Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector that is capable of suppressing unintentional release of an engaged state between a connector housing and a half-fitting detection member.SOLUTION: A connector 1 includes a female housing 2, a male housing 4, and a half-fitting detection member 3 that is movably assembled in the female housing 2 and detects a mated state of the female housing 2 and the male housing 4 by moving between a provisional locking position and a full locking position. The half-fitting detection member 3 has: a locking arm 32 that has a locking position holding portion 31; a release pressing portion 30 that elastically deforms the locking arm 32; and a pair of detection arms 34, 34 that are disposed on both sides of the locking arm 32 and each have a half-fitting detection portion 33. The female housing 2 has: a full lock holding hole 19 in which the locking position holding portion 31 is locked at the full locking position of the half-fitting detection member 3; and a release restriction rib 22 that restricts movement of the release pressing portion 30 at the provisional locking position of the half-fitting detection member 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 17

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a connector includes a male housing and a female housing that can be mated with the male housing. Also, a connector is known that includes a partial mating detection member (mating detection member) that is movably assembled to the female housing and detects the mating state of the male housing and the female housing by moving between a provisional locking position and a full locking position (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] In this connector, when the male housing and female housing are mated, the semi-fit detection member can be moved from the partial locking position to the full locking position, making it possible to detect that the male housing and female housing are mated.

[0004] On the other hand, when the male housing and the female housing are not engaged, e.g., in a semi-engaged state, the semi-engagement detection member cannot be moved from the temporary engagement position to the full engagement position, and it can be detected that the male housing and the female housing are not engaged. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-18735 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In the above-mentioned connector, if the male housing and female housing are mated while pressing the release pressing portion (first lock portion) with the half-fitting detection member attached to the outer periphery of the female housing, the locked state between the female housing and the half-fitting detection member may be released. In such a case, only the female housing moves, not the half-fitting detection member, and the half-fitting detection member must be inserted again.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the problems inherent in the conventional technology, and an object of the present invention is to provide a connector that is capable of preventing unintentional release of the engagement between the connector housing and the half-fitting detection member. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A connector according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a first housing having a first terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating a first terminal, a second housing having a second terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating a second terminal, and a semi-fit detection member movably assembled to the first housing and detecting the mated state of the first housing and the second housing by moving between a temporary locking position and a final locking position, the semi-fit detection member having a locking position retaining portion and an elastically deformable locking arm, a release pressure portion for elastically deforming the locking arm, and a pair of elastically deformable detection arms arranged on either side of the locking arm, each having a semi-fit detection portion, and the first housing has a final locking retaining portion where the locking position retaining portion is engaged when the semi-fit detection member is in the final locking position, and a release restricting portion for restricting movement of the release pressure portion when the semi-fit detection member is in the temporary locking position. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector that can suppress unintentional release of the locked state between the connector housing and the half-fitting detection member. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a female connector and a half-fitting detection member according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a male connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a female housing. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a female housing. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the female housing. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic rear view of the female housing. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a half-fitting detection member; [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a half-fit detection member; [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of a half-fit detection member; [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a schematic rear view of the half-fitting detection member; [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of part C in FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the male housing. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. [Figure 16] 13 is a schematic front view of the female housing when the half-fitting detection member is attached to the female housing (when the half-fitting detection member is in the temporary locking position). FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line FF in FIG. 16. [Figure 19] 13 is a schematic front view of the female housing and the male housing when they are completely mated (when the half-fitting detection member is in the temporary locking position). FIG. [Figure 20] 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line GG in FIG. 19. [Figure 21] 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line HH in FIG. 19. [Figure 22]13 is a schematic front view of the female housing and the male housing when they are completely mated (when the partial mating detection member is in the full locking position). FIG. [Figure 23] 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. 22. [Figure 24] 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along line JJ in FIG. 22. [Diagram 25] 13 is a schematic front view of the half-fitting detection member when a release pressing portion is pressed down. FIG. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along line KK in FIG. 25. [Figure 27] 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along line LL in FIG. 25. [Figure 28] 26 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line KK in FIG. 25 when the half-fitting detection member is returned to the temporary locking position. [Figure 29] 26 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line LL in FIG. 25 when the half-fitting detection member is returned to the temporary locking position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, the connector according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for the convenience of explanation and may differ from the actual ratios.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a connector 1 includes a first housing (female housing 2), a partial fitting detection member 3, and a second housing (male housing 4).

[0013] 1 to 24, the direction of the female housing 2 facing the male housing 4 is referred to as the front in the mating direction, the direction opposite to the front is referred to as the rear in the mating direction, and the height direction of the female housing 2 perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction is referred to as the up-down direction. The same applies to the front-to-rear and up-down directions of the male housing 4 and the incomplete mating detection member 3.

[0014] As shown in Figures 3 to 7, the female housing 2 has a plurality of first terminal accommodating chambers (female terminal accommodating chambers 12) that accommodate first terminals (female terminals 11). The female terminal accommodating chambers 12 are disposed at the lower part in the height direction of the female housing 2. An electric wire 13 is connected to each of the female terminals 11 (see Figure 1). The plurality of female terminals 11 are locked to the female housing 2 by a female spacer 14 (see Figure 1).

[0015] The female housing 2 also has a lock arm 15 extending along the mating direction. The lock arm 15 has a double-supported beam shape with a fixed end at the front in the mating direction and a fixed end at the rear in the mating direction, and is elastically deformable downward. The female housing 2 has a lock section (male-female mating section 16) formed at the middle of the lock arm 15 in the mating direction, and a lock half-fitting detection section 17 disposed on both the left and right sides of the male-female mating section 16. The male-female mating section 16 is a member (projecting member) that can be engaged with the male housing 4 when the connector 1 is mated, and the lock half-fitting detection section 17 is a member (projecting member) that can be engaged with the half-fitting detection member 3 when the connector 1 is mated. A tapered surface 16a is formed on the front side of the mating direction of the male-female mating section 16, with the protrusion height decreasing toward the front side in the mating direction. Also, a tapered surface 17a is formed on the front side in the fitting direction of the half-fitted lock detection portion 17, the protrusion height of which decreases toward the front side in the fitting direction.

[0016] In the female housing 2, the partial fitting detection member 3 is held in the provisionally locked position by the locked partial fitting detection portion 17 and a partial fitting detection member holding portion 18 (see FIG. 4) for preventing the partial fitting detection member 3 from coming off the female housing 2. The partial fitting detection member holding portion 18 is formed in the female housing 2 at a position rearward of the locked partial fitting detection portion 17 in the fitting direction.

[0017] The lock arm 15 is formed with a final lock holding portion (final lock holding hole 19) for holding the partial engagement detection member 3 in the final lock position, and release portions (release operation portions 20) for releasing the engagement with the male housing 4 are formed on both the left and right sides of the final lock holding hole 19. The final lock holding hole 19 is formed penetrating the lock arm 15 in the vertical direction, and the release operation portions 20 are formed to protrude upward from the lock arm 15.

[0018] Furthermore, a release restricting portion (release restricting rib 22) is formed at the rear end portion in the fitting direction of the female housing 2 for restricting movement of a release pressing portion 30 (described later) at the temporary locking position of the semi-fitting detection member 3. This release restricting rib 22 is located at the middle portion of the female housing 2 in the left-right direction and is formed to protrude upward from the female housing 2.

[0019] 8 to 13 is movably attached to the female housing 2 and detects the mated state of the female housing 2 and the male housing 4 by moving between a provisional locking position and a full locking position. The partial fitting detection member 3 has a locking position retaining portion 31, an elastically deformable locking arm 32, and a release pressing portion 30 that elastically deforms the locking arm 32. The partial fitting detection member 3 is also disposed on both the left and right sides of the locking arm 32, each of which has a partial fitting detection portion 33, and has a pair of elastically deformable detection arms 34, 34.

[0020] The locking arm 32 extends forward in the mating direction. The locking arm 32 has a cantilever shape with a fixed end at the rear in the mating direction and a free end at the front in the mating direction, and is elastically deformable downward. A locking position holding portion 31 is formed at the free end of the locking arm 32 so as to protrude upward, and a backlash-reducing portion 36 is formed on the base end side of the locking position holding portion 31 to fill the gap between the locking arm 15 when the semi-fit detection member 3 is in the full locking position. A tapered surface 31a is formed on the front side in the mating direction of the locking position holding portion 31, the protrusion height of which decreases toward the front side in the mating direction.

[0021] The pair of detection arms 34, 34 each extend forward in the fitting direction. The detection arm 34 has a cantilever shape with a fixed end at the rear in the fitting direction and a free end at the front in the fitting direction, and is elastically deformable downward. A half-fitting detection portion 33 is formed at the free end of the detection arm 34 so as to protrude upward, and a locking protrusion 37 is formed on the base end side of the half-fitting detection portion 33, which faces the half-fitting detection member holding portion 18 at the temporary locking position of the half-fitting detection member 3. A tapered surface 33a is formed on the rear side of the half-fitting detection portion 33 in the fitting direction, with the protrusion height decreasing toward the rear side in the fitting direction.

[0022] Furthermore, the pair of detection arms 34, 34 are connected to each other by a connecting portion 38 extending in the left-right direction, and this connecting portion 38 is formed with a fall prevention portion 39 for preventing the semi-fit detection member 3 from tilting. This fall prevention portion 39 is formed to protrude downward from the connecting portion 38.

[0023] In the partial fitting detection member 3, the partial fitting detection portion 33, the locking position holding portion 31 and the release pressing portion 30 are arranged so as to be contained within a width W of a pair of detection arms 34, 34 (see FIG. 9).

[0024] As shown in Figures 14 and 15, the male housing 4 has a plurality of second terminal accommodating chambers (male terminal accommodating chambers 42) that accommodate second terminals (male terminals 41). The male terminal accommodating chambers 42 are arranged at the lower part in the height direction of the male housing 4. This male housing 4 is formed with a locked portion (fixed portion 43) that engages with the male-female mating portion 16 when the connector 1 is mated, and release portions 44 are formed on both the left and right sides of this fixed portion 43. On the front side in the mating direction of the fixed portion 43, a tapered surface 43a is formed whose protrusion height decreases toward the front side in the mating direction.

[0025] The connector 1 according to this embodiment can be used as a connector even if the half-fit detection member 3 is not assembled to the female housing 2.

[0026] Next, the procedure for fitting the connector 1 will be described.

[0027] 16 to 18 show a state when the half-fitting detection member 3 is attached to the female housing 2 (when the half-fitting detection member 3 is in the temporary locking position).

[0028] First, the half-fitting detection member 3 is inserted from the rear of the female housing 2 in the fitting direction, and assembled to the female housing 2. In this state, the half-fitting detection member 3 is held by the female housing 2 in the temporary locking position, and the release restricting rib 22 is located under the release pressing portion 30, so the release pressing portion 30 cannot be pressed down. When the half-fitting detection member 3 is in the temporary locking position, the half-fitting detection portion 33 of the detection arm 34 and the locked half-fitting detection portion 17 of the female housing 2 are aligned in the fitting direction. Therefore, even if the half-fitting detection member 3 is pushed forward in the fitting direction, the half-fitting detection portion 33 interferes with the locked half-fitting detection portion 17, and the half-fitting detection member 3 does not move from the temporary locking position.

[0029] 19 to 21 show a state in which the female housing 2 and the male housing 4 are completely fitted together (the partial fitting detection member 3 is in the provisionally locked position).

[0030] When the female housing 2 and the male housing 4 are in a completely mated state and the half-fitting detection member 3 is in a partially locked state (when the half-fitting detection member 3 is in the partially locked position), the detection arm 34 is pushed downward by the release portion 44 of the male housing 4 and is bent downward. In this state, the half-fitting detection member 3 can be pushed forward in the mating direction, and the half-fitting detection portion 33 passes under the locked half-fitting detection portion 17, moving the half-fitting detection member 3 to the fully locked position.

[0031] 22 to 24 show the state when the female housing 2 and the male housing 4 are completely mated (when the partial mating detection member 3 is in the full locking position).

[0032] When the female housing 2 and the male housing 4 are in a completely fitted state and the semi-fitting detection member 3 is in a fully locked state (when the semi-fitting detection member 3 is in the fully locked position), the locking position retaining portion 31 of the semi-fitting detection member 3 engages with the fully locked retention hole 19 of the female housing 2. The engagement between the locking position retaining portion 31 and the fully locked retention hole 19 retains the semi-fitting detection member 3 in the fully locked position. In this state, the locking arm 15 of the female housing 2 contacts with the clearance-reducing portion 36 formed on the locking arm 32. In this state, the release restricting rib 22 is not located below the release pressing portion 30 of the semi-fitting detection member 3, so that the release pressing portion 30 can be pressed down.

[0033] Next, a procedure for releasing the mating of the connector 1 (separating the male housing 4 and the female housing 2 and releasing the electrical connection between the male terminals 41 and the female terminals 11) will be described.

[0034] 25 to 27 show a state in which the release pressing portion 30 of the half-fitting detection member 3 is pressed down.

[0035] First, the release pressing portion 30 of the semi-fitting detection member 3 is pressed down to release the engagement between the locking position holding portion 31 of the semi-fitting detection member 3 and the full-locking holding hole 19 of the female housing 2. Then, with the engagement between the locking position holding portion 31 and the full-locking holding hole 19 released, the semi-fitting detection member 3 is moved backward in the fitting direction to return the semi-fitting detection member 3 to the partial-locking position.

[0036] 28 and 29 show the state when the half-fit detection member 3 is returned to the temporary locking position.

[0037] When the release operation portion 20 of the female housing 2 is pressed while the half-fitting detection member 3 is returned to the temporary locking position, the lock arm 15 is bent downward. In this state, the female housing 2 can be pulled back in the fitting direction, and the male-female fitting portion 16 of the female housing 2 passes under the fixing portion 43 of the male housing 4, and the fitting between the female housing 2 and the male housing 4 can be released.

[0038] Thus, the connector 1 according to the embodiment has a first housing (female housing 2) having a first terminal accommodating chamber (female terminal accommodating chamber 12) that accommodates a first terminal (female terminal 11). The connector 1 has a second housing (male housing 4) having a second terminal accommodating chamber (male terminal accommodating chamber 42) that accommodates a second terminal (male terminal 41). The connector 1 includes a half-fitting detection member 3 that is movably assembled to the first housing (female housing 2) and detects the mated state of the first housing (female housing 2) and the second housing (male housing 4) by moving between a provisional locking position and a full locking position. The half-fitting detection member 3 has a locking position holding portion 31, an elastically deformable locking arm 32, and a release pressing portion 30 that elastically deforms the locking arm 32. The half-fitting detection member 3 is disposed on both sides of the locking arm 32, has a half-fitting detection portion 33, and has a pair of elastically deformable detection arms 34, 34. The first housing has a main locking holding portion (main locking holding hole 19) in which the locking position holding portion 31 is locked when the semi-fit detection member 3 is in the main locking position, and a release restricting portion (release restricting rib 22) for restricting movement of the release pressing portion 30 when the semi-fit detection member 3 is in the temporary locking position.

[0039] In this embodiment, when the semi-fit detection member 3 is held against the female housing 2 in the temporary locking position, the release restriction rib 22 is positioned below the release pressure portion 30, and the release pressure portion 30 cannot be pressed down.

[0040] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide the connector 1 that can prevent unintentional release of the locked state between the connector housing (female housing 2) and the half-fitting detection member 3.

[0041] In the connector 1, the incomplete fitting detection portion 33, the locking position holding portion 31, and the release pressing portion 30 may be disposed within the width W of the pair of detection arms 34, 34.

[0042] By configuring the connector 1 (the half-fitting detection member 3) in this way, the width of the half-fitting detection member 3 can be reduced, and the entire connector 1 can be made smaller in size.

[0043] In the connector 1, the first housing (female housing 2) may have an elastically deformable lock arm 15. The first housing may have a lock portion (male-female mating portion 16) that is provided on the lock arm 15 and engages with a locked portion (fixed portion 43) of the second housing (male housing 4) to maintain the mated state of the first housing and the second housing. The first housing may have a release operation portion 20 that elastically deforms the lock arm 15. The lock arm 15 is formed with a full lock holding portion (full lock holding hole 19), and the lock arm 32 may be formed with a backlash-reducing portion 36 that fills the gap with the lock arm 15 when the partial engagement detection member 3 is in the full locking position.

[0044] By configuring the connector 1 (female housing 2 and semi-fit detection member 3) in this manner, the gap with the female housing 2 can be filled when the semi-fit detection member 3 is in the full locking position, suppressing rattling and preventing abnormal noise due to vibration.

[0045] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present embodiment is not limited to this, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1 Connector 2 Female Housing 3. Semi-fit detection member 4 Male Housing 11 Female terminal 12 Female terminal housing 15 Lock Arm 16 Male and female mating parts 19 locking retention holes 20 Release operation section 22 Release Regulation Lib 30 Release pressure part 31 Locking position holding part 32 Locking arm 33 Incomplete mating detection unit 34 Detection Arm 36 Relief section 41 Male terminal 42 Male terminal receiving chamber 43 Fixed part

Claims

1. a first housing having a first terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating a first terminal; a second housing having a second terminal accommodating chamber for accommodating a second terminal; a partial engagement detection member that is movably assembled to the first housing and detects an engaged state of the first housing and the second housing by moving between a partial engagement position and a full engagement position, The half-fitting detection member is A locking arm having a locking position holding portion and capable of elastic deformation; A release pressing portion that elastically deforms the locking arm; a pair of elastically deformable detection arms, each of which has a partial fit detection portion and is disposed on both sides of the locking arm; The first housing includes: a full locking holding portion to which the locking position holding portion is locked when the half-fitting detection member is in a full locking position; a release restricting portion for restricting movement of the release pressing portion when the half-fitting detection member is in the temporary locking position. connector.

2. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the half-fit detection portion, the locking position holding portion, and the release pressing portion are disposed within a width of the pair of detection arms.

3. The first housing includes: An elastically deformable lock arm; a locking portion provided on the lock arm and configured to engage with a locked portion of the second housing to maintain a fitted state between the first housing and the second housing; a release operation portion for elastically deforming the lock arm, The lock arm is formed with the main locking holding portion, The engaging arm is formed with a clearance-reducing portion for filling a gap between the engaging arm and the lock arm when the half-fitting detection member is in a full engaging position.

3. The connector according to claim 1 or 2.

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