Electrical connector, mating connector, and connection

Abstract

To provide an electric connector that allows direct visual confirmation of completion of attachment.SOLUTION: An electrical connector according to the present invention includes a housing that is mated with a mating connector, and an indicator 30 that is at least partially contained in the housing, has a visual feature area 33, and is displaced from a non-display position to a display position by being displaced in the mating direction upon mating with the mating connector, and when mating with the mating connector is complete, the indicator 30 is displaced to a display position where the visual feature area 33 is visible from outside the housing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connector, a mating connector, and a connecting body.

Background Art

[0002] A battery system is configured by connecting a plurality of batteries to each other by cables and connection parts formed on both sides of the cables. In a battery energy storage system or the like, since it is composed of a large number of batteries, the number of cables and fastening parts for connecting the batteries to each other also becomes large.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a cell monitoring connector that is detachable from a fuel cell. This cell monitoring connector includes a pair of parallel lever operation parts. These pair of lever operation parts incline with respect to each other during the process of being attached to the fuel cell (cell), and return to the original parallel posture by their elasticity when the attachment is completed. Therefore, it can be recognized that the attachment is in progress by the fact that the lever operation parts incline with respect to each other.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the connector of Patent Document 1, it can be confirmed that the attachment to the cell is insufficient due to the postures of the pair of lever operation parts. However, since the pair of lever operation parts return to the original parallel posture when the attachment is completed, it is not possible to directly confirm that the attachment is completed. That is, in Patent Document 1, it is only regarded that the attachment is completed if the pair of lever operation parts are not inclined with respect to each other, and the completion of the attachment is only indirectly confirmed.

[0006] As described above, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector capable of visually and directly confirming that the attachment is completed.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The electrical connector of the present invention includes a housing that is fitted to a mating connector, and an indicator that is at least partially housed in the housing, has a visual feature area, and is displaced from a non-display position to a display position by being displaced in the fitting direction by fitting with the mating connector. When the fitting with the mating connector is a complete fit, the indicator is displaced to a display position where the visual feature area is visible from the outside of the housing.

[0008] Preferably, the housing of the electrical connector of the present invention includes a window through which the inside can be visually observed from the outside of the housing, and the visual feature area is visible through the window.

[0009] Preferably, the indicator of the electrical connector of the present invention includes a driving segment that is displaced in the fitting direction by fitting with the mating connector, and a driven segment that has a visual feature area and is displaced from a non-display position to a display position by the displacement of the driving segment. When the fitting with the mating connector is a complete fit, the driven segment is displaced to a display position where the visual feature area is visible through the window.

[0010] Preferably, when the fitting with the mating connector is a complete fit, the electrical connector of the present invention is displaced to a display position where the visual feature area in the complete fit display state indicating the complete fit state with the mating connector is visible through the window.

[0011] Preferably, when the fitting with the mating connector is an incomplete fit, the electrical connector of the present invention remains at a non-display position where the visual feature area is not visible through the window or an area other than the visual feature area is visible through the window.

[0012] Preferably, the visual feature area of the electrical connector of the present invention has a color different from the color of the housing.

[0013] The electric connector of the present invention preferably has a driving joint provided with a driving-side cam surface inclined with respect to the fitting direction, and a driven joint provided with a driven-side cam surface that slides on the driving-side cam surface.

[0014] The electric connector of the present invention preferably has a housing provided with a pressing portion that applies a load so that the driven joint remains in the non-display position when the fitting with the mating connector is an incomplete fit.

[0015] The electric connector of the present invention preferably has a load in the fitting direction applied to the driving joint so that the driven joint remains in the display position when the fitting is a complete fit.

[0016] The mating connector of the present invention that mates with the electric connector of the present invention includes a housing that mates with the electric connector, and a contact portion that is fastened to a conduction member by a fastening member and is provided with a fastening portion capable of conduction.

[0017] The connector of the present invention is a connector of the electric connector of the present invention and the mating connector of the present invention.

Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electric connector that can directly visually confirm that the mounting is completed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a cable side connector 1, a battery side connector 100, and a connector 200 between the cable side connector 1 and the battery side connector 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. This connection means that it involves an electrical connection and a mechanical connection. For convenience of explanation, as shown in each drawing, the fitting direction between the cable side connector 1 and the battery side connector 100 is defined as the third direction Z, the first direction X orthogonal to the third direction Z, and the second direction Y orthogonal to the first direction X. Further, the front in the first direction X is (F), the rear is (B), the right direction in the second direction Y is (R), the left direction is (L), the upper side in the third direction Z is (U), and the lower side is (D). [Cable side connector 1: Refer to FIGS. 1, 2, 4 to 10] The cable side connector 1 as an electrical connector is fitted to the battery side connector 100, and includes a housing 10 having a window, and an indicator 30 at least partially accommodated in the housing 10 and having a visual feature area 33 that is visible through the window 22. The housing 10 includes a socket housing 11 that houses at least a part of the indicator 30, and an indicator housing 21 that has a window 22. In this embodiment, the cable-side connector 1 is a so-called female connector, and the battery-side connector 100 is a so-called male connector. The cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are used as power connectors.

[0021] [Socket housing 11: Refer to FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9] The socket housing 11 has, inside thereof, a socket contact 12 to which a cable (not shown) is connected and which is electrically connected to the battery-side connector 100, a crown contact 13 that electrically connects between the inner peripheral surface of the socket contact 12 and the outer peripheral surface of the contact portion 121 of the battery-side connector 100, a latch housing portion 14 that houses at least a part of the latch 41, and a latch 41 that is locked to the flange portion 102 of the housing 101 when being fitted to the housing 101 of the battery-side connector 100. The socket housing 11 houses at least a part of the indicator 30.

[0022] The socket housing 11 and the socket contact 12 are integrally formed by insert molding in which a resin material-made socket housing 11 is filled around a socket contact 12 made of a metal material. The center of the crown contact 13 in the third direction Z has a leaf spring shape that is warped from the outside to the inside of the socket contact 12. When the contact portion 121 is inserted into the socket contact 12, the crown contact 13 functions as a leaf spring. An upper connecting portion that connects the upper ends of the plurality of leaf springs of the crown contact 13 and a lower connecting portion that connects the lower ends of the plurality of leaf springs press the inner peripheral surface of the socket contact 12, and the plurality of leaf springs press the outer peripheral surface of the contact portion 121. The crown contact 13 can ensure electrical connection between the socket contact 12 and the contact portion 121 of the battery-side connector 100.

[0023] When the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are fitted together, the latch 41 is latched with the flange portion 102. At least a part of the latch 41 is accommodated by the latch accommodation portion 14 of the socket housing 11, and a locking portion 41A that is latched with the flange portion 102 is formed. The latch 41 is pressed from the right direction (R) to the left direction (L) in the second direction Y of the housing 11 by a compression coil spring 42 disposed between the socket housing 11 and the latch 41.

[0024] In the present embodiment, the chamfered portion formed on the lower surface of the locking portion 41A of the latch 41 facing the flange portion 102 is pressed against the chamfered portion formed on the flange portion 102, so that as shown in FIG. 9(b), the locking portion 41A is displaced in the right direction (R) in the second direction Y. The displacement of the locking portion 41A in the right direction (R) in the second direction Y is maintained until the locking surface 102A of the flange portion 102 can pass above (U) the locking portion 41A in the third direction Z. When the locking surface 102A passes above (U) the locking portion 41A in the third direction Z, the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are completely fitted together. At this time, the latch 41 returns to its position before displacement by the restoring force of the compression coil spring 42, and the latching between the flange portion 102 and the locking portion 41A is completed.

[0025] When the locking surface 102A of the flange portion 102 does not pass above (U) the locking portion 41A in the third direction Z and the latching is not completed, the latch 41 is pressed in the left direction (L) in the second direction Y by the restoring force of the compression coil spring 42. The pressed latch 41 acts on the chamfered portion of the flange portion 102 from the chamfered portion of the locking portion 41A, and a force acts downward (D) in the third direction Z on the flange portion 102. The flange portion 102 is not latched with the locking portion 41A, and the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are incompletely fitted together.

[0026] When removing the cable-side connector 1 from the fully engaged battery-side connector 100, the locked state shown in Fig. 9(a) is released. Press the latch 41 in the right direction (R) of the second direction Y, and displace the latch 41 in the direction of arrow P3 shown in Fig. 9(b) until the engagement between the flange portion 102 and the locking portion 41A is released. When the engagement between the flange portion 102 and the locking portion 41A is released, the cable-side connector 1 can be removed from the battery-side connector 100.

[0027] [Refer to the indicator housing 21 and the indicator 30: Figs. 1, 2, 4 to 8, 11] The indicator housing 21 is locked to the socket housing 11. The indicator housing 21 is provided with a window 22 through which the inside can be visually observed from the outside of the indicator housing 21, and the visual feature area 33 of the indicator 30 can be visually observed through the window 22.

[0028] The indicator 30 includes a driving segment 31 that is displaced in the third direction Z as the fitting direction by the fitting of the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100, a driven segment 32 that has a visual feature area 33 and is displaced from a non-display position to a display position by the displacement of the driving segment 31, and a compression coil spring 34 as a pressing portion that applies a load so that the driven segment 32 remains in the non-display position before the start of fitting and during incomplete fitting.

[0029] On the driving joint 31, a pressing surface 31C is provided on the lower surface of a protruding portion 31B that can protrude downward (D) in the third direction Z from the socket housing 11. When the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are fitted together, the pressing surface 31C is pressed upward (U) in the third direction Z of the fitting direction from the pressing surface 102B above (U) the flange portion 102. By being pressed in the third direction Z of the fitting direction, the driving joint 31 is displaced upward (U) in the third direction Z, and the protruding portion 31B protruding from the socket housing 11 is covered by the socket housing 11. Also, when the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are completely fitted together, a load in the third direction Z as the fitting direction is applied to the driving joint 31 so that the driven joint 32 remains in the display position. In the present embodiment, it is the pressing surface 102B of the flange portion 102 of the housing 101 that applies a load to the driving joint 31.

[0030] The driving joint 31 has an inclined surface 31A that slides with the inclined surface 32A of the driven joint 32. When the driving joint 31 is displaced upward (U) in the third direction Z, the inclined surface 32A slides following the inclined surface 31A, and the driven joint 32 is displaced rearward (B) in the first direction X. Note that the driving joint 31 and the driven joint 32 have a cam relationship. The driving joint 31 is a driving-side cam and includes an inclined surface 31A as a driving-side cam surface that is inclined with respect to the third direction Z as the fitting direction. The driven joint 32 includes an inclined surface 32A as a driven-side cam surface that slides with the inclined surface 31A as the driving-side cam surface. In the present embodiment, the inclined surface 32A as the driven-side cam surface is inclined with respect to the third direction Z as the fitting direction, but it is not limited to this. The driven-side cam surface may be parallel to the third direction Z as the fitting direction. Also, it is sufficient that either the driving-side cam surface or the driven-side cam surface is inclined with respect to the third direction Z as the fitting direction.

[0031] When the fitting of the driven joint 32 with the battery-side connector 100 is a complete fit, the visual feature area 33 is displaced to a display position where it can be visually observed through the window 22. In the present embodiment, what is visually observed through the window 22 before the fitting between the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 starts is the color of the driven joint 32 itself, which has a color different from the color of the indicator housing 21 around the window 22.

[0032] When the fitting between the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 starts, the driving joint 31 is displaced upward (U) in the third direction Z in the fitting direction, so that the driven joint 32 is displaced backward (B) in the first direction X. When the driven joint 32 starts to be displaced backward (B) in the first direction X, a part of the visual feature area 33 becomes visible through the window 22. As the fitting between the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 approaches a complete fit, the area of the visual feature area 33 visible from the window 22 gradually expands.

[0033] When the fitting between the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 is a complete fit, the driven joint 32 is displaced from the non-display position to the display position backward (B) in the first direction, so that the visual feature area 33 becomes visible throughout the window 22. That is, when the fitting between the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 is a complete fit, the visual feature area 33 in the complete fit display state indicating the complete fit state of the fitting between the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 becomes visible through the window 22. In the present embodiment, the visual feature area 33 in the complete fit display state is a state where the visual feature area 33 is visible throughout the window 22. In addition, the visual feature area 33 that can be visually recognized through the window 22 has a color different from the color of the indicator housing 21 around the window 22 and the color of the slave joint 32 itself as the indicator 30. The visual feature area 33 may, for example, be painted with a paint of a color different from the colors of the indicator housing 21 and the slave joint 32 itself on the surface of the slave joint 32, or a seal with a color different from the colors of the indicator housing 21 and the slave joint 32 itself may be pasted on the surface of the slave joint 32, or materials of a color different from the color of the slave joint 32 itself and the color of the indicator housing 21 itself may be used when forming the slave joint 32. Note that the non-display position refers to a position of the slave joint 32 where the visual feature area 33 is not visible through the window 22 or the color of the slave joint 32 in an area other than the area of the visual feature area 33 is visible through the window 22 before the fitting start between the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 and during incomplete fitting.

[0034] The visual feature area 33 is not limited to being colored with a color different from the color of the indicator housing 21 around the window 22. For example, if the visual feature area 33 in the fully-fitted display state can be visually recognized, properties such as unevenness may be formed in the visual feature area 33, or a locking structure that locks to the window 22 when the slave joint 32 is displaced to the display position may be formed, or a protruding structure that protrudes from the window 22 to the outside of the indicator housing 21 when the slave joint 32 is displaced to the display position may be formed. Also, even if it is the same color as the color around the window 22, for example, "mating", "complete", etc. for notifying complete fitting may be formed as protrusions in the visual feature area 33. In addition, color has three elements: "hue" representing the difference in color tone such as red or blue, "brightness" representing the lightness of the color, and "chroma" representing the vividness of the color. Any of them may be different from the color around the window 22. Most preferably, it is achromatic white, but hues at positions point-symmetric in the hue circle with respect to the hue around the window 22 and positions in the vicinity thereof may be adopted.

[0035] In this embodiment, the visual feature area 33 in the completely fitted display state is a state in which the visual feature area 33 is visible over the entire area of the window 22, but is not limited to this. As shown in Fig. 11(a) to (c), for example, a state in which the visual feature area 33 in the completely fitted display state is visible through the window 22 is when the visual feature area 33 reaches the edge 22B of the window 22 when the follower 32 is displaced backward (B) in the first direction X, which is the displacement direction of the follower 32, to the display position. When the follower 32 remains at the non-display position, a state in which the visual feature area 33 has not reached the edge 22B of the window 22 is visible through the window 22.

[0036] 11(d)-(f), for example, when the follower 32 is displaced backward (B) in the first direction X to the display position, the visual feature areas 33 of various shapes may stop at positions that do not overlap with the edges 22F, 22R, 22B, and 22L of the window 22. The visual feature areas 33 shown in FIG. 11(d)-(f) are references for the visual feature areas 33 in the fully engaged display state. When the follower 32 remains in the non-display position, the visual feature areas 33 of various shapes may stop at positions that do not correspond to the positions shown in FIG. 11(d)-(f), the visual feature areas 33 of various shapes may stop at positions that overlap with the edge 22F of the window 22, or the visual feature areas 33 are not visible through the window 22.

[0037] 11(g), for example, when the follower 32 is displaced backward (B) in the first direction X to the display position, the triangular visual feature area 33 as the indicator reference may reach a position corresponding to the triangular housing reference formed so that its apex coincides with the edge 22R of the window 22. When the follower 32 remains in the non-display position, the triangular visual feature area 33 as the indicator reference may stop at a position not corresponding to FIG. 11(g), or the triangular visual feature area 33 may stop at a position overlapping with the edge 22F of the window 22, or the visual feature area 33 may not be visible through the window 22. It should be noted that the visual feature area 33 in the fully fitted display state described above is merely an example and is not limiting.

[0038] [Battery-side connector 100: Refer to FIGS. 1, 3 to 8, and 10] The battery-side connector 100 is fitted to the cable-side connector 1. By fitting the cable-side connector 1 as an electrical connector and the battery-side connector 100 as a mating connector, the connector assembly 200 of the electrical connector is obtained. The battery-side connector 100 includes a housing 101 that is fitted to the cable-side connector 1 and a contact portion 121 that can be electrically connected to the cable-side connector 1.

[0039] The housing 101 is formed with a flange portion 102 on the upper (U) side in the third direction Z that is locked to the locking portion 41A of the cable-side connector 1. The contact portion 121 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is electrically connected to the cable-side connector 1 by being pressed against the crown contact 13 of the cable-side connector 1 on the cylindrical side surface. The contact portion 121 is connected to a terminal portion 123 that is electrically connected to a terminal portion of a battery (not shown) below (D) in the third direction Z. Further, a nut 122 as a fastening portion is provided on the upper surface (U) of the contact portion 121 in the third direction Z. The surface of the contact portion 121 where the nut 122 is provided is disposed above (U) in the third direction Z than the pressing surface 102B above (U) of the flange portion 102.

[0040] By providing the housing 101 and the contact portion 121 with the above-described configuration, as shown in FIG. 10, in addition to being fitted to the cable-side connector 1, for example, a bus bar 400 as a conductive member can be fastened by a hexagonal socket bolt 300 as a fastening member. By fastening the bus bar 400 and the battery-side connector 100, the connector assembly 200 is obtained. Also, a crimp terminal 500 as a conductive member can be fastened by a hexagonal socket bolt 300 as a fastening member. By fastening the crimp terminal 500 and the battery-side connector 100, the connector assembly 200 is obtained. Thereby, the battery-side connector 100 can correspond to a plurality of connection methods that the cable side can have.

[0041] [Fitting of Cable-side Connector 1 and Battery-side Connector 100: Refer to FIGS. 5 to 7 and FIG. 9] FIGS. 5 to 8 are cross-sectional views when fitting the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100. Further, FIG. 9 is a view showing a locking portion where the locking portion 41A and the flange portion 102 are locked when fitting the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 5, when fitting the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100, first, the socket housing 11 of the cable-side connector 1 is inserted between the housing 101 and the contact portion 121 of the battery-side connector 100. When the socket housing 11 is inserted, the pressing surface 31C of the protruding portion 31B of the driving joint 31 is pressed against the pressing surface 102B of the flange portion 102.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 6, the pressing surface 31C of the protruding portion 31B of the driving joint 31 is pressed against the pressing surface 102B of the flange portion 102, and an upward (U) force P1 in the third direction Z acts on the driving joint 31. When the displacement of the driving joint 31 upward (U) in the third direction Z in the fitting direction is started, the driven joint 32 remaining in the non-display position starts to displace backward (B) in the first direction X. When the driven joint 32 displaces backward (B) in the first direction X, a force P2 in the backward (B) direction of the first direction X acts on the compression coil spring 34. When the driven joint 32 starts to displace backward (B) in the first direction X, a part of the visual feature area 33 becomes visible through the window 22. While the driven joint 32 continues to displace from the non-display position to the display position, the area of the visual feature area 33 that becomes visible through the window 22 gradually expands. Also, the chamfered portion formed on the lower surface of the locking portion 41A is pressed against the chamfered portion formed on the flange portion 102. The insertion of the socket housing 11 of the cable-side connector 1 is continued until the locking surface 102A of the flange portion 102 can pass above (U) the locking portion 41A in the third direction Z.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 7, the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are fully fitted. At this time, the driven joint 32 is displaced rearward (B) in the first direction X, and the displacement from the non-display position to the display position is completed. When the displacement of the driven joint 32 to the display position is completed, the visual feature area 33 becomes visible throughout the window 22. Also, when the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are fully fitted, the locking surface 102A can pass above (U) the locking portion 41A in the third direction Z.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 9(a), when the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 are fully fitted, the latch 41 returns to its position before displacement by the restoring force of the compression coil spring 42, and the locking between the flange portion 102 and the locking portion 41A is completed.

[0046] [Effects of the Embodiment] [Effect 1] In the cable-side connector 1, a socket housing 11 that fits with the battery-side connector 100, an indicator housing 21 having a window 22, and an indicator 30 having a visual feature area 33 that is at least partially accommodated in the socket housing 11 and is visible through the window 22 are provided. The indicator 30 includes a driving joint 31 that is displaced in the third direction Z as the fitting direction by the fitting of the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100, and a driven joint 32 that has a visual feature area 33 and displaces the visual feature area 33 from the non-display position to the display position by the displacement of the driving joint 31. The driven joint 32 is displaced to a display position where the visual feature area 33 is visible through the window 22 when the fitting with the battery-side connector 100 is a complete fit. Thereby, it is possible to directly visually confirm that the fitting of the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 is completed, that is, the mounting of the electrical connector is completed.

[0047] [Effect 2] In the battery-side connector 100, there are provided a housing 101 that is fitted to the cable-side connector 1, and a contact portion 121 that is fastened to bus bars 400, crimp terminals 500, etc. serving as conduction members by a hexagonal socket head bolt 300 serving as a fastening member, and that is provided with a female screw 122 serving as a conductive fastening portion. Accordingly, it is possible to cope with a plurality of connection methods that the cable side can have.

[0048] In addition to the above, as long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated from, it is possible to select the configurations exemplified in the above embodiment, or to appropriately change them to other configurations.

[0049] In the present embodiment, the cable-side connector 1 includes an indicator housing 21 having a window 22, and an indicator 30 that is at least partially housed in the socket housing 11, has a visual feature area 33, and includes a driven section 32 that displaces the visual feature area 33 from a non-display position to a display position by the displacement of the driving section 31. When the fitting with the battery-side connector 100 is a complete fit, the visual feature area 33 is displaced to a display position where it is visible throughout the entire area of the window 22, but it is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 12, the cable-side connector 1 includes a housing 10 that is fitted to a battery-side connector 100 as a mating connector, and an indicator 30 that is at least partially housed in the housing 10, has a visual feature area 33, and is displaced from a non-display position to a display position by being displaced upward (U) in a third direction Z as a fitting direction by fitting with the mating connector. When the fitting of the indicator 30 with the battery-side connector 100 is a complete fit, the visual feature area 33 is displaced to a display position where it is visible from the outside of the housing 10. Even in such a cable-side connector 1, it is possible to directly visually confirm that the fitting of the cable-side connector 1 and the battery-side connector 100 is completed, that is, that the electrical connector is mounted. In addition, in FIG. 12, the indicator 30 protrudes from the window 22 of the indicator housing 21 to the outside of the indicator housing 21, so that the visual feature area 33 can be visually recognized from the outside of the indicator housing 21 and the socket housing 11.

[0050] In the present embodiment, the driving joint 31 has an inclined surface 31A that slides on the inclined surface 32A of the driven joint 32. When the driving joint 31 is displaced upward (U) in the third direction Z, the inclined surface 32A slides following the inclined surface 31A, and the driven joint 32 is displaced backward (B) in the first direction X. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in order to change the movement direction, a lever portion having a rotation center connecting the driving joint 31 and the driven joint 32 may be provided. After converting the movement of the driving joint 31 in the third direction Z into the rotational movement of the lever portion, the rotational movement of the lever portion may be further converted into the movement of the driven joint 32 in the first direction X. Even with such a configuration, the driven joint 32 is displaced from the non-display position to the display position, and the visual feature area 33 can be visually recognized over the entire area of the window 22.

[0051] In addition, a compression coil spring 34 is used as a pressing portion that applies a load so that the driven joint 32 stays in the non-display position. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As long as a load can be applied so that the driven joint 32 stays in the non-display position, a leaf spring, a torsion spring, or the like may be used.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0052] 1 Cable-side Connector 11 Socket Housing 12 Socket Contact 13 Crown Contact 14 Latch Accommodation Portion 21 Indicator Housing 22 Window 30 Indicator 31 Driving Joint 31A Inclined Surface 31B Protrusion 31C Pressing Surface 32 Driven Joint 33 Visual Feature Area 34 Compression Coil Spring 41 Latch 41A Locking Portion 42 Compression Coil Spring 100 Battery Side Connector 101 Housing 102 Flange Portion 102A Locking Surface 102B Pressing Surface 121 Contact Portion 122 Meneji 123 Terminal Portion 200 Connector 300 Hexagon Socket Bolt 400 Bus Bar 500 Crimp Terminal

Claims

1. A housing that is fitted to a mating connector, and an indicator that is at least partially housed in the housing, has a visual feature area, and is displaced from a non-display position to a display position by being displaced in a fitting direction by fitting with the mating connector, wherein the indicator is displaced to the display position where the visual feature area is visible from the outside of the housing when the fitting with the mating connector is a complete fit, an electrical connector.

2. The housing includes a window through which the inside can be visually observed from the outside of the housing, and the visual feature area is visible through the window, The electrical connector according to claim 1.

3. The indicator, has a driving section that is displaced in a fitting direction by fitting with the mating connector, and a driven section that has the visual feature area and is displaced from the non-display position to the display position by the displacement of the driving section, wherein the driven section, is displaced to the display position where the visual feature area is visible through the window when the fitting with the mating connector is the complete fit, The electrical connector according to claim 2.

4. When the fitting with the mating connector is the complete fit, the visual feature area in the complete fit display state indicating the complete fit state of the fitting with the mating connector is displaced to the display position where it is visible through the window, The electrical connector according to claim 2.

5. When the fitting with the mating connector is an incomplete fit, the visual feature area remains in the non-display position where it is not visible through the window or an area other than the area of the visual feature area is visible through the window, The electrical connector according to claim 2.

6. The visual feature area, has a color different from the color of the housing, The electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The driving section includes a driving-side cam surface that is inclined with respect to the fitting direction, and the driven section includes a driven-side cam surface that slides on the driving-side cam surface, The electrical connector according to claim 3.

8. The housing, includes a pressing section that applies a load so that the driven section remains in the non-display position when the fitting with the mating connector is an incomplete fit, The electrical connector according to claim 3.

9. A load in the fitting direction is applied to the driving section so that the driven section remains in the display position when the complete fit occurs, The electrical connector according to claim 8.

10. A housing that mates with the electrical connector according to claim 1, A contact portion that is fastened to a conduction member by a fastening member and is provided with a fastening portion capable of conduction, and A mating connector.

11. The electrical connector according to claim 1, A connector for connecting with the mating connector according to claim 10, and A connecting body.

Images