Connector

Abstract

To easily detect whether a locked state is appropriate when a second housing is combined with a first housing having an inner wall and an outer wall by a locking structure.SOLUTION: A connector 20 with a combined housing structure includes a first housing 30 including an outer wall 36 and an inner wall 42 located inside the outer wall, and a second housing 50 that is combined with the first housing, the second housing includes a locking piece 54 including a locking piece body 54a disposed between the outer wall and the inner wall, and a detection protrusion 54c that protrudes from the locking piece body toward the outer wall, and a locking protrusion 54b is formed on one of the locking piece body and the inner wall. A locking recess 43 is formed on the other side to which the locking protrusion locks, and a detection protrusion 54c in which the detection protrusion is arranged is formed on the outer wall.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to connectors. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a technology in which a first detection part having a flat rectangular column shape is inserted into an opening of a connector housing and the bending deformation of the lance part is detected based on the presence or absence of contact between the inserted first detection part and the lance, thereby confirming the insertion state of the female terminal. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2015-230857 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When the first housing has multiple walls, the second housing may lock onto the inner wall. In this case, it is difficult to observe the locking structure from the outside, and it is difficult to detect whether the locking is successful.

[0005] In addition, assuming application of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, a long and thin detector will be inserted between the walls. Since the long and thin detector is inferior in strength, it is desirable to be able to detect the suitability of the locking structure by other means.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to easily detect whether the locked state is appropriate when a second housing is joined to a first housing having an inner wall and an outer wall through a locking structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The connector of the present disclosure is a connector having a housing combination structure, and comprises a first housing including an outer wall and an inner wall located inside the outer wall, and a second housing combined with the first housing, wherein the second housing has a locking piece including a locking piece main body arranged between the outer wall and the inner wall and a detection protrusion protruding from the locking piece main body toward the outer wall, wherein a locking protrusion is formed on one of the locking piece main body and the inner wall, and a locking recess into which the locking protrusion engages is formed on the other, and a detection opening in which the detection protrusion is arranged is formed in the outer wall. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, when a second housing is coupled to a first housing having an inner wall and an outer wall by a locking structure, whether or not the locked state is appropriate can be easily detected. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the connector according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the connector. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway exploded perspective view showing the connector. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a connector in an improperly locked state. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a connector in an improperly locked state. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a detection operation for an improper locking state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described.

[0011] The connectors of the present disclosure are as follows.

[0012] (1) A connector having a housing combination structure, comprising: a first housing including an outer wall and an inner wall located inside the outer wall; and a second housing combining with the first housing, wherein the second housing has a locking piece including a locking piece main body arranged between the outer wall and the inner wall and a detection protrusion protruding from the locking piece main body toward the outer wall, wherein a locking protrusion is formed on one of the locking piece main body and the inner wall, and a locking recess into which the locking protrusion engages is formed on the other, and a detection opening in which the detection protrusion is arranged is formed in the outer wall.

[0013] According to the present disclosure, when the locking protrusion cannot be properly locked in the locking recess, the locking piece body elastically deforms toward the outer wall, and the detection protrusion is positioned outside the normal locking state. The appropriateness of the locking state can be easily detected by the position of the detection protrusion within the detection opening.

[0014] (2) In the connector of (1), the protrusion length of the detection protrusion may be set to a size that causes the detection protrusion to protrude outward from the outer wall when the engagement state of the locking protrusion with respect to the locking recess is abnormal.

[0015] This makes it easy to detect whether the locking state is appropriate based on the length of projection of the detection projection from the outer wall.

[0016] (3) In the connector of (2), the protrusion length of the detection protrusion may be set to a size such that, when the engagement state of the locking protrusion with respect to the locking recess is normal, the detection protrusion is positioned inside the outer surface of the outer wall.

[0017] This makes it easy to detect whether the locking state is correct or not, depending on whether the detection projection protrudes from the outer wall.

[0018] (4) The connector may be any one of (1) to (3), wherein the first housing has a terminal accommodating portion for accommodating a terminal having an electric wire connection portion and a connection portion to a mating terminal, the terminal accommodating portion having an opening on the electric wire connection portion side, and the second housing may be a cover for closing the opening of the first housing.

[0019] It is possible to easily detect whether the first housing that accommodates the terminals and the cover that closes the rear opening of the first housing are properly engaged.

[0020] (5) In any one of the connectors (1) to (4), the locking piece may further include an anti-rattle protrusion that protrudes from the locking piece body toward the outer wall and is pressed against the inner surface of the outer wall when the locking piece body is positioned between the outer wall and the inner wall.

[0021] In this case, the anti-rattle protrusion is pressed against the inner surface of the outer wall, thereby suppressing rattle between the first and second housings. The anti-rattle protrusion also presses the locking piece toward the inner wall, thereby contributing to maintaining the locking state between the locking protrusion and the locking recess.

[0022] (6) In the connector of (5), the rattle prevention protrusion may be formed on the locking piece main body closer to the base end than the locking protrusion or the locking recess.

[0023] In this case, the anti-rattle protrusion can be pressed against the outer wall after the locking protrusion is locked into the locking recess, thereby preventing rattling without interfering with the ease of locking the locking protrusion into the locking recess.

[0024] (7) In the connector of (5) or (6), the detection protrusion and the rattle prevention protrusion may be located at different positions in a direction intersecting with the insertion direction of the detection protrusion. This makes it possible to easily detect whether the engagement is appropriate while suppressing rattle with the rattle prevention protrusion.

[0025] (8) A connector according to any one of (1) to (7), wherein the outer wall includes a pair of outer walls, the inner wall includes a pair of inner walls located inside the pair of outer walls and connected by a connecting wall portion, the detection opening is formed in a position of the outer walls facing the connecting wall portion, and the detection protrusion is positioned outside the connecting wall portion and within the detection opening.

[0026] In this case, since the connecting wall portion is located inside the detection protrusion, even if force is applied around the detection opening and to the detection protrusion when the connector is inserted or removed, the first housing and the second housing are unlikely to deform and the combined state is unlikely to be released.

[0027] (9) In the connector according to any one of (1) to (8), the detection projection may be formed in an elongated convex shape along a protruding direction of the locking piece main body.

[0028] In this way, by making the detection protrusion thin, the width of the detection opening can be made small, making it easier to ensure the strength of the outer wall. Also, by making the detection protrusion elongated, it is easier to ensure the strength of the detection protrusion.

[0029] (10) In the connector according to any one of (1) to (9), the detection projection may protrude toward the outer wall at least at a tip of the locking piece main body.

[0030] When the locking piece is not in a normal locked state, the tip of the locking piece body is likely to be located closest to the outer wall. Therefore, by having the detection protrusion protrude toward the outer wall at least at the tip of the locking piece body, it is easy to detect the abnormality of the locking state.

[0031] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the connector of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0032] [Embodiment] A connector according to an embodiment will be described below. Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a connector 20. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Figure 1. Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the connector 20. Figure 5 is a partially cutaway exploded perspective view of the connector 20. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Figure 2.

[0033] <Overall composition> The connector 20 is a connector having a structure in which multiple housings are combined. The connector 20 includes a first housing 30 and a second housing 50. The first housing 30 and the second housing 50 are combined to form a housing that forms a space for accommodating at least the terminals 12, in this embodiment, a space for accommodating the terminals 12 and the electric wires 16 extending from the terminals 12.

[0034] The first housing 30 is a molded part made of resin or the like, and has a terminal accommodating portion 32. The terminal core unit 22 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating portion 32 (see FIG. 3).

[0035] The terminal core unit 22 includes a terminal 12 and a terminal holder 24 that holds the terminal 12. The terminal 12 is a component formed by pressing a metal plate or the like, and includes an electric wire connection portion and a mating terminal connection portion. The electric wire connection portion and the mating connection portion are connected, for example, in a straight line. The electric wire connection portion at one end of the terminal 12 is connected to an end of the electric wire 16 by crimping or the like. The mating connection portion is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape, and a pin-shaped or tab-shaped male connection portion of the mating terminal is inserted and connected to the mating connection portion.

[0036] The terminal holder 24 is a resin part that holds the terminals 12. For example, the terminal core unit 22 includes a plurality of terminals 12. The terminal holder 24 holds the plurality of terminals 12 in a predetermined arrangement while insulated from one another. With the plurality of terminals 12 held by the terminal holder 24, the terminal holder 24 is held in the terminal accommodating portion 32 of the first housing 30. This allows the plurality of terminals 12 to be easily held in the first housing 30 in a predetermined arrangement.

[0037] The terminal accommodating portion 32 holds the terminal 12 therein by holding the terminal holder 24 therein. The terminal accommodating portion 32 includes an outer cylindrical portion 34 and an inner cylindrical portion 40 located more inward than the outer cylindrical portion 34.

[0038] In this embodiment, the inner cylindrical portion 40 is formed in a cylindrical shape surrounding the terminal holder 24, and the outer cylindrical portion 34 is formed in a cylindrical shape surrounding the inner cylindrical portion 40 with a gap therebetween. In this embodiment, the inner cylindrical portion 40 and the outer cylindrical portion 34 are formed in a square cylindrical shape. Here, the square cylindrical shape does not only mean a square cylindrical shape with right angles, but may also mean a square cylindrical shape with rounded corners.

[0039] The inner cylindrical portion 40 and the outer cylindrical portion 34 are connected via a partition wall 31 located in the axial middle thereof. The partition wall 31 is interposed between the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylindrical portion 40 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 34, and serves as a spacer that forms a gap between the inner cylindrical portion 40 and the outer cylindrical portion 34.

[0040] The inner tubular portion 40 and the outer tubular portion 34 extend beyond the partition wall 31 to one side and are connected to the mating connector. The inner tubular portion 40 extends beyond the partition wall 31 to one side and is formed as a connector connection inner end 41F formed in a square tube shape. The connector connection inner end 41F surrounds the mating terminal connection portion of the terminal 12. The outer tubular portion 34 extends beyond the partition wall 31 to one side and is formed as a connector connection outer end 34F surrounding the connector connection inner end 41F with a gap therebetween. In the following description, for convenience, the side where the mating connector is connected in the axial direction of the terminal accommodating portion 32 may be referred to as the front and the opposite side as the rear. In addition, the side where the lock piece 34Fa extends, which will be described later, may be referred to as the top, and the side where the electric wire drawing accommodating portion 38 extends may be referred to as the bottom. Furthermore, based on these up-down directions, the left and right may be referred to in a forward facing state.

[0041] The connection point between the terminal 12 and the mating terminal is surrounded by the connector connection inner end 41F and the connector connection outer end 34F, thereby improving watertightness and protection of the connection point. Also, an annular seal can be interposed between the connector connection inner end 41F and the partition wall 31 and the housing of the mating connector, thereby improving watertightness of the connection point.

[0042] The parts of the inner tube portion 40 and the outer tube portion 34 that extend to one side (front side) beyond the partition wall 31 are parts that are connected to the mating connector. The parts of the inner tube portion 40 that extend to the front side beyond the partition wall 31 are formed as a connector connection inner end portion 41F that is formed in a square tube shape. The connector connection inner end portion 41F surrounds the mating terminal connection portion of the terminal 12. Here, the connector connection inner end portion 41F accommodates one end portion (front end portion) of the terminal core unit 22. The parts of the outer tube portion 34 that extend to one side (front side) beyond the partition wall 31 are formed as a connector connection outer end portion 34F that surrounds the connector connection inner end portion 41F with a gap therebetween. A lock piece 34Fa that engages with the mating connector is formed in a part (upper portion) of the circumferential direction of the connector connection outer end portion 34F.

[0043] The portions of the inner tubular portion 40 and the outer tubular portion 34 that extend rearward beyond the partition wall 31 are portions that accommodate the electric wire connection portion of the terminal 12 and the electric wire 16 extending from the terminal 12 .

[0044] The rear portion of the inner cylindrical portion 40 beyond the partition wall 31 extends in line with the connector connection inner end portion 41F and is formed into a rectangular cylindrical inner accommodating end portion 41R. The rear end portion of the terminal core unit 22 is accommodated in the inner accommodating end portion 41R. The electric wire 16 extending from the terminal core unit 22 is bent within the inner accommodating end portion 41R and led out in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the inner accommodating end portion 41R.

[0045] The portion of the outer tubular portion 34 extending rearward beyond the partition wall 31 is formed as an outer accommodating end portion 34R surrounding the inner accommodating end portion 41R with a gap therebetween. The outer accommodating end portion 34R extends in an extension of the connector connecting outer end portion 34F.

[0046] A lock piece 34Fa for engaging with a mating connector is formed at a part in the circumferential direction of the connector outer connection end 34F and the outer accommodating end 34R. The inner accommodating end 41R and the outer accommodating end 34R are open on the wire connection side, i.e., the rear side.

[0047] As described above, the inner cylindrical portion 40 of the first housing 30 surrounds the terminal core unit 22, and the outer cylindrical portion 34 is provided with a structure for locking with a mating connector. This makes it easy to separately design a shape for holding the terminal core unit 22 and a shape for locking with a mating connector.

[0048] The first housing 30 further has an electric wire pull-out accommodating portion 38. The electric wire pull-out accommodating portion 38 is a portion that is molded integrally with the terminal accommodating portion 32 from resin. The electric wire pull-out accommodating portion 38 is formed in a square tube shape. One end of the electric wire pull-out accommodating portion 38 is connected to a part of the outer periphery of the outer tubular portion 34. In this embodiment, the electric wire pull-out accommodating portion 38 is connected to a lower portion of the outer tubular portion 34 on the opposite side to the lock piece 34Fa. The internal space of the electric wire pull-out accommodating portion 38 is connected to the inner accommodating end portion 41R and the rear internal space of the outer accommodating end portion (see FIG. 3). The electric wire pulled out to the rear of the terminal core unit 22 bends in the rear space of the inner accommodating end portion 41R and the rear space of the outer accommodating end portion, passes through the recess of the rear opening edge, and is pulled out in a direction intersecting the axial direction of the terminal accommodating portion 32.

[0049] The rear of the electric wire extracting and accommodating portion 38 is open, and the opening is continuous with the rear opening of the inner accommodating end portion 41R. Therefore, the rear of the first housing 30 is formed with a setting opening 33 that faces the rear of the terminal accommodating portion 32 toward the rear wall of the electric wire extracting and accommodating portion 38.

[0050] Since the setting opening 33 opens to the rear of the terminal accommodating portion 32, the terminal core unit 22 can be easily set in the terminal accommodating portion 32 through the setting opening 33. Moreover, the setting opening 33 opens from the rear of the terminal accommodating portion 32 toward the electric wire pull-out accommodating portion 38. Therefore, when setting the terminal core unit 22, the electric wires 16 extending from the terminal core unit 22 can be pulled out from the first housing 30 through the setting opening 33. Therefore, when setting the terminal core unit 22, a space for handling the electric wires 16 can be easily secured.

[0051] The end of the electric wire draw-out accommodating portion 38 opposite to the terminal accommodating portion 32 is formed into an entirely enclosed draw-out end portion 39. The electric wires 16 pass through the electric wire draw-out accommodating portion 38 and are further drawn out through the draw-out end portion 39 to the outside.

[0052] The second housing 50 is a component integrally molded from resin or the like, and is a component to be combined with the first housing 30. In this embodiment, the second housing 50 is a cover that closes the setting opening 33 of the first housing 30.

[0053] That is, the second housing 50 includes a cover body 52 that closes the setting opening 33. The cover body 52 is formed in a shape that can be fitted into the setting opening 33. The second housing 50 closes the setting opening 33 in a state in which the terminal core unit 22 is accommodated in the terminal accommodating portion 32 and the electric wire 16 extending from the terminal core unit 22 is accommodated in the electric wire pull-out accommodating portion 38. In this manner, the terminal 12 and the electric wire 16 are accommodated in a space separated from the outside. For example, an annular seal portion is interposed between the cover body 52 and the setting opening 33, and the opening through which the electric wire 16 extends from the electric wire pull-out accommodating portion 38 is waterproofed with a rubber plug or the like, so that the connection portion between the electric wire connection portion of the terminal 12 and the electric wire 16 is waterproofed well.

[0054] <Engagement structure> The first housing 30 and the second housing 50 are held in a combined state by an engagement structure. The engagement structure between the first housing 30 and the second housing 50 will be described.

[0055] The first housing 30 includes an outer wall and an inner wall located inside the outer wall.

[0056] In this embodiment, the outer wall includes a pair of outer walls 36. More specifically, the left and right parts of the outer housing end 34R are the pair of outer walls 36. The outer wall 36 includes a flat plate-like part in the vertical middle part and a curved part that is continuous with the top and bottom of the flat plate-like part. The flat plate-like part is along the vertical and front-rear directions. The curved part is a part that is curved so as to be convex outward from the upper edge or lower edge of the flat plate-like part and curves toward the center in the width direction of the first housing 30. The upper and lower edges of the outer wall 36 are a pair of support edges supported by the ceiling part or bottom part of the outer housing end 34R. The outer wall 36 is elastically deformable in the inward and outward directions with the upper and lower support edges as support points, and the central part in the vertical direction is the part that is most likely to be displaced. The outer wall 36 may be understood as a part that can be observed when viewed along the outside (i.e., the leftward or rightward direction) perpendicular to the flat plate-like part in the vertical center.

[0057] In this embodiment, the inner wall includes a pair of inner walls 42. More specifically, the left and right portions of the inner storage end 41R are the pair of inner walls 42. The pair of inner walls 42 are located inside the pair of outer walls 36. The outer surface of the inner wall 42 is formed as a flat surface facing right or left (see FIG. 5). The upper and lower edges of the inner wall 42 are a pair of support edges supported by the ceiling or bottom portion of the inner storage end 41R. The ceiling and bottom portions of the inner storage end 41R are connecting wall portions 41Ra that keep the pair of inner walls 42 connected to each other. The inner wall 42 is elastically deformable inward and outward with the upper and lower support edges of the pair of connecting wall portions 41Ra as support points, and the central portion in the vertical direction is the portion most susceptible to elastic deformation.

[0058] The inner wall 42 is formed with a locking recess 43 (see Figs. 5 and 6). The locking recess 43 is a recess into which a locking protrusion 54b, which will be described later, is locked. The locking recess 43 may be a recess with a bottom as long as it is recessed when viewed from the outer surface of the inner wall 42, and may be a recess that penetrates the inner wall.

[0059] In this embodiment, the locking recess 43 is a bottomed recess that is recessed at a position spaced forward from the rear edge of the inner wall 42 .

[0060] The locking recess 43 is formed in a middle region between the upper and lower support edges of the inner wall 42. The middle region between the upper and lower support edges of the inner wall 42 is, for example, a middle region separated from the upper and lower support edges, for example, a region separated inward from a support point by a ceiling portion or a bottom portion of the inner storage end portion 41R in a side view.

[0061] In this embodiment, two locking recesses 43 are formed in one inner wall 42. The two locking recesses 43 are formed to be aligned in the up-down direction of the inner wall 42. One of the two locking recesses 43 is located between an upper support edge of the inner wall 42 and a vertical center line of the inner wall 42, and the other is located between a lower support edge of the inner wall 42 and a vertical center line. The number of locking recesses 43 is arbitrary and may be one or three or more.

[0062] A detection opening 37h1 is formed in the outer wall 36. The detection opening 37h1 is an opening in which a detection protrusion 54c, which will be described later, is disposed. The detection opening 37h1 is an opening that penetrates the outer wall 36 in the thickness direction. The detection opening 37h1 may be an opening that penetrates any part of the outer wall 36. For this reason, the detection opening 37h1 may be a slit-shaped opening that reaches the outer edge of the outer wall 36, or may be an opening whose entire periphery is surrounded by the outer wall 36.

[0063] In this embodiment, the detection opening 37h1 is formed in a long and narrow slit shape extending forward from the rear edge of the outer wall 36. In addition, the detection opening 37h1 is formed at a position different from the locking recess 43 in the up-down direction.

[0064] In this embodiment, the detection opening 37h1 is formed at a position near the upper edge of the outer wall 36. More specifically, the detection opening 37h1 is formed at a position on the outer wall 36 that faces the connecting wall portion 41Ra on the ceiling side of the inner storage end 41R in the left-right direction. Therefore, when the detection opening 37h1 is removed from the left or right, a portion of the inner storage end 41R that corresponds to the connecting wall portion 41Ra on the ceiling side can be observed.

[0065] The second housing 50 includes a locking piece 54 that is inserted between the outer wall 36 and the inner wall 42 and locks with the inner wall 42. The locking piece 54 locks with the inner wall 42, and the locking point is covered by the outer wall 36. For this reason, an operator's hand or surrounding members are unlikely to come into contact with the locking piece 54 locked with the inner wall 42. As a result, the locking piece 54 is unlikely to be unintentionally released.

[0066] The locking piece 54 includes a locking piece main body 54a, a locking protrusion 54b, and a detection projection 54c.

[0067] The locking piece body 54a is formed in a plate shape that protrudes from a side edge of the cover body 52 in a direction perpendicular to the cover body 52. ​​Therefore, when the cover body 52 is used to close the setting opening 33, the locking piece body 54a can be inserted between the outer wall 36 and the inner wall 42.

[0068] The locking piece body 54a is formed in a flat plate shape that can be placed in the flat space between the outer wall 36 and the inner wall 42. The vertical dimension of the locking piece body 54a is set, for example, to be approximately the same as or larger than the vertical dimension of the inner wall 42. The thickness dimension of the locking piece body 54a is set to be smaller than the gap dimension between the outer wall 36 and the inner wall 42. Therefore, the locking piece body 54a can elastically deform in the thickness direction between the outer wall 36 and the inner wall 42. The protruding length of the locking piece body 54a is set to a size that exceeds the locking recess 43 between the outer wall 36 and the inner wall 42 but does not reach the partition wall 31.

[0069] The locking protrusion 54b is formed so as to protrude from the locking piece main body 54a toward the inner wall 42. In this embodiment, two locking protrusions 54b are formed on the locking piece main body 54a in accordance with the positions and number of the locking recesses 43. The two locking protrusions 54b are formed at the inner tip of the locking piece main body 54a and spaced apart in the up-down direction. The locking protrusion 54b has a guide surface 54bf whose protruding length from the inner surface of the locking piece main body 54a gradually decreases toward the tip side of the locking piece main body 54a. There may be only one locking recess.

[0070] The detection protrusion 54c is formed in a protrusion shape that protrudes from the locking piece main body 54a toward the outer wall 36. The detection protrusion 54c is formed at a position where it is disposed in the detection opening 37h1 in a state where the locking piece main body 54a is inserted between the outer wall 36 and the inner wall 42.

[0071] Therefore, when the locking protrusion 54b of the locking piece main body 54a is locked in the locking recess 43 of the inner side wall 42, the position of the detection protrusion 54c can be observed from the outside through the detection opening 37h1. When the locking protrusion 54b of the locking piece main body 54a is properly locked in the locking recess 43 of the inner side wall 42, it is assumed that the locking piece main body 54a extends along the outer surface of the inner side wall 42 and the detection protrusion 54c is located at the back side of the detection opening 37h1. When the locking protrusion 54b of the locking piece main body 54a is not properly locked in the locking recess 43 of the inner side wall 42, it is assumed that the locking protrusion 54b rides up on the outer surface of the inner side wall 42 around the locking recess 43. In this case, since the locking piece main body 54a is elastically deformed in a direction away from the inner wall 42, it is assumed that the detection protrusion 54c is positioned closer to the outer opening side of the detection opening 37h1 than the position in the above-mentioned normal locking state. Therefore, by checking the position of the detection protrusion 54c within the detection opening 37h1 from outside the connector 20, it can be easily detected whether the locking state is appropriate.

[0072] More specifically, the upper side edge of the locking piece main body 54a is disposed along the outer side of the connecting wall portion 41Ra on the ceiling side of the inner wall 42, and is disposed inside the detection opening 37h1. The detection protrusion 54c is formed in a shape that protrudes from the upper side edge of the locking piece main body 54a toward the outer wall 36.

[0073] Therefore, the position where the detection protrusion 54c is formed is different from the position of the locking protrusion 54b in the direction (up-down direction) intersecting the insertion direction of the locking piece main body 54a. Therefore, the detection opening 37h1 where the detection protrusion 54c is arranged does not easily expose the locking portion between the locking protrusion 54b and the locking recess 43.

[0074] The shape of the detection protrusion 54c is arbitrary, but in this embodiment, the detection protrusion 54c is formed in an elongated convex shape along the protruding direction of the locking piece main body 54a. More specifically, the detection protrusion 54c is formed in an elongated protruding shape that extends along the upper side edge of the locking piece main body 54a and protrudes toward the outer wall 36. Therefore, it is easy to improve the strength of the detection protrusion 54c while making the detection protrusion 54c thin. By making the detection protrusion 54c thin, the width of the detection opening 37h1 can be narrowed, and the strength of the outer wall 36 can be easily improved.

[0075] Moreover, it is preferable that the detection protrusion 54c protrudes at least at the tip of the locking piece main body 54a toward the outer wall 36. In this embodiment, the elongated detection protrusion 54c reaches the tip of the locking piece main body 54a beyond the locking protrusion 54b.

[0076] When the locking state of the locking protrusion 54b with respect to the inner wall 42 is abnormal, the locking piece main body 54a deforms with its base end as a support point, so it is assumed that the tip of the locking piece main body 54a will be positioned furthest from the inner wall 42. If the detection protrusion 54c protrudes toward the outer wall 36 at least at the tip of the locking piece main body 54a, when the locking state is abnormal, the positional fluctuation of the detection protrusion 54c can be made large, making it easier to detect the abnormality of the locking state.

[0077] It is not essential that the detection protrusion 54c has the above-mentioned shape. For example, the detection protrusion may be a cylindrical, prismatic, semispherical, or conical protrusion that protrudes from at least a portion of the locking piece main body in the protruding direction.

[0078] The protruding length of the detection protrusion 54c is arbitrary, but it is preferable that the detection protrusion 54c is set to a size that will protrude outward from the outer wall 36 when the engagement state of the locking protrusion 54b with the locking recess 43 is abnormal.

[0079] For example, assume that the locking protrusion 54b is improperly locked in the locking recess 43 and rides up onto the outer surface of the inner side wall 42 (see FIG. 8). In this state, the dimension (P1+P2+P3) obtained by adding the thickness dimension P2 of the locking piece main body 54a and the protrusion length P3 of the locking protrusion 54b to the protrusion length P1 of the detection protrusion 54c is greater than the dimension (L2+L3) obtained by adding the thickness dimension L2 of the outer side wall 36 to the gap dimension L3 between the outer side wall 36 and the inner side wall 42.

[0080] As a result, depending on whether or not the locking projection 54b protrudes from the outer wall 36, it is possible to easily detect whether or not the locking state is appropriate.

[0081] Furthermore, it is preferable that the protrusion length of the detection protrusion 54c is set to a size such that when the engagement state of the locking protrusion 54b with the locking recess 43 is normal, the detection protrusion 54c is positioned inside the outer surface of the outer wall 36.

[0082] For example, assume that the outer surface of the inner side wall 42 is in contact with the inner surface of the locking piece main body 54a when the locking protrusion 54b is properly locked in the locking recess 43 (see FIG. 6). In this state, the protruding length P1 of the detection protrusion 54c is equal to or greater than the gap dimension L1 between the outer surface of the locking piece main body 54a and the outer side wall 36, and is smaller than the dimension (L1+L2) obtained by adding the thickness dimension L2 of the outer side wall 36 to L1.

[0083] This makes it possible to easily detect whether the locking state is appropriate by checking whether the detection projection 54c projects from the outer surface of the outer wall 36 or not.

[0084] Furthermore, when the locking piece 54 is disposed between the outer wall 36 and the inner wall 42, it further includes an anti-rattle projection 54d that projects from the locking piece main body 54a towards the outer wall 36 and is pressed against the inner surface of the outer wall.

[0085] The position of the rattle prevention protrusion 54d is arbitrary, but it is preferable that the position is a position that avoids the back side of the locking protrusion 54b, and in this embodiment, the rattle prevention protrusion 54d is formed on the base end side of the locking protrusion 54b in the locking piece main body 54a. Therefore, when the locking protrusion 54b rides up onto the outer surface of the inner wall 42, the rattle prevention protrusion 54d can be in a state just before contacting the outer wall 36, and the outward deformation of the locking piece main body 54a is not easily hindered.

[0086] In addition, in order to avoid impeding the movement of the detection protrusion 54c into the detection opening 37h1, it is preferable that the detection protrusion 54c and the anti-rattle protrusion 54d are located at different positions in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the detection protrusion 54c.

[0087] In this embodiment, the detection protrusion 54c is formed on the upper side edge of the locking piece main body 54a, and the anti-rattle protrusion 54d is formed at a position spaced downward from the detection protrusion 54c, here, in the middle part of the locking piece main body 54a in the vertical direction.

[0088] The rattle prevention protrusion 54d has a guide surface 54df whose protruding length gradually decreases toward the tip side of the locking piece main body 54a. When the locking piece main body 54a is inserted deep between the outer wall 36 and the inner wall 42, the guide surface 54df comes into contact with the edge of the outer wall 36. Therefore, the rattle prevention protrusion 54d can smoothly enter inside the outer wall 36 without stopping at the edge of the outer wall 36.

[0089] The protruding dimension of the anti-rattle protrusion 54d should be set to a size sufficient to allow the locking piece main body 54a to reach the inner surface of the outer wall 36 when inserted between the outer wall 36 and the inner wall 42.

[0090] In this embodiment, locking protrusions 38P are formed on both sides of the electric wire pull-out accommodating portion 38. Locking pieces 58 having locking recesses 58a are formed on both sides of a portion of the second housing 50 that covers the electric wire pull-out accommodating portion 38. When the first housing 30 and the second housing 50 are combined, the locking protrusions 38P are engaged with the locking recesses 58a of the locking pieces 58, thereby maintaining the first housing 30 and the second housing 50 in the combined state. The locking protrusions 38P and the locking pieces 58 may be omitted.

[0091] <Examples of work to check whether the combination work and the locking state are appropriate> An example of a procedure for detecting whether the locked state is appropriate when the first housing 30 and the second housing 50 are being combined will be described.

[0092] With the terminal core unit 22 and the electric wires 16 assembled to the first housing 30, the second housing 50 is combined with the first housing 30.

[0093] During the combining operation, the pair of locking pieces 54 are inserted between the outer wall 36 and the inner wall 42. Then, the guide surface 54bf of the locking protrusion 54b comes into contact with the rear edge of the inner wall 42, and the locking piece main body 54a elastically deforms outward. When the pair of locking pieces 54 are inserted further in, the locking protrusion 54b advances further in along the outer surface of the inner wall 42. When the locking protrusion 54b reaches the locking recess 43, the locking protrusion 54b enters the locking recess 43, and the locking piece main body 54a elastically returns to its original shape.

[0094] In a state where the locking protrusion 54b is normally locked in the locking recess 43, the detection protrusion 54c is located inside the detection opening 37h1, in this case at a position where it does not protrude from the outer wall 36 (see Figs. 2 and 6). By confirming that the detection protrusion 54c is located inside the detection opening 37h1 and does not protrude from the outer wall 36, it is possible to detect that the locking state is normal.

[0095] In the latter stage of insertion of the locking piece 54, the guide surface 54df of the rattle prevention protrusion 54d comes into contact with the rear edge of the outer wall 36, and the rattle prevention protrusion 54d enters the inside of the outer wall 36. This presses the locking piece 54 in a direction away from the outer wall 36, preventing rattle between the first housing 30 and the second housing 50. In addition, the rattle prevention protrusion 54d presses the locking piece 54 toward the inner wall 42, so that the locking protrusion 54b and the locking recess 43 are easily maintained in an engaged state.

[0096] When the locking state between the locking protrusion 54b and the locking recess 43 is abnormal, it is assumed that the locking protrusion 54b is in contact with the outer surface of the inner wall 42 around the locking recess 43. In this case, the locking piece main body 54a is elastically deformed in a direction away from the inner wall 42, so that the detection protrusion 54c is located outside the above state in the detection opening 37h1. Here, the detection protrusion 54c protrudes outside the outer surface of the outer wall 36 (see Figures 7 and 8). Therefore, by confirming from outside the connector 20 that the detection protrusion 54c protrudes from the outer wall 36, it is possible to detect that the locking state is abnormal.

[0097] The abnormality may be detected, for example, by using an inspection tool 60 as shown in FIG. 9. The inspection tool 60 has, for example, a set surface 62 capable of receiving a portion of the outer surface of the connector 20 around the detection protrusion 54c. When the locking state is normal, the detection protrusion 54c does not protrude from the outer surface of the connector 20, and the connector 20 can be set on the set surface 62. When the locking state is abnormal, the detection protrusion 54c protrudes from the outer surface of the connector 20. Therefore, when an attempt is made to set the connector 20 on the set surface 62, the detection protrusion 54c interferes with the set surface 62, and the connector 20 cannot be set on the set surface 62. Therefore, the appropriateness of the locking state can be detected depending on whether the connector 20 can be set on the inspection tool 60.

[0098] The state of the detection protrusion 54c may be detected by visual inspection, touch with the hand, image processing based on an image of the detection protrusion 54c, a sensor that physically detects the state of the detection protrusion 54c, or the like.

[0099] In FIG. 7, even if the locking protrusion 38P is properly locked to the locking piece 58, the locking protrusion 54b may not be properly locked to the locking recess 43, and in this embodiment, this improper locking state can be easily detected.

[0100] <Effects, etc.> According to the connector 20 configured as described above, the locking piece main body 54a is formed with the locking protrusion 54b, and the inner wall 42 is formed with the locking recess 43 into which the locking protrusion 54b is locked. Also, the outer wall 36 is formed with a detection opening 37h1 in which the detection protrusion 54c is disposed. Therefore, if the locking protrusion 54b cannot be properly locked in the locking recess 43, the locking piece main body 54a is elastically deformed toward the outer wall 36, and the detection protrusion 54c is positioned further outward than in the normal locked state. Depending on the position of the detection protrusion 54c in the detection opening 37h1, the appropriateness of the locked state can be easily detected.

[0101] In addition, if the protrusion length of the detection protrusion 54c is set to a size that will protrude outward from the outer wall 36 when the locking condition is abnormal, the appropriateness of the locking condition can be easily detected by checking the protrusion length of the detection protrusion 54c from the outer wall 36.

[0102] Furthermore, if the protrusion length of the detection protrusion 54c is set to a size that positions the detection protrusion 54c more inward than the outer surface of the outer wall 36 when the locking state is normal, the appropriateness of the locking state can be easily detected based on whether or not the detection protrusion protrudes from the outer wall.

[0103] In addition, if the first housing 30 is a housing having a terminal accommodating portion 32 and the second housing 50 is a cover that closes the set opening 33 of the first housing 30, it can be easily confirmed whether the set opening 33 is properly blocked by the cover attached in the normal detection state.

[0104] Furthermore, the locking piece 54 includes an anti-rattle protrusion 54d, and in the locked state, the anti-rattle protrusion 54d is pressed against the inner surface of the outer wall 36. This suppresses rattle between the first housing 30 and the second housing 50. The anti-rattle protrusion 54d also presses the locking piece 54 toward the inner wall 42, thereby contributing to maintaining the locked state between the locking protrusion 54b and the locking recess 43.

[0105] In addition, since the rattle prevention protrusion 54d is formed on the locking piece main body 54a closer to the base end than the locking protrusion 54b, the rattle prevention protrusion 54d can be pressed against the outer wall 36 after the locking protrusion 54b is locked into the locking recess 43. As a result, the rattle prevention protrusion 54d can prevent rattle without interfering with the operability of locking the locking protrusion 54b into the locking recess 43.

[0106] In addition, since the detection protrusion 54c and the anti-rattle protrusion 54d are located at different positions in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the detection protrusion 54c, the anti-rattle protrusion suppresses rattle, while the appropriateness of the engagement state using the detection protrusion 54c can be easily detected.

[0107] In addition, the detection opening 37h1 is formed in a position facing the connecting wall portion 41Ra on the outer wall 36, and the detection protrusion 54c is disposed outside the connecting wall portion 41Ra and within the detection opening 37h1. Therefore, even if force is applied around the detection opening 37h1 and to the detection protrusion 54c when inserting or removing the connector 20, the first housing 30 and the second housing 50 are unlikely to deform and the combined state is unlikely to be released.

[0108] In addition, since the detection protrusion 54c is formed in an elongated convex shape along the protruding direction of the locking piece main body 54a, the detection protrusion 54c can be made thin, and the opening width of the detection opening 37h1 can be made small. This makes it easier to ensure the strength of the outer wall 36. Also, by making the detection protrusion 54c elongated, the strength of the detection protrusion 54c can be easily ensured.

[0109] In addition, since the detection projection 54c protrudes toward the outer wall 36 at least at the tip of the locking piece main body 54a, when the locking state is abnormal, the detection projection 54c can be largely displaced outward. This makes it easy to detect the abnormality of the locking state.

[0110] [Variations] In the embodiment, the first housing 30 having the terminal accommodating portion and the second housing 50 serving as a cover are combined together. The engagement structure described in the embodiment is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be applied to various connectors having a combined structure of multiple housings. For example, the above engagement structure can be applied to a combined structure of a housing main body having a cavity for accommodating terminals and a retainer or cover combined with the housing main body, as long as the combined structure has an inner wall and an outer wall.

[0111] The first housing 30 may have only one outer wall. The first housing 30 may have only one inner wall. The first housing 30 may have another wall on the inside of the inner wall or on the outside of the outer wall.

[0112] In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the locking protrusion 54b is formed on the locking piece main body 54a, and the locking recess 43 is formed on the inner wall 42. However, a locking protrusion protruding outward may be formed on the inner wall, and a locking recess capable of locking with the locking protrusion may be formed on the locking piece main body.

[0113] The configurations described in the above embodiments and modifications can be combined as appropriate as long as they are not mutually inconsistent. [Explanation of symbols]

[0114] 12 Terminals 16 Electric wire 20 Connectors 22 Terminal core unit 24 Terminal holder 30 1st Housing (Housing) 31 Partition Wall 32 Terminal housing 33 Set opening 34 Outer cylinder part 34F Connector connection outer end 34Fa Lock piece 34R outer housing end 36 Outer wall (outer wall) 37h1 Detection aperture 38 Wire drawer housing 38P locking protrusion 39 Drawer end 40 Inner cylinder part 41F Connector connection inner end 41R Inner housing end 41Ra Connecting wall section 42 Inner wall (inner wall) 43 Locking recess 50 Second Housing (Housing) 52 Cover body 54 Locking piece 54a Locking piece body 54b Locking protrusion 54bf Guide surface 54c Detection protrusion 54d Anti-rattle protrusion 54df Guide surface 58 Locking piece 58a Locking recess 60 Inspection fixture 62 Set surface

Claims

1. A connector having a housing combination structure, A first housing including an outer wall and an inner wall located inside the outer wall; a second housing that is coupled to the first housing; Equipped with the second housing has a locking piece including a locking piece main body disposed between the outer wall and the inner wall and a detection protrusion protruding from the locking piece main body toward the outer wall, a locking protrusion is formed on one of the locking piece body and the inner wall, and a locking recess into which the locking protrusion is engaged is formed on the other of the locking piece body and the inner wall; A connector, wherein the outer wall is formed with a detection opening in which the detection protrusion is disposed.

2. 2. The connector of claim 1, A connector, wherein the protrusion length of the detection protrusion is set to a size that causes the detection protrusion to protrude outward from the outer wall when the engagement state of the locking protrusion with respect to the locking recess is abnormal.

3. 3. The connector of claim 2, A connector in which the protrusion length of the detection protrusion is set to a size such that when the engagement state of the locking protrusion with respect to the locking recess is normal, the detection protrusion is positioned further inward than the outer surface of the outer wall.

4. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the first housing has a terminal accommodating portion for accommodating a terminal having a wire connection portion and a connection portion for connecting to a mating terminal, the terminal accommodating portion being open on the wire connection portion side, A connector, wherein the second housing is a cover that closes an opening of the first housing.

5. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A connector, wherein the locking piece further includes an anti-rattle protrusion that protrudes from the locking piece main body toward the outer wall and is pressed against the inner surface of the outer wall when the locking piece main body is positioned between the outer wall and the inner wall.

6. 6. The connector of claim 5, A connector, wherein the anti-rattle protrusion is formed on the locking piece main body on the base end side of the locking protrusion or the locking recess.

7. 6. The connector of claim 5, A connector, wherein the detection protrusion and the rattle prevention protrusion are located at different positions in a direction intersecting an insertion direction of the detection protrusion.

8. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The outer wall includes a pair of outer side walls, The inner wall includes a pair of inner walls located inside the pair of outer walls and connected by a connecting wall portion, The detection opening is formed in the outer wall at a position facing the connecting wall portion, A connector, wherein the detection protrusion is disposed outside the connecting wall and within the detection opening.

9. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A connector, wherein the detection protrusion is formed in an elongated convex shape along a protruding direction of the locking piece main body.

10. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The detection protrusion protrudes toward the outer wall at least at a tip of the locking piece main body.

Images