Electrical connector, counterpart connector, and connector

Abstract

The invention provides an electric connector which can directly confirm assembly completion through visual observation. An electrical connector according to the present invention is provided with: a housing to which a counterpart connector is fitted; and an indicator (30), at least a part of which is housed in the housing, having a visual feature region (33), and being displaced from a non-display position to a display position by being displaced in the fitting direction by fitting with the mating connector, the indicator (30) being displaced from the non-display position to the display position when the mating connector is completely fitted. The visual feature area (33) can be seen from the outer side of the shell.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connector, a mating connector, and a connection body. Background Art

[0002] A battery system is configured by connecting a plurality of batteries to each other through a cable and connection portions formed on both sides of the cable. In a battery energy storage system or the like, many batteries are included, and thus the cables and fastening portions for connecting the batteries to each other also become many.

[0003] In Patent Document 1, a single cell monitoring connector that can be attached to and detached from a fuel cell is disclosed. The single cell monitoring connector includes a pair of parallel rod operating portions. The pair of rod operating portions are inclined with respect to each other during the assembly to a fuel cell (single cell), and when the assembly is completed, they are restored to their original parallel posture by their elasticity. Therefore, it is possible to identify that the assembly is in progress by the mutual inclination of the rod operating portions. Prior Art Documents Patent Documents

[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021-77616. Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the connector of Patent Document 1, it is possible to confirm insufficient assembly to a single cell by the posture of a pair of rod operating portions. However, when the assembly is completed, the pair of rod operating portions are restored to their original parallel posture, and thus it is not possible to directly confirm the completion of the assembly. That is, in Patent Document 1, if the pair of rod operating portions are not in a mutually inclined posture, it is only regarded as the completion of the assembly, and the completion of the assembly is indirectly confirmed.

[0006] Based on the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector that can directly confirm the completion of the assembly visually. Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The electrical connector of the present invention includes: a housing that is fitted to a mating connector; and an indicator that houses at least a part thereof in the housing, has a visual feature area, and is displaced in the fitting direction by the fitting with the mating connector, from a non-display position to a display position. When the fitting with the mating connector is a complete fitting, the indicator is displaced to the display position where the visual feature area can be seen from the outside of the housing.

[0008] Preferably, the housing of the electrical connector of the present invention has a window through which the inside can be seen from the outside of the housing, and the visual feature area can be seen through the window.

[0009] The electrical connector of the present invention is preferably such that the indicator includes: a prime mover that is displaced in the fitting direction by fitting with a mating connector; and a follower that has a visual feature area and is displaced from a non-display position to a display position by the displacement of the prime mover. When the fitting with the mating connector is a complete fit, the follower is displaced to a display position where the visual feature area can be seen through a window.

[0010] The electrical connector of the present invention is preferably such that when the fitting with the mating connector is a complete fit, it is displaced to a display position where the visual feature area showing the state of complete fit with the mating connector in the complete fit display state can be seen through a window.

[0011] The electrical connector of the present invention is preferably such that when the fitting with the mating connector is an incomplete fit, it stays at a non-display position where the visual feature area cannot be seen through the window or an area other than the visual feature area can be seen through the window.

[0012] The electrical connector of the present invention is preferably such that the visual feature area has a color different from the color of the housing.

[0013] The electrical connector of the present invention is preferably such that the prime mover has a prime mover side cam surface inclined with respect to the fitting direction, and the follower has a follower side cam surface that slides with the prime mover side cam surface.

[0014] The electrical connector of the present invention is preferably such that the housing has a pressing portion that applies a load to keep the follower at the non-display position when the fitting with the mating connector is an incomplete fit.

[0015] The electrical connector of the present invention is preferably such that at the complete fit, a load in the fitting direction is applied to the prime mover to keep the follower at the display position.

[0016] The mating connector of the present invention that mates with the electrical connector of the present invention includes: a housing that mates with the electrical connector; and a contact portion that is fastened to a conduction member by a fastening member and has a fastening portion capable of conduction.

[0017] The connector body of the present invention is the connector body of the electrical connector of the present invention and the mating connector of the present invention. Effects of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electrical connector that can directly confirm the completion of assembly visually. Description of the Drawings

[0019] Figure 1 It is a perspective view showing a connector body of a cable side connector and a battery side connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 It is a perspective view showing a cable side connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a battery-side connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is Figure 1 a sectional view taken along line IV-IV. Figure 5 is Figure 1 a sectional view taken along line V-V. Figure 6 is Figure 1 a sectional view taken along line VI-VI. Figure 7 is Figure 1 a sectional view taken along line VII-VII. Figure 8 is a side view showing a connection body of a cable-side connector and a battery-side connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 is Figure 8 a sectional view taken along line IX-IX. Figure 10 is a perspective view showing an example of fastening of a battery-side connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 is a view showing an example of a visual feature area in a fully-fitted display state according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 12 is a view showing another example of an indicator according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a cable-side connector 1, a battery-side connector 100, and a connection body 200 of the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. This connection means an electrical connection and a mechanical connection. In addition, for ease of explanation, as shown in the respective drawings, the fitting direction of the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 is defined as the third direction Z, the direction orthogonal to the third direction Z is defined as the first direction X, and the direction orthogonal to the first direction X is defined as the second direction Y. Further, the front in the first direction X is (F), the rear is (B), the right direction in the second direction Y is (R), the left direction is (L), the upper direction in the third direction Z is (U), and the lower direction is (D). [Cable-side connector 1: Refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figures 4 to 10 ​The cable-side connector 1 as an electrical connector includes: a housing 10 that is fitted with the battery-side connector 100 and has a window; and an indicator 30 that houses at least a part thereof in the housing 10 and has a visual feature area 33 that can be seen through the window 22. The housing 10 includes a socket housing 11 that houses at least a part of the indicator 30 and an indicator housing 21 that has the window 22. In the present embodiment, the cable-side connector 1 is a so-called female connector, and the battery-side connector 100 is a so-called male connector. The cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are used as power connectors.

[0021] [Socket housing 11: Refer to Figure 4 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 , Figure 7 , Figure 8 , Figure 9 The socket housing 11 includes: socket contacts 12, to which a cable (not shown) is connected inside, and which are electrically connected to the battery-side connector 100; crown contacts 13 that electrically connect between the inner peripheral surface of the socket contacts 12 and the outer peripheral surface of the contact portion 121 of the battery-side connector 100; a latch receiving portion 14 that houses at least a part of the latch 41; and a latch 41 that, when fitted with the housing 101 of the battery-side connector 100, engages with the flange portion 102 of the housing 101. The socket housing 11 houses at least a part of the indicator 30.

[0022] The socket housing 11 and the socket contacts 12 are integrally formed by insert molding in which the socket housing 11 made of a resin material is filled around the socket contacts 12 made of a metal material. The center of the crown contact 13 in the third direction Z is in the shape of a leaf spring that warps from the outside to the inside of the socket contact 12. When the contact portion 121 is inserted into the socket contact 12, the crown contact 13 functions as a leaf spring. An upper connecting portion that connects the upper ends of the multiple leaf springs of the crown contact 13 and a lower connecting portion that connects the lower ends of the multiple leaf springs press the inner peripheral surface of the socket contact 12, and the multiple leaf springs press the outer peripheral surface of the contact portion 121. Through the crown contact 13, electrical connection between the socket contact 12 and the contact portion 121 of the battery-side connector 100 can be ensured.

[0023] When the cable-side connector 1 is fitted with the battery-side connector 100, the latch 41 engages with the flange portion 102. At least a part of the latch 41 is housed in the latch receiving portion 14 of the socket housing 11, and a locking portion 41A that engages with the flange portion 102 is formed. The latch 41 is pressed from the right direction (R) to the left direction (L) in the second direction Y of the housing 11 by a compression coil spring 42 disposed between the socket housing 11 and the latch 41.​

[0024] In the present embodiment, the chamfered portion on the lower surface of the locking portion 41A of the latch 41, which faces the flange portion 102, is pressed by the chamfered portion of the flange portion 102, so that as shown in Figure 9 (b), the locking portion 41A is displaced to the right direction (R) in the second direction Y. The displacement of the locking portion 41A to the right direction (R) in the second direction Y is maintained until the locking surface 102A of the flange portion 102 can pass upward (U) in the third direction Z of the locking portion 41A. If the locking surface 102A passes upward (U) in the third direction Z of the locking portion 41A, the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are completely engaged. At this time, the latch 41 returns to the position before displacement by the restoring force of the compression coil spring 42, and the locking between the flange portion 102 and the locking portion 41A is completed.

[0025] When the locking surface 102A of the flange portion 102 does not pass upward (U) in the third direction Z of the locking portion 41A and the locking is not completed, the latch 41 is pressed to the left direction (L) in the second direction Y by the restoring force of the compression coil spring 42. The pressed latch 41 acts on the chamfered portion of the flange portion 102 from the chamfered portion of the locking portion 41A, and a force acts on the flange portion 102 downward (D) in the third direction Z. The flange portion 102 is not locked with the locking portion 41A, and the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are not completely engaged.

[0026] When disassembling the cable-side connector 1 from the fully engaged battery-side connector 100, the locking state shown in Figure 9 (a) is released. The latch 41 is pressed to the right direction (R) in the second direction Y, so that the latch 41 is displaced in the direction of arrow P3 shown in Figure 9 (b) until the locking between the flange portion 102 and the locking portion 41A is released. If the locking between the flange portion 102 and the locking portion 41A is released, the cable-side connector 1 can be disassembled from the battery-side connector 100.

[0027] [Indicator housing 21 and indicator 30: Refer to Figure 1 、 Figure 2 、 Figures 4 to 8 、 Figure 11 The indicator housing 21 is locked to the socket housing 11. The indicator housing 21 is provided with a window 22 through which the inside can be seen from the outside of the indicator housing 21, and the visual feature area 33 of the indicator 30 can be seen through the window 22.

[0028] ​The indicator 30 includes: a prime mover 31 that is displaced in the third direction Z, which is the fitting direction, by the fitting of the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100; a follower 32 that has a visual feature area 33 and is displaced from a non-display position to a display position by the displacement of the prime mover 31; and a compression coil spring 34 as a pressing portion that applies a load before the start of fitting and during incomplete fitting to keep the follower 32 in the non-display position.

[0029] On the prime mover 31, a pressing surface 31C is provided on the surface below the protruding portion 31B that can protrude downward (D) in the third direction Z from the socket housing 11. When the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are fitted, the pressing surface 31C is pressed upward (U) in the third direction Z, which is the fitting direction, by the pressing surface 102B above the flange portion 102. By being pressed in the third direction Z along the fitting direction, the prime mover 31 is displaced upward (U) in the third direction Z, and the protruding portion 31B protruding from the socket housing 11 is covered by the socket housing 11. In addition, when the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are completely fitted, a load in the third direction Z, which is the fitting direction, is applied to the prime mover 31 to keep the follower 32 in the display position. In the present embodiment, the pressing surface 102B of the flange portion 102 of the housing 101 applies a load to the prime mover 31.

[0030] The prime mover 31 has an inclined surface 31A that slides with the inclined surface 32A of the follower 32. As the prime mover 31 is displaced upward (U) in the third direction Z, the inclined surface 32A slides following the inclined surface 31A, and the follower 32 is displaced backward (B) in the first direction X. In addition, the prime mover 31 and the follower 32 have a cam relationship. The prime mover 31 is a prime-moving side cam and includes an inclined surface 31A as a prime-moving side cam surface that is inclined with respect to the third direction Z, which is the fitting direction. The follower 32 includes an inclined surface 32A as a follower side cam surface that slides with the inclined surface 31A as the prime-moving side cam surface. In the present embodiment, the inclined surface 32A as the follower side cam surface is inclined with respect to the third direction Z, which is the fitting direction, but it is not limited thereto. The follower side cam surface may also be parallel to the third direction Z, which is the fitting direction. In addition, as long as either one of the prime-moving side cam surface and the follower side cam surface is inclined with respect to the third direction Z, which is the fitting direction.

[0031] When the fitting of the follower 32 and the battery-side connector 100 is complete fitting, the follower 32 is displaced to the display position where the visual feature area 33 can be seen through the window 22. In the present embodiment, what can be seen through the window 22 before the start of the fitting of the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 is the color of the follower 32 itself, which has a color different from the color of the indicator housing 21 around the window 22.

[0032] If the cable-side connector 1 is engaged with the battery-side connector 100, the prime mover 31 is displaced upward (U) in the third direction Z in the engaging direction, so that the follower 32 is displaced rearward (B) in the first direction X. If the follower 32 starts to be displaced rearward (B) in the first direction X, a part of the visual feature area 33 can be seen through the window 22. As the engagement between the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 approaches complete engagement, the area of the visual feature area 33 that can be seen through the window 22 gradually expands.

[0033] When the engagement between the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 is in a completely engaged state, the follower 32 is displaced from the non-display position to the display position rearward (B) in the first direction, so that the visual feature area 33 can be seen in the entire area of the window 22. That is, when the engagement between the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 is in a completely engaged state, the visual feature area 33 in the fully engaged display state showing the completely engaged state of the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 can be seen through the window 22. In the present embodiment, the visual feature area 33 in the fully engaged display state means a state in which the visual feature area 33 can be seen in the entire area of the window 22. In addition, the visual feature area 33 that can be seen through the window 22 has a color different from the colors of the indicator housing 21 around the window 22 and the follower 32 itself as the indicator 30. For example, the visual feature area 33 may also be coated with a paint having a color different from the colors of the indicator housing 21 and the follower 32 itself on the surface of the follower 32, or a seal having a color different from the colors of the indicator housing 21 and the follower 32 itself may be pasted on the surface of the follower 32, or a material having a color different from the color of the follower 32 itself and the color of the indicator housing 21 itself may be used when forming the follower 32. In addition, the non-display position means a position of the follower 32 where the visual feature area 33 cannot be seen through the window 22 or the color of the follower 32 itself in an area other than the visual feature area 33 can be seen through the window 22 before the start of the engagement between the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 and during incomplete engagement.

[0034] The visual feature area 33 is not limited to having a color different from the color of the indicator housing 21 around the window 22. For example, as long as the visual feature area 33 in the fully fitted display state can be seen, unevenness or other shapes can also be formed in the visual feature area 33, a locking structure that locks to the window 22 when the follower 32 is displaced to the display position can also be formed, or a protruding structure that protrudes from the window 22 to the outside of the indicator housing 21 when the follower 32 is displaced to the display position can also be formed. In addition, even if it is the same color as the color around the window 22, for example, "mating", "complete", etc. for notifying full fitting can be formed as protrusions in the visual feature area 33. In addition, regarding color, there are three elements: "hue" which represents the difference in tones such as red and blue, "brightness" which represents the brightness of the color, and "chroma" which represents the vividness of the color. As long as any one of them is different from the color around the window 22. Most preferably, it is achromatic white, but a hue that is in a point-symmetrical position and its vicinity in the color wheel with the hue around the window 22 can also be used.

[0035] In the present embodiment, the visual feature area 33 in the fully fitted display state means a state in which the visual feature area 33 can be seen in the entire area of the window 22, but is not limited thereto. As shown in Figure 11 (a) to (c), for example, regarding the state in which the visual feature area 33 in the fully fitted display state can be seen through the window 22, it can be cited that when the follower 32 is displaced to the display position behind (B) in the first direction X which is the displacement direction of the follower 32, the visual feature area 33 reaches the edge 22B of the window 22. When the follower 32 stays in the non-display position, a state in which the visual feature area 33 that can be seen through the window 22 does not reach the edge 22B of the window 22 can be seen.

[0036] In addition, as shown in Figure 11 (d) to (f), for example, it can be cited that when the follower 32 is displaced to the display position behind (B) in the first direction X, the visual feature areas 33 of various shapes stop at positions that do not overlap with the edges 22F, 22R, 22B, 22L of the window 22. Figure 11 (d) to (f) show that the visual feature area 33 is the reference for the visual feature area 33 showing the fully fitted display state. When the follower 32 stays in the non-display position, the visual feature areas 33 of various shapes stop at positions that are not the corresponding positions of Figure 11 (d) to (f), or the visual feature areas 33 of various shapes stop at positions that overlap with the edge 22F of the window 22, or the visual feature area 33 cannot be seen through the window 22.

[0037] In addition, as shown in Figure 11As shown in (g), for example, when the follower 32 is displaced rearward (B) in the first direction X to the display position, the triangular visual feature area 33 serving as the indicator reference reaches a position corresponding to the triangular shape serving as the housing reference formed such that the vertex coincides with the edge 22R of the window 22. When the follower 32 stays at the non-display position, the triangular visual feature area 33 serving as the indicator reference stops at a position that does not correspond to Figure 11 (g), or the triangular visual feature area 33 stops at a position overlapping with the edge 22F of the window 22, or the visual feature area 33 cannot be seen through the window 22. In addition, the visual feature area 33 in the above-described fully engaged display state is an example and is not limited thereto.

[0038] [Battery-side connector 100: Refer to Figure 1 、 Figures 3 to 8 、 Figure 10 The battery-side connector 100 is engaged with the cable-side connector 1. By engaging the cable-side connector 1, which is an electrical connector, with the battery-side connector 100, which is the mating connector, a connection body 200 of the electrical connectors can be obtained. The battery-side connector 100 includes a housing 101 that engages with the cable-side connector 1 and a contact portion 121 that can conduct with the cable-side connector 1.

[0039] The housing 101 is formed with a flange portion 102 on the upper (U) side in the third direction Z that engages with the engaging portion 41A of the cable-side connector 1. The contact portion 121 is formed in a cylindrical shape and conducts with the cable-side connector 1 by pressing the side surface of the cylindrical shape by the crown contact 13 of the cable-side connector 1. The contact portion 121 is connected to a terminal portion 123 that conducts with a terminal portion of a battery (not shown) on the lower (D) side in the third direction Z. In addition, on the upper surface of the contact portion 121 on the upper (U) side in the third direction Z, a female thread 122 serving as a fastening portion is provided. The surface of the contact portion 121 provided with the female thread 122 is disposed above the pressing surface 102B of the flange portion 102 on the upper (U) side in the third direction Z.

[0040] By providing the above-described configurations in the housing 101 and the contact portion 121, as Figure 10 shown, in addition to engaging with the cable-side connector 1, for example, a bus bar 400, which is a conduction component, can also be fastened by a bolt 300 with a hexagonal hole, which is a fastening component. By fastening the bus bar 400 and the battery-side connector 100, the connection body 200 can be obtained. In addition, a crimp terminal 500, which is a conduction component, can be fastened by a bolt 300 with a hexagonal hole, which is a fastening component. By fastening the crimp terminal 500 and the battery-side connector 100, the connection body 200 can be obtained. ​Thus, the battery-side connector 100 can accommodate multiple connection methods that the cable side can have.

[0041] [Engagement of the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100: Refer to Figures 5 to 7 , Figure 9 Figures 5 to 8 is a cross-sectional view when the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are engaged. Additionally, Figure 9 is a view showing the locking portion where the locking portion 41A is locked to the flange portion 102 when the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are engaged.

[0042] As Figure 5 shown, when the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are engaged, first, the socket housing 11 of the cable-side connector 1 is inserted between the housing 101 and the contact head portion 121 of the battery-side connector 100. When the socket housing 11 is inserted, the pressing surface 31C of the protruding portion 31B of the prime mover 31 is pressed by the pressing surface 102B of the flange portion 102.

[0043] As Figure 6 shown, the pressing surface 31C of the protruding portion 31B of the prime mover 31 is pressed by the pressing surface 102B of the flange portion 102, and a force P1 in the upward (U) direction of the third direction Z acts on the prime mover 31. If the displacement of the prime mover 31 in the upward (U) direction of the third direction Z in the engagement direction starts, the follower 32 staying at the non-display position starts to displace in the rear (B) direction of the first direction X. When the follower 32 displaces in the rear (B) direction of the first direction X, a force P2 in the rear (B) direction of the first direction X acts on the compression coil spring 34. If the follower 32 starts to displace in the rear (B) direction of the first direction X, a part of the visual feature area 33 can be seen through the window 22. During the period when the follower 32 continues to displace from the non-display position to the display position, the area of the visual feature area 33 that can be seen through the window 22 gradually expands. Additionally, the chamfered portion formed on the lower surface of the locking portion 41A is pressed by the chamfered portion formed on the flange portion 102. The insertion of the socket housing 11 of the cable-side connector 1 is continued until the locking surface 102A of the flange portion 102 can pass above (U) the locking portion 41A in the third direction Z.

[0044] As Figure 7 shown, the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are fully engaged. At this time, the follower 32 displaces in the rear (B) direction of the first direction X, and the displacement from the non-display position to the display position is completed. If the displacement of the follower 32 to the display position is completed, the visual feature area 33 can be seen in the entire area of the window 22. ​In addition, when the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are completely engaged, the locking surface 102A can pass above (U) in the third direction Z of the locking portion 41A.

[0045] As Figure 9 (a) shows that when the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are completely engaged, the latch 41 returns to the position before displacement by the restoring force of the compression coil spring 42, and the engagement between the flange portion 102 and the locking portion 41A is completed.

[0046] [Effects achieved by the embodiment] [Effect 1] In the cable-side connector 1, there are provided: a socket housing 11 that engages with the battery-side connector 100; an indicator housing 21 that has a window 22; and an indicator 30 that houses at least a part thereof in the socket housing 11 and has a visual feature area 33 that can be seen through the window 22. The indicator 30 includes: a prime mover 31 that is displaced in the third direction Z, which is the engagement direction, by the engagement between the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100; and a follower 32 that has the visual feature area 33 and displaces the visual feature area 33 from the non-display position to the display position by the displacement of the prime mover 31. When the engagement with the battery-side connector 100 is a complete engagement, the follower 32 is displaced to the display position where the visual feature area 33 can be seen through the window 22. Thus, it is possible to directly confirm visually the completion of the engagement between the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100, that is, the completion of the assembly of the electrical connector.

[0047] [Effect 2] In the battery-side connector 100, there are provided: a housing 101 that engages with the cable-side connector 1; and a contact portion 121 that is fastened to a bus bar 400, a crimp terminal 500, etc., which are conduction members, by a bolt 300 with a hexagonal hole as a fastening member, and a female thread 122 is provided as a fastening portion that can conduct electricity. Thus, it is possible to cope with multiple connection methods that can be provided on the cable side.

[0048] In addition to the above, as long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated from, the components listed in the above embodiment can be selected or appropriately changed to other components.

[0049] In the present embodiment, the cable-side connector 1 includes: an indicator housing 21 having a window 22; and an indicator 30 that houses at least a part thereof in the socket housing 11, has a visual feature area 33, and includes a follower 32 that displaces the visual feature area 33 from a non-display position to a display position by the displacement of a prime mover 31. Further, when the mating with the battery-side connector 100 is a complete mating, the visual feature area 33 is displaced to a display position where it can be seen throughout the entire area of the window 22, but it is not limited thereto. As Figure 12 shown, the cable-side connector 1 includes: a housing 10 that mates with a battery-side connector 100 as a mating connector; and an indicator 30 that houses at least a part thereof in the housing 10, has a visual feature area 33, and is displaced from a non-display position to a display position by being displaced upward (U) in the third direction Z, which is the mating direction, by using the mating with the mating connector. Further, when the mating of the indicator 30 with the battery-side connector 100 is a complete mating, it is displaced to a display position where the visual feature area 33 can be seen from the outside of the housing 10. In such a cable-side connector 1, it is also possible to visually confirm directly the completion of the mating of the cable-side connector 1 with the battery-side connector 100, that is, the completion of the assembly of the electrical connector. In addition, in Figure 12 , the indicator 30 protrudes from the window 22 of the indicator housing 21 to the outside of the indicator housing 21, so that the visual feature area 33 can be seen from the outside of the indicator housing 21 and the socket housing 11.

[0050] In the present embodiment, the prime mover 31 has an inclined surface 31A that slides on an inclined surface 32A of the follower 32. The prime mover 31 is displaced upward (U) in the third direction Z, so that the inclined surface 32A slides following the inclined surface 31A, and the follower 32 is displaced backward (B) in the first direction X, but it is not limited thereto. For example, in order to change the movement direction, a rod portion having a rotation center connecting the prime mover 31 and the follower 32 may be provided. After converting the movement of the prime mover 31 in the third direction Z into the rotational movement of the rod portion, the rotational movement of the rod portion is further converted into the movement of the follower 32 in the first direction X. As such a configuration, the follower 32 is also displaced from the non-display position to the display position, and the visual feature area 33 can be seen throughout the entire area of the window 22.

[0051] Further, as a pressing portion that applies a load to keep the follower 32 in the non-display position, a compression coil spring 34 is used, but it is not limited thereto. As long as a load can be applied to keep the follower 32 in the non-display position, a leaf spring, a torsion spring, etc. may also be used. Description of Reference Numerals

[0052] 1 Cable-side connector 11 Socket housing 12 Socket Contact 13 Coronary Contact 14 Latch Receiving Portion 21 Indicator Housing 22 Window 30 Indicator 31 Prime Mover 31A Inclined Plane 31B Protrusion 31C Pressing Surface 32 Driven Member 33 Visual Feature Area 34 Compression Helical Spring 41 Latch 41A Locking Portion 42 Compression Helical Spring 100 Battery-Side Connector 101 Housing 102 Flange Portion 102A Locking Surface 102B Pressing Surface 121 Contact Head 122 Female Thread 123 Terminal Portion 200 Connector 300 Bolt with Hexagonal Hole 400 Busbar 500 Crimp Terminal.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising: A housing that mates with a mating connector; and An indicator that houses at least a portion thereof in the housing, has a visual feature area, and is displaced in the mating direction by mating with the mating connector, and is displaced from a non-display position to a display position. When the mating with the mating connector is a complete mating, the indicator is displaced to the display position where the visual feature area can be seen from the outside of the housing.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The housing has a window through which the inside can be seen from the outside of the housing. The visual feature area can be seen through the window.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein: The indicator comprises: A driving member that is displaced in the mating direction by mating with the mating connector; and A driven member that has the visual feature area and is displaced from the non-display position to the display position by the displacement of the driving member. When the mating with the mating connector is the complete mating, the driven member is displaced to the display position where the visual feature area can be seen through the window.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein: When the mating with the mating connector is the complete mating, it is displaced to the display position where the visual feature area showing the state of the complete mating with the mating connector can be seen through the window.

5. The electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein: When the mating with the mating connector is an incomplete mating, it stays at the non-display position where the visual feature area cannot be seen through the window or an area other than the visual feature area can be seen through the window.

6. The electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The visual feature area has a color different from the color of the housing.

7. The electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein: The driving member has a driving-side cam surface inclined with respect to the mating direction. The driven member has a driven-side cam surface that slides with the driving-side cam surface.

8. The electrical connector according to claim 3, wherein: The housing has a pressing portion that applies a load to keep the driven member at the non-display position when the mating with the mating connector is an incomplete mating.

9. The electrical connector according to claim 8, wherein: At the complete mating, a load in the mating direction is applied to the driving member to keep the driven member at the display position.

10. A mating connector, comprising: A housing that mates with the electrical connector according to claim 1; and A contact portion that is fastened to a conduction member by a fastening member and has a fastening portion capable of conduction.

11. A connector body of the following two: The electrical connector according to claim 1; and The mating connector according to claim 10.

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