Electrical connector for connecting an electric wire to a flat flexible conductor and an electrical connector assembly therefor

A connector for connecting an electric wire to a flexible conductor having a sheet-like shape and including a first surface and a second surface facing in opposite directions to each other, the connector comprising:

• a housing which is attached to the flexible conductor and holds an end portion of the electric wire;
• and
• a contact which is made of a conductive material and accommodated in the housing, the housing including:
• a first insulator which is disposed on the first surface of the flexible conductor;
• and
• a second insulator which is disposed on the second surface of the flexible conductor and attached to the first insulator along a first direction which is a thickness direction of the flexible conductor,
• wherein the first insulator includes a projection projecting in the first direction toward the second insulator, the projection including an electric-wire-end-portion accommodating portion opening in a second direction intersecting the first direction,
• wherein the second insulator includes a contact accommodating portion which is recessed in the first direction and accommodates the contact,
• wherein the contact includes a plurality of side wall portions extending in the first direction, and a projection accommodating portion which is surrounded by the plurality of side wall portions and recessed in the first direction,
• wherein the plurality of side wall portions include at least one side wall portion formed from an electric-wire connection piece having at a tip thereof in the first direction an electric-wire contact portion which makes contact with the electric wire, and at least one side wall portion formed from a conductor contact piece which makes contact with the flexible conductor,
• wherein the contact is accommodated in the contact accommodating portion, the end portion of the electric wire is accommodated in the electric-wire-end-portion accommodating portion of the projection, and the projection is accommodated in the projection accommodating portion of the contact such that the flexible conductor is sandwiched therebetween and that the electric-wire-end-portion accommodating portion opening in the second direction is opposed to the electric-wire connection piece, and
• wherein the electric wire extends in the second direction from the electric-wire-end-portion accommodating portion and makes contact with the electric-wire contact portion of the electric-wire connection piece of the contact, and a part of the flexible conductor is sandwiched between an outer surface of the projection and the conductor contact piece of the contact and makes contact with the conductor contact piece of the contact, whereby the electric wire is electrically connected to the flexible conductor via the contact.