Connector

Abstract

A lock arm (13) having: a fulcrum portion (31) protruding from the housing main body (12); and an arm main body (29) which extends in the front-back direction and tilts in the up-down direction in a teeterboard shape with the fulcrum portion (31) as the center. The arm body (29) has: an intermediate section (34) connected to the fulcrum section (31); a lock part (35) which is positioned further toward the front side than the intermediate part (34) and which locks a mating connector (90); and an operation section (36) positioned further toward the rear side than the intermediate section (34). The housing main body (12) has a cover wall (27) that covers the operation part (36) from an upper side that is the opposite side to the displacement direction of the operation part (36) during the fitting process. The operation section (36) has pressing surfaces (51, 51A, 51B) on the upper surface facing the cover wall (27). The intermediate section (34) has a top surface (45) at the upper end of the upper surface. The pressing surfaces (51, 51A, 51B) of the operation section (36) are disposed below the top surface (45) of the intermediate section (34).

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] The connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes male and female housings that can be fitted to each other. A locking arm is protrudingly provided on the upper surface of the female housing. The locking arm can be elastically deformed and tilt in a seesaw shape about a fulcrum portion formed at the middle portion in the front-rear direction. The locking arm has a locking portion on the front side of the fulcrum portion and an operation portion on the rear side of the fulcrum portion. The locking portion locks the locking portion of the male housing and holds the male and female housings in a fitted state. The operation portion releases the locking between the locking portion and the locking portion by being pushed downward from above by a finger. Connectors having a locking structure corresponding to the locking arm are also disclosed in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3. In the case of Patent Document 2, a door piece and a top wall are arranged above the operation portion of the locking arm. Prior Art Documents Patent Documents

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-110523 Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-235070 Patent Document 3: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-55260 Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the case of Patent Document 1, since the upper part of the operation portion is open, the operation portion may be accidentally pushed downward.

[0005] On the other hand, in the case of Patent Document 2, the upper part of the operation portion is covered with a door piece or the like, so that an accidental downward push operation on the operation portion can be prevented. However, when a door piece or the like is arranged above the operation portion, there is another problem that the connector is enlarged in the height direction.

[0006] Here, an object of the present invention is to avoid enlargement of the connector in the height direction and prevent an accidental unlocking operation on the locking arm. Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The connector of the present invention includes: a housing body that can be fitted with a mating connector; and an elastically deformable locking arm that holds the housing body and the mating connector in a fitted state. The locking arm has: a fulcrum portion that protrudes from the housing body; and an arm body that extends along the fitting direction of the housing body with respect to the mating connector and tilts like a seesaw in a height direction intersecting the fitting direction with the fulcrum portion as the center. The arm body has: a middle portion connected to the fulcrum portion; a locking portion located on the front side in the fitting direction with respect to the middle portion that locks the mating connector; and an operation portion located on the rear side in the fitting direction with respect to the middle portion. The housing body has a covering wall that covers the operation portion from the upper side in the height direction, which is the side opposite to the displacement direction of the operation portion during the fitting process of the housing body and the mating connector. The operation portion has a pressing surface on the upper surface in the height direction facing the covering wall, and the middle portion has a top surface at the upper end of the upper surface in the height direction. The pressing surface of the operation portion is disposed on the lower side in the height direction with respect to the top surface of the middle portion. Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, there is provided a connector that can avoid enlargement in the height direction and prevent accidental release operations on the locking arm. Description of the Drawings

[0009] Figure 1 It is a side cross-sectional view of the connector according to Embodiment 1. Figure 2 It is a perspective view of the housing according to Embodiment 1 viewed from the front. Figure 3 It is a perspective view of the housing according to Embodiment 1 viewed from the rear. Figure 4 It is a rear view of the housing according to Embodiment 1. Figure 5 It is a top view of the locking arm viewed from above after cutting off the covering wall of the housing according to Embodiment 1. Figure 6 It is a side cross-sectional view showing an enlarged state where the operation portion is pressed and the locking of the locking arm and the locking portion is released in Embodiment 1. Figure 7 It is a perspective view of the locking arm viewed from the rear after cutting off the covering wall of the housing according to Embodiment 2. Figure 8 It is a rear view showing an enlarged view of the locking arm and its periphery of the housing according to Embodiment 2. Figure 9 It is a side cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the locking arm and its periphery of the housing according to Embodiment 3. Detailed Description of the Embodiments

[0010] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Invention] First, embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example. (1) The connector of the present invention includes: a housing main body that can be fitted with a mating connector; and a lock arm that can elastically deform and holds the housing main body and the mating connector in a fitted state. The lock arm has: a fulcrum portion that protrudes from the housing main body; and an arm main body that extends along the fitting direction of the housing main body with respect to the mating connector and tilts like a seesaw in the height direction intersecting the fitting direction with the fulcrum portion as the center. The arm main body has: a middle portion connected to the fulcrum portion; a locking portion located on the front side in the fitting direction relative to the middle portion and that locks the mating connector; and an operation portion located on the rear side in the fitting direction relative to the middle portion. The housing main body has a covering wall that covers the operation portion from the upper side in the height direction, which is the side opposite to the displacement direction of the operation portion during the fitting process of the housing main body and the mating connector. The operation portion has a pressing surface on the upper surface in the height direction facing the covering wall, and the middle portion has a top surface at the upper end of the upper surface in the height direction. The pressing surface of the operation portion is arranged below the top surface of the middle portion in the height direction.

[0011] According to the above structure, by covering the upper side in the height direction of the operation portion with the covering wall, an accidental pressing operation on the operation portion from the upper side in the height direction can be prevented. In contrast, when a fingertip is inserted between the operation portion and the covering wall, the wedge effect accompanying the entry of the fingertip comes into play, and the pressing surface of the operation portion is pressed downward in the height direction, bringing it into a state where the locking of the lock arm can be released. Since the pressing surface of the operation portion is arranged below the top surface of the middle portion in the height direction, a relatively large distance can be obtained between the pressing surface and the covering wall, without increasing the size of the connector, and a release space where a fingertip can be inserted can be ensured between the operation portion and the covering wall. In addition, "upper" and "lower" are concepts for convenience and do not necessarily coincide with the direction of gravity when the connector is mounted on a vehicle or the like.

[0012] (2) Preferably, the upper surface of the arm main body in the height direction has an inclined surface that slopes downward in the height direction from the top surface toward the pressing surface.

[0013] According to the above structure, when the operation portion is pressed, the stress acting on the operation portion can be transmitted to the inclined surface and dispersed. In particular, by providing the operation portion with an inclined surface, even a thin-walled operation portion can ensure strength.

[0014] (3) Preferably, the middle part has a middle end face at the lower end of the lower surface in the height direction, the operating part has a pressing lower surface on the lower surface in the height direction, and the pressing lower surface is arranged on the upper side in the height direction relative to the middle end face.

[0015] According to the above structure, the distance between the pressing lower surface of the operating part and the surface below it (refer to the opposing part 37 in Embodiments 1-3 described later) can also be increased, without making the connector large-sized, and a flexure space allowing the flexure movement of the locking arm can be ensured between the operating part and the opposing part.

[0016] (4) Preferably, the covering wall covers the whole locking arm from the upper side in the height direction.

[0017] According to the above structure, the whole locking arm can be protected by the covering wall, and accidental pressing operations on the operating part from the upper side in the height direction can be more reliably prevented.

[0018] [Details of Embodiments of the Present Invention] The specific examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the present invention is not limited to this illustration, but is shown by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0019] <Embodiment 1> As Figure 1 shown, the connector 10 of Embodiment 1 of the present invention includes a housing 11 and terminal parts 80. This connector 10 is a waterproof connector and includes a sealing member 70 for obtaining a seal with a mating connector 90 as a mating partner. In addition, in the following description, the front-rear direction is the front side on the side where the connector 10 faces the mating connector 90 during mating. The up-down direction is based on the up-down direction in each drawing other than Figure 5 The left-right direction is the right side when viewing the connector 10 from the front side. The up-down direction is sometimes also referred to as the height direction, and the left-right direction is sometimes also referred to as the width direction. In Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the front side, the right side, and the upper side are represented by reference numeral X, reference numeral Y, and reference numeral X, respectively. The reference of these directions is for convenience and is not necessarily consistent with the reference of the directions in the state where the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle or the like not shown.

[0020] <Structure of the Mating Connector and the Connector> The mating connector 90 has a cover portion 91 made of synthetic resin. As Figure 1 shown, a mating locking portion 93 is provided protruding on the upper wall upper surface of the cover portion 91. A tab 95 of the mating terminal part 94 is provided protruding inside the cover portion 91.

[0021] The housing 11 is made of synthetic resin. AsFigure 1 As shown, it integrally has a housing body 12 that can be fitted with a cover portion 91 and a locking arm 13 protruding from the housing body 12. A separate front retainer 14 is mounted on the housing body 12 from the front.

[0022] The housing body 12 has a terminal accommodating portion 15, a fitting cylinder portion 16 surrounding the outer periphery of the terminal accommodating portion 15, and a connecting portion 17 connecting the terminal accommodating portion 15 and the fitting cylinder portion 16 in the radial direction. A fitting space 18 for fitting the cover portion 91 is formed between the terminal accommodating portion 15 and the fitting cylinder portion 16. The fitting space 18 is open in front of the connecting portion 17 in the housing body 12. The sealing member 70 is made of rubber such as silicone rubber, is annular, and is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the terminal accommodating portion 15.

[0023] As Figure 2 shown, the terminal accommodating portion 15 has a plurality of cavities 19. A plurality of each cavity 19 are arranged in the width direction in the terminal accommodating portion 15. On the inner wall of each cavity 19, a lance-shaped portion 21 that can be elastically deformed is formed to protrude forward. As Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, the terminal accommodating portion 15 has a plurality of cylindrical portions 22 behind the connecting portion 17, and the plurality of cylindrical portions 22 protrude in a row in the width direction. The rear parts of each cavity 19 are respectively formed inside each cylindrical portion 22. In addition, the terminal accommodating portion 15 has a frame portion 23 that is rectangular when viewed from the rear, and the frame portion 23 protrudes behind the connecting portion 17 and surrounds the cylindrical portions 22 together.

[0024] As Figure 1 shown, the terminal part 80 is inserted into the cavity 19 of the housing body 12 from the rear. The terminal part 80 is made of conductive metal and has a cylindrical connecting portion 81, a wire cylinder portion 82 located behind the connecting portion 81, and an insulating cylinder portion 83 located behind the wire cylinder portion 82. The connecting portion 81 is engaged with the lance-shaped portion 21 to prevent primary detachment from the terminal accommodating portion 15. And, the connecting portion 81 is electrically connected to a tab 95 of the other terminal part 94. The wire cylinder portion 82 is crimped and electrically connected to a core wire portion 101 exposed at the terminal portion of the electric wire 100. The insulating cylinder portion 83 is crimped and mechanically connected to a rubber plug 60 fitted to a covering portion 102 at the terminal portion of the electric wire 100. The rubber plug 60 is inserted into the cavity 19 together with the terminal part 80 and is in liquid-tight contact with the inner peripheral surface of the rear part of the cavity 19 that is the inside of the cylindrical portion 22.

[0025] As Figure 1 shown, the front retainer 14 has a restricting portion 24 that restricts the flexing movement of the lance-shaped portion 21 in a state of being mounted on the terminal accommodating portion 15. The terminal part 80 is secondarily prevented from detaching from the terminal accommodating portion 15 by the restricting portion 24. In addition, the front retainer 14 has a function of restricting the forward detachment of the sealing member 70.

[0026] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the interlocking cylinder 16 has a door-shaped bulging portion 25 bulging upward on the central side of the upper wall in the width direction. As described in detail later, the locking arm 13 is arranged on the inner side of the bulging portion 25 so as to be elastically deformable. The bulging portion 25 is composed of a pair of side walls 26 and a covering wall 27, the pair of side walls 26 are located on the left and right sides of the locking arm 13 and are opposite to each other, and the covering wall 27 covers the locking arm 13 from above. Each side wall 26 is arranged upright in the up-down direction. The rear lower end of each side wall 26 is connected to the upper surface of the frame 23. The covering wall 27 is arranged in a manner of being spanned between the upper ends of each side wall 26 in the width direction.

[0027] An anti-slip portion 28 that is formed in a stepped shape toward the front is formed on the upper surface of the cover wall 27. The operator can press his fingers against the anti-slip portion 28 to perform the fitting operation.

[0028] like Figure 5 As shown in the figure, the lock arm 13 has: a plate-shaped arm body 29, which is located between the side walls 26 and extends in the front-back direction; and a pair of fulcrum parts 31, which protrude from the side walls 26 and are connected to the end faces (plate thickness faces) on the outer sides in the width direction of the opposing arm bodies 29. Each fulcrum part 31 is connected to a rib 32 extending backward from the front end of the side wall 26 on the outer side in the width direction. Each fulcrum part 31 is inclined toward the front side as a whole from the arm body 29 to the rib 32.

[0029] The arm body 29 includes: a middle portion 34, which is connected to the inner end of each fulcrum portion 31 in the width direction; a locking portion 35, which is located forward of the middle portion 34 and can be locked with the other locking portion 93; and an operating portion 36, which is located backward of the middle portion 34 and is pressed when the locking portion 35 and the other locking portion 93 are unlocked.

[0030] The arm body 29 can seesaw-like tilt from a horizontal position arranged along the front-rear direction with the supporting points 31 as supporting points (centers). In addition, unless otherwise specified, the following description of the structure of the lock arm 13 is based on the posture when the arm body 29 is in a horizontal position.

[0031] like Figure 4 As shown, an opposing portion 37 is formed on the upper surface of the frame portion 23 to oppose the operating portion 36 from below. A plurality of excessive deflection limiting portions 38 are protrudingly formed on the opposing portion 37 to limit excessive downward displacement of the operating portion 36. Each excessive deflection limiting portion 38 is formed in a rib shape extending in the front-rear direction on the opposing portion 37, and a pair of them are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction.

[0032] like Figure 5 As shown in FIG. 3 , the locking portion 35 includes a locking hole 41 extending vertically therethrough and a locking portion 42 closing the front end surface of the locking hole 41.Figure 1 As shown, the mating locking portion 93 is inserted into the locking hole 41 and locked to the rear surface of the locking portion 42, so that the connector 10 and the mating connector 90 are held in a mated state.

[0033] The arm main body 29 has a demolding recess 43 behind the locking portion 42. The demolding recess 43 communicates with the locking hole 41 and opens rearward. By pulling backward with a mold (not shown), the rear surface of the locking portion 42 is formed together with the demolding recess 43. The rear surface of the locking portion 42 is inclined upward with respect to the vertical direction. The locking portion 35 has front inclined surfaces 44 that are inclined upward toward the top surface 45 described later on the upper surfaces of the end portions on the left and right sides across the locking hole 41.

[0034] The intermediate portion 34 is formed from the intermediate position in the front-rear direction of the arm main body 29 connected to the rear end of the locking hole 41 to the rearward position connected to the operation portion 36. As Figure 1 and Figure 4 shown, the upper surface of the intermediate portion 34 has a top surface 45 at the highest position of the upper surface of the arm main body 29. The top surface 45 is formed flat along the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. As Figure 5 shown, the front end of the top surface 45 of the intermediate portion 34 is connected to the rear end of the front inclined surface 44, defining the rear end of the upper surface opening of the locking hole 41. As Figure 1 shown, the lower surface of the intermediate portion 34 has an intermediate end surface 46 at the same height position on the opposite side of the top surface 45 and the same as the lower surface of the locking portion 35. The intermediate end surface 46 is disposed on the lower surfaces of the end portions on the left and right sides of the arm main body 29 across the demolding recess 43.

[0035] In addition, the upper surface of the intermediate portion 34 has an inclined surface 47 that is inclined downward from the top surface 45 to the pressing surface 51 described later. The inclined surface 47 is disposed at a position overlapping each fulcrum portion 31 in the front-rear direction. As Figure 5 shown, the front end of the inclined surface 47 is connected to the rear end of the top surface 45 over the entire width, and the rear end of the inclined surface 47 is connected to the front end of the pressing surface 51 at a position corresponding to each fulcrum portion 31. As Figure 1 shown, the inclination angle of the inclined surface 47 with respect to the front-rear direction is larger than that of the front inclined surface 44.

[0036] As Figure 4 and Figure 5 shown, the operation portion 36 has a pair of protruding pieces 48. The pair of protruding pieces 48 are formed in a flat plate shape at the rear end portion of the arm main body 29 and protrude on the left and right sides. Each protruding piece 48 is disposed on the left and right sides across the demolding recess 43. As Figure 5 shown, the demolding recess 43 extends in the front-rear direction on the central side in the width direction of the arm main body 29 and opens at the rear end, and the arm main body 29 is opened in the vertical direction in the portion from the operation portion 36 to the rear end side of the intermediate portion 34.

[0037] As shown Figure 1 in FIG., each protruding piece 48 that constitutes the operation part 36 is formed in a shape extending rearward from the middle part 34 along the front-rear direction with a certain thickness, and has a pressing surface 51 and a pressing lower surface 52 that are flat along the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The pressing surface 51 is the upper surface of the operation part 36, is disposed below the covering wall 27, and is arranged at an interval from the covering wall 27. The pressing surface 51 is disposed below the top surface 45. A release space 53 is formed between the pressing surface 51 of the operation part 36 and the covering wall 27. When releasing the engagement between the release locking arm 13 and the mating locking part 93, the release space 53 allows the tip of a finger such as a thumb (hereinafter referred to as the fingertip F (refer to Figure 6 )) to enter.

[0038] The pressing lower surface 52 is the lower surface of the operation part 36, is disposed above the excessive flexure limiting part 38, and is arranged at an interval from the excessive flexure limiting part 38. The pressing lower surface 52 is disposed above the middle end surface 46. A flexure space 54 is formed between the pressing lower surface 52 of the operation part 36 and the opposing part 37. When the connector 10 is engaged and disengaged, the flexure space 54 allows the operation part 36 to be displaced downward. In addition, the thickness of the operation part 36 in the height direction defined between the pressing surface 51 and the pressing lower surface 52 is thinner than the thickness of the locking part 42 in the height direction.

[0039] <Function of the connector> During the process of the cover part 91 of the mating connector 90 being engaged with the fitting space 18 of the housing main body 12, when the mating locking part 93 interferes with the locking part 42, the arm main body 29 tilts and displaces with each fulcrum part 31 as a fulcrum from the horizontal state. Specifically, the locking part 35 is displaced in an upwardly inclined manner, and the operation part 36 is displaced in a downwardly inclined manner in the flexure space 54. Then, the mating locking part 93 leaves the locking part 42, and the arm main body 29 elastically returns to the horizontal state. Thus, as Figure 1 shown in FIG., the mating locking part 93 is inserted into the locking hole 41, and the connector 10 and the mating connector 90 are held in an engaged state. In this engaged state of the connector 10, the terminal parts 80 and the mating terminal parts 94 are electrically connected. And, a sealing member 70 is sandwiched between the cover part 91 and the terminal housing part 15, and the connector 10 and the mating connector 90 are hermetically sealed.

[0040] When the connector 10 and the mating connector 90 are disengaged due to maintenance or other circumstances, as Figure 6As shown, the fingertip F is inserted from the rear into the release space 53 formed between the operation portion 36 and the covering wall 27. As the fingertip F enters the release space 53, a wedge action corresponding to the shape of the fingertip F takes effect, and the operation portion 36 is pushed downward into the flexure space 54. In this case, it is preferable that the fingertip F displaces the pressing surface 51 of the operation portion 36 downward on the ventral side, and presses against the covering wall 27 on the opposite side, i.e., the nail side, while receiving the elastic reaction force of the locking arm 13.

[0041] When the operation portion 36 is pushed downward by the fingertip F, the locking portion 35 tilts upward, the locking portion 42 separates from the other locking portion 93, and the locking of the locking arm 13 and the other locking portion 93 is released. In this state, by pulling the housing main body 12 away from the cover portion 91, the connector 10 and the other connector 90 are disengaged from each other.

[0042] According to the first embodiment, since the pressing surface 51 of the operation portion 36 is covered by the covering wall 27, an accidental release operation of the operation portion 36 can be prevented, and the engaged state of the connector 10 and the other connector 90 can be maintained. On the contrary, by inserting the fingertip F into the release space 53 formed between the covering wall 27 and the operation portion 36 and pushing the operation portion 36 downward, the engaged state of the connector 10 and the other connector 90 can be appropriately released.

[0043] As described above, when the covering wall 27 is disposed above the operation portion 36 and the release space 53 is formed between the operation portion 36 and the covering wall 27, there is a possibility that the housing 11 becomes large in the height direction. However, in the case of the first embodiment, since the pressing surface 51 of the operation portion 36 is disposed below the top surface 45 of the intermediate portion 34, the enlargement of the housing 11 in the height direction can be suppressed.

[0044] In addition, since the pressing lower surface 52 of the operation portion 36 is disposed above the intermediate end surface 46 of the intermediate portion 34, the housing 11 is not enlarged in the height direction, and a flexure space 54 can be ensured between the pressing lower surface 52 of the operation portion 36 and the opposing portion 37 opposing the pressing lower surface 52.

[0045] Furthermore, since the inclined surface 47 inclined from the top surface 45 toward the pressing surface 51 is formed on the upper surface of the arm main body 29, when the operation portion 36 is pressed, the stress acting on the operation portion 36 can be transmitted to the inclined surface 47 and dispersed. As a result, even if the operation portion 36 is formed as a thin wall, the strength can be ensured.

[0046] Moreover, since the covering wall 27 is disposed so as to cover the entire locking arm 13 from above, in addition to protecting the locking arm 13 from external foreign matters, an accidental release operation of the operation portion 36 can be more reliably prevented.

[0047] <Embodiment 2> As Figure 7 and Figure 8 shown, the shape of the pressing surface 51A of the connector 10A in Embodiment 2 of the present invention is different from that in Embodiment 1. Other parts are the same as those in Embodiment 1. In Embodiment 2, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same or corresponding parts as those in Embodiment 1, and repeated descriptions are omitted.

[0048] As Figure 7 shown, the pressing surface 51A has a flat surface 55 and a curved surface 56. The flat surface 55 is arranged flatly along the front - rear direction and the left - right direction from the front - end side of the operation part 36 to the rear - end side of the middle part 34. The curved surface 56 bends downward toward the demolding recess 43 on the central side in the width direction in each protruding piece 48. The front end of the curved surface 56 is connected to the rear end of the flat surface 55 via a step 57 in the height direction. The curved surface 56 is formed over the entire width of the operation part 36. As Figure 8 shown, the pressing lower surface 52, which is the lower surface of the operation part 36, is formed flatly along the width direction.

[0049] When the connector 10A is disengaged from the mating connector 90, by pressing the curved surface 56 with the fingertip F, the operation part 36 is pushed downward, thereby releasing the engagement between the locking arm 13 and the mating locking part 93. In this case, since the ventral side of the fingertip F can follow the curved surface 56, in addition to alleviating the pain of the fingertip F during operation, the pressing force applied to the curved surface 56 can be stably transmitted to the operation part 36. In addition, the stress acting on the operation part 36 can be widely dispersed along the curved surface 56.

[0050] <Embodiment 3> As Figure 9 shown, the connector 10B in Embodiment 3 of the present invention is the same as that in Embodiment 2 in that the shape of the pressing surface 51B is different from that in Embodiment 1. Other parts are the same as those in Embodiment 1. In Embodiment 3, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same or corresponding parts as those in Embodiment 1, and repeated descriptions are omitted.

[0051] The pressing surface 51B is inclined downward as a whole from the inclined surface 47 toward the rear end of the operation part 36. The inclination angle of the pressing surface 51B with respect to the front - rear direction is smaller than that of the inclined surface 47. The front end of the pressing surface 51B intersects the rear end of the inclined surface 47 at an obtuse angle.

[0052] The release space 53B formed between the operation part 36 and the covering wall 27 is configured to expand in the up - down direction toward the rear due to the inclined shape of the pressing surface 51B. When the connector 10B is disengaged from the mating connector 90, when the fingertip F is inserted into the release space 53B, the wedge action corresponding to the inclined shape of the pressing surface 51B and the shape of the fingertip F effectively functions. Therefore, the operating portion 36 is smoothly pushed down into the flexure space 54. Further, when the operating portion 36 is pressed, the stress acting on the operating portion 36 can be widely dispersed along the inclined shape of the pressing surface 51B.

[0053] [Other Embodiments of the Present Invention] It should be considered that the above-described Embodiments 1-3 of the present disclosure are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. In the case of the above-described Embodiments 1-3, the connector is a waterproof connector having waterproof means such as a sealing member. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the connector may also be a non-waterproof connector that does not have waterproof means such as a sealing member. In the case of the above-described Embodiments 1-3, the fulcrum portion projects from the inner surface of the side wall and is connected to the plate thickness surface of the arm body. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the fulcrum portion may also project from the upper surface of the terminal housing portion and be connected to the lower surface of the arm body. In the case of Embodiment 1-3, the fingertip is inserted into the release space formed between the operating portion and the covering wall to release the engagement between the locking arm and the mating locking portion. In contrast, according to other embodiments, a rod-shaped jig may also be inserted into the release space formed between the operating portion and the covering wall to release the engagement between the locking arm and the mating locking portion. In the case of Embodiment 3, the inclination angles of the pressing surface and the inclined surface with respect to the front-rear direction are different from each other. In contrast, in the case of other embodiments, the pressing surface and the inclined surface may also be continuous with the same inclination angle with respect to the front-rear direction. Reference Numeral Explanation

[0054] 10, 10A, 10B: Connector 11: Housing 12: Housing Body 13: Locking Arm 14: Front Holder 15: Terminal Housing Portion 16: Fitting Cylinder Portion 17: Connecting Portion 18: Fitting Space 19: Cavity 21: Spear Portion 22: Cylindrical Portion 23: Frame Portion 24: Restricting Portion 25: Bulging Portion 26: Side Wall 27: Covering Wall 28: Anti-slip part 29: Arm main body 31: Fulcrum part 32: Rib 34: Intermediate part 35: Locking part 36: Operating part 37: Opposing part 38: Over-flexure limiting part 41: Locking hole 42: Latching part 43: Demolding recess 44: Front inclined surface 45: Top surface 46: Intermediate end face 47: Inclined surface 48: Protruding piece 51, 51A, 51B: Pressing surface 52: Pressing lower surface 53, 53B: Release space 54: Flexure space 55: Flat surface 56: Curved surface 57: Step 60: Rubber plug 70: Sealing member 80: Terminal part 81: Connecting part 82: Wire barrel part 83: Insulating barrel part 90: Mate connector 91: Cover part 93: Mate locking part 94: Mate terminal part 95: Tab 100: Electric wire 101: Core wire part 102: Coating part F: Finger tip

Claims

1. A connector, comprising: A housing body that can be engaged with a mating connector; and A locking arm that can be elastically deformed to hold the housing body and the mating connector in an engaged state, The locking arm has a fulcrum portion and an arm body. The fulcrum portion protrudes from the housing body, and the arm body extends along the fitting direction of the housing body relative to the mating connector and tilts in a seesaw shape in the height direction intersecting the fitting direction with the fulcrum portion as the center, The arm body has an intermediate portion, a locking portion, and an operation portion. The intermediate portion is connected to the fulcrum portion. The locking portion is located on the front side in the fitting direction relative to the intermediate portion and locks the mating connector. The operation portion is located on the rear side in the fitting direction relative to the intermediate portion, The housing body has a covering wall that covers the operation portion from the upper side in the height direction, which is the side opposite to the displacement direction of the operation portion during the fitting process of the housing body and the mating connector, The operation portion has a pressing surface on the upper surface in the height direction facing the covering wall, The intermediate portion has a top surface at the upper end of the upper surface in the height direction, The pressing surface of the operation portion is arranged on the lower side in the height direction relative to the top surface of the intermediate portion.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein, The upper surface of the arm body in the height direction has an inclined surface that slopes downward in the height direction from the top surface toward the pressing surface.

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein, The intermediate portion has an intermediate end surface at the lower end of the lower surface in the height direction, The operation portion has a pressed lower surface on the lower surface in the height direction, and the pressed lower surface is arranged on the upper side in the height direction relative to the intermediate end surface.

4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein, The covering wall covers the entire locking arm from the upper side in the height direction.

5. The connector according to claim 3, wherein, The upper surface of the arm body in the height direction slopes downward in the height direction from the top surface toward the pressing surface.

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