Connector

Abstract

To improve operability during unlocking, while protecting an operating part.SOLUTION: A connector has: an operating part 21 for unlocking that is operated and pressed to elastically deform a lock arm 20 of a connector housing 10 to separate the lock arm from a counterpart housing 50; and a pair of protective walls 30 that projects from an outer face 10S of the connector housing 10 and is arranged to sandwich the operating part 21 from both sides. At least one of opposite faces of the pair of protective walls 30 is formed with a relief part 40 for pressing operation including a projection end 36 of the protective wall 30. In an area where the relief part 40 for pressing operation is formed, an opposite interval D1 between the pair of opposite faces becomes maximum at the projection end 36 of the protective wall 30, and the opposite interval on a side of the outer face 10S is shorter than the opposite interval at the projection end 36.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a locking structure for a connector that includes a connector housing, a lock arm formed on an upper wall of the connector housing, a pair of plate-shaped support walls arranged to sandwich the lock arm, and an operating part arranged between the pair of plate-shaped support walls and formed to protrude upward from the lock arm. The pair of support walls perform a retaining function that prevents an electric wire from getting caught between the connector housing and the lock arm, and prevents the operating part from being pressed by interference from a foreign object. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2021-141016 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The above locking structure has a pair of plate-shaped support walls (hereinafter also referred to as protective walls). For example, when inserting a finger into the operating portion to release the lock, the finger cannot be inserted into the operating portion due to the plate-shaped support walls.

[0005] The present disclosure provides a connector that allows the operating part to be easily pressed when unlocking while protecting it with a protective wall. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connector of the present disclosure includes a connector housing that can be mated with a mating housing; a lock arm that is disposed so as to extend along an outer surface of the connector housing and that engages with the mating housing to lock the connector housing and the mating housing in a mated state; an unlocking operation portion formed on the lock arm and pressed to elastically deform the lock arm and release it from the mating housing; a pair of protective walls protruding from the outer surface of the connector housing and disposed so as to sandwich the operation portion from both sides; the operating portion is displaced in a direction approaching the outer surface of the connector housing by a pressing operation for unlocking the connector, At least one of the opposing surfaces of the pair of protective walls is formed with a pressing operation relief portion including a protruding end portion of the protective wall, In the region in which the pressure operation relief portion is formed, the opposing distance between the pair of opposing surfaces is maximum at the protruding end of the protective wall, and the opposing distance on the outer surface side is narrower than the opposing distance at the protruding end. Effect of the Invention

[0007] The connector of the present disclosure can improve operability when unlocking while protecting the operating portion. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector housing according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the connector housing of the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the connector housing of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector housing of the embodiment in a state where the lock arm is locked. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the connector housing with the lock arm unlocked. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the connector housing of the first embodiment is unlocked by a pressing operation. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a rear view of the connector housing of the second embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a connector housing according to the third embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a rear view of the connector housing of the third embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a connector housing according to a third embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a connector housing according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a rear view of the connector housing of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a plan view of the connector housing of the fourth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] The connector comprises a connector housing that can be fitted into a mating housing, a lock arm that is arranged to extend along an outer surface of the connector housing and that locks the connector housing and the mating housing in a mated state by engaging with the mating housing, an unlocking operation portion formed on the lock arm and that is pressed to elastically deform the lock arm and release it from the mating housing, and a pair of protective walls that protrude from the outer surface of the connector housing and are arranged to sandwich the operation portion from both sides, wherein the operation portion is displaced in a direction approaching the outer surface of the connector housing by a pressing operation when unlocking, and a pressing operation escape portion including the protruding end of the protective wall is formed on at least one of the opposing surfaces of the pair of protective walls, and in the region where the pressing operation escape portion is formed, the opposing distance between the pair of opposing surfaces is maximum at the protruding end of the protective wall, and the opposing distance on the outer surface side is narrower than the opposing distance at the protruding end. With this structure, the distance between the pair of opposing surfaces is greatest at the protruding end of the protective wall, making it easy to insert a finger into the operating portion. Therefore, the protective wall protects the operating portion while facilitating the unlocking operation.

[0010] The connector is adapted to be fitted into the mating housing with the front end of the connector housing facing forward, the protective wall is disposed at the rear end of the connector housing, and the front end of the pressing operation relief portion is disposed forward of the rear end of the operating portion. With this configuration, the unlocking mechanism allows a finger inserted between the protective wall from the rear to reach a position where the operating portion can be pressed when the operating portion is pressed.

[0011] Preferably, a flat surface is formed on one of the protruding ends of the pair of protective walls, the flat surface intersecting the direction in which the operating portion is pressed against the operating portion. With this configuration, the strength of the protective walls is ensured by the flat surface, and damage such as chipping can be prevented.

[0012] The locking arm has a pair of elastically deformable arm portions, the arm portions are connected to a base end portion extending upward from the outer surface of the connector housing, the operating portion is plate-shaped and formed to connect the pair of arms, and the forming range of the pressing operation relief portion in the displacement direction of the operating portion is preferably only the area from the upper end of the base end portion to the protruding end of the protective wall. With this configuration, the range in which a finger can move up and down is limited, so that excessive stress generated in the operating portion when pressed can be prevented.

[0013] The protective walls may be formed with a rear escape portion in which the distance between the opposing surfaces of the pair of protective walls is greatest at the rear ends of the protective walls and is narrower forward than the rear ends, and the front end of the rear escape portion is located forward of the rear end of the pressing operation escape portion. With this configuration, the forming areas of the pressing operation escape portion and the rear escape portion overlap in the front-to-rear direction, so that a sufficient space for the pressing operation can be secured and the unlocking operation can be easily performed.

[0014] It is preferable that only one of the pair of protective walls is provided with the pressing operation relief portion. With this configuration, the strength of the protective wall can be ensured by the protective wall on the side where the pressing operation relief portion is not formed.

[0015] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] The present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and includes all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0016] In each diagram, "front" is represented by "F", "upper" is represented by "U", and "right side" is represented by "R".

[0017] [Example 1] The connector of the present disclosure includes a connector housing 10, a lock arm 20 having an operating portion 21, and a pair of protective walls 30.

[0018] [Connector housing 10] As shown in Fig. 1, the connector housing 10 is a single part with a symmetrical flat shape. The connector housing 10 has a flat rectangular shape as a whole. Both left and right side surfaces of the connector housing 10 have a pair of side walls 11 extending in the front-rear direction. The side walls 11 extend in the front-rear direction from the front end of the connector housing 10 to a front end surface 30S of a protective wall 30, which will be described later.

[0019] 2, 4 and 5, a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 13 are formed in the connector housing 10, penetrating the connector housing 10 in the front-rear direction, and aligned at a constant pitch in the width direction. A terminal fitting 65 fixed to the front end of an electric wire 63 is inserted into each terminal accommodating chamber 13 from the rear.

[0020] [Lock Arm 20] As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, a lock arm 20 is formed integrally with the connector housing 10. The lock arm 20 is disposed so as to extend in the front-rear direction along an upper surface 10S of the connector housing 10. The lock arm 20 is provided at the center in the width direction of the connector housing 10. The lock arm 20 has a pair of left and right base end portions 15, an extension portion 19, an operation portion 21, and a reinforcing portion 23. The lock arm 20 is elastically deformable by pressure from above due to a deflection allowance space A formed between the connector housing 10 and the lock arm 20, which will be described later.

[0021] The pair of base ends 15 are located symmetrically in the left-right central portion of the connector housing 10 with the top surface 10S in between. The pair of base ends 15 form the rear end of the lock arm 20. The pair of base ends 15 form a quarter-circular arc extending obliquely upward and forward from the rear end of the top surface 10S of the connector housing 10. The base ends 15 are disposed so as to cover the top surface 10S of the connector housing 10 from above. A deflection allowance space A is formed between the base ends 15 and the top surface 10S. The side view shape of the opposing surface 18 of the base ends 15 is formed by a parabola curved so as to bulge downward.

[0022] The extension portion 19 constitutes the front portion of the connector housing 10, and is a portion that is covered by the mating housing 50. The left and right side surfaces of the extension portion 19 are sandwiched between the side walls 11 with a gap between them. The extension portion 19 is formed by a pair of left and right arm portions 25 and one plate-shaped portion 27.

[0023] The pair of arm portions 25 constitute both the left and right side surfaces of the lock arm 20. The pair of arm portions 25 extend forward from the pair of base ends 15 and are connected to the plate-shaped portion 27. The arm portions 25 support the left and right ends of the operating portion 21 and the reinforcing portion 23, which will be described later, from below.

[0024] The plate-shaped portion 27 is a portion that engages with the mating housing 50 by elastic deformation. The plate-shaped portion 27 extends rearward from the front end side of the upper surface 10S of the connector housing 10. The rear end edge of the extension portion 19 is connected to the operating portion 21 via a pair of arms 25. A deflection allowance space A is provided between the plate-shaped portion 27 and the connector housing 10. The deflection allowance space A allows the plate-shaped portion 27 to be elastically deformed when pressed from above.

[0025] As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a locking portion 31 is formed at the rear end of the plate-shaped portion 27. The locking portion 31 is a portion that locks the mating housing 50 and the connector housing 10 in a mated state by engaging with a locking front end surface 33 formed on the mating housing 50. A guide surface 37 that is inclined with respect to the front-rear direction (the mating direction of the connector housing 10 and the mating housing 50) is formed on the front side of the locking portion 31. A locking surface 35 that is approximately perpendicular to the front-rear direction is formed on the rear end surface of the locking portion 31. The locking surface 35 is formed by opening the front end side center part of the operating portion 21 into a horizontally elongated approximately rectangular shape. The locking surface 35 is engaged with the locking front end surface 33 of the mating housing 50. The locking portion 31 is disposed forward of the operating portion 21 and is located at the center of the locking arm 20 in the front-rear direction.

[0026] The operation unit 21 has a rectangular plate shape in a plan view, and is formed so as to connect the upper edges of the rear end portions of a pair of arm portions 25. When viewed from the front, the operation unit 21 protrudes upward from the arm portions 25, which support both left and right ends of the operation unit 21. A deflection allowance space A is provided below a portion of the operation unit 21 that is not supported by the arm portions 29. The deflection allowance space A allows the operation unit 21 to be displaced downward when pressed from above.

[0027] The reinforcement portion 23 is disposed adjacent to the rear side of the operating portion 21. The upper surface of the operating portion 21 is positioned parallel to the upper surface of the reinforcement portion 23 in a stepped manner so that the upper surface of the operating portion 21 is higher than the upper surface of the reinforcement portion 23. The reinforcement portion 23 is supported from below at both left and right ends by a pair of arm portions 25. In other words, the reinforcement portion 23 is formed so as to span the arm portions 25. The rear end edge of the reinforcement portion 23 is connected to the base end portion 15. A deflection allowance space A is provided below the portion of the reinforcement portion 23 that is not supported by the arm portions 29.

[0028] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the pair of protective walls 30 are symmetrically arranged at a distance from each other so as to sandwich the left and right ends of the operating portion 21. The pair of protective walls 30 extend vertically upward from stepped regions formed on the outside of the left and right side surfaces of the lock arm 20 at the rear end of the connector housing 10. The front end surface 30S of the protective wall 30 intersects with the side wall 11 of the connector housing 10 substantially perpendicularly. The side wall 11 of the connector housing 10 and the protruding end 36 of the protective wall 30 are connected via the front end surface 30S of the protective wall 30. The protruding end 36 is a portion located at the uppermost end of the protective wall 30. The protruding end 36 is formed with a flat surface 12 that intersects with the pressing direction against the operating portion 21. The flat surface 12 including the protruding end 36 of the protective wall 30 is positioned in a stepped and parallel manner so as to be higher than the side wall 11 of the connector housing 10.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the inner surface of the pair of protective walls 30 is formed by an erected surface 39 extending vertically upward from the upper surface 10S, a flat surface 12 located above the upper surface 10S and stepwise parallel to the upper surface 10S, and a pressing operation relief portion 40 connecting the erected surface 39 and the flat surface 12. The extension line of the erected surface 39 and the extension line of the flat surface 12 intersect perpendicularly. The upper end of the erected surface 39 is at the same position as the upper end of the base end portion 15 in the vertical direction. The flat surface 12 is at the same position as the upper end of the operating portion 21. The pressing operation relief portion 40 is inclined so as to be lower from the flat surface 12 toward the operating portion 21. Due to the pressing operation relief portion 40, the protective wall 30 has a shape in which the inside of the protruding end portion 36 is partially cut out. In the pressing operation relief portion 40, the opposing distance D1 between the pair of protective walls 30 is maximum at the upper ends of the protective walls 30 in the vertical direction and becomes narrower toward the lower ends of the protective walls 30.

[0030] 3, the pressing operation relief portion 40 is formed over the entire area of ​​the protective wall 30 in the front-rear direction. The front ends of the pair of protective walls 30 are disposed so as to be located forward of the rear end of the operating portion 21. In other words, the front end of the pressing operation relief portion 40 is disposed forward of the rear end of the operating portion 21.

[0031] 4 and 5, the mating housing 50 is made of resin and has a rectangular cylindrical shape. The mating housing 50 has a hood portion 51 that opens in the mating direction. The extension portion 19 of the connector housing 10 is inserted and fitted into this hood portion 51 in a substantially tight contact state. A male terminal 55 is provided on a front wall 53 of the hood portion 51 so as to protrude toward the open end.

[0032] The hood portion 51 is provided with a protruding locking protrusion 59 extending downward from the open end of the upper wall 57 of the mating housing 50. The locking protrusion 59 has a locking inclined surface 58 extending obliquely downward from the upper wall 57 to the front side. The locking protrusion 59 has a locking front end surface 33 extending vertically upward from the front end of the locking inclined surface 58. The locking front end surface 33 of the locking protrusion 59 forms a locking surface perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The connector is locked by the locking front end surface 33 of the locking protrusion 59 abutting against the locking surface 35 of the connector housing 10. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the locking protrusion 59 and the locking portion 31 are locked, the left and right side portions of the open end surface of the hood portion 51 abut against the front end surface 30S of the protective wall 30.

[0033] 4 and 5, the terminal fitting 65 is a female terminal having an elongated shape in the front-rear direction. The box portion 61, which is the front portion of the terminal fitting 65, has an external shape of a rectangular parallelepiped that is elongated in the insertion direction. Inside the box portion 61, a leaf spring piece (not shown) that is in conductive contact with the male terminal 55 accommodated in the mating housing 50 is provided. The leaf spring piece is electrically connected to the terminal fitting 65. The terminal fitting 65 and the front end portion of the electric wire 63 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, and the electric wire 63 extends rearward from the rear end of the terminal fitting 65.

[0034] The effect of the connector will be described. When the mating housing 50 and the connector housing 10 are locked, the opening of the mating housing 50 is pushed toward the connector housing 10 in the mating direction. When pushed in the mating direction, the guide surface 37 is pressed from above by the lock inclined surface 58 of the mating housing 50 and displaced downward. When the mating housing 50 is further pushed in the mating direction until the lock front end surface 33 of the mating housing 50 is positioned behind the lock front end surface 33 of the connector housing 10, the plate-shaped portion 27 is no longer pressed from above by the lock protrusion 59 of the mating housing 50, and the guide surface 37 is elastically deformed upward. As shown in FIG. 4, the lock surface 35 of the connector housing 10 and the lock front end surface 33 of the lock protrusion 59 of the mating housing 50 are engaged with each other, so that the connector housing 10 and the mating housing 50 are locked.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 5, when the connector housing 10 and the mating housing 50 are to be unlocked, the operating portion 21 is pressed from above. As shown in Fig. 5, the pressing of the operating portion 21 causes the plate-shaped portion 27 to elastically deform downward, and the lock front end surface 33 of the locking protrusion 59 and the lock surface 35 are disengaged. In addition, the mating housing 50 moves forward due to the pushing out of the front end surface of the operating portion 21. With the lock front end surface 33 of the locking protrusion 59 and the lock surface 35 in a disengaged state, the mating housing 50 moves forward, and the connector housing 10 and the mating housing 50 enter an unlocked state.

[0036] The effect of the pressing operation in the first embodiment will be described. The connector housing 10 is fitted into the mating housing 50 with the front end facing the hood portion 51. As shown in Fig. 6, when the connector housing 10 and the mating housing 50 are fitted together, the rear end face of the mating housing 50 is located in front of the rear end of the operating portion 21. The mating housing 50 covers the front portion of the operating portion 21. In the locking structure of the present disclosure, when the mating housing 50 is locked, the rear portion of the operating portion 21 is exposed.

[0037] When unlocking, the exposed rear portion of the operating unit 21 is pressed from above. Specifically, the operating unit 21 is pressed with a fingertip from above the area where the pressing operation relief portion 40 is formed to release the lock. The opposing distance D1 between the pair of protective walls 30 is maximum in the up-down direction at the protruding end portion 36 of the protective wall 30. There is sufficient space near both the left and right ends of the operating unit 21 for pressing the operating unit 21 with a finger.

[0038] In addition, since the opposing distance D1 is narrow in the portion below the protruding end 36 of the protective wall 30, the thickness of the protective wall 30 in the left-right direction can be secured, and the strength to function as the protective wall 30 can be guaranteed. As a result, the connector of the first embodiment can achieve the contradictory performances of securing the strength of the protective wall 30 and improving the pressing operability. In addition, the lower end of the region where the pressing operation relief portion 40 is formed is at the same position as the upper end of the base end 15. As a result, there is no risk of the operating portion 21 elastically deforming below the upper end of the base end 15, and therefore, damage to the lock arm 20 due to excessive pressure being applied to the operating portion 21 can be prevented.

[0039] The effect of the reinforcing portion 23 will be described. The reinforcing portion 23 is connected to the operating portion 21, and increases the rigidity of the area near the operating portion 21 where the operating portion 21 is pressed, thereby preventing the operating portion 21 from being damaged. The upper surface of the reinforcing portion 23 is positioned parallel to the upper surface of the operating portion 21 at a stepped position so as to be lower than the upper surface of the operating portion 21. The connector of the first embodiment is configured such that the lock arm 20 is unlikely to bend even when the reinforcing portion 23 is pressed. Therefore, there is no risk of the lock being released by mistake by pressing the reinforcing portion 23. The reinforcing portion 23 also serves as a marker when performing a pressing operation, preventing erroneous operation.

[0040] [Example 2] A connector according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 7. The connector according to the second embodiment has two terminal accommodating chambers 74 formed at a constant pitch in the width direction of a connector housing 70, and has a smaller left-right width than the connector housing 10 according to the first embodiment. Descriptions of the same configuration as in the above embodiment will be omitted, and descriptions of the same functions and effects as in the above embodiment will also be omitted.

[0041] [Operation unit 71] The pair of protective walls 73 are arranged symmetrically so as to sandwich both the left and right ends of the operating unit 71. The inner surfaces of the pair of protective walls 73 are formed of an erected surface 75 extending vertically upward from the upper surface 70S, a flat surface 78 formed on the protruding end 77 of the protective wall 73 and intersecting with the pressing direction against the operating unit 71, and a pressing operation relief portion 80 connecting the erected surface 75 and the flat surface 78. The extension line of the erected surface 75 and the extension line of the flat surface 78 intersect perpendicularly. The upper end of the erected surface 75 is located above the lower end of the reinforcing portion 79 in the vertical direction. The flat surface 78 is at the same position as the upper end of the operating unit 21. The pressing operation relief portion 40 is inclined so as to be lower from the flat surface 78 toward the operating unit 71 side. The pressing operation escape portion 80 provides the protective wall 73 with a shape in which a portion of the inside of the protruding end portion 77 is cut out. The pressing operation escape portion 80 is formed over the entire area of ​​the protective wall 73 in the front-rear direction. The area in which the pressing operation escape portion 80 is formed is between the upper end of the operating portion 71 and the lower end of the reinforcing portion 79 in the vertical direction. In other words, the area in which the pressing operation escape portion 80 is formed is between the upper end of the operating portion 71 and the lower end of the reinforcing portion 79 in the vertical direction. In the locking structure of Example 2, the lower end of the pressing operation escape portion 80 is located above the lower end of the reinforcing portion 79.

[0042] [Effect of pressing operation in Example 2] In the lock structure of the second embodiment, the amount of deformation of the operating portion 71 is small, so that damage to the lock arm 81 can be prevented.

[0043] [Example 3] A connector according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figs. 8 to 10. The protective walls 93 of the connector housing 90 according to the third embodiment are asymmetrical and are disposed to sandwich the left and right ends of the operating unit 100 via the upper surface 90S. The opposing distance D2 between the opposing surfaces of the pair of protective walls 93 is maximum at the rear end of the protective walls 93, and a rear relief portion 92 is formed which is narrower forward than the rear end. The same configuration as the above embodiment will not be described, and the same effects as the above embodiment will not be described.

[0044] [Protective wall 93] The protective wall 93 of the third embodiment will be described. Of the pair of protective walls 93, the left protective wall 93a located on the left side extends upward from a stepped region at the rear end of the connector housing 90. A pressing operation relief portion 97 and a rear side relief portion 92 are formed on the inside of the left protective wall 93a. The pressing operation relief portion 97 is a surface that is inclined toward the operating unit 100 side in the front part of the left protective wall 93a so as to become lower. The rear side relief portion 92 is a surface that is inclined from the rear end to the front end of the left protective wall 93a so as to become lower toward the operating unit 100 side. As shown in FIG. 10, the pressing operation relief portion 97 formed on the left protective wall 93a is formed from the front end of the left protective wall 93a to the rear side by about 2.5 mm.

[0045] Of the pair of protective walls 93, the right protective wall 93b located on the right side is composed of a base portion 98 and a protruding portion 94. The base portion 98 of the right protective wall 93b extends upward from a stepped region at the rear end of the connector housing 90. The upper end of the base portion 98 is connected to the side wall 95 of the connector housing 90 in a flush manner. The protruding portion 94 of the right protective wall 93b is formed on the inside of the front part of the stepped region. The protruding portion 94 has a substantially triangular shape when viewed from the rear of the connector housing 90, and protrudes upward from the base portion 98 of the protective wall. The right protective wall 93b has a protruding end portion 96 on the upper end surface of the protruding portion 94. The protruding end portion 96 is rounded. A pressing operation relief portion 97 is formed on the inside of the protruding portion 94. The pressing operation relief portion 97 is a surface that slopes downward from the protruding end portion 96 toward the operating portion 100 side. The pressing operation relief portion 97 formed on the protruding portion 94 is formed from the front end of the right protective wall 93b to the rear side for about 1.5 mm. In the front-rear direction, the rear end of the pressing operation relief portion 97 formed on the left protective wall 93a is disposed rearward of the rear end of the pressing operation relief portion 97 formed on the protruding portion 94 of the right protective wall 93b. The rear side relief portion 92 is a surface that slopes downward from the rear end to the front end of the right protective wall 93b toward the operating unit 100 side. The facing distance D2 at the front ends of the pair of protective walls 93 is about 8.0 mm. The facing distance D2 at the rear ends of the pair of protective walls 93 is about 12.0 mm. The ratio of the facing distance D2 at the front end of the protective wall 30 to the facing distance D2 at the rear end of the protective wall 93 is about 3:2. As shown in FIG. 10, the opposing distance D2 between the opposing surfaces of the pair of protective walls 93 is maximum at the rear end portions of the protective walls 93, and is narrower forward than the rear end portions.

[0046] [Effect of pressing operation in Example 3] In the pressing operation of the connector housing 90 of the third embodiment, first, a finger is inserted from the rear side of the connector housing 90 up to the vicinity of the operation portion 100. At this time, since the opposing distance D2 between the pair of protective walls 93 is maximum at the rear end portion of the right protective wall 93b and is narrower in front than in the rear end portion, the inserted fingertip comes into sliding contact with the pair of protective walls 93 near the operation portion 100.

[0047] Next, with the fingertip in sliding contact with the pair of protective walls 93, the fingertip is moved downward to press the operation unit 100. The front end of the pressing operation escape portion 97 is located between the front and rear ends of the operation unit 100 in the up-down direction. The rear end of the pressing operation escape portion 97 is located forward of the rear end of the reinforcing portion 101 in the front-to-rear direction. The rear end of the pressing operation escape portion 97 is located rearward of the front end of the rear escape portion 92. In the locking structure of Example 3, the forming areas of the pressing operation escape portion 97 and the rear escape portion 92 overlap in the front-to-rear direction, so that space for pressing operation can be secured in the up-down and left-right directions, and the unlocking operation can be easily performed.

[0048] The protruding portion 94 of the right protective wall 93b is a portion that protrudes upward from the inner front end portion of the base portion 98. Of the right protective wall 93b, the upper end surface of the base portion 98 is a flat surface that has the same height as the side wall 95. As a result, when inserting one finger from the rear end side of the connector housing 90, the locking mechanism of the third embodiment can be operated without fingers other than the pressing finger hitting the right protective wall 93b.

[0049] [Example 4] A connector according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figs. 11 to 13. The pair of protective walls 120 according to the fourth embodiment are arranged asymmetrically so as to sandwich the left and right ends of an operating section 125. The pair of protective walls 120 include a rear relief section 117. The rear relief section 117 is formed of a plurality of steps 115 arranged such that the opposing distance D2 between the pair of opposing surfaces is narrower on the front side than on the rear side. Descriptions of the same configuration as in the above embodiment will be omitted, and descriptions of the same functions and effects as in the above embodiment will also be omitted.

[0050] [Connector housing 110] The connector housing 110 of the fourth embodiment has protective walls 120 on both left and right side surfaces of the rear end. The protective wall 120 is composed of a plurality of steps 115 so that the left and right width increases in the rear direction. The plurality of steps 115 are formed by alternating vertical walls 118 extending in the front-rear direction and horizontal walls 127 connected to both ends of the vertical walls 118 and extending in the left-right outward direction.

[0051] [Protective wall 120] The pair of protective walls 120 are asymmetrical. Of the pair of protective walls 120, the left protective wall 120a located on the left side has three step portions 115 formed from the rear end to the front end so as to narrow inward. The three formed step portions 115 are referred to as a first step portion 115a, a second step portion 115b, and a third step portion 115c, in order from the front side. The left protective wall 120a has a rear escape portion 117. As shown in FIG. 13, the rear escape portion 117 is a surface formed on the inside of the first step portion 115a, the second step portion 115b, and the third step portion 115c.

[0052] The left protective wall 120a has a pressing operation escape portion 121 in an area spanning the first step portion 115a and the side wall 127 of the second step portion 115b in the front-rear direction. The pressing operation escape portion 121 is a surface that slopes downward from a flat surface 124 including a protruding end portion 123 of the left protective wall 120a toward the operating portion 125. In the front-rear direction, the rear end of the pressing operation escape portion 121 is located forward of the rear end of the reinforcing portion 126.

[0053] Of the pair of protective walls 120, the right protective wall 120b located on the right side is composed of a base portion 130 and a protruding portion 128. The base portion 130 has three step portions 115 formed from the rear end to the front end so as to narrow inward. The three formed step portions 115 are called, in order from the front side, a first step portion 115d, a second step portion 115e, and a third step portion 115f. The right protective wall 120b has a protruding portion 128 extending vertically upward from the first step portion 115d formed on the base portion 130. The protruding portion 128 is a portion that protrudes vertically upward from the upper end surfaces of the second step portion 115e and the third step portion 115f when viewed from behind. The protruding portion 128 has a protruding end portion 123 of the right protective wall 120b. A flat surface 124 intersecting the pressing direction against the operation unit 125 is formed on the protruding end 123 of the protruding portion 128. A pressing operation escape portion 121 is formed on the flat surface 124. The pressing operation escape portion 121 is a surface that is inclined so as to become lower from the flat surface 124 toward the operation unit 125 side. As shown in FIG. 13, the front end of the first step portion 115a is located forward of the rear end of the operation unit 125. That is, the front end of the pressing operation escape portion 121 of the right protective wall 120b is located forward of the rear end of the operation unit 125. The rear end of the pressing operation escape portion 121 of the right protective wall 120b is disposed forward of the rear end of the pressing operation escape portion 121 of the left protective wall 120a.

[0054] [Effect of pressing operation in Example 4] When inserting a finger from the rear side of protective wall 120 during a pressing operation, a larger space can be secured at the rear end of protective wall 120. Furthermore, the force in the front-rear direction acting on protective wall 120 is supported by vertical wall 118 and horizontal wall 127, which acts to increase the rigidity of protective wall 120 against an external force that tends to widen the gap between the pair of protective walls 120, making the locking mechanism less likely to be damaged.

[0055] [Other Examples] (1) In the connector of Example 1, the protective wall 30 is disposed at the rear end of the connector housing 10, and the front end of the pressure operation escape portion 40 is disposed forward of the rear end of the operating portion 21, but the front end of the pressure operation escape portion may be disposed rearward of the rear end of the operating portion. (2) In Example 1, a flat surface 12 that intersects with the pressing direction against the operating unit 21 is formed on one of the protruding ends 36 of a pair of protective walls 30, but the flat surface does not have to be formed on the protruding end of the protective wall. (3) In Example 1, the formation range of the escape portion 40 for pressing operation in the displacement direction of the operating portion 21 is only the area from the upper end of the base end 15 to the protruding end 36 of the protective wall 30, but the formation range of the escape portion for pressing operation is not limited to the area from the upper end of the base end to the protruding end of the protective wall. (4) In Example 3, the protective wall 93 is formed with a rear escape portion 92 in which the distance between the opposing surfaces of a pair of protective walls 93 is greatest at the rear end of the protective wall 93 and is narrower forward than the rear end, but the rear escape portion does not necessarily have to be formed. (5) The pressing operation relief portion 40 in the first embodiment is a flat surface without any irregularities, but the surface shape of the pressing operation relief portion is not limited thereto, and may have irregularities, for example. (6) In the third embodiment, the pair of protective walls 93 are formed with rear escape portions 92 and are asymmetrical. However, the connector locking structure may have a pair of protective walls that are symmetrical and the rear escape portions that are symmetrical. (7) In Example 1, the protruding ends 36 of the pair of protective walls 30 are located at the same position as the upper end of the operating unit 21 in the vertical direction, but the protruding ends 36 of the protective walls may be located higher than the upper end of the operating unit 21 in the vertical direction. (8) The mating housing 50 in Example 1 has a locking protrusion 59, which engages with the locking portion 31 of the connector housing 10. However, the engagement configuration between the mating housing 50 and the connector housing 10 is not particularly limited, and any known engagement configuration may be used. (9) The outer surface of the protective wall 30 of the connector housing 10 in Example 1 has a stepped region that becomes wider toward the rear, but the outer surface of the protective wall 30 of the connector housing does not need to have a stepped region that becomes wider toward the rear, and may be formed so that the left and right width is constant from the front end. (10) In the first embodiment, the pressing operation relief portion 40 is formed over the entire area of ​​the protective wall 30 in the front-to-rear direction, but the pressing operation relief portion 40 does not need to be formed over the entire area of ​​the protective wall 30 in the front-to-rear direction. (11) The mating housing of Example 1 has a locking protrusion 59, which engages with the locking portion 31 of the connector housing 10. However, the engagement configuration between the mating housing 50 and the connector housing 10 is not particularly limited, and any known engagement configuration may be used. (12) In Example 3, the distance between the opposing surfaces of a pair of protective walls 93 is approximately 8.0 mm at the front ends of the protective walls and approximately 12.0 mm at the rear ends, and the ratio of the distance of the front end face of rear escape portion 92 to the distance of the rear end face of rear escape portion 92 is approximately 3:2, but the distance between the opposing surfaces at the front end faces of the pair of protective walls can be set arbitrarily as long as the problem of the present disclosure can be solved. (13) In the first embodiment, the operation unit 21 is pressed with a finger. However, the operation unit does not have to be pressed with a finger, and a tool or the like may be used to press the operation unit. (14) In Example 3, the pressing operation escape portion 97 formed in the left protective wall 93a is formed to extend rearward for approximately 2.5 mm from the front end of the protective wall, and the pressing operation escape portion 97 formed in the right protective wall 93b is formed to extend rearward for approximately 1.5 mm, but the formation range of the pressing operation escape portion can be set arbitrarily as long as the problem of the present disclosure can be solved. (15) In Example 1, a pressing operation escape portion 40 including the rear end portion of the protective wall 30 is formed on the opposing surfaces of a pair of protective walls 30, but the pressing operation escape portion 40 may be formed on either one of the pair of protective walls. (16) In Example 1, the protruding end 36 is a portion located at the uppermost end of the protective wall 30, but the protruding end does not have to be the uppermost end of the protective wall 30, and it is sufficient if it protrudes upward from the connector housing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 10,70,90,110: Connector housing 10S,70S,90S: Top surface 11,95: Side wall 12,78,124: Flat surface 13,74: Terminal compartment 15: Proximal end 18: Counterface 19: Extension part 20,81: Lock arm 21,71,100,125: Operation section 23,79,101,126: Reinforcement 25: Arm section 27: Plate-shaped part 30,73,93,120: Protection wall 93a, 120a: Left protective wall 93b,120b: Right protection wall 30S: Front end surface 31: Rock Club 33: Lock front end face 35: Lock surface 36,77,96,123: Projecting end 37: Guidance surface 39,75: Standing surface 40, 80, 97, 121: Relief for pressing operation 50: Mating housing 51: Food Section 53: Front wall 55: Male terminal 57: Upper wall 58: Rock Slope 59: Locking protrusion 61: Hakobe 63: Electric wire 65: Terminal fittings 92,117: Rear relief 94,128: Protrusion 98,130: Base 115: Multilayered section 115a,115d: 1st stage section 115b,115e: 2nd stage section 115c,115f: 3rd stage section 118: Vertical wall 127: Side wall A: Deflection allowance space D1, D2: Distance between opposing sides

Claims

1. a connector housing that can be mated with a mating housing; a lock arm that is disposed so as to extend along an outer surface of the connector housing and that engages with the mating housing to lock the connector housing and the mating housing in a mated state; an unlocking operation portion formed on the lock arm and pressed to elastically deform the lock arm and release it from the mating housing; a pair of protective walls protruding from the outer surface of the connector housing and disposed so as to sandwich the operation portion from both sides; the operating portion is displaced in a direction approaching the outer surface of the connector housing by a pressing operation for unlocking the connector, At least one of the opposing surfaces of the pair of protective walls is formed with a pressing operation relief portion including a protruding end portion of the protective wall, A connector in which, in the region in which the pressure operation relief portion is formed, the opposing distance between the pair of opposing surfaces is maximum at the protruding end of the protective wall, and the opposing distance on the outer surface side is narrower than the opposing distance at the protruding end.

2. The connector housing is adapted to be fitted into the mating housing with a front end portion of the connector housing facing forward, 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the protective wall is disposed at a rear end of the connector housing, and a front end of the pressing operation relief portion is disposed forward of a rear end of the operation portion.

3. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a flat surface is formed on a protruding end of one of the pair of protective walls, the flat surface being perpendicular to a pressing direction of the operating portion.

4. The lock arm has a pair of elastically deformable arm portions, The arm portion is connected to a base end portion extending upward from an outer surface of the connector housing, The operation portion is plate-shaped and configured to connect the pair of arms, 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the pressing operation relief portion is formed in a range in the displacement direction of the operating portion only in a region from an upper end of the base end portion to the protruding end of the protective wall.

5. a rear relief portion is formed in the protective wall, the rear relief portion being narrower forward than the rear end portion, and the distance between the opposing surfaces of the pair of protective walls is maximum at the rear end portion of the protective wall, The connector according to claim 1 , wherein a front end of the rear side relief portion is disposed forward of a rear end of the pressing operation relief portion.

6. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the pressing operation relief portion is provided on only one of the pair of protective walls.

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