WO2006044514A1

WO2006044514A1 - Round shielded-connector

Info

Publication number: WO2006044514A1
Application number: PCT/US2005/036776
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kotaro Kobayashi; Naoya Matsuura
Original assignee: Molex Incorporated
Priority date: 2004-10-13
Filing date: 2005-10-13
Publication date: 2006-04-27
Also published as: JP4544960B2; JP2006114266A

Abstract

A shielded connector assembly comprising first and second connectors to be mated together that connect a pair of shielded cables. The first connector comprises a first insulating housing having first terminals mounted therein, a first cylindrical insulating casing, and an electrically conductive shield member. Likewise, the second connector comprises a second insulating housing having second terminals mounted therein, a second cylindrical insulating casing and an electrically conductive shield member. At least one of the shield members of the first and second connectors and encloses both the rear ends of the first or second terminals and the conductors of the first or second shielded cables, and the shield member forming a hollow cylinder having a polygonal configuration and the side divisions bent to form the polygon.

Description

ROUND SHIELDED CONNECTOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

^■ The present invention relates to a round shielded connector assembly comprising a plug connector and a receptacle connector for use in connecting two shielded cables together.

The conductive connector body, however, typically being die-cast is costly, therefore raising the manufacturing cost of the round shielded connector assembly.

A conventional round shielded connector comprises a connector hollow body of an insulating material and a shield member of an electrically conductive material (see Patent

Documents 2 and 3). Specifically, the round shielded connector of Patent Document 2 comprises a cylindrical metal shell and a cylindrical insulative connector housing that encloses the cylindrical metal shell. The cylindrical metal shell, in turn, surrounds the terminals and the conductors of the shielded cable, whereby the metal shell is connected to the braided wire of the shielded cable. The round shielded connector of Patent

Document 3 comprises a plug and a connector receptacle connector each comprising a square housing of an insulating material containing a plurality of male or female terminals therein. A conductive square shield cover encloses the square insulating housing and the terminal-connected conductors of a shielded cable. A cover of an insulating material protects the shielded assembly, whereby the square shield cover is connected to the shielded cable via the braided wire.

Patent Documents 1: Utility Model Registration No. 2596377; Patent Documents 2: Patent No.3064189; and Patent Documents 3: Patent No.3097367. In order to reduce the manufacturing cost of the round shielded connector it has been proposed that the connector body be made of an insulating material and that the insulating connector body have a shield member of an electrically conductive material disposed therein.

FIG.13 shows such an electrically conductive shield member. As shown, the cylindrical shield member is composed of two semi-cylindrical parts 32 and 33, which are connected together. This design requires production of two similar parts, which does not significantly reduce the manufacturing cost.

FIG.14 shows another example of an electrically conductive shield member. As shown, it takes the shape of the letter "C" 34. The "C"-shaped member is closed by laying the opposite ends 35 and 36 on each other and fastening them together, thus providing a cylindrical shape. This design advantageously requires only a single part, but its opening Ll is relatively narrow, making it somewhat difficult to insert a shielded cable. In the hope of eliminating such difficulty, the "C"-shaped member is modified so that it has a fold at the midpoint 37. Thus, an " ω "-shaped member is provided as shown in FIG.15. Consequently the opening L2 is wide enough to facilitate insertion of the shielded cable. In accommodating the shielded cable in the " ω "-shaped member it is, however, necessary to unfold the " ω "-shaped member so that the shield-cable can be inserted through the opening prior to bending the shield member over the shielding cable. Disadvantageously the " ω "-shaped member is likely to crack along the fold 37. As for the square shield member of Patent Document 3: assuming that a shielded cable is accommodated not in the circular space but in the square space, the square need sto be increased along the sides, otherwise the same cable as would be accommodated in the circular space could not be accommodated in the square space. Consequently the cylindrical connector hollow body, which encloses the square shield member, would have to be increased in size. In view of this and of presumptive difficulty in handling such square shield member, renders this process practically useless.

In view of the above, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved round shielded connector assembly whose shield member is easy to handle in accommodating a shielded cable, and is effective to significantly reduce the manufacturing cost of the round shielded connector assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To attain the object as described above, a round shielded connector assembly includes first and second connectors to be mated together. The first connector includes: a first insulating housing having a plurality of first terminals mounted therein; a first cylindrical insulating casing surrounding the first housing; and an electrically conductive shield member disposed between the first housing and the first casing, surrounding both the first housing and the conductors of a shielded cable, whereby the conductors are connected to the rear ends of the first terminals, and the shield member having its electrically conductive piece connected to the braided wire of the shielded cable. The second connector includes a second insulating housing having a plurality of second terminals mounted therein; a second cylindrical insulating casing surrounding the second housing; and an electrically conductive shield member adjoining both the second housing and the second casing, surrounding both the second housing and the conductors of a shielded cable. The conductors are connected to the rear ends of the second terminals and the shield member has its electrically conductive piece connected to the braided wire of the shielded cable. Accordingly, at least one of the shield members of the first and second connectors that surrounds both the rear ends of the first or second terminals and respective conductors is a polygonal hollow cylinder having its side divisions bent to form the polygon.

The polygonal hollow cylinder includes first and second sets of side divisions that are integrally connected by a boundary fold between the tail side division of the first set and the head side division of the second set, leaving the head side division of the first set free from the tail side division of the second set. The first set of side divisions are bent into a "U"-shape, defining a cable-accommodating space, and the second set of side divisions are bent excluding the boundary fold and the subsequent fold between the head and subsequent side division. The boundary fold and the subsequent fold of the second set are to be bent in the order named at the time of crimping the shielded cable, and closing the cable-accommodating space like a canopy. The boundary fold is stronger than the subsequent fold in respect of the yielding resistance to the folding power.

The round shielded connector assembly further includes an annular seal sandwiched between the front end of the first cylindrical insulating casing and the opposing front end of the second cylindrical insulating casing; and two seals are placed on the rear ends of the first and second casings and pressed by associated end caps to seal the gaps between the rear ends of the first and second casings and the shielded cables.

As described above, at least one of the shield members of the first and second connectors that surround both the rear ends of the first or second terminals and the subsequent terminal-connected conductors is a polygonal hollow cylinder having its side divisions bent to form the polygon, which is substantially equivalent to the circular space for accommodating a shielded cable. Consequently little or no enlargement of the first and second cylindrical insulating cases is required in spite of use of non-circular space for accommodating the shielded cable.

The polygonal cylinder shield member can be provided as a single part, thus reducing the number of required parts to the minimum. This polygonal shape is effective in reducing the manufacturing cost of the shield member in comparison with the circular cylindrical one, which consists of two semi-circular parts. Still advantageously, the geometric combination of "U"-shaped, cable-accommodating space and the uprising portion is effective to make the opening large enough to facilitate insertion of a shielded cable in the "U"-shaped space. The opening can be easily closed by bending the uprising portion at two sequential folds. This significantly contributes to the trouble-free, efficient automatic assembling in the line.

The boundary fold is stronger than the subsequent fold in respect of the yielding resistance to the folding power. This assures that the folding work is always performed in a reliable, stable way. Accordingly, the assembling workability can be substantially improved.

As described above, the annular seal is sandwiched between the front end of the first cylindrical insulating casing and the mating end of the second cylindrical insulating casing; and two seals are placed on the rear ends of the first and second casings and pressed by associated end caps to seal the gaps between the rear ends of the first and second casings and the shielded cables. Thus, the round shielded connector having a shielded cable mounted therein is assured to prevent invasion of moisture. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plane view of a round shielded connector according to the present invention with its plug and receptacle connector units mated;

FIGlA is longitudinal section of the plug connector unit taken along the line S-S in FIGl;

FIG.2 is a longitudinal section of the plug connector unit;

FIG.3 is a cross section of the plug connector unit as viewed from the left side of FIG.2;

FIG.4 is a cross section of the plug connector unit taken along the line X-X in FIG.2;

FIG.5 is a longitudinal section of the receptacle connector unit; FIG.6 is a side view of the receptacle connector unit as viewed from the right side of FIG.5;

FIG.7 is a plane view of the plug shell cover;

FIG.8 is a side view of the plug shell cover as viewed from the left side of FIG.7; FIG.9 is a similar side view with the uprising canopy bent at the border fold (broken line); FIG.10 is another similar side view with the canopy bent at the subsequent fold

(broken line);

FIG.11 is a plane view of the plug connector unit, illustrating how the parts are assembled;

FIG.12 is a plane view of the receptacle connector unit, illustrating how the parts are assembled;

FIG.13 is a sectional view illustrating a circular cylindrical shield member comprising two semi-cylinders;

FIG.14 is a sectional view illustrating a "C"-shaped shield member; and FIG.15 is a sectional view illustrating another "C"-shaped shield member. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Now, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a round shielded connector assembly according to the present invention is shown as a plug and receptacle connector (1, 2). FIG. IA is a longitudinal section of the plug connector unit 1 taken along the line S-S in FIG. 1. FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show the plug connector 1 in structure whereas FIGS. 5 and 6 show the receptacle connector 2 in structure. In the following description the parts of the plug connector 1 are referred to by adding the word "plug" whereas those of the receptacle connector 2 are referred to by adding the word "receptacle".

Referring to FIGS. 1 and IA, the round shielded connector assembly comprises the plug connector 1 and the receptacle connector 2, Wherein the connectors are to be mated together in use. The plug connector 1 comprises a plug insulating housing 102 having a plurality of plug terminals 101 mounted therein, and a plug cylindrical insulating casing 104 surrounding the first housing 102. Likewise, the receptacle connector 2 comprises a receptacle insulating housing 202 having a plurality of plug terminals 201 mounted therein, and a receptacle cylindrical insulating casing 204 surrounding the receptacle housing 202.

The plug terminals 101 are connected to the conductors 4 of a first shielded cable 3. Likewise the receptacle terminals 201 are connected to the conductors 4 of a second shielded cable 3.

An electrically conductive shield member 103 is disposed between the plug housing 102 and the plug casing 104, surrounding the plug housing 102. The shield member 103 is connected to the braid wire 5 of the shielded cable 3. Likewise, another shield member 203 is positioned close to both the receptacle housing 202 and the receptacle casing 204, surrounding the receptacle housing 202 and is connected to braid wire 5 of the counter shielded cable 3. These shield members 103 and 203 are adapted to come to contact with each other when the plug and receptacle connector 1 and 2 are mated together. Thus, the round shielded connector is guaranteed to be free of electromagnetic interference (EMI). A seal 7 is placed on the rear end 106 of the plug casing 104, and is pressed by an end cap 6 to seal the gap between the rear end of the plug casing 104 and the shielded cable 3. Specifically, the seal 7 is a rimmed hollow-cylinder of elastic material, and the end cap 6 is a ring whose inner wall is tapped. The hollow space is convergent rearward, defining a convergent shoulder 8 inside. The plug casing 104 has threads formed on its rear end 106. When the end cap 6 is screwed to the rear end 106 of the plug casing 104, the seal 7 is yieldingly deformed to fill the gap between the plug casing 104 and the shielded cable 3. Likewise, the receptacle connector 2 has a flanged seal 7 and an end cap 6 to seal the gap between the receptacle casing 204 and the shielded cable 3. The plug casing 104 has a slidable ring coupler 107 on its front side. The ring coupler 107 has female threads 108 formed inside, and the receptacle casing 204 has male threads 208 formed at its front end 205. The ring coupler 107 can travel between the annular detent 116 and the lower-to-upper level riser 115, both formed on the plug casing 104. The plug and receptacle connector 1 and 2 can be coupled by screwing the ring coupler 107 to the front end of the receptacle casing 204. Thus, the connector 1 and 2 can be positively connected without any fear of undesired decoupling.

Also, a seal 207 is placed next to the male-threaded front end 205 of the receptacle casing 204, and is pushed against the front end 205 by the front end 105 of the plug casing 104 when the ring coupler 107 is screwed to the front end 205 of the receptacle casing 204. Thus, the gap between the plug casing 104 and the receptacle casing 204 can be sealed properly.

As described earlier, the round shielded connector assembly is sealed at its opposite ends with the seals 7 and the pressing end caps 6, thus establishing the water-proof connection to the opposite shielded cables. Both the end sealing and the inter-sealing assure that the round shielded connector prevents invasion of moisture.

The plug and receptacle connector 1 and 2 are described below in more detail. As described above, in the plug connector unit 1 the plug terminal mount 102 is fitted in the cylindrical casing 104, and the shield member 103 surrounds the plug terminal mount 102 (see FIGS.2 and 3). Each plug terminal 101 having a pin contact portion 113, is embedded in the housing 102 by insert molding. The insulating mold 102 has the plug terminals 101 partly exposed on its rear side. The rear ends 114 of the plug terminals 101 are connected to the conductors 4 of the shielded cable 3. The shield member 103 comprises a cylindrical plug shell 109 and a plug shell cover 110. The cylindrical plug shell 109 surrounds the plug housing 102 and the plug terminals' contacts 113 whereas the plug shell cover 110 surrounds the plug terminals' soldering tails 114 and the cable conductors 4. The plug shell cover 110 consists of an octagonal hollow body "P", as later described in detail. The plug shell 109 and the plug shell cover 110 are integrally and electrically connected by making the catch projections 111 of the plug shell 109 snap into the slits 112 of the plug shell cover 110. The plug shell cover 110 has a barrel 9 to be connected to the braid wire 5 of the shielded cable 3 (see FIG.7), thus making a required grounding connection between the shield member 103 and the braid wire 5 via the barrel 5. In the receptacle connector 2, the receptacle terminal mount 202 is made from an insulating material and is fitted in the cylindrical casing 204. The shield member 203 surrounds the receptacle terminal mount 202 (see FIGS.5 and 6).

Each receptacle terminal 201 having a socket contact 218 is embedded in the insulative receptacle housing 202. The receptacle insulating housing 202 has the receptacle terminals 201 partly exposed on its rear side 219. The receptacle insulating housing 202 consists of front and rear halves 209 and 210. The rear ends 219 of the receptacle terminals 201 are connected to the conductors 4 of the shielded cable 3.

The shield member 203 is made of an electrically conductive material having a cylindrical hollow body surrounding the part of the receptacle housing 202, which surrounds the receptacle terminals' soldering tails 219 and the soldered cable wires 4.

As seen from FIG.12, the cylindrical hollow body 203 consists of a semi-cylindrical receptacle shell body 211 and a semi-cylindrical receptacle shell cover 212 (see FIG.12).

The receptacle shell body 211 has a catch projection 213 that snaps in the counter slit 215 of the receptacle housing 202. Likewise, the receptacle shell cover 212 has a catch projection 214 that snaps in the counter slit 215 of the receptacle housing 202. Thus, the shield member 203 can be properly positioned when its semi-cylindrical parts are fastened to the receptacle housing 202.

The receptacle shell body 211 has male engagement pieces 216 formed thereon, and the receptacle shell cover 212 has female engagement pieces 217 formed thereon. Also, the receptacle shell body 211 has a barrel 9 connected to its rear end. The shield member 203 is connected to the braid wire 5 of the shielded cable 3 via the barrel 9 of the receptacle shell body 211.

The plug shell cover 110 consists of an octagonal hollow body "P" that is described below in detail. Referring to FIG.4, the octagonal hollow body "P" has its side divisions bent to form the polygon. The opposite side divisions have male and female engagement pieces 16 and 17, which are laid on each other and integrally connected by mating the male engagement piece 16 with the female engagement piece 17. The so formed octagonal hollow body "P" is used to surround the plug terminal soldering tails 114 and the soldered cable conductors 4.

The octagonal hollow body is almost equal in area to the cylindrical hollow body whose circumference is tangential with the polygon. In other words, the undesired dead spaces are limited to a possible minimum. Consequently, the octagonal hollow body can accommodate a shielded cable of the same size as would be accommodated in the equivalent or tangential cylindrical hollow body.

Assuming that a square hollow body is fitted in a plug casing 104 of a given size or diameter, and that the space available for cable occupation in the square space is estimated to be 100, then the available cable-occupation space of the octagonal hollow body is estimated to be 146, much larger than that of the square hollow body. Referring to FIGS.7 to 10, the manner of making such an octagonal plug shell cover 110 is described below.

FIGS.7 and 8 are side and front views of the plug shell cover 110 prior to folding and attaching to the plug housing 102. FIGS.9 and 10 illustrate how the plug shell cover 110 is bent and fastened with a latch. Specifically FIG.9 shows how the plug shell cover 110 as it looks when it is bent at the fold 14 (broken line) whereas FIG.10 shows the plug shell cover 110 when it is bent at the fold 15 (broken line) subsequent to the first folding.

As seen in FIGS.7 and 8, the prior-folding shell cover 110 comprises first and second sets of side divisions, which are integrally connected by the boundary fold 15 between the tail side division of the first set and the head side division of the second set, leaving the head side division 21 of the first set apart from the tail side division 22 of the second set by a relatively long distance "L". The first set of side divisions are bent into a "U"-shape 12, defining a cable-accommodating space 11, and the second set of side divisions are bent, except for the boundary fold 15 and the subsequent fold 14 between the head and subsequent side divisions of the second set. As described above, the subsequent fold 14 and the boundary fold 15 of the second set are bent in the order named at the time of crimping the shielded cable, closing the cable-accommodating space 11 like a canopy 13.

When the first and second folds 14 and 15 are bent at a predetermined angle, the free end side division 21 of the "U"-shape meets the free end side division 22 of the canopy. These counter side divisions are then fastened together by making the catch projection 16 of the free end 21 of the "U"-shape snap in the slit 17 of the free end 22 of the canopy. Thus, the octagonal plug shell cover 110 is resulted.

The boundary fold 15 is stronger than the subsequent fold 14 in respect of the yielding resistance to the folding power. This permits the subsequent fold 14 to be bent first, and the bending at the boundary fold 15 follows naturally when the octagonal plug shell cover 110 is fastened to the plug housing 102.

The side length and angle of the polygon are so determined that the bending at the fold 14 makes the free end 22 of the canopy come to meet the free end 21 of the "U"-shape, thereby preventing further bending about the fold 14 (see broken line in FIG.9).

Now that further bending is not permitted about the fold 14, the second bending at the fold 15 starts, and finally the free end 22 of the canopy is laid on the free end 21 of the "U"-shape. These counter ends are then fastened together by snapping the catch projection 16 in the slit 17, providing the octagonal plug shell cover 110. As may be understood from the above, the folding work is always done in two subsequent steps in the predetermined order. This advantageously assures stable and efficient folding work.

As described earlier, the octagonal plug shell is a single part, which can be folded into the desired polygon. The number of parts required is reduced to minimum, and accordingly the manufacturing cost of the round shielded connector is reduced.

Due to the sequentially collapsible structure, the cable-insertion gap "L" can be enlarged substantially. Accordingly, application of the plug shell cover 110 to the shielded cable is facilitated. This contributes to the reduction of the manufacturing cost of the round shielded connector assembly.

The boundary fold 15 is stronger than the subsequent fold 14 with respect to the yielding resistance to the folding power. Such folding resistance can be easily controlled, involving little or no cost.

The connector structure as described above permits the use of a plug casing made from an insulating material 104, a shield member of an electrically conductive material 103, a receptacle casing 204 and a shield member of an electrically conductive material 203 as a substitute for the diecast connector hollow body. The diecast connection hollow body prohibits the reduction of manufacturing costs of the round shielded connector assembly. The following description is directed to how the plug and receptacle connector units 1 and 2 can be assembled respectively.

Referring to FIG.11, a shielded cable 3 is inserted in the end cap 6, the seal 7 and the plug cover 104, with the conductors 4 and braided wire 5 of the cable 3 being exposed from the outer sheath of the cable 3 (in the drawing the exposed conductors and braided wire 5 being wrapped by a copper foil 10 in order to facilitate the assembling work).

The plug shell 109 is applied to the circumference of the plug housing 102, in which a plurality of plug terminals 101 are embedded. Then, the conductors 4 of the shielded cable 3 are soldered to the rear ends 114 of the plug terminals 101. Finally the plug shell cover 110 is applied to the assembly, crimping the barrel 9 about the braided wire 5 for grounding. Specifically, the shielded cable 4 is put in the "U"-shaped cable-accommodating space 11 of the plug shell cover 110, and then it is bent at the first 14 and second 15 folds in the order named. Finally the male projections 16 are made to snap in the female slits 17 to form the octagonal cylinder "P". At the time of applying the plug shell cover 110 to the assembly the male projections 111 of the plug shell 109 are made to snap in the female slits 112 of the plug shell cover 110, thus resulting in the integrated shield member 103 (plug shell-and-plug shell cover combination 109 and 110) simultaneous forming the polygon.

The plug connector 102, with the shield member 103 fitted there around, is then pulled into the plug casing 104. The seal 7 is inserted into the rear end 106 of the plug cover 104, and the end cap 6 is screwed to the plug casing 104 to seal the gap between the rear end 106 of the plug casing 104 and the shielded cable 3. Thus, the plug connector unit 1 is completed.

The assembling work is relatively easy; the prior-attachment plug shell cover 110 has a relatively wide loophole "L" for insertion of the shielded cable, and the two-step folding assures false-free, precise polygonal formation. This improves the efficiency in assembling work and attains significant reduction of the manufacturing cost of the round shielded connector assembly.

Referring to FIG. 12, another shielded cable 3 is inserted in the end cap 6, the seal7 and the receptacle cover 204, which has an annular rubber 207 attached to its rear end, with the conductors 4 and braided wire 5 of the cable 3 being exposed from the outer sheath of the cable 3. The exposed connector and braided wire 5 are wrapped by a copper foil 10.

The receptacle housing 202, which comprises the front and rear semi-housings 209 and 210, has the receptacle terminals 201 embedded therein with their soldering tails 219 exposed from the rear end of the receptacle housing 202. The conductors 4 of the shielded cable 3 are soldered to the soldering tails 219 of the receptacle terminals 201. Then, the shield member 203 is applied to the soldering tails 219 and the soldered conductors 4, surrounding them. The receptacle shield member 203 is attached to the receptacle housing 202. Specifically the semi-cylindrical shell body and shell cover 211 and 212 are applied to the opposite sides of the receptacle housing 202, and integrally combined by mating the male projections 213 and 214 of the semi-cylindrical shell body 211 and shell cover 212 with the female slits 215 of the receptacle housing 202, and by mating the male and female pieces 216 and 217 of the receptacle shell body 211 and receptacle shell cover 212 together. Then, the barrel 9 of the receptacle shell body 211 is crimped around the braided wire 5 of the shielded cable 3.

The receptacle connector 202 with the shield member 203 fitted therearound is pulled into the receptacle casing 204. The seal 7 is applied to the rear end 206 of the receptacle casing 204, and the end cap 6 is screwed to the receptacle casing 204 to seal the gap between the rear end 206 and the shielded cable 3. Thus, the receptacle connector unit 2 is completed.

The receptacle connector unit 2 can be assembled as easily as the plug connector unit 1. The ease with which the plug and receptacle connector units can be assembled respectively contributes to significant reduction of the manufacturing cost of the round shielded connector assembly.

The present invention is described above as having an octagonal shield member on the plug connector unit. The shield member in the receptacle connector unit can be replaced by a similar octagonal shield member. This permits further reduction of the manufacturing cost of the round shielded conductor.

The octagon is selected for the shape of the shield member in view of facilitating the folding work and of minimizing the dead spaces in the cable accommodating space. Another polygon of less side divisions than the octagon may be used with equally advantageous results.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A shielded connector for mating with an opposing shielded connector comprising: an insulative housing including a plurality of terminals mounted therein, each of the terminals having a front contacting portion and a rear mounting portion configured at opposing ends of said terminal; a cylindrical casing enclosing the housing; an electrically conductive shield member disposed between said housing and the casing enclosing both the housing and the conductors of a shielded cable, the shielded cable including a plurality of conductors, a braided wire portion enclosing the conductors and an outer insulative portion, said connectors being connected to said rear portions of said terminals and said shield member being connected to the braided wire portion of said shielded cable; and said shield member further including at least five side divisions forming a hollow cylinder having a polygonal configuration and the side divisions being bent to form the polygon.

2. The shielded connector according to claim 1, wherein the polygonal hollow cylinder further comprises first and second sets of side divisions, each of the first and second side division includes a first side portion and a second side portion, the first and second sets of side divisions integrally connected by a boundary fold between the disposed second side portion of the first set and the first side portion of the second set, leaving the first side portion of said first set of side divisions free from the second side portion of the second set of side divisions, said first set of side divisions bent into a "U"-shape defining a cable-accommodating space, said second set of side divisions being bent except for the boundary fold and a subsequent fold between first side portion of said second set of side divisions and side division, whereby the subsequent fold and the said boundary fold adjacent of the second set are to be bent in the order named at the time of crimping the shielded cable, closing the cable-accommodating space.

3. The round shielded connector according to claim 2, wherein the boundary fold is stronger than the subsequent fold in respect to the yielding resistance of the folding power.

4. The round shielded connector according to claim 1, wherein the shielded connector further includes an annular seal disposed between the front end of the cylindrical insulating casing of the shielded connector and the opposing shielded connector; and a second seal disposed on the rear end of the casing and pressed by an end cap to seal the gap between the rear end of the casing and said shielded cable.

5. A shielded connector for mating with an opposing shielded connector comprising: an insulative housing including a plurality of terminals mounted therein, each of the terminals having a front contacting portion and a rear mounting portion configured at opposing ends of said terminal; a cylindrical casing enclosing the housing, an electrically conductive shield member disposed between said housing and the casing enclosing both the housing and the conductors of a shielded cable, the shielded cable including a plurality of conductors; a braided wire portion enclosing the conductors and an outer insulative portion, said conductors being connected to said rear portions of said terminals and said shield member being connected to the braided wire portion of said shielded cable; and said shield member further including a shell enclosing the housing and the front contacting portions of said terminals and a polygonal shell cover enclosing the rear mounting portions of said terminals and the conductors of said shielded cable connected to said rear mounting portions of said terminals.

6. The shielded connector according to claim 5, wherein the polygonal shell cover further comprises a "U"-shaped section defining a cable-accommodating space, and a canopy-like section integrally connected to the "U"-shaped section by a boundary fold, whereby the boundary fold and a subsequent fold are to be bent in the order named at the time of crimping the shielded cable, closing the cable-accommodating space forming a polygonal shell cover.

7. The shielded connector according to claim 6, wherein the boundary fold is stronger than the subsequent fold in respect to the yielding resistance of the folding power.

8. The shielded connector according to claim 5, wherein the shielded connector further includes an annular seal disposed between the front end of the cylindrical insulating casing of the shielded connector and the opposing shielded connecter; and a second seal disposed on the rear end of the casing and pressed by an end cap to seal the gap between the rear end of the casing and said shielded cable.