Connector

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to improve the reliability of a function for holding a booster functional member at a fitting start position. The present invention is provided with: a slider (30) which is provided to a first housing (11) and which engages the first housing (11) and a second housing (61) by being displaced relative to the first housing (11) from a fitting start position to a fitting completion position; a holding part (42) that is formed on the slider (30) and has an arm-shaped locking piece (43) that extends in a cantilevered manner in the same direction as the displacement direction of the slider (30) when the slider (30) is relatively displaced from the fitting start position to the fitting completion position; a stopper part (16) which is formed in the first housing (11), and which restricts the movement of the slider (30) at the fitting start position to the fitting completion position by a contact part (45) at the extending end of the arm-shaped locking piece (43) being brought into contact with the stopper part (16) in the same direction as the extending direction of the arm-shaped locking piece (43); and a bending restriction section (39) that is provided to the slider (30) and that restricts bending of the arm-shaped locking piece (43).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector. Background Art

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a lever-type connector that performs a force-increasing function by providing a rotating operating lever and a sliding member that moves in parallel on a housing. When the lever-type connector and a mating connector are mated, a cam follower with a convex edge of the mating connector is mated with a cam groove of the sliding member while the sliding member and the operating lever are kept at their initial positions. Then, the operating lever is rotated to slide the sliding member from the initial position to the mating position, and the mating connector is pulled to the lever-type connector for mating. Prior art literature Patent Literature

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-331991 Summary of the invention Problems to be solved by the invention

[0004] As a device for pre-maintaining the sliding member and the operating rod in the initial position, an elastic arm is formed on the sliding member in a cantilevered shape, and the extended end of the elastic arm is locked in the locking recess of the housing. The elastic arm described in Patent Document 1 extends in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the sliding member when it is displaced from the initial position to the mating position, but on the contrary, the elastic arm can be set to a shape that extends in a cantilevered shape in the same direction as the moving direction of the sliding member from the initial position to the mating position. In this case, when an external force in the direction of the mating position is strongly applied to the sliding member in the initial position, there is a concern that the elastic arm may be bent. The concern about bending is not limited to the case where the elastic arm is formed on the sliding member, but is also the same when the elastic arm is formed on the operating rod.

[0005] The lever-type connector of the present disclosure has been completed based on the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object thereof is to improve the reliability of the function of holding the force amplifying function member at the mating start position. Solutions to Solve Problems

[0006] The connector disclosed in the present invention has: a first shell; A second shell, which can be engaged with the first shell; A force-increasing functional component is disposed on the first housing and is configured to engage the first housing with the second housing by relatively shifting from an engagement start position to an engagement completion position relative to the first housing; A retaining portion formed on one of the force-enhancing functional component and the first housing, having an arm-shaped retaining piece that cantileveredly extends in the same direction as the displacement direction of the one of the components when the force-enhancing functional component is relatively displaced from the mating start position to the mating completion position; a stopper formed on the other of the force-enhancing functional component and the first housing, and restricting the force-enhancing functional component at the mating start position from moving toward the mating completion position by causing the abutment portion of the extended end of the arm-shaped locking piece to abut against the stopper in the same direction as the extending direction of the arm-shaped locking piece; and A bending limiting portion is provided on the force-enhancing functional component or the first shell, and limits the bending of the arm-shaped locking piece. Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, the reliability of the function of holding the force-increasing function component at the mating start position can be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 It is a perspective view showing the connector of Example 1 in a fitted state. Figure 2 It is a perspective view showing an exploded state of the first connector. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the second connector. Figure 4 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the slider. Figure 5 is a side view of the slider. Figure 6 This is a side sectional view showing a state in which the slider is located at the mating start position and the first connector and the second connector are not mated with each other. Figure 7 It is a side sectional view showing a state where the first connector and the second connector start to be mated. Figure 8 It is a side sectional view showing a state where the first connector and the second connector are fitted together. Fig. 9 yes Figure 6 The AA line enlarged top cross-sectional view shows the holding state based on the holding part. Fig.10 is with Figure 6 The top cross-sectional view corresponding to the line AA of shows a situation in which the bending deformation of the arm-shaped locking piece is restricted in the holding state based on the holding portion. Fig.11 yes Figure 7 The BB line enlarged top cross-sectional view shows a state in which the retention by the retaining portion is released. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described by way of examples. The connector disclosed in the present invention has: (1) a first shell; a second shell, which can be mated with the first shell; a force-enhancing component, which is arranged on the first shell and is relatively displaced from a mating start position to a mating completion position relative to the first shell so that the first shell and the second shell are mated; a retaining portion, which is formed on one side of the force-enhancing component and the first shell and has an arm-shaped stopper, which extends in a cantilevered manner in the same direction as the displacement direction of the one side when the force-enhancing component is relatively displaced from the mating start position to the mating completion position; a stopper, which is formed on the other side of the force-enhancing component and the first shell and is limited to move from the mating start position to the mating completion position by abutting the stopper at the extended end of the arm-shaped stopper in the same direction as the extended direction of the arm-shaped stopper; and a bending limiting portion, which is arranged on the force-enhancing component or the first shell and limits the bending of the arm-shaped stopper. According to the structure disclosed in the present invention, when the abutting portion of the arm-shaped stopper abuts against the stopper portion of the other component, even if an external force toward the mating completion position side is applied to the force-enhancing functional component, the arm-shaped stopper is prevented from being bent by the bending limiting portion. Since the arm-shaped stopper is not bent, the reliability of the function of keeping the force-enhancing functional component at the mating start position is excellent.

[0010] (2) Preferably, the bending restriction portion is arranged on the opposite side of the stopper portion across the abutment portion. According to this configuration, the arm-shaped locking piece is prevented from bending due to the abutment portion abutting against the bending restriction portion.

[0011] (3) Based on (2), preferably, the holding portion has a supporting portion, the supporting portion is in the shape of an axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the arm-shaped locking piece, and connects the base end of the arm-shaped locking piece to the one part, and the arm-shaped locking piece can tilt in a direction that increases or decreases the facing area between the abutment portion and the stopper portion while twisting and deforming the supporting portion. According to this structure, even if the tilting angle of the arm-shaped locking piece is increased to increase the facing area between the abutment portion and the stopper portion, the stress generated by the supporting portion can be suppressed to a small level.

[0012] (4) In (3), preferably, the support portion has a circular cross-sectional shape. According to this structure, when the support portion is torsionally deformed, stress can be effectively dispersed.

[0013] (5) In the configuration of (3) or (4), it is preferred that a movement limiting surface is provided which is parallel to the extension direction of the arm-shaped locking piece and is opposite to the support portion. According to this structure, when the support portion is elastically deformed in such a manner that its axis is tilted, the deformation of the support portion can be suppressed by making the support portion abut against the movement limiting surface.

[0014] (6) Based on (3) or (4), preferably, the holding portion has a release extension portion extending from the base end portion of the arm-shaped locking piece in a direction opposite to the abutment portion, and the second shell has a holding release portion that can interfere with the release extension portion as the second shell and the force-enhancing functional component are engaged, and when the abutment portion and the stopper are opposed to each other, the holding release portion interferes with the release extension portion, causing the holding portion to tilt and the abutment portion to shift to a position that is not opposed to the stopper. According to this structure, when the force-enhancing functional component is held at the engagement start position by the holding portion, when the second shell and the force-enhancing functional component are engaged, the holding by the holding portion is released by the interference between the holding release portion and the release extension portion. Therefore, there is no need to manually perform a holding release operation.

[0015] (7) Based on (6), preferably, the separation dimension from the support portion to the interference position of the release extension portion with the retention release portion is smaller than the separation dimension from the support portion to the abutment portion. According to this structure, since the displacement amount of the abutment portion is larger than the displacement amount of the release extension portion when the retention is released, the opposing area between the abutment portion and the stopper portion can be ensured to be larger.

[0016] (8) Based on (6), preferably, a tilt limiting surface is formed on the other member, and the tilt limiting surface is opposite to the abutment portion from the side opposite to the displacement direction of the abutment portion due to the interference between the holding release portion and the release extension portion. According to this structure, even if the abutment portion pressed by the stopper portion slides relative to the stopper portion, the abutment portion can be maintained in a state of abutting against the stopper portion.

[0017] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] [Example 1] Reference Figures 1 to 11 The connector of Example 1 which embodies the present disclosure is described. The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned examples, but is shown by the claims and includes all changes within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. In this Example 1, regarding the front and rear directions, Figures 1 to 11 The positive direction of the X-axis in is defined as the front. Regarding the left and right directions, Figure 1 to Figure 4 , Figures 9 to 11The positive direction of the Y axis in is defined as the right direction. The left-right direction and the width direction are used synonymously. Figures 1 to 8 The positive direction of the Z axis is defined as upward.

[0018] like Figure 1 As shown, the connector of the first embodiment includes a first connector 10 and a second connector 60 that can be mated with each other. The first connector 10 has an operating rod 20 and a slider 30 as a force-increasing function component. The operating rod 20 and the slider 30 play a force-increasing function by cooperating with each other. By applying a small operating force to the operating rod 20, the first connector 10 and the second connector 60 can be mated.

[0019] like Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , the first connector 10 is configured to include a first housing 11, a left-right symmetrical operating lever 20, and a pair of left-right symmetrical sliders 30. The first housing 11 is composed of a housing body 12 made of synthetic resin and a wire cover 13 made of synthetic resin attached to the upper surface of the housing body 12. A female first terminal part (not shown) is inserted into the housing body 12. The wire (not shown) connected to the first terminal part is led out to the upper side of the housing body 12, bent in the wire cover 13, and led out to the rear of the first housing 11.

[0020] A pair of left and right guide spaces 14 extending in the front-to-back direction are formed in the housing body 12. The pair of guide spaces 14 exist along the left and right outer wall portions 15 of the housing body 12. The front and rear ends of the guide spaces 14 are open in the front and rear end surfaces of the housing body 12 in the shape of slits elongated in the up-down direction. Figures 9 to 11 As shown in FIG. 1 , a stopper 16 and a tilting limiting surface 17 are formed by recessing the inner surface (the surface facing the guide space 14) of the outer wall portion 15 at the front and rear ends of the guide space 14. The stopper 16 faces rearward. The tilting limiting surface 17 faces the guide space 14. The front end of the tilting limiting surface 17 is connected to the stopper 16 at a right angle. A pair of shaft portions 18 are formed on the left and right outer side surfaces of the wire cover 13.

[0021] The operating lever 20 is a single component made of synthetic resin and includes an operating portion 21 that is elongated in the left-right direction and a pair of left and right arm portions 22 that extend from the left and right ends of the operating portion 21. The bearing hole 23 formed in the arm portion 22 is engaged with the shaft portion 18 of the first housing 11. When the operating portion 21 is grasped and an operating force is applied to the operating lever 20, the operating lever 20 moves with the shaft portion 18 as the center to the engagement start position (see FIG. 1 ). Figure 1 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 ) and the mating completion position (refer to Figure 8). When the operating lever 20 is in the mating start position, the operating portion 21 is located in front of the shaft portion 18. When the operating lever 20 is in the mating completion position, the operating portion 21 is located in the rear of the shaft portion 18. A gear 24 is formed on the inner surface of the arm portion 22 in a circular arc shape that is concentric with the shaft portion 18.

[0022] The slider 30 is made of a synthetic resin material and is a single component having a plate-shaped main body 31 and a retaining portion 42. Figure 2 , Figure 4 As shown in the figure, the plate-like main body 31 is a rectangular plate-shaped part with the long side facing the front-back direction. A rack 32 extending in the front-back direction is formed at the upper edge of the plate-like main body 31. Among the left and right surfaces of the plate-like main body 31, the surface where the two plate-like main bodies 31 face each other is defined as an inner surface 31N, and the surface where the two plate-like main bodies 31 do not face each other is defined as an outer surface 31G. Two cam grooves 33 are formed on the inner surface 31N of the plate-like main body 31 at intervals in the front-back direction. The entrance 33E of the cam groove 33 opens on the lower surface of the plate-like main body 31.

[0023] The pair of sliders 30 are mounted on the housing body 12 in a state where they are housed in the pair of guide spaces 14 with the plate thickness direction oriented in the left-right direction. Figure 6 to Figure 8 As shown, when the wire cover 13 is mounted on the housing body 12, the gear 24 of the operating lever 20 is meshed with an appropriate position of the rack 32 of the slider 30. When the operating lever 20 is in the mating start position, the slider 30 is arranged at the mating start position on the rear end side in the guide space 14 (refer to Figure 6 , Figure 7 When the operating lever 20 is at the mating completion position, the slider 30 is arranged at the mating completion position on the front end side in the guide space 14 (refer to Figure 8 ). When the operating lever 20 is operated, the slider 30 moves in parallel along the front-rear direction between the mating start position and the mating completion position. Hereinafter, the "front-rear direction" and the "movement direction of the slider 30 between the mating start position and the mating completion position" are used synonymously.

[0024] like Figure 4 , Figure 5As shown, a storage space 35 for storing the holding portion 42 is formed in the left and right plate-like main body portions 31, respectively. The storage space 35 is open on the inner surface 31N and the outer surface 31G of the plate-like main body portion 31. The storage space 35 is composed of a first groove portion 36, a pair of upper and lower recesses 37, and a pair of upper and lower second groove portions 38. The first groove portion 36 is a space extending slenderly in the front-to-back direction. The recess 37 is a space that is recessed in a manner that the front end of the first groove portion 36 is widened in both the upward and downward directions. The upper and lower pairs of portions of the upper and lower recesses 37 in the plate-like main body portion 31 from the rear side function as a bending restriction portion 39. In the front-to-back direction, the bending restriction portion 39 is arranged at a position closer to the mating start position side (rear side) than the recess 37. The second groove portion 38 is arranged at a position further back than the center of the first groove portion 36 in the front-to-back direction, and is a space extending from the first groove portion 36 in both the upward and downward directions. The front and rear inner wall surfaces of the upper and lower second groove portions 38 function as movement restricting surfaces 40 that face a support portion 48 of a holding portion 42 described below in the front-rear direction with a gap therebetween.

[0025] The holding portion 42 is a portion that performs the function of holding the slider 30 and the operating rod 20 at the mating start position. The holding portion 42 is configured to include an arm-shaped locking piece 43 that extends slenderly in the front-back direction, an abutment portion 45, a pair of upper and lower support portions 48, and a release extension portion 49. The arm-shaped locking piece 43 is formed in a shape that extends forward in a cantilevered manner from the base end portion 44 of the holding portion 42. The extension direction of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 is the same as the direction in which the slider 30 moves from the mating start position to the mating completion position. The base end portion 44 (rear end portion) of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 is the same portion as the base end portion 44 of the holding portion 42. The arm-shaped locking piece 43 is accommodated in an area in the first groove portion 36 that is connected to the second groove portion 38 and an area in the first groove portion 36 that is closer to the front of the second groove portion 38.

[0026] The abutment portion 45 is composed of the protruding end portion (front end portion) of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 and a pair of upper and lower widening portions 46, and is in a rectangular parallelepiped. The widening portion 46 is a portion protruding from the front end portion of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 in the up-down direction. Hereinafter, "up-down direction" is used synonymously with "a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the slider 30 between the mating start position and the mating completion position". The protruding end surface (front end surface) of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 and the front surface of the widening portion 46 function as a locking surface connected in the same plane. The widening portion 46 in the abutment portion 45 is accommodated in the recess 37. The widening portion 46 and the bending limiting portion 39 are arranged to be opposite to each other in the same direction as the moving direction of the slider 30 with a gap. In the moving direction of the slider 30, the bending limiting portion 39 is arranged at a position closer to the mating start position than the widening portion 46. In other words, the bending limiting portion 39 is arranged to be opposite to the abutment portion 45 from the support portion 48 side.

[0027] A pair of upper and lower support portions 48 are portions extending from the base end portion 44 of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 in the up-down direction and are accommodated in the second groove portion 38. The extending end of the support portion 48 is connected to the plate-like main body portion 31 at the upper end or the lower end of the second groove portion 38. The retaining portion 42 is supported on the plate-like main body portion 31 by a pair of support portions 48. The support portion 48 is in the shape of a rod with its axis oriented in the up-down direction. The cross-sectional shape of the support portion 48 is circular. The support portion 48 and the movement limiting surface 40 are arranged to be opposed to each other in the same direction as the movement direction of the slider 30 with a gap therebetween. In the movement direction of the slider 30, the movement limiting surface 40 is arranged at a position closer to the mating start position side than the support portion 48.

[0028] The release extension portion 49 is a portion that extends in a cantilevered manner from the base end portion 44 of the holding portion 42 to the rear in the opposite direction to the arm-shaped locking piece 43. Figure 4 , Figure 5 As shown, a pressure receiving surface 50 inclined in both the vertical direction and the horizontal direction is formed at the rear end of the release extension 49. The release extension 49 is received in a region of the first groove 36 that is rearward of the second groove 38.

[0029] An interference avoidance groove 51 is formed on the inner surface 31N of the plate-like main body 31. The interference avoidance groove 51 opens at the lower edge of the plate-like main body 31 and has the same shape as the cam groove 33. The interference avoidance groove 51 is arranged to pass through the rear end of the first groove portion 36. The pressure receiving surface 50 is located in the middle of the interference avoidance groove 51. Fig. 9 As shown, in the front-rear direction, a separation dimension S from the center of the support portion 48 to the rear end of the pressure receiving surface 50 is smaller than a separation dimension L from the center of the support portion 48 to the front end of the abutment portion 45 .

[0030] The holding portion 42 is always held in the holding position (see Fig. 9 , Fig.10 ) is freely displaced. When the retaining portion 42 is in the retaining position, the locking portion 52 as the outer end portion in the width direction of the abutting portion 45 is further outward in the width direction ( Fig. 9 , Fig.10 The abutment portion 45 is located at a position opposite to the bending restriction portion 39 from the mating completion position side (front).

[0031] The holding portion 42 can tilt in the left-right direction with the support portion 48 as a fulcrum. Hereinafter, the left-right direction is used synonymously with "a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the slider 30 between the mating start position and the mating completion position". The holding portion 42 can move from the holding position to the holding release position (see FIG. 1 ) while elastically torsional deforming the support portion 48. Fig.11When the holding portion 42 is moved to the holding release position, the entire abutment portion 45 including the locking portion 52 is accommodated in the first groove portion 36 and the recessed portion 37 .

[0032] The second connector 60 is formed by combining a second housing 61 and a plurality of male second male terminal parts (not shown). Figure 3 As shown, the second housing 61 is a single component having a terminal body 62 and a cover 63 erected upward from the outer peripheral edge of the upper surface of the terminal body 62. The second terminal part is mounted on the terminal body 62 and protrudes into the cover 63. A pair of cam followers 64 are formed on the left and right outer side surfaces of the cover 63 and are arranged at intervals in the front and rear directions. The cam follower 64 is in the shape of a cylindrical protrusion. A protruding retention release portion 65 is formed at the front and rear ends of the left and right outer side surfaces of the cover 63.

[0033] Next, the mating sequence of the first connector 10 and the second connector 60 is described. In the first connector 10, the operating lever 20 and the slider 30 are moved to the mating start position in advance. The slider 30 at the mating start position is restricted from moving toward the mating completion position by the retaining portion 42, and is retained at the mating start position. Figures 9 to 11 The holding structure in the right slider 30 is shown. The holding structure in the left slider 30 is bilaterally symmetrical with the right slider 30, and therefore description thereof is omitted.

[0034] When the two connectors 10 and 60 are not mated and the slider 30 is at the mating start position, Fig. 9 As shown in the figure, the retaining portion 42 is in the retaining position, and the locking portion 52 of the abutting portion 45 is located at a position opposite to the stopper 16 of the first housing 11 from behind with a gap. When a moving force is applied to the slider 30 toward the mating completion position side, the locking portion 52 abuts against the stopper 16, thereby limiting the movement of the slider 30.

[0035] In the case where the moving force of the slider 30 toward the mating completion position side is strong, such as Fig.10As shown, the abutment portion 45 does not abut against the stop portion 16, and the protruding end portion extending from the arm-shaped stopper 43 in the plate-shaped main body portion 31 and the support portion 48 moves forward relative to the abutment portion 45. Here, the abutment portion 45 is formed at the protruding end portion (front end portion) of the arm-shaped stopper 43 extending in a cantilevered manner from the support portion 48 to the mating completion position side. Therefore, there is a concern that the arm-shaped stopper 43 will be bent and deformed between the support portion 48 and the abutment portion 45. However, when the plate-shaped main body portion 31 and the support portion 48 move slightly relative to the abutment portion 45, the bending limiting portion 39 abuts against the widening portion 46 of the abutment portion 45 from the rear, so that the plate-shaped main body portion 31 and the support portion 48 will not move further relative to the abutment portion 45. Therefore, the arm-shaped stopper 43 will not be bent and deformed between the support portion 48 and the abutment portion 45.

[0036] In addition, since the locking portion 52 is arranged at a position offset outward in the width direction relative to the support portion 48, when a moving force toward the mating completion position side is applied to the slider 30, the abutment portion 45 is moved outward in the width direction ( Fig. 9 , Fig.10 However, the tilt limiting surface 17 is arranged at a position adjacent to the stopper 16 on the outside in the width direction, and the abutting portion 45 abuts against the tilt limiting surface 17 from the inside in the width direction, so the locking portion 52 will not deviate from the stopper 16.

[0037] Next, while the operating lever 20 and the slider 30 are kept at the mating start position, the cover 63 of the second connector 60 is fitted into the housing body 12 of the first connector 10 from below. The cover 63 is embedded in the housing body 12 along the inner surface 31N of the left and right plate-like main body parts 31 (the left and right sliders 30), as shown in FIG. Figure 7 As shown, the cam follower 64 enters the entrance 33E of the cam groove 33. During the process of the cover portion 63 entering, the holding release portion 65 moves in the interference avoidance groove 51 and presses the pressure receiving surface 50 of the release extension portion 49. By this pressing action, as shown in FIG. Fig.11 As shown, the holding portion 42 tilts toward the holding release position with the support portion 48 as a fulcrum, and the abutment portion 45 (stop portion 52) moves to a position deviated inward in the width direction relative to the stopper portion 16. As a result, the slider 30 is released from the holding state based on the abutment portion 45 and the stopper portion 16, and becomes movable toward the mating completion position side.

[0038] Then, the operating portion 21 of the operating lever 20 is grasped to rotate the operating lever 20 from the mating start position to the mating completion position. As the operating lever 20 is operated, the slider 30 moves from the mating start position to the mating completion position, and the first connector 10 and the second connector 60 are vertically connected and mated with each other through the sliding of the cam groove 33 and the cam follower 64. Figure 8 As shown, when the operating lever 20 and the slider 30 reach the mating completion position, the mating of the first connector 10 and the second connector 60 is completed.

[0039] When the first connector 10 and the second connector 60 in the mating state are to be disengaged, the operating lever 20 is rotated from the mating completion position to the mating start position. By this operation, the slider 30 moves from the mating completion position to the mating start position, and the first connector 10 and the second connector 60 are disengaged by the sliding of the cam groove 33 and the cam follower 64.

[0040] When the slider 30 is deviated from the first housing 11, the holding portion 42 tilts greatly outward in the width direction and the widening portion 46 deviates outward from the outer surface 31G of the plate-like main body 31. When an external force in the front-to-back direction is further applied to the holding portion 42, the support portion 48 is deformed in a manner of tilting greatly in the front-to-back direction. At this time, the support portion 48 abuts against the movement limiting surface 40, limiting the relative movement of the holding portion 42 with respect to the plate-like main body 31 in the front-to-back direction. Thus, the support portion 48 can be prevented from being plastically deformed or broken.

[0041] The connector of the first embodiment includes a first housing 11, a second housing 61 that can be mated with the first housing 11, a force-increasing functional component (operating rod 20 and slider 30) provided on the first housing 11, and a bending restriction portion 39. The operating rod 20 and the slider 30 are relatively displaced from a mating start position to a mating completion position relative to the first housing 11, thereby mating the first housing 11 with the second housing 61.

[0042] A retaining portion 42 is formed on the slider 30 as a force-increasing functional component. The retaining portion 42 has an arm-shaped stopper 43 extending in a cantilevered manner. The extending direction of the arm-shaped stopper 43 is the same as the displacement direction of the slider 30 when the slider 30 is relatively displaced from the mating start position to the mating completion position. A stopper 16 is formed on the first housing 11. When the abutting portion 45 of the extending end of the arm-shaped stopper 43 abuts against the stopper 16 in the same direction as the extending direction of the arm-shaped stopper 43, the stopper 16 restricts the slider 30 at the mating start position from moving to the mating completion position. The slider 30 is provided with a bending restriction portion 39 for restricting the bending of the arm-shaped stopper 43.

[0043] In the state where the abutting portion 45 of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 abuts against the stopper 16 of the first housing 11, even if an external force toward the mating completion position side is applied to the slider 30, the arm-shaped locking piece 43 is prevented from being bent by the bending restriction portion 39. The bending restriction portion 39 is arranged on the side opposite to the stopper 16 across the abutting portion 45 in the moving direction of the slider 30. The abutting portion 45 abuts against the bending restriction portion 39, thereby preventing the arm-shaped locking piece 43 from being bent. Since the arm-shaped locking piece 43 is not bent, the reliability of the function of holding the slider 30 at the mating start position is excellent.

[0044] The holding portion 42 has a pair of upper and lower support portions 48. The support portion 48 is in the shape of an axis extending in the up-down direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the arm-shaped locking piece 43, and connects the base end portion 44 of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 to the plate-shaped main body portion 31 of the slider 30. The arm-shaped locking piece 43 can tilt in the width direction to increase or decrease the facing area of ​​the abutment portion 45 and the stopper portion 16 while twisting and deforming the support portion 48. Since the support portion 48 is in the shape of an elongated axis, even if the tilting angle of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 is increased to increase the facing area of ​​the abutment portion 45 and the stopper portion 16, the stress generated by the support portion 48 can be suppressed to a small value. Since the cross-sectional shape of the support portion 48 is circular, the stress can be effectively dispersed when the support portion 48 is twisted and deformed.

[0045] The slider 30 is provided with a movement limiting surface 40 that is opposed to the support portion 48 in the front-rear direction parallel to the extending direction of the arm-shaped locking piece 43. When the support portion 48 is elastically deformed so that its axis is inclined in the front-rear direction, the support portion 48 abuts against the movement limiting surface 40, so that the deformation amount of the support portion 48 can be suppressed.

[0046] The holding portion 42 has a release extension portion 49 extending from the base end portion 44 of the arm-shaped locking piece 43 in the direction opposite to the abutment portion 45 (rearward). The second housing 61 has a holding release portion 65. The holding release portion 65 interferes with the release extension portion 49 as the cam follower 64 of the second housing 61 engages with the cam groove 33 of the slider 30. When the abutment portion 45 is opposed to the stopper 16, the holding release portion 65 interferes with the release extension portion 49, and the holding portion 42 tilts and the abutment portion 45 is displaced to a position not opposed to the stopper 16. When the slider 30 is held at the engagement start position by the holding portion 42, when the second housing 61 (cam follower 64) is engaged with the slider 30 (cam groove 33), the holding by the holding portion 42 is released by the interference of the holding release portion 65 and the release extension portion 49. Therefore, there is no need to manually perform a holding release operation.

[0047] In the front-to-back direction, the separation dimension S from the support portion 48 to the interference position (pressure receiving surface 50) of the release extension portion 49 that interferes with the hold release portion 65 is smaller than the separation dimension L from the support portion 48 to the abutment portion 45. According to this structure, since the displacement amount of the abutment portion 45 is larger than the displacement amount of the release extension portion 49 when the hold is released, the opposing area of ​​the abutment portion 45 and the stopper portion 16 can be ensured to be larger.

[0048] The first housing 11 is provided with a tilting restriction surface 17 which faces the abutting portion 45 from a side opposite to the displacement direction of the abutting portion 45 caused by the interference between the holding release portion 65 and the release extension portion 49. According to this structure, even if the abutting portion 45 pressed by the stopper 16 slides relative to the stopper 16, the abutting portion 45 can be kept in a state of abutting against the stopper 16.

[0049] [Other embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the above description and drawings, but is shown by the claims. The present invention includes the meaning equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the claims, and also includes the following embodiments. In the first embodiment described above, the buckling restriction portion is formed on the slider in the same manner as the arm-shaped locking piece, but the buckling restriction portion may be formed on the first housing or the operating lever. In the above-mentioned embodiment 1, the arm-shaped locking piece is formed on the slider, but the arm-shaped locking piece may be formed on the operating rod or the first housing. In the case where the arm-shaped locking piece is formed on the operating rod, the pressure bending limiting portion may be formed on any one of the operating rod, the first housing, and the slider. In the case where the arm-shaped locking piece is formed on the first housing, the pressure bending limiting portion may be formed on any one of the first housing, the operating rod, and the slider. In the first embodiment, the force-increasing function component is composed of two parts, namely, the operating rod and the slider. However, the force-increasing function component may be composed of only the operating rod or only the slider. In the first embodiment, the buckling restriction portion is disposed so as to face the abutment portion from the support portion side, but the buckling restriction portion may be disposed so as to face the arm-shaped locking piece in the tilting direction of the arm-shaped locking piece. In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the support portion is in the shape of an axis, but the support portion may be in a shape other than an axis. In the above-mentioned first embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the support portion is circular, but the cross-sectional shape of the support portion may also be elliptical, oblong, triangular, square, or the like. Description of Reference Numerals

[0050] 10…First connector 11…First shell 12… Housing body 13…Wire cover 14…Guided Space 15…Outer wall 16…Stop 17…Tilt limiting surface 18…Shaft 20…Operating lever (force-enhancing function component) 21…Operation Department 22…Arm 23…Bearing hole 24…Gear 30…Slider (force-enhancing functional component) 31...Plate-shaped main body 31G…Outer surface of plate-shaped main body 31N…The inner surface of the plate-shaped main body 32…Rack 33…Cam groove 33E… Cam groove entrance 35…Storage space 36…First groove 37…concave 38…Second groove 39…Bending limiter 40…Movement restriction surface 42…Retention 43…Arm-shaped stopper 44…base end 45…collision department 46…Wide section 48…Support 49…Release extension 50 ... pressure receiving surface (interference position of the release extension portion with the release holding portion) 51…Interference avoidance slot 52…Locking part 60…Second connector 61…Second shell 62…Terminal body 63…Hood 64…Cam follower 65…Release section L... From the support part to the interference position of the release extension part with the hold release part Separation size until placement S…Separation dimension from the support part to the abutment part

Claims

1. A connector having: a first shell; A second shell, which can be engaged with the first shell; A force-increasing functional component is disposed on the first housing and is configured to engage the first housing with the second housing by relatively shifting from an engagement start position to an engagement completion position relative to the first housing; A retaining portion formed on one of the force-enhancing functional component and the first housing, having an arm-shaped retaining piece that cantileveredly extends in the same direction as the displacement direction of the one of the components when the force-enhancing functional component is relatively displaced from the mating start position to the mating completion position; a stopper formed on the other of the force-enhancing functional component and the first housing, wherein the abutting portion of the extended end of the arm-shaped locking piece abuts against the stopper in the same direction as the extending direction of the arm-shaped locking piece, thereby restricting the force-enhancing functional component at the mating start position from moving toward the mating completion position; as well as A bending limiting portion is provided on the force-enhancing functional component or the first shell, and limits the bending of the arm-shaped locking piece.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein: The buckling restriction portion is arranged on the side opposite to the stopper portion across the abutment portion.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein: The holding portion includes a support portion, the support portion being in the shape of an axis extending in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the arm-shaped locking piece, and connecting the base end of the arm-shaped locking piece to the one member. The arm-shaped locking piece can tilt in a direction in which the facing area between the abutment portion and the stopper portion increases or decreases while twisting and deforming the support portion.

4. The connector according to claim 3, wherein: The cross-sectional shape of the support portion is circular.

5. The connector according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein: A movement restricting surface is provided which is parallel to the extending direction of the arm-shaped locking piece and faces the support portion.

6. The connector according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein: The holding portion includes a release extension portion extending from the base end portion of the arm-shaped locking piece in a direction opposite to the abutment portion. The second housing has a holding release portion capable of interfering with the release extension portion as the second housing and the force-increasing function component are engaged with each other. In a state where the abutment portion faces the stopper portion, the holding portion tilts due to interference between the hold releasing portion and the release extending portion, and the abutment portion is displaced to a position where it does not face the stopper portion.

7. The connector according to claim 6, wherein: A separation dimension from the support portion to a position where the release extension portion interferes with the hold releasing portion is smaller than a separation dimension from the support portion to the abutment portion.

8. The connector according to claim 6, wherein: The other member is provided with a tilt restricting surface that faces the abutting portion from a side opposite to a displacement direction of the abutting portion caused by interference between the holding release portion and the release extension portion.

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