134. In other embodiments, three or fewer or five or more cantilever beams 150 may extend from either the upper surface 132 or the lower surface 134.

[0015] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, each protective tab 160 extends from a tab connection end 162 to a tab free end 164 in a direction D opposite to the insertion direction I. The tab connection end 162 is connected to the end portion 140, and the protective tab 160 extends in direction D away from the end portion 140. The protective tab 160 is capable of elastically bending in and out of the dielectric housing receiving space 116, both towards the central longitudinal axis L and away from the central longitudinal axis L, around the tab connection end 162. In this embodiment, due to the shape and dimensions of the protective tab 160, the protective tab 160 is more rigid and more resistant to bending than the cantilever beam 150.

[0016] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, each protective tab 160 has a guard portion 168 on its outer surface 166 between the tab connection end 162 and the tab free end 164. The guard portion 168 is formed by the bend in the protective tab 160 between the tab connection end 162 and the tab free end 164, which is bent away from the dielectric housing receiving space 116.

[0017] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, in this embodiment, a first set of protective tabs 160 extends along direction D from the upper surface 142 of the end portion 140, and a second set of protective tabs 160 extends along direction D from the lower surface 144 of the end portion 140. The protective tabs 160 extending from the upper surface 142 are positioned on the opposite side in the height direction H from the protective tabs 160 extending from the lower surface 144. In this illustrated embodiment, three protective tabs 160 extend from the upper surface 142, and three protective tabs 160 extend from the lower surface 144. In other embodiments, two or fewer, or four or more, protective tabs 160 may extend from either the upper surface 142 or the lower surface 144.

[0018] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the free end 164 of the protective tab 160 is positioned adjacent to the free end 154 of the cantilever beam 150. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the upper surfaces 132, 142 and the lower surfaces 134, 144 includes multiple cantilever beams 150 and multiple protective tabs 160, one of the protective tabs 160 is centrally positioned between the cantilever beams 150 in the width direction W, and the other protective tabs 160 are adjacent to the cantilever beams 150 in the width direction W. The free end 164 of one of the protective tabs 160 is positioned between multiple free ends 154 of the cantilever beams 150 in the width direction W.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 4, each guard portion 168 of the protection tab 160 is disposed at a distance d1 from the central longitudinal axis L in the height direction H. The distance d1 is greater than the distance d2 from the central longitudinal axis L to the beam free end 154 in the height direction H, and the guard portion 168 is disposed further from the central longitudinal axis L than the beam free end 154 of the adjacent cantilever beam 150. The cantilever contact portion 156 of the cantilever beam 150 is disposed at a distance d3 from the central longitudinal axis L, which is greater than the distance d1 and greater than the distance d2. The guard portion 168 is disposed closer to the central longitudinal axis L than the cantilever contact portion 156. Each guard portion 168 of the protection tab 160 is disposed in front of the beam free end 154 of the cantilever beam 150 along the direction D.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, each connection beam 170 extends along the insertion direction I, and has a first end 172 connected to the transition portion 130, and a second end 174 opposite to the first end 172 and connected to the end portion 140. In the illustrated embodiment, neither the first end 172 nor the second end 174 is a free end. Each of the connection beams 170 can elastically deflect inward and outward of the dielectric housing receiving space 116, toward the central longitudinal axis L side and away from the central longitudinal axis L.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, each connection beam 170 has a connection contact portion 176 between the first end 172 and the second end 174. The connection contact portion 176 is formed by a bent portion of the connection beam 170 that is bent away from the dielectric housing receiving space 116. The connection contact portion 176 is disposed further from the central longitudinal axis L than the first end 172 and the second end 174.

[0022] As shown in Figure 2 and Figure 3, in the embodiment, a pair of connection beams 170 extend between each side surface 136 of the transition portion 130 and one side surface 146 of the end portion 140. The connection beams 170 extending between the opposite side surfaces 136, 146 are arranged to face each other in the width direction W. In other embodiments, one connection beam 170 or three or more connection beams 170 may extend between each side surface 136 of the transition portion 130 and one side surface 146 of the end portion 140.

[0023] The contact 110 is formed of a conductive material. In the embodiment, the contact 110 is integrally formed as a single component including the base portion 120, the transition portion 130, the end portion 140, the cantilever beam 150, the protection tab 160, and the connection beam 170 by stamping and bending. The contact 110 can be formed by stamping from a single contact blank rather than a plurality of parts, eliminating the need for a complex forming process. The shape of the cantilever beam 150 allows independent height adjustment of the cantilever beam 150 in the stamping die.

[0024] As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 5, the dielectric housing 180 of the connector 100 is disposed in the dielectric housing receiving space 116 of the contact 110. The dielectric housing 180 is formed of an insulating material.

[0025] As shown in Figure 5, the terminal 196 is held by the dielectric housing 180. The terminal 196 is formed of a conductive material, but is electrically insulated from the contact 110 by the dielectric housing 180. In the illustrated embodiment, the terminal 196 is a receptacle terminal. In other embodiments, the terminal 196 may be a pin terminal or any other type of terminal used in electrical connectors.

[0026] As shown in the embodiments of Figures 1 and 5, the inner ferrule 192 is positioned around a portion of the dielectric housing 180 and partially within the dielectric housing receiving space 116. The inner ferrule 192 is formed from a conductive material and is electrically connected to the contact 110. The outer ferrule 190 is positioned around the end of the inner ferrule 192 opposite to the contact 110. The outer ferrule 190 is formed from a conductive material and is electrically connected to the contact 110 via the inner ferrule 192.

[0027] In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 5, the connector 100 is connected to a first cable 200. In the illustrated embodiments, the first cable 200 is a shielded twisted pair having a pair of wires 210 twisted together. Each wire 210 has a conductor 212 and an insulating layer 214 arranged around the conductor 212. The first cable 200 has foil 220 formed from a conductive material and arranged around the wires 210. In the illustrated embodiments, there is no foil 220 at the ends of the first cable 200 where the wires 210 are not twisted together and are separated from each other. The first cable 200 has a shield 230 formed from a conductive material and arranged around the foil 220 and the wires 210. The shield 230 may also be called a braid. A jacket 240 of the first cable 200, formed from an insulating material, is arranged around the wires 210, foil 220, and shield 230. In other embodiments, the first cable 200 may be an unshielded twisted pair, a parallel pair differential cable, or any other type of cable connectable to the connector 100.

[0028] As shown in Figure 5, in the region where the wires 210 are separated from each other and the jacket 240 is stripped or removed, the wires 210 extend into the dielectric housing 180 through the inner ferrule 192. Each conductor 212 of the wires 210 is mechanically and electrically connected to one of the terminals 196 of the dielectric housing 180, for example, by crimping. The wires 210 are electrically insulated from the inner ferrule 192 and the contacts 110 by the insulating layer 214. The shield 230 is positioned around the outer surface of the inner ferrule 192 and is electrically and mechanically connected to the inner ferrule 192 by the outer ferrule 190. The outer ferrule 190 is positioned around the first cable 200 and the inner ferrule 192, and in the embodiment, is crimped around the first cable 200 and the inner ferrule 192 to secure the cable 200 and electrically connect the shield 230 to the inner ferrule 192. The shield 230 is electrically connected to the contact 110 via the inner ferrule 192.

[0029] A connector system 10 according to an embodiment is shown in Figures 6 to 9. The connector system 10 comprises a connector 100 and a mating connector 300 that can be mated to the connector 100.

[0030] As shown in Figures 6 to 9, the mating connector 300 comprises a mating contact 310, a mating dielectric housing 320 disposed within the mating contact 310, a mating inner ferrule 332 disposed around the mating dielectric housing 320, a mating outer ferrule 330 disposed around the mating inner ferrule 332, and a plurality of mating terminals 340 disposed within the mating dielectric housing 320.

[0031] The mating contact 310 is formed from a conductive material and has the same cross-sectional shape as the end portion 140 of the contact 110. As shown in Figures 6 to 9, the mating contact 310 forms the mating cavity 318. In the illustrated embodiment, the mating contact 310 is substantially continuous with and surrounds the mating cavity 318. The mating contact 310 has an inner surface 316 adjacent to and defining the mating cavity 318. The mating contact 310 has a mating end 312 located proximal to the connector 100 in direction D. In the illustrated embodiment, the mating end 312 of the mating contact 310 has a chamfered portion 314 that is angled in the direction extending into the mating cavity 318.

[0032] As shown in Figures 6 to 9, the mating dielectric housing 320 is positioned in the mating cavity 318 of the mating contact 310. The mating dielectric housing 320 is formed from an insulating material.

[0033] As shown in Figures 6, 7, and 9, the mating terminal 340 is held within the mating dielectric housing 320 and electrically isolated from the mating contact 310 by the mating dielectric housing 320. In the illustrated embodiment, the mating terminal 340 is a pin terminal. In other embodiments, the mating terminal 340 may be a receptacle terminal or any other type of terminal used in an electrical connector that can be mated to and electrically connected to terminal 196 of connector 100.

[0034] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the mating inner ferrule 332 is positioned around a portion of the mating dielectric housing 320 and partially within the mating cavity 318. The mating inner ferrule 332 is formed from a conductive material and is electrically connected to the mating contact 310. The mating outer ferrule 330 is positioned around the end of the mating inner ferrule 332 opposite to the mating contact 310. The mating outer ferrule 330 is formed from a conductive material and is electrically connected to the mating contact 310 via the mating inner ferrule 332.

[0035] As shown in Figure 9, the mating connector 300 is connected to the second cable 400. In the illustrated embodiment, the second cable 400 is identical to the first cable 200 and is a shielded twisted pair. The second cable 400 has a pair of wires 410, each having a conductor 412 and an insulating layer 414 arranged around the conductor 412. The second cable 400 has foil 420 formed from a conductive material and arranged around the wires 410. In the illustrated embodiment, the foil 420 is absent at the ends of the second cable 400 in areas where the wires 410 are not twisted together and are separated from each other. The second cable 400 has a shield 430 formed from a conductive material and arranged around the foil 420 and the wires 410. The shield 430 can also be called a braid. The jacket 440 of the second cable 400, formed from an insulating material, is arranged around the wires 410, the foil 420, and the shield 430. In other embodiments, the second cable 400 may be an unshielded twisted pair, a parallel pair differential cable, or any other type of cable connectable to the mating connector 300.

[0036] As shown in Figure 9, in the region where the wires 410 are separated from each other and the jacket 440 is stripped or removed, the wires 410 extend into the mating dielectric housing 320 through the mating inner ferrule 332. Each conductor 412 of the wires 410 is mechanically and electrically connected to one of the mating terminals 340 of the mating dielectric housing 320, for example, by crimping. The wires 410 are electrically insulated from the mating inner ferrule 332 and the mating contact 310 by the insulating layer 414. The shield 430 is positioned around the outer surface of the mating inner ferrule 332 and is electrically and mechanically connected to the mating inner ferrule 332 by the mating outer ferrule 330. The mating outer ferrule 330 is positioned around the second cable 400 and the mating inner ferrule 332, and in the embodiment, is crimped around the second cable 400 and the mating inner ferrule 332 to secure the second cable 400 and electrically connect the shield 430 to the mating inner ferrule 332. The shield 430 is electrically connected to the mating contact 310 via the mating inner ferrule 332.

[0037] Next, with reference to Figures 6 to 9, we will explain in detail how to insert connector 100 into the mating connector 300 along the insertion direction I.

[0038] As shown in Figure 6, the mating end 114 of the contact 110 of connector 100 is inserted along the insertion direction I into the mating cavity 318 of the mating contact 310 of the mating connector 300. When the mating end 114 of contact 110 is inserted and contact 110 is centered within the mating cavity 318, the mating end 312 of the mating contact 310 first makes contact with each of the cantilever beams 150 near the cantilever contact portion 156.

[0039] If the contact 110 is not centered within the mating cavity 318 during insertion along the insertion direction I, the mating end 312 first contacts the protective tab 160. The guard portion 168 of the protective tab 160 is positioned in front of the beam free end 154 of the cantilever beam 150 along the insertion direction I and further from the central longitudinal axis L than the beam free end 154. Therefore, the protective tab 160 protects the beam free end 154 and prevents it from contacting the mating end 312 of the mating contact 310, thereby avoiding damage to the cantilever beam 150. As shown in Figure 6, the contact of the mating end 312 with the guard portion 168 of the protective tab 160 during insertion further guides the mating end 312 along the protective tab 160, moving the contact 110 to the centered position in the mating cavity 318.

[0040] As the contact 110 is further inserted into the mating contact 310 along the insertion direction I from the position shown in Figure 6, the cantilever beam 150 abuts against the fitting end 312 at the chamfered portion 314, as shown in Figure 7, and elastically deforms inward toward the dielectric housing 180 into the dielectric housing receiving space 116. The elastically deformed cantilever beam 150 abuts against the inner surface 316 of the mating contact 310 via the connecting contact portion 176, electrically connecting the contact 110 to the mating contact 310. In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the cantilever beams 150 on both the upper and lower surfaces of the contacts 110, which face each other in the height direction H, abut against the inner surface 316 of the mating contact 310 and make electrical contact.

[0041] In Figures 8 and 9, connector 100 is fully inserted and mated with mating connector 300. As shown in Figure 8, in the mating position, dielectric housing 180 abuts against mating dielectric housing 320 along the insertion direction I. In the mating position, cantilever beam 150 is elastically flexed and remains in contact with the inner surface 316 of mating contact 310.

[0042] The connecting beam 170 of contact 110 also flexes and contacts the inner surface 316 of the mating contact 310. While contact 110 is inserted into the mating contact 310 along the insertion direction I, the connecting beam 170 abuts against the mating end 312 at the chamfered portion 314 and elastically deforms inward toward the dielectric housing 180 into the dielectric housing receiving space 116. At the mating position shown in Figure 9, the elastically deformed connecting beam 170 abuts against the inner surface 316 of the mating contact 310 by the connecting contact portion 176, electrically connecting contact 110 to the mating contact 310. In the embodiment shown in Figure 9, the connecting beams 170 on both sides of contact 110 facing each other in the width direction W abut against the inner surface 316 of the mating contact 310 and make electrical contact.

[0043] The electrical connection between contact 110 and mating contact 310 forms a ground and shield connection between the inner ferrule 192 and outer ferrule 190 of connector 100, the shield 230 of the first cable 200, the mating inner ferrule 332 and mating outer ferrule 330 of mating connector 300, and the shield 430 of the second cable 400. As shown in Figure 9, in the mating position of connector 100 and mating connector 300, terminal 196 mates with mating terminal 340 and makes an electrical connection. The electrical connection between contacts 196 and 340 electrically connects the conductors 212 and 412 of cables 200 and 400 for the transmission of current or data.

Claims

1. Multiple cantilever beams (150) extending along the insertion direction (I) from the beam connection end (152) to the beam free end (154), Multiple protective tabs (160) extend from the tab connection end (162) to the tab free end (164) in the direction opposite to the insertion direction (I) (D) and Equipped with, Each of the plurality of protective tabs (160) has a free end (164) adjacent to at least one of the free ends (154) of the plurality of cantilever beams (150). The free end (164) of at least one of the plurality of protective tabs (160) is positioned between adjacent beam free ends (154) of the plurality of cantilever beams (150) along a width axis (W) perpendicular to the insertion direction (I) to a contact (110).

2. The device further comprises a transition portion (130) and an end portion (140) that extend circumferentially around the dielectric housing receiving space (116) defined by the contact (110), respectively. The contact (110) according to claim 1.

3. The contact (110) according to claim 2, wherein the transition portion (130) and the end portion (140) are separated from each other along the insertion direction (I).

4. The contact (110) according to claim 3, wherein the beam connection end (152) is connected to the transition portion (130), and the plurality of cantilever beams (150) each extend away from the transition portion (130) along the insertion direction (I).

5. The contact (110) according to claim 4, wherein the tab connection end (162) is connected to the end portion (140), and the plurality of protective tabs (160) each extend away from the end portion (140) in the direction (D) opposite to the insertion direction (I).

6. The contact (110) according to claim 5, further comprising a connecting beam (170) extending along the insertion direction (I), wherein the connecting beam (170) has a first end (172) connected to the transition portion (130) and a second end (174) connected to the end portion (140).

7. The contact (110) according to claim 6, wherein the connecting beam (170) has a connecting contact portion (176) between the first end (172) and the second end (174), and the connecting contact portion (176) is positioned further away from the central longitudinal axis (L) extending through the center of the contact (110) than the first end (172) and the second end (174).

8. The contact (110) according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of protective tabs (160) has a guard portion (168) on the outer surface (166) of each of the plurality of protective tabs (160) between the tab connection end (162) and the tab free end (164), and the guard portion (168) is positioned further away from the central longitudinal axis (L) extending through the center of the contact (110) than the beam free end (154).

9. The contact (110) according to claim 8, wherein the guard portion (168) is formed by the curved portions of each of the plurality of protective tabs (160) between the tab connecting end (162) and the tab free end (164).

10. The contact (110) according to claim 8, wherein the guard portion (168) is positioned in front of the beam free end (154) along the direction opposite to the insertion direction.

11. The contact (110) according to claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of cantilever beams (150) has a cantilever contact portion (156) between the beam connection end (152) and the beam free end (154), and the guard portion (168) is positioned closer to the central longitudinal axis (L) than the cantilever contact portion (156).

12. The contact (110) according to claim 5, wherein the cantilever beam (150) is one of the plurality of cantilever beams (150) extending from the upper surface (132) and lower surface (134) of the transition portion (130) along the insertion direction (I), and the protective tab (160) is one of the plurality of protective tabs (160) extending from the upper surface (142) and lower surface (144) of the end portion (140) in the direction (D) opposite to the insertion direction (I).

13. The contact (110) comprises a plurality of cantilever beams (150) extending from a beam connection end (152) to a beam free end (154) along the insertion direction (I), and a plurality of protective tabs (160) extending from a tab connection end (162) to a tab free end (164) in the direction opposite to the insertion direction (I) (D), wherein the free end (164) of each of the plurality of protective tabs (160) is located adjacent to at least one of the beam free ends (154) of the plurality of cantilever beams (150), and the free end (164) of at least one of the plurality of protective tabs (160) is located between adjacent beam free ends (154) of the plurality of cantilever beams (150) along a width axis (W) perpendicular to the insertion direction (I). A connector (100) is provided.

14. A connector (100) includes a contact (110) which includes a plurality of cantilever beams (150) each extending along the insertion direction (I) from a beam connection end (152) to a beam free end (154), and a plurality of protective tabs (160) each extending from a tab connection end (162) to a tab free end (164) in the direction opposite to the insertion direction (I) (D), wherein the tab free end (164) of each of the plurality of protective tabs (160) is positioned adjacent to at least one of the beam free ends (154) of the plurality of cantilever beams (150), and the tab free end (164) of at least one of the plurality of protective tabs (160) is positioned between adjacent beam free ends (154) of the plurality of cantilever beams (150) along a width axis (W) perpendicular to the insertion direction (I), A mating connector (300) including a mating contact (310), wherein when the connector (100) is mated with the mating connector (300), the mating contact (310) is electrically connected to the contact (110). A connector system (10) including the connector system.

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