Electrical connector and method of producing the same

A method of producing an electrical connector configured to be connected to a mating connector in a fitting direction and including contacts and an insulator having a substantially plate-like fitting portion that fixedly retains said contacts, said mating connector comprising a U-shaped contact comprising a first contact portion and a second contact portion which are disposed separately from each other in the fitting direction, said fitting portion being disposed between said first and second contact portions of the mating connector when said electrical connector is connected to said mating connector,

• said method comprising the steps of:
• forming a contact member having integrally said contacts and a carrier provided at ends of said contacts and connecting said ends of said contacts together;
• and
• forming, at the other end of each of said contacts of the electrical connector, a first contact portion of said electrical connector, and a second contact portion of said electrical connector being continuous with said first contact portion and formed at a tip side of said contact in said fitting direction, said first and second contact portions of the electrical connector are provided for connection to said first and second contact portions of the mating connector, respectively, such that said first contact portion is exposed on one side of said fitting portion, and at least part of said second contact portion is exposed at a surface of said fitting portion on the other side of said fitting portion,
• fixing said first contact portions spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval therebetween by the use of a fixing metal mold, and
• overmolding said contacts to thereby form said contacts integral with said insulator.