Connector

Abstract

To surely generate a fitting sound by an elastic recovery of a lock arm.SOLUTION: A connector comprises: a male side housing 41 including a hood part 43; a female side housing 11; and a lock arm 20 that is formed in the female side housing 11, and can be elastically deformed. The lock arm 20 includes a pair of lock parts 27 arranged in a width direction. In a fitting process of both of the housings 11 and 41, the lock arm 20 is elastically deformed by an interference between the lock part 27 and the hood part 43. When both of the housings 11 and 41 achieve a normal fitting state, the lock arm 20 locks both of the housings 11 and 41 to a fitting state by the elastic recover. In the lock arm 20 and the hood part 43, collision surfaces 31 and 46 generating a fitting sound by collision when the lock arm 20 elastically recovers are formed. The collision surfaces 31 and 46 are arranged only at one place including a region between the pair of lock parts 27 in the width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a connector in which a connector housing having a second locking portion is fitted with a mating connector housing and a high protrusion of the second locking portion is fitted into a fitting hole of the mating connector housing to lock the connector housing and the mating connector housing in a mated state. During the process of fitting the connector housing and the mating connector housing, the second locking portion is elastically deformed by contact between the high protrusion and the mating connector housing. When the connector housing and the mating connector housing are fitted together, the second locking portion strikes the mating connector housing with its elastic restoring force, producing a mating sound. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-199747 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above connector, as a means for enhancing the locking function of the second locking portion, it is conceivable to form two high protrusions aligned in the width direction on one second locking portion. The portion of the second locking portion that strikes the mating connector housing is at the same position in the width direction as the high protrusion. Therefore, when two high protrusions are formed, the two striking portions are aligned in the width direction. In this case, if the second locking portion is tilted during the mating process of the connector housing and the mating connector housing, the timing of the generation of the mating sound at the two striking portions will differ, resulting in a quieter mating sound.

[0005] The connector of the present disclosure has been completed based on the above circumstances, and has an object to reliably generate a mating sound by the elastic return of the locking arm. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connector of the present disclosure comprises: a male housing having a hood portion; a female housing that mates with the male housing; a lock arm formed on the female housing and capable of elastic deformation; the lock arm has a pair of lock portions aligned in a width direction intersecting a fitting direction of the male housing and the female housing, During the process of fitting the male housing and the female housing, the lock arm is elastically deformed due to interference between the lock portion and the hood portion, When the male housing and the female housing reach a properly mated state, the lock arm elastically returns to its original position to lock the male housing and the female housing in the mated state, The lock arm and the hood portion are formed with a collision surface that produces a fitting sound when the lock arm collides with the hood portion when the lock arm elastically returns to its original position. The collision surface is disposed at only one location in the width direction, including the region between the pair of locking portions. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to reliably generate a fitting sound due to the elastic return of the lock arm. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the female connector as viewed obliquely from above and from the front. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the male connector as viewed obliquely from below and from the front. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the locking portion cut at right angles to the width direction during the process of fitting the two connectors. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the collision surface cut at right angles to the width direction during the mating process of the two connectors. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the locking portion cut at right angles to the width direction in a state in which both connectors are properly mated. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the collision surface cut at right angles to the width direction in a state in which both connectors are properly mated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The connector of the present disclosure comprises: (1) A connector comprising a male housing having a hood portion, a female housing that mates with the male housing, and a locking arm formed on the female housing and capable of elastic deformation, the locking arm having a pair of locking portions aligned in a width direction intersecting a mating direction of the male housing and the female housing, the locking arm elastically deforms due to interference between the locking portions and the hood portion during the mating process of the male housing and the female housing, and when the male housing and the female housing reach a properly mated state, the locking arm elastically returns to its original position to lock the male housing and the female housing in the mated state, the locking arm and the hood portion are formed with collision surfaces that produce a mating sound when they collide with each other when the locking arm elastically returns to its original position, and the collision surface is located at only one location in the width direction including the area between the pair of locking portions. According to the configuration of the present disclosure, the collision surface is positioned in only one location including the area between the pair of locking portions, so that even if the male housing and the female housing are mated with the locking arm tilted, a mating sound can be reliably generated in the same way as when the locking arm is not tilted.

[0010] (2) It is preferable that the collision surface has a stepped shape with respect to an area adjacent to the collision surface. With this configuration, it is possible to ensure that only the collision surface collides.

[0011] (3) It is preferable that the female housing and the hood portion are formed with a restricting portion for restricting deformation of the hood portion in a direction away from the locking arm. With this configuration, the collision energy when the collision surfaces collide with each other is not attenuated, so that a loud mating sound can be generated.

[0012] (4) The lock arm extends from a base end connected to the female housing in a cantilever shape toward the rear in the mating direction with the male housing, and a protrusion is preferably formed on the outer surface of the lock arm on which the collision surface is formed, extending from the base end to the collision surface. With this configuration, the region of the lock arm from the collision surface to the base end is thicker and more rigid due to the protrusion. This increases the elastic restoring force when the lock arm is elastically deformed, and can generate a loud mating sound.

[0013] (5) It is preferable that the lock arm extends in a cantilever shape from a base end connected to the female housing rearward in the mating direction with the male housing, and that reinforcing ribs are formed on both side edges of the lock arm, protruding in a direction parallel to the elastic deformation direction of the lock arm and extending rearward from the base end in the mating direction. With this configuration, the rigidity of the lock arm is increased by the reinforcing ribs, so that the elastic restoring force when the lock arm elastically deforms is large, and a loud mating sound can be generated.

[0014] In (6) and (5), it is preferable that the reinforcing rib extends in the mating direction between the male housing and the female housing to the same area as the area where the collision surface is formed. With this configuration, the rigidity of the area of ​​the locking arm where the collision surface is formed is increased by the reinforcing rib, so that the collision energy when the collision surfaces collide with each other is not attenuated, and a loud mating sound can be generated.

[0015] (7) In (1) to (3), it is preferable that the lock arm extends in a cantilever shape from a base end connected to the female housing toward the rear in the mating direction with the male housing, a protrusion extending from the base end to the collision surface is formed on an outer surface of the lock arm on which the collision surface is formed, a pair of reinforcing ribs are formed on both side edges of the lock arm, protruding in a direction parallel to the elastic deformation direction of the lock arm and extending from the base end toward the rear in the mating direction, a pair of protruding receiving portions that engage with the pair of locking portions is formed on the hood portion, and a pair of guide grooves are formed between the protrusions and the pair of reinforcing ribs for guiding the receiving portions during the mating process of the male housing and the female housing. With this configuration, it is possible to increase the rigidity of the lock arm to generate a loud mating sound, and by guiding the receiving portions by the guide grooves, it is possible to prevent tilting during the mating process of the male housing and the female housing.

[0016] (8) It is preferable that the locking arm has widened portions formed on both outer surfaces thereof, protruding from the same area as the collision surface in the mating direction of the male housing and the female housing. With this configuration, the area of ​​the locking arm where the collision surface is formed has increased rigidity due to the widened portions, so that the collision energy when the collision surfaces collide with each other is not attenuated, and a loud mating sound can be generated.

[0017] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] [Example 1] Example 1 embodying the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. Note that the present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0018] The connector of the present embodiment 1 has a female connector 10 and a male connector 40 that can be fitted and removed from each other. The fitting and removal direction of both connectors 10, 40 is the front-rear direction. In the present embodiment 1, the positive side of the X-axis in Figs. 1 to 6 is defined as the front for the front-rear direction. The fitting and removal direction of both connectors 10, 40 and the front-rear direction are used synonymously. The positive side of the Z-axis in Figs. 1 to 6 is defined as the upper side for the up-down direction. The up-down direction is a direction that intersects with the fitting direction of the male connector 40 and the female connector 10. The up-down direction and the height direction are used synonymously. The left-right direction is defined as the positive side of the Y-axis in Figs. 1 and 2 as the right. The left-right direction and the width direction are used synonymously. The width direction is a direction that intersects with the fitting direction of the male connector 40 and the female connector 10.

[0019] <Female connector 10> The female connector 10 is constructed by assembling a female housing 11 made of synthetic resin and a plurality of female terminal fittings 15. As shown in Fig. 1, the female housing 11 is a single part having a bilaterally symmetrical shape. The female housing 11 has a housing body 12 and a lock arm 20 formed integrally with the housing body 12.

[0020] The housing body 12 has a flat rectangular shape as a whole. The width of the housing body 12 is greater than the length in the front-rear direction, and the height is smaller than both the width and length dimensions. As shown in Figs. 3 to 6, a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 13 are formed in the housing body 12, penetrating the housing body 12 in the front-rear direction, and are arranged at a constant pitch in the width direction. A female terminal fitting 15 fixed to the front end of an electric wire 14 is inserted into each terminal accommodating chamber 13.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of symmetrical female regulating portions 17 are formed on the outer wall surface 16 (upper surface) of the housing body 12. The pair of female regulating portions 17 are arranged with a gap in the left-right direction. The female regulating portions 17 extend linearly in the front-rear direction. In a front view of the female housing 11 from the front, the female regulating portions 17 are bent in an L-shape. In detail, the female regulating portions 17 have a standing portion 18 that is elongated in the front-rear direction and a female locking portion 19 that is elongated in the front-rear direction. The standing portion 18 protrudes upward from the outer wall surface 16 of the housing body 12 in a rib-like manner. The female locking portion 19 protrudes from the upper end edge of the standing portion 18 toward the center of the housing body 12 in the width direction in a rib-like manner.

[0022] The lock arm 20 is disposed in the center in the width direction of the female housing 11. The lock arm 20 is located between a pair of female restriction portions 17 in the width direction. The width dimension of the lock arm 20 is set to approximately 1 / 3 of the width dimension of the female housing 11 (housing main body portion 12). The lock arm 20 has a base end portion 21, an arm main body portion 22, and an operating portion 23.

[0023] The base end 21 constitutes the front end of the lock arm 20 and is connected to the front end of the outer wall surface 16 (upper surface) of the housing main body 12. The arm main body 22 is generally flat and extends from the base end 21 in a cantilever manner rearward along the outer wall surface 16 of the housing main body 12. The arm main body 22 is disposed so as to cover the outer wall surface 16 (upper surface) of the housing main body 12 from above. The operating unit 23 protrudes upward from the rear end of the outer surface 26 (upper surface) of the arm main body 22. The outer surface 26 of the arm main body 22 (lock arm 20) is the surface opposite to the inner surface that faces the outer wall surface 16 of the female housing 11 in the elastic deformation direction (vertical direction) of the lock arm 20.

[0024] The lock arm 20 is always maintained in a locked position (see Figs. 1, 5 and 6) in which the outer surface 26 of the arm body 22 is parallel to the outer wall surface 16 of the female housing 11. When a downward external force acts on the lock arm 20, the lock arm 20 is adapted to be elastically deformed to an unlocked position (see Figs. 3 and 4) in which the arm body 22 approaches the outer wall surface 16 of the female housing 11, with the base end 21 as a fulcrum. By pressing and operating the operating portion 23, the lock arm 20 can be elastically deformed from the locked position to the unlocked position.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 1, a pair of symmetrical locking portions 27 are formed on the outer surface 26 of the arm main body 22 with a gap therebetween in the width direction. The positions of the locking portions 27 in the front-rear direction are rearward of the center of the arm main body 22 and forward of the front end of the operating portion 23. The locking portions 27 protrude upward from the outer surface 26 of the arm main body 22. The front surface of the locking portion 27 is a flat surface inclined with respect to the mating / disengaging direction of the two connectors 10, 40, and functions as a guide surface 28. The rear surface of the locking portion 27 is a flat surface perpendicular to the mating / disengaging direction, and functions as a locking surface 29.

[0026] The arm body 22 has a base 30. The front end of the base 30 is connected to the rear end of the protrusion 32, which will be described later. The rear end of the base 30 is connected to the front end of the operating part 23. The entire area of ​​the upper surface of the base 30 functions as a female collision surface 31, which is a plane parallel to the outer surface 26 of the arm body 22. The number of female collision surfaces 31 formed on one lock arm 20 is only one. In a plan view of the lock arm 20 seen from above, the base 30 and the female collision surface 31 are rectangular in shape with a width dimension larger than the front-rear dimension. The female collision surface 31 is disposed in the center of the arm body 22 in the width direction. The range in which the female collision surface 31 is formed in the front-rear direction is a region behind the center of the arm body 22.

[0027] In detail, the front end of the female collision surface 31 is located at the same position as the lock surface 29 in the front-rear direction. The rear end of the female collision surface 31 is located at the same position as the front end of the operating portion 23 in the front-rear direction. The entire female collision surface 31 is located rearward of the rear end of the lock portion 27. The width dimension of the female collision surface 31 is the same as or slightly larger than the distance between the pair of lock portions 27. The protruding height of the female collision surface 31 from the outer surface 26 of the arm main body portion 22 is slightly larger than the protruding height of the lock portion 27 from the outer surface 26 of the arm main body portion 22.

[0028] A protrusion 32 that is elongated in the front-rear direction is formed in the widthwise center of the outer surface 26 of the lock arm 20. The protrusion 32 is formed continuously from the front end of the base portion 21 to the front end of the base portion 30. The width dimension of the protrusion 32 is the same as or slightly smaller than the width dimension of the female side collision surface 31. The width dimension of the protrusion 32 is constant over the entire length, and is the same dimension as the distance between the pair of lock portions 27. The rear end of the protrusion 32 and the lock portion 27 are connected. The protrusion 32 protrudes from the outer surface 26 of the arm body portion 22 to the same height as the lock portion 27.

[0029] The lock arm 20 is formed with a pair of reinforcing ribs 33 that are symmetrical on the left and right. The pair of reinforcing ribs 33 protrude upward from the outer surface 26 of the arm body 22 and extend elongatedly in the front-rear direction along both left and right side edges of the lock arm 20. The formation range of the reinforcing ribs 33 in the front-rear direction is a region from the front end of the base end portion 21 to the front end of the operating portion 23 and the rear end of the female collision surface 31. In the front-rear direction, the formation range of the reinforcing ribs 33 includes the entire formation range of the female collision surface 31. The protruding height of the reinforcing ribs 33 from the outer surface 26 of the arm body 22 is the same dimension as the protruding height of the lock portion 27 and the protrusion 32. The reinforcing ribs 33 are connected to the lock portion 27.

[0030] A pair of left-right symmetrical guide grooves 34 are formed on the outer surface 26 of the lock arm 20. Both left and right side edges of the guide groove 34 are defined by the protrusions 32 and the reinforcing ribs 33. The front end of the guide groove 34 is open to the front end face of the lock arm 20. A pair of left-right symmetrical lock recesses 35 are formed on the outer surface 26 of the arm body 22. The pair of lock recesses 35 are defined by the left and right side faces of the base portion 30, the rear face (lock face 29) of the lock portion 27, and the inner face of the reinforcing rib 33.

[0031] A widened portion 36 is formed at the rear end of the lock arm 20. The widened portion 36 is configured by forming a protruding portion 37 on the outer surface of the reinforcing rib 33 (the side opposite the lock recess 35 in the width direction). The forming range of the widened portion 36 in the front-rear direction is the region from the front end of the lock portion 27 to the front end of the operating portion 23. In the front-rear direction, the molding range of the widened portion 36 includes the entire female side collision surface 31. The width dimension of the widened portion 36 of the lock arm 20 is larger than the width dimension of the region of the lock arm 20 forward of the widened portion 36.

[0032] <Male connector 40> Male connector 40 is configured by assembling male housing 41 made of synthetic resin and a plurality of male terminal fittings 50. Male connector 40 functions as a board connector that is mounted on a circuit board (not shown).

[0033] 2, male housing 41 is a single component having a wall-shaped terminal holding portion 42 and a hood portion 43 that protrudes in a flattened rectangular tube shape from the outer periphery of terminal holding portion 42 toward female connector 10. A pair of symmetrical receiving portions 45 are formed on upper wall portion 44 that constitutes hood portion 43. The pair of receiving portions 45 protrude downward from the inner surface (lower surface) of upper wall portion 44 and are disposed so as to face the open end of hood portion 43. In the width direction, the pair of receiving portions 45 are disposed at the same positions as the pair of locking portions 27.

[0034] A male collision surface 46 is formed on the inner surface (lower surface) of the upper wall portion 44. Only one male collision surface 46 is formed on one hood portion 43. In a bottom view of the female housing 11 seen from below, the formation range of the male collision surface 46 is a rectangular area that contacts the female collision surface 31 when both connectors 10, 40 are properly mated. A flat area between a pair of receiving portions 45 on the inner surface of the upper wall portion 44 functions as the male collision surface 46. In FIG. 2, for clarity, the boundary between the male collision surface 46 and the area adjacent to the male collision surface 46 is shown by a dashed line, but in reality, the male collision surface 46 and the area adjacent to the male collision surface 46 are continuous and flush with each other.

[0035] A pair of symmetrical male restriction portions 47 are formed on the inner surface of upper wall portion 44 of hood portion 43. The pair of male restriction portions 47 are arranged with a gap in the left-right direction. Male restriction portion 47 extends linearly and elongated in the front-rear direction. In a front view of hood portion 43 from the female connector 10 side, male restriction portion 47 has an L-shaped bent shape. In detail, male restriction portion 47 has leg portion 48 elongated in the front-rear direction and male locking portion 49 elongated in the front-rear direction. Leg portion 48 protrudes downward from upper wall portion 44 of hood portion 43 in a rib-like manner. Male locking portion 49 protrudes from the lower end edge of leg portion 48 toward the outside in the width direction of hood portion 43 in a rib-like manner.

[0036] The male terminal fitting 50 is formed by bending a long and thin metal bar. The male terminal fitting 50 has a terminal connection portion 51 extending in the front-rear direction and a board connection portion 52 bent into an L shape. The terminal connection portion 51 penetrates the terminal holding portion 42 in the front-rear direction. A tab at the tip of the terminal connection portion 51 is disposed within the hood portion 43. The board connection portion 52 extends downward from the base end of the terminal connection portion 51 outside the male housing 41 (hood portion 43). The board connection portion 52 is connected to a circuit board.

[0037] <Function of the Connector of the First Embodiment> When mating the female housing 11 of the male connector 40 with the female housing 11 of the female connector 10, the female housing 11 is advanced into the hood portion 43. When mating of the two connectors 10, 40 begins, the pair of female restriction portions 17 and the pair of male restriction portions 47 are engaged with each other, and the pair of receiving portions 45 advance into the guide grooves 34. The pair of male restriction portions 47 advance into the groove portions 39 between the lock arms 20 and the pair of female restriction portions 17.

[0038] When the mating of both connectors 10, 40 progresses to just before the proper mating state, as shown in Fig. 3, lock portion 27 and receiving portion 45 interfere with each other, and lock arm 20 elastically deforms to approach outer wall surface 16 of arm body portion 22. When lock arm 20 elastically deforms, female collision surface 31 is displaced downward to a position significantly separated from male collision surface 46, as shown in Fig. 4. In the elastically deformed state of lock arm 20, upper wall portion 44 of hood portion 43 is pressed upward by the elastic restoring force of lock arm 20. However, since male locking portion 49 of male restriction portion 47 abuts against female locking portion 19 of female restriction portion 17 from below, upper wall portion 44 is not displaced upward.

[0039] When both connectors 10, 40 reach a properly mated state, as shown in Fig. 5, locking portion 27 passes through receiving portion 45, and locking arm 20 elastically returns from the unlocked position to the locked position due to the elastic restoring force of locking arm 20. As a result, locking surface 29 of locking portion 27 engages with receiving portion 45 from the front, preventing female connector 10 from disengaging backward from male connector 40. Receiving portion 45 is housed in locking recess 35. As a result, both connectors 10, 40 are locked in a properly mated state by locking arm 20.

[0040] When both connectors 10, 40 reach a properly mated state and locking portion 27 is disengaged from receiving portion 45, locking arm 20 elastically returns upward with great force. As locking arm 20 elastically returns in one go, female collision surface 31 collides with male collision surface 46 from below, generating a mating sound (collision sound). When female collision surface 31 collides with male collision surface 46, male collision surface 46 is held from escaping upward by the locking action of both locking portions 19, 49 of both restricting portions 17, 47. Therefore, the collision energy of female collision surface 31 against male collision surface 46 is not attenuated, generating a loud mating sound.

[0041] <Effects of Example 1> The connector of the first embodiment includes a male housing 41 having a hood portion 43, and a female housing 11 that fits with the hood portion 43 of the male housing 41. An elastically deformable lock arm 20 is formed in the female housing 11. The lock arm 20 has a pair of lock portions 27 aligned in the width direction. During the process of fitting the two housings 11, 41, the lock arm 20 is elastically deformed due to interference between the lock portions 27 and a receiving portion 45 of the hood portion 43. When the two housings 11, 41 reach a properly fitted state, the lock arm 20 elastically returns to its original position to lock the two housings 11, 41 in the fitted state.

[0042] The lock arm 20 and the hood portion 43 are formed with a female collision surface 31 and a male collision surface 46 that collide with each other when the lock arm 20 elastically returns to its original position to produce a mating sound. The female collision surface 31 is disposed at only one location in the width direction, including the area between the pair of locking portions 27. The male collision surface 46 is also disposed at only one location, including the area between the pair of receiving portions 45 (the area between the pair of locking portions 27). Since the female collision surface 31 is disposed at only one location, including the area between the pair of locking portions 27, even if the two housings 11, 41 are mated with the lock arm 20 tilted, the mating sound can be reliably produced in the same way as when the lock arm 20 is not tilted.

[0043] The female collision surface 31 has a stepped shape protruding from the area adjacent to the female collision surface 31 (the upper surface of the locking portion 27, the upper surface of the protrusion 32). With this configuration, only the female collision surface 31 can be collided with the male collision surface 46 reliably.

[0044] Female housing 11 and hood portion 43 are formed with female restriction portion 17 and male restriction portion 47, which restrict deformation of hood portion 43 in a direction away from lock arm 20 (female collision surface 31). With this configuration, the collision energy when female collision surface 31 and male collision surface 46 collide is not attenuated, so a loud mating sound can be generated.

[0045] The lock arm 20 has a shape that extends in a cantilever manner from a base end 21 that is connected to the female housing 11 toward the rear in the mating direction with the male housing 41. A protrusion 32 that extends from the base end 21 to the female collision surface 31 is formed on an outer surface 26 of the lock arm 20 on which the female collision surface 31 is formed. According to this configuration, the region of the lock arm 20 from the female collision surface 31 to the base end 21 has a large thickness dimension and high rigidity due to the protrusion 32. This increases the elastic restoring force when the lock arm 20 is elastically deformed, and can generate a loud mating sound.

[0046] Reinforcing ribs 33 are formed on both side edges of the lock arm 20, protruding in a direction parallel to the elastic deformation direction of the lock arm 20 and extending rearward in the fitting direction from the base end 21. According to this configuration, the rigidity of the lock arm 20 is increased by the reinforcing ribs 33, so that the elastic restoring force when the lock arm 20 is elastically deformed is large, and a loud fitting sound can be generated.

[0047] The reinforcing rib 33 extends to the same area as the female collision surface 31 in the mating direction of the housings 11, 41. With this configuration, the area of ​​the lock arm 20 where the female collision surface 31 is formed is strengthened by the reinforcing rib 33. This prevents the collision energy from being attenuated when the female collision surface 31 and the male collision surface 46 collide, and produces a loud mating sound.

[0048] The hood portion 43 is formed with a pair of protruding receiving portions 45 that engage with the pair of locking portions 27. A pair of guide grooves 34 that guide the receiving portions 45 during the fitting process of the two housings 11, 41 are formed on the outer surface 26 of the lock arm 20 between the protrusion 32 and the pair of reinforcing ribs 33. This configuration can increase the rigidity of the lock arm 20 to generate a loud fitting sound. In addition, by guiding the receiving portions 45 with the guide grooves 34, it is possible to prevent inclination (prying) in the left-right direction during the fitting process of the male housing 41 and the female housing 11.

[0049] On both outer surfaces (reinforcement ribs 33) of the lock arm 20, there are formed widened portions 36 that protrude from the same area as the female collision surface 31 in the fitting direction (front-rear direction) of the housings 11, 41. With this configuration, the rigidity of the area of ​​the lock arm 20 where the female collision surface 31 is formed is increased by the widened portions 36. As a result, the collision energy when the female collision surface 31 and the male collision surface 46 collide is not attenuated, and a loud mating sound can be generated.

[0050] The reinforcing rib 33 is formed in the same area as the formation area of ​​the locking portion 27 and the female collision surface 31 in the mating direction of the two connectors 10, 40. The area of ​​the reinforcing rib 33 that is the same as the formation area of ​​the locking portion 27 and the formation area of ​​the female collision surface 31 in the front-rear direction has a larger width due to the widening portion 36, so that it has high rigidity, and therefore it is possible to suppress attenuation of the collision energy when the female collision surface 31 and the male collision surface 46 collide.

[0051] [Other Examples] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but is indicated by the claims. The present invention includes the equivalent meaning of the claims and all modifications within the scope of the claims, and is intended to include the following embodiments. The width dimension of the collision surface may be smaller than the distance between the pair of locking portions, or may be larger than the distance between the pair of locking portions. In the mating direction between the male housing and the female housing, at least a portion of the collision surface of the locking arm may be located in an area overlapping with the locking portion, or the entire collision surface of the locking arm may be located only in an area closer to the base end than the locking portion. The shape of the collision surface protruding in a stepped manner relative to the area adjacent to the collision surface may be applied only to the collision surface of the hood portion, or may be applied to both the lock arm and the hood portion. The lock arm may be shaped so as not to have a protrusion extending from the base end to the impact surface. The position of the rear end of the reinforcing rib in the mating direction between the male housing and the female housing may be located forward (toward the base end) of the rear end of the impact surface. The lock arm may have a shape that does not include a reinforcing rib. The lock arm may have a shape that does not have a guide groove. The lock arm may have a shape that does not include a widened portion. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 10…Female connector 11…Female housing 12...Housing body 13...Terminal chamber 14...Electric wire 15...Female terminal fitting 16…Exterior wall surface 17...Female side control part (control part) 18... part 19…Female locking part 20…Lock arm 21...Proximal end 22…Arm body 23...Operation unit 26…External surface 27…Rock Section 28…Guiding surface 29…Lock surface 30…Pedestal 31…Female side collision surface (collision surface) 32…Protrusion 33…Reinforcing rib 34...Guide groove 35…Lock recess 36…Wide section 37...Protruding part 39…Groove 40...Male connector 41…Male housing 42...Terminal holding part 43…Hood section 44...Top wall part 45…Receiving part 46…Male side collision surface (collision surface) 47...Male side control part (control part) 48...legs 49…Male locking part 50...Male terminal fitting 51...Terminal connection part 52...Board connection part

Claims

1. a male housing having a hood portion; a female housing that mates with the male housing; a lock arm formed on the female housing and capable of elastic deformation; the lock arm has a pair of lock portions aligned in a width direction intersecting a fitting direction of the male housing and the female housing, During the process of fitting the male housing and the female housing, the lock arm is elastically deformed due to interference between the lock portion and the hood portion, When the male housing and the female housing reach a properly mated state, the lock arm elastically returns to its original position to lock the male housing and the female housing in the mated state, The lock arm and the hood portion are formed with a collision surface that produces a fitting sound when the lock arm collides with the hood portion when the lock arm elastically returns to its original position. The collision surface is disposed at only one location in the width direction of the connector, the location including the region between the pair of locking portions.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the collision surface has a stepped shape protruding from an area adjacent to the collision surface.

3. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the female housing and the hood portion are formed with a restricting portion that restricts the hood portion from deforming in a direction away from the lock arm.

4. the lock arm extends in a cantilever manner backward in a fitting direction with respect to the male housing from a base end portion connected to the female housing, The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the lock arm has an outer surface on which the collision surface is formed, and a protrusion extending from the base end to the collision surface is formed on the outer surface.

5. the lock arm extends in a cantilever manner backward in a fitting direction with respect to the male housing from a base end portion connected to the female housing, 5. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein reinforcing ribs are formed on both side edges of the lock arm, protruding in a direction parallel to the elastic deformation direction of the lock arm and extending rearward in the mating direction from the base end.

6. 6. The connector according to claim 5, wherein the reinforcing rib extends in a direction in which the male housing and the female housing are mated to the same area as an area in which the collision surface is formed.

7. the lock arm extends in a cantilever manner backward in a fitting direction with respect to the male housing from a base end portion connected to the female housing, a protrusion is formed on an outer surface of the lock arm on which the collision surface is formed, the protrusion extending from the base end to the collision surface; A pair of reinforcing ribs are formed on both side edges of the lock arm, protruding in a direction parallel to the elastic deformation direction of the lock arm and extending rearward in the fitting direction from the base end, The hood portion is formed with a pair of protruding receiving portions that engage with the pair of locking portions, A connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a pair of guide grooves are formed between the protrusion and the pair of reinforcing ribs to guide the receiving portion during the mating process between the male housing and the female housing.

8. A connector as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an enlarged portion is formed on both outer surfaces of the lock arm, protruding from the same area as the formation area of ​​the collision surface in the mating direction of the male housing and the female housing.

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