Connector

Abstract

To provide a connector that prevents wear of a terminal fitting when vibration is applied to a wire.SOLUTION: A connector 10 includes a housing 20 that can be fitted to a mating connector 100. The housing 20 has a plurality of cavities 23 that each can house a terminal fitting 90. The cavities 23 are arranged side by side inside the housing 20 in a width direction intersecting fitting directions of the housing 20 and the mating connector 100. The housing 20 has: a center side locking part 35 that is located on the center side in the width direction and maintains a mating state with the mating connector 100; and end side locking parts 36 that are located on both end sides of the width direction and maintain the mating state with the mating connector 100.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a connector.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of fastening connector housings that are paired with each other with a nut member. Patent Document 2 discloses a connector including a first housing and a second housing that can be fitted to each other. The first housing houses a first terminal fitting. An elastically deformable lock arm is formed on the first housing. The second housing houses a second terminal fitting that can be connected to the first terminal fitting. A lock portion that can be locked to the lock arm is formed on the second housing. When the lock portion is locked to the lock arm, the first housing and the second housing are held in a fitted state.

[0003] Patent Document 3 discloses a moving plate that is movably disposed inside a male connector. Similarly, Patent Document 4 discloses a moving plate that is movably disposed inside a hood portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 has many structural restrictions due to circumstances such as attaching a nut member to a housing, and lacks versatility. On the other hand, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 2 has a general structure in which a locking portion is locked to a locking arm and has high versatility. However, when a plurality of electric wires are drawn out side by side in the width direction from the first housing, if vibration is applied to the connector, each of the drawn electric wires may swing in the width direction with the locking portion between the locking arm and the locking portion (the central portion in the width direction of the first housing) as a fulcrum. If each electric wire swings in the width direction, there is a possibility that the first housing and the second housing rattle within the range of their fitting clearance, and the first terminal fitting and the second terminal fitting may slide against each other and wear.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a connector capable of preventing the terminal fitting from wearing when vibration is applied to the electric wire.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The connector of the present disclosure includes a housing that can be fitted with a mating connector. The housing has a plurality of cavities capable of accommodating terminal fittings. The plurality of cavities are arranged side by side in the width direction intersecting the fitting direction of the housing and the mating connector inside the housing. Further, the housing has a central locking portion located on the central side in the width direction for holding the fitting state with the mating connector, and end locking portions located on both end sides in the width direction for holding the fitting state with the mating connector.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a connector capable of preventing the terminal fitting from wearing when vibration is applied to the electric wire.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

[0010] [Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. The connector of the present disclosure is (1) It is provided with a housing that can be fitted with a mating connector. The housing has a plurality of cavities capable of accommodating terminal fittings. The plurality of cavities are arranged side by side in a width direction that intersects the fitting direction of the housing and the mating connector inside the housing. Further, the housing has a central locking portion located on the central side in the width direction to hold the fitting state with the mating connector, and end-side locking portions located on both end sides in the width direction to hold the fitting state with the mating connector.

[0011] According to the configuration of (1) above, when vibration in the width direction is applied to the connector, the end-side locking portions located on both end sides in the width direction of the housing can absorb part of the vibration force, so it is possible to avoid the central locking portion from becoming the fulcrum of the housing's deflection. As a result, the fitting state between the housing and the mating connector can be held firmly without rattling due to the interaction between the central locking portion and the end-side locking portions.

[0012] (2) In the connector according to (1) above, it is preferable that the central locking portion and the central-side locked portion that is the locking partner of the central locking portion are locked in a state where their movement in the width direction is restricted, and the end-side locking portion and the end-side locked portion that is the locking partner of the end-side locking portion are locked in a state where their movement in the width direction is restricted.

[0013] According to the configuration of (2) above, it is possible to more reliably suppress the housing from rattling in the width direction with respect to the mating connector.

[0014] (3) In the connector according to (1) or (2) above, it is preferable that the end-side locked portion is provided on a moving plate that is movably arranged inside the hood portion of the housing, and the moving plate has a plate locking portion that is locked to the mating connector when the housing and the mating connector are in a fitted state, separately from the end-side locked portion.

[0015] According to the configuration of (3) above, the mating connector can be locked to the moving plate by the plate lock portion and maintain the fitting state with the housing via the locked portion on the end side of the moving plate. Therefore, the structure corresponding to the locked portion on the end side can be omitted from the mating connector, and the complication of the structure of the mating connector can be avoided.

[0016] (4) In the connector according to (3) above, it is preferable that a plurality of the plate lock portions are arranged at intervals in the width direction on the moving plate.

[0017] According to the configuration of (4) above, it is possible to suppress the rattling of the mating connector in the width direction with respect to the moving plate, and to ensure the function of suppressing the rattling of the housing with respect to the mating connector.

[0018] (5) In the connector according to any one of (1) to (4) above, the housing has a wire drawing surface disposed facing the rear, which is the direction opposite to the direction in which it fits with the mating connector, and the wires connected to the terminal fittings are drawn out rearward from the wire drawing surface, and it is preferable that the end side lock portion is disposed rearward of the central side lock portion.

[0019] According to the configuration of (5) above, when each wire drawn out from the wire drawing surface of the housing sways in the width direction, the end side lock portion located closer to each drawn wire can receive the vibration of each wire more efficiently than the central side lock portion. As a result, it is possible to more surely suppress the rattling of the housing in the width direction with respect to the mating connector.

[0020] [Details of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] Specific examples of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to this exemplification, and is shown by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0021] <Embodiment 1> As shown in Fig. 12, the connector 10 of Embodiment 1 includes a housing 20 and a moving plate 50 movably attached to the housing 20. As shown in Fig. 3, the housing 20 is configured to be engageable with a mating connector 100. A terminal fitting 90 is accommodated inside the housing 20. In the following description, regarding the front-rear direction, the direction in which the connector 10 and the mating connector 100 face each other at the start of engagement (the direction facing the mating side) is defined as the front. The up-down direction is based on the up-down direction in each figure except Figs. 1 and 9. The up-down direction may also be referred to as the height direction. The left-right direction is based on the left-right direction in Figs. 4, 7, 8, 10, and 11. The left-right direction may also be referred to as the width direction. The reference directions of these directions do not necessarily coincide with the reference directions of the directions in the state where the connector 10 is mounted on a vehicle (not shown). In Figs. 1-3, the front with reference to the connector 10 is indicated by the symbol X, the right by the symbol Y, and the upper by the symbol Z.

[0022] (Mating Connector 100) The mating connector 100 is a female connector and includes a mating housing 120 as a female housing. The mating housing 120 is made of synthetic resin and has a rectangular block shape. As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of mating cavities 121 are formed in the mating housing 120. Each mating cavity 121 is arranged in a plurality of rows in the width direction and in a plurality of stages in the height direction inside the mating housing 120. In the case of the first embodiment, they are arranged in two upper and lower stages. The mating housing 120 has a pair of plate lock receiving portions 122 in the width direction between the upper and lower mating cavities 121. Each plate lock receiving portion 122 opens in an opening shape that extends long in the width direction on the front surface of the mating housing 120. Also, each plate lock receiving portion 122 has a shape that deeply recesses backward from the front surface of the mating housing 120. The upper surface (the surface facing downward) and the lower surface (the surface facing upward) of the inner wall of each plate lock receiving portion 122 are flat surfaces along the left - right direction and are arranged parallel to each other. The mating housing 120 has a plate - locked portion 123 that protrudes from the upper surface of the inner wall of each plate lock receiving portion 122. Each plate - locked portion 123 has a rectangular shape that is long in the left - right direction. As shown in FIG. 5, the front surface of the plate - locked portion 123 is inclined backward. The rear surface of the plate - locked portion 123 stands perpendicular to the up - down direction. On the rear surface of the plate - locked portion 123, a plate lock portion 52 of the moving plate 50, which will be described later, is opposed and can be locked.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 7, a locked central-side portion 124 protrudes from the left and right central portions of the upper surface of the mating housing 120. The locked central-side portion 124 is a so-called lock arm. As shown in Fig. 2, after rising from the front end of the upper surface of the mating housing 120, it has an elastically deformable arm portion 125 extending rearward, and a lock protrusion 126 protruding upward from the front and rear central portions of the arm portion 125. The lock protrusion 126 is engageable with a central-side lock portion 35 (to be described later) of the housing 20. As shown in Fig. 7, a plurality of misfitting prevention recesses 127 are formed on the lower surface of the mating housing 120. As shown in Fig. 4, each misfitting prevention recess 127 is engageable with a misfitting prevention protrusion 31 (to be described later) of the housing 20.

[0024] As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, a mating terminal fitting 190 is inserted and housed in a mating cavity 121 of the mating housing 120 from the rear. The mating terminal fitting 190 is made of conductive metal and has a cylindrical connection portion 191. In a state where the mating housing 120 is fitted to the housing 20, a tab 92 (to be described later) of the terminal fitting 90 is inserted into the connection portion 191, and the terminal fitting 90 and the mating terminal fitting 190 are electrically connected. The rear portion of the mating terminal fitting 190 is soldered to a circuit board (not shown) and electrically connected.

[0025] (Housing 20 and Terminal Fitting 90) The housing 20 is made of synthetic resin. As shown in Fig. 8, as a whole, it has a horizontally long shape in which the width dimension in the left-right direction is larger than the height dimension in the up-down direction. The housing 20 has a square-block-shaped housing body 21 and a square-tubular hood portion 22 protruding forward from the housing body 21. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the mating housing 120 is fitted inside the hood portion 22.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of cavities 23 are formed in the housing body 21. Each cavity 23 is arranged in a plurality of rows in the width direction and a plurality of stages in the height direction inside the housing body 21 so as to correspond to each mating cavity 121. In the case of the first embodiment, they are arranged in two upper and lower stages. On the upper surface (the surface facing downward) of the inner wall of each cavity 23, an elastically deformable lance 24 is formed to protrude. On the front surface of the housing body 21 (which is also the back surface of the hood portion 22), a pair of recesses 25 are formed at intervals in the vertical direction. Each recess 25 is recessed in the front surface of the housing body 21 over the entire width in the left-right direction. Each lance 24 is exposed so as to be visible through the recess 25.

[0027] The terminal fitting 90 is made of conductive metal and is configured as a male terminal. As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal fitting 90 has a cylindrical terminal body 91, a tab 92 protruding forward from the terminal body 91, and a barrel portion 93 located behind the terminal body 91. The barrel portion 93 is electrically and mechanically connected to the end portion of the electric wire W. The terminal body 91 is locked to the lance 24. The terminal fitting 90 is primarily restricted from coming out rearward from the cavity 23 by the lance 24. Further, the terminal fitting 90 is also locked to a retainer 30 attached to the housing body 21, thereby secondarily restricting the rearward extraction from the cavity 23. As shown in FIG. 6, the tab 92 is disposed to protrude inside the hood portion 22.

[0028] The rear end of each cavity 23 opens to the rear surface of the housing body 21. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the rear surface of the housing body 21 is configured as a wire extraction surface 26 from which the electric wires W connected to the respective terminal fittings 90 are drawn out. As shown in FIG. 1, the wire extraction surface 26 is an end surface that is long in the left-right direction. Each electric wire W is drawn out side by side in the left-right direction from the wire extraction surface 26.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 8, the hood portion 22 has an upper wall 27 and a lower wall 28 that face each other in the vertical direction, and a pair of side walls 29 that face each other in the left-right direction. The upper wall 27 and the lower wall 28 are arranged along the left-right direction. Each side wall 29 is arranged along the vertical direction. A plurality of anti-misalignment convex portions 31 are formed on the inner surface of the lower wall 28. When the housing 20 and the mating housing 120 are in the correct mating posture, each anti-misalignment convex portion 31 fits into the inside of each anti-misalignment concave portion 127. When the housing 20 and the mating housing 120 are in an incorrect mating posture such as being turned upside down, the fitting of each anti-misalignment convex portion 31 into each anti-misalignment concave portion 127 is restricted. Thereby, misalignment between the housing 20 and the mating housing 120 is prevented.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 8, guide portions 32 are recessed at both left and right ends on the inner surfaces of the upper wall 27 and the lower wall 28 of the hood portion 22. As shown in FIG. 3, each guide portion 32 extends in the front-rear direction and opens at the front end of the hood portion 22. As shown in FIG. 8, the guide portion 32 of the upper wall 27 is formed between guide ribs 33 that face each other in the left-right direction on the inner surface of the upper wall 27. The guide portion 32 of the upper wall 27 is closed by a rib 37 that connects the rear ends of the guide ribs 33 that face each other in the left-right direction (see FIG. 3).

[0031] As shown in FIG. 8, at the left and right central portions of the upper wall 27 of the hood portion 22, a base portion 34 having a greater thickness in the vertical direction than the left and right ends of the upper wall 27 is formed. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, a central side lock portion 35 that penetrates the base portion 34 in the vertical direction (the thickness direction of the upper wall 27) is formed on the upper wall 27 of the hood portion 22. As shown in FIG. 1, the central side lock portion 35 opens at a position near the front end and at the left and right central portions of the upper wall 27, with an opening shape that is rectangular in plan view. Specifically, the central side lock portion 35 has a horizontally long opening shape in which the opening width in the left-right direction is greater than the opening length in the front-rear direction. The locking protrusion 126 of the locked central side lock portion 124 can be fitted into the central side lock portion 35 in a state where its position in the left-right direction is regulated (a state where displacement is regulated).

[0032] Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a pair of end-side locking portions 36 penetrating the left and right end portions of the upper wall 27 in the vertical direction are formed on the upper wall 27 of the hood portion 22. As shown in FIG. 1, each end-side locking portion 36 opens at the left and right end portions of the upper wall 27 and at a position closer to the rear end, with an opening shape that is approximately square in plan view. Specifically, each end-side locking portion 36 has an opening shape in which the opening length in the front-rear direction is slightly larger than the opening width in the left-right direction. Further, each end-side locking portion 36 is disposed behind each guide portion 32 of the upper wall 27. As shown in FIG. 3, the front surface (the surface located on the front side and facing the rear) of the end-side locking portion 36 is partitioned by a rib 37. A later-described end-side locked portion 59 of the moving plate 50 can be fitted into the end-side locking portion 36 in a state where its position is regulated in the left-right direction.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 1, plate locking portions 38 penetrating the side walls 29 in the left-right direction (the thickness direction of the side walls 29) are formed on the respective side walls 29 of the hood portion 22. Each plate locking portion 38 is disposed at the front-rear center side of each side wall 29. Although not shown in detail, each plate locking portion 38 extends in the vertical direction, and its upper end opens to the upper surface of the hood portion 22. A later-described plate locked portion 58 of the moving plate 50 can be locked to the plate locking portion 38.

[0034] (Moving plate 50) The moving plate 50 is made of synthetic resin and is movably mounted between a protection position (see FIG. 6) and a fitting position (see FIGS. 2 and 3) with respect to the housing 20. As shown in FIG. 10, the moving plate 50 has a plate body 51 that is rectangular in front view and has a thickness in the front-rear direction, and a pair of left and right plate locking portions 52 that project forward from the front surface of the plate body 51. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the moving plate 50 has a pair of upper and lower convex portions 53 that project rearward from the rear surface of the plate body 51.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a plurality of insertion holes 54 are formed in the plate body 51. Each insertion hole 54 is arranged in a plurality of rows in the width direction and in a plurality of stages in the height direction inside the plate body 51 so as to correspond to each cavity 23. In the case of the first embodiment, they are arranged in two upper and lower stages.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 10, each insertion hole 54 has a square opening shape when viewed from the front. The tabs 92 of each terminal fitting 90 are inserted into each insertion hole 54 in a positioned state (see FIGS. 5 and 6). As shown in FIG. 10, at both left and right ends of the plate body 51, thin portions 55 that are thinner than adjacent portions are formed. The thin portion 55 has a C-shaped corner (concave shape) when viewed from the front, and has upper and lower extending portions 56 that extend in the vertical direction at the left and right outer ends of the plate body 51, and left and right extending portions 57 that extend inward in the left and right directions at the upper and lower ends of the plate body 51. The thin portion 55 is thinned by recessing the corresponding portions (upper and lower extending portions 56 and left and right extending portions 57) on the front surface of the plate body 51, and is made elastically deformable in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0037] On both left and right end faces of the plate body 51, a pair of plate-locked portions 58 are formed to protrude. Each plate-locked portion 58 has a vertically long rectangular shape when viewed from the front, and is configured to be able to fit inside the plate-locking portion 38 in the protection position. The upper and lower extending portions 56 of the thin portion 55 are arranged on the left and right inner sides of each plate-locked portion 58. Each plate-locked portion 58 is displaceable inward in the left and right directions with the elastic deformation of the upper and lower extending portions 56 of the thin portion 55.

[0038] At both left and right ends of the upper end surface of the plate body 51, a pair of locked end-side locking portions 59 are formed to protrude. Each locked end-side locking portion 59 has a rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction when viewed from the front, and is configured to be capable of fitting inside each end-side locking portion 36 at the fitting position. As shown in FIG. 3, the front surface of the locked end-side locking portion 59 is tilted backward. The rear surface of the locked end-side locking portion 59 is tilted forward. The left and right end surfaces of the locked end-side locking portion 59 are arranged along the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, and are in contact with or close to the left and right surfaces (surfaces facing each other left and right) of the inner wall of the end-side locking portion 36 (see FIG. 1). On the upper and lower inner sides of each end-side locking portion 36, left and right extending portions 57 of the thin-walled portion 55 are arranged. Each locked end-side locking portion 59 is configured to be displaceable upward and downward with elastic deformation of the left and right extending portions 57 of the thin-walled portion 55. Further, the locked end-side locking portion 59 is configured to be capable of fitting inside the guide portion 32 of the upper wall 27 during the movement process of the moving plate 50.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 8, on the upper end surface of the plate body 51, a pair of fitting protrusions 61 are formed to protrude at positions that are left and right inner sides of each locked end-side locking portion 59 and left and right outer sides of the left and right center. Each fitting protrusion 61 is fitted and arranged in a space formed between each guide rib 33 on the left and right center side of the hood portion 22 and the base portion 34 (see FIG. 4).

[0040] At both left and right ends of the lower end surface of the plate body 51, a pair of guided portions 62 are formed to protrude. The guided portion 62 has the same shape as the locked end-side locking portion 59, and as shown in FIG. 4, is configured to be capable of fitting inside the guide portion 32 of the lower wall 28.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 11, on the plate body 51, an inviting portion 63 is formed that largely expands from the rear end of the insertion hole 54 to the rear surface of the plate body 51. The inviting portion 63 is formed from the plate body 51 to the convex portion 53. The upper end portion of the inviting portion 63 is formed to notch the convex portion 53. As shown in FIG. 5, inside the inviting portion 63, the root portion of the tab 92 is arranged at the fitting position.

[0042] The convex portions 53 are arranged in pairs at positions spaced apart in the vertical direction on the rear surface of the plate body 51. Each convex portion 53 projects from the front surface of the plate body 51 over the entire width in the left - right direction. Each convex portion 53 is arranged to enter the inside of each concave portion 25.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, each plate lock portion 52 is arranged in pairs at positions spaced apart in the left - right direction on the front surface of the plate body 51. When the housing 20 and the mating housing 120 are fitted together, each plate lock portion 52 is arranged to enter the inside of each plate lock receiving portion 122 (see FIG. 2).

[0044] As shown in FIG. 10, the upper and lower surfaces of each plate lock portion 52 are arranged along the left - right direction. As shown in FIG. 9, each plate lock portion 52 has a rectangular plate - like shape that is long in the front - rear direction in plan view, and is elastically deformable in the vertical direction with the front surface of the plate body 51 as a fulcrum. A lock hole 64 is formed through each plate lock portion 52 in the vertical direction (the thickness direction of the plate lock portion 52). The lock hole 64 has an opening shape that is square or nearly square in plan view. As shown in FIG. 5, a plate - lock - target portion 123 can be fitted inside the lock hole 64.

[0045] (Operation of the connector 10) During assembly, the moving plate 50 is inserted into the inside of the hood portion 22 from the front. In the process of inserting the moving plate 50, each guided portion 62 is inserted into each guide portion 32 of the lower wall 28 in a fitted state, and each end - side lock portion 59 is inserted into each guide portion 32 of the upper wall 27, guiding the assembly of the moving plate 50. Also, with the vertically extending portions 56 of each thin - walled portion 55 elastically deformed, each plate - locking portion 58 slides on the inner surface of each side wall 29 of the hood portion 22.

[0046] When the moving plate 50 is in the protection position, the upper and lower extending portions 56 of each thin portion 55 elastically return, and each plate locking portion 58 fitted into each plate locking portion 38 from the left and right inner sides. Thereby, the movement of the moving plate 50 in the front-rear direction is restricted. As shown in FIG. 6, the plate body 51 is disposed in front of the front surface of the housing body 21 (the inner surface of the hood portion 22) at the protection position. The tip of the tab 92 of each terminal fitting 90 is inserted into each insertion hole 54 of the plate body 51 in a positioned state.

[0047] When the moving plate 50 is in the protection position, the mating housing 120 is inserted into the hood portion 22 from the front. Here, when the mating housing 120 is to be inserted into the hood portion 22 in an inclined posture, the mating housing 120 abuts against the tip of each plate locking portion 52, and the fitting operation of the mating housing 120 is restricted. At this time, the tip of the tab 92 of each terminal fitting 90 is set so as not to interfere with the inclined mating housing 120.

[0048] When the mating housing 120 is inserted into the hood portion 22 in the correct posture, each plate locking portion 52 enters each plate locking receiving portion 122. Then, the mating housing 120 contacts the front surface of the plate body 51, and the moving plate 50 is pressed by the mating housing 120, and the locking between each plate locking portion 58 and each plate locking portion 38 is released. Then, as the fitting operation of the mating housing 120 with respect to the housing 20 proceeds, the moving plate 50 moves together with the mating housing 120 toward the fitting position inside the hood portion 22.

[0049] Immediately before the moving plate 50 reaches the fitting position, the locking projection 126 of the locked central side locking portion 124 slides on the inclined surface of the inner surface of the base portion 34, and the arm portion 125 is elastically deformed downward (in the height direction). Further, each locked end side locking portion 59 slides on the rib 37, and the left and right extending portions 57 of each thin portion 55 are also elastically deformed downward.

[0050] When the moving plate 50 reaches the fitting position, the arm portion 125 elastically returns, the locking projection 126 fits into the central side locking portion 35 from below, and the housing 20 and the mating housing 120 are held in a fitted state at the center in the width direction (see Fig. 2). Similarly, the left and right extending portions 57 of each thin wall portion 55 elastically return, and each end side locking portion 59 fits into each end side locking portion 36 from below (see Figs. 3 and 4). The locked plate portion 123 fits into the locking hole 64 of each plate locking portion 52, and the moving plate 50 and the mating housing 120 are held in a state where relative displacement is restricted (see Fig. 5). Therefore, the housing 20 and the mating housing 120 are also held in a fitted state at both ends in the width direction.

[0051] When the housing 20 and the mating housing 120 are in the fitted state, the tabs 92 of each terminal fitting 90 are inserted into the connection portions 191 of each mating terminal fitting 190 to the regular depth (see Figs. 3 and 5), and each terminal fitting 90 and each mating terminal fitting 190 are electrically connected. The plate body 51 contacts the front surface of the housing body 21 inside the hood portion 22 and is disposed in a state of being sandwiched between the housing body 21 and the mating housing 120 (see Figs. 2 and 3). The convex portion 53 is disposed to face the respective lances 24 from the front inside the concave portion 25.

[0052] By the way, when vibration is applied to the housing 20 and the mating housing 120 in the fitted state, each electric wire W drawn from the electric wire lead-out surface 26 of the housing 20 may swing in the width direction (see the double-headed arrow in Fig. 1). In the case of the first embodiment, each end side locking portion 36 located at both left and right ends in the fitted state is locked to each end side locked portion 59, so that the vibration of each electric wire W can be received and the vibration force can be partially absorbed. Therefore, it is possible to significantly reduce the transmission of the vibration force to the central side locking portion 35 located at the center in the left and right of the fitted state. As a result, it is possible to avoid the fulcrum of the swing of each electric wire W drawn from the electric wire lead-out surface 26 from becoming the locking portion between the central side locking portion 35 and the locked central side locking portion 124, and it is possible to suppress the rattling of the housing 20 with respect to the mating housing 120.

[0053] As described above, the connector 10 of the first embodiment includes a housing 20 that can be fitted to a mating connector 100. The housing 20 has a plurality of cavities 23 capable of accommodating terminal fittings 90. Each cavity 23 is arranged side by side in the width direction inside the housing 20. Further, the housing 20 has a central locking portion 35 located on the central side in the width direction for holding the fitting state with the mating connector 100, and end-side locking portions 36 located on both end sides in the width direction for holding the fitting state with the mating connector 100. According to this configuration, when vibration in the width direction is applied to the connector 10, the end-side locking portions 36 located on both end sides in the width direction of the housing 20 can absorb part of the vibration force, so that it is possible to avoid the central locking portion 35 from becoming the fulcrum of the deflection of the housing 20. Thereby, the fitting state between the housing 20 and the mating connector 100 can be held firmly without rattling by the interaction between the central locking portion 35 and the end-side locking portions 36. As a result, it is possible to prevent the terminal fitting 90 from being worn by receiving the vibration force of the electric wire W.

[0054] Also, in the case of the first embodiment, the central locking portion 35 and the central-side locked portion 124 that is the locking partner of the central locking portion 35 are configured to be locked to each other in the height direction while their movement in the width direction is restricted. The end-side locking portion 36 and the end-side locked portion 59 that is the locking partner of the end-side locking portion 36 are also configured to be locked to each other in the height direction while their movement in the width direction is restricted. According to this configuration, it is possible to more reliably suppress the housing 20 from rattling in the width direction with respect to the mating connector 100.

[0055] Also, in the case of the first embodiment, the end-side locking portion 59 is provided on the moving plate 50 that is movably disposed inside the hood portion 22 of the housing 20. And, the moving plate 50 has a plate locking portion 52 that is locked to the mating connector 100 when the housing 20 and the mating connector 100 are in a fitted state, separately from the end-side locking portion 59. According to this configuration, the mating connector 100 can be locked to the moving plate 50 by the plate locking portion 52, and the fitting state with the housing 20 can be maintained via the end-side locking portion 59 of the moving plate 50. Thereby, the structure on the housing 20 side can be simplified.

[0056] Also, the plate locking portions 52 are arranged in pairs at intervals in the width direction on the moving plate 50. According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress the rattling of the mating connector 100 in the width direction with respect to the moving plate 50, and the rattling suppression function of the housing 20 with respect to the mating connector 100 can be ensured.

[0057] Furthermore, in the case of the first embodiment, a wire drawing surface 26 is formed on the rear surface of the housing 20, and the respective wires W connected to the respective terminal fittings 90 are drawn rearward from the wire drawing surface 26, and each end-side locking portion 36 is arranged behind the central-side locking portion 35. According to this configuration, when each wire W drawn from the wire drawing surface 26 of the housing 20 sways in the width direction, the end-side locking portion 36 located closer to each drawn wire W can receive the vibration of each wire W more efficiently than the central-side locking portion 35. As a result, it is possible to more surely suppress the rattling of the housing 20 in the width direction with respect to the mating connector 100.

[0058] [Other Embodiments of the Present Disclosure] It should be considered that the above-described first embodiment disclosed this time is illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. In the case of the above-described Embodiment 1, the central locking portion 35 was formed as one at the center in the width direction of the housing 20. However, the central locking portion may be formed on the central side in the width direction of the housing (not limited to the exact center position in the width direction). For example, it may be formed in pairs on both sides sandwiching the center in the width direction of the housing. In the case of the above-described Embodiment 1, the end-side locking portions 36 were formed so as to be in pairs at both ends in the width direction of the housing 20. However, the end-side locking portions may be formed on both end sides in the width direction of the housing (portions closer to both ends excluding the central side in the width direction). For example, a plurality of them may be formed with different distances from the center in the width direction. In the case of the above-described Embodiment 1, each end-side locking portion 36 was provided on the moving plate 50. However, each end-side locking portion may be provided on the housing. When each end-side locking portion is provided on the housing, each locked-side locking portion that is the locking partner of each end-side locking portion may be provided on the mating housing. In the case of the above-described Embodiment 1, the central locking portion 35 was provided on the housing 20. However, the central locking portion may be provided on the moving plate. In the case of the above-described Embodiment 1, the plate locking portions 52 were arranged in pairs at intervals in the width direction on the moving plate 50. However, the plate locking portions may be arranged in three or more at intervals in the width direction on the moving plate. In the case of the above-described Embodiment 1, the central locking portion 35 and the end-side locking portion 36 were in a concave shape (specifically, a hole shape), and the locked central-side locking portion 124 and the locked end-side locking portion 59 were in a convex shape. However, the central locking portion and the end-side locking portion may be in a convex shape, and the locked central-side locking portion and the locked end-side locking portion may be in a concave shape.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0059] 10... Connector 20... Housing 21... Housing Body 22... Hood Portion 23... Cavity 24... Lance 25… Concave portion 26… Wire lead-out surface 27… Upper wall 28… Lower wall 29… Side wall 30… Retainer 31… Mismating prevention convex portion 32… Guide portion 33… Guide rib 34… Base portion 35… Central side lock portion 36… End side lock portion 37… Rib 38… Plate locking portion 50… Moving plate 51… Plate body 52… Plate lock portion 53… Convex portion 54… Insertion hole 55… Thin-walled portion 56… Upper and lower extending portion 57… Left and right extending portion 58… Plate locking portion to be engaged 59… End side locking portion to be engaged 61… Fitting protrusion 62… Guided portion to be engaged 63… Enticing portion 64… Locking hole 90… Terminal fitting 91… Terminal body 92… Tab 93… Barrel portion 100… Mate connector 120… Mate housing 121… Mate cavity 122… Plate lock receiving portion 123… Plate locking portion to be locked 124… Central side locking portion to be locked 125… Arm portion 126… Locking protrusion 127… Mismating prevention concave portion 190… Mate terminal fitting 191… Connection portion W… Electric wire

Claims

1. A connector comprising a housing that can be fitted with a mating connector, wherein the housing has a plurality of cavities capable of accommodating terminal fittings, the plurality of cavities are arranged side by side in a width direction that intersects the fitting direction of the housing and the mating connector inside the housing, furthermore, the housing has a central locking portion located on the central side in the width direction for holding the fitting state with the mating connector, and end-side locking portions located on both end sides in the width direction for holding the fitting state with the mating connector.

2. The central locking portion and the central-side locked portion, which is the locking partner of the central locking portion, are locked in a state where their movement in the width direction is restricted, The end-side locking portion and the end-side locked portion, which is the locking partner of the end-side locking portion, are locked in a state where their movement in the width direction is restricted. The connector according to claim 1.

3. The end-side locked portion is provided on a moving plate movably arranged inside the hood portion of the housing, The moving plate has a plate locking portion that is locked to the mating connector when the housing and the mating connector are in a fitted state, separately from the end-side locked portion. The connector according to claim 2.

4. A plurality of the plate locking portions are arranged on the moving plate at intervals in the width direction. The connector according to claim 3.

5. The housing has a wire lead-out surface arranged facing backward, which is a direction opposite to the direction of fitting with the mating connector, and the wire connected to the terminal fitting is led out backward from the wire lead-out surface, The end-side locking portion is arranged behind the central locking portion. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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