Housing unit

Abstract

To provide a housing unit which can detect erroneous fitting.SOLUTION: A housing unit comprises: a first housing 60 which can house a first terminal 70; and a second housing 10 which can house a second terminal 30 connected to the first terminal 70, and which is fitted to the first housing 60. The first housing 60 has: a first hood part 61 surrounding the first terminal 70; a columnar first protrusion 63 which is provided outside the first hood part 61 and protrudes toward the second housing 10; and a columnar second protrusion 64 which has a tip 66 with a diameter smaller than that of the first protrusion 63. The second housing 10 has: a second hood part 12 surrounding the second terminal 30; a first opening 15 provided outside the second hood part 12 and having an opening width that enables the insertion of both the first protrusion 63 and the second protrusion 64; and a second opening 16 having an opening width that makes the insertion of the first protrusion 63 impossible but enables the insertion of the second protrusion 64.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a housing unit including a first housing capable of accommodating a first terminal, and a second housing capable of accommodating a second terminal connected to the first terminal and fitted into the first housing. [Background technology]

[0002] Lever-type connectors have been proposed that are equipped with a lever that assists in mating connectors, each of which has a housing that accommodates an electric wire with a terminal, etc. For example, one conventional lever-type connector is equipped with a lever that is rotatably attached to the housing of the connector, and when mating, the lever is operated (rotated) from a provisional mating state to a fully mated state, so that this connector and the mating connector are attracted to each other and mated (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-113914 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2016-096107 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Generally, even if the appearances of the housings constituting the connectors are similar, the type, number, and arrangement of terminals accommodated in the housings may differ depending on the specifications of the connectors (so-called key codes). Similarly, the arrangement of terminals in the mating connector may differ depending on the specifications (key codes). In order to properly mate a connector having a plurality of specifications with a mating connector having a plurality of specifications, it is desirable to provide the connector with a structure that allows a user to detect erroneous mating when attempting to mate connectors of specifications that do not allow mating (i.e., erroneous mating).

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a housing unit capable of detecting mis-mating. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the housing unit according to the present invention has the following features.

[0007] A housing unit including: a first housing capable of accommodating a first terminal; and a second housing capable of accommodating a second terminal connected to the first terminal and fitted into the first housing, The first housing includes: a first hood portion surrounding a terminal accommodating chamber that accommodates the first terminal; a columnar first projection provided on the outside of the first hood portion and projecting toward the second housing; and a columnar second projection having a tip portion with a smaller diameter than the first projection, The second housing includes: a second hood portion surrounding a terminal accommodating chamber that accommodates the second terminal; a first opening provided on the outside of the second hood portion and having an opening width that allows both the first protrusion and the second protrusion to be inserted; and a second opening having an opening width that does not allow the first protrusion to be inserted but allows the second protrusion to be inserted. It is a housing unit. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the housing unit of the present invention, for example, when the first housing has two specifications and the second housing has two specifications, the arrangement of the first protrusion and the second protrusion of the first housing is changed for each specification, and the arrangement of the first opening and the second opening of the second housing is changed for each specification. As a result, when the first housing and the second housing of the specifications that allow the fitting are fitted together, the first protrusion is inserted into the first opening and the second protrusion is inserted into the second opening, and the two are fitted together properly. On the other hand, when the first housing and the second housing of the specifications that do not allow the fitting are fitted together, the first protrusion cannot be inserted into the second opening, and the first protrusion hits the periphery of the second opening, allowing the user to detect the incorrect fitting. Therefore, the housing unit of this configuration is capable of detecting the incorrect fitting.

[0009] Furthermore, since the first and second protrusions are provided on the outside of the first hood portion of the first housing, there is no need to vary the shape of the first hood portion for each specification, as opposed to providing a protrusion or the like on the wall of the first hood portion to detect mis-fitting. This makes it difficult for the shape of the first hood portion, which may occur when molding the first housing, to vary for each specification. The same is true for the shape of the second hood portion. Therefore, the sealing performance between the first and second hood portions when fitted can be made uniform regardless of the specification.

[0010] The present invention has been briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading the following description of the embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as "embodiment") with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a female connector that constitutes a housing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of a female connector that constitutes a housing unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a male connector that constitutes a housing unit according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view of a male connector that constitutes a housing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a view showing a cross section taken along line BB in FIG. 4 of the male housing and a cross section taken along line AA in FIG. 2 of the female housing after the male housing and female housing that are properly combined and mated have been completed. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5, showing a partially mated state in which the mating operation of a male housing and a female housing having a suitable combination of specifications has been interrupted midway. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 6, showing a state in which the female housing is pushed back from the state shown in FIG. 6 by the biasing force of the coil spring. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5, showing a state in which the mating of a male housing and a female housing having an incorrect specification combination becomes impossible midway through. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 8, showing a state in which the female housing is pushed back from the state shown in FIG. 8 by the biasing force of the coil spring. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, a housing unit according to an embodiment (present embodiment) of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] The housing unit according to this embodiment includes a male connector 2 shown in Figures 3 and 4, and a female connector 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 that can be mated with the male connector 2. The female connector 1 is a lever-type connector (a so-called LIF connector) that includes a lever 20 that assists mating with the male connector 2. When the mating of the male connector 2 and the female connector 1 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "mating") is completed, the male terminals 70 (71+72) accommodated in the male connector 2 and the female terminals 30 (31+32) accommodated in the female connector 1 are electrically connected.

[0014] Hereinafter, the "front-rear direction", "left-right direction", and "up-down direction" are defined as shown in Figs. 1 to 9. The "front-rear direction", "left-right direction", and "up-down direction" are mutually perpendicular. The front-rear direction coincides with the mating direction of the male connector 2 and the female connector 1. For each of the male connector 2 and the female connector 1, the mating advance side and retreat side are respectively defined as the "front" and the "rear" (see Figs. 5 to 9). Therefore, the "front" and "rear" orientations are reversed for the male connector 2 and the female connector 1. Below, the male connector 2 and the female connector 1 constituting the housing unit according to this embodiment will be described in order.

[0015] First, the male connector 2 will be described. As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the male connector 2 includes a male housing 60 and male terminals 70 housed in the male housing 60. The male connector 2 includes two types of housings with different specifications (so-called key codes) as the male housing 60. One of the two types of housings is the male housing 60A shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. The other of the two types of housings (male housing 60B) is not shown. The male housings 60A and 60B have the same shape and structure except that they differ in one or more of the type, number, and position of the male terminals 70 housed therein, and in the arrangement of a first protrusion 63 and a second protrusion 64 described later.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the male housing 60 is a resin molded body, and integrally includes a cylindrical hood portion 61 extending in the front-rear direction and a flat flange portion 62 extending in the up-down direction and the left-right direction from the rear end of the hood portion 61. Inside the hood portion 61, a plurality of first male terminals 71 made of metal extending in the front-rear direction and a plurality of second male terminals 72 made of metal extending in the front-rear direction are arranged as male terminals 70 at different positions in the up-down direction and spaced apart in the left-right direction. The rear end of each male terminal 70 (71, 72) is accommodated in a terminal accommodating chamber (not shown) provided in the hood portion 61, and the tip portion is exposed inside the hood portion 61. The male housing 60A and the male housing 60B differ from each other in one or more of the type, number, and position of the male terminals 71, 72 accommodated inside the hood portion 61.

[0017] A pair of upper and lower first and second protrusions 63 and 64 protruding forward are integrally formed on the flange portion 62 located to the right of the hood portion 61 of the male housing 60 (i.e., the outside of the hood portion 61). In the male housing 60A, the first protrusion 63 is provided on the upper portion of the flange portion 62, and the second protrusion 64 is provided on the lower portion of the flange portion 62 (see Figs. 3 and 4). On the other hand, in the male housing 60B, the second protrusion 64 is provided on the upper portion of the flange portion 62 (where the first protrusion 63 is provided in the male housing 60A), and the first protrusion 63 is provided on the lower portion of the flange portion 62 (where the second protrusion 64 is provided in the male housing 60A).

[0018] As shown in FIG. 5 and other figures, the first protrusion 63 is a columnar protrusion protruding forward from the flange portion 62, and has a cross section of the same size over the entire area in the front-rear direction, except for a base portion where the retaining protrusion 63a is provided. A metal coil spring 80A extending in the front-rear direction is disposed on the first protrusion 63 so as to surround the first protrusion 63. The rear end of the coil spring 80A is engaged with the retaining protrusion 63a. This prevents the coil spring 80A from separating (falling off) from the first protrusion 63. In a non-elastically deformed state of the coil spring 80A, the front end of the coil spring 80A disposed so as to surround the first protrusion 63 is located forward of the front end of the first protrusion 63 (see FIG. 5 and other figures).

[0019] As shown in FIG. 5 and other figures, the second projection 64 is a columnar projection projecting forward from the flange portion 62, similar to the first projection 63, and is composed of a first portion 65 extending forward from the flange portion 62, and a second portion 66 extending forward from the front end of the first portion 65 and having a cross section smaller than that of the first portion 65. At the boundary between the first portion 65 and the second portion 66, a step surface 64b (see FIG. 5) facing forward is formed. The step surface 64b is located rearward of the front end of the first projection 63, and the front end of the second projection 64 (= the front end of the second portion 66) is located forward of the front end of the first projection 63. The first portion 65 has a cross section of the same size as the first projection 63. That is, the cross section of the second portion 66 is smaller than the cross section of the first projection 63. Similarly to the first protrusion 63, the second protrusion 64 is also provided with a metal coil spring 80B extending in the front-rear direction so as to surround the second protrusion 64. The outer diameter of the coil spring 80B is the same as that of the coil spring 80A. The rear end of the coil spring 80B is engaged with a retaining protrusion 64a provided at the base of the first portion 65. This prevents the coil spring 80B from separating (falling off) from the second protrusion 64. In the inelastically deformed state of the coil spring 80B, the front end of the coil spring 80B arranged to surround the second protrusion 64 is located slightly forward of the front end of the second protrusion 64 (= the front end of the second portion 66) (see FIG. 8, etc.). The male connector 2 has been described above.

[0020] Next, the female connector 1 will be described. As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the female connector 1 includes a female housing 10, a lever 20 rotatably attached to the female housing 10, a female terminal 30 housed in the female housing 10, and a front holder 50 and a packing 40 attached to the female housing 10. Corresponding to the male housing 60A and the male housing 60B of the male connector 2, the female connector 1 includes female housings 10A and 10B having different specifications (so-called key codes) as the female housings 10. The female housings 10A and 10B have the same shape and structure except that the type, number, and / or position of the female terminals 30 housed therein are different, and the arrangements of the first opening 15 and the second opening 16 described later are different. Note that Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show the female housing 10A. The combination of the female terminal 30 accommodated in the female housing 10A and the male terminal 70 accommodated in the male housing 60A, as well as the combination of the female terminal 30 accommodated in the female housing 10B and the male terminal 70 accommodated in the male housing 60B, are combinations that can be electrically connected when mated.

[0021] The proper combinations of the male housing 60 and the female housing 10 are the male housing 60A and the female housing 10A, and the male housing 60B and the female housing 10B, and the improper combinations of the male housing 60 and the female housing 10 are the male housing 60A and the female housing 10B, and the male housing 60B and the female housing 10A. As described later, the male housing 60A and the female housing 10B are configured such that when a proper combination of specifications is fitted together, the fitting can be completed (see FIG. 5), whereas when an improper combination of specifications is fitted together, the fitting cannot proceed midway and cannot be completed (see FIG. 8).

[0022] The lever 20 is a resin molded body. Although a detailed description of the structure of the lever 20 will be omitted, the lever 20 rotatably attached to the female housing 10 performs the function of attracting the male housing 60 and the female housing 10 to each other and completing the mating by operating (rotating) the lever 20 from a provisional mating position to a full mating position during mating. In the mating complete state, an engagement portion 21 (see FIG. 1) provided on the lever 20 engages with an engagement portion 14 (see FIG. 1) provided on the female housing 10, thereby preventing the male housing 60 and the female housing 10 from moving in a direction to separate from each other, and maintaining the mating complete state.

[0023] 1 and 2, the female housing 10 is a resin molded body, and integrally includes a terminal accommodating portion 11 having a shape extending in the front-rear direction, and a tubular hood portion 12 that covers the outer periphery of the terminal accommodating portion 11 and extends in the front-rear direction. An annular gap 13 is defined between the terminal accommodating portion 11 and the hood portion 12. When mated, a hood portion 61 of a male housing 60 is inserted into the annular gap 13.

[0024] In the terminal accommodating portion 11, a plurality of first terminal accommodating chambers (not shown) extending in the front-rear direction and a plurality of second terminal accommodating chambers (not shown) extending in the front-rear direction are provided at different positions in the up-down direction and arranged at intervals in the left-right direction corresponding to the first male terminal 71 and the second male terminal 72 of the male connector 2. Each of the first terminal accommodating chambers accommodates a first female terminal 31 as the female terminal 30, and each of the second terminal accommodating chambers accommodates a second female terminal 32 as the female terminal 30. The female housing 10A and the female housing 10B differ in one or more of the type, number, and positions of the female terminals 31, 32 accommodated inside the hood portion 12.

[0025] A pair of upper and lower openings, a first opening 15 and a second opening 16, which open forward, are integrally formed on the front end face of the female housing 10 located to the right of the hood portion 12 (i.e., the outside of the hood portion 12). In the female housing 10A, the first opening 15 is provided on the upper part of the front end face, and the second opening 16 is provided on the lower part of the front end face (see Figs. 1 and 2). On the other hand, in the female housing 10B, the second opening 16 is provided on the upper part of the front end face (where the first opening 15 is provided in the female housing 10A), and the first opening 15 is provided on the lower part of the front end face (where the second opening 16 is provided in the female housing 10A).

[0026] 5 and other figures, the first opening 15 is configured by a through hole 17 that has an opening in the front end surface of the female housing 10 and penetrates in the front-rear direction. The first opening 15 (=through hole 17) has an opening width that allows the coil springs 80A, 80B (i.e., the first projection 63 and the second projection 64 (first portion 65+second portion 66)) to be inserted therein.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 5 etc., the second opening 16 is composed of a recess 18 recessed rearward and opening forward in the front end surface of the female housing 10, and a through hole 19 provided in the bottom wall of the recess 18. The recess 18 has an opening width that allows the coil springs 80A, 80B (i.e., the first protrusion 63 and the second protrusion 64 (first portion 65 + second portion 66)) to be inserted. On the other hand, the through hole 19 has an opening width that allows the second portion 66 of the second protrusion 64 to be inserted, but does not allow the first protrusion 63 and the first portion 65 of the second protrusion 64 (i.e., the coil springs 80A, 80B) to be inserted.

[0028] The packing 40 is made of rubber and is attached so as to be in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the terminal accommodating portion 11 at a position in the front-rear direction corresponding to the vicinity of the innermost portion of the annular gap 13 (see FIG. 2). The packing 40 functions to seal the annular gap between the hood portion 61 of the male housing 60 and the terminal accommodating portion 11 when mated.

[0029] The front holder 50 is made of resin and is attached to the terminal accommodating portion 11 so as to cover the front region of the terminal accommodating portion 11 from the front. Although a detailed structure of the front holder 50 will not be described, the front holder 50 has the function of detecting a state in which the female terminals 30 (31+32) are partially inserted into the first and second terminal accommodating chambers, and the so-called double locking function of preventing disengagement between the lances (not shown) provided in the first and second terminal accommodating chambers of the female terminals 30 (31+32) and the engaging portions thereof when the female terminals 30 (31+32) are accommodated in the correct positions in the first and second terminal accommodating chambers. The female connector 1 has been described above.

[0030] Next, a description will be given of the mating operation between the male connector 2 and the female connector 1. First, as an example of a case where a combination of appropriate specifications is mated, a case where the male housing 60A and the female housing 10A are mated will be described with reference to Figs. 5 to 7.

[0031] In this case, as the lever 20 is rotated from the provisional mating position to the actual mating position, the male housing 60A and the female housing 10A are attracted to each other, and as shown in FIG. 5, the first protrusion 63 to which the coil spring 80A of the male housing 60A is attached is inserted into the first opening 15 of the female housing 10A, and the second protrusion 64 to which the coil spring 80B of the male housing 60A is attached is inserted into the second opening 16 of the female housing 10A. Here, as described above, the first opening 15 (=through hole 17) has an opening width sufficient to insert the first protrusion 63 and the coil spring 80A attached to the first protrusion 63, the recess 18 of the second opening 16 has an opening width sufficient to insert the first part 65 of the second protrusion 64 and the coil spring 80B attached to the second protrusion 64 (first part 65 of the second protrusion 64), and the through hole 19 of the second opening 16 has an opening width sufficient to insert the first part 65 of the second protrusion 64 and the coil spring 80B but not sufficient to insert the second part 66 of the second protrusion 64. Therefore, as the lever 20 rotates toward the main mating position, the first protrusion 63 and coil spring 80A are inserted into the first opening 15 (=through hole 17) while the coil spring 80A maintains its non-elastically deformed state, the second portion 66 of the second protrusion 64 is inserted into the through hole 19 of the second opening 16, and the first portion 65 of the second protrusion 64 and coil spring 80B are inserted into the recess 18 against the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 80B, which is gradually compressed by being sandwiched between the bottom surface 18a of the recess 18, which is relatively close to the male housing 60A, and the flange portion 62 of the male housing 60A.

[0032] Then, when the lever 20 reaches the full mating position, the engagement portion 21 (see FIG. 1) of the lever 20 and the engagement portion 14 (see FIG. 1) of the female housing 10A engage with each other, completing the mating. In the mating completed state, as shown in FIG. 5, the step surface 64b of the second protrusion 64 and the bottom surface 18a of the recess 18 are close to each other (not in contact). In the mating completed state, the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 80B, which is sandwiched and compressed between the bottom surface 18a of the recess 18 and the flange portion 62 of the male housing 60A (i.e., a force pushing the male housing 60A and the female housing 10A back so as to separate them from each other), acts on the engagement portion between the engagement portion 21 of the lever 20 and the engagement portion 14 of the female housing 10A. Therefore, rattling between the male housing 60A and the female housing 10A after the mating is completed can be suppressed.

[0033] In addition, in the above-mentioned case where the male housing 60A and the female housing 10A are fitted together, if the rotation operation of the lever 20 toward the full fitting position is interrupted halfway before the lever 20 reaches the full fitting position (in the case of partial fitting shown in FIG. 6), the male housing 60A and the female housing 10A are pushed back so as to separate from each other by the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 80B, which is sandwiched and compressed between the bottom surface 18a of the recess 18 and the flange portion 62 of the male housing 60A (see the white arrow shown in FIG. 7). Therefore, partial fitting can be detected. As described above with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, the case where the male housing 60A and the female housing 10A are fitted together is described as an example of a case where a combination of appropriate specifications is fitted together, but the same applies to the case where the male housing 60B and the female housing 10B, which are a combination of appropriate specifications, are fitted together.

[0034] Next, as an example of a case where a combination of incorrect specifications is fitted together, a case where the male housing 60A and the female housing 10B are fitted together will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0035] In this case, in the process of drawing the male housing 60A and the female housing 10B closer to each other by rotating the lever 20 from the provisional mating position to the full mating position, the first protrusion 63 to which the coil spring 80A of the male housing 60A is attached is inserted into the second opening 16 of the female housing 10B, and the second protrusion 64 to which the coil spring 80B of the male housing 60A is attached is inserted into the first opening 15 of the female housing 10B, as shown in Fig. 8. Here, as described above, the first opening 15 (= through hole 17) has an opening width capable of inserting the second protrusion 64 and the coil spring 80B attached to the second protrusion 64, the recess 18 of the second opening 16 has an opening width capable of inserting the first protrusion 63 and the coil spring 80A attached to the first protrusion 63, and the through hole 19 of the second opening 16 has an opening width capable of inserting the first protrusion 63 and the coil spring 80A. Therefore, as the lever 20 rotates toward the main mating position, the second protrusion 64 and coil spring 80B are inserted into the first opening 15 (=through hole 17) while the coil spring 80B maintains its non-elastically deformed state, and the first protrusion 63 and coil spring 80A are inserted into the recess 18 while resisting the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 80A, which is gradually compressed by being sandwiched between the bottom surface 18a of the recess 18, which is approaching the male housing 60A relatively, and the flange portion 62 of the male housing 60A.

[0036] As described above, due to the front end of the first projection 63 being located forward of the step surface 64b (see FIG. 5; the surface adjacent to the bottom surface 18a of the recess 18 in the mating complete state), the front end of the first projection 63 abuts against the bottom surface 18a of the recess 18 as shown in FIG. 8 at a stage before the lever 20 reaches the full mating position (i.e., a stage before the engaging portion 21 of the lever 20 and the engaging portion 14 of the female housing 10A engage with each other). For this reason, the lever 20 cannot be rotated further from the state shown in FIG. 8 toward the full mating position (the mating cannot proceed further), and therefore the mating cannot be completed. Then, when the rotation operation of the lever 20 to the full mating position is interrupted from the state shown in Fig. 8, the male housing 60A and the female housing 10A are pushed back so as to separate from each other by the elastic restoring force of the coil spring 80A, which is sandwiched and compressed between the bottom surface 18a of the recess 18 and the flange portion 62 of the male housing 60A (see the white arrow shown in Fig. 9). This allows the user to detect erroneous mating (mating of a combination of incorrect specifications). As described above with reference to Figs. 8 and 9, the case where the male housing 60A and the female housing 10B are mated is described as an example of a case where a combination of incorrect specifications is performed, but the same applies to a case where the male housing 60B and the female housing 10A, which are a combination of incorrect specifications, are mated.

[0037] <Actions and Effects> As described above, according to the housing unit of this embodiment, when the male housing 60 and the female housing 10 have two specifications, if the arrangement of the first protrusion 63 and the second protrusion 64 of the male housing 60 and the arrangement of the first opening 15 and the second opening 16 of the female housing 10 are interchanged for each specification, when the male housing 60 and the female housing 10 of the correct specifications are fitted together, the first protrusion 63 is inserted into the first opening 15 and the second protrusion 64 is inserted into the second opening 16, and the fitting of the two is completed. On the other hand, when the male housing 60 and the female housing 10 of the incorrect specifications are fitted together, even if the first protrusion 63 is inserted into the second opening 16 and the second protrusion 64 is inserted into the first opening 15, the first protrusion 63 cannot be inserted into the second opening 16 (through hole 19), and the fitting of the two is not completed. This allows the user to detect erroneous fitting. Therefore, the housing unit of this embodiment is capable of detecting erroneous fitting.

[0038] Furthermore, since the first protrusion 63 and the second protrusion 64 are disposed on the outside of the hood portion 61 of the male housing 60, there is no need to vary the shape of the hood portion 61 for each specification of the male housing 60, as compared to a case in which a protrusion for detecting mis-fitting is provided on the inside of the hood portion 61. Therefore, since shape variations during molding of the male housing 60 are unlikely to vary for each specification, it is possible to improve uniformity of quality such as the sealing performance between the hood portion 12 of the female housing 10. The same is true for the female housing 10.

[0039] Furthermore, in the case of erroneous mating, the coil spring 80A is pressed against the peripheral portion (bottom surface 18a) of the second opening 16, and the elastic force of the coil spring 80A pushes the male housing 60 and the female housing 10 back so as to separate from each other. This allows the user to detect erroneous mating even more easily. Even if there is no erroneous mating, if the mating operation is interrupted before the mating of the male housing 60 and the female housing 10 is completed (so-called partial mating), the male housing 60 and the female housing 10 are similarly pushed back so as to separate from each other. This allows the detection of partial mating.

[0040] Furthermore, the female housing 10 is provided with a mating assist lever 20. Therefore, the lever 20 cannot be operated from the provisional mating state to the full mating state, so that the user can detect erroneous mating.

[0041] <Other forms> The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and appropriate modifications, improvements, etc. are possible. In addition, the material, shape, size, number, arrangement location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiments are arbitrary as long as the present invention can be achieved, and are not limited.

[0042] Here, the features of the above-described embodiments of the housing unit according to the present invention will be briefly summarized and listed in the following [1] to [3].

[0043] [1] A housing unit comprising: a first housing (60) capable of accommodating a first terminal (70); and a second housing (10) capable of accommodating a second terminal (30) connected to the first terminal (70) and fitted into the first housing (60), The first housing (60) is a first hood portion (61) surrounding a terminal accommodating chamber that accommodates the first terminal (70), a columnar first projection (63) provided on the outside of the first hood portion (61) and projecting toward the second housing (10), and a columnar second projection (64) having a tip portion (66) with a smaller diameter than the first projection (63), The second housing (10) includes: the second hood portion (12) surrounding a terminal accommodating chamber that accommodates the second terminal (30); a first opening (15) provided on the outside of the second hood portion (12) and having an opening width that allows both the first projection (63) and the second projection (64) to be inserted; and a second opening (16) into which the first projection (63) cannot be inserted and which has an opening width that allows the second projection (64) to be inserted. Housing unit.

[0044] According to the housing unit having the configuration of [1] above, for example, when the first housing has two specifications and the second housing has two specifications, the arrangement of the first protrusion and the second protrusion of the first housing is changed for each specification, and the arrangement of the first opening and the second opening of the second housing is changed for each specification. As a result, when the first housing and the second housing having a specification that allows the fitting are fitted together, the first protrusion is inserted into the first opening and the second protrusion is inserted into the second opening, and the two are fitted together properly. On the other hand, when the first housing and the second housing having a specification that does not allow the fitting are fitted together, the first protrusion cannot be inserted into the second opening, so the two are not fitted together, and the first protrusion hits the periphery of the second opening, so that the user can detect the incorrect fitting. Therefore, the housing unit of this configuration is capable of detecting the incorrect fitting.

[0045] Furthermore, since the first and second protrusions are provided on the outside of the first hood portion of the first housing, there is no need to vary the shape of the first hood portion for each specification, as opposed to providing a protrusion or the like on the wall of the first hood portion to detect mis-fitting. This makes it difficult for the shape of the first hood portion, which may occur when molding the first housing, to vary for each specification. The same is true for the shape of the second hood portion. Therefore, the sealing performance between the first and second hood portions when fitted can be made uniform regardless of the specification.

[0046] [2] The housing unit according to the above item [1], The first housing (60) is the coil springs (80A, 80A) are arranged so as to surround the first projection (63) and the second projection (64), respectively, and have an outer diameter that is insertable into the first opening (15) but not insertable into the second opening (16); Housing unit.

[0047] According to the housing unit having the configuration of [2] above, in the case of erroneous mating, the first protrusion abuts against the periphery of the second opening, and the coil spring arranged on the first protrusion is pressed against the periphery of the second opening, so that the first housing and the second housing are pushed back so as to separate from each other by the elastic force of the coil spring. This makes it easier for the user to detect erroneous mating. Even if there is no erroneous mating, if the mating operation is interrupted before the first housing and the second housing are completely mated (so-called partial mating), the coil spring arranged on the second protrusion is pressed against the periphery of the second opening, so that the first housing and the second housing are pushed back so as to separate from each other. This makes it possible to detect partial mating. Furthermore, if the first housing and the second housing are configured to engage with each other so that they do not separate when they are properly fitted, the coil spring arranged on the second protrusion is pressed against the peripheral edge of the second opening, thereby suppressing misalignment (rattle) between the first housing and the second housing.

[0048] [3] The housing unit according to the above item [1], The second housing (10) includes: a lever (20) that is attached to the second housing (10) and is operated from a provisionally fitted state to a fully fitted state so as to assist the fitting with the first housing (60), when the first housing (60) and the second housing (10) are fitted together such that the first protrusion (63) is inserted into the first opening (15) and the second protrusion (64) is inserted into the second opening (16), the first protrusion (63) is inserted into the first opening (15) and the second protrusion (64) is inserted into the second opening (16), thereby allowing the lever (20) to be operated from the temporary fitted state to the full fitted state, When the first housing (60) and the second housing (10) are fitted together such that the first protrusion (63) is inserted into the second opening (16) and the second protrusion (64) is inserted into the first opening (15), the first protrusion (63) is not inserted into the second opening (16), so that the lever (20) cannot be operated from the provisionally fitted state to the fully fitted state. Housing unit.

[0049] According to the housing unit having the configuration [3] above, when the second housing is provided with a lever for assisting mating, in the event of incorrect mating, the lever cannot be operated from the provisional mating state to the full mating state, allowing the user to detect the incorrect mating. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 10 Female housing (second housing) 12 Hood section (second hood section) 15 First opening 16 Second opening 20 Lever 30 Female terminal (second terminal) 60 Male housing (first housing) 61 Hood section (first hood section) 63 1st protrusion 64 2nd protrusion 66 Second part (tip) 70 Male terminal (first terminal) 80A coil spring 80B Coil spring

Claims

1. A housing unit including: a first housing capable of accommodating a first terminal; and a second housing capable of accommodating a second terminal connected to the first terminal and fitted into the first housing, The first housing includes: a first hood portion surrounding a terminal accommodating chamber that accommodates the first terminal; a columnar first projection provided on the outside of the first hood portion and projecting toward the second housing; and a columnar second projection having a tip portion with a smaller diameter than the first projection, The second housing includes: a second hood portion surrounding a terminal accommodating chamber that accommodates the second terminal; a first opening provided on the outside of the second hood portion and having an opening width that allows both the first protrusion and the second protrusion to be inserted; and a second opening having an opening width that does not allow the first protrusion to be inserted but allows the second protrusion to be inserted. Housing unit.

2. 2. A housing unit according to claim 1, The first housing includes: a coil spring arranged to surround each of the first protrusion and the second protrusion, the coil spring having an outer diameter that can be inserted into the first opening but cannot be inserted into the second opening; Housing unit.

3. 2. A housing unit according to claim 1, The second housing includes: a lever attached to the second housing and operable to move the second housing from a provisionally fitted state to a fully fitted state so as to assist the fitting of the second housing with the first housing; when the first housing and the second housing are fitted together such that the first protrusion is inserted into the first opening and the second protrusion is inserted into the second opening, the first protrusion is inserted into the first opening and the second protrusion is inserted into the second opening, thereby allowing the lever to be operated from the temporary fitted state to the full fitted state, When the first housing and the second housing are fitted together such that the first protrusion is inserted into the second opening and the second protrusion is inserted into the first opening, the first protrusion is not inserted into the second opening, so that the lever cannot be operated from the provisionally fitted state to the fully fitted state. Housing unit.

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