Connector

Abstract

Provided is a connector capable of increasing the reaction force of a lock arm during fitting and contributing to improving the sense of locking. A connector (10) is provided with a first connector (20) and a second connector (60) which can be fitted to each other. The first connector (20) has a lock arm (28) that can extend in the front-rear direction and that can elastically deform in a direction intersecting the front-rear direction with a front end (31) as a fulcrum. The second connector (60) has a lock portion (67) that engages with the lock arm (28), and a contact portion (73) that is positioned rearward of the lock portion (67) and that is in contact with a rear end portion (34) of the elastically deformed lock arm (28) during the fitting process of the first connector (20) and the second connector (60) so as to suppress displacement of the rear end portion (34) in the direction of elastic deformation of the lock arm.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a connector and a mating connector that can be mutually engaged (joined). The connector has a housing main body capable of accommodating terminals and a locking arm that protrudes from the housing main body and extends rearward (the direction opposite to the mating direction of the connector with respect to the mating connector). The locking arm is elastically deformed with a connecting portion connecting the housing main body as a fulcrum during the mating process of the connector, and is locked to a locking claw of the mating connector by elastic recovery when the mating is completed. Prior Art Documents Patent Documents

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016 - 201259 Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in order to sense locking by the elastic recovery of the locking arm when the mating of the connector and the mating connector is completed, that is, to obtain a so - called "locking feeling", it is desired to be able to set an increased deflection amount of the locking arm and an accelerated elastic recovery speed of the locking arm. For example, in Patent Document 1, by changing the shape of the locking arm from a cantilever beam shape to a simply - supported beam shape or other methods to adjust the elastic force of the locking arm, it is possible to contribute to improving the locking feeling. However, in Patent Document 1, if the locking arm is made into a simply - supported beam shape, there may be a problem of an increased mating resistance of the connector and a deteriorated workability during the mating of the connector. In addition, there are sometimes cases where the shape of the female housing having the existing locking arm cannot be changed.

[0005] In view of this, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector that can increase the reaction force of the locking arm during mating and contribute to improving the locking feeling. Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The connector of the present disclosure includes a first connector and a second connector that can be mutually engaged. When the mating direction of the first connector with respect to the second connector is taken as the front and the opposite direction is taken as the rear, the first connector has a locking arm that can extend in the front - rear direction and can be elastically deformed in a direction crossing the front - rear direction with the front end portion as a fulcrum. The second connector has a locking portion that engages with the locking arm and a contact portion. The contact portion is located rearward of the locking portion and contacts the rear end portion of the elastically deformed locking arm during the mating process of the first connector and the second connector to suppress the displacement of the rear end portion from the contact position in the elastic deformation direction of the locking arm. Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a connector can be provided that can increase the reaction force of the locking arm during fitting and can contribute to improving the locking feeling. Description of the Drawings

[0008] Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing an enlarged state where the rear end portion of the locking arm contacts the abutting portion during the fitting process of the first connector and the second connector in the connector of the first embodiment. Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the state where the first connector and the second connector are in a fitted state in the connector of the first embodiment. Figure 3 is a rear view showing an enlarged structure of the upper end side of the first connector and the second connector in a fitted state in the connector of the first embodiment. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the first connector as viewed obliquely from the upper front in the connector of the first embodiment. Figure 5 is a top view of the first connector as viewed from above in the connector of the first embodiment. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the second connector as viewed obliquely from the upper rear in the connector of the first embodiment. Figure 7 is a rear view of the second connector as viewed from the rear in the connector of the first embodiment. Detailed Embodiments

[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 connector and a second connector that can be fitted to each other. When the fitting direction of the first connector with respect to the second connector is taken as the front and the opposite direction is taken as the rear, the first connector has a locking arm that can extend in the front-rear direction and can elastically deform in a direction crossing the front-rear direction with the front end portion as a fulcrum. The second connector has a locking portion that engages with the locking arm and an abutting portion. The abutting portion is located behind the locking portion and contacts the rear end portion of the elastically deformed locking arm during the fitting process of the first connector and the second connector to suppress displacement of the rear end portion from the contact position in the elastic deformation direction of the locking arm.

[0010] During the fitting process of the first connector and the second connector, the abutting portion of the second connector contacts the rear end portion of the locking arm, and the displacement of the rear end portion of the locking arm is suppressed. Therefore, the locking arm can elastically deform in a substantially two-end supported beam state supported by the abutting portion and the front end portion. Therefore, the reaction force of the locking arm can be increased when the fitting of the first connector and the second connector is completed, which can contribute to improving the locking feeling. During the fitting process of the first connector and the second connector, before the abutting portion of the second connector contacts the rear end portion of the locking arm, since the locking arm elastically deforms in a cantilever beam shape with the front end portion as the fulcrum, the fitting resistance of the first connector can be prevented from becoming large. In addition, since the abutting portion is included in the second connector, there is no need to change the design of the shape of the first connector having the locking arm.

[0011] (2) In the connector described in the above (1), it is preferable that the first connector has a housing main body for housing the first terminal parts, the front end portion of the locking arm is connected to the front end side of the housing main body, and the rear end portion of the locking arm is located at a position behind the housing main body. According to the structure of the above (2), compared with the case where the rear end portion of the locking arm is located within the formation range of the housing main body in the front-rear direction, since the overall length of the locking arm can be increased, it contributes to the miniaturization of the housing main body and can ensure a large elastic deformation amount of the locking arm (in the following Embodiment 1, it refers to the elastic deformation amount in the up-down direction of the locking arm). As a result, it can further contribute to improving the locking feeling. In particular, in the structure of the above (2), since the housing main body cannot contact the rear end portion of the locking arm, there is a significant advantage in forming the abutting portion in the second connector.

[0012] (3) In the connector described in the above (1) or (2), it is preferable that the second connector has a fitting portion that fits with the housing main body, the locking portion is formed on the fitting portion, the abutting portion is located at a position behind the fitting portion, the second connector protrudes rearward from the fitting portion, and has wall-shaped protruding portions arranged in pairs in the width direction that intersects both the direction in which the locking arm elastically deforms and the front-rear direction, and the paired protruding portions are located on both sides in the width direction of the abutting portion. Even if the abutting portion protrudes further rearward than the fitting portion, since the protruding portions are located on both sides in the width direction of the abutting portion, the structure is such that the abutting portion is difficult to interfere with foreign objects attempting to enter from both sides in the width direction. Also, in Embodiment 1, the direction in which the locking arm elastically deforms corresponds to the up-down direction.

[0013] (4) In the connector described in the above (3), it is preferable that the abutting portion is integrally connected to each of the paired protruding portions. Since the contact portion is connected to each of the protruding portions arranged in pairs, the rigidity of the contact portion can be increased.

[0014] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure are described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is shown by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0015] <Implementation Method 1> like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the connector 10 of the first embodiment includes a first connector 20 and a second connector 60 that can be mated with each other. In the following description, regarding the front-to-back direction, the mating direction of the first connector 20 relative to the second connector 60 is the front side, and the opposite direction is the rear side. Figure 5 The vertical direction of each figure other than the vertical direction is used as a reference. The vertical direction is synonymous with the height direction. The left-right direction is based on the left-right direction viewed from the front. The left-right direction is synonymous with the width direction. In each figure, the symbol X represents the front, the symbol Y represents the right, and the symbol Z represents the top. These direction references are not necessarily consistent with the direction references when the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle, etc., not shown.

[0016] (First connector 20) The first connector 20 includes a first housing 21 made of synthetic resin and a first terminal part 50 made of conductive metal. Figure 2 As shown, the first terminal part 50 is a so-called female terminal, and has a cylindrical box part 51 at the front end side. The box part 51 is for inserting a protruding piece 91 of the second terminal part 90 described later. The first terminal part 50 and the second terminal part 90 can be electrically connected by contacting the protruding piece 91 with an elastic contact part (not shown) in the box part 51. The rear end of the first terminal part 50 is electrically and mechanically connected by crimping with the terminal end of the wire W1.

[0017] The first housing 21 has a housing body 22 for accommodating the first terminal parts 50. Figure 4 As shown, the shell body 22 has a rectangular shape and has a plurality of first cavities 23 that penetrate in the front-to-back direction. The first cavities 23 are arranged neatly in the shell body 22 in several layers in the vertical direction and in several rows in the width direction. Figure 2 As shown, a first lance 24 capable of elastic deformation is formed protruding from the inner surface of each first cavity 23. The first terminal part 50 is inserted into the first cavity 23 from the rear. The first terminal part 50 is restricted from coming out from the first cavity 23 to the rear by being locked by the first lance 24. In addition, the first terminal part 50 is restricted from coming out from the first cavity 23 to the front by contacting the stopper 39 protruding from the inner surface of the first cavity 23 from the rear.

[0018] As Figure 3 and Figure 4 shown, the first housing 21 has a pair of side portions 25 erected from the left and right end portions of the upper surface of the housing body 22. As Figure 4 and Figure 5 shown, each side portion 25 extends in the front-rear direction beyond the formation range (front-rear length) of the housing body 22. In the front-rear direction, the front end of each side portion 25 is located at the same position as the front surface of the housing body 22, and the rear end of each side portion 25 is located at a position behind the rear surface of the housing body 22. That is, in the front-rear direction, the rear end portion of each side portion 25 protrudes further rearward than the rear surface of the housing body 22.

[0019] As Figure 4 shown, in the portion of each side portion 25 near the rear end portion, there is a portion disposed one step higher than the adjacent portion in front of the same portion, and there is a pair of protruding portions 26 extending from the same portion toward the left and right inner sides (the left and right central sides of the housing body 22). As Figure 3 shown, each protruding portion 26 is opposed to each protrusion 35 of the locking arm 28 described later in such a manner as to be able to contact from above.

[0020] As Figure 4 shown, between the root side (lower end side) of each side portion 25 of the first housing 21 and the upper surface side of the housing body 22, there are a pair of left and right groove portions 27 extending in the front-rear direction and open toward the front and the rear. As Figure 3 shown, when the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are engaged, each groove portion 27 is for inserting a contact portion 73 of the second connector 60 described later.

[0021] As Figure 4 and Figure 5 shown, the first housing 21 has a locking arm 28 disposed above the left and right central portions of the upper surface of the housing body 22. The locking arm 28 is in the form of a plate with the plate surface facing the up and down directions, and has an arm main body 29 extending in the front-rear direction.

[0022] As Figure 4 shown, the front end portion 31 of the locking arm 28 (arm main body 29) is integrally connected to the upper surface of the housing body 22. In addition, the front end portion 31 of the locking arm 28 is also integrally connected to each side portion 25 on the left and right sides. The locking arm 28 can be elastically deformed in the up and down direction with the front end portion 31 as a fulcrum. A through hole 32 penetrating in the front-rear direction is formed in the front end portion 31 of the locking arm 28. The through hole 32 has a rectangular opening shape that is long in the left and right directions. The locking arm 28 ensures easy elastic deformation through the through hole 32.

[0023] As Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, the locking arm 28 has a locking projection 33 that projects from the front-rear central portion of the upper surface of the arm body 29. As Figure 2 and Figure 3 shown, when the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are engaged, the locking projection 33 is locked to a locking portion 67 of the second connector 60 described later.

[0024] As Figure 4 shown, the locking arm 28 has protrusions 35 that extend laterally to the left and right and project upward from a portion near the rear end portion 34 of the arm body 29. As Figure 5 shown, in the front-rear direction, each protrusion 35 is disposed at a position overlapping with each protruding portion 26. When the arm body 29 elastically deforms upward, each protrusion 35 abuts against each protruding portion 26, thereby suppressing excessive elastic deformation of the locking arm 28 upward. In addition, as Figure 4 and Figure 5 shown, the locking arm 28 has a beam-shaped release operation portion 36 that is spanned between the protrusions 35. The release operation portion 36 is disposed above the upper surface of the arm body 29. When separating the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 in the engaged state, the release operation portion 36 is pushed from above, and the portion of the arm body 29 near the rear end portion 34 is pressed downward. At this time, the locking projection 33 is separated from the locking portion 67, and the locking between the locking arm 28 and the locking portion 67 is released, and the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are in a separable state.

[0025] As Figure 4 and Figure 5 shown, the locking arm 28, like each side portion 25, has a front-rear length that exceeds the formation range of the housing body 22. The rear end of the locking arm 28 is located at a position behind the rear surface of the housing body 22. That is, in the front-rear direction, the rear end portion 34 of the locking arm 28 protrudes further rearward than the rear surface of the housing body 22. As Figure 5 shown, the rear end portion 34 of the locking arm 28 has a pair of expanding portions 37 that extend laterally to the left and right. The rear end portion 34 of the locking arm 28 is formed, through the expanding portions 37, to have a wider width that expands laterally to the left and right than the adjacent portion in front of the rear end portion 34 (the portion within the formation range of the housing body 22 in the front-rear direction). The rear end portion 34 of the locking arm 28 is located between the side portions 25 and is covered by the rear ends of the side portions 25 from both the left and right sides. As Figure 3 shown, a flexure space 38 of the locking arm 28 is formed below each expanding portion 37, and the tip portions 75 of the abutting portions 73 of the second connector 60 described later enter and are disposed in the flexure space 38 when the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are engaged. As Figure 5 shown, there is a gap between the left and right outer ends of each expanding portion 37 and the opposing side portion 25, and they approach the side portion 25.

[0026] (Second connector 60) The second connector 60 includes a second housing 61 made of synthetic resin and a second terminal part 90 made of conductive metal. Figure 2 As shown, the second terminal fitting 90 is a so-called male terminal, and has a protruding piece 91 protruding toward the rear. The front end of the second terminal fitting 90 is crimped to the terminal end of the electric wire W2 to achieve electrical and mechanical connection.

[0027] like Figure 2 and Figure 6 As shown, the second housing 61 includes a terminal receiving portion 62 for receiving the second terminal fitting 90 and a fitting portion 63 which is slightly larger than the terminal receiving portion 62 and protrudes rearward.

[0028] like Figure 2 As shown, the terminal receiving portion 62 has a plurality of second cavities 64 extending in the front-to-back direction. Each second cavity 64 is arranged at a position corresponding to each first cavity 23 of the first housing 21. A second lance 65 capable of elastic deformation is protrudingly formed on the inner surface of each second cavity 64. The second terminal part 90 is inserted into the second cavity 64 from the front. In addition, the retaining member 66 is mounted to the terminal receiving portion 62 from the bottom. The second terminal part 90 is stopped by the second lance 65 once and further stopped by the retaining member 66 twice, thereby limiting the escape from the second cavity 64 to the rear.

[0029] The fitting portion 63 is in the shape of a square tube and is open to the rear. The protrusion 91 of the second terminal part 90 protrudes into the interior of the fitting portion 63. The second housing 61 is fitted into the interior of the fitting portion 63 from the rear, and the protrusion 91 of each second terminal part 90 is inserted into the box part 51 of the first terminal part 50 to achieve electrical connection.

[0030] like Figure 2 and Figure 6 As shown, a claw-shaped locking portion 67 is formed on the upper wall 69 of the fitting portion 63. The locking portion 67 protrudes from the left and right central portions of the rear end side of the inner surface of the upper wall 69 toward the inside of the fitting portion 63. The locking portion 67 is arranged at a height position where it interferes with the locking protrusion 33 of the locking arm 28 during the fitting process of the first connector 20 and the second connector 60, and is opposed to the locking protrusion 33 from the rear and locked after the fitting is completed.

[0031] like Figure 7 As shown, one side of each side wall 71 on the left and right sides of the fitting portion 63 (the left side when viewed from the front, Figure 7 The second connector 60 is fixed to a vehicle (not shown) by a bracket (not shown) mounted on the mounting portions 68 and 77.

[0032] likeFigure 6 As shown, the second housing 61 has a pair of left and right wall-shaped protruding portions 72 protruding rearward from the upper portions (upper halves) of the respective side walls 71 on the left and right sides of the fitting portion 63. Each protruding portion 72 is a longitudinal wall with its wall surface facing the left and right directions, and has the same thickness as the respective side walls 71 (excluding the mounting portion 68 of one side wall 71) and is continuous in the left and right directions. In addition, the upper ends of the respective protruding portions 72 are at the same height as and continuous with the upper surface of the upper wall 69 of the fitting portion 63. The lower ends of the respective protruding portions 72 are inclined upward rearward from the fitting portion 63.

[0033] The second housing 61 has abutting portions 73 including rear end portions located behind the fitting portion 63. The abutting portions 73 project in pairs on the inner surfaces of the respective protruding portions 72 and the respective side walls 71. The respective protruding portions 72 and the respective side walls 71 are arranged on the left and right sides of the abutting portions 73 so as to cover the abutting portions 73 from the left and right outer sides.

[0034] As Figure 6 shown, the abutting portions 73 are rib-shaped extending in the front-rear direction on the entire inner surfaces of the side walls 71 and the protruding portions 72, the rear ends are connected to the rear ends of the side walls 71, and the front ends are connected to the rear surfaces (front ends of the side walls 71) of the terminal accommodating portion 62. As Figure 7 shown, the protruding dimension of the abutting portions 73 in the left and right directions is larger than the thickness of the abutting portions 73 in the up and down directions. The thickness of the abutting portions 73 in the up and down directions is larger at the base end portions 74 (the portions connected to the respective side walls 71 and the respective protruding portions 72) than at the tip end portions 75 (the tip end portions in the protruding direction from the inner surfaces of the respective side walls 71 and the respective protruding portions 72). The upper surface of the base end portion 74 is inclined downward toward the tip end portion 75. As Figure 3 shown, in the up and down directions, the tip end portions 75 of the abutting portions 73 are arranged at a height position capable of entering the flexure space 38 of the locking arm 28.

[0035] (Function of the connector 10) When the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are fitted, the first housing 21 is inserted into the fitting portion 63 of the second housing 61 from the front. When the fitting of the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 starts, the respective abutting portions 73 are inserted into the respective groove portions 27 in a fitted state. The respective abutting portions 73 maintain the state of being inserted into the respective groove portions 27 from the start to after the fitting of the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 (see Figure 3 ).

[0036] As the fitting of the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 progresses, the locking protrusions 33 of the locking arm 28 interfere with the locking portions 67 of the fitting portion 63 from the rear, so that the locking arm 28 elastically deforms with the front end portion 31 as a fulcrum, and the rear end portion 34 of the locking arm 28 is displaced downward. As the fitting further progresses, as Figure 1As shown, when the locking portion 67 straddles the upper surface of the locking projection 33, the rear end portions of the respective abutting portions 73 are disengaged from the respective groove portions 27 and reach the rear surface side of the housing main body 22. Here, the respective expanding portions 37 of the rear end portion 34 of the locking arm 28 that has undergone elastic deformation abut against the rear end portions of the top end portions 75 of the respective abutting portions 73 from above, thereby suppressing further downward displacement of the rear end portion 34 of the locking arm 28. As a result, the locking arm 28 is in the following state. That is, the front and rear ends are supported by the abutting portion 73 and the front end portion 31 to form a substantially two-end supported beam state, and a large elastic deformation can be generated downward at the portion between the locking projection 33 and the rear end portion 34 of the arm main body 29.

[0037] Subsequently, the locking portion 67 crosses over the locking projection 33, and due to the elastic restoration of the locking arm 28, the locking portion 67 is opposed to the locking projection 33 in a manner that can be locked from the rear, so that the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 are held in a mated state. The tab 91 of the second terminal component 90 is inserted into the box portion 51 of the first terminal component 50 at a regular depth to achieve electrical connection. When the locking arm 28 elastically restores, since the rear end portion 34 of the locking arm 28 can obtain a reaction force from the abutting portion 73 and disengage, the locking feeling, that is, the locking feeling when the locking arm 28 elastically restores, can be made good. For example, the mating sound generated when the locking arm 28 elastically restores is increased.

[0038] As described above, the connector 10 of the first embodiment includes a first connector 20 and a second connector 60 that can be mated with each other. When the mating direction of the first connector 20 with respect to the second connector 60 is the front and the opposite direction is the rear, the first connector 20 has a locking arm 28 that can extend in the front-rear direction and can be elastically deformed in a direction crossing the front-rear direction with the front end portion 31 as a fulcrum. The second connector 60 has a locking portion 67 and an abutting portion 73 that engages with the locking arm 28. The abutting portion 73 is located at a position rearward of the locking portion 67 and contacts the rear end portion 34 of the locking arm 28 that has undergone elastic deformation during the mating process of the first connector 20 and the second connector 60, thereby restricting the displacement of the rear end portion 34.

[0039] According to the above structure, since during the mating process of the first connector 20 and the second connector 60, the abutting portion 73 of the second connector 60 contacts the rear end portion 34 of the locking arm 28 and the displacement of the rear end portion 34 of the locking arm 28 is suppressed, the locking arm 28 can be elastically deformed in a substantially two-end supported beam state supported by the abutting portion 73 and the front end portion 31. Therefore, when the mating of the first connector 20 and the second connector 60 is completed, elastic restoration can be performed in a state where the reaction force of the locking arm 28 is increased, which can contribute to improving the locking feeling.

[0040] During the fitting process of the first connector 20 and the second connector 60, before the abutting portion 73 of the second connector 60 contacts the rear end portion 34 of the locking arm 28, since the locking arm 28 elastically deforms in a cantilever shape with the front end portion 31 as a fulcrum, it is possible to prevent the fitting resistance of the first connector 20 from becoming large. In addition, since the abutting portion 73 is formed in the fitting portion 63 of the second connector 60, it is not necessary to change the design of the shape of the first connector 20 side having the locking arm 28, and miniaturization of the first connector 20 can be achieved.

[0041] In addition, in the first embodiment, the first connector 20 has a housing main body 22 that houses the first terminal parts 50. The front end portion 31 of the locking arm 28 is connected to the front end side of the housing main body 22, and the rear end portion 34 of the locking arm 28 is located at a position behind the housing main body 22. According to this structure, compared with the case where the rear end portion 34 of the locking arm 28 is located within the formation range of the housing main body 22 in the front-rear direction, since the overall length of the locking arm 28 can be increased, it contributes to the miniaturization of the housing main body 22. In particular, since there is a situation where the housing main body 22 cannot contact the rear end portion 34 of the locking arm 28 and it is difficult to form the abutting portion 73 on the housing main body 22, forming the abutting portion 73 in the fitting portion 63 of the second connector 60 has significant advantages.

[0042] In addition, in the first embodiment, the second connector 60 has a fitting portion 63 that fits with the housing main body 22, and a locking portion 67 is formed in the fitting portion 63. The abutting portion 73 is located at a position behind the fitting portion 63, and the second connector 60 protrudes rearward from the fitting portion 63 and has wall-shaped protruding portions 72 that are arranged in pairs in the width direction (left-right direction, a direction intersecting the two directions of the up-down direction and the front-rear direction which are the directions in which the locking arm 28 elastically deforms) of the locking arm 28. The pair of arranged protruding portions 72 are located on both sides (left and right sides) in the width direction of the abutting portion 73.

[0043] Even if the abutting portion 73 protrudes further rearward than the fitting portion 63, since the protruding portions 72 are located on both sides in the width direction of the abutting portion 73, the structure is such that the abutting portion 73 is difficult to interfere with foreign objects that want to enter from both sides in the width direction. Further, since the abutting portion 73 is integrally connected to each of the pair of arranged protruding portions 72, the rigidity of the abutting portion 73 can be improved.

[0044] [Other Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] The embodiments disclosed this time should be considered exemplary in all aspects and not restrictive. In the above-described Embodiment 1, the shape of the abutting portion is such that each side wall and the protruding portion are integrally connected. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the structure may be such that the abutting portion is separated from the side wall and the protruding portion and protrudes independently inside the fitting portion, and during the fitting process of the first connector and the second connector, the front end portion of the locking arm is inserted into the through-hole, and the front end side (rear end side) that escapes rearward from the through-hole contacts the rear end portion of the locking arm. In the above-described Embodiment 1, the abutting portion is in the shape of a rib that extends relatively long from the side wall to the protruding portion. In contrast, according to other embodiments, as long as the abutting portion is disposed at a position where it can contact the rear end portion of the locking arm during the fitting process of the first connector and the second connector, for example, it may be provided only to protrude short in the front-rear direction on the inner surface of each protruding portion. In the above-described Embodiment 1, the front end portion of the locking arm is integrally connected to both the housing main body and each side portion. In contrast, according to other embodiments, the structure may be such that the front end portion of the locking arm is connected to one of the housing main body and each side portion on the front end side of the housing main body. Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0045] 10… Connector 20… First Connector 21… First Housing 22… Housing Main Body 23… First Cavity 24… First Spear-Like Portion 25… Side Portion 26… Protruding Portion 27… Groove Portion 28… Locking Arm 29… Arm Main Body 31… Front End Portion of Locking Arm 32… Through-Hole 33… Locking Projection 34… Rear End Portion of Locking Arm 35… Protruding Port 36… Release Operation Portion 37… Expansion Portion 38… Flexure Space 39… Stopper Portion 50… First Terminal Component 51… Box Portion 60… Second Connector 61… Second Housing 62… Terminal Accommodation Portion 63… Fitting Portion 64… Second Cavity 65… Second Spear-Like Portion 66… Retaining Member 67… Locking Portion 68, 77… Mounting part 69… Upper wall of the fitting part 71… Side wall of the fitting part 72… Protrusion 73… Contact part 74… Base end part of the contact part 75… Tip end part of the contact part 76… Lower wall of the fitting part 90… Second terminal part 91… Tab W1, W2… Electric wire

Claims

1. A connector includes a first connector and a second connector that can be mutually engaged. When the engaging direction of the first connector with respect to the second connector is defined as the front and the opposite direction is defined as the rear, the first connector has a locking arm that can extend in the front-rear direction and can elastically deform in a direction intersecting the front-rear direction with its front end as a fulcrum. The second connector has a locking portion that engages with the locking arm and an abutting portion. The abutting portion is located rearward of the locking portion and contacts the rear end portion of the elastically deformed locking arm during the engagement process of the first connector and the second connector to suppress the displacement of the rear end portion from the contact position in the elastic deformation direction of the locking arm.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the first connector has a housing body that houses a first terminal component. The front end portion of the locking arm is connected to the front end side of the housing body, and the rear end portion of the locking arm is located rearward of the housing body.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the second connector has a fitting portion that fits with the housing body, the locking portion is formed on the fitting portion, the abutting portion is located rearward of the fitting portion, the second connector protrudes rearward from the fitting portion and has wall-like protruding portions that are arranged in pairs in the width direction intersecting both the direction in which the locking arm elastically deforms and the front-rear direction. The pair of arranged protruding portions are located on both sides in the width direction of the abutting portion.

4. The connector according to claim 3, wherein the abutting portion is integrally connected to each of the pair of arranged protruding portions.

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