Connector lock mechanism and connector assembly including the same

Abstract

To make a connector lock mechanism compact.SOLUTION: A connector lock mechanism locks a first connector 10 and a second connector 20. The first connector 10 includes a lock member 14 having a cantilever form. In the lock member 14, a first lock-shaped part 15 is formed and a first releasing part 16 formed as an inclined surface is formed between the fixed end 14b of the lock member 14 and the first lock-shaped part 15. The second connector 20 includes a releasing member 23 which is movably held. The second connector 20 includes a second lock-shaped part 22a configured to engage with the first lock-shaped part 15 formed at the lock member 14. The releasing member 23 is provided with a second releasing part 23b formed as an inclined surface which faces and contacts with the first releasing part 16 included in the first connector 10 when the second connector 20 is fitted in or removed from the first connector 10. The lock member 14 and the releasing member 23 are located at positions which are overlapped in a third direction orthogonal to a first direction in a locked state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 21

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lock mechanism for a connector and a connector assembly including the lock mechanism for the connector.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a connector assembly formed by fitting a first connector and a second connector to each other, a connector lock mechanism for locking the fitting state when the first connector and the second connector are fitted is known. For example, in Patent Document 1 below, as shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, when a first connector (30) and a second connector (40) are fitted, an electric connector (100) provided with a connector lock mechanism for fixedly holding the fitting state is disclosed. This electric connector (100) includes a cantilever-shaped first lock member (3) extending rearward in the fitting direction in the first connector (30), a lock portion (31) formed as an opening between the fixed end and the free end of the first lock member (3), a second lock member (5) formed as a protrusion that engages with the lock portion (31) in the second connector (40), and a release member (7) movably held in the second connector (40), and is characterized in that the second lock member (5) and the release member (7) are in positions separated in the front-rear direction, which is the fitting direction, in the locked state.

[0003] And the unlocking procedure of the connector lock mechanism of the electric connector (100) disclosed in Patent Document 1 is as follows: (i) moving the release member (7) located at a position separated in the front-rear direction with respect to the first lock member (3) forward, (ii) sliding the release member (7) under the cantilever-shaped first lock member (3), and (iii) at this time, since the release member (7) lifts the free end of the first lock member (3) upward, (iv) the second lock member (5) is disengaged from the lock portion (31) of the cantilever-shaped first lock member (3) to be unlocked. Note that the reference numerals related to the description of the prior art documents are distinguished from the embodiments of the present invention by parentheses.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Document

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] By the way, in the technical field of connectors having the above-described lock mechanism for connectors, it has been required to make the lock mechanism for connectors more compact. For example, in the case of the electrical connector (100) disclosed in Patent Document 1 above, since the locking portion (31) of the cantilever-shaped first lock member (3) having a length in the fitting direction of the first connector (30) and the second connector (40) is engaged with the second lock member (5), there has been a problem that the overall length of the lock mechanism for connectors becomes large in the fitting direction of the connectors. That is, in the electrical connector (100) disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the first lock member (3) and the second lock member (5) for locking and releasing are arranged in a single row in the front-rear direction which is the fitting direction, there has been a problem that the dimension in the fitting direction becomes large.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a lock mechanism for connectors that is more compact than the prior art and a connector assembly including this lock mechanism for connectors when the first connector and the second connector are fitted, for locking the fitted state.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The lock mechanism for a connector according to the present invention is a lock mechanism for locking a first connector and a second connector. The first connector includes a cantilever beam-shaped lock member extending in a first direction which is the fitting direction with the second connector. A first lock-shaped portion is formed on the lock member, and a first release portion which is an inclined surface is formed between the fixed end of the lock member and the first lock-shaped portion. The second connector includes a release member that is movably held along the first direction which is the fitting direction with the first connector. Further, the second connector includes a second lock-shaped portion that engages with the first lock-shaped portion formed on the lock member. An inclined surface which is a second release portion that comes into opposed contact with the inclined surface of the first release portion of the first connector when fitting or removing the second connector to / from the first connector is formed on the release member. The lock member and the release member are characterized in that they are in an overlapping position in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction in the locked state.

[0008] That is, the conventional lock mechanism for a connector disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 has an arrangement relationship of "fulcrum (fixed end of the first lock member (3)) - point of action (engagement position between the second lock member (5) and the lock portion (31)) - point of force (position where the release member (7) lifts the first lock member (3))", whereas in the lock mechanism for a connector according to the present invention, the arrangement is "fulcrum (fixed end of the lock member) - point of force (position where the second release portion comes into opposed contact with the first release portion) - point of action (engagement position between the first lock-shaped portion and the second lock-shaped portion)". Therefore, the displacement amount in the vertical direction of the point of action is larger than that of the prior art, and the horizontal movement amount of the release member can be reduced.

[0009] Further, in the conventional lock mechanism for a connector disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the second lock member (5) and the release member (7) are arranged at positions separated in the front-rear direction in the locked state, and they are slid so as to overlap each other to release the lock. On the other hand, in the lock mechanism for a connector according to the present invention, the lock member and the release member overlap in the vertical direction in the locked state, and the lock can be released with a small amount of pulling out of the release member. Therefore, the overall length of the lock mechanism in the locked state can be shortened.

[0010] In addition, in the conventional lock mechanism for a connector disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, two operations of pushing the release member (7) forward and then pulling the second connector (40) backward were required. In contrast, in the lock mechanism for a connector according to the present invention, the lock can be released by a single operation of pulling the release member backward, and the second connector can be pulled out backward from the first connector.

[0011] In the lock mechanism for a connector according to the present invention, the first release portion and the first lock-shaped portion formed on the first connector can be arranged in parallel in the first direction.

[0012] Further, in the lock mechanism for a connector according to the present invention, the lock member is formed by cutting out a part of a metal shell constituting the outer shell of the first connector, and the inclined surface of the first release portion of the lock member can be formed by bending the lock member.

[0013] Further, in the lock mechanism for a connector according to the present invention, the second connector can be provided with a restricting portion that restricts the relative movement range of the release member with respect to the second connector by the release member abutting against a part of the second connector after the release member moves along the first direction to a unlocked state.

[0014] Further, in the lock mechanism for a connector according to the present invention, the first release portion of the lock member provided in the first connector and the second release portion of the release member provided in the second connector can each be provided with an inclined surface that comes into opposed contact when the release member is moved along the first direction.

[0015] Further, in the lock mechanism for a connector according to the present invention, after the release member provided in the second connector moves along the first direction to a unlocked state, an elastic member that exerts an elastic force for moving the release member back to its initial position can be provided.

[0016] Further, the present invention includes a connector assembly characterized in that the first connector and the second connector provided with the above-described lock mechanism for the connector are fitted to each other.

Effects of the Invention

[0017] According to the present invention, when the first connector and the second connector are fitted together, a lock mechanism for the connector for locking the fitted state, a lock mechanism for the connector that is made more compact compared to the prior art, and a connector assembly provided with this lock mechanism for the connector can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present invention, a first direction, a second direction, and a third direction are defined, and in the drawings, for convenience of explanation, each direction is shown as the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction. In this specification, the first direction is the front-rear direction. In the figure, the front-rear direction is shown as the X direction. In particular, the front is the +X direction and the rear is the -X direction. Also, in this specification, the second direction is the left-right direction. In the figure, the left-right direction is shown as the Y direction. In particular, the right is the +Y direction and the left is the -Y direction. Further, in this specification, the third direction is the up-down direction. In the figure, the up-down direction is shown as the Z direction. In particular, the upper side is the +Z direction and the lower side is the -Z direction.

[0020] In addition, each of the following embodiments does not limit the invention according to each claim, and not all of the combinations of features described in each embodiment are essential for the solution means of the invention.

[0021] First, referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, the first connector 10 according to this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first connector 10 according to this embodiment has an overall outer shape that is substantially cubic, and at the rear, a first fitting opening 11 that is opened for fitting with a second connector 20 described later is formed. Further, the front sides of the upper surface, left and right side surfaces, and lower surface of the first connector 10 are formed by a metal shell 12 formed by bending a flat metal plate, and this metal shell 12 constitutes the main part of the substantially cubic outer shape of the first connector 10.

[0022] On the upper surface of the metal shell 12 that constitutes the outer shape of the first connector 10, as shown in FIG. 1, two notch portions 13 formed by making notches from the rear to the front are formed. And the portion sandwiched by the two notch portions 13 is formed as a cantilever beam-shaped lock member 14 that extends in the first direction (-X direction), which is the fitting direction with the second connector 20 described later.

[0023] The lock member 14 formed on the upper surface of the first connector 10 has a free end 14a at the rear end, and a point on the line connecting the front notch end portions of the two notch portions 13 is the fixed end 14b. Therefore, when the cantilever beam-shaped lock member 14 extending in the -X direction receives an external force in the vertical direction, the lock member 14 will bend with the vicinity of the fixed end 14b as a fulcrum. However, since the cantilever beam-shaped lock member 14 exhibits an elastic force, when the external force in the vertical direction disappears, it will return to a horizontal state with respect to the upper surface of the metal shell 12. That is, the lock member 14 is configured to maintain a horizontal state with respect to the upper surface of the metal shell 12 in the normal state where no external force is received.

[0024] In addition, two engaging holes 15 that open at the left and right rear positions are formed in the lock member 14, and these two engaging holes 15 function as the first lock-shaped portion of the present invention. Further, a first release portion 16, which is an inclined surface, is formed in the lock member 14 between the fixed end 14b of the lock member 14 and the two engaging holes 15 that are the first lock-shaped portion (see FIGS. 5 to 7).

[0025] The two engaging holes 15 as the first lock-shaped portion of the present invention have the function of locking the first connector 10 and the second connector 20 by engaging with the second lock-shaped portion (two protrusions 22a) of the second connector 20 described later. On the other hand, the inclined surface of the first release portion 16 of the lock member 14 is formed with the inclined surface facing downward by bending the lock member 14. The inclined surface of the first release portion 16 has the function of deflecting the lock member 14 upward by receiving a force from the second release portion 23b of the second connector 20 described later in the upward (+Z direction).

[0026] The first connector 10 according to the present embodiment has been described above. Next, referring to FIGS. 8 to 14, the second connector 20 according to the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 12, the second connector 20 according to the present embodiment includes a second connector housing 21 into which an electric cord 25 is inserted rearward, a metal frame member 22 fitted in front of the second connector housing 21, a release member 23 disposed above the second connector housing 21 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, and an operation member 24 attached to the release member 23 to perform a moving operation of the release member 23 in the front-rear direction (X direction).

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, etc., the second connector housing 21 is formed with a second fitting opening 21a that opens forward for fitting with the first connector 10. Further, a frame member 22 can be fitted and fixed in front of the second connector housing 21. Furthermore, at the upper left and right positions of the second connector housing 21, a holding shape portion 21b for holding the release member 23 movably in the front-rear direction and a restricting portion 21c for restricting the amount of movement of the release member 23 held by the holding shape portion 21b in the front-rear direction are formed.

[0028] The frame member 22 is formed with two protrusions 22a at the upper left and right positions. The two protrusions 22a are portions that function as the second lock shape portion of the second connector 20 of the present invention. Therefore, when the first connector 10 and the second connector 20 are fitted together, the two protrusions 22a engage with two engagement holes 15 formed as the first lock shape portion in the lock member 14 of the first connector 10, thereby realizing the locked state of the first connector 10 and the second connector 20.

[0029] The release member 23 is a member that is held movably along the first direction (X direction), which is the fitting direction with the first connector 10. The release member 23 includes a pair of arm portions 23a extending in the left-right direction. By holding the pair of arm portions 23a in the holding shape portion 21b of the second connector housing 21, the release member 23 can move back and forth above the second connector housing 21. Further, the pair of arm portions 23a move within the range where the restricting portion 21c of the second connector housing 21 is formed, and by hitting a part of the wall surface shape constituting the restricting portion 21c, the movable range in the rearward movement is defined. Also, the movable range in the forward movement of the release member 23 is defined by the rear end of the frame member 22. That is, the release member 23 of the present embodiment has its relative movement range with respect to the second connector 20 restricted by the restricting portion 21c formed in the second connector housing 21 and the rear end of the frame member 22.

[0030] Further, the release member 23 has a second release portion 23b, which is an inclined surface, formed at the front center position. The inclined surface of the second release portion 23b of the release member 23 is formed by bending the release member 23 so that the inclined surface faces upward. The inclined surface of the second release portion 23b is an inclined surface that comes into opposed contact with the inclined surface of the first release portion 16 of the first connector 10 when the second connector 20 is fitted to or removed from the first connector 10. Therefore, the inclined surface of the second release portion 23b has a function of deflecting the lock member 14 upward by exerting an upward (+Z direction) force on the first release portion 16 of the first connector 10, which will be described later.

[0031] Furthermore, the release member 23 has a mounting hole 23c for mounting the operating member 24 at the rear center position. As shown in FIG. 12, the operating member 24 has a mounting groove portion 24a at the front, and by fitting the groove shape of this mounting groove portion 24a into the mounting hole 23c, the release member 23 and the operating member 24 are coupled. The user can move the release member 23 in the front-rear direction (X direction) by pushing or pulling the operating member 24 forward or backward.

[0032] As described above, for the release member 23 of the second connector 20, the movable range in the rearward movement is defined by the wall surface shape constituting the restricting portion 21c, and the movable range in the forward movement is defined by the rear end of the frame member 22. Here, in the partial view (a) of FIG. 13 and the partial view (a) of FIG. 14, the case where the release member 23 of the second connector 20 is located in front of the movable range is shown, and in the partial view (b) of FIG. 13 and the partial view (b) of FIG. 14, the case where the release member 23 of the second connector 20 is located behind the movable range is shown. In particular, as shown in FIG. 14, the movable dimension of the release member 23 in the front-rear direction can be moved by a distance indicated by the symbol α. Depending on the amount of movement of this distance α, the second release portion 23b, which is an inclined surface formed on the release member 23, moves, and it is possible to switch at least the locked state between the lock member 14 and the release member 23 to the released state.

[0033] The second connector 20 according to the present embodiment has been described above. Next, with reference to FIGS. 15 to 21, the connector assembly 100 according to the present embodiment will be described.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 15 to 19, after the first fitting opening 11 that opens to the rear of the first connector 10 and the second fitting opening 21a that opens to the front of the second connector 20 are arranged to face each other, the second connector is moved forward (+X direction) with respect to the first connector 10, so that the first connector 10 and the second connector 20 can be fitted together. At this time, the user holds the release member 23 of the second connector 20 in a state where it is located in the front of the movable range and inserts it as it is. As shown in the sub-diagram (b) in FIG. 21, the second release portion 23b of the second connector 20 and the first release portion 16 of the first connector 10 come into contact with each other with their inclined surfaces facing each other. At this time, since the locking member 14 on which the inclined surface of the first release portion 16 is formed is formed as a cantilever beam-shaped member, the downward inclined surface of the first release portion 16 receives an upward (+Z direction) force from the upward inclined surface of the second release portion 23b, so that the locking member 14 bends upward. Further, from the state shown in the sub-diagram (b) in FIG. 21 as described above, when the second connector 20 is inserted toward the first connector 10, the contact between the inclined surface of the first release portion 16 and the inclined surface of the second release portion 23b is eliminated, and the fitting state as shown in the sub-diagram (a) in FIG. 21 is realized. At this time, the locking member 14 of the first connector 10 has returned to the horizontal state with the force from the release member 23 eliminated. Further, as shown in FIG. 20, two engaging holes 15 formed in the locking member 14 of the first connector 10 are engaged with two protrusions 22a of the second connector 20, thereby realizing the locked state between the first connector 10 and the second connector 20. As described above, in the connector assembly 100 according to the present embodiment, bringing the first connector 10 and the second connector 20 into the fitted state and the locked state can be realized in one operation.

[0035] On the one hand, as shown in the sub-diagram (a) in FIGS. 20 and 21, to release the fitting state of the first connector 10 and the second connector 20 from the state where they are fitted in a locked state, the user can perform it in one operation by pulling the operation member 24 backward (-X direction). That is, when the user pulls the operation member 24 backward (-X direction) from the locked state shown in the sub-diagram (a) in FIG. 21, the release member 23 connected to the operation member 24 will move backward (-X direction) within the range of distance α. When the release member 23 moves backward (-X direction) within the range of distance α, as shown in the sub-diagram (b) in FIG. 21, the second release portion 23b of the second connector 20 and the first release portion 16 of the first connector 10 will contact each other with their inclined surfaces facing each other. At this time, since the locking member 14 on which the inclined surface of the first release portion 16 is formed is formed as a cantilever beam-shaped member, when the downward inclined surface of the first release portion 16 receives an upward (+Z direction) force from the upward inclined surface of the second release portion 23b, the locking member 14 will bend upward. When the locking member 14 bends upward, the engagement relationship between the two engagement holes 15 formed in the locking member 14 of the first connector 10 shown in FIG. 20 and the two protrusions 22a of the second connector 20 is eliminated, so that the first connector 10 and the second connector 20 are in a state where the lock is released. From this state, if the user continues to pull the operation member 24 backward (-X direction) as it is, the first connector 10 and the second connector 20 will shift from the state of the sub-diagram (b) in FIG. 21 to the state of FIG. 19, and the operation of removing the second connector 20 from the first connector 10 will be realized in one operation.

[0036] Subsequently, by adding FIG. 22 as a reference drawing, a connector locking mechanism for locking the first connector 10 and the second connector 20 will be described. Here, the sub-diagram (a) in FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram for explaining the connector locking mechanism of the present embodiment, where the sub-diagram (a1) shows the locked state and the sub-diagram (a2) shows the unlocked state. Also, the sub-diagram (b) in FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram for explaining the prior art connector locking mechanism disclosed in Cited Document 1, where the sub-diagram (b1) shows the locked state and the sub-diagram (b2) shows the unlocked state.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 22, in the lock mechanism for a connector according to the prior art disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the arrangement relationship was "fulcrum (fixed end of the first lock member (3)) - point of action (engagement position between the second lock member (5) and the lock portion (31)) - point of force (position where the release member (7) lifts the first lock member (3))". In this case, since the distance between the fulcrum and the point of action was short and the distance between the point of force and the point of action was long, in order to move the point of action to release the lock, the amount of movement of the release member (7) applying force to the point of force had to be increased. That is, in the prior art, it was impossible to realize the unlocked state of the lock without increasing the amount of movement of the release member (7). On the other hand, in the lock mechanism for a connector according to the present embodiment, the arrangement relationship of "fulcrum (fixed end 14b of the lock member 14) - point of force (position where the second release portion 23b comes into opposed contact with the first release portion 16) - point of action (engagement position between the first lock-shaped portion (two engagement holes 15) and the second lock-shaped portion (two protrusions 22a))" was adopted. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the point of force is at the center and the point of action is arranged away from the free end side, the amount of displacement of the point of action in the vertical direction is enlarged compared to the prior art according to the lever principle, and the advantage that the amount of movement of the release member in the horizontal direction can be reduced can be obtained.

[0038] Further, in the conventional lock mechanism for a connector disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the second lock member (5) and the release member (7) were arranged at positions separated in the front-rear direction in the locked state, and they were slid in so as to overlap each other to release the lock. In contrast, in the lock mechanism for a connector according to the present embodiment, the lock member 14 and the release member 23 overlap in the vertical direction (Z direction which is the third direction) in the locked state, and the release member 23 can be unlocked with a small amount of pulling out, so the advantage that the overall length of the lock mechanism in the locked state can be shortened can be obtained.

[0039] In addition, in the conventional lock mechanism for a connector disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, two operations of pushing the release member (7) forward and then pulling the second connector (40) backward were required. That is, in the prior art, the direction of pulling the second connector (40) and the direction of pushing the release member (7) were opposite. On the other hand, in the lock mechanism for a connector according to the present embodiment, as described above, the lock is released by a single operation of pulling the release member 23 backward, and the second connector 20 can be pulled out backward from the first connector 10. That is, in the present embodiment, since the direction of pulling out the second connector 20 from the first connector 10 and the direction of moving the release member 23 are the same direction, an advantage of excellent operability can be obtained. This advantage is obtained not only from the arrangement relationship of "fulcrum (fixed end 14b of the lock member 14) - force point (position where the second release portion 23b comes into contact with the first release portion 16 in opposition) - point of action (engagement position between the first lock-shaped portion (two engagement holes 15) and the second lock-shaped portion (two protrusions 22a))" of the present embodiment described above, but also from the arrangement relationship in which the first release portion 16 and the first lock-shaped portion (two engagement holes 15) formed in the first connector 10 are arranged in parallel in the front-rear direction (X direction which is the first direction).

[0040] As described above, the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments. Various changes or improvements can be made to the above embodiments.

[0041] For example, regarding the second connector 20 described above, various deformation forms can be adopted while maintaining the configuration that exhibits the above-described operational effects. Therefore, with reference to FIGS. 23 to 27, various deformation examples that the second connector of the present invention can take will be described. Note that for the second connector 40 according to the deformation form, the mating connector on the mating side is the same as the first connector 10 of the present embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. Also, for members that are the same as or similar to the second connector 20 of the present embodiment described above, the same reference numerals will be given and the description will be omitted.

[0042] The second connector 40 according to the modified form shown in FIGS. 23 to 27 has a spring plate-shaped portion 43 as an elastic member that applies an elastic force to the central position of the release member 23. This spring plate-shaped portion 43 is a cantilever-shaped member extending rearward (-X direction), and always maintains a horizontal state so as to be parallel to the upper surface constituting the release member 23.

[0043] On the other hand, at the central position slightly rearward of the upper surface of the second connector housing 21, an inclined-shaped portion 41 is formed that protrudes upward with an inclined shape.

[0044] Regarding the positional relationship between the spring plate-shaped portion 43 and the inclined-shaped portion 41, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 26, when the release member 23 of the second connector 40 is located in the front of the movable range, the spring plate-shaped portion 43 and the inclined-shaped portion 41 do not interfere with each other, and the spring plate-shaped portion 43 does not exert an elastic force on the inclined-shaped portion 41. However, as described above, when the user pulls the operation member 24 rearward to move the release member 23 rearward (-X direction) and the locked state between the lock member 14 and the release member 23 is released, the release member 23 of the second connector 40 moves to the rear of the movable range. Therefore, the free end at the rear of the spring plate-shaped portion 43 rides on the inclined-shaped portion 41, and the spring plate-shaped portion 43 exerts an elastic force on the inclined-shaped portion 41. This elastic force is a force that pushes the release member 23 forward in the movable range as the spring plate-shaped portion 43 tries to return to its original horizontal state. Therefore, after the user pulls the operation member 24 rearward to move the release member 23 rearward (-X direction) and the locked state between the lock member 14 and the release member 23 is released, when the user releases the hand from the operation member 24, the spring plate-shaped portion 43 exerts an elastic force to move the release member 23 forward (+X direction) and return it to the initial position. That is, according to the second connector 40 according to the modified form, the release member 23 of the second connector 40 whose locked state and mating state with the first connector 10 are released can be automatically returned to the front position in the movable range, which is the initial state.

[0045] Furthermore, with regard to the lock mechanism for connectors according to the present invention, various modifications can be made within the range where the same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiments and modified forms can be exhibited. For example, in the above-described embodiments and modified forms, for the first connector, two engaging holes 15, which are the first lock-shaped portions of the present invention, are arranged on the left and right, and one first release portion 16 is arranged therebetween. Further, in correspondence with this configuration, for the second connector, two protrusions 22a, which are the second lock-shaped portions of the present invention, are arranged on the left and right, and one second release portion 23b is arranged therebetween. However, in the lock mechanism for connectors according to the present invention, the number of the first lock-shaped portion and the second lock-shaped portion may be one, or may be three or more. Similarly, the number of the first release portion and the second release portion may also be two or more. Furthermore, any arrangement configurations can be adopted for the arrangement positions of the first lock-shaped portion and the second lock-shaped portion, and the first release portion and the second release portion.

[0046] It is apparent from the description of the claims that forms with such changes or improvements added can also be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0047] 10 First connector (according to the present embodiment) 11 First fitting opening 12 Metal shell 13 Notch 14 Lock member 14a Free end 14b Fixed end 15 Engaging hole (first lock-shaped portion) 16 First release portion 20 Second connector (according to the present embodiment) 21 Second connector housing 21a Second fitting opening 21b Holding-shaped portion 21c Regulation portion 22 Frame member 22a Protrusion (second lock-shaped portion) 23 Release member 23a Arm portion 23b Second release part 23c Mounting hole 24 Operating member 24a Mounting groove part 25 Electric cord 40 (Relating to the deformed form) Second connector 41 Inclined shape part 43 Spring plate shape part (elastic member) 100 Connector assembly

Claims

1. A locking mechanism for connectors that locks a first connector and a second connector, wherein the first connector includes a cantilevered locking member extending in a first direction which is the fitting direction with respect to the second connector, a first locking shape portion is formed on the locking member, and a first release portion which is an inclined surface is formed between the fixed end of the locking member and the first locking shape portion, the second connector includes a release member that is movably held along a first direction which is the fitting direction with respect to the first connector, and the second connector includes a second locking shape portion that engages with the first locking shape portion formed on the locking member, a second release portion which is an inclined surface that comes into opposed contact with the inclined surface of the first release portion of the first connector when fitting or removing the second connector with respect to the first connector is formed on the release member, the locking member and the release member are characterized in that they are in an overlapping position in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction in a locked state. A locking mechanism for connectors.

2. The locking mechanism for connectors according to Claim 1, wherein the first release portion and the first locking shape portion formed on the first connector are arranged in parallel in the first direction. A locking mechanism for connectors.

3. The locking mechanism for connectors according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking member is formed by cutting out a part of a metal shell that constitutes the outer contour of the first connector, the inclined surface of the first release portion of the locking member is characterized in that it is formed by bending the locking member. A locking mechanism for connectors.

4. The locking mechanism for connectors according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the second connector has a restricting portion that restricts the relative movement range of the release member with respect to the second connector by the release member hitting a part of the second connector after the release member moves along the first direction to a unlocked state. A locking mechanism for connectors.

5. The locking mechanism for connectors according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the first release portion of the locking member included in the first connector and the second release portion of the release member included in the second connector each have inclined surfaces that come into opposed contact when the release member is moved along the first direction. A locking mechanism for connectors.

6. A lock mechanism for a connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, after the release member provided in the second connector moves along the first direction to enter an unlocked state, there is an elastic member that exerts an elastic force for moving the release member back to its initial position.

7. A connector assembly, characterized in that the first connector and the second connector each provided with the lock mechanism for a connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6 are fitted to each other.

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