Connector

Abstract

The fitting cylinder part (78) of the first housing (18) has an upper wall (78A) that covers the second housing (22). A pair of ribs (78B) protruding inward from the upper wall (78A) and facing each other in the left-right direction; and locking parts (78C) which protrude inwards from the upper wall (78A) and are configured between the ribs (78B). The second housing (22) has a lock arm (51) disposed between the ribs (78B). The lock arm (51) has an arm main body (51A) and a lock protrusion (51B) that engages with the lock section (78C). The size of the locking protrusion (51B) in the left-right direction is smaller than the size of the arm body (51A) in the left-right direction. The first housing (18) has a reinforcing section (78D) disposed on the outside in the left-right direction of the lock protrusion (51B) and at a position overlapping the arm main body (51A) in the left-right direction. The reinforcing portion (78D) protrudes from the upper wall (78A) across the rib (78B).

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] The connector disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a male housing and a female housing that can be mutually engaged. The male housing and the female housing are held in an engaged state by the engagement of a locking projection of the male housing and a locking portion of the female housing. The structure of such a connector is also disclosed in Patent Document 2, for example. Prior Art Documents Patent Documents

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-220807 Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2020-170599 Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When a force in the separating direction is applied to the engaged housings in a state where the locking projection and the locking portion are engaged, the locking projection and the locking portion are pressed against each other. Therefore, the following problem may occur: the locking chamber provided with the locking portion deflects outward, resulting in the release of the locking state between the locking projection and the locking portion.

[0005] The connector of the present disclosure is completed based on the above situation, and aims to improve the force for maintaining the engaged state. Solutions to the Problems

[0006] The connector of the present disclosure includes a first housing and a second housing. The first housing has a fitting cylinder portion into which the second housing can be fitted. The fitting cylinder portion has: a covering wall that covers the second housing from the outside; a pair of ribs that project inward from the covering wall and oppose each other in the width direction that intersects the fitting direction of the first housing and the second housing; and a locking portion that projects inward from the covering wall and is disposed between the respective ribs. The second housing has locking arms disposed between the respective ribs in a state of being fitted to the first housing. The locking arm has: an arm body that can be elastically deformed; and a locking projection that projects from the arm body and is engaged with the locking portion. The dimension of the locking projection in the width direction is smaller than the dimension of the arm body in the width direction. The first housing has a reinforcing portion disposed outside the width direction of the locking projection and overlapping the arm body in the width direction in a state of being fitted to the second housing. The reinforcing portion protrudes from the covering wall over the rib. Advantageous Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, the force for maintaining the engaged state of the connector can be increased. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector of Embodiment 1. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the first housing as viewed from the front. Figure 3 is an enlarged rear view of the main part of the first housing as viewed from the front. Figure 4 is Figure 3 A-A cross-sectional view of Figure 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the locking arm of the second housing. Figure 6 is a partially enlarged side cross-sectional view showing an enlarged engagement state between the locking portion and the locking arm. Figure 7 is Figure 1 B-B cross-sectional view of DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described by way of example. The connector of the present disclosure (1) includes a first housing and a second housing. The first housing has a fitting cylinder portion into which the second housing can be fitted. The fitting cylinder portion has a covering wall that covers the second housing from the outside; a pair of ribs that protrude inward from the covering wall and oppose each other in the width direction that intersects the fitting direction of the first housing and the second housing; and a locking portion that protrudes inward from the covering wall and is disposed between the ribs. The second housing has a locking arm that is disposed between the ribs in a state of being fitted to the first housing. The locking arm has an elastically deformable arm main body; and a locking protrusion that protrudes from the arm main body and engages with the locking portion. The locking protrusion has a smaller dimension in the width direction than the arm main body in the width direction. The first housing has a reinforcing portion that is disposed on the outer side in the width direction of the locking protrusion and overlaps the arm main body in the width direction in a state of being fitted to the second housing. The reinforcing portion protrudes from the covering wall over the rib. According to this structure, since the covering wall is reinforced by the connection between the reinforcing portion and the rib, even when a force in the separating direction is applied to the first housing and the second housing in a state where the locking protrusion and the locking portion are in an engaged state, the covering wall is not easily deflected. As a result, deformation of the locking protrusion and the locking portion can be restricted, and their engaged state is not easily released.

[0010] (2) Preferably, the reinforcing portion extends in the fitting direction, and the front end of the reinforcing portion in the fitting direction is connected to the locking portion. By connecting the front end of the reinforcing portion to the locking portion, it is possible to further prevent the covering wall from being flexed.

[0011] (3) In (2), preferably, the rear end of the reinforcing portion in the fitting direction is located in a position forward of the rear end of the covering wall. Since the length dimension of the reinforcing portion in the fitting direction can be made the minimum necessary dimension, the moldability can be improved.

[0012] (4) In (2) or (3), preferably, a top surface that intersects the locking surface facing the locking portion and extends in the fitting direction is formed at the top end in the protruding direction of the locking protrusion. Preferably, the top surface is arranged at a position within the formation range of the reinforcing portion in the fitting direction in the fitting state of the first housing and the second housing. According to this structure, since the reinforcing portion is provided in the covering wall corresponding to the range pushed by the locking protrusion, it is possible to effectively suppress the flexure of the covering wall. Here, the formation range of the reinforcing portion in the fitting direction means the range in which the reinforcing portion is arranged in the fitting direction.

[0013] [Details of the Embodiment of the Present Disclosure] <Embodiment 1> The following will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7 Embodiment 1 that embodies the connector 10 of the present disclosure. In the drawings, "front side", "rear side", "upper side", "lower side", "right side", and "left side" are represented by "F", "B", "U", "D", "R", and "L", respectively. In the present Embodiment 1, the left-right direction corresponds to the width direction. The front side "F" in the drawings is the side of the first housing 18 that faces the second housing 22. Also, in the description of the second housing 22, the front side refers to the surface side facing the first housing 18. As Figure 1 shown, the connector 10 of Embodiment 1 includes a first housing 18 and a second housing 22 as mutually fitting housings. The first housing 18 and the second housing 22 can be fitted in the front-rear direction. That is, the front-rear direction corresponds to the fitting direction.

[0014] <First Housing> The first housing 18 is made of synthetic resin, as Figure 1As shown, there is a first terminal accommodating portion 75 that penetrates in the front-rear direction. On the upper surface of the rear inner wall of the first terminal accommodating portion 75, a first lance-shaped portion 76 that protrudes forward in a cantilever shape is formed. A male terminal M is accommodated in the first terminal accommodating portion 75. When the male terminal M is accommodated in the first terminal accommodating portion 75, the first lance-shaped portion 76 engages with the engaged portion L1 of the male terminal M. The front portion of the first housing 18 is formed as a fitting cylinder portion 78 whose outer shape is larger than that of the rear portion. The fitting cylinder portion 78 has an upper wall 78A as a covering wall, left and right side walls 78E as covering walls, and a lower wall 78F as a covering wall, and is formed in a square cylinder shape by the upper wall 78A, the left and right side walls 78E, and the lower wall 78F (refer to Figure 2 ).

[0015] As Figure 2 shown, a pair of ribs 78B that protrude inward are provided on the upper wall 78A of the fitting cylinder portion 78. These ribs 78B hang down from the lower surface of the upper wall 78A and extend in the front-rear direction. These ribs 78B are separated in the left-right direction. In other words, these ribs 78B are opposed in the left-right direction (width direction) that intersects the fitting direction of the first housing 18 and the second housing 22.

[0016] A locking portion 78C is disposed between the pair of ribs 78B. The locking portion 78C protrudes downward (i.e., inward) from the lower surface of the upper wall 78A. The left and right ends of the locking portion 78C are respectively connected to the respective ribs 78B.

[0017] A pair of reinforcing portions 78D are provided on the upper wall 78A of the fitting cylinder portion 78. These reinforcing portions 78D are respectively provided on the opposed surfaces of the pair of ribs 78B. In other words, each reinforcing portion 78D is protrudingly provided from the upper wall 78A over the rib 78B so as to connect the upper wall 78A and the rib 78B. Specifically, the reinforcing portion 78D is formed by extending in the front-rear direction (fitting direction), and is protrudingly provided inward in the left-right direction along the portion where the rib 78B is connected to the upper wall 78A. The front end of each reinforcing portion 78D in the front-rear direction (fitting direction) is connected to the locking portion 78C.

[0018] As Figure 3 shown, when the first housing 18 is viewed from the rear, each reinforcing portion 78D has a quadrilateral shape. The lower surface of each reinforcing portion 78D is in the same plane as the lower surface of the locking portion 78C. As Figure 4 shown, the rear end portion of each reinforcing portion 78D is inclined outward in the left-right direction toward each rib 78B. The rear end of each reinforcing portion 78D in the front-rear direction (fitting direction) is located at a position in front of the rear end of the fitting cylinder portion 78. The second housing 22 is fitted into the fitting cylinder portion 78.

[0019] <Second Housing> The second housing 22 is made of synthetic resin, as Figure 1As shown, there is a second terminal receiving portion 47 that penetrates in the front-rear direction. On the upper surface of the rear inner wall of the second terminal receiving portion 47, a second lance-shaped portion 48 that protrudes forward in a cantilever shape is formed. The second lance-shaped portion 48 can be elastically deformed in the vertical direction.

[0020] A female terminal F is received in the second terminal receiving portion 47. When the female terminal F is received in the second terminal receiving portion 47, the second lance-shaped portion 48 is engaged with the engaged portion L2 formed on the female terminal F. A locking arm 51 that can be engaged with the first housing 18 is formed on the upper wall of the second housing 22. The locking arm 51 has an arm body 51A that extends in the front-rear direction, and a locking protrusion 51B that protrudes from the central portion in the width direction of the upper surface of the arm body 51A.

[0021] The arm body 51A has a width in the left-right direction and extends in a flat plate shape in the front-rear direction. On the top end (upper end) in the protruding direction of the locking protrusion 51B, a top surface 51C that extends in the front-rear direction (engagement direction) is formed. An inclined surface 51D that slopes downward in the forward direction is connected to the front end of the top surface 51C. A locking surface 51F hangs down and is connected to the rear end of the top surface 51C. The top surface 51C intersects with the locking surface 51F. A finger pressing portion 51E that is separated backward from the locking protrusion 51B is provided behind the locking protrusion 51B. The finger pressing portion 51E protrudes upward from the arm body 51A.

[0022] As Figure 5 shown, the dimension in the width direction (left-right direction) of the locking protrusion 51B (i.e., the width dimension) is smaller than the dimension in the width direction (left-right direction) of the arm body 51A. In other words, the end surface of the locking protrusion 51B in the left-right direction is located at a position closer to the center in the left-right direction than the end surface of the arm body 51A in the left-right direction.

[0023] <Assembly Steps and Engagement Structure of the Connector> The male terminal M is inserted into the first terminal receiving portion 75 of the first housing 18 from the rear. By engaging the engaged portion L1 with the first lance-shaped portion 76, the male terminal M cannot be removed from the first terminal receiving portion 75 of the first housing 18 (refer to Figure 1 ).

[0024] The female terminal F is inserted into the second terminal receiving portion 47 of the second housing 22 from the rear. By engaging the engaged portion L2 with the second lance-shaped portion 48, the female terminal F cannot be removed from the second terminal receiving portion 47 of the second housing 22 (refer to Figure 1 ).

[0025] The first housing 18 and the second housing 22 are fitted together starting from a state where they face each other. Specifically, the front end portion of the second housing 22 is fitted into the fitting cylinder portion 78 of the first housing 18. As the fitting process progresses, the locking projection 51B of the second housing 22 comes into contact with the locking portion 78C of the first housing 18, and the arm main body 51A elastically deforms downward. When the locking projection 51B passes through the locking portion 78C, the arm main body 51A elastically returns, and the locking surface 51F faces the locking portion 78C in the front-rear direction. The locking projection 51B is locked to the locking portion 78C from the fitting direction (refer to Figure 6 ). Thus, the first housing 18 and the second housing 22 are held in a fitted state. In the fitted state, the female terminal F and the male terminal M are fitted together. At this time, the fitting cylinder portion 78 is in a state of covering the second housing 22 from the outside.

[0026] As Figure 6 shown, in the front-rear direction (fitting direction), the dimension of the reinforcing portion 78D is larger than the dimension of the top surface 51C of the locking projection 51B. In other words, in the front-rear direction (fitting direction), the top surface 51C is included in the formation range of the reinforcing portion 78D. In the front-rear direction (fitting direction), the dimension of the locking projection 51B is substantially the same as the dimension of the reinforcing portion 78D.

[0027] As Figure 7 shown, in the fitted state of the first housing 18 and the second housing 22, the locking arm 51 is disposed between a pair of ribs 78B. In the state where the first housing 18 and the second housing 22 are in a fitted state, each reinforcing portion 78D is disposed outside the locking projection 51B in the width direction (left-right direction) and at a position overlapping (i.e., coinciding) with the arm main body 51A in the width direction (left-right direction).

[0028] Next, the effects of this structure will be illustrated. The connector 10 includes a first housing 18 and a second housing 22. The first housing 18 has a fitting cylinder portion 78 into which the second housing 22 can be fitted. The fitting cylinder portion 78 has an upper wall 78A that covers the second housing 22 from the outside; a pair of ribs 78B that project inward from the upper wall 78A and are opposed to each other in the left-right direction intersecting the fitting direction of the first housing 18 and the second housing 22; and a locking portion 78C that projects inward from the upper wall 78A and is disposed between the respective ribs 78B. The second housing 22 has a locking arm 51 that is disposed between the respective ribs 78B in a state of being fitted to the first housing 18. The locking arm 51 has an elastically deformable arm body 51A; and a locking projection 51B that projects from the arm body 51A and is engaged with the locking portion 78C. The dimension (width dimension) of the locking projection 51B in the left-right direction is smaller than the dimension (width dimension) of the arm body 51A in the left-right direction. The first housing 18 has a reinforcing portion 78D that is disposed outside the locking projection 51B in the left-right direction in a state of being fitted to the second housing 22 and overlaps the arm body 51A in the left-right direction. The reinforcing portion 78D projects so as to connect the upper wall 78A and the ribs 78B over the upper wall 78A and the ribs 78B.

[0029] According to this structure, since the upper wall 78A is reinforced by the reinforcing portion 78D, even when a force in the separating direction is applied to the first housing 18 and the second housing 22 while the locking projection 51B and the locking portion 78C are in the engaged state, the upper wall 78A is not easily deflected. Thereby, the engagement between the locking projection 51B and the locking portion 78C is not easily released.

[0030] The reinforcing portion 78D extends in the fitting direction, and the front end of the reinforcing portion 78D in the fitting direction is connected to the locking portion 78C. By connecting the front end of the reinforcing portion 78D to the locking portion 78C, the upper wall 78A can be further prevented from being deflected.

[0031] The rear end of the reinforcing portion 78D in the fitting direction is located at a position in front of the rear end of the upper wall 78A. Since the length dimension of the reinforcing portion 78D in the fitting direction can be made the necessary minimum dimension, the moldability can be improved.

[0032] A top surface 51C that intersects a locking surface 51F opposed to the locking portion 78C and extends in the fitting direction is formed at the top end of the locking projection 51B in the projecting direction. The top surface 51C is disposed at a position within the formation range of the reinforcing portion 78D in the fitting direction in a state of the first housing 18 and the second housing 22 being fitted. According to this structure, since the reinforcing portion 78D is provided in the upper wall 78A in a range corresponding to the portion pushed by the locking projection 51B, the deflection of the upper wall 78A can be effectively suppressed.

[0033] <Other Embodiments> The embodiments disclosed herein should be understood in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed herein, but is shown by the claims and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0034] Different from Embodiment 1, the outer shape of the reinforcing portion as viewed from the rear may also be a shape that extends upward and toward the center in the left - right direction.

[0035] In Embodiment 1, the rear end of the reinforcing portion is located in front of the rear end of the upper wall, but the rear end of the reinforcing portion may also be extended to the rear end of the upper wall.

[0036] It may also be a structure in which the male terminal is mounted on the second housing and the female terminal is mounted on the first housing.

[0037] Different from Embodiment 1, it may also be a structure in which a reinforcing portion or rib is provided on the left - right side walls or the lower wall. Description of Reference Numerals

[0038] 10…Connector 18…First Housing 22…Second Housing 47…Second Terminal Receiving Portion 48…Second Spear - shaped Portion 51…Locking Arm 51A…Arm Body 51B…Locking Projection 51C…Top Surface 51D…Inclined Surface 51E…Finger Pressing Portion 51F…Locking Surface 75…First Terminal Receiving Portion 76…First Spear - shaped Portion 78…Fitting Cylinder Portion 78A…Upper Wall (Covering Wall) 78B…Rib 78C…Locking Portion 78D…Reinforcing Portion 78E…Left - right Side Walls (Covering Walls) 78F…Lower Wall (Covering Wall) F…Female Terminal L1,L2…Engaged Portions M…Male Terminal

Claims

1. A connector includes a first housing and a second housing, wherein the first housing has a fitting cylinder portion for fitting the second housing, The fitting cylinder portion has: a covering wall that covers the second housing from the outside; and a pair of ribs that project inward from the covering wall and face each other in the width direction that intersects the fitting direction of the first housing and the second housing. and a locking portion that projects inward from the covering wall and is disposed between the ribs, the second housing has a locking arm disposed between the ribs in a state of being fitted to the first housing, the locking arm has: an elastically deformable arm body; and a locking projection that projects from the arm body and engages with the locking portion, wherein a dimension of the locking projection in the width direction is smaller than a dimension of the arm body in the width direction, the first housing has a reinforcing portion disposed outside the locking projection in the width direction and overlapping the arm body in the width direction in a state of being fitted to the second housing, the reinforcing portion projects from the covering wall over the ribs.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing portion extends along the fitting direction, and a front end of the reinforcing portion in the fitting direction is connected to the locking portion.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein a rear end of the reinforcing portion in the fitting direction is located at a position in front of a rear end of the covering wall.

4. The connector according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein a top surface that intersects a locking surface facing the locking portion and extends along the fitting direction is formed at a top end of the locking projection in the projecting direction, the top surface is disposed at a position within a formation range of the reinforcing portion in the fitting direction in a state of the first housing being fitted to the second housing.

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