Connector assembly unit and assembly method

Abstract

The aim is to provide a connector assembly capable of suppressing the inclination of a second connector relative to the first connector. A connector assembly 10 is provided with a first connector 11 and a second connector 12, which is to be connected to the first connector 11. The first connector 11 includes a housing 20, a lever 30, which is rotatably assembled with the housing 20 from a starting position to a finished position, and a pinion 40. The lever 30 includes a lever-side pinion 33. The pinion 40 is rotatably assembled with the housing 20 following the lever-side pinion 33. The second connector 12 includes pinion-receiving sections 53 for supporting a connection of the first and second connectors 11, 12 by engaging with the lever-side pinion 33 and the pinion 40.The lever-side pinion 33 and the pinion 40 include inclination-suppressing sections 34, 41 for suppressing an inclination of the second connector 12 relative to the first connector 11 by interacting with the second connector 12 when the connection of the first and second connectors 11, 12 is initiated, with the lever 30 in the initial position.

Claims

[1] Connector assembly (10) comprising: a first connector (11); and a second connector (12) to be connected to the first connector (11), wherein the first connector (11) includes a housing (20), a lever (30) which is rotatably or pivotably assemblable with the housing (20) from an initial position (IP) toward or towards a completion position (CP), and a pinion (40), wherein the lever (30) includes a lever-side pinion (33), wherein the pinion (40) is assembled with the housing (20) so as to be rotatable or pivotable following the lever-side pinion (33), wherein the second connector (12) includes one or more pinion-receiving portions (53) for supporting a connection of the first and second connectors (11, 12) by engaging with the lever-side pinion (33) and the pinion (40), and wherein the lever-side pinion (33) and the pinion (40) include one or more inclination suppressing portions (34; 41) for suppressing inclination of the second connector (12) relative to the first connector (11) by cooperating with the second connector (12) when the connection of the first and second connectors (11, 12) is started, the lever (30) being arranged at the initial position (IP). [2] A connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein said pinion receiving portions (53) are arranged to be capable of cooperating with said inclination suppressing portions (34; 41). [3] A connector assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inclination suppressing portions (34; 41) are resiliently deformable. [4] Connector assembly according to claim 3, wherein: a direction of connecting the first and second connectors (11, 12) is a first direction, the inclination suppressing section(s) (34; 41) includes one or more temporary locking section(s) (34B; 41B), the second connector (12) includes one or more temporary lock-receiving portions (56A; 56B) to be locked to the temporary locking portion(s) (34B; 41B), the lever (30) being arranged at the home position (IP). [5] Connector assembly according to claim 4, wherein: the second connector (12) is held in a temporary locking position relative to the first connector (11) by locking the one or more temporary locking portions (34B; 41B) and the one or more temporary lock-receiving portions (56A; 56B), and / or locking of the one or more temporary locking portions (34B; 41B) and the one or more temporary lock-receiving portions (56A; 56B) is released by further bringing the first and second connectors (11, 12) closer in the first direction while holding the second connector (12) at the temporary locking position. [6] A connector assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: a direction of connecting the first and second connectors (11, 12) is a first direction, the lever-side pinion (33) and the pinion (40) are arranged substantially side by side in a second direction which intersects or crosses the first direction, the lever-side pinion (33) is arranged substantially on one side in the second direction relative to the pinion (40), and the inclination suppressing portion (34) of the lever-side pinion (33) is arranged substantially at an end part of the lever-side pinion (33) on one side in the second direction, wherein the lever (30) is arranged at the initial position (IP). [7] The connector assembly according to claim 6, wherein the inclination suppressing portion (41) of the pinion (40) is disposed at an end part of the pinion (40) on the other side in the second direction, wherein the lever is disposed at the home position (IP). [8] A method for connecting a first connector (11) and a second connector (12) of a connector assembly (10), comprising: assembling a lever (30) with a housing (20) of the first connector (11), rotatable or pivotable from an initial position (IP) toward or towards a completion position (CP), the lever (30) including a lever-side pinion (33), assembling a pinion (40) on the housing (20) rotatably or pivotably following the lever-side pinion (33), engaging one or more pinion-receiving portions (53) of the second connector (12) with the lever-side pinion (33) and the pinion (40) to assist in connecting the first and second connectors (11, 12), and suppressing an inclination of the second connector (12) relative to the first connector (11) by means of one or more inclination suppressing portions (34; 41) of the lever-side pinion (33) and the pinion (40) which cooperate with the second connector (12) when the connection of the first and second connectors (11, 12) is started, wherein the lever (30) is arranged at the initial position (IP). [9] A method according to claim 8, wherein the pinion receiving portions (53) are arranged to be capable of cooperating with the inclination suppressing portions (34; 41). [10] A method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the inclination suppressing portions (34; 41) are resiliently deformable.

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