Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector capable of easily cancelling the lock of a lock arm.SOLUTION: A connector 10 comprises: a housing 20; an elastically deformable lock arm 22 that is provided at the housing 20, and is engaged to a lock part 13 that is provided at a mating connector 11 in a fitting state of the mating connector 11; and a detection member 50 that is attached to the lock arm 22 so as to be movable between a first position and a second position, and permits a movement from the first position to the second position in the fitting state. The housing 20 includes an opposite surface 28 forming a flexible space 29 between the lock arm 22 and itself in a manner to be opposite to the lock arm 22. The opposite surface includes a concave part 31 into which the detection member 50 enters when the lock arm 22 is elastically deformed in a step of fitting with the mating connector 11 in a state where the detection member 50 is arranged at the first position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] Conventionally, as described in, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4 below, connectors equipped with a detection member for detecting the mating state of the connector are known. In the connector described in Patent Document 1 below, when the male connector and the female connector are completely mated, the detection member can be pushed into a detection position below the lock arm. This makes it possible to know that the connectors are completely mated. Before the male connector and the female connector are completely mated, even if the detection member is pushed into the detection position, it hits the lock arm that is elastically deformed downward and cannot be pushed in. This makes it possible to know that the connectors are in an incompletely mated state. The detection member of the connector described in Patent Document 4 below is attached to the lock arm so that it can be elastically deformed integrally with the lock arm. The height position of the lock arm is arranged at a high position so that the detection member does not hit the housing when the lock arm is elastically deformed downward. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-141145 A [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-26089 [Patent Document 3] Patent Publication No. 2022-149206 [Patent Document 4] JP 2017-157546 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a connector having the above-described configuration, in order to separate the mated connectors, the detection member is moved rearward from the detection position, and the lock arm is elastically deformed downward to release the lock. If the detection member is to be attached so that it elastically deforms integrally with the lock arm, the detection member moved rearward may hit the housing, making it difficult to elastically deform the lock arm, unless the height position of the lock arm is made high. For this reason, there has been a demand for an easy-to-release lock of the lock arm.

[0005] In view of the above, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector that makes it easier to unlock the locking arm. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The connector of the present disclosure comprises a housing, an elastically deformable locking arm provided in the housing and which, when mated with a mating connector, engages with a locking portion provided on the mating connector, and a detection member attached to the locking arm so as to be movable between a first position and a second position, and which, in the mated state, is allowed to move from the first position to the second position, the housing has an opposing surface facing the locking arm and forming a deflection space between the locking arm, and the opposing surface has a recess into which the detection member enters when the locking arm elastically deforms during the mating process with the mating connector when the detection member is positioned at the first position. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector that makes it easy to unlock the locking arm. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connector according to the present embodiment, showing a state prior to mating with a mating connector. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector in a mating state with the mating connector. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the housing and the detection member. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a portion of the housing. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a rear view showing a portion of the housing. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the detection member. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a rear view showing the detection member. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a portion of the connector with the detection member disposed in the first position. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a rear view showing a part of the connector with the detection member disposed in the first position. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of the connector with the detection member disposed in the first position. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector in a mating state with the second locking portion locked to the second locking projection. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector in a state prior to mating with the mating connector. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the detection member disposed at the first position during the process of fitting with the mating connector has entered the recessed portion. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a connector in a state where the lock arm is elastically deformed during the process of fitting with a mating connector. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a front view showing the retainer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. (1) The connector of the present disclosure includes a housing, an elastically deformable lock arm provided in the housing, which is engaged with a lock portion provided in the mating connector when the connector is mated with the mating connector, and a detection member that is attached to the lock arm so as to be movable between a first position and a second position and is allowed to move from the first position to the second position when the connector is mated with the mating connector. The housing has an opposing surface that faces the lock arm and forms a deflection space between the lock arm and the opposing surface, and the opposing surface has a recess into which the detection member enters when the lock arm is elastically deformed during the mating process with the mating connector when the detection member is disposed in the first position. According to this configuration, when the connectors in the mated state are separated, the lock arm is elastically deformed after the detection member is moved from the second position to the first position. At this time, the detection member disposed in the first position is displaced with the elastic deformation of the lock arm and enters the recess of the opposing surface. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the detection member from making it difficult to elastically deform the lock arm without increasing the height position of the lock arm, and it is possible to easily release the lock of the lock arm. (2) In the connector described in (1) above, the recess may include a movement limiting surface located forward of the detection member inserted in the recess in the direction of movement from the first position to the second position. With this configuration, even if the detection member is pushed from the first position to the second position when the lock arm is in an elastically deformed state, the detection member abuts against the movement limiting surface and cannot move. Since the movement limiting surface that limits the movement of the detection member from the first position to the second position is provided in the recess, the housing can be made more compact than when the movement limiting surface is provided in a position separate from the recess. (3) In the connector described in (1) or (2) above, the detection member may have a locking portion that locks with at least one of the locking arm and the housing at the second position, and the locking portion may be located behind the movement restricting surface in the movement direction from the first position to the second position when the detection member is in the recess. According to this configuration, the locking portion has the function of locking with at least one of the locking arm and the housing at the second position and the function of contacting the movement restricting surface to prevent the detection member from moving from the first position to the second position. Therefore, the detection member can be made more compact than when these functions are provided in separate locations. (4) In the connector according to any one of (1) to (3) above, the connector may have a retainer that engages with a terminal metal fitting accommodated in a terminal accommodating chamber of the housing, the housing may be provided with a retainer mounting portion that communicates with the terminal accommodating chamber, and when the direction in which the lock arm elastically deforms is the vertical direction, the range in which the recess is formed in the vertical direction of the housing may be within the range in which the retainer mounting portion is formed in the vertical direction of the housing. With this configuration, the recess can be formed in the housing having the retainer mounting portion without increasing the vertical dimension, thereby preventing the housing from becoming large.

[0010] [Details of the embodiment of the present disclosure] Specific examples of the connector of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present 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 of the claims.

[0011] [Embodiment 1] As shown in Fig. 1, the connector 10 includes a housing 20 that can be fitted into the hood portion 12 of the mating connector 11, and a detection member 50 that detects the mated state with the mating connector 11. Terminal fittings (not shown) are accommodated in the housing 20. The housing 20 is provided with an elastically deformable lock arm 22. As shown in Fig. 2, the lock arm 22 engages with a lock portion 13 provided on the mating connector 11 to maintain the connector 10 and the mating connector 11 in a mated state.

[0012] In the following description of the connector 10, the front side in the mating direction with the mating connector 11 is referred to as the front side, and the side where the lock arm 22 is provided is referred to as the upper side. The left-right direction is based on the left-right direction when the connector 10 is viewed from the front. In each drawing, the positive side of the X axis is the front side, the negative side of the X axis is the rear side, the positive side of the Y axis is the upper side, the negative side of the Y axis is the lower side, the positive side of the Z axis is the left side, and the lower side of the negative side of the Z axis is the right side. These directions do not necessarily coincide with the directions when the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle or the like.

[0013] The housing 14 of the mating connector 11 is made of synthetic resin. The hood portion 12 of the mating connector 11 is in the shape of a square tube. The housing 14 of the mating connector 11 holds a mating terminal fitting 15 (see FIG. 12). The mating terminal fitting 15 is made of a conductive metal and has a tab that protrudes into the hood portion 12. The mating terminal fitting 15 is connected to the board 100. The lock portion 13 protrudes inward from the hood portion 12 as shown in FIG. 2.

[0014] The housing 20 is made of synthetic resin, and as shown in Fig. 3, has a housing body 21 and a lock arm 22. The housing body 21 has a plurality of terminal accommodating chambers 23 on both the left and right sides of the lock arm 22. Each terminal accommodating chamber 23 accommodates a terminal fitting (not shown). The terminal fitting is electrically connected to a mating terminal fitting 15 when the connector 10 and the mating connector 11 are mated. The terminal fitting is connected to an end portion of an electric wire (not shown).

[0015] As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 15, a retainer 24 is attached to the housing 20. The retainer 24 engages with the terminal fittings accommodated in each terminal accommodating chamber 23 to prevent the terminal fittings from falling out. The retainer 24 includes a retaining portion 24A and a retainer engaging portion 24B. The retaining portion 24A protrudes into the terminal accommodating chamber 23 (see Fig. 5). The retainer engaging portion 24B engages with the left and right side surfaces of the housing 20.

[0016] 1, the retainer 24 is attached to a retainer attachment portion 25 provided in the housing 20. The retainer attachment portion 25 communicates with the terminal accommodating chamber 23. The retainer attachment portion 25 is provided from the bottom surface of the housing 20 to the left and right side surfaces of the housing 20. The formation range of the retainer attachment portion 25 in the vertical direction of the housing 20 is from the height position of the upper end of the retainer locking portion 24B to the bottom surface of the housing 20. In other words, the formation range of the retainer attachment portion 25 is a portion of the housing 20 that is recessed for attaching the retainer 24.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, a recess 26 is formed in the left-right central portion of the upper surface of the housing body 21. The recess 26 is provided below the lock arm 22. The recess 26 is between the left and right side surfaces 27 and above a bottom surface 28. The bottom surface 28 of the recess 26 is an opposing surface that faces the lock arm 22. The bottom surface 28 of the recess 26 is located at a position one step lower than the upper surfaces of both left and right ends of the housing body 21. The bottom surface 28 of the recess 26 forms a flexure space 29 for the lock arm 22 between itself and the lock arm 22. A recess 31 is provided in the bottom surface 28 of the recess 26. The recess 31 will be described in detail later.

[0018] 2, the lock arm 22 includes a base end 32, an arm portion 33, and an operating portion 34. The base end 32 stands upright from the front end of the bottom surface 28 of the recessed portion 26. The arm portion 33 extends rearward from the base end 32. The operating portion 34 is provided at the rear end of the arm portion 33. The lock arm 22 is elastically deformable in the vertical direction with the base end 32 as a fulcrum.

[0019] The arm portion 33 has a locking protrusion 35. The locking protrusion 35 protrudes upward from the front-rear middle portion of the arm portion 33. The locking protrusion 35 engages with the locking portion 13 of the mating connector 11. An entry portion 36 is formed below the locking protrusion 35. The restricting protrusion 56 enters the entry portion 36 when the detection member 50 is in the second position. A locking hole 37 is formed behind the locking protrusion 35 on the arm portion 33.

[0020] The operating portion 34 is disposed at a position higher than the locking projection 35. The operating portion 34 has a rectangular plate shape that spans the entire width of the locking arm 22, as shown in FIG.

[0021] 4, the housing 20 has a first locking projection 38 and a second locking projection 39. The first locking projection 38 has a function of retaining the detection member 50 in a first position relative to the housing 20. The second locking projection 39 has a function of retaining the detection member 50 in a second position relative to the housing 20.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 4, the first locking projection 38 is provided on the operating portion 34 of the lock arm 22. The first locking projection 38 is disposed rearward of the second locking projection 39. The first locking projection 38 protrudes outward in the left-right direction from the left and right sides of the operating portion 34. As shown in Fig. 5, the first locking projection 38 is located above the second locking projection 39.

[0023] 4, the second locking projections 39 are provided on the housing body 21. The second locking projections 39 protrude inward in the left-right direction from the left and right side surfaces 27 of the recessed portion 26.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 2, the detection member 50 is attached to the lock arm 22 so as to be movable from a first position to a second position. In Fig. 2, the detection member 50 disposed at the first position is shown by a two-dot chain line. The detection member 50 is allowed to move from the first position to the second position when mated with the mating connector 11.

[0025] The detection member 50 is made of synthetic resin, and as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, has a base 51 at the rear end, an extension 52 at the front end, and first and second locking portions 53 and 54 on the side surfaces. Protrusions 55 that protrude outward are provided on both the left and right sides of the base 51. The detection member 50 moves from the first position to the second position when the rear surface of the base 51 is pressed forward. As shown in Fig. 7, the base 51 has a notch 58 into which a standing wall 45, described later, can enter from below. The notch 58 is provided laterally inward of the left and right second locking portions 54.

[0026] The extension portion 52 extends forward from the center in the left-right direction of the base portion 51. The extension portion 52 is elastically deformable in the up-down direction with the rear end side as a fulcrum. A restricting protrusion 56 is provided on the front end portion of the extension portion 52. The restricting protrusion 56 enters the entry portion 36 when the detection member 50 is placed in the second position (see FIG. 2).

[0027] 6, the first locking portion 53 and the second locking portion 54 extend forward from both left and right ends of the base portion 51. The front end of the second locking portion 54 is located forward of the front end of the first locking portion 53. The second locking portion 54 is provided one step further outward than the first locking portion 53 in the left-right direction.

[0028] 8, when the detection member 50 is attached to the lock arm 22, the left and right first locking portions 53 are in contact with or adjacent to both left and right surfaces of the operating portion 34. When the detection member 50 is attached to the lock arm 22, the left and right second locking portions 54 are in contact with or adjacent to the left and right side surfaces 27 of the recessed portion 26.

[0029] 8 and 9, the upper surfaces of first locking portion 53 and protrusion 55 are disposed at approximately the same height as the upper surface of operation portion 34 of locking arm 22 when detection member 50 is attached to locking arm 22. The upper surfaces of first locking portion 53 and protrusion 55, together with the upper surface of operation portion 34, can be placed with fingers.

[0030] 10, the first locking portion 53 and the second locking portion 54 each have a rectangular frame shape in a side view seen from the left-right direction. A locking hole 57 that is rectangular in a side view and penetrates the first locking portion 53 and the second locking portion 54 in the left-right direction is formed. The first locking portion 53 and the second locking portion 54 are elastically deformable in the left-right direction with their rear ends as fulcrums.

[0031] In a state before the connector 10 and the mating connector 11 are mated, as shown in FIG. 12, the detection member 50 is inserted from the rear into the deflection space 29 of the housing 20 and assembled in the first position. In the assembly process, the left and right first locking portions 53 come into contact with the first locking projections 38 and elastically deform outward in the left-right direction. When the detection member 50 reaches the first position, as shown in FIG. 10, the front end of the first locking portion 53 overcomes the first locking projections 38 and is displaced inward in the left-right direction by elastic force, and is locked by the first locking projections 38. This restricts the rearward movement of the detection member 50. When the detection member 50 is disposed in the first position, the front end of the second locking portion 54 and the rear surface of the second locking projection 39 are misaligned in the front-rear direction. Also, in the first position, the restricting projection 56 of the extension portion 52 enters the locking hole 37 and is located behind the locking projection 35. This restricts the forward movement of the detection member 50. The sensing member 50 is thus held in the first position.

[0032] When the connector 10 and the mating connector 11 are mated, the detection member 50 moves from the first position to the second position when pressed from behind, as shown in Fig. 2. When the detection member 50 is disposed in the second position, the second locking projection 39 fits into the locking hole 57 of the second locking portion 54, as shown in Fig. 11. This restricts the rearward movement of the detection member 50. When the detection member 50 is disposed in the second position, the restricting projection 56 enters the entry portion 36. Since there is no space in front of the entry portion 36, the forward movement of the detection member 50 is restricted. In this way, the detection member 50 is held in the second position.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 13, the housing 20 has a recess 31 into which the detection member 50 enters when the lock arm 22 is elastically deformed during the mating process with the mating connector 11 with the detection member 50 disposed in the first position. The recess 31 is a portion recessed downward from the bottom surface 28 of the recess 26. The recess 31 is formed in a range from the bottom surface 28 of the recess 26 to the lower surface of the housing 20 in the vertical direction of the housing 20. The formation range of the recess 31 falls within the formation range of the retainer attachment portion 25 in the vertical direction. The recess 31 has a front wall 43 and a bottom wall 44. An inclined surface 46 is provided on an upper portion of the front wall 43 of the recess 31.

[0034] 5, the recess 31 has a first recess 41 located at the center in the left-right direction and second recesses 42 located on both the left and right sides of the first recess 41. A standing wall 45 is provided between the first recess 41 and the second recess 42. The upper surfaces of the left and right standing walls 45 form the bottom surface 28 of the recessed portion 26.

[0035] 14 , the extension portion 52 of the detection member 50 fits into the first recess 41. The extension portion 52 of the detection member 50 that fits into the first recess 41 comes into contact with or is close to the upper end of the front wall 43, and the lower end of the detection member 50 comes into contact with or is close to the bottom wall 44. In the first recess 41, the bottom wall 44 continues to the rear end of the housing 20.

[0036] 5, the second recess 42 is formed between the standing wall 45 and a wall surface 47 of the housing body 21. The wall surface 47 of the housing body 21 is continuous downward from the left and right side surfaces 27 of the recessed portion 26. In other words, the upper parts of the wall surface 47 of the housing body 21 form the left and right side surfaces 27 of the recessed portion 26.

[0037] 13 , a part of the second engaging portion 54 fits into the second recess 42. In the second recess 42, the bottom wall 44 is located forward of the rear end of the housing 20. When the lock arm 22 elastically deforms, the base portion 51 fits into the opening at the rear of the bottom wall 44.

[0038] 13, the recess 31 is provided with a movement limiting surface 48 located in front of the detection member 50 in the movement direction from the first position to the second position when the detection member 50 is inserted in the recess 31. The movement limiting surface 48 is provided on a lower part of the front wall 43 of the second recess 42. The movement limiting surface 48 is perpendicular to the movement direction (front-rear direction) of the detection member 50.

[0039] Next, an example of the operation of completely fitting the connector 10 and the mating connector 11 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 12, the housing 20 is inserted into the hood portion 12 of the mating connector 11 and fitted. When fitting with the mating connector 11 starts, as shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the locking protrusion 35 contacts the locking portion 13, and the locking arm 22 elastically deforms downward (toward the deflection space 29). In conjunction with the elastic deformation of the locking arm 22, the detection member 50 also displaces downward. The detection member 50 enters the recess 31. Specifically, the extension portion 52 enters the first recess 41, and the left and right second locking portions 54 enter the left and right second recesses 42, respectively. In addition, the standing wall 45 enters the notch portion 58.

[0040] With the detection member 50 in the recess 31, the second locking portion 54 is located behind the movement restriction surface 48 in the movement direction. When the detection member 50 is pressed forward in this state, the lower end of the front surface of the second locking portion 54 comes into contact with the movement restriction surface 48. In addition, the restriction protrusion 56 comes into contact with the lock protrusion 35. This restricts the movement of the detection member 50 from the first position to the second position.

[0041] Thereafter, when mating with the mating connector 11 is continued, as shown in Fig. 2, the connector 10 is inserted into the hood portion 12 of the mating connector 11 to the normal depth, and the connector 10 and the mating connector 11 are mated. At this time, the detection member 50 is located at the first position indicated by the two-dot chain line. The lock arm 22 elastically returns to its original position when mating with the mating connector 11, and the lock protrusion 35 is displaced upward and engages with the lock portion 13. This maintains the mated state between the connector 10 and the mating connector 11. As a result of the lock protrusion 35 being displaced upward, the detection member 50 is able to move to the second position.

[0042] At this point, when the detection member 50 is pushed forward, as shown in Fig. 11, the front end of the second locking portion 54 elastically overcomes the second locking projection 39, and the detection member 50 reaches the second position. The second locking projection 39 fits into the locking hole 57 of the second locking portion 54, restricting the movement of the detection member 50 to the first position. Also, as shown in Fig. 2, the restricting projection 56 enters the entry portion 36. This restricts the downward elastic deformation of the locking arm 22. With the above, the operation of mating the connector 10 and the mating connector 11 is completed.

[0043] Next, an example of the operation for removing the mated connector 10 and the mating connector 11 will be described. First, the detection member 50 is moved from the second position to the first position. Specifically, the left and right protrusions 55 of the detection member 50 are pinched with the fingers and pulled backward, moving the detection member 50 backward. This makes it possible to release the lock arm 22.

[0044] Next, the operating portion 34 of the lock arm 22 is pressed downward to elastically deform the lock arm 22 downward. At this time, the fingers can be placed on a wide surface consisting of the upper surface of the operating portion 34 of the lock arm 22, the upper surfaces of the left and right first locking portions 53, and the upper surface of the protrusion 55, so that the operation of pressing the operating portion 34 can be easily performed. In conjunction with the elastic deformation of the lock arm 22, the detection member 50 is also displaced downward, and the detection member 50 enters the recess 31. If the recess 31 is not provided, it is necessary to increase the height position of the lock arm 22, but since the recess 31 is provided, it is not necessary to increase the height position of the lock arm 22. This makes it possible to prevent the detection member 50 from interfering with the downward displacement of the lock arm 22 without increasing the height position of the lock arm 22. As the lock arm 22 is displaced downward, the lock protrusion 35 is displaced downward, and the connector 10 can be moved backward. The connector 10 is pulled backward to remove it from the mating connector 11. This completes the process of removing the completely mated connector 10 from the mating connector 11.

[0045] Next, the operation and effect of the embodiment configured as described above will be described. The connector 10 includes a housing 20, an elastically deformable lock arm 22, and a detection member 50. The lock arm 22 is provided in the housing 20. When the connector 10 is mated with the mating connector 11, the lock arm 22 engages with a lock portion 13 provided in the mating connector 11. The detection member 50 is attached to the lock arm 22 so as to be movable between a first position and a second position. When the connector 10 is mated with the mating connector 11, the detection member 50 is allowed to move from the first position to the second position. The housing 20 has a bottom surface 28 of a recessed portion 26 that faces the lock arm 22 and forms a deflection space 29 between the lock arm 22 and the bottom surface 28 of the recessed portion 26. The bottom surface 28 of the recessed portion 26 has a recess 31 into which the detection member 50 enters when the lock arm 22 is elastically deformed during the mating process with the mating connector 11 in a state in which the detection member 50 is disposed in the first position.

[0046] According to this configuration, when the mated connector 10 is to be separated, the detection member 50 is moved from the second position to the first position, elastically deforming the lock arm 22. At this time, the detection member 50 disposed at the first position is displaced in association with the elastic deformation of the lock arm 22, and enters the recess 31 on the opposing surface. Therefore, the detection member 50 can prevent the lock arm 22 from becoming difficult to elastically deform, and the lock of the lock arm 22 can be easily released.

[0047] The recess 31 is provided with a movement restricting surface 48. The movement restricting surface 48 is located forward of the detection member 50 inserted in the recess 31 in the movement direction from the first position to the second position. With this configuration, even if the detection member 50 is pushed from the first position to the second position when the lock arm 22 is in an elastically deformed state, the detection member 50 abuts against the movement restricting surface 48 and cannot move. Since the movement restricting surface 48 that restricts the movement of the detection member 50 from the first position to the second position is provided in the recess 31, the housing 20 can be made more compact than when the movement restricting surface 48 is provided in a location separate from the recess 31.

[0048] The detection member 50 has a second locking portion 54. The second locking portion 54 locks with the housing 20 at the second position. When the detection member 50 is inserted in the recess 31, the second locking portion 54 is located behind the movement restricting surface 48 in the movement direction. According to this configuration, the second locking portion 54 is provided with a function of locking with the housing 20 at the second position and a function of contacting the movement restricting surface 48 to prevent the detection member 50 from moving from the first position to the second position. Therefore, the detection member 50 can be made more compact than when these functions are provided in separate locations.

[0049] The housing 20 is provided with a retainer attachment portion 25 that communicates with the terminal accommodating chamber 23. The range in which the recess 31 is formed in the vertical direction of the housing 20 is within the range in which the retainer attachment portion 25 is formed in the vertical direction of the housing 20. With this configuration, the recess 31 can be formed in the housing 20 having the retainer attachment portion 25 without increasing the vertical dimension, so that an increase in the size of the housing 20 can be suppressed.

[0050] [Another embodiment of the present disclosure] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. In the above embodiment, the movement restricting surface 48 is provided in the second recess 42, but in other embodiments, the movement restricting surface may be provided in the first recess 41. In the above embodiment, the movement restricting surface 48 is provided in the recess 31, but in other embodiments, the movement restricting surface may be provided in a location other than the recess. In the above embodiment, the second locking portion 54 of the detection member 50 abuts against the movement restricting surface 48, but in other embodiments, a portion of the detection member other than the second locking portion may abut against the movement restricting surface. In the above embodiment, the range in which the recess 31 is formed in the vertical direction of the housing 20 falls within the range in which the retainer attachment portion 25 is formed in the vertical direction of the housing 20, but in other embodiments, the range in which the recess is formed does not have to fall within the range in which the retainer attachment portion 25 is formed. Also, the connector does not have to include a retainer. In the above embodiment, the second locking portion 54 is locked to the housing 20 in the second position, but in another embodiment, the second locking portion may be locked to the lock arm in the second position. In this case, the second locking projection may be provided on the lock arm. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 10…Connector 11…Mating connector 12…Hood section 13…Lock section 14. Housing 15...Mating terminal fitting 20. Housing 21…Housing body 22...Lock arm 23...Terminal chamber 24…Retainer 24A…Keeping part 24B…Retainer locking part 25…Retainer attachment part 26…Recess 27…Side 28…Bottom surface (opposite surface) 29…Deflection space 31…Recess 32...Proximal end 33…Arm section 34...Operation unit 35…Lock protrusion 36…Entry section 37…Lock hole 38...First locking protrusion 39...Second locking protrusion 41...First recess 42...Second recess 43...Front wall 44…Bottom wall 45…Standing wall 46…Slope surface 47…Wall 48...Movement restriction surface 50…Detection member 51...Base 52...Extending part 53...First locking portion 54...Second locking part 55…Protrusion 56…Regulation protrusion 57...Latching hole 58…Notch 100...Substrate

Claims

1. Housing and a lock arm provided on the housing, the lock arm being elastically deformable and adapted to engage with a lock portion provided on the mating connector when the mating connector is in a mated state; a detection member that is attached to the lock arm so as to be movable between a first position and a second position, and that is allowed to move from the first position to the second position in the fitted state, the housing has an opposing surface that faces the lock arm and forms a deflection space between the opposing surface and the lock arm, A connector, wherein the opposing surface has a recess into which the detection member enters when the lock arm elastically deforms during the mating process with the mating connector with the detection member disposed in the first position.

2. The connector according to claim 1 , wherein the recess includes a movement restricting surface located forward of the detection member when the detection member is inserted into the recess in a direction of movement from the first position to the second position.

3. the detection member has a locking portion that is locked to at least one of the lock arm and the housing in the second position, The connector according to claim 2 , wherein when the detection member is inserted into the recess, the locking portion is located behind the movement restricting surface in the movement direction from the first position to the second position.

4. a retainer that engages with the terminal metal fitting accommodated in the terminal accommodating chamber of the housing; The housing is provided with a retainer mounting portion that communicates with the terminal accommodating chamber, When the direction in which the lock arm elastically deforms is the up-down direction, 4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein a range in which the recess is formed in the vertical direction of the housing falls within a range in which the retainer attachment portion is formed in the vertical direction of the housing.

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