Three-dimensional connector group

Abstract

Three-dimensional connector assembly comprising: a connector device with a first connector (2) and a second connector (3) that are matable together, an operating lever (21) that can maintain a mating state of the first connector (2) and the second connector (3), and a restricting element (1) attached to the connector device that restricts rotation of the operating lever (21) that maintains the mating state, wherein the operating lever (21) is rotatably mounted on a first housing (20) of the first connector (2) so as to allow movement from a first position for maintaining the mating state to a second position for releasing the mating state, the second connector (3) having a second housing (30), and wherein the restricting element (1) has a restricting section (11).which is provided on a rotational path of the operating lever (21) from the first position to the second position and restricts the rotation of the operating lever (21) in the first position, and has a locking section which is provided continuously with the restriction section (11) and is locked on the second housing (30), characterized in that the first housing (20) has a projection (20b) and the operating lever (21) has an elastic claw section (21c) which, when the operating lever (21) is in the first position, engages the projection (20b), and the restriction element (1) has a convex section (11b) on the restriction section (11) which abuts the claw section (21c) and restricts elastic deformation of the elastic claw section (21c).

Description

Technical FieldThe present invention relates to a three-dimensional connector group having a restriction member for enhancing a fitting state of a first connector and a second connector.General State of the ArtAs shown in JP 2018-206517 A, a connector device is known which has a locking means having a locking portion and a locked portion to maintain a mating state between the connectors. The connector device is formed of a connector (first connector) to which an electric cable is connected and a socket (second connector) used by installing to a housing body of a device, the two connectors each having a plug portion. By plugging the plug sections together, contacts on the two plug connectors are electrically connected to one another in the plug connector device.To maintain this fitting state, an operating lever having a locking portion is provided on the plug, while a locked portion is provided on the socket, and by lowering the operating lever toward the socket, the locking portion locks to the locked portion. As a result, the plug can be locked to the socket, i.e. the plug can be locked to the socket.A connector with an operating lever is disclosed in JP 2012-49 092 A. U.S. Pat. No. 9,437,953 B2 discloses a plug connector with a locking clip. From EP 3 171 462 A1 a connector arrangement is known with an electrical connector having a secondary locking member.Summary of the InventionObject of the present inventionAs described above, the fitting state is locked with the operation lever that maintains the fitting state of the plug and the socket, but the operation lever happens to be accidentally released, and thus further reinforcement of the locking state is desirable.The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and it is an object thereof to provide a connector group having a restriction member that can enhance the lock of the fitting state of a first connector and a second connector.means for achieving the objectThe present invention provides a three-dimensional connector assembly according to claim 1 or 12.Effect of the inventionAccording to the present invention, a three-dimensional connector group having a restriction member for enhancing a fitting state of a first connector and a second connector can be obtained.Brief Description of the FiguresThe following are shown: FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a restriction member of a connector group of a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the restricting member of the connector group of the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a connector device to which the restriction member of the connector group of the first embodiment of the present invention is attached with an operation lever at a position for maintaining a fitting state; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the connector device to which the restriction member of the connector group of the first embodiment of the present invention is attached with the operation lever at a position for canceling the fitting state; FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state of attaching the restriction member of the connector group of the first embodiment of the present invention to the connector device; FIG. 6 is a right side view showing the state of attaching the restriction member of the connector group of the first embodiment of the present invention to the connector device; FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 6 ; FIG. 8 is a top view showing the state of attaching the restriction member of the connector group of the first embodiment of the present invention to the connector device; FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 8; FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line C--C of FIG. 8; FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state before the restriction member of the connector group of the first embodiment of the present invention is attached to the connector device; FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial perspective sectional view of FIG. 11 ; FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of a restriction member of a connector group of a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a state of attaching the restriction member of the connector group of the second embodiment of the present invention to the connector device; FIG. 15 is a front view showing the state of attaching the restriction member of the connector group of the second embodiment of the present invention to the connector device; FIG. 16 is a top view showing the state of attaching the restriction member of the connector group of the second embodiment of the present invention to the connector device; FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line D-D of FIG. 16 ; and FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a state before the restriction member of the connector group of the second embodiment of the present invention is attached to the connector device.Embodiments of the Invention1. First Embodiment1-1. Basic ConstructionFIG. 1 is a front side perspective view and FIG. 2 is a rear side perspective view of a restriction member 1 of a first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a connector device to which the restriction member of the first embodiment is attached, with an operation lever in a fitting state maintaining position. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the connector device to which the restriction member of the first embodiment is attached, with the operation lever in a position for canceling the fitting state. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state of attaching the restriction member 1 of the first embodiment to the connector device.The connector device is formed of a plug 2 and a socket 3, and the restriction member 1 is attached thereto. The plug 2 is used with its one end connected to an electric wire 4, and the socket 3 is used with installation on a surface of a housing body of a motor or other device. The two plug connectors each have a tubular plug section, and by plugging the plug sections together, contacts on the two plug connectors are electrically connected to one another. The plug 2 and the socket 3 from FIGS. 3, 4 to 5 are shown in a plugged-together state, which is also referred to below as a "plugged-together state".As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the connector 2 is configured to include a first housing 20, an operation lever 21, a terminal accommodating portion 22, a terminal 23, and components such as contacts and the like. The terminal 23 fixes the electric wire 4 to the connector 2 via the terminal receiving portion 22 fixed to the first housing 20, and the first housing 20 is formed of insulative resin, for example, in a box shape, and a plug portion is provided in the interior thereof, in which contacts to which the electric wire is electrically connected are received. In the vicinity of the center of left and right side surfaces of the first housing 20, a rotation axis 20 ais provided facing outward.As shown in FIG. 5, a three-dimensional connector group body is configured to include the connector device including the connector 2 and the socket 3, the operation lever 21 that can maintain the fitting state of the connector 2 and the socket 3, and a restriction member 1 that is attached to the connector device and restricts rotation of the operation lever 21 that maintains the fitting state.FIG. 6 is a right side view showing a state of attaching the restriction member 1 of the first embodiment to the connector device. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a top view showing the state of attaching the restriction member 1 of the first embodiment to the connector device. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG. 8.The operation lever 21 has a band shape following the shape of the first housing 20 and maintains the fitting state of the plug 2 and the socket 3. As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 7, the operation lever 21 is a band-shaped member that extends from the one side surface of the first housing 20 via the front side surface to the other side surface in the fitting state maintaining position and is substantially U-shaped. On the left and right side surfaces of the operation lever 21, there is provided an axle support portion 21 ain which an axle hole is formed (see FIGS. 3, 4, and 10 ), and by passing the rotation axis 20 athrough the axle hole, the operation lever 21 is rotatably supported with respect to the first housing 20. The operation lever 21 is rotatable about the rotation axis 20a by a predetermined angle (for example 90°). The operation lever 21 may be rotated from the fitting state maintaining position (hereinafter also referred to as "first position") to a fitting state canceling position (hereinafter also referred to as "second position") as shown in FIG. 3, or may be rotated from the second position to the first position as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the operation lever 21 has a rotation path including the first position and the second position.As shown in FIGS. 4 and 10, the operation lever 21 has a locking portion 21 b. The locking portion 21 bis arm parts which are provided below the axle bearing portion 21 awith a space therebetween and which lock a portion 32 to be locked of the bushing 3 when the operation lever 21 is lowered. That is, the socket 3 has a second housing 30, and the second housing 30 has, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, two support portions 31 provided upright at positions opposite to each other located outward (here, left and right) with respect to the operation lever 21 located at the first position. At front end portions of the support portions 31, the locked portion 32 is provided protruding inward, that is, toward the first housing 20 in the fitting state (see FIGS. 4 and 10 ). The left and right support portions 31 and the locked portion 32 thus together form an L-shape. When the operation lever 21 is lowered, the locking portion 21 bfalls under the locked portion 32. in other words, the locked portion 32 enters the space between the axle support portion 21 aand the locking portion 21 b, whereby the plug 2 is locked to the socket 3 and the state of maintaining the fitting state is obtained (see FIGS. 3 and 10 ). The position in this state is the first position. On the other hand, when the operation lever 21 is raised by a predetermined angle, the locking between the locking portion 21 band the locked portion 32 is released, resulting in the state of the released fitting state (see FIG. 4 ). The position in this state is the second position. The fitting state is canceled because a cam mechanism is formed by the axle bearing portion 21a shown in FIG. 3 and the support portions 31 whose upper portions are tapered disposed thereunder. Thus, by the rotation of the operation lever 21, the shaft support portion 21 alides on the upper portions of the support portions 31 and is raised. At the locking portion 21 b, a protrusion 210 protruding toward the axle support portion 21 amay be provided, which engages with the locked portion 32 and then latches to the edge of the locked portion 32, thereby enhancing the locking state of the operation lever 21.As shown in FIG. 3, an elastic inwardly projecting claw portion 21 cis provided on the front surface part of the operation lever 21, and latches and assists the locking of the operation lever 21 when the operation lever 21 is fully lowered, that is, when it is at the first position.The second housing 30 of the socket 3 is, for example, a die casting, and is configured to include a plug portion inside which contacts are accommodated, and a flange portion 30 aextending in a direction (a horizontal plane relative to the mounting surface) that orthogonally crosses the plug direction of the plug 2 (the downward direction in FIG. 3 ) and forms a mating surface on the plug side of the plug 2 and the socket 3. The flange portion 30 ais fixed to a mounting surface of the case body of the device on which the socket 3 is installed. In the present embodiment, the support portions 31 are provided so as to protrude upward from the flange portion 30 a(see FIG. 3 ), and since the flange portion 30 ais fixed, the support portions 31 are also fixed separately from the rotation of the operation lever 21. The support portions 31 are plate-shaped, and their front ends are formed tapered (see FIGS. 3 and 9 ).1-2. Detailed ConstructionNext, the structure of the restriction member 1 will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the restriction member 1 includes a cover portion 11 and two arm portions 12, the two arm portions 12 extending in parallel, and the two arm portions 12 connected to the cover portion 11 are generally U-shaped. The restriction member 1 may be formed by die casting, plastic, or the like, and is a die casting here.The cover portion 11 is provided on the rotation path of the operation lever 21, and is a restriction portion that restricts the rotation of the operation lever 21 located at the first position. In the present embodiment, the cover portion 11 is a transversely elongated plate body that covers, as shown in FIG. 5, the front surface of the operation lever 21 at the fitting state maintaining position when the restriction member 1 is attached to the connector device. In other words, a position where the restriction member 1 is attached to the connector device and covers the front surface of the operation lever 21 located at the first position is on the rotation path of the operation lever 21.As shown in FIG. 2, at the lower end portion of the inner surface of the cover portion 11, a one-way extending and inwardly bulging latch portion 11 ais provided. The latching portion 11 ais provided so as to enter the clearance between the operation lever 21 in the first position and the second housing 30 when the restriction member 1 is mounted on the connector device (see FIG. 12 ). Here, the inner surface of the cover portion 11 denotes a surface that is opposed to the front surface of the operation lever 21 located at the first position when the restriction member 1 is attached to the connector device.A convex portion 11 bis provided on the inner surface of the cover portion 11, and when the restriction member 1 is attached to the connector device, the convex portion 11 bsabuts on the claw portion 21 cprovided on the front surface of the operation lever 21 and restricts elastic deformation.The two arm portions 12 are continuously provided from the cover portion 11 and are locked to the two support portions 31 which are fixed separately from the rotation of the operation lever 21. More specifically, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the two arm portions 12 include two first arms 121 and two second arms 122. The two first arms 121 extend from the two ends of the cover portion 11 and extend straight in a direction orthogonal to the cover portion 11. Thus, the two first arms 121 are parallel to each other.At the front ends of the first arms 121, a protruding portion 121 aprotruding toward the other first arm 121 is provided (see FIGS. 1, 2, 7, and 9 ). As a whole, the first arms 121 and the protruding portions 121 aform an L-shape. When the restriction member 1 is attached to the connector device in the fitting state, the two first arms 121 extend along the outside of the two support portions 31, and the protruding portions 121 aengage with the edge of the support portions 31 away from the cover portion 11, thereby locking the restriction member 1 to the support portions 31.As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second arms 122 are continuously provided separately from the first arms 121 from the end portions of the cover portion 11. Here, the second arms 122 are provided above the first arms 121. The second arms 122 are thicker-walled than the first arms 121 and curved inwardly from the end portions of the cover portion 11 with respect to the first arms 121, the curved front ends extending in a direction orthogonal to the cover portion 11.On an inner side of the front ends of the second arms 122, that is, on the other second arm 122 side, a protrusion 122 ais provided (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 10 ). The projections 122a are provided so as to abut against lower ends of the shaft support portion 21a of the operation lever 21 when the restriction member 1 is mounted on the connector device. The protrusions 122a have a taper shape that protrudes inward by the amount of the front ends of the second arms 122.At the upper edge of the front end portions of the second arms 122, a portion 122 cprotruding from the second arms 122 is provided (see FIGS. 1 and 2 ). In the present embodiment, the protruding portions 122 cprotrude outward from the second arms 122. The protruding portions 122 care provided so as to be located in a projection range in the up-down direction of the first arms 121. The protruding portions 122 cmay also be provided to protrude toward the inner side of the second arms 122, i.e., toward the other second arm 122 side, respectively.At the front end portions of the second arms 122, a claw 122 bis provided (see FIG. 2 ). The claws 122 bare provided protruding from the front end portions of the second arms 122, and are used, for example, by being snapped when a user pushes the two second arms 122 apart.1-3. Mode of operationReferring now to the figures, a method of attaching the restriction member 1 will be described. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state before the restriction member 1 of the first embodiment is attached to the connector device, and FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial sectional perspective view of FIG. 11, and the detailed illustration of the section through the connectors 2, 3 is omitted in FIG. 12.As shown in FIG. 11, the restriction member 1 is mounted in a state in which the plug 2 is inserted into the socket 3 and the operation lever 21 is in the first position. As shown in FIG. 11, the restriction member 1 is first turned by a user so that the two arm portions 12 form an angle of, for example, more than 30° with respect to the mounting surface, and when the locking portion 11 aof the restriction member 1 enters the space between the operation lever 21 located at the first position and the second housing 30 (or more specifically, the flange portion 30 a) (see FIG. 12 ), the locking portion 11 ais locked to the second housing 30 (flange portion 30 a) and the lower end of the operation lever 21, and the restriction member 1 is rotated with the locking portion 11 aas a rotation axis so that the two arm portions 12 are parallel to the mounting surface.At this time, the first arms 121 move from above the support portions 31 to the outside of the support portions 31, and the protruding portions 121 aat the front ends of the first arms 121 bypass the support portions 31 from above the support portions 31 and catch on the edge of the support portions 31 away from the cover portion 11, thereby locking the restriction member 1 to the support portions 31 (see FIGS. 7 and 9 ). In other words, the protruding portions 121 amoves through the space above the support portions 31 in a circular arc path bypassing the edge of the support portions 31 away from the cover portion 11, and therefore the two first arms 121 move only by rotating the outside of the two support portions 31 and need not be expanded outward.In this way, the restriction member 1 is locked by the protruding portions 121 aand the support portions 31, and the cover portion 11 is disposed at the position covering the front surface of the operation lever 21. The position of the front surface cover of the operation lever 21 is a position on the rotation path of the operation lever 21, and therefore, in an attempt to rotate the operation lever 21 from the first position, such rotation is restricted by the protruding portions 121 aand the cover portion 11 connected to the first arms 121, so that the locking of the operation lever 21 can be enhanced.Together with the rotation of the first arms 121, the second arms 122 integral therewith also rotate due to the cover portion 11. At this time, depression can be made by utilizing the protruding portions 122c. The two second arms 122 are pushed apart by the user according to need by engaging the claws 122 band rotated along the left and right side surfaces of the operation lever 21, and the projections 122 aare screwed in to the lower end of the shaft support portion 21 a. When the projections 122a are turned to the lower end of the axle support portion 21a, the two second arms 122 return to the inside from their outwardly expanded state because a space is provided below the axle support portion 21a. Thereby, the protrusions 122 acan abut on the lower end of the axle support portion 21 a(see FIG. 10 ). Thus, when the two arm portions 121 of the restriction member 1 attempt to rotate upward about the latching portion 11 aas a rotation axis due to external force, the interference of the restriction member 1 can be prevented due to the engagement of the projections 122 ato the lower end of the axle support portion 21 a. A force applied from the shaft support portion 21 ato the protrusions 122 ain an effort to rotate the operation lever 21 is supported on the second housing 30 via the first arms 121.When the restriction member 1 is removed, the two second arms 122 are expanded outward while engaging the claws 122 b, and the two arm portions 12 are rotated upward about the engaging portion 11 aas a rotation axis. In this way, the locking relationship between the protrusions 122 aand the lower end of the axle support portion 21 is canceled, and the protrusions 122 aand the protruding portions 121 acan be removed from the restriction member 1 past the left and right side surfaces of the operation lever 21.1-4. Effect: EffectThe restriction member 1 of the present embodiment is the restriction member 1 that restricts the rotation of the operation lever 21 that maintains the fitting state of the plug 2 and the socket 3, the operation lever 21 is rotatably supported on the first housing 20 that the plug 2 has from the first position for maintaining the fitting state to the second position for canceling the fitting state, the socket 3 has the second housing 30, and the restriction member 1 has the restriction portion that is provided on the rotation path of the operation lever 21 from the first position to the second position and restricts the rotation of the operation lever 21 in the first position and the locking portion that is provided continuously from the restriction portion and is locked to the second housing 30. More specifically, the second housing 30 has the two support portions 31 provided upright at opposite positions that are outward with respect to the operation lever 21 in the first position, and the locking portion is the two arm portions 12 that are continuously provided from the restricting portion and are locked to the two support portions 31.Thereby, the locking of the fitting state of the plug 2 and the socket 3 can be enhanced. Since the restricting portion is provided on the rotation path of the operation lever 21, the two arm portions 12 continuously provided from the both ends of the restricting portion are locked to the two support portions 31 independent of the rotation of the operation lever 21, and thus, the operation lever 21 can be suppressed from rotating from the first position and the lock of the fitting state can be enhanced. The locking object of the locking portion is sufficient if it is an object fixed regardless of the rotation of the operation lever 21, and may be the support portions 31 as in the present embodiment, or may be any position on the second housing 30, such as the edge of the flange portion 30 a.The restricting portion is the cover portion 11 that covers the front surface of the operation lever 21, the two arm portions 12 include the two first arms 121 that connect the two ends of the cover portion 11 and extend straight in a direction orthogonal to the cover portion 11, and the protruding portion 121 athat protrudes toward the other first arm 121 is provided at the front end of the first arms 121, respectively.In this way, the protruding portions 121 acan be engaged with the edge, remote from the cover portion 11, of the support portions 31 that are independent of the rotation of the operation lever 21, whereby the restriction member 1 can be fixed to the socket 3 (second housing 30). Therefore, the position of the cover portion 11 provided on the rotation path of the operation lever 21 is also fixed. Thus, in an attempt to rotate the operation lever 21, the rotation of the operation lever 21 is restricted by the cover portion 11. Therefore, the fitting state of the plug 2 and the socket 3 can be prevented from being canceled by rotating the operation lever 21.On the restriction member 1, the latching portion 11 ais provided, which extends at the lower end portion of the inner surface of the cover portion 11 facing the operation lever 21 in a direction into the space between the operation lever 21 in the first position and the second housing 30 and bulges inward.Thereby, the restriction member 1 can be rotated about the clearance-fitted latching portion 11 aas an axis and attached to the socket 3 (second housing 30). That is, by the operation of entering the latching portion 11 ainto the space and rotating the restriction member 1 around the latching portion 11 aas a rotation axis, the protruding portions 121 aof the first arms 121 can latch on the edge of the support portions 31 away from the cover portion 11 to attach the restriction member 1, enabling an increase in working efficiency.If no engaging portion 11a were provided, the two first arms 121 could be attached by being pushed apart so that the protruding portions 121a of the first arms 121 do not interfere with the attachment of the restriction member 1, but since the engaging portion 11a is provided, the protruding portions 121a of the first arms 121 can engage around the engaging portion 11a as a rotation axis bypassing the support portions 31 at the edge of the support portions 31 remote from the cover portion 11 so as to attach the restriction member 1, and therefore, the first arms 121 need not be expanded for attachment, thus enabling the working efficiency to be increased. For example, when the restriction member 1 is a die casting, although the hardness of the die casting is high, plastic deformation occurs at a certain external force; however, since it is not necessary to expand the first arms 121, plastic deformation can be prevented from occurring.The two arm portions 12 have the second arms 122 continuous from the end portions of the cover portion 11, and on the inner side of the front ends of the second arms 122, there is provided the protrusion 122 a, respectively, which protrudes inward so as to abut on the lower end of the shaft support portion 21 athat receives the rotation axis of the operation lever 21. Thereby, the projections 122 acan be locked at the lower end of the axle support portion 21 a, and the restriction member 1 can be prevented from being released by rotation about the locking portion 11 aas a rotation axis.The second arms 122 are thicker-walled than the first arms 121 and curved inwardly from the end portions of the cover portion 11 with respect to the first arms 121, the curved front ends extending in a direction orthogonal to the cover portion 11. Therefore, the second arms 122 have elasticity on the inner side, and the two second arms 122 are biased inward by slightly pressing them apart when attached. They return to their original shape upon attachment by passing under the lower end of the axle support portion 21a, and the projections 122a abut on the lower end of the axle support portion 21a, so that the releasing of the restriction member 1 by turning can be prevented. When the restriction member 1 is removed, the second arms 122 are pushed apart to cancel their engagement with the operation lever 21, and rotated about the engaging portion 11a as a rotation axis, and therefore the restriction member 1 can be removed by a simple operation.The protrusions 122a have a taper shape that protrudes inward by the amount of the front ends of the second arms 122. In this manner, when the second arms 122 are pushed apart when the restriction member 1 is attached, the surfaces of the projections 122a and the side surfaces of the operation lever 21 easily come to a parallel position, so that the attachment can be easily performed.At the upper edge of the front end portions of the second arms 122, the portion 122 cprotruding from the second arms 122 is provided. In this manner, when the restriction member 1 is depressed in attaching the restriction member 1, the projections 122 aof the second arms 122 can be easily screwed under the shaft support portion 21 aof the operation lever 21, so that the attachment can be easily performed.The protruding portions 122 care provided so as to be located in the projection range in the up-down direction of the first arms 121. Thus, the restriction member 1 can be made more compact than would be the case if the protruding portions 122 cwere to protrude beyond the projection range of the first arms 121.At the front end portions of the second arms 122, the claws 122 bare provided. When the restriction member 1 is removed, the second arms 122 are thus pushed apart by engaging the claws 122 b, so that the removal can be easily performed.On the inner surface of the cover portion 11 which is opposed to the front surface of the operation lever 21, there is provided the convex portion 11b which comes into abutment with the claw portion 21c provided on the front surface of the operation lever 21. In this way, with the convex portion 11 b, pressure can be applied to the claws 122 bon the front surface of the operation lever 21, whereby the locking relationship between the claws 122 band the protrusion provided on the front surface of the first housing 20 can be maintained, and rotation of the operation lever 21 can be prevented.2. Second Embodiment2-1. StructureReferring to the figures, a restricting member 1 according to a second embodiment will be described. The basic construction of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, only the differences from the first embodiment will be described, and the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.FIG. 13 is a front side perspective view of the restriction member 1 of the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a state of attaching the restriction member 1 of the second embodiment to the connector device. FIG. 15 is a front view showing the state of attaching the restriction member 1 of the second embodiment to the connector device. FIG. 16 is a top view showing the state of attaching the restriction member 1 of the second embodiment to the connector device. FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line D-D of FIG. 16, FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a state before attaching the restriction member 1 of the second embodiment to the connector device.As shown in FIGS. 13, 14 to 15, the two arm portions 12 are provided in parallel so as to sandwich the operation lever 21 located at the first position, and the cover portion 11 is provided so as to connect the two arm portions 12. Therefore, the restriction member 1 is U-shaped as a whole.As shown in FIG. 13, a concave portion 123 is provided on the inner side of the front ends of the two arm portions 12. The concave portion 123 has a shape following the shape of the edge of the support portions 31, and the support portions 31 are inserted therein. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, a bulging portion 124 is provided on the two arm portions 12. The bulging portions 124 bulge inwardly at a position away from the front ends of the two arm portions 12 by the width of the operation lever 21. The width of the operating lever 21 denotes a length from the lower end to the upper end of the operating lever 21 in the first position, and the inner side here denotes the side of the respective other arm portion 12 so that the bulging portions 124 provided on the two arm portions 12 face each other. The bulging portions 124 are configured, for example, to bulge toward the arm portions 12 from the ends of the cover portion 11 at which the arm portions 12 are provided to a position away from the front ends of the two arm portions 12 by the width of the operation lever 21, and may also be provided as step portions on the inside of the restriction member 1.The restriction member 1 of the present embodiment is attached from above as shown in FIG. 18. That is, the restriction member 1 is attached by fitting the support portions 31 into the concave portions 123 from a state in which the two arm portions 12 extend in the up-down direction. By inserting the support portions 31 into the concave portions 123, the restriction member 1 is locked to the support portions 31 (see FIG. 17 ).When the restriction member 1 is lowered downward (for example, by bringing the front ends of the two arm portions 12 into abutment with the flange portion 30 a), as shown in FIG. 15, the bulge portions 124 come into abutment with the upper end of the front surface of the operation lever 21, and since the bulge portions 124 are thereby located on the rotation path of the operation lever 21, they serve as a restriction portion that restricts the rotation of the operation lever 21. In other words, the bulging portions 124 can restrict the rotation of the operation lever 21 because the bulging portions 124 are provided on the two arm portions 12 locked to the support portions 31.2-2. Mode of action and effectIn the restriction member 1 of the second embodiment, the second housing 30 has the support portions 31 provided at a position outwardly upright with respect to the operation lever 21 located at the first position, and at the inside of the front ends of the arm portions 12 serving as the locking portion, the concave portions 123 following the shape of the edge of the support portions 31 and into which the support portions 31 are inserted are provided, while at the arm portions 12 at a position away from the front ends of the arm portions 12 by the width of the operation lever 21, the inwardly bulging bulging bulging portions 124 are provided, and the bulging portions 124 serve as the restriction portion.The bulging portions 124 thus abut on the upper end of the operation lever 21 located at the first position, and the restriction member 1 is fixed to the socket 3 (second housing 30) via the concave portions 123. Thus, in an attempt to rotate the operation lever 21, the rotation of the operation lever 21 is restricted by the bulging portions 124. Therefore, the fitting state of the plug 2 and the socket 3 can be prevented from being canceled by rotating the operation lever 21.Also, the two arm portions 12 are provided in parallel in a pair so as to sandwich the operation lever 21 located at the first position, and the restriction member 1 has the cover portion 11 connecting the two arm portions 12. In this way, the two arm portions 12 can be integrally formed as one member by the cover portion 11, which provides more ease of operation than would be the case if the concave portions 123 of the arm portions 12 were separately inserted into the support portions 31.3. Further EmbodimentsThe present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and also includes other embodiments listed below. The present invention also includes embodiments that combine all or any of the embodiments described above and below. Various omissions, substitutions and alterations can be made to the embodiments, and such modifications are also included in the present invention as long as they do not depart from the scope of the invention.For example, in the first and second embodiments, the locked portion 32 is provided so as to protrude inward from the support portions 31, that is, toward the first housing 20 in the fitting state, but as long as locking is performed on the locking portion 21 b, it may be provided protruding outward from the support portions 31. That is, a restriction member 1 attached to a connector device, in which the locked portion 32 is provided protruding outward from the support portions 31, also falls within the scope of the present invention.In the first embodiment, the two arm portions 12 are continuously provided from the restricting portion and constitute the locking portion locked to the second housing, but the arm portions 12 may be only one of them.In the first embodiment, the cover portion 11 is the restraining portion provided on the rotation path of the operation lever 21 from the first position to the second position and restrains the rotation of the operation lever 21 in the first position, and the arm portions 12 are the locking portion continuously provided with the restraining portion and locked to the second housing, but there is no limitation thereto.For example, it is also included in the invention that the protrusions 122 aare the restricting portion and the first arms 121, or more specifically, the bottom surfaces of the first arms 121, are the locking portion. As shown in FIG. 10, when the restriction member 1 is attempted to rotate the operation lever 21 in a state where the connector device having the operation lever 21 in the first fitting state maintaining position is attached, the shaft support portion 21 acomes in abutment with the protrusions 122 a, thereby restricting the rotation of the operation lever 21. In other words, the protrusions 122 aare provided on the rotation path of the operation lever 21 from the first position to the second position, and restrict the rotation of the operation lever 21. When the attempt to rotate the operation lever 21 is stopped by the projections 122 a, the projections 122 aare pressed downward, and in the process, the first arms 121 connected to the projections 122 a(or more specifically, the lower side surfaces thereof) are pressed to the second housing 30 (or more specifically, the upper side surface of the flange portion 30 a). Since the second housing 30 (flange portion 30a) is fixed independently of the rotation of the operation lever 21, the first arms 121 are locked to the second housing 30 (flange portion 30a) by the abutment of the first arms 121 with the second housing 30 (flange portion 30a).Explanation of Reference Numerals1 Restriction member 11 Cover portion (restriction portion) 11 a Rast portion 11 b Konvex portion 12 Pair of arm portions 121First arm 121 a Vorspringende portion 122Second arm 122 a Vorsprung 122 bKralle 122 c Vorstehend portion 123 Konkav portion 124 Bulge portion 2 Plug (first connector) 20First housing 20 a Drehachse 20 b Vorsprung 21 Operation lever 21 a Achs portion 21 b Rast portion 210 Vorsprung 21 c Klauen portion 22 Terminal receiving portion 23 Terminal 3 Socket (second connector) 30Second housing 30 a Flansch portion 31 Support portion 32 Locked portion 4 Electric wire

Claims

A three-dimensional connector group comprising: a connector device having a first connector (2) and a second connector (3) that are pluggable together; an operation lever (21) that can maintain a plugged-together state of the first connector (2) and the second connector (3); and a restriction member (1) that is attached to the connector device and restricts rotation of the operation lever (21) that maintains the plugged-together state, wherein the operation lever (21) is rotatably supported from a first position for maintaining the plugged-together state to a second position for releasing the plugged-together state on a first housing (20) that the first connector (2) has, the second connector (3) has a second housing (30), and wherein the restriction member (1) has a restriction portion (11), which is provided on a rotation path of the operation lever (21) from the first position to the second position and restricts the rotation of the operation lever (21) in the first position, and has a locking portion which is provided continuously with the restricting portion (11) and is locked to the second housing (30), characterized in that the first housing (20) has a protrusion (20b), and the operation lever (21) has an elastic claw portion (21c) which, when the operation lever (21) is in the first position, locks to the protrusion (20b), and the restricting member (1) has a convex portion (11b) on the restricting portion (11) which abuts to the claw portion (21c) and restricts elastic deformation of the elastic claw portion (21c).The three-dimensional connector group according to claim 1, characterized in that the second housing (30) has two support portions (31) provided upright at opposite positions outer than the operation lever (21) in the first position, and the locking portion is two arm portions (12) provided continuously from the restricting portion (11) and locked to the two support portions (31).The three-dimensional connector group according to claim 2, characterized in that the restricting portion (11) is a cover portion (11) covering a front surface of the operation lever (21), the two arm portions (12) include two first arms (121) connecting the two ends of the cover portion (11) and extending straight in a direction orthogonal to the cover portion (11), and at the front end of the first arms (121), a protruding portion (121a) protruding toward the other first arm (121) is provided, respectively.The three-dimensional connector assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the two arm portions (121) each have a second arm (122) continuous from the end portion of the cover portion (11), and a protrusion (122a) is provided on the inner side of the front ends of the second arms (122), respectively, protruding inward so as to abut a lower end of an axle support portion (21a) that receives a rotation axis (20a) of the operation lever (21).The three-dimensional connector group according to claim 4, characterized in that the second arms (122) are thinner-walled than the first arms (121), are curved inward from the end portions of the cover portion (11) with respect to the first arms (121), and the curved front ends extend in a direction orthogonal to the cover portion (11).The three-dimensional connector group according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the protrusion (122a) provided on the inner side of the front ends of the second arms (122) has an inverted taper shape that protrudes inward by the amount of the front ends of the second arms (122).The three-dimensional connector group according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that a portion (122c) protruding from the second arms (122) is provided at an upper edge of the front end portions of the second arms (122).The three-dimensional connector group according to claim 7, characterized in that the protruding portion (122c) is provided so as to be located in a projection range in the up-down direction of the first arms (121).The three-dimensional connector group according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that a claw (122b) is provided at the front end portions of the second arms (122).The three-dimensional connector group according to any one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the restriction member (1) is provided with a latch portion (11a) that extends at a lower end portion of an inner surface of the cover portion (11) facing the operation lever (21) in a direction in a space between the operation lever (21) in the first position and the second housing (30) and bulges inward.Three-dimensional plug connector group according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the limiting element (1) is a die-cast piece.A three-dimensional connector group comprising: a connector device having a first connector (2) and a second connector (3) that are pluggable together; an operation lever (21) that can maintain a plugged-together state of the first connector (2) and the second connector (3); and a restriction member (1) that is attached to the connector device and restricts rotation of the operation lever (21) that maintains the plugged-together state, wherein the operation lever (21) is rotatably supported from a first position for maintaining the plugged-together state to a second position for releasing the plugged-together state on a first housing (20) that the first connector (2) has, the second connector (3) has a second housing (30), and wherein the restriction member (1) has a restriction portion (124), which is provided on a rotation path of the operation lever (21) from the first position to the second position and restricts the rotation of the operation lever (21) in the first position, and a locking portion which is provided continuously with the restricting portion (124) and is locked to the second housing (30), characterized in that the second housing (30) has a support portion (31) which is provided upright at a position outward with respect to the operation lever (21) located in the first position, a concave portion (123) which has a shape following the edge of the support portion (31) and into which the support portion (31) is inserted is provided on the inside of the front end of the locking portion at a position spaced apart from the front end of the locking portion by a width of the operation lever (21), an inwardly curved bulging portion (124), and the bulging portion (124) is the restricting portion (124).The three-dimensional connector group according to claim 12, characterized in that the locking portion is two arm portions (12) provided in parallel such that the operation lever (21) in the first position is sandwiched therebetween, and has a cover portion (11) connecting the two arm portions (12).

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