Electrical connector

Abstract

To ensure the elastic deformation amount of an engagement part that engages with a mating connector without enlarging the size to sufficiently elastically deform the engagement part and prevent the restriction of the degree of freedom of the parts arranged around it.SOLUTION: An electrical connector 1 has an elastic part 22 including: a pair of arm parts 221 extending in the opposite direction to the mating direction with a spacing from the body part 21 from an end part side position in a mating direction of the body part 21 relative to a mating connector 200, a connecting part 222 that connects the pair of arm portions 221 to each other at a position on the end part side in a direction voltage to the pair of arm portions 221, and a lever part 223 that engages with the mating connector 200 that extends in the mating direction from the connecting part 222 between the pair of arm parts 221 and is inserted into an insertion part 212.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical connector for connecting a terminal assembly of a cable or the like to a mating connector. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, in a fitting structure between a female connector and a male connector, a configuration is known that includes a locking mechanism that engages the female connector and the male connector with each other to prevent them from coming off.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a fitting structure between a female connector and a male connector, in which a pair of extensions extending in one direction from a support part of a female housing of the female connector are provided at the tip ends with locking parts that engage with the male connector. In Patent Document 1, the locking parts engage with the male connector, preventing the male connector from coming off the female connector. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7221807 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in Patent Document 1, the elastic function for displacing the locking portion that engages with the male connector is ensured by the length of the extension portion in one direction, and since the length of the extension portion in one direction needs to be increased to ensure a predetermined amount of elastic deformation, there is a problem that the female connector and male connector become larger. Furthermore, Patent Document 1 also has a problem that as the female connector and male connector become larger, the degree of freedom in the configuration of the parts arranged around the female connector and male connector is limited.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connector that can ensure the amount of elastic deformation of the elastic part that engages with the mating connector without increasing the size, thereby allowing the elastic part to be sufficiently elastically deformed, and that can prevent restrictions on the freedom of configuration of the parts placed around it. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The electrical connector of the present invention is an electrical connector that connects a terminal assembly and a mating connector, and has a main body portion that includes a holding portion that holds the terminal assembly and an insertion portion that communicates with the holding portion and into which the mating connector is inserted and mated, and an elastic portion that is provided on the main body portion and is elastically deformable, and the elastic portion includes a pair of arms that extend in the opposite direction to the mating direction from a position on the end side of the main body portion in the mating direction with the mating connector, with a gap between them and the main body portion, a connection portion that connects the pair of arms to each other at a position on the end side of the pair of arms in the opposite direction, and a lever portion that extends from the connection portion between the pair of arms in the mating direction and engages with the mating connector inserted into the insertion portion.

[0008] When connecting the mating connector to the electrical connector, the elastic portion is pressed by the mating connector and elastically deforms, causing the lever portion to engage with the mating connector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, the elastic deformation amount of the elastic part that engages with the mating connector can be ensured without increasing the size, allowing the elastic part to be sufficiently elastically deformed, and also preventing restrictions on the freedom of configuration of the components placed around it. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, seen from the rear and above; [Figure 2]1 is a front and top perspective view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] 1 is a perspective view of a housing of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, seen from the rear and above. [Figure 4] 1 is a front and top perspective view of a housing of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the housing of the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a plan view of a housing of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 taken along line B-B. [Figure 9] 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, with a portion of the housing thereof omitted, as viewed from the front and above; [Figure 10] 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention, with a portion of the housing thereof omitted, as viewed from the rear and above; [Figure 11] 1 is a perspective view of a locking member of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a rear view of the locking member of the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a locking member of the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along CC in FIG. 13. [Figure 15] 1 is a side view of a locking member of an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] 1 is a perspective view of a mating connector that is connected to an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 17] 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the locking member is in an unlocked position when the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention is connected to a mating connector. FIG. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 17. [Figure 19]1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a locking member is in a locked position when an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to a mating connector. FIG. [Figure 20] 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line E-E in FIG. [Figure 21] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention is connected to a mating connector, the locking member is in an unlocked position, and the elastic portion has not yet been operated. [Figure 22] 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the electrical connector according to the embodiment of the present invention is connected to a mating connector, the locking member is in an unlocked position, and the elastic portion is being operated. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, an electrical connector according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the drawings, the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis form a three-axis Cartesian coordinate system, with the positive direction of the y-axis being the forward direction, the negative direction of the y-axis being the backward direction, the positive direction of the x-axis being the left direction, the negative direction of the x-axis being the right direction, the positive direction of the z-axis being the upward direction, and the negative direction of the z-axis being the downward direction.

[0012] <Electrical connector configuration> The configuration of an electrical connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

[0013] The electrical connector 1 connects a cable 100 serving as a terminal assembly with a mating connector 200. The electrical connector 1 includes a housing 2 and a locking member 3.

[0014] The housing 2 is made of an insulating material and includes a main body portion 21, an elastic portion 22, and a hood portion .

[0015] The main body 21 is approximately rectangular and includes a lock position regulating portion 209, a non-lock position regulating portion 210, a holding portion 211, an insertion portion 212, a guide portion 213, a side wall portion 214, a window hole portion 215, a notch portion 216, an opposing wall portion 217, a partition portion 218, and a fitting portion 219.

[0016] The lock position restricting portion 209 is provided to protrude from the upper wall portion 21a of the main body portion 21. The lock position restricting portion 209 is provided behind the hood portion .

[0017] The non-lock position restricting portion 210 is provided to protrude from the upper wall portion 21 a and is provided rearward of the lock position restricting portion 209 .

[0018] The holding portion 211 is formed from the rear end of the main body portion 21 toward the front, and holds the cable 100 .

[0019] The insertion portion 212 is formed rearward from the front end of the main body 21, and is connected to the holding portion 211 via a partition 218. The inner diameter of the insertion portion 212 is larger than the inner diameter of the holding portion 211. The mating connector 200 is inserted into the insertion portion 212, and a portion of the cable 100 protrudes from the holding portion 211.

[0020] The guide portions 213 extend rearward from the front end of the main body 21, and protrude inward in the left-right direction, which is the opposing direction of the pair of opposing walls 217, from the upper ends of the pair of opposing walls 217, so as to face each other. The guide portions 213 communicate the insertion portion 212 with the outside at the upper wall 21a of the main body 21.

[0021] The side wall portions 214 are erected above the upper wall portion 21a at both left and right end portions of the main body portion 21. The side wall portions 214 are provided from the front end portion to the rear end portion of the upper wall portion 21a.

[0022] The window hole portion 215 is a through-hole that penetrates the hood portion 23 in the up-down direction, which is the plate thickness direction, and is formed at a position facing the engagement hole portion 225 of the elastic portion 22 in the up-down direction.

[0023] The notch 216 is formed by cutting out a semi-elliptical shape from the rear end portion. The notch 216 is formed in the left side wall 21b of the main body 21, and connects the holding portion 211 to the outside at the left side wall 21b. The notch 216 is provided to allow the cable 100 held in the holding portion 211 to be pulled out to the left side from the main body 21.

[0024] The opposing wall portions 217 are inner wall portions that face each other in the left-right direction of a recessed portion recessed in the upper part of the inner wall of the insertion portion 212, and extend rearward from the front end portion of the main body portion 21.

[0025] Partition portion 218 is provided between holding portion 211 and insertion portion 212, and connects holding portion 211 and insertion portion 212 to each other. The inner diameter of partition portion 218 is smaller than the inner diameter of holding portion 211.

[0026] The fitting portion 219 connects the holding portion 211 to the outside on each of the left side wall portion 21b and the right side wall portion 21c, and holds the cable 100 in the holding portion 211 by fitting with the cable 100.

[0027] The elastic portion 22 is provided on the main body portion 21 and is elastically deformable. The elastic portion 22 includes an arm portion 221, a connecting portion 222, a lever portion 223, a protruding portion 224, and an engagement hole portion 225.

[0028] The arm portions 221 are provided as a pair spaced apart in the left-right direction, and extend from an end position (front end) in the front direction, which is the mating direction of the main body 21 with the mating connector 200, to a rear direction, which is the opposite direction to the mating direction, with a gap between them and the main body 21. Note that the arm portions 221 are not limited to a configuration in which they extend rearward from the front end position of the main body 21, but may also be configured to extend rearward from a position slightly rearward from the front end position of the main body 21. Here, the position on the front end side of the main body 21 includes both the front end position of the main body 21 and a position slightly rearward from the front end position of the main body 21.

[0029] The connecting portion 222 connects the pair of arms 221 to each other at their end positions (rear ends) in the rear direction, which is the extension direction of the pair of arms 221. The connecting portion 222 protrudes upward more than the arm portions 221 and the lever portion 223, and is located below the upper end of the side wall portion 214 (see FIG. 5). The length of the connecting portion 222 in the up-down direction is greater than the length of the lever portion 223 in the up-down direction. Note that the connecting portion 222 is not limited to being located below the upper end of the side wall portion 214, and the upper end of the connecting portion 222 and the upper end of the side wall portion 214 may be at the same height. Furthermore, the connecting portion 222 is not limited to being connected to the pair of arms 221 to each other at their end positions in the rear direction, and may be configured to connect the pair of arms 221 to each other at a position slightly forward of the end positions in the rear direction of the pair of arms 221. Here, the position on the rear end side of the pair of arms 221 includes both the rear end position of the pair of arms 221 and a position slightly forward of the rear end position of the pair of arms 221.

[0030] The lever portion 223 is provided between the pair of arm portions 221 and extends forward from the connecting portion 222, and is inserted into the locking member 3. The lever portion 223 has an upper portion 223a, a lower portion 223b, and a middle portion 223c.

[0031] The upper portion 223a is provided on the rear end side of the lever portion 223. The vertical length of the upper portion 223a is greater than the vertical lengths of the lower portion 223b and the middle portion 223c.

[0032] The lower portion 223b is provided on the front end side of the lever portion 223 and is provided below the upper portion 223a.

[0033] The middle portion 223c connects the upper portion 223a and the lower portion 223b, and is inclined forward.

[0034] The protruding portion 224 protrudes downward, i.e., in a direction approaching the main body portion 21, between the front end (first end) and the rear end (second end) of the lever portion 223, and faces the locking member 3. The protruding portion 224 is provided at the connection between the lower portion 223b and the middle portion 223c. The protruding portion 224 is curved along the front-rear direction.

[0035] Engagement hole 225 as an engagement portion is provided between protrusion 224 and the front end of lever portion 223. Engagement hole 225 is provided in lower portion 223b of lever portion 223, and engages with engagement protrusion 201 of mating connector 200 inserted into insertion portion 212.

[0036] In the elastic portion 22 having the above-described configuration, by folding back the arm portion 221 to provide the lever portion 223, the length in the front-to-rear direction can be reduced, while by making the arm portion 221 and the lever portion 223 elastically deformable as a single unit, the length that can be elastically deformed can be increased, and the lever portion 223 can be sufficiently elastically deformed.

[0037] The hood portion 23 is provided on the front end side of the side wall portion 214 and connects the upper end portions of the pair of side wall portions 214. The hood portion 23 covers the front end side of the arm portion 221 and the lower portion 223b of the lever portion 223. The hood portion 23 has a retaining portion 231 that protrudes downward and faces the lever portion 223.

[0038] The locking member 3 is made of an insulating material and is disposed between the main body 21 and the elastic portion 22. The locking member 3 includes a support portion 31, an operating portion 32, a guided portion 33, a contact portion 34, and a bottom portion 35, and the support portion 31, the operating portion 32, and the bottom portion 35 surround the lever portion 223.

[0039] The support pillars 31 are provided on the left and right sidewalls at the four corners of the bottom surface 35 and the operating unit 32, which are generally rectangular when viewed from above, and connect the operating unit 32 to the bottom surface 35. The support pillars 31 are arranged so as to be slidable in the front-to-rear direction between each of the pair of arms 221 and the lever 223. Of the four support pillars 31, the pair of support pillars 31 on the front side engage with the lock position restricting portion 209 to restrict the forward or rearward movement of the locking member 3. Of the four support pillars 31, the pair of support pillars 31 on the rear side engage with the non-lock position restricting portion 210 to restrict the forward movement of the locking member 3.

[0040] The operation unit 32 is provided at a distance from the bottom surface unit 35 in the vertical direction. The operation unit 32 faces the lever unit 223 in the vertical direction and is provided at a position overlapping the lever unit 223 when viewed from above.

[0041] The guided portion 33 protrudes downward from the bottom surface portion 35, and the tip of the protruding portion is bent outward in the left-right direction at an angle of approximately 90 degrees. The guided portion 33 engages with the guide portion 213 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction, and the guide portion 213 restricts movement of the guided portion 33 in the left-right direction, which is the opposing direction of the pair of arms 221.

[0042] The contact portion 34 protrudes rearward from the lower end and rear end of a pair of rear end side support portions 31 among the four support portions 31. The contact portion 34 is capable of coming into contact with the lower end of the connecting portion 222 of the elastic portion 22.

[0043] The bottom surface portion 35 is provided between the upper wall portion 21a of the main body portion 21 and the lever portion 223 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction.

[0044] <How to assemble an electrical connector> A method for assembling an electrical connector 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

[0045] The cable 100 is inserted into the holding portion 211 and the notch 216 of the main body 21 of the housing 2, and the cable 100 is fitted into the fitting portion 219 of the main body 21, whereby the cable 100 is held by the holding portion 211.

[0046] Furthermore, the locking member 3 is inserted into the housing 2 from the front. At this time, the operating portion 32 is inserted between the hood portion 23 and the lever portion 223, the bottom surface portion 35 is inserted between the lever portion 223 and the upper wall portion 21a of the main body portion 21, and the support portion 31 is inserted between the arm portion 221 and the lever portion 223 while the locking member 3 is inserted from the front.

[0047] By inserting the locking member 3 between the hood portion 23 and the upper wall portion 21a, the locking member 3 passes through the hood portion 23 while pressing the retaining portion 231 of the hood portion 23 upward and elastically deforming the hood portion 23.

[0048] As the locking member 3 passes through the hood portion 23, the elastic restoring force of the hood portion 23 itself moves the retaining portion 231 downward, and the retaining portion 231 restricts the forward movement of the locking member 3. In this state, as shown in Fig. 18 , the pair of support portions 31 on the front side of the locking member 3 abut against the lock position restricting portion 209 from the front, and the pair of support portions 31 on the rear side of the locking member 3 abut against the non-lock position restricting portion 210, and further, the operating portion 32 abuts against the rear end of the retaining portion 231, so that the locking member 3 is held in the non-lock position where the abutting portion 34 does not abut against the connecting portion 222, and the locking member 3 can be prevented from falling off from the housing 2.

[0049] In the above-described method of assembling the electrical connector 1, the left-right movement of the locking member 3 is restricted by the guide portion 213 with which the guided portion 33 engages, so that the locking member 3 can be attached to the housing 2 without applying a load to the arm portion 221 and the lever portion 223 in the left-right direction.

[0050] <Operation of electrical connector> The operation of the electrical connector 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

[0051] First, the cable 100 is held by the holding portion 211, and the mating connector 200 is inserted into the insertion portion 212 of the electrical connector 1 with the locking member 3 in the unlocked position.

[0052] When the mating connector 200 is inserted into the insertion portion 212 until it abuts against the partition portion 218, the lower portion 223b of the lever portion 223 abuts against the engaging protrusion 201 of the mating connector 200 and is pressed upward, causing the elastic portion 22 to elastically deform. Then, the engaging protrusion 201 of the mating connector 200 moves in the front-to-rear direction to the position of the engaging hole 225 and engages with the engaging hole 225, and the elastic portion 22 maintains the engaged state between the engaging hole 225 and the engaging protrusion 201 by its own elastic restoring force. This completes the connection between the cable 100 and the mating connector 200 by the electrical connector 1, resulting in the state shown in FIGS. 17 and 18.

[0053] At this time, by providing the connection portion 222 below the upper end of the side wall portion 214, the side wall portion 214 can prevent a finger, a jig, or the like from approaching the connection portion 222 from above, thereby preventing the connection portion 222 from being inadvertently pressed downward. Furthermore, by providing the window hole portion 215 at a position facing the engagement hole portion 225 of the elastic portion 22 in the vertical direction, the engagement state between the engagement hole portion 225 and the engagement protrusion 201 can be confirmed from above through the window hole portion 215.

[0054] When the connection between the cable 100 and the mating connector 200 by the electrical connector 1 is complete, the operating portion 32 of the locking member 3 is operated to slide the locking member 3 rearward, thereby moving the locking member 3 from the unlocked position to the locked position. At this time, the pair of support portions 31 on the front side of the locking member 3 move from the front side of the lock position restricting portion 209, climbing over the lock position restricting portion 209, to the rear side of the lock position restricting portion 209. In addition, the pair of support portions 31 on the rear side of the locking member 3 are spaced apart from the unlock position restricting portion 210.

[0055] 19 and 20 in which the locking member 3 abuts against the connecting portion 222, the movement of the locking member 3 to the locked position is completed. At this time, the pair of support portions 31 on the front side abut against the rear side of the lock position restricting portion 209, restricting the locking member 3 from moving forward, so that the locking member 3 is held in the locked position. As the locking member 3 moves to the locked position, the connecting portion 222 abuts against the abutting portion 34 of the locking member 3, restricting the downward movement of the connecting portion 222, which is the direction in which the connecting portion 222 approaches the main body portion 21.

[0056] This prevents the engagement between engaging protrusion 201 and engaging hole 225 from being released, thereby preventing the connection between electrical connector 1 and mating connector 200 from being released. Furthermore, since connecting portion 222 can prevent locking member 3 from falling off rearward from main body 21, connecting portion 222 can serve as both an operating portion for releasing the engagement between engaging protrusion 201 and engaging hole 225 and a fall-off prevention portion that prevents locking member 3 from falling off rearward from main body 21. Furthermore, since lever portion 223 can be supported by locking member 3, the strength of lever portion 223 can be improved.

[0057] Furthermore, when disconnecting the electrical connector 1 from the mating connector 200 while they are connected, the operation portion 32 of the locking member 3 is operated to slide the locking member 3 forward, thereby moving the locking member 3 from the locked position to the unlocked position. At this time, the pair of support posts 31 on the front side of the locking member 3 move from the rear side of the lock position restricting portion 209, climbing over the lock position restricting portion 209 and toward the front side of the lock position restricting portion 209. Furthermore, the pair of support posts 31 on the rear side of the locking member 3 abut against the unlock position restricting portion 210, and the operation portion 32 abuts against the retaining portion 231 of the hood portion 23. As a result, as shown in FIG. 21 , the connecting portion 222 and the abutting portion 34 of the locking member 3 are no longer in abutment with each other, and a gap is formed between the connecting portion 222 and the upper wall portion 21a of the main body portion 21, allowing the connecting portion 222 to move downward.

[0058] In the above operation, the guide portion 213 with which the guided portion 33 engages restricts movement of the pair of arm portions 221 of the locking member 3 in the left-right direction, which is the opposing direction, thereby preventing interference between the locking member 3 and the arm portions 221 and lever portion 223, and therefore preventing load from being applied by the locking member 3 to the elastic portion 22.

[0059] Furthermore, in the above operation, the movement range R of the operating part 32 as seen from above when the locking member 3 moves between the locked position and the unlocked position is within the range L of the lever part 223 as seen from above, and the operating part 32 does not protrude beyond the lever part 223 in the front-to-rear direction (see Figure 21), so the size of the electrical connector 1 in the front-to-rear direction can be reduced.

[0060] When connecting portion 222 is in a state in which it is able to move downward, pressing connecting portion 222 downward causes lever portion 223 and arm portion 221 to elastically deform and move downward. As a result, protruding portion 224 of lever portion 223 abuts against bottom surface portion 35 of locking member 3. When protruding portion 224 abuts against bottom surface portion 35, connecting portion 222 and protruding portion 224 are positioned on approximately the same straight line parallel to the front-rear direction (see FIG. 22).

[0061] When the protrusion 224 and the bottom surface portion 35 are in contact with each other, further pressing the connecting portion 222 downward causes the arm portion 221 and the connecting portion 222 to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 20 around the protrusion 224 as a rotation center, and the lever portion 223 to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 20 around the protrusion 224 as a rotation center. This allows the downward pressing force applied to the connecting portion 222 to be stably received by the protrusion 224, thereby stabilizing the operation of releasing the engagement between the engagement hole 225 and the engaging protrusion 201. Furthermore, by rotating the lower portion 223b around the protrusion 224 as a rotation center, the downward movement distance of the connecting portion 222 until the engagement between the engagement hole 225 and the engaging protrusion 201 is released can be reduced, thereby enabling the electrical connector 1 to be made smaller.

[0062] 20, the lever portion 223 rotates counterclockwise around the protruding portion 224 as the rotation center, whereby the engagement between the engagement hole portion 225 and the engagement protrusion 201 is released as shown in FIG.

[0063] With the engagement between the engagement hole 225 and the engagement protrusion 201 released, the connection between the electrical connector 1 and the mating connector 200 can be released by moving the mating connector 200 forward.

[0064] Thus, according to this embodiment, the elastic portion 22 includes a pair of arms 221 extending rearward from the front end of the main body 21 at a distance from the main body 21, a connecting portion 222 connecting the pair of arms 221 to each other at the rear ends of the pair of arms 221, and a lever portion 223 extending forward from the connecting portion 222 between the pair of arms 221 and engaging with the mating connector 200 inserted into the insertion portion 212. This ensures the amount of elastic deformation of the elastic portion 22 that engages with the mating connector 200 without increasing the size, allowing the elastic portion 22 to be sufficiently elastically deformed, and also prevents the degree of freedom in the configuration of the components arranged around it from being restricted.

[0065] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments in terms of the types, arrangements, numbers, etc. of components, and can of course be modified as appropriate within the scope of the gist of the invention, such as by appropriately replacing the components with components that have equivalent effects.

[0066] Specifically, in the above embodiment, the locking member 3 is provided, but this is not limiting, and the locking member 3 may not be provided. [Industrial Applicability]

[0067] The electrical connector according to the present invention is suitable for connecting a cable to a mating connector. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1 Electrical Connector 2. Housing 3 Locking member 21 Main body 21a Upper wall part 21b Left side wall 22 Elastic part 23 Food Section 31 Pillar section 32 Operation section 33 Guided part 34 Contact part 35 Bottom part 100 Cable 200 Mating Connector 201 Engagement protrusion 209 Lock position control part 210 Non-lock position regulation part 211 Holding part 212 Insertion section 213 Guide section 214 Side wall 215 Window hole 216 Notch 217 Opposing wall 218 Partition 219 Fitting part 221 Arm 222 Connection 223 Lever part 223a Upper part 223b Lower part 223c middle part 224 Protrusion 225 Engagement hole 231 Retaining part

Claims

1. An electrical connector for connecting a terminal assembly and a mating connector, a main body including a holding portion that holds the terminal assembly and an insertion portion that communicates with the holding portion and into which the mating connector is inserted and fitted; an elastic portion provided on the main body portion and capable of elastic deformation; and The elastic portion is a pair of arms extending from an end position of the main body in the mating direction relative to the mating connector at a distance from the main body in a direction opposite to the mating direction; a connecting portion connecting the pair of arms to each other at an end position of the pair of arms in the opposite direction; and a lever portion extending from the connecting portion in the mating direction between the pair of arms and engaging with the mating connector inserted into the insertion portion, 1. An electrical connector comprising:

2. a locking member disposed between the main body portion and the elastic portion; The elastic portion is When the lever portion and the mating connector are engaged, the connection portion moves in a direction approaching the main body portion, thereby releasing the engagement between the lever portion and the mating connector, The locking member is The connector is movable between a locked position that restricts movement of the connecting portion in the approaching direction and an unlocked position that allows movement of the connecting portion in the approaching direction.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1.

3. The main body portion is a guide portion extending along the fitting direction or the opposite direction, The locking member is a guided portion that is engaged with the guide portion so as to be movable in the fitting direction or the opposite direction, and that is restricted by the guide portion from moving in the opposing direction of the pair of arms, and that moves to the unlocked position or the locked position by moving in the fitting direction or the opposite direction; 3. The electrical connector according to claim 2.

4. The locking member is and moving in the mating direction or the opposite direction to move to the unlocked position or the locked position, The connection portion is abutting against the locking member moving in the opposite direction to prevent the locking member from falling off in the opposite direction; 3. The electrical connector according to claim 2.

5. The locking member is an operating portion that is operated when moving between the locked position and the unlocked position, and the operating portion moves to the unlocked position or the locked position by moving in the fitting direction or the opposite direction; a movement range of the operation portion when the locking member moves between the locked position and the unlocked position, as viewed from the approaching direction, is within a range of the lever portion as viewed from the approaching direction; 3. The electrical connector according to claim 2.

6. The lever portion is a protruding portion provided between a first end portion in the mating direction and a second end portion in the opposite direction, protruding in the approaching direction and facing the locking member; and an engaging portion provided between the protruding portion and the first end portion and engaging with the mating connector, The elastic portion is When the connecting portion moves in the approaching direction, the protruding portion comes into contact with the locking member and rotates around the protruding portion, thereby releasing the engagement between the engaging portion and the mating connector.

5. The electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein the electrical connector is a connector having a first end and a second end.

Images